Commander Chen, this man... has repeatedly used his power to oppress us, and on several occasions he has brazenly extorted bribes. We have all the account books and evidence. Please, Deputy Commander...Chapter 417: Your Highness, if you have the guts, go to the cabinet.

Li Chen's single word sent a chill through the officials of the Ministry of Justice, paling their faces.

Ge Pingyi still begged for mercy, but he was lifted up by two Jinyiwei and thrown into a prison cell.

The filthy cell was filled with foul-smelling sewage and filth. Ge Pingyi, accustomed to a life of luxury, let out a scream. He tried to stand up and flee, but before he could straighten his back, his head bumped against the top of the cell.

With a dull thud, Ge Pingyi's official hat fell to the ground. His hair was disheveled, blood streaming from his head, making him look both wretched and pitiful.

He ignored the pain and crawled to the edge of the cell door, grabbing the iron column and crying out to Li Chen: "Your Highness, your humble servant is wronged! Your humble servant was only following orders. Why are all these harsh punishments placed upon me I refuse to accept this!"

With Ge Pingyi taking the lead, other officials from the Ministry of Punishment feared they would be the next to suffer and hurriedly knelt down, begging for mercy: "Your Highness, please show mercy!"

At this moment, Xu Changqing, overwhelmed with excitement and having suffered immense torment, had been escorted out by the Jinyiwei. He was weak but still resolutely declared: "Your Highness, I have been framed by the officials of the Ministry of Punishment. They directly took me away from the Ministry of Households and publicly tortured me, not giving me a chance to speak at all. They forced me to sign the confession with my hand."

"The Ministry of Justice acts with impunity, disregarding both procedure and motive. They treat imperial laws and the Ministry's own investigation guidelines as worthless scraps of paper. Such audacity! Such persecution of the upright! Your Highness, please lend your justice to this humble servant!"

At this moment, Xu Changqing's accusation is like handing Li Chen a knife.

Although Li Chen would have resolutely challenged the perverse and evil customs of the Ministry of Punishment even without this sword, with it in his hand, he could act without any reservations whatsoever.

"Ge Pingyi, what else do you have to say"

Li Chen turned and stared at the empty cell where Ge Pingyi had been, his voice cold.

Ge Pingyi's face was pale as death, bright red blood trickling from the wound on his head. He didn't seem to notice, his lips trembling as he met Li Chen's cold and imposing gaze, a sense of impending doom washed over him.

He knew that in the struggle between the Eastern Palace and the cabinet, he was nothing more than an insignificant ant, not even a pawn.

Having heard what Qianshiyan, the Minister of Punishment and a member of the cabinet, had said, he went and did as instructed. Now that the East Palace was furious and directing its anger at him, could he possibly escape unscathed

Once he understood this, Ge Pingyi suddenly felt a sense of clarity.

< It's a dead end anyway, so why be hesitant >

“Your Highness, if you have the ability, go confront the cabinet! What use is it to vent your anger at us You know in your heart that we are nothing but pawns, not even worth considering. You dare not do anything to the cabinet, yet you come and oppress us. Is this the majesty of the Crown Prince of Qin!”

Ge Pingyi said a word, and the surroundings fell silent.

The incessant screams, moans, and pleas for mercy from the other cells faded away.

Everyone is shocked...... This Ge Pingyi, he's probably gone mad

You're really asking for it.

Sān Bǎo's eyes darkened, and he reached out to grab Ge Pingyi's throat through the railing.

"Your Highness, these treacherous rebels have shown great disrespect to you. Please command, and this servant will crush the throat of this scoundrel."

With his throat constricted, Ge Pingyi could barely even breathe.

He opened his mouth wide, gasping for breath, but couldn't draw in even a single bit of air.

Looking at Ge Pingyi's face gradually turning ashen, Li Chen said calmly, "Let him go."

Let me know if you have more text you'd like me to translate!. Having controlled the Ministry of War for many years, this palace fears that there may still be his accomplices within the ministry."Li Chen said meaningfully, "There are also some adjustments that...