SBCEJM -Chapter 95 Recruitment Successful! The Money-Grubber Gets Completely Controlled by the Scheming Emperor!

The system continued spilling secrets.

【But the truth is— that scar wasn’t from a tiger at all. Ten years ago, back in his rural hometown, he got rammed by a two-hundred-pound pig in heat!】

The wine cup that had just reached Chu Tiankuo’s lips froze midair. Before he could swallow a drop of imperial wine, he choked violently on it instead.

He bent over abruptly, coughing so hard his shoulders shook uncontrollably.

Even Xiao Juechen paused.

He lifted his eyes and slowly swept his gaze across Zhao Yong’s self-proclaimed “upright and righteous” face.

A pig… rammed him?

And it was… a horny boar?

This gossip carried an exceptionally rustic flavor.

The officials who could hear the inner thoughts all lowered their heads in unison, biting their lips so hard their cheeks bulged. Every one of them was red-faced from holding back laughter.

Meanwhile, all color drained from Zhao Yong’s face, leaving it deathly gray.

【Back then, twenty-eight-year-old Zhao Yong returned home to visit family and tried taking a shortcut through the pigpen. The overly energetic boar “took a liking” to him! He fought that pig for half an hour and still lost!】

【In the end, cornered against a wall, the boar charged and carved this “heroic scar” onto his face with its tusks!】

【And the best part? After knocking him over, that boar even tried to… engage in some extra-friendly physical with him!】

Feng Zexuan was already laughing herself insane internally.

【HAHAHAHA! Tiger-slaying hero? More like pig-fighting coward! He can’t even beat a pig, and he still dares lecture me about the foundation of the nation?】

The system showed no mercy and continued stabbing deeper.

【Host, this man is extremely vain and lies constantly.】

【For example, this court robe he claims cost eight hundred taels and was woven from “snow silkworm silk” is actually an imitation lake silk robe worth fifteen taels from an East City tailor shop.】

【He boasts about bedding three women a night, but in reality he’s completely incapable. He and his wife have slept separately for five years.】

【He also claims his ancestors were founding generals of the former dynasty, when in fact his family has been mountain hunters for three generations.】

One revelation after another crashed down like heavy blows, smashing apart the dignified image Zhao Yong had built with lies.

Standing in the middle of the great hall, his body swayed violently. He had to brace himself against a pillar to keep from collapsing on the spot.

Countless gazes—shocked, disdainful, or desperately suppressing laughter—pierced him like needles.

The officials who had just been cheering him on moments ago were now terrified out of their minds.

This wasn’t the Northern Suppression King.

This was a living King of Hell.

Whoever offended her was doomed.

The fastest to react was Censor Li. His legs gave out instantly, and with a loud thump, he dropped to his knees and crawled forward desperately. His forehead slammed against the golden floor tiles as his voice cracked:

“Your Majesty! I misspoke just now! I was blind and failed to recognize greatness! Prince Zhenbei is immensely talented—this humble official admires her with all his heart!”

Another Ministry of Revenue official immediately rushed out from the ranks and slapped himself twice across the face with loud smacks.

“Exactly! Lord Li is right! What does gender matter? Ability is what counts! I was merely testing the prince’s determination earlier! Prince Zhenbei’s loyalty shines brighter than the sun and moon!”

“Prince Zhenbei possesses both virtue and talent—she is the blessing of Great Xia!”

Hearing these shameless fence-sitters switch sides so quickly, Zhao Yong felt sweetness rise into his throat. Blood surged upward, only for him to forcibly swallow it back down.

He knew.

He was finished.

Xiao Juechen had completely lost interest in the farce. Rising to his feet, he spoke indifferently:

“Prince Zhenbei and Censor Feng will remain. Everyone else is dismissed.”

Inside the imperial study, silence filled the room.

Xiao Juechen did not sit. With his hands clasped behind his back, he quietly stared at the father and daughter kneeling before him.

Feng Huai’an pressed his forehead tightly against the cold golden tiles, his voice trembling.

“Your Majesty… this minister deserves death a thousand times over!”

He knocked his head heavily against the floor before continuing.

“Thank you, Your Majesty, for protecting my daughter and preserving the Feng family in the hall just now. But I deceived the throne and committed a grave offense. My crime is unforgivable. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!”

“Speak. What exactly happened?” Xiao Juechen’s voice revealed neither anger nor joy.

“My son, Zekai, fell from a horse and remained unconscious one month after taking office. To preserve the position, this minister resorted to this desperate measure and allowed my daughter Zexuan to attend court in her brother’s place. All guilt lies with me alone. Please punish me, Your Majesty!”

Xiao Juechen’s brows lifted slightly.

So the one who had originally passed the imperial examination as Third Scholar was the older brother.

He turned around, his expression darkening instantly. Imperial pressure engulfed the entire study.

“What audacity. Replacing your brother at court? Feng Huai’an, what do you take the imperial court—what do you take me for? This is a crime of deceiving the emperor punishable by extermination of nine clans!”

Feng Huai’an trembled violently, as though his body were about to fall apart.

“This minister… willingly accepts punishment!”

Xiao Juechen’s gaze passed over him and landed on Feng Zexuan instead. His tone softened slightly.

“Considering your daughter’s repeated achievements and great merit outweighing her faults, I can show leniency.”

After a brief pause, he declared:

“Feng Huai’an shall forfeit one year’s salary.”

Feng Huai’an immediately kowtowed.

“This minister obeys! Thank you for Your Majesty’s grace!”

Xiao Juechen looked back at Feng Zexuan, his tone shifting.

“As for you, Prince Zhenbei… regarding this crime of deceiving the emperor…”

He deliberately dragged out the sentence as though weighing something carefully before casually adding:

“I will spare your life. However, half of the ten thousand taels of gold awarded for pacifying the Xiongnu shall be confiscated.”

【WHAT?!】

Feng Zexuan jerked her head up, feeling as though an invisible hand had seized her heart and squeezed it brutally.

【My money! My gold! That’s the blood and sweat money I earned risking my life on the battlefield!】

【Half?! Five thousand taels of gold! Do you know how much silver that is?! How much delicious food that could buy?!】

Her tiny face turned deathly pale instantly.

Not from fear.

From heartbreak.

Seeing her expression as though the sky itself had collapsed amused Xiao Juechen immensely.

This little girl truly was a hopeless little miser.

He deliberately kept a stern face and emphasized:

“A ruler’s word cannot be taken back.”

【Wuwuwu… tyrant! Foolish tyrant! I’m drawing circles to curse you!】

Feng Zexuan cursed the emperor ten thousand times internally, but outwardly she forced out a smile uglier than crying. Shuffling forward on her knees, she grabbed Xiao Juechen’s leg and wailed pitifully:

“Your Majesty! Your Majesty, please look at all the hard work I’ve done! Even if I have no merit, I still suffered for the empire! And even if that doesn’t count, I’m at least exhausted! Please show mercy and don’t take my money, alright? Money is my life! I’ll serve you like an ox or horse forever if you let me keep it!”

Watching her shamelessly flattering behavior—she looked one step away from wagging a tail—Xiao Juechen finally relented.

“Fine. Since you at least know your place, I’ll temporarily spare you this punishment.”

Feng Zexuan instantly brightened with joy and kowtowed repeatedly like a pounding garlic pestle.

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s boundless grace! Your Majesty truly is the greatest sage ruler in all history! Brilliant as the sun and moon! May you live ten thousand years!”

“Don’t thank me so quickly.”

Xiao Juechen slowly returned to the dragon throne, interlacing his fingers as he looked at her with an appraising gaze.

“It’s possible not to punish you… but I have one condition.”