“How can the policies of governing a nation be understood by mere commoners?” Su Wu snorted coldly and immediately ordered, “Send word down, arrest all these people who are spreading rumors!”
“No, Your Majesty!” The man shook his head violently, a bitter expression on his face, and said, “It's not just a small group of people anymore; the entire Imperial Capital is filled with such voices… ”
“Good! Very good!” Su Wu's face was furious, veins throbbing on his forehead. He couldn't help but suspect that Great Xuan had deliberately instigated this matter to cause internal strife within Great Yan!
“Imperial Father, your son will go and see.” Su Jian's expression was not good. He bowed slightly and then quickly left the main hall.
Before he even left the Imperial Palace, he could already hear the deafening shouts.
“Rescue Third Prince! Let's fight them to the death!”
“Third Prince is a Genius; he shouldn't be sent to be a hostage!”
“Exchange Second Prince for Third Prince!!”
… Su Jian's face was ashen, wishing he could immediately beat Su Chen.
Knowing that he couldn't go out at this moment, he immediately returned to the main hall.
However, the main hall now had many more figures.
“Imperial Father, the commoners in the Imperial Capital have started rioting!!”
“Imperial Father, what should we do now? Are we really going to negotiate with Great Xuan to get Third Brother back?”
“Your Majesty, this matter cannot be delayed; there might be unforeseen changes!”
“…”
Inside the main hall, several ministers already looked anxious.
Several Imperial Princes were also present.
Su Wu's face grew darker and darker, a ball of anger hidden in his heart.
You, Su Chen, are still causing trouble even after leaving Great Yan! He attributed the cause of these riots to Su Chen, growing even more disgusted.
Su Jian knew that he couldn't let the people outside continue speaking, otherwise, he himself might not be able to escape. He quickly stepped forward and said, “Imperial Father, I observe that what the commoners care about most is not that you sent Third Brother away as a hostage, but his Aptitude.”
“They believe you sent a person who could lead and protect Great Yan in the future to an enemy nation.”
“Second Brother is right; most of the commoners' anger stems from this.” A man who looked considerably older than Su Jian said in a deep voice:
“Your son believes that as long as the commoners know that Third Brother actually has no Aptitude, or if they know Second Brother's Aptitude, this matter might be resolved.”
Su Jian's eyes flashed, thinking to himself, Big Brother's calculations are quite deep.
If this happened, he would certainly become the target of public criticism and have to face pressure from other countries.
If he died, the throne would naturally fall to his Big Brother.
Even knowing his calculations, Su Jian did not refute it.
Because he knew that the best solution at the moment was indeed this.
Moreover, the matter with Great Xuan was already set in stone; the two nations had signed an alliance. Even if Su Chen's identity as a good-for-nothing and his identity as a Genius were exposed, it wouldn't matter much.
If Great Xuan dared to act, they would unite with Great Wu Dynasty.
Su Wu obviously thought of this point as well. After only a brief thought, he gave the order: “Since that is the case, then announce to the world that Third Prince's Qi affinity is less than twenty, making him a good-for-nothing. The true Genius of our Great Yan Dynasty is Second Prince.”
This would certainly lead to some unexpected consequences.
Everyone present understood that once this declaration was made, not only within Great Yan Dynasty, but the other two nations would also surely be stirred up.
And Third Prince Su Chen would likely be verbally attacked by the ministers of Great Xuan Dynasty, or even killed… But at this moment, quelling the riot was the most urgent matter.
Everyone knew that Su Chen was already a discarded person; his value was to go to Great Xuan Dynasty as a hostage!
The people in the hall immediately sprang into action.
A moment later, the Imperial Capital's gates opened, and the sound of uniform footsteps echoed. Teams of soldiers ran out, skillfully blocking off the commoners.
Many people continued to shout.
Then, a powerful voice came from the palace, resounding throughout the Imperial Capital.
“By order of the Emperor, it is hereby announced to the world that while it is widely rumored that Third Prince's Aptitude is outstanding, this is not true. It is hereby clarified that the Genius of our Great Yan is Second Prince. Third Prince has had low Qi affinity since childhood and no Cultivation Aptitude. All of you, do not be swayed by rumors!”
Upon hearing this, the entire city erupted in an uproar.
Everyone was shocked and began to process this news in their minds.
Those who were still cheering all fell silent, their faces filled with disbelief.
Third Prince isn't a Genius? Second Prince is?
What's going on?
They couldn't believe it.
After the shock, waves of doubt spread.
“Third Prince isn't a Genius? I remember back then it was rumored in the Imperial Palace that Third Prince was a Genius!”
“That's right, if you say Third Prince isn't a Genius and Second Prince is, how do you prove it?”
“I don't believe this is false!!”
“If Third Prince isn't a Genius, why did Great Xuan insist on him being a hostage?”
… Facing the doubts arising from all directions, Second Prince Su Jian personally appeared on the Imperial Palace wall. In front of countless people, he directly displayed his Cultivation.
Among the commoners, there were not a few Cultivators. Seeing this, they all exclaimed in surprise: “Qi Condensation Realm eighth level!! It's actually Qi Condensation Realm eighth level!!”
“Heavens, Second Prince, at the age of seventeen, has already reached the Qi Condensation Realm eighth level?”
“A Genius, an absolute Genius!!”
“I never thought this would be true; Second Prince really is a Genius!”
Even those who were not Cultivators knew what the Qi Condensation Realm was, and at this moment, they were all dumbfounded.
Looking at the shocked gazes of the crowd below, Su Jian also felt a secret thrill in his heart. In order to make Su Chen a “Genius,” he had endured for so many years, never daring to reveal his Realm outside.
He also had to pretend to be a profligate.
Now that Su Chen was a hostage, he had no more reservations.
At this point, the tone of the crowd below completely changed.
“So, Third Prince really isn't a Genius???”
“I understand now. This must have been to protect Second Prince, which is why Third Prince was given the name of Genius. Otherwise, Second Prince would have been the hostage.”
“Your Majesty's foresight is truly profound; we almost misunderstood him.”
“Thinking about it carefully, Third Prince really seems to have never shown his strength…”
“Third Prince can also be considered to have contributed to our Great Yan Dynasty.”
“To be able to save so many of our lives with his life alone, he can be considered a model among Imperial Princes!”
“Everyone, disperse. It's fine now. With Second Prince here, what we have lost will eventually be regained in time!”
… The folks from Taiping Street, who were mixed in the crowd, heard the words of the people around them, and their hearts sank, followed by immense disappointment.
These were the commoners of Great Yan, so realistic.
Just because Third Prince wasn't a Genius, they changed their tune.
To them, even if Third Prince was a good-for-nothing, he was still their benefactor.
They knew that this plan was hopeless. If they didn't leave quickly, once the Imperial Palace attendants investigated, none of them would escape.
The surging crowd began to recede, and this riot in the Great Yan Imperial Capital was completely quelled.
The name of Second Prince as a Genius and Third Prince as a good-for-nothing began to spread to more distant places.
Inside Taiping Street.
People from all over ran back. Without needing instructions from others, they consciously returned to their homes to pack their belongings, preparing to flee this place.
And where they were going was Great Xuan.
Since they had failed in Great Yan, they would go to Great Xuan to see if their benefactor was suffering torture… If there was an opportunity, even if it cost them their lives, they would rescue him.