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

Day two.

Before dawn, the capital city of Yujing was shrouded in a deep night.

Outside the palace, officials had been arriving one after another.

They all knew that today was the day Ye Wudao would reopen the court. If Ye Wudao succeeded, the positions they had worked so hard to climb for half their lives would be handed over to others!

Therefore, we must not let Ye Wudao succeed!

A deep horn sounded, the Meridian Gate opened wide, and palace maids and eunuchs had already swept the snow along the road.

The officials passed through the Meridian Gate and arrived at the Imperial Steps, where they stood in two neat rows.

The former officials of the Six Ministries, along with the original civil and military officials, had already lined up according to their ranks.

They stood quietly in the wind and snow, dressed in court robes and official hats.

Suddenly, a series of footsteps approached from afar.

A group of young people gradually came into view.

The person in charge was none other than Su Wensheng.

He wore a scarlet official robe, a black gauze hat, and a jade belt. He had a handsome face, and his brows still held a sharp edge that had not been worn down by officialdom.

Behind him, officials from the six new ministries arrived together.

The oldest among them was only forty years old, and the youngest was not even eighteen.

They were once students of the Imperial Academy, but today they wear the highest-ranking official robes of the Great Yan Dynasty and have become the new officials of the Six Ministries.

Li Juzheng and others felt uneasy.

The other side was originally a group of young people who should have looked up to them, but now they were wearing the same official robes as them and standing in the same places they used to be.

In an instant, Wu Qingxun's face turned extremely ugly.

He subconsciously looked at Chen Anyan, who was wearing the official robes of the Minister of Revenue!

Wu Qingxun finally couldn't hold back any longer and shouted coldly:

"I have studied diligently for decades, weathering countless ups and downs in officialdom, to reach my current position. What right do you, a mere child who hasn't even grown a beard yet, have to wear this official robe?"

As Wu Qingxun finished speaking, dissenting voices arose from all around:

"They're just a bunch of students from the Imperial Academy; do they think they're qualified to be in charge of the Six Ministries?"

"When did the imperial court's selection of officials become such a childish game?"

"Your Majesty is playing a joke on the Great Yan Empire!"

Chen Anyan did not back down an inch despite Wu Qingxun's insults.

He stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said:

"Lord Wu is right. We are indeed young and there is still much for us to learn."

"But we are the six ministers personally appointed by His Majesty. With His Majesty's decree preceding us and the court's appointment following us, we are in official robes and hold official positions, which is perfectly legitimate. How can you say we are unworthy?"

"You...you...you..." Wu Qingxun was so angry he stammered, "You don't follow etiquette, we don't accept that!"

The newly appointed Minister of Rites, Zhao Wenqian, stepped forward and announced in a loud voice:

"How dare you say that? Now that you have submitted your resignations, you are no longer officials appointed by the court."

Now that we have entered the court to serve as officials by His Majesty's decree, it is perfectly legitimate for us. On the contrary, it is you who are staying here to obstruct the new officials from entering the court, which is the real transgression of etiquette!

"Insolence! You are merely students promoted on a whim by His Majesty. Do you really think you can hold onto these positions?"

Whether you can sit still or not is not up to you to decide!

"Fuck! That son of a bitch!"

"Oh, oh, oh, you're getting impatient!"

Why not drown yourself in a mirror?

"Look at you, you're getting impatient again..."

Amidst the swirling snow, two groups of people confronted each other, exchanging profanities.

Just then, a voice called out from afar:

"His Majesty has arrived!"

Ye Wudao wore a twelve-chapter imperial robe, the gold threads gleaming in the wind and snow.

He wore a twelve-tassel crown, an emperor's sword at his waist, a jade belt around his waist, and gold-threaded cloud boots on his feet.

Dressed in a magnificent dragon robe, Ye Wudao's identity as a true dragon emperor was perfectly highlighted, exuding an aura of supreme authority.

He braved the wind and snow, walking between two groups of officials who were hurling insults at each other.

The crowd, who had been hurling insults and spittle, now lowered their heads and dared not utter a sound.

He looked at the two clearly distinct groups of people before him and said calmly:

"There is something I do not understand. Since you have already resigned from your posts, why are you still standing here?"

His gaze turned cold, sweeping over the crowd like a knife.

"Who gave you permission to stay?"

Ye Wudao's single sentence silenced the officials who had been so aggressive.

Yes.

They've all resigned, what face do they have to stay here?

Their original plan was that they would resign from their posts, and then Ye Wudao would realize that he couldn't do without them, so he would obediently come back and beg them to return.

But now, it's completely turned into them begging Ye Wudao to go back!

Wu Qingxun said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, the reason we submitted our resignations is because we cannot agree with Your Majesty's decision!"

"We may resign, but the Great Yan empire does not belong to His Majesty alone! Now that the court is undergoing a change of government, and the people are filled with anxiety, how can we, as former officials of Great Yan, simply leave at this time?"

He looked around and said sternly:

"We remain here for the sake of the Great Yan's empire! For the stability of the nation! And even more so for the sake of all the people under heaven!"

Ye Wudao was amused by the other party's shamelessness and said:

"This empire certainly doesn't belong to me alone, but it doesn't belong to you either!"

"I already have six new ministries. They are young and may not be as experienced as you, but they are willing to work and obey orders. So why should I need you?"

Amidst the wind and snow, all the officials remained deathly silent.

Ye Wudao spoke calmly:

"You think I can't govern the world without you? Then open your eyes wide and see, the Great Yan will continue to function without you!"

After saying that, Ye Wudao flicked his sleeves and turned to walk towards the palace gate.

"Attend court."

The sound faded.

The newly appointed Ministers of the Six Ministries immediately followed suit.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

A group of young officials braved the wind and snow, marching in a grand procession toward the palace.

Wu Qingxun and the others stood there, looking at each other in bewilderment.

They never expected that Ye Wudao would actually abandon them!

"this……"

Everyone opened their mouths, unsure of what to say.

Xiao Linyuan said calmly, "It seems that Ye Wudao has no intention of turning back now."

Li Juzheng was silent for a moment, then asked, "What does Your Highness mean?"

Xiao Linyuan smiled lightly, "I just think that if someone can stand up and persuade His Majesty to retract his order, perhaps there is still a chance for things to turn around."

Li Juzheng looked at him and said, "Your Highness wields immense power and has countless experts under your command. If you were to personally intervene, His Majesty would surely give you some face."

Xiao Linyuan's smile remained unchanged. "Your Excellency is too kind. If I were to intervene, wouldn't His Majesty think that I am forcing him?"

He paused for a moment, then said, "But the Grand Secretary, being the head of all civil officials in the land, might be more likely to persuade His Majesty if you were to offer your advice."

"How about... we go together?"

"Excellent!"

Xiao Linyuan handed over a memorial, "May I take a look at this, Your Excellency?"

Li Juzheng took the document and his pupils constricted sharply: "Famine is rampant in Henan, and rebels have risen up. Chenliu, Qixian, and Weishi counties have already fallen?!"

He was utterly shocked.

They had just decided to join forces against Ye Wudao when a rebellion broke out in Henan. What a coincidence!

Li Juzheng looked at Xiao Linyuan in front of him and felt a chill run down his spine.

Just how many extraordinary abilities does this person still possess?

Wherever he wants a rebellion to occur, it can occur.

Xiao Linyuan laughed loudly, instantly dispelling the previous tension: "His Majesty has the title of Emperor but lacks the real power to govern the regions. With the rebellion in Henan, he must rely on us!"

Li Juzheng bowed in reverence: "The Regent is truly wise!"