"Everyone here knows that since ancient times, a nation without a ruler is a people without a master, and a people without a master means chaos throughout the land!"
"For thousands of years, this land of Daxia has been led by a line of sagacious and divine rulers. Every one of them was an Emperor Saint Monarch who bore the Mandate of Heaven, pacified the masses, expanded our borders, and projected their might across the four seas!"
"In the thirty years since the Yin Court abdicated, the nation has been without a leader. My cabinet’s orders do not reach beyond Yanjing, and warlords have carved up the country, causing the people to suffer beyond words!"
His voice grew more impassioned, his expression more fervent. "This is all because the nation has no ruler!"
Below the stage, some people’s faces paled slightly, some whispered to one another, and others remained expressionless.
Among the group of foreign representatives, a few curled their lips into amused, knowing smiles.
Yuan Datong ignored these reactions and continued his passionate speech. "Today, the Wa Country has its Emperor, Great Britain has its Empress, and the nations of the Southern Ocean are teeming with monarchs!"
"How can our great and vast nation be without a sovereign?"
The hall fell deathly silent. Everyone stared at him, and no one spoke.
Yuan Datong slowly lowered his hand, his voice dropping to a more somber tone. "Therefore, men of insight from all walks of life have jointly submitted a petition, pleading for the restoration of the monarchy. They ask for the establishment of a new emperor to legitimize the state and pacify the hearts of the people!"
"The cabinet meeting is imminent. You have all gathered here today to deliberate on this grand enterprise for the ages!"
After a moment of silence, applause surged like a tidal wave—some of it genuine, some perfunctory, and some obligatory.
Yuan Datong stood on the stage, basking in the hall-wide applause with a triumphant, satisfied smile.
Lu Yun sat in a corner, not applauding. Next came the customary toasting session.
Yuan Datong, holding a wine glass and surrounded by an entourage of followers, made his way from table to table.
At each table, there was a flurry of pleasantries, polite exchanges, and the clinking of glasses.
Finally, he arrived at the table for the General Affairs Office. Li Zhen and the others had already risen to their feet, each holding their glass high with faces plastered in fawning, sycophantic smiles.
"His Excellency the President, congratulations, congratulations!"
"We will certainly do our utmost to support Your Excellency the President’s grand enterprise for the ages!"
Yuan Datong smiled and nodded in response to each of them. His gaze then swept across the people at the table, finally landing on Lu Yun.
It couldn’t be helped; he stuck out like a sore thumb. Everyone else was standing, while Lu Yun alone remained seated.
Seeing this, Yuan Datong’s brow furrowed slightly. Li Zhen’s heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly stepped forward to smooth things over.
"Hahaha, Your Excellency the President, this is my in-law, from Yun Port City."
"He’s never met a great personage like yourself, Your Excellency, so... he’s a bit overwhelmed. Please don’t take offense, don’t take offense!"
Just then, a figure hurried over from a distance. It was Sun Niangu.
He walked to Yuan Datong’s side. When his gaze fell upon Lu Yun, a look of confusion appeared on Sun Niangu’s face.
’Am I seeing things? Why is the old master of the Lu Family here?’
So, Sun Niangu leaned in and whispered in Yuan Datong’s ear, "Your Excellency the President, that is Lu Yun."
"Oh?" Hearing this, Yuan Datong’s eyes instantly lit up.
The displeasure that had just been on his face was immediately replaced by a warm, enthusiastic smile.
He strode forward with his wine glass and personally offered it to Lu Yun. "So it’s Advisor Lu! A pleasure, a pleasure! I’ve heard so much about you!"
The people nearby were stunned by this scene. The President was personally offering a toast?
Who was this Advisor Lu?
Lu Yun finally moved. He slowly raised his glass, turned, and clinked it against Yuan Datong’s. But he never stood up.
"CLICK!"
"CLICK!"
"CLICK!"
A series of shutter clicks suddenly erupted!
The reporters who had been lying in wait in the corner sprang into action as if they’d been shot up with adrenaline, frantically snapping pictures!
Flashbulbs flickered nonstop, freezing the scene in one photograph after another.
In the photos, Yuan Datong was slightly bowed, extending his glass with a face full of smiles, while Lu Yun remained seated, calmly accepting the toast with a placid expression.
To them, this posture was a once-in-a-lifetime scene!
It was the meeting of the century! A photograph that could be passed down through the ages!
They could already imagine the sensation it would cause if this photo appeared on the front page of every major newspaper tomorrow!
However, what they didn’t know was that Lu Yun was a Grandmaster of Divine Intent. For Yuan Datong to receive a toast back from a being of this Realm was a blessing earned over eight lifetimes.
Feeling the incessant flashing of the cameras around him, Yuan Datong finally realized what was happening.
The smile on his face stiffened slightly, and he quickly straightened up.
’What the hell!’
’Here I am, a man about to become emperor, and I subconsciously bowed to toast a mere Grandmaster of Huajin.’
’And he was sitting the whole time! He didn’t even stand up!’
’Bastard! Damn it!’
Although the smile remained on Yuan Datong’s face, a sinister glint flashed in the depths of his eyes.
He glanced at the reporters who were still frantically snapping pictures. Most of them were foreigners. It seemed he wouldn’t be getting those photos back.
The few people from the General Affairs Office were now completely thunderstruck.
Their eyes went wide as they looked from Yuan Datong to Lu Yun, before their gazes fell in unison on Li Zhen.
Their glares were sharp enough to kill.
’Damn you, Li Zhen! Where in the world did you find such a ballsy in-law?’
’His Excellency the President offers him a toast, and he just sits there! Sits there! The nerve of this guy!’
Li Zhen himself was utterly baffled. He opened his mouth, as if wanting to make some sort of excuse.
But Yuan Datong was Yuan Datong, after all. He took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed his rising anger.

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