Chapter 1904: I wish to resign and return to the fields, I implore Your Majesty's approval!

Boom!

The content of the imperial edict was like a thunderbolt from the nine heavens, exploding the entire Jin Luandian into silence!

The next second.

"Hiss!"

A series of gasps rose and fell, converging into a wave of shock!

Lu Zhen was dumbfounded, his eyes wide.

Good heavens, this brat is only in his twenties and is already... Duke of Zhenguo?

Song Li was also stupid.

He was stiff all over, both fortunate and shocked.

Duke Prefecture, two... Dukes in one family!

A Duke of Zhenguo in his twenties—what kind of terror is this?

These past few days, there was no lack of voices in Changancheng. Some felt Gao Yang was showing his edge too much, his merit overshadowing the master, and said Wu Zhao was hanging the reward without giving it, already on guard.

But this imperial edict... came.

A Duke of Zhenguo in his twenties, bestowed with a four-clawed golden-scaled python robe, equal in rank to a Prince!

What kind of glory is this?

Song Li's intestines were almost turning green with regret.

If the Song family hadn't broken off the engagement initially, wouldn't his Song family also share this glory today?

Why would he be afraid and take the initiative to resign?

It's just a pity that there are no 'ifs' in everything...

In the Censorate, a group of censors led by Huang Yushi were all dumbfounded.

For the past two days, their memorials were like snowflakes, frantically impeaching, listing Gao Yang's great crimes, their hands were written soft, and they had ruined several brush tips.

As a result, Gao Yang was fine, and he was even enfeoffed as Duke of Zhenguo and was going to wear a four-clawed golden-scaled python robe?

Some censors with weak endurance almost had their eyes go black, clutching their chests and about to collapse.

This imperial decree was no longer just slapping their faces with a resounding crack... it was whipping them viciously, almost to the point of shredding them!

Wu Zhao sat on the dragon throne, her phoenix eyes shining, the corners of her mouth holding a smile that was almost proud.

She looked at the straight figure below the steps, her heart surging.

"Gao Yang, do you see? This is my answer!"

"This is what I can give you... gifting the entire country! Two Dukes in one family, shining through the ages!"

"I said if you do not fail me, I will never fail you. Today, I will use this most noble Duke title of Da Qian and the most prominent four-clawed golden-scaled python robe as proof! I want to... cast this immortal monarch-subject story with you!"

"Prime Minister, please accept the edict."

Xiao Yuan's voice carried a trace of excitement, and she couldn't help but urge him.

Gao Yang took a deep breath, but there was no joy on his face, only deep shock and a trace of indescribable complexity.

He raised his eyes and happened to meet Wu Zhao's bright gaze full of expectation. A stone seemed to be thrown into the deepest part of his heart, rippling, and then it was frozen by deeper determination.

Wu Zhao's reward surprised him and also moved him somewhat.

He naturally knew how much pressure Wu Zhao had endured and how much criticism it would invite.

This reward was not insignificant.

But...

"Your Majesty, this subject thanks Your Majesty for your grace, but this subject has a request..."

Gao Yang stepped out, his eyes staring straight at Wu Zhao, who was shining on the dragon throne.

Wu Zhao was stunned for a moment, then waved her hand, full of smiles.

"Prime Minister, just say what you have to say, I... will not refuse!"

Gao Yang bent his body to ninety degrees, and his calm voice sounded like a storm, suddenly echoing through the Jin Luandian.

"Your subject dares to implore Your Majesty to rescind the order, and at the same time... I, Gao Yang, request to resign from the positions of Chancellor, Marquis of Champions, General of Agile Cavalry, and all other official posts and titles I hold!"

"This subject implores... Your Majesty's approval!"

Once these words were spoken, the whole court was shocked.

The imperial edict in Xiao Yuan's hand fell with a plop, but she was completely unaware.

Cui Xinghe looked up in shock, full of disbelief.

Wang Zhong, Lu Wen, and others were also full of fear, as if they had heard the most incredible thing in the world.

Song Li's pupils shrank, as if he had seen a ghost.

Crazy!

He actually treated the Duke of Zhenguo like discarded shoes?!

He really couldn't believe his ears. What had he just heard?

Gao Yang actually... resigned?

General of the Flying Cavalry, Champion Marquis, Prime Minister of Da Qian, and this Duke of Zhenguo within reach—what kind of glory and power is this?

Gao Yang's tone was as if he were talking about a few cabbages by the roadside that didn't cost money, saying he didn't want them if he didn't want them?

Lu Zhen was full of shock. He thought Gao Yang was joking, but when he saw Gao Feng's silent face, he instantly gasped, his scalp numb.

This Gao Yang... he really wanted to resign!

The smile on Wu Zhao's face froze, cracked, and shattered in an instant.

Her body leaned forward involuntarily, and her phoenix eyes were filled with extreme shock, confusion, and a trace of embarrassment from being slapped in the face in public, as well as a panic she herself couldn't even detect.

"Prime Minister... what did you just say? Did I hear you wrong?"

Wu Zhao clenched the dragon throne, her voice dry and incredulous.

"This subject returned from Hexi, heart and spirit damaged, unable to sleep at night, the bloodiness of the battlefield constantly lingering, truly... unable to bear the burden. I implore Your Majesty... to sympathize with this subject's... exhaustion, withdraw the order, and... approve this subject's resignation from all official positions and titles, to return to the fields!"

Gao Yang's calm voice, carrying endless exhaustion, sounded.

In an instant.

The hundred officials were full of shock.

If most people didn't believe the first resignation, and even felt Gao Yang was joking, then they truly realized with the second resignation—

Gao Yang was not joking; he really wanted to resign and return to the fields!

For a time.

All the noise in the Jin Luandian disappeared, leaving only the sound of each other's nervous heartbeats.

But they didn't believe a single word of Gao Yang's reason for resigning.

You, Gao Yang, the dignified Da Qian Living Yama, the world's number one vicious strategist, who turned Great Chu's rattan-armored soldiers into barbecue in the defense of Changancheng, and even proposed cutting off the Canglan River, making millions of Great Chu people have no water to drink—a ruthless person.

You... would be unable to sleep at night because of the cruelty of the battlefield?

This reason, not to mention the civil and military officials of the court, even a three-year-old child wouldn't believe it!

Wu Zhao's phoenix eyes turned red, and her jade hand gripping the dragon throne's armrest squeezed until her knuckles turned white.

She said word by word, "Heart and spirit damaged, unable to sleep at night, then get treated!"

"But resignation, I... do not approve!"

"This matter... do not mention it again, my mind is made up!"

Gao Yang ignored Wu Zhao's rage. He slowly, extremely solemnly... raised his hands, his fingertips touching the purple-gold Qilin crown on his head, which symbolized being one person below and ten thousand people above, and represented the peak power of civil officials.

Gao Yang's movements were very slow, but they attracted the attention of everyone in the hall.

Click!

With a soft sound, the binding was untied.

Gao Yang held the crown with both hands, then... bent down gently, and placed this purple-gold Qilin crown, which symbolized endless power, squarely and silently on the cold, smooth gold brick beside him.

The tassels fell, stained with dust.

Immediately after.

Gao Yang lifted his robe, knelt on both knees, his forehead pressed tightly against the floor bricks in the Jin Luandian, and said loudly.

"This subject, Gao Yang, requests to resign from all official positions and titles, imploring... Your Majesty's approval!"