Murong Tie immediately felt a pang of heartache and said, "Since Young Prime Minister knows that my order for you to fetch the bow was a scheme against you, then you should also know that the Shocking Spirit Bow was not brought by me."

“I know.” Zhao Cheng smiled and said, “Send someone back to inform my third son that the Spirit-Startling Bow is in hand and that he can bring it back on the way.”

Murong Tie lowered his head, hesitating with difficulty.

Zhao Cheng asked, "What, you're unwilling? Is your life, as the eldest son of the prestigious Murong family, less valuable than a bow?"

Murong Tie said, "The Jingling Bow is a family heirloom of the Murong family. I'm not sure if my father will give it to me."

That's your problem.

Zhao Cheng got up and walked to the door, saying, "Your life is your life too. You can figure out how to pass on the message to your father yourself."

Murong Tie stopped Zhao Cheng, who was about to leave, and said, "I didn't follow Wen Pojun's plan. What if he wants to retaliate against me?"

Zhao Cheng said, "By now, my sister should already be fighting with Wen Pojun. Wen Pojun is injured and no match for my sister. He can only save his life by leaving Yanchuan City, so you don't need to worry. But similarly, my sister can only protect you and keep an eye on you. Don't even think about running away before the Jingling Bow arrives."

"I won't run away!" Murong Tie said respectfully, "I'll go to the club tonight and get a membership!"

Zhao Cheng shouted, "Li Guanyu!"

Li Guanyu quickly came in.

Zhao Cheng said, "Young Master is going to the club tonight to sign up for a membership. Please arrange for him to get the most prestigious membership."

Li Guanyu immediately understood.

All members of the club are exactly the same, so there's no distinction between the noble and the non-noble. Zhao Cheng said this so that Li Guanyu could take the opportunity to rip off Murong Tie.

Aren't you rich?

Then I'll make you feel pain again.

...

The imperial examinations were in full swing, and Dongfang Jun openly exerted his 'efficacy' by recruiting talented individuals for Prince Xin.

Whether they have real talent or not is not important. What Dongfang Jun is testing is whether the students are loyal enough to Prince Xin and whether they are filial enough to him.

The chaotic state of the examination hall infuriated Xu Shouli and He Yin, but they were powerless to do anything about it, as the central government was now under Yuan Li's absolute control.

Xu Shouli had predicted the situation in Tianyong County. Three types of people had emerged in this large western border county of the empire. The first were the rioters from the east who were migrating eastward to escape famine. The second were the rioters from the north who were fleeing to the three northern counties, but were refused entry by Wang Ren. Wang Ren had his own considerations. The three northern counties had only recently stabilized, and their economies weren't doing too well. Allowing a large influx of rioters would not only cripple their economies but could also plunge the region into chaos again.

Unable to enter, these rioters were exploited by lurking mobs in the three northern counties. These mobs incited the rioters' emotions, launching a coordinated uprising from within. Even Xu Shouli hadn't anticipated that the situation would escalate to this point. He had expected the riot to break out in Tianyong County, but he never imagined that its flames would spread to the three northern counties.

Without an order from the imperial court, Wang Ren was forced to take up his post and once again raised his bloody butcher's knife against the mob.

The third group consisted of rebels from the western, southern, and central parts of the prefecture. While they were hesitating between migrating eastward or joining the northward-bound rebellion, their western neighbor, the Great Yue Kingdom, extended a helping hand. The Great Yue Kingdom not only provided material relief but also opened its borders, welcoming the rebels to seek refuge there.

It is said that the prince of the Great Yue Kingdom organized this aid, while Zhou Chuan, the special envoy of the Great Jing Empire, was in charge of it personally.

Xu Shouli had anticipated this, but he hadn't expected Zhou Chuan to get involved and help the Dayue Kingdom absorb the people of Dajing.

Xu Shouli, perhaps in Zhou Chuan's eyes, had no concept of a nation; he simply wanted to help more people suffering from misfortune.

But no matter what, Tianyong County is now defunct.

Yuan Xiu ignored all these situations and stayed in the Imperial New Hall all day without coming out.

After Wen Tai was imprisoned, Yuan Xiu didn't even bother to follow the rule of holding court every seven days. Since all government affairs were handled by the Central Secretariat, he had been staying in the Imperial New Hall for a whole month without showing his face.

Xu Shouli, unable to bear it any longer, dragged He Yin and a group of ministers to Yuan Xiu's palace.

The group stopped in front of the imperial bedchamber, and Xu Shouli shouted, "I want to see the Emperor!"

"I have come to see the Emperor!!"

"Let us see the Emperor!!!"

Jin Hu hurriedly ran down the steps. Seeing this commotion, he quickly smiled apologetically and said, "Lord Qingdong, Minister He, gentlemen, what is the reason for this?"

Xu Shouli said sternly, "Eunuch Jin, don't you understand? We've made it very clear: we want to see the Emperor."

"Please wait a moment, my lord, I will go and report this immediately."

Jin Hu quickly entered the palace and came out with Wei You a while later.

Wei You wasn't in such a hurry. He slowly walked down the steps, politely bowed to Xu Shouli and the others, and said, "My lord, what brings you to His Majesty?"

Xu Shouli said solemnly, "Lord Wei, you don't need to worry about this. We will naturally tell the Emperor when we see him."

Wei You said, "His Majesty is taking a nap."

Xu Shouli angrily said, "It's this late, and you're still taking a nap?"

Wei You said, "My lord, please be careful with your words. How can we possibly criticize His Majesty's schedule?"

“Why not?” Li Shu stepped out from the ranks and said, “These are the matters that my Ministry of Rites is responsible for. His Majesty has not attended court for a month. Does the rule that His Majesty made with the deposed prime minister, which stipulates a court session every seven days, no longer apply?”

Wei You smiled and said, "Minister Li, as you yourself said, he is already a deposed prime minister, so the rules are naturally abolished as well."

He Yin interjected, "The ministers haven't seen His Majesty for a month. If I may be so disrespectful, Lord Wei, shouldn't you at least let us know that His Majesty is still alive?"

"How dare you!"

Wei You immediately stopped smiling and said sternly, "How dare you speak ill of His Majesty's health? Are you cursing His Majesty?"

He Yin said coldly, "Lord Wei, there's no need for you to label us like this. We must see His Majesty today!"

Xu Shouli walked down the steps and sat down on the spot, saying, "Isn't His Majesty taking a nap? Then I will wait here. After His Majesty wakes up, please ask Lord Wei to report to His Majesty."

Seeing this, He Yin and Li Shu sat down on either side of Xu Shouli, and the other ministers who had come with them also took their seats behind Xu Shouli.

Wei You and Jin Hu exchanged a glance, snorted coldly, and strode towards the palace.

"Then you'll just have to wait!"

As they reached the door, Wei You looked at Dian Chen, who was guarding outside, and said, "Lord Dian, His Majesty hates being disturbed when he is resting. Keep a close eye on them and don't let anyone go up the steps."

"yes!"

Dian Chen patted the double axes at his waist, led his guards down the steps, and formed a human wall in front of Xu Shouli and the others.

Xu Shouli's face darkened.

The atmosphere in front of the palace suddenly plummeted to freezing point!