The other three people each had one vote; it's unclear whether they voted themselves or someone else did.

Xiao Zhixing picked up his pen and crossed out his own name directly, just like that.

She came out.

Yang Du walked in and seemed unsurprised by the result. He personally picked up the red notice, unfolded it, and faced the assembled officials. He even walked around to show everyone the details.

"May all of you bear witness to this final result."

The ministers still don't understand what the emperor is trying to do.

Zhao Yunqi laughed and said, "As everyone has seen, Yuan Sheng was the champion in the final competition of the Gentlemen's Academy. Does anyone have any objections?"

The group exchanged glances. "We have no objections."

After a three-year competition, even Feng Liyan couldn't honestly say that Xiao Zhixing wasn't the champion.

Zhao Yunqi stood up, looked down at everyone, and began to state his ultimate goal.

His gaze fixed on Xiao Zhixing, and he said, word by word, "When I built the Gentleman's Academy, it was meant to represent the intentions of a monarch and his son—"

………

A deathly silence.

Or rather, the officials' minds had gone completely blank.

The emperor's voice continued, "The Gentleman's Academy was established precisely for the purpose of selecting a crown prince to succeed to the throne."

"And the leader will surely defeat and subdue everyone, ultimately becoming the crown prince, as the popular choice!"

For a long, long time, the Gansheng Hall was deathly silent.

Thump.

An old minister couldn't withstand such a shock and fainted.

Li Xiao's legs went weak, and he knelt down heavily.

Thump thump thump.

Like dominoes falling, everyone was so terrified they forgot to speak, and then their legs went weak, and they knelt down, trembling uncontrollably.

The sky has fallen! The emperor has gone mad!!!

How could he dare to do something so absurd? How could he dare?!