Chapter 624: Nothing else, just filial piety

Jin Luan Hall.

Officials stood on both sides, and Wu Zhao sat high on the dragon throne.

Her peripheral vision swept over, and she noticed that the seats of Gao Yang and Gao Feng were empty.

Her phoenix brows twitched immediately.

"Where is the Minister of Revenue, Gao Yang?"

Gao Yang had sworn last night that he was a very punctual person, yet he was late today?

"He must have overslept. I heard that Lord Gao went to the Rouge Pavilion last night. Thinking he indulged for the night, he must be too exhausted, which is why he is late for the early court session today."

"I implore Your Majesty to exempt him from punishment for the sake of Lord Gao being too exhausted."

Lu Wen stepped out and said righteously.

Seeing this, Wang Zhong also echoed, "Lord Gao is full of vigor, dedicated to the country and the people, and takes care of those lonely women. It is understandable to be late once in a while."

Cui Xinghe glanced at Lu Wen and then looked at the old General Wang.

He said nothing, trying to lower his presence as much as possible.

And he also had dark circles under his eyes; it was truly because Cui Jian was too enthusiastic last night.

When he returned to the prefecture, the concubine who hadn't even been married yet and hadn't even been touched was looking at him with watery eyes, and on the table was the black dog meat that Cui Jian had been raising.

At that time, his heart skipped a beat, and he felt that something bad had happened.

Especially since Cui Jian was full of excitement, looking at him with an extremely earnest and expectant gaze, and the little beauty was looking at him with an admiring gaze.

Cui Xinghe hesitated for a moment. The little beauty's heart didn't matter, but Cui Jian's heart definitely couldn't be hurt.

So he deliberately concealed everything and, by the way, simply shaped his own image.

Nothing else, just filial piety!

In short, what happened in the Imperial Study was top secret, and the Single Whip Law and the Tax-to-Land Reform could not be accomplished overnight, so there was a lot of room for operation.

At this moment, a voice came from outside the hall.

"I didn't expect that Lord Lu and the old General Wang would be so concerned about me. It truly moves me to a mess."

Gao Yang walked in from outside the Jin Luan Hall, his gaze falling on Lu Wen and Wang Zhong.

That gaze carried scrutiny, especially when it landed on Lu Wen.

Lu Wen and Wang Zhong shook, and they moved their gazes away at the same time.

They felt more and more that the gaze of this Gao Yang kid was becoming increasingly intimidating.

"The Minister of Revenue was discussing national policy with me in the Imperial Study last night until late at night. The top scholar Cui was also present, so he was not indulging in the Rouge Pavilion all night."

At this time, Wu Zhao said indifferently.

After these words, Cui Xinghe immediately followed up, "Correct, Lord Gao did indeed come late at night to offer strategies, working hard for our Great Qian!"

Gao Yang looked at Cui Xinghe unexpectedly. Why was this top scholar Cui licking up to him?

He was clearly very arrogant and noble!

Hearing that they were discussing national policy late at night, for some reason, Xu Xuanji, Lu Wen, and others were all shaken, and their expressions were somewhat unnatural.

The Living Yama offering strategies late at night—what kind of strategy required offering it late at night?

This didn't sound like anything good.

"But there are family rules in a family, and state laws in a state. Since Lord Gao is late, there must naturally be a punishment!"

"I will fine you three hundred taels of silver, to be deducted from your salary. I hope you will take this as a warning!"

Wu Zhao wore golden dragon robes, her face indifferent, and her voice sounded slowly.

Hearing this, Gao Yang was stunned. He raised his head in shock, looking at Wu Zhao in disbelief.

Is this something a human would do?

The dignified Empress, her heart was smaller than his, and she fined him three hundred taels of silver?

You must know that although he asked the Empress for money last night, he only asked for thirty taels!

And now, a fine of three hundred taels?

Lu Wen hurriedly bowed, "Your Majesty is wise!"

Gao Yang glanced at Lu Wen again, then withdrew his gaze. Thinking of what would happen later, Gao Yang still bowed to Wu Zhao.

"I am willing to accept the punishment."

Wu Zhao's brows twitched, her phoenix eyes falling on Gao Yang, who was full of calm.

In the past, when Gao Yang was impeached, he would have jumped out to curse at behavior like Lu Wen's kicking someone while they were down.

But today it was exceptionally quiet, and even though he was punished, he was willing.

Something is wrong.

Something is very wrong.

Wu Zhao stared at Gao Yang, who was standing in his position and starting to close his eyes to rest, and couldn't help but look at him a few more times.

"Your Majesty, I have something to report..."

At this time, some officials also began to report, interrupting Wu Zhao's thinking.

She also suppressed the doubts in her heart and began to handle state affairs...

"..."

Meanwhile.

Inside the Supreme Court.

A man with two small mustaches at the corners of his mouth, wearing official robes, sat on a sandalwood chair.

On the table in front of him was a cup of hot tea. The man picked up the teacup, took a light sip, his expression leisurely and extremely comfortable.

He was none other than the Supreme Court official, Tian Qing, a Sixth Rank official of Great Qian.