The Empress remarried, and I retaliated by wiping out the court.

The Imperial Study.

As soon as Ye Wudao stepped into the palace, he saw Cao Ji standing in front of the desk.

"Your Majesty," Cao Ji hurried forward and said in a low voice, "something has happened."

Ye Wudao frowned: "What?"

Cao Ji did not answer, but pointed to the Imperial Study.

The once spacious imperial study was now filled with memorials, some of which were covered in dust.

Originally, after he reviewed these memorials, they were to be transcribed by the Directorate of Ceremonial and then sent directly to the Six Ministries for execution.

But now, all the officials of the six ministries have been dismissed, and all the officials of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs have fled.

These revised memorials could only gather dust in the Imperial Study.

Ye Wudao realized that the trouble caused by the dismissal of officials was far more serious than he had imagined.

It wasn't that there were no memorials to approve, but rather that after they were approved, no one carried them out.

Officials at every level have their responsibilities, and now that they have all been dismissed, it means the paralysis of the entire administrative system!

Cao Ji gave a wry smile: "The memorials sent from various prefectures and counties are now being ignored and are just piling up here. If this continues, I'm afraid that local officials, seeing that the court is not responding, will start doing their own thing, and it probably won't be long before..."

Cao Ji didn't finish his sentence, but Ye Wudao already understood what he meant.

If the central government is completely paralyzed, then the local governments will each become their own rulers, and the imperial court will fall apart!

He urgently needs to appoint new officials!

Ye Wudao flicked his sleeve: "Prepare the carriage for the Imperial Academy!"

…………

The Imperial College is more bustling than ever before.

Students gathered in twos and threes, discussing the hottest topics in Beijing recently.

"Have you heard? His Majesty has killed someone again!"

"It wasn't just killing people! I heard that they led three thousand imperial guards to attack Yanlang Mountain overnight, killing over five hundred and seventy bandits in one night!"

Su Wensheng took a sip of wine and said, "Hmph, it's nothing but the courage of a fool."

A young scholar in a blue robe laughed and said, "Brother Su is absolutely right. His Majesty only relies on his family background. If we're talking about talent, governance, or literature, how can he compare to you?"

"that is."

The people around immediately agreed.

"Brother Su is the leading figure in the literary world today, a genius that comes along only once in a century. If it weren't for Ye Wudao's interference, Brother Su would probably have already married Empress Liang."

Su Wensheng took a sip of wine: "That despicable Ye Wudao! You haven't even finished reading the Four Books and Five Classics. If you hadn't been born into a good family, you wouldn't even be as good as one of my fingers!"

"Shh, keep your voice down."

Just then.

A voice suddenly came from behind them.

"You say I'm not even as good as one of your fingers? Very well, I'll give you a chance. Stand before me and say those words again!"

The sound wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.

In an instant.

All the laughter stopped abruptly.

Su Wensheng's smile froze instantly.

next moment.

He saw a young man dressed in a dragon robe, wearing an imperial crown, and with an emperor's sword hanging at his waist step into the Imperial Academy.

Everyone was terrified and immediately knelt down, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty! Long live Your Majesty!"

Ye Wudao looked down at Su Wensheng and said calmly, "Repeat what you just said to me!"

The students around him kept their heads down, not daring to breathe.

Su Wensheng's face turned slightly pale.

But the next moment, he gritted his teeth, emboldened by the alcohol, and raised his head to look directly at Ye Wudao:

"Isn't that right? If you hadn't been born into a good family, how would I, Su Wensheng, be inferior to you? Are you as talented as me? Can you write poetry? Can you govern a country? You can't do anything, what qualifications do you have to be in that position!"

These words shocked everyone present.

This kid...is he looking for death?

Su Wensheng continued, "Your Majesty, if you wish to kill me, then kill me! Although I, Su Wensheng, am merely a scholar, I know the meaning of integrity!"

These words immediately caused a stir among the surrounding students.

"Brother Su is right!"

"We scholars should uphold integrity!"

"Even the emperor cannot kill someone because of a few unpleasant words!"

Upon seeing this, a smug glint flashed in Su Wensheng's eyes.

This is exactly the effect he wanted!

If Ye Wudao were to kill him, he would be branded as a cruel and wicked man who harms scholars.

But if he doesn't kill him... then he will publicly humiliate him severely to avenge the theft of his wife!

Su Wensheng said arrogantly, "If Your Majesty thinks I am wrong, then let us have a contest. The loser shall admit that he is inferior to the other!"

These words caused an uproar among the crowd.

Cao Ji's eyelids twitched violently. You want His Majesty to compete with you? Who do you think you are!

He thought His Majesty would refuse, but to his surprise, His Majesty actually agreed:

"Okay, what should we compete in?"

Su Wensheng said, "Let's take composing a poem as an example. Use...river water, yes, river water is the most common theme, so use river water as the subject. Don't say I'm bullying you!"

"Can!"

Ye Wudao laughed and said, "However, the bet needs to be changed. The loser has to be the other's slave for life, and can never go back on their word!"

Rather than killing Su Wensheng directly, Ye Wudao preferred to keep this person as a bargaining chip in his hands!

It's important to know that Leung Mei was deeply in love with Su Wensheng. In the original story, Su Wensheng was murdered, and Leung Mei did everything she could to avenge him, eventually committing suicide at Su Wensheng's grave.

In other words, as long as Su Wensheng is controlled, Liang Mei can be effectively tied down, thereby influencing the Prince of Nanling behind her!

Upon hearing this, the entire room fell into a deathly silence!

Who would have thought that the emperor, who couldn't even read all the characters, would actually want to compete in poetry with Su Wensheng, the top scholar of the Imperial Academy? Wasn't that just courting death?

Just because I call you Your Majesty, do you really think you're all-powerful?

next moment.

"His Majesty!"

An old and urgent voice came from afar.

Everyone turned to look.

An elderly man dressed in a blue official robe, surrounded by several officials from the Imperial Academy, hurried over.

It was Cai Wenyuan, the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy.

As he approached, he overheard Ye Wudao and Su Wensheng's bet, and his face instantly turned deathly pale.

"Your Majesty, you mustn't!"

Cai Wenyuan immediately knelt down.

"Su Wensheng is young and impetuous, speaks recklessly, and has offended His Majesty, a capital offense! His Majesty's magnanimity in not pursuing the matter is already an act of divine grace. How can we make such an absurd bet with him?"

"Your Majesty, please rescind your order!"

Several officials from the Imperial College around him also knelt down.

"Your Majesty, please rescind your order!"

Cai Wenyuan's forehead was covered in cold sweat.

Are you kidding me? This is a ruthless emperor who kills without blinking an eye!

To pit the emperor against a student of the Imperial Academy in a poetry contest?

What if I lose?

Are we really going to serve Su Wensheng like a slave? What about the reputation of the entire Great Yan?

Ye Wudao merely glanced at him indifferently.

"I have already agreed."

"His Majesty!"

A ruler's word is his bond!

Ye Wudao's voice was calm.

"Since I have said I would compete, I will naturally not go back on my word."

"Wait!"

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from afar, and Liang Mei walked over quickly.

Her gaze lingered on Su Wensheng for a moment, and she immediately recognized that this was a trap set to kill Su Wensheng.

Even if Su Wensheng wins, given Ye Wudao's personality, he will definitely kill the other party!

She said softly, "Young Master Su is exceptionally talented, a rare genius in this era. Why must Your Majesty use your own weaknesses to attack his strengths?"

Upon hearing this, a hint of smugness flashed in Su Wensheng's eyes.

see it?

Even Xiaomei thinks I'm better than you!

Ye Wudao sneered: "Does my beloved concubine mean... that I am inferior to him?"

"Your Majesty..." Liang Mei paused for a moment, "That's not what I meant. As long as Your Majesty promises not to kill him, the competition is naturally possible."

"Alright, I promise I won't kill him!"

"Okay, you said it! Don't go back on your word later!"

Liang Mei looked at Su Wensheng with a beaming smile:

"Wen Sheng, hold back! Let some people know that arrogance comes at a price!"