The morning court had just turned into a battlefield of words.
Shen Jinghong stood calmly in the center of the hall, facing the mocking gazes and suppressed laughter.
Minister Wang's words still echoed:
"…with such strength, you dare defend Wei River? Or are you planning to use soldiers' lives to climb the ranks?"
A ripple of snickering spread again.
Shen Jinghong slowly exhaled.
If a tiger doesn't roar, they really think I'm a sick cat…
He took a step forward.
The sound of his boots striking the golden bricks rang out—clear and steady.
Then he looked directly at Minister Wang.
"Minister Wang," he said calmly, "since you are so concerned about the battlefield… may I ask—have you ever stepped onto it yourself?"
The laughter stopped abruptly.
Minister Wang's expression stiffened.
"I—I am a civil official. Naturally, I—"
"Exactly," Shen Jinghong cut him off.
"You have never seen it. Yet you speak of it with such confidence."
He paused slightly, then continued:
"You say I fell when I arrived. That is true."
"I am not ashamed of it."
His voice grew firmer.
"A man who has never fallen… has never stood up either."
A faint murmur spread across the court.
Even the Empress's eyes flickered slightly.
Shen Jinghong took another step forward.
"But what about you, Minister Wang?"
"You have never fallen—because you have never even dared to step forward."
The words landed like a hammer.
Minister Wang's face turned red.
"You—!"
"You speak of soldiers' lives," Shen Jinghong continued, not giving him room to interrupt.
"Yet when the country is in crisis, you hide behind accounts and ledgers."
"Tell me—who is truly treating soldiers' lives as stepping stones?"
Silence.
Complete silence.
The officials who had been whispering earlier all lowered their heads.
No one dared to laugh anymore.
Minister Wang opened his mouth—but no words came out.
Shen Jinghong's final sentence fell coldly:
"If guarding Wei River is climbing the ranks—"
"Then why don't you go?"
That single sentence—
Was like a slap across his face.
Minister Wang staggered half a step back, his face alternating between red and pale.
He could not answer.
Because everyone in the hall knew—
He wouldn't dare go.
Ding!
[Mission Complete]
[Reward: Apocalypse Combat Skills Survival Handbook + 100 EXP]
At that moment—
A low chuckle sounded from above.
The Empress.
She leaned slightly against the throne, her phoenix eyes carrying undisguised amusement.
"Well said."
Her voice was calm—but carried authority.
"Minister Wang—do you have anything to add?"
Minister Wang immediately knelt.
"Y-Your Majesty… this subject… has nothing more to say."
The Empress's gaze swept across the hall.
Moments ago, it had been filled with hesitation.
Now—
It was completely silent.
Then she spoke:
"Since Shen Jinghong has both the courage to step forward… and the words to defend his stance—"
"Then I shall grant him this opportunity."
Her voice rose slightly.
"Shen Jinghong!"
"Your subordinate is here."
"I hereby appoint you to accompany Qianzong Li to Wei River—"
She paused, then added deliberately:
"—with full authority to act in the field."
A ripple of shock spread again.
That phrase—
full authority—
meant far more than his title suggested.
Zhao Linger's eyes lit up instantly.
Shen Jinghong cupped his hands again, this time with sharper resolve:
"Your subordinate accepts the decree."
Above—
The Empress watched him quietly.
This time, the faint smile on her lips was unmistakable.
Interesting…
Very interesting.