Zhang Yu stepped out of the room, only to find the open space outside the hall already packed with people.
The members of the Four Great Families, including Murong Bai, had been waiting for a long time.
They all looked solemn and their faces were extremely pale.
He had clearly not slept all night, repeatedly considering the possible changes that might occur in the Imperial Court today.
Murong Bai's eyes were bloodshot, and his usually meticulously styled hair was somewhat loose.
He hurried forward, lowering his voice urgently, "Your Highness, Zhu Wuyuan will definitely try every means to make things difficult for us today. If he..."
"It's alright, I have my own way of handling it."
Zhang Yu didn't stop walking, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable confidence.
The submission of the Twelve Immortals and their forces gave him enough confidence that no matter how much trouble Zhu Wuyuan caused, he was confident he could handle it steadily.
However, Murong Bai and the others were far less optimistic than he was.
Murong Qiushui crossed her arms, a disdainful sneer playing on her lips, thinking to herself, "Pretending to be something I'm not. Let's see how the Prime Minister exposes my true colors today."
In fact, many young members of the Four Great Families privately admired Zhu Wuyuan's ideas of "reform and elimination of abuses".
It was only because of the intricate web of interests between their Lineage and the Imperial Family that they had to endure it for the time being.
At this moment, they outwardly maintained their loyalty to the Imperial Family, but deep in their eyes, they couldn't help but harbor a hint of scrutiny and expectation.
As the group marched through the palace gates and arrived at the Imperial City Square, the sight before them stunned everyone.
The usually solemn and dignified square was now bustling with activity, much like a busy marketplace.
Besides the millions of citizens gathered inside and outside the Imperial City eagerly awaiting the arrival of the emperor, what was even more astonishing was that hundreds of shimmering, colorful Image Jade Token were suspended in the sky above the square.
Each Jade Token plaque reflects scenes from different prefectures and cities.
Countless visible spiritual energy fluctuations intertwined and flickered in the sky, forming an invisible net covering the entire Eastern Sheng Kingdom. The faces of hundreds of millions of people were clearly visible within it, and the air was filled with the clamor of voices and discussions.
"This is... this is live video footage from all the major prefectures of the Eastern Sheng Kingdom!"
Murong Bai's pupils contracted sharply, and his face instantly turned extremely ugly. "Zhu Wuyuan is going to publicly test Your Highness in front of hundreds of millions of people across the country."
This means that Zhang Yu's every move will be displayed to every citizen of the Eastern Sheng Kingdom through this invisible Image Jade Token.
"It seems Zhu Wuyuan is confident of victory, which is why he dares to make such a grand show of force."
A faint voice rang directly in Zhang Yu's ear; it was Sima Sheng, who had appeared silently at some point.
He frowned and transmitted his voice, "If Your Highness truly encounters an accident, even at the cost of offending the Jixia Academy, those behind me will do everything in their power to help you ascend the throne."
Zhang Yu silently shook his head, his gaze calmly sweeping over the flickering Image Jade Token, his heart unmoved.
He knew that the real contest had only just begun, and the outcome was still uncertain until the very last moment.
At this moment, Zhu Wuyuan slowly approached, surrounded by a group of officials.
Today, he had specially changed into a brand-new official robe of the Prime Minister, exuding an air of elegance and speaking with a loud and clear voice, enough for millions, even hundreds of millions, of listeners to hear him clearly.
"Sheng Yu, I specially arranged for a nationwide live broadcast so that every citizen of the Eastern Sheng Kingdom can witness it with their own eyes."
If you lose and then refuse to admit it, you might want to consider the consequences.
A faint smile played on his lips, clearly indicating his extreme confidence in his carefully prepared "test," believing it would be enough to stump his young opponent.
Zhang Yu snorted coldly and retorted without any politeness, "Enough with the nonsense. You've been thinking all night about how to make things difficult for me?"
Zhu Wuyuan's face darkened, but he quickly regained his patriotic and concerned demeanor, and said eloquently:
"I'm doing this for the good of the country and its people, how can you say I'm making things difficult for them?"
It's just a normal test for Emperors, to see if you have the ability to govern the country and pacify the people.
"Exactly, you're judging a gentleman by your own petty standards."
Murong Qiushui immediately jumped out, defending her idol with great enthusiasm, which drew the support of many people around her.
In the square, voices supporting Zhu Wuyuan rose and fell.
"Your Prime Minister, is a man of integrity; how could you possibly do such a despicable thing?"
"As expected, the descendants of the Sheng Family harbor ill intentions and maliciously speculate about the Prime Minister."
Zhang Yu couldn't be bothered with these verbal disputes.
He knew perfectly well that Zhu Wuyuan had painstakingly cultivated a large number of officials and material people over many years, especially through binding them together with shared interests.
Now, the hearts of most people in the Eastern Sheng Kingdom have already turned to him.
In this situation, any explanation would seem weak and ineffective.
"Speak, what kind of test?" Zhang Yu interrupted Zhu Wuyuan's impassioned speech, getting straight to the point.
Zhu Wuyuan nodded in satisfaction, a compassionate expression on his face, and slowly said:
"My purpose in passing this test is to ensure that you bring benefits to the people."
Now, because your Sheng Family has been extravagant and tyrannical for generations, rebellions have broken out everywhere, and rebels are rampant, causing widespread suffering among the people...
My request is simple: I want you to find a way to eliminate the Rebel Army throughout the land and restore peace and order to the Dong Heaven and Earth Eastern Sheng Kingdom.
How about a one-year term?
Upon hearing this, Sima Sheng and Zhang Yu were both stunned almost simultaneously.
Eliminate all Rebel Army in the world?
And there's this good thing too.
This... this isn't a trick question, it's practically a freebie.
The so-called Rebel Army was almost entirely composed of pawns and puppets of the Twelve Immortals, who could turn against them instantly at their command.
Murong Bai, unaware of the details, only felt a surge of anger rising to his head.
He shouted angrily, "Bullshit, you make it sound so easy."
The world is vast, and the Rebel Army numbers in the millions.
Moreover, each of them occupies a strategically important location, making them easy to defend and difficult to attack.
"Your Highness currently has no soldiers or generals at your disposal. How can you possibly eliminate the Rebel Army within a year? This is utter nonsense and a deliberate attempt to make things difficult."
He was so anxious that the veins on his forehead bulged, feeling that Zhu Wuyuan's request was simply unreasonable and demanding.
"That's right, you're just trying to make things difficult for me!"
The old master of the Four Great Families, Old Master Wang, had a fiery temper. Upon hearing this, he almost jumped up from his seat and pointed at Zhu Wuyuan, cursing:
"Eliminate the Rebel Army within a year?"
If you're so capable, go do it yourself.
If you can do that within a year, my Wang Family ancestral hall will house three generations of your family, and you can even call me grandfather."
Zhu Wuyuan remained unmoved, still standing on the moral high ground, his robes swaying gently in the wind, his tone calm and full of righteousness:
"Eliminating the Rebel Army and governing the country in peace and stability are good things that benefit the country and its people. How can you say that we are making things difficult for them?"
Could it be that Your Highness, as the legitimate heir of the Imperial Family, has no desire to serve the country?
He turned to the Image Jade Token in the sky, his voice suddenly rising and resounding throughout the entire Eastern Sheng Kingdom:
"People of East Sheng, what do you think of my test of His Your Highness?"
On the other end of the Image Jade Token, in countless images from various state governments, people were discussing the matter animatedly, with voices of support surging like a tide.
"The Rebel Army across the land were all caused by the Sheng Family's tyranny back then, so it's only right and reasonable for them to quell them."
"Yeah, you have to wipe your own ass after you poop."
"Exactly! If you don't have the ability to govern the country and bring peace to the people, what right do you have to sit on the Dragon Throne?"
In an instant, the entire square and even the hundreds of millions of people watching the live broadcast were filled with indignation.
They knew Zhang Yu couldn't do it, but under Zhu Wuyuan's instigation, the long-standing tax burden and dissatisfaction with the Sheng Family finally erupted.
In order to reduce taxes and to vent their Resentment Qi, they did not hesitate to stand on Zhu Wuyuan's side.
"You... you bunch of ungrateful bastards."
Old Master Wang trembled with rage, pointing at the Image Jade Token and roaring, "Have you forgotten how our Sheng Family Ancestors saved countless people from suffering and prevented the collapse of our great family?"
That's incorrect.
Zhu Wuyuan immediately interrupted, his tone carrying a condescending, lecturing tone:
"I have said long ago that the so-called achievements of Emperors are mostly exaggerated claims used to fool the people."
Old Master Wang, you don't need to boast about your achievements anymore.
He smiled slightly, as if offering Zhang Yu a way out, yet it was also fraught with the scent of a trap:
"If you feel that a year is too short, or that you believe you are not capable enough, the term can be negotiated."
As he finished speaking, a mischievous glint flashed in his eyes; he was already overjoyed.
Suppressing the Rebel Army cannot be accomplished simply by taking a long time.
With its complex terrain, intertwined forces, and diverse sentiments, even if he were given ten years, he might not be able to completely pacify the region.
Moreover, the bet he deliberately made was intended to force Zhang Yu to make an almost impossible promise in front of hundreds of millions of people across the country.
"If one year isn't enough, I'll give you three years."
Three years isn't enough, ten years will do.
Zhu Wuyuan spoke slowly and deliberately, as if he were bestowing an opportunity upon someone, but in reality, he was setting up a situation from which there was no way to turn things around.
The cheers in the square grew even louder; everyone was waiting to see Zhang Yu admit defeat.