Empress Dawson insisted on her own opinion and even ordered the chief palace maid to bring Grace Quinn over and settle her in the side hall. The Old Emperor was furious: “You’re rebelling against me!” He flung his sleeves and stormed off.

　　When he returned to the court, he seized on any minor mistake from any minister and lashed out in anger.

　　Evan Foster quietly tried to make himself as inconspicuous as possible, once again feeling lucky to be a minor official, standing at the very back of the ranks, unlikely to draw The Old Emperor’s attention.

　　【What’s wrong with him? Did he swallow a bomb?】

　　【It’s not like we’re the ones who cuckolded you, do you really have to take it out on us?】

　　The officials, big and small, almost nodded in agreement.

　　Once they realized, their gazes darted everywhere—at the sky, at the ground—anywhere but the emperor on the golden dais.

　　The Old Emperor: “……”

　　The chief eunuch at his side caught a glimpse of the emperor’s face and nearly buckled at the knees.

　　Strange? Why did His Majesty suddenly have veins bulging at his temples? Who made His Majesty this angry? Even when catching adulterers before, he wasn’t this furious.

　　…Come to think of it, how did His Majesty suddenly find out on court that the crown prince’s grandson and Grace Quinn were having an affair in the rock garden?

　　The chief eunuch was utterly baffled.

　　The Old Emperor took a deep breath.

　　I will not be angry, I will not be angry, I will not be angry… I will not commit the foolishness of condemning people based on inner resentment like the emperors of old!

　　Besides…

　　The Old Emperor silently recited the name “Evan Foster,” his brows furrowed, recalling that half a year ago, at a similarly solemn court session, Evan Foster’s inner voice had leaked out for the first time—

　　What leaked was the matter of officials faking a drought in Shandong.

　　For over a decade, The Old Emperor and some central officials had believed that Shandong suffered from drought year after year, and the court kept allocating grain for disaster relief. Shandong officials reported drought, and students from Shandong coming to the capital for the imperial exams also said there was drought. The central government never thought much of it, until Evan Foster suddenly thought:

　　【Embezzling disaster relief funds for over a decade—Shandong, you old iron ox! Usually you keep your head down, but when you act up, you go big!】

　　The whole court was shocked.

　　The Old Emperor sent his spies to investigate…

　　Emmm, in short, after the investigation, there was a bloodbath among Shandong’s officials. That period was a golden age for exam candidates—if you passed, you could go be an official in Shandong, since after the purge, there were plenty of vacancies.

　　The Embroidered Uniform Guard was also established during this time. This department was specifically tasked with gathering intelligence for The Old Emperor and monitoring all officials.

　　Over the past half year, The Old Emperor had gradually figured out Evan Foster’s background.

　　This person was indeed an ordinary mortal, but had the good fortune to be recognized by the divine artifact “system,” which allowed him, like the mythical beast Baize, to know all things under heaven. However, the artifact had apparently suffered some unknown damage, causing Evan Foster’s inner voice to be audible to others.

　　But not everyone could hear it—for example, palace maids, eunuchs, guards… After half a year of testing, The Old Emperor was certain that only those carrying an official seal or the imperial jade seal could hear Evan Foster’s inner voice. Others, even the crown prince’s grandson, could not hear it without a seal.

　　——Evan Foster was uncontrollable and would expose many secrets.

　　A flash of murderous intent flickered in The Old Emperor’s eyes.

　　Below, Evan Foster, unaware of the impending disaster, happily continued digging up gossip.

　　【Oh, the king of Nanyue is planning to rebel against our Daxia? He’s contacting Minyue and Dongyue?】

　　【Is he out of his mind? So impatient—at least wait until all the founding heroes are dead!】

　　The Old Emperor shifted in his seat on the throne.

　　The chief eunuch leaned in: “Your Majesty?”

　　The Old Emperor coughed lightly: “The year’s end is near, affairs are busy, and all the department officials have worked hard. Grant each of them two taels of winter greens, and may you all serve loyally and not slack off.”

　　The chief eunuch’s pupils quivered, and he swallowed nervously.

　　Winter greens? Such precious things only grow on that one mu of land by the hot springs. Usually, only the emperor, empress, and crown prince get to eat them, and only rarely are they given to high ministers. Now they’re to be given to all the department officials—even the lowest ninth-rank ones?

　　And each gets two taels?!

　　The chief eunuch ordered the junior eunuchs to carry out the task, feeling sour inside.

　　I’ve served His Majesty for twenty or thirty years and never once received winter greens. These minor officials—what have they done to deserve this…

　　The greens were quickly distributed to all the department officials, and a tidal wave of voices giving thanks immediately rang out.

　　After kneeling in thanks, Evan Foster got up and stared at the slightly yellowed, wilted vegetables in his hand, for once having no inner monologue.

　　The official from the Ministry of War beside him, tear stains still on his face, sniffled and even dared to speak to Evan Foster.

　　“Mr. Foster,” the Ministry of War official hinted, “His Majesty has shown us great favor. This winter, only Chancellor Dawson received winter greens from His Majesty, and it was only half a jin…”

　　Up front, The Old Emperor had not yet heard Evan Foster’s inner voice. Still, he had his own guess—

　　“So moved you’re speechless?”

　　The Old Emperor looked toward where Evan Foster stood, raising his brows with a smug expression.

　　“Be moved. That’s right, be moved! Even I can’t bear to eat these winter greens—shouldn’t you be grateful enough to serve me to the death?”

　　At that moment, another basket of winter greens passed in front of The Old Emperor.