The Xuan Emperor was shaking with cold rage. He turned to go.

To everyone's surprise Fan Taihe struggled up into a sitting position and shouted, "Your Majesty, your subject begs you to put Ning Chen to death, to set the code of law straight."

Ning Chen's eyes narrowed slightly. The man was persistent, no question... He had begun to admire this Censor-in-Chief a little.

The Xuan Emperor gave a cold snort, paid him no attention at all, and walked out.

"Your Majesty. Your Majesty..."

Fan Taihe was still bawling with no tears in it.

But the Xuan Emperor was long gone.

Ning Chen got up and walked at an even pace toward Fan Taihe.

Every eye in the court followed Ning Chen.

The censors gathered around Fan Taihe went tense.

"Ning Chen. What do you think you are doing? You hold no office and no post now. You are a base commoner... In the hall of court, do you dare?"

One of the censors bawled it out, his voice trying to be fierce with nothing at all behind it.

Ning Chen gave a cold laugh, and his eyes came to rest on Fan Taihe. "Nobody is holding you back now. Lord Fan may prove his sincerity with his death."

Fan Taihe: "???"

He was not a fool. With His Majesty gone, what use was there in dashing his brains out?

Fan Taihe gave a cold snort. "You are nothing but a base commoner now. You are not fit to speak to this minister."

Ning Chen smiled evenly. "Then we will not speak."

The words were not out of his mouth before he was across the floor in one stride, sending the censors around Fan Taihe staggering in all directions.

He put a boot straight into Fan Taihe's face.

Then he sat astride him and went to work with his fists until Fan Taihe was screaming like a pig on the block.

The whole court, civil and military, was struck dumb.

This was the Golden Hall. Striking a minister of the court was a capital crime.

"Someone come, someone come. There's…