I've finished my speech. Who agrees Who opposes

As soon as this thought emerged, Su Jin felt it was highly probable.

After all, she knew very well that although her Second Uncle valued the family's honor and disgrace above all else, he always tried to preserve familial ties whenever possible. Whether it was for her, her second sister Su Xiu, her third sister Su Li, or the rest of the clan, her Second Uncle would always seek blessings for them when feasible.

Therefore, it was entirely possible that he had helped her third sister, Su Li, escape this chaotic world.

Moreover...

She had not witnessed Su Li's death with her own eyes. Everything was just what her Second Uncle had told them. He could have easily manipulated the situation to save Su Li from her bitter fate!

However... even if that were true, her Second Uncle would have strictly ordered Su Li to stay in their hometown, absolutely forbidding her from taking a single step outside. Yet now... someone suspected to be Su Li had appeared, and in the capital no less.

What was Su Li trying to do?

"Su Jin, are you alright?"

Zhou Ze, the Chief Commander of the Demon Suppression Division, couldn't help but ask when he saw Su Jin's face suddenly turn pale.

"Quick, quick, quick..." Su Jin's voice suddenly grew urgent. "Did you see that woman in white wearing a bamboo hat? Hurry, send someone to check and bring her here, quick..."

It was Zhou Ze's first time seeing Su Jin so anxious and panicked. Not daring to delay, he immediately called for a subordinate. This was a soldier he had carefully selected from the army named Xie Changfeng, a brave and resolute man who served as his right hand.

"Go bring that woman here immediately!"

Receiving his orders, Xie Changfeng rushed off with lightning speed.

Alas, the sea of people was vast. By the time he reached the spot, the woman in white was nowhere to be found. No matter how capable Xie Changfeng was, he could only return in disappointment.

"My Lord, your humble servant is incompetent. I failed to bring the woman back."

Su Jin collapsed into her chair, her mind a mess and her heart burning with anxiety.

What on earth was Su Li here to do?

Wasn't it better to stay safely in the old estate and enjoy a lifetime of wealth and peace? Why come unannounced and suddenly appear in the capital?

Su Jin racked her brains.

As the eldest sister, Su Jin knew Su Li very well. She was a child who rarely spoke since she was young, hiding all her thoughts in her heart. Otherwise, her Second Uncle wouldn't have trusted her so easily back then, almost marrying her off to the Great General Ren Tianye as the facade of the Su family, which nearly resulted in a catastrophe.

Under normal circumstances, someone with such a personality would keep everything bottled up inside and accomplish nothing significant in their lifetime. But once presented with an opportunity, they could turn the world upside down driven by the obsession in their heart.

Then... what was Su Li's obsession?

With a loud clang, Su Jin swept the teacup in front of her onto the floor in her panic. At that moment, she figured it out.

Su Li's obsession was Ye Fan!

Ye Fan was dead. Therefore, if Su Li was still alive, she would only have one obsession!

Revenge!

To avenge Ye Fan!

A loud boom echoed as if a clap of thunder had exploded above her head. Su Jin's face grew even paler.

The person who killed Ye Fan was the Great General, Ren Tianye!

Her third sister, Su Li, wanted to seek revenge against General Ren Tianye?!

Their Northern Frontier Su family had finally managed to gain the Great General's trust, being entrusted with all the commercial affairs of the realm. And now, Su Li was here to seek revenge against him?!

Setting aside whether Su Li even had the chance, just harboring such thoughts and acting upon them was a massive taboo!

Was the entire nine generations of their Northern Frontier Su family going to be in imminent peril once again?

"No, I must write to Second Uncle immediately to confirm if that person is indeed Su Li. If not, I'll treat it as a false alarm. But if she is, we need to plan accordingly as soon as possible."

"I absolutely cannot let Su Li act recklessly!"

Having made up her mind, Su Jin immediately set off to do it, leaving Zhou Ze completely hanging and looking bewildered.

Wait, what was she doing?

At a time of such great transition, when they should be investigating the late Emperor's deeds to report to the Grand Commandant for a massive merit... the discussion wasn't even over, and she just ran off?

...

After Empress Xiao Mingzhao was properly settled, the ministers gathered at the White Tiger Hall. This was an important meeting place within the imperial palace, often used for joint consultations among the outer court ministers. Right now, with Xiao Mingzhao in a coma, the court's affairs were essentially put on hold again.

Furthermore, the fact that Xiao Mingzhao had fallen into a deep coma could not be hidden. It would soon spread throughout the realm, and the already chaotic world would likely boil over even more.

Not to mention, Lin Zixiao was leading an army of two hundred thousand troops, drawing closer and closer to the capital!

How could these important court ministers possibly discuss and make arrangements?

Ren Tianye was the first to enter the hall, sitting down casually.

Two people followed behind him.

One was Su Pengcheng from the capital's Su family, who came in his capacity as a strategist.

The other was the Marquis of Changping, Wei Shuo. Having finished clearing the battlefield and sorting things out, he had also come to support Ren Tianye.

Behind them were the court officials.

After sitting down, Ren Tianye glanced around and suddenly felt an urge to laugh.

There were several court ministers in the hall right now, but it was a complicated mix! There were pillars of the state blindly loyal to the Great Yu Dynasty like Pei Jingzhi; cowardly fence-sitters just trying to save their own skin like the Prime Minister; new officials like Su Pengcheng; and a few brain-dead ministers whom Su Jin had already found to be hopelessly obsessed with romance...

It was truly a packed house of utter chaos and complexity!

"How interesting!"

"Looking throughout all of history, to have a court filled with people harboring so many messy, conflicting motives is something I've never heard of or seen before!"

Ren Tianye chuckled inwardly. Just as he was about to speak, Su Pengcheng suddenly dropped to his knees with a heavy thud. "Grand Commandant, my fellow ministers, this humble commoner has something to say. Though I know it may be inappropriate, at this very moment, it must be said."

"The matter of supporting a new monarch, while not urgently pressing this very second, cannot be delayed either. Otherwise, should anything untoward happen to Her Majesty, what will become of the state's affairs? This humble commoner believes we must prepare immediately."

"At the very least, we should decide on a candidate as soon as possible."

"If circumstances change, we won't be caught off guard."

Pausing briefly, he immediately continued, "This humble commoner recommends the son of the Marquis of Xuan'en as the new monarch. This person comes from a clean background, has upright roots, and possesses a pure, kind, and benevolent nature. His moral character is well-known; he couldn't even bear to trample an ant, and the entire court and public admire him."

"Furthermore, he is completely impartial, not involved in partisan politics, and untainted by past grievances. With him succeeding the throne, the political landscape can be cleared, and the people's hearts can be stabilized!"

As soon as Su Pengcheng said this, everyone in the hall was instantly dumbfounded. Even Wei Shuo, Ren Tianye's subordinate, looked on in sheer disbelief. Ren Tianye himself was completely bewildered.

Wait, who on earth was this son of the Marquis of Xuan'en?

He had studied quite a few imperial genealogy records, so why did he have absolutely zero impression of this Marquis of Xuan'en, let alone his son?

Right at that moment, Pei Jingzhi, who had been holding back for a long time, completely lost his patience. He jumped up and tried to kick Su Pengcheng. Fortunately, he was held back by others; otherwise, a free-for-all boxing match would have broken out in the prestigious White Tiger Hall.

However, the anger on Pei Jingzhi's face remained unquelled as he slammed the table and roared, "Su Pengcheng, your Su family has served as historians for generations, recording the annals of time. How can you be so shameless now?"

"That child is only two years old! He is still in swaddling clothes, still smelling of his mother's milk, and can't even speak properly! Yet you sprout nonsense about his pure and kind nature, and his lack of involvement in partisan politics! Do you have any conscience left at all?"

Ren Tianye, sitting in his chair, swayed slightly in shock.

Who would have thought! Who would have ever thought!

This thick-eyebrowed, big-eyed Su Pengcheng was actually ruthless to the core!

However, his expression remained stern as he said mildly, "Lord Pei, just answer me this: is that child not of a pure and honest nature? Is he not completely untainted by partisan disputes?"

"Is it not true that he wouldn't even have the heart to trample an ant?"

Pei Jingzhi was rendered speechless.

It wasn't that he lacked the eloquence to debate, but rather that there was no arguing with such utter nonsense. To install a two-year-old child on the throne—wasn't it crystal clear who would truly rule the Great Yu Empire?!

Ren Tianye harbored treasonous ambitions.

Since he was acting so shamelessly, what was the point of arguing further?

With a cold snort, Pei Jingzhi flicked his sleeves and stormed off.

Ren Tianye's gaze swept across the hall. He took in the Chancellor, who looked as though he wanted to speak but dared not, and the rest of the officials, whose minds were clearly elsewhere. Understanding the situation perfectly, he simply stood up.

"I, the Grand Commandant, believe that Su Pengcheng's recommendation is quite reasonable."

"I wish to recommend that..."

As he spoke, Ren Tianye glanced at Su Pengcheng.

Su Pengcheng immediately whispered a reminder, "The son of the Marquis of Xuan'en."

"Yes, I recommend the son of the Marquis of Xuan'en!"

After a brief pause, Ren Tianye continued, "I have finished speaking. Who is in favor? Who is against?"

...