What prince, what brain, what prospects
The main hall of the Chang Le Palace was not small, and in the corners of the hall, there were some palace maids and eunuchs on standby.
Suddenly, the Second Prince barged in, and they were so frightened that they were almost about to faint. They could only cling tightly to the wall, not daring to run out, fearing that they would attract the attention of the emperor and the princes inside the hall.
“Rebel, what nonsense are you spouting?”
Although Lu Zhang was furious, he was not at all flustered. He did not chase after the Second Prince with his sword; instead, he took a step back.
His position was very cleverly chosen; arrows shot from either the door or the window could not reach this area.
Lu Zhang looked around and casually picked up the Third Prince, who had collapsed on the ground.
The Third Prince was trembling like a sieve, and his disheveled appearance made Lu Zhang frown, feeling a strong disdain in his heart.
“Stand firm. Don’t your legs have bones?!”
Hearing Lu Zhang’s voice, the Third Prince trembled even more violently, tears streaming down his face, which was smeared with snot.
Seeing him like this annoyed Lu Zhang, who raised his hand to slap him, then remembered that this son was always timid and might not faint from a hit but would certainly faint from fright.
That would be troublesome because he wouldn’t be able to ask questions then.
And his living sons were already few in number; now, one was about to die, another committed rebellion and could not be kept, leaving only the third and the sixth.
Suppressing his disgust, Lu Zhang coldly said, “How did you get here?”
“Re…reporting to Father Emperor, your son was held hostage…”
The Third Prince wished he could shrink into a ball, not daring to lift his head, his voice quivering with tears, but the veins on the back of his hand were bulging due to his tight fist.
Lu Zhang sneered inwardly, knowing well the nature of the Third Prince.
His cowardice was real, but after all, he was a prince, not a dough that accepts everything passively, liking to employ various petty maneuvers behind the scenes. Unfortunately, none were significant enough to be taken seriously, petty-minded and unable to disguise, plainly speaking, he couldn’t even pretend well.
At this moment, the Third Prince must be hating the Second Prince for dragging him down.
“Step back.”
Lu Zhang kicked the Third Prince, who timely dodged, allowing only Lu Zhang’s boot to touch his clothing, not hitting him solidly.
The Third Prince, with a mournful face, said, “Your son dares not; your son has nowhere to go.”
As he spoke, he looked back, and Lu Zhang followed his gaze.
Outside, it was still eerily quiet, as if the imperial guards had all disappeared.
Even the lights in the palace were unknowingly extinguished, dark outside, with not a single light in the side halls, including the distant corridors that were supposed to hang exquisite palace lanterns.
Lu Zhang’s heart sank. Ever since he learned that the Second Prince was daring to the extreme, not only colluding with the commander of the Jinyiwei but also associating with the jianghu underworld, he had heightened his alert and made full preparations.
Initially, Lu Zhang did not have a deep concept of “martial arts experts.” There were many masters serving the royal family, and having experienced two dynasties, he did not see anything particularly special about them. At most, they could climb up to the roof, flip over a wall, or crush a couple of stones—martial arts experts were also flesh and blood, easily dealt with by bows and arrows.
The imperial palace was heavily guarded, definitely not a place where the jianghu rabble could come and go as they pleased, and the emperor was always guarded by eunuchs and the imperial guards around the clock. Breaking through such heavy defenses to assassinate the emperor, in Lu Zhang’s view, was absolutely impossible.
However, this notion was shattered three years ago.
A tragedy occurred at the Beizhen Fusi, from the death of the first Jinyiwei to the serious injury of the deputy commander Gong Jun, and the imperial guards responsible for patrolling the imperial city had no idea what had happened. Meng Qi arrived silently and left without being discovered by anyone, leaving behind a ground full of corpses and a group of Jinyiwei who were nearly scared sick.
When Lu Zhang heard the eunuch’s description, there was not a single person in the entire Beizhen Fusi who could stand.
There was no blood.
The corpses were intact, the cause of death was necks twisted.
The faces of the dead bore only shock and fear, with no signs of the agony that comes from enduring torture; indeed, many did not even realize what was about to happen to them at the time of their death.
Such corpses cannot be said to be terrifying. Compared to these, the prisons of the Jinyiwei and the Dali Temple were far more dreadful, as were the battlefields strewn with the blood and shattered limbs of the dead. Yet, it was precisely these bodies, powerless to resist, and the living among them, unable to move, that increasingly filled people with terror.
Was the perpetrator a fierce ghost or a demon spirit? How did they manage to prevent anyone from escaping Beizhen Fusi, and how could they vanish without a trace before outsiders could enter Beizhen Fusi?
Lu Zhang heard the name “Meng Qi” from the survivors of Beizhen Fusi. Upon further investigation, he found that those who had died were the ones who had been secretly ordered to excavate the secluded residence of the former dynasty’s Imperial Teacher on Shangyun Mountain, in search of the imperial jade seal. With this, what more did Lu Zhang need to understand? This was Meng Qi’s revenge on him.
Because of this, he hadn’t slept well for over a month.
Lu Zhang had never met this Imperial Teacher of the Chu dynasty. When he rose to power and arrived in the capital, Emperor Chu Yuan had already died. Those national heroes who were no longer of this world were naturally disregarded by him. If not for the investigation into the whereabouts of the imperial jade seal, Lu Zhang wouldn’t even have thought of Meng Qi.
It was Meng Qi who made him understand what a “martial arts master” truly was.
Thus, when Lu Zhang learned that the Second Prince had conspired with the jianghu ruffians, he didn’t dismiss it with a laugh. Instead, he immediately set numerous traps and sternly ordered a thorough investigation into the other party’s background.
As soon as the identity of Ancestor Qingwu, Zhao Cangfeng, was exposed, Lu Zhang did not hesitate to order the imperial guard to bring in three cannons, and even risked the censure of the court officials by setting off gunpowder in the Wanhe Hall.
Wanhe Hall, the place where the emperor received his ministers, symbolized the power of the realm. Lu Zhang’s move was indeed beyond the expectations of the Second Prince and Ancestor Qingwu.
By this time, Chunhua Palace had been turned into ruins by the cannon fire, and the imperial guard was still cleaning up.
Lu Zhang remembered the commander of the imperial guard confidently reporting that the “master” had been killed by cannon fire. The Second Prince, alone, couldn’t have escaped from the imperial city; at the latest, he would be captured by tomorrow morning. Lu Zhang even praised the commander of the imperial guard a few times, but what now? What was happening now?
Lu Zhang was filled with rage, mixed with intense unease.
He was left without a single guard, only the useless Third Prince and a few palace servants scared out of their wits.
The Second Prince made it to the doorway, panting as he looked at Lu Zhang, his eyes full of hatred.
“Lu Min, you are utterly foolish! Did you think those jianghu ruffians would be easily satisfied with gold and silver?” Lu Zhang narrowed his eyes and sternly reprimanded the Second Prince, “Your mother has been pleading on your behalf since you were a child. After so many years, you’ve been crowned and married, yet you’re still incurably stupid!”
“Shut up!”
The Second Prince exploded like a lit firecracker, grinding his teeth fiercely.
At this moment, the Second Prince truly regretted not having studied properly. How could he have casually dismissed the court scholars as petty men just because of their appearance? If he were the Sixth Brother, he would have been able to scold freely and satisfyingly, leaving no room for rebuttal.
Yet, he was so angry that he was shaking all over, his mind a complete blank.
Outside, waiting to see the spectacle, Meng Qi: “……”
These two princes were really useless. One had a knife but dared not use it, and the other was so angry that he couldn’t utter a single word of scolding. What prospects could they have?
“The Crown Prince is really watching over his Sixth Brother because he has no other choice,” Mo Li muttered to himself.
It was a matter of picking the taller one among the dwarfs. Even if dissatisfied, after seeing the other two princes, one could recognize the virtues of the Sixth Prince. At least he was bold and cautious, daring to act and not shy away from the spotlight.
“Alright, we’ve received the money,” Meng Qi reminded.
If they didn’t go in now, the Third Prince might die of fright, and the Second Prince might die from his inability to vent his anger.
Upon further thought, Mo Li realized this was indeed a possibility.
The Second Prince was in poor health, and the Third Prince had at least given three hundred taels of silver!
At that moment, Lu Zhang grabbed the Third Prince and threw him forward, saying coldly, “Kill Lu Min, and I will appoint you as the heir.”
The pale-faced Third Prince shuddered violently, tears streaming down his face even more fiercely, stammering, “This… this, Father, you’re saying you’ll appoint me as the heir? But, but…”
“If you don’t even dare to do this, how can you aspire to ascend to the throne?” Lu Zhang harshly scolded, his tone filled with sarcasm, “Haven’t you been secretly contacting court officials through academic Hanlin scholars? You even wanted to win over the two Prime Ministers, didn’t you, in your ambition to become the Crown Prince? You have the ambition but not the courage, huh?!”
The Third Prince, thus exposed, wasn’t the only one affected; his Second Brother was utterly shocked, clearly having no idea about this.
“What? You actually dared—how could you dare to do such a thing?!”
The Second Prince erupted in rage, his expression ferocious, as if he wished he could strangle his younger brother.
Lu Zhang watched the two brothers with a hint of a mocking smile on his lips, which then froze immediately.
“The emperor is still alive, and you dare to scheme for the position of heir? You despicable wretch, a white-eyed wolf!”
The Second Prince really rushed up and grabbed his brother’s collar, while the Third Prince struggled desperately, crying out that he hadn’t.
Seeing the chaos inside the hall, Lu Zhang’s expression changed again and again. He simply held his long sword and cautiously retreated toward the corner where the Treasure Pavilion was located, where a hidden mechanism could open an exit.
But he had only moved a few steps when he heard the sound of something slicing through the air, and a dark projectile embedded itself in the ground before his feet.
Lu Zhang looked down, his face turning pale.
It was a bayberry pit, very small, firmly embedded in the ground.
If this projectile had hit a person, the force would have been enough to break bones and penetrate organs.
“Who’s there? Hiding in the shadows is a coward’s tactic. Why not show yourself?”
Lu Zhang, having been an emperor for over a decade, kept a regal demeanor despite his inner panic. Anyone else might have inwardly admired the royal poise, but unfortunately, he was facing Meng Qi.
The fat mouse disdained such actions.
Doctor Mo, having seen much of the fat mouse, also disdained them.
A flurry of whooshing sounds followed, and three bayberry pits flew into the hall, all striking Lu Zhang’s long sword. The force of the impact caused Lu Zhang’s hand to throb with severe pain, his blood flowing freely as the sword dropped to the ground.
Meng Qi, having thrown his last bayberry pit, leisurely walked into the hall with his hands behind his back.
The lights in the hall were dim, while outside, the eastern moon was just rising.
The one who stepped in with the moonlight did not seem to be of this world, possessing an ethereal demeanor, his appearance as radiant as the dawn.
Even the second person who entered after him was spirited and clear, elegant as jade. Such talent, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call them the finest of men. When did the jianghu ever have such figures?
Or rather, how could such dignified and noble individuals be mere jianghu ruffians?
As Meng Qi strode into the hall, the light illuminated his face and his slightly smiling expression, reminding Lu Zhang sharply of someone.
“Meng… the Imperial Teacher?”
Three years ago, a Jinyiwei who had barely survived in Beizhen Fusi took great pains to draw a portrait.
The person in the drawing was already extraordinary, but the real person seemed even more remarkable.
Lu Zhang’s expression turned very ugly. If it were Ancestor Qingwu, Zhao Cangfeng, he knew to be ambitious, perhaps he could have been placated with words. Other martial arts masters could perhaps be subdued with promises of high rank, wealth, and beauties. But Meng Qi? Meng Qi was simply mad!
His actions were unpredictable, and his behavior whimsical. Lu Zhang even suspected that ever since Li Yuanze executed the meritorious officials, this Imperial Teacher had gone mad, otherwise, with such martial prowess, why not seek vengeance on Li Yuanze?
His appearance was not normal either, as if he had consumed the legendary elixir of life.
Lu Zhang steadied himself and said solemnly, “I never expected it to be you.”
Meng Qi didn’t wait for him to continue, immediately denying, “No, I’m not rebelling, nor am I here to avenge the Chu dynasty. Our grievance lies with the medicinal herbs and the destruction of the residence.”
Lu Zhang’s eyes flickered with authority as he said, “The herbs I can fully compensate for, and the residence as well.”
Mentioning money immediately made the Second Prince anxious.
—The emperor definitely had more money than him! Even if he and the Third Prince combined their resources, even including the Crown Prince, it wouldn’t be enough to compete with their father in terms of wealth.
“Imperial Teacher Meng!” the Second Prince couldn’t help but remind, “You’ve already taken our money!”
The Third Prince, cowering nearby, almost died of anger at these words. The Second was selling him out!
Lu Zhang indeed noticed the use of “our” and looked suspiciously at the Third Prince.
The Third Prince didn’t dare move, cursing inwardly at his misfortune for having such a foolish brother. Not only did he bring martial arts masters to extort him, but he also forcibly dragged him into such a perilous situation. Who in the world pays money only to personally commit regicide and patricide? Wasn’t the point of paying to stay far away and peacefully await the outcome?
What was the point of paying if you had to do it yourself?
Was the money just to smooth things over with the palace servants and the imperial guard?
He could have poisoned them! If it didn’t work this time, there would always be a next time!
The Third Prince continued to shiver, whether from fear or anger, only he knew.
Meng Qi watched the two princes amusingly, pondering, and decided that the Second Prince was more fun to tease.
Lu Zhang, uninterested in dealing with his two incompetent sons, focused his gaze on Meng Qi and then on Mo Li behind him, speculating about this person’s identity in his mind.
Could he be a descendant of the Chu dynasty?
Lu Zhang was slightly startled and scrutinized Mo Li more closely, but soon dismissed the idea.
The only uncaught descendant of the Chu dynasty’s Prince Zhaohua was still under fifteen years old, and besides, there was no one of such caliber within the Chu royal family.
“Your compensation, I find it unimpressive,” Meng Qi stated, taking out a paper bag and stuffing the last bayberry into his mouth.
Lu Zhang: “……”
At such a critical moment of “forcing the palace and regicide,” the opponent was actually eating preserved fruit?
Mo Li noticed the palace servants trembling in the corner.
He sighed silently and waved his hand. The servants were shocked to feel a great force pushing them out of the hall, eager to shout out, but darkness overtook their vision before they lost consciousness.
They fell outside the hall, mixing with the palace servants and guards who were originally stationed outside.
Seeing Mo Li’s act of mercy, Lu Zhang initially felt perplexed by today’s events, then thought he might exploit Mo Li to uncover Meng Qi’s true intentions.
His expression shifted, but before he could speak, Meng Qi noticed.
“Although the Chu dynasty is no longer as prosperous as before, the common people still have their lives to live. I don’t care about your usurpation and power grab, but the indiscriminate killing and bringing chaos to the people of Taijing, causing unrest throughout the land, makes me very, very eager to twist your neck.”
Meng Qi’s tone was chilling, his expression turning murderous, making the Third Prince wish he could disappear into the walls.
Lu Zhang involuntarily took a step back, then realized his reaction and showed annoyance.
His gaze then took on a hint of madness, as if suppressing something.
“How ridiculous, the Chu dynasty was unjust and murdered its meritorious officials. What kind of person was Emperor Li of Chu, it seems the Imperial Teacher doesn’t know? To balance the power within the court, he fabricated crimes, oppressed capable officials, his sins are no less than those of Emperor Yuan of Chen. Emperor Li trampled on the lives, property, and dignity of officials who served the country, all for his position as the true dragon emperor.” Lu Zhang’s face twisted in anger, “The Chu dynasty’s Li family led the country astray and had no right to rule. How could such a dynasty deserve the throne?”
Mo Li found Lu Zhang’s words both annoying and amusing. For someone like Lu Zhang to accuse others of trampling on dignity was ironic. What about his own sons? Didn’t he have any thoughts on their actions?
“So? Emperor Li of Chu was indeed a great sinner, and you were his henchman,” Meng Qi scoffed, deriding, “I wasn’t aware that being a minion for a tyrant allowed one to gild oneself and strut around so confidently.”
“……Since my ascension to the throne, I have diligently attended to state affairs, treated my officials generously, and never oppressed the people. Even if there were natural disasters or calamities, the blame does not lie with me. Was the prosperity under Emperor Li of Chu’s reign truly his doing? He merely had a good father and lived off the legacy of his ancestors!”
Lu Zhang raged, yet still clung to his imperial dignity, “Within twenty years, the Chu dynasty would have collapsed due to his folly. I averted all that, providing a new path for the scholars, so they wouldn’t waste their lives in despair!”
Meng Qi laughed loudly at this.
Mo Li’s expression darkened; he had never seen someone as shameless as Lu Zhang, yet as a physician accustomed to observing and understanding, he realized Lu Zhang might genuinely believe his own narrative.
Why always encounter those who deceive themselves to the point of believing their own lies? Could Ancestor Qingwu be delusional, and Lu Zhang suffering from amnesia, forgetting his own actions?
“Hahaha, have you forgotten the Chu dynasty officials you killed?” Meng Qi was laughing, but his eyes were filled with genuine murderous intent, no longer feigning.
There were no capable officials left in the Qi dynasty, why? Because those with aspirations either despised Lu Zhang’s usurpation and massacre or were killed by him in that catastrophe.
Lu Zhang had forcefully made the court officials submissive, lacking in spirit and integrity.
Meng Qi had no interest in loyalty unto death, nor was he like those who refused to acknowledge Lu Zhang, denouncing him as a traitor. Yet, the throne of the Qi dynasty was undeniably soaked in blood, littered with corpses.
“Do you call that diligent governance and love for the people? Treating your officials well?” Meng Qi couldn’t stop laughing, his gaze icy.
Lu Zhang felt as if he had fallen into an ice pit in the dead of winter, his whole body stiff and unable to move, his throat working but unable to make a sound.
“You are nothing but a self-serving villain!”
Meng Qi pointed at Lu Zhang and shouted, “You desired high office and wealth, to be above others, so you willingly became Emperor Li’s henchman. A dog that turns on its master deserves its fate. Emperor Li was indeed deplorable, but what are you? Unwilling to be seen as a lackey, despised by others, you wanted to sit as the ruler of all, to have the world kneel before you. So, you embarked on a massacre, killing all who opposed you! Once you seized the supreme power, to secure your position, you sought to wash away your infamy, proving Emperor Li’s tyranny by changing your facade, treating your officials well, concocting justifications, until you even believe your own lies. Such desperate, laughable efforts!”
“Shut up!”
Lu Zhang’s face turned from green to purple, he gasped for air, ignoring his fear, roaring in rage, “What do you know? What do you understand?!”
Lu Zhang was nearly driven mad.
He lost his father at a young age, his mother was driven to death by his clan, enduring bullying and cold looks.
With a powerful clan against him, his difficult background, and status, only by standing out could he finally breathe freely and trample those who had bullied him underfoot.
He struggled for decades, experiencing life and death, resorting to any means necessary.
His rank continued to rise, yet he never attained what he desired; he was still scorned, with court officials openly berating him as a lapdog, even going as far as to hit him with a jade scepter. Even Emperor Li of Chu looked at him with contempt. Who would want to be a dog?
This must be because he hadn’t risen high enough, his status was not prominent enough, his grasp on power not strong enough! He hadn’t reached the end of this path; once he ascended to the supreme throne, he would be the true Dragon Emperor, and no one would dare to disrespect him to his face!
Blood-red filled Lu Zhang’s vision; he staggered a few steps and leaned against the wall, his expression ferocious beyond measure.
Even the Second Prince was startled, let alone the timid Third Prince.
Lu Zhang’s mind was in turmoil, vaguely recalling the day he sat in Wanhe Hall, filled with joy, as a court official was dragged in, shouting “traitor” and berating him.
Meng Qi’s face blurred, his figure seeming to transform into an old minister of the Chu dynasty.
Looking around, Lu Zhang seemed to see the hidden scorn and anger in those ministers’ expressions, standing upright, unwilling to submit to a usurper.
“Kill! Drag them out, behead them to show the public!” Lu Zhang screamed madly, pointing at Meng Qi, then at everyone in the hall, including Mo Li and the two princes.
“Kill all those who don’t beg for mercy!”
Lu Zhang panted heavily, his eyes red, like a wild beast.
The Second Prince instinctively grabbed a gold-enameled vase and hurled it.
Lu Zhang was knocked back a step, his consciousness blurry.
He touched the blood flowing from his forehead, then was suddenly pushed forward, falling to the ground.
Lu Zhang screamed as a dagger plunged into his back.
The Third Prince shrank to the side, his hands trembling, lacking strength, the dagger not even a proper weapon, somewhat blunt.
This dagger, meant to be a decorative item adorned with jewels, was never intended to be sharp.
Such weapons were strictly forbidden in the palace of the Qi dynasty; the Third Prince had acquired it stealthily, sharpening the blade himself.
The wound was not fatal.
But the Third Prince, inexperienced, saw everyone looking at him, especially his glaring Second Brother, and his father, still frightening even in his confused state.
“He… he killed the First Prince!” the Third Prince wailed.
“What?” The Second Prince was shocked.
Meng Qi and Mo Li were equally astonished; wasn’t the Crown Prince still alive?
“If Father intended to appoint me as heir, how could he do so if the First Prince were still alive?” the Third Prince sobbed.
Meng Qi, Mo Li: “……”
Wake up, the Crown Prince was already dying; Lu Zhang’s talk of appointing another heir was inconsequential. How did it turn into murdering the Crown Prince?
The author’s note:
Song Dynasty, Deng Chun in “Hua Ji·Volume Five·He Yuan”: I once saw a “Cloud Watching Painting,” depicting a high monk sitting on a rocky shore, embracing his knees, looking up, his demeanor transcending the mundane, inspiring awe in the viewer.
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“Xia Ming Yu Xing,” meaning radiant and dazzling, doesn’t necessarily describe a person.
Qing Dynasty, Wang Zhuo in “Jin Shi Shuo·Literature”: Gu An’s prose soared among the scholars and knights; each stroke was radiant and dazzling, making all the Hanlin scholars feel inferior.
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“Jin Shu·Wang Zhan, Wang Shu, etc. Biographies”: Reflecting on the distant and impartial, with a spirit and purity like jade.
Chong Jin, a broad and unadorned mindset; Yu Cui, purity like jade.
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“Yao Lin Yu Shu,” Baidu told me, comes from Song Dynasty, Xiang Zi Yan’s “Nan Ge Zi·Guo Xiao Niang Dao Zhuang”: “Ethereal between the clouds, graceful above the waves. From the dust of the world emerges the jade tree of the Yao Lin.”
However, this phrase certainly appeared on the epitaph of Helan Minzhi from the Tang Dynasty, “Yao Lin jade trees, untouched by dust. With the demeanor of phoenixes and dragons, they stand apart from worldly matters.” It predates the Song Dynasty, though the term may be more widely used OTZ
Lastly—the author is not well-read, hasn’t seen many ancient texts, just knows many ways to praise people →_→
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I seem to have forgotten to take leave yesterday, sorry QAQ, no, it’s not a day off, tomorrow night there will be an update of three thousand words
What prince, what brain, what prospects
The main hall of the Chang Le Palace was not small, and in the corners of the hall, there were some palace maids and eunuchs on standby.
Suddenly, the Second Prince barged in, and they were so frightened that they were almost about to faint. They could only cling tightly to the wall, not daring to run out, fearing that they would attract the attention of the emperor and the princes inside the hall.
“Rebel, what nonsense are you spouting?”
Although Lu Zhang was furious, he was not at all flustered. He did not chase after the Second Prince with his sword; instead, he took a step back.
His position was very cleverly chosen; arrows shot from either the door or the window could not reach this area.
Lu Zhang looked around and casually picked up the Third Prince, who had collapsed on the ground.
The Third Prince was trembling like a sieve, and his disheveled appearance made Lu Zhang frown, feeling a strong disdain in his heart.
“Stand firm. Don’t your legs have bones?!”
Hearing Lu Zhang’s voice, the Third Prince trembled even more violently, tears streaming down his face, which was smeared with snot.
Seeing him like this annoyed Lu Zhang, who raised his hand to slap him, then remembered that this son was always timid and might not faint from a hit but would certainly faint from fright.
That would be troublesome because he wouldn’t be able to ask questions then.
And his living sons were already few in number; now, one was about to die, another committed rebellion and could not be kept, leaving only the third and the sixth.
Suppressing his disgust, Lu Zhang coldly said, “How did you get here?”
“Re…reporting to Father Emperor, your son was held hostage…”
The Third Prince wished he could shrink into a ball, not daring to lift his head, his voice quivering with tears, but the veins on the back of his hand were bulging due to his tight fist.
Lu Zhang sneered inwardly, knowing well the nature of the Third Prince.
His cowardice was real, but after all, he was a prince, not a dough that accepts everything passively, liking to employ various petty maneuvers behind the scenes. Unfortunately, none were significant enough to be taken seriously, petty-minded and unable to disguise, plainly speaking, he couldn’t even pretend well.
At this moment, the Third Prince must be hating the Second Prince for dragging him down.
“Step back.”
Lu Zhang kicked the Third Prince, who timely dodged, allowing only Lu Zhang’s boot to touch his clothing, not hitting him solidly.
The Third Prince, with a mournful face, said, “Your son dares not; your son has nowhere to go.”
As he spoke, he looked back, and Lu Zhang followed his gaze.
Outside, it was still eerily quiet, as if the imperial guards had all disappeared.
Even the lights in the palace were unknowingly extinguished, dark outside, with not a single light in the side halls, including the distant corridors that were supposed to hang exquisite palace lanterns.
Lu Zhang’s heart sank. Ever since he learned that the Second Prince was daring to the extreme, not only colluding with the commander of the Jinyiwei but also associating with the jianghu underworld, he had heightened his alert and made full preparations.
Initially, Lu Zhang did not have a deep concept of “martial arts experts.” There were many masters serving the royal family, and having experienced two dynasties, he did not see anything particularly special about them. At most, they could climb up to the roof, flip over a wall, or crush a couple of stones—martial arts experts were also flesh and blood, easily dealt with by bows and arrows.
The imperial palace was heavily guarded, definitely not a place where the jianghu rabble could come and go as they pleased, and the emperor was always guarded by eunuchs and the imperial guards around the clock. Breaking through such heavy defenses to assassinate the emperor, in Lu Zhang’s view, was absolutely impossible.
However, this notion was shattered three years ago.
A tragedy occurred at the Beizhen Fusi, from the death of the first Jinyiwei to the serious injury of the deputy commander Gong Jun, and the imperial guards responsible for patrolling the imperial city had no idea what had happened. Meng Qi arrived silently and left without being discovered by anyone, leaving behind a ground full of corpses and a group of Jinyiwei who were nearly scared sick.
When Lu Zhang heard the eunuch’s description, there was not a single person in the entire Beizhen Fusi who could stand.
There was no blood.
The corpses were intact, the cause of death was necks twisted.
The faces of the dead bore only shock and fear, with no signs of the agony that comes from enduring torture; indeed, many did not even realize what was about to happen to them at the time of their death.
Such corpses cannot be said to be terrifying. Compared to these, the prisons of the Jinyiwei and the Dali Temple were far more dreadful, as were the battlefields strewn with the blood and shattered limbs of the dead. Yet, it was precisely these bodies, powerless to resist, and the living among them, unable to move, that increasingly filled people with terror.
Was the perpetrator a fierce ghost or a demon spirit? How did they manage to prevent anyone from escaping Beizhen Fusi, and how could they vanish without a trace before outsiders could enter Beizhen Fusi?
Lu Zhang heard the name “Meng Qi” from the survivors of Beizhen Fusi. Upon further investigation, he found that those who had died were the ones who had been secretly ordered to excavate the secluded residence of the former dynasty’s Imperial Teacher on Shangyun Mountain, in search of the imperial jade seal. With this, what more did Lu Zhang need to understand? This was Meng Qi’s revenge on him.
Because of this, he hadn’t slept well for over a month.
Lu Zhang had never met this Imperial Teacher of the Chu dynasty. When he rose to power and arrived in the capital, Emperor Chu Yuan had already died. Those national heroes who were no longer of this world were naturally disregarded by him. If not for the investigation into the whereabouts of the imperial jade seal, Lu Zhang wouldn’t even have thought of Meng Qi.
It was Meng Qi who made him understand what a “martial arts master” truly was.
Thus, when Lu Zhang learned that the Second Prince had conspired with the jianghu ruffians, he didn’t dismiss it with a laugh. Instead, he immediately set numerous traps and sternly ordered a thorough investigation into the other party’s background.
As soon as the identity of Ancestor Qingwu, Zhao Cangfeng, was exposed, Lu Zhang did not hesitate to order the imperial guard to bring in three cannons, and even risked the censure of the court officials by setting off gunpowder in the Wanhe Hall.
Wanhe Hall, the place where the emperor received his ministers, symbolized the power of the realm. Lu Zhang’s move was indeed beyond the expectations of the Second Prince and Ancestor Qingwu.
By this time, Chunhua Palace had been turned into ruins by the cannon fire, and the imperial guard was still cleaning up.
Lu Zhang remembered the commander of the imperial guard confidently reporting that the “master” had been killed by cannon fire. The Second Prince, alone, couldn’t have escaped from the imperial city; at the latest, he would be captured by tomorrow morning. Lu Zhang even praised the commander of the imperial guard a few times, but what now? What was happening now?
Lu Zhang was filled with rage, mixed with intense unease.
He was left without a single guard, only the useless Third Prince and a few palace servants scared out of their wits.
The Second Prince made it to the doorway, panting as he looked at Lu Zhang, his eyes full of hatred.
“Lu Min, you are utterly foolish! Did you think those jianghu ruffians would be easily satisfied with gold and silver?” Lu Zhang narrowed his eyes and sternly reprimanded the Second Prince, “Your mother has been pleading on your behalf since you were a child. After so many years, you’ve been crowned and married, yet you’re still incurably stupid!”
“Shut up!”
The Second Prince exploded like a lit firecracker, grinding his teeth fiercely.
At this moment, the Second Prince truly regretted not having studied properly. How could he have casually dismissed the court scholars as petty men just because of their appearance? If he were the Sixth Brother, he would have been able to scold freely and satisfyingly, leaving no room for rebuttal.
Yet, he was so angry that he was shaking all over, his mind a complete blank.
Outside, waiting to see the spectacle, Meng Qi: “……”
These two princes were really useless. One had a knife but dared not use it, and the other was so angry that he couldn’t utter a single word of scolding. What prospects could they have?
“The Crown Prince is really watching over his Sixth Brother because he has no other choice,” Mo Li muttered to himself.
It was a matter of picking the taller one among the dwarfs. Even if dissatisfied, after seeing the other two princes, one could recognize the virtues of the Sixth Prince. At least he was bold and cautious, daring to act and not shy away from the spotlight.
“Alright, we’ve received the money,” Meng Qi reminded.
If they didn’t go in now, the Third Prince might die of fright, and the Second Prince might die from his inability to vent his anger.
Upon further thought, Mo Li realized this was indeed a possibility.
The Second Prince was in poor health, and the Third Prince had at least given three hundred taels of silver!
At that moment, Lu Zhang grabbed the Third Prince and threw him forward, saying coldly, “Kill Lu Min, and I will appoint you as the heir.”
The pale-faced Third Prince shuddered violently, tears streaming down his face even more fiercely, stammering, “This… this, Father, you’re saying you’ll appoint me as the heir? But, but…”
“If you don’t even dare to do this, how can you aspire to ascend to the throne?” Lu Zhang harshly scolded, his tone filled with sarcasm, “Haven’t you been secretly contacting court officials through academic Hanlin scholars? You even wanted to win over the two Prime Ministers, didn’t you, in your ambition to become the Crown Prince? You have the ambition but not the courage, huh?!”
The Third Prince, thus exposed, wasn’t the only one affected; his Second Brother was utterly shocked, clearly having no idea about this.
“What? You actually dared—how could you dare to do such a thing?!”
The Second Prince erupted in rage, his expression ferocious, as if he wished he could strangle his younger brother.
Lu Zhang watched the two brothers with a hint of a mocking smile on his lips, which then froze immediately.
“The emperor is still alive, and you dare to scheme for the position of heir? You despicable wretch, a white-eyed wolf!”
The Second Prince really rushed up and grabbed his brother’s collar, while the Third Prince struggled desperately, crying out that he hadn’t.
Seeing the chaos inside the hall, Lu Zhang’s expression changed again and again. He simply held his long sword and cautiously retreated toward the corner where the Treasure Pavilion was located, where a hidden mechanism could open an exit.
But he had only moved a few steps when he heard the sound of something slicing through the air, and a dark projectile embedded itself in the ground before his feet.
Lu Zhang looked down, his face turning pale.
It was a bayberry pit, very small, firmly embedded in the ground.
If this projectile had hit a person, the force would have been enough to break bones and penetrate organs.
“Who’s there? Hiding in the shadows is a coward’s tactic. Why not show yourself?”
Lu Zhang, having been an emperor for over a decade, kept a regal demeanor despite his inner panic. Anyone else might have inwardly admired the royal poise, but unfortunately, he was facing Meng Qi.
The fat mouse disdained such actions.
Doctor Mo, having seen much of the fat mouse, also disdained them.
A flurry of whooshing sounds followed, and three bayberry pits flew into the hall, all striking Lu Zhang’s long sword. The force of the impact caused Lu Zhang’s hand to throb with severe pain, his blood flowing freely as the sword dropped to the ground.
Meng Qi, having thrown his last bayberry pit, leisurely walked into the hall with his hands behind his back.
The lights in the hall were dim, while outside, the eastern moon was just rising.
The one who stepped in with the moonlight did not seem to be of this world, possessing an ethereal demeanor, his appearance as radiant as the dawn.
Even the second person who entered after him was spirited and clear, elegant as jade. Such talent, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call them the finest of men. When did the jianghu ever have such figures?
Or rather, how could such dignified and noble individuals be mere jianghu ruffians?
As Meng Qi strode into the hall, the light illuminated his face and his slightly smiling expression, reminding Lu Zhang sharply of someone.
“Meng… the Imperial Teacher?”
Three years ago, a Jinyiwei who had barely survived in Beizhen Fusi took great pains to draw a portrait.
The person in the drawing was already extraordinary, but the real person seemed even more remarkable.
Lu Zhang’s expression turned very ugly. If it were Ancestor Qingwu, Zhao Cangfeng, he knew to be ambitious, perhaps he could have been placated with words. Other martial arts masters could perhaps be subdued with promises of high rank, wealth, and beauties. But Meng Qi? Meng Qi was simply mad!
His actions were unpredictable, and his behavior whimsical. Lu Zhang even suspected that ever since Li Yuanze executed the meritorious officials, this Imperial Teacher had gone mad, otherwise, with such martial prowess, why not seek vengeance on Li Yuanze?
His appearance was not normal either, as if he had consumed the legendary elixir of life.
Lu Zhang steadied himself and said solemnly, “I never expected it to be you.”
Meng Qi didn’t wait for him to continue, immediately denying, “No, I’m not rebelling, nor am I here to avenge the Chu dynasty. Our grievance lies with the medicinal herbs and the destruction of the residence.”
Lu Zhang’s eyes flickered with authority as he said, “The herbs I can fully compensate for, and the residence as well.”
Mentioning money immediately made the Second Prince anxious.
—The emperor definitely had more money than him! Even if he and the Third Prince combined their resources, even including the Crown Prince, it wouldn’t be enough to compete with their father in terms of wealth.
“Imperial Teacher Meng!” the Second Prince couldn’t help but remind, “You’ve already taken our money!”
The Third Prince, cowering nearby, almost died of anger at these words. The Second was selling him out!
Lu Zhang indeed noticed the use of “our” and looked suspiciously at the Third Prince.
The Third Prince didn’t dare move, cursing inwardly at his misfortune for having such a foolish brother. Not only did he bring martial arts masters to extort him, but he also forcibly dragged him into such a perilous situation. Who in the world pays money only to personally commit regicide and patricide? Wasn’t the point of paying to stay far away and peacefully await the outcome?
What was the point of paying if you had to do it yourself?
Was the money just to smooth things over with the palace servants and the imperial guard?
He could have poisoned them! If it didn’t work this time, there would always be a next time!
The Third Prince continued to shiver, whether from fear or anger, only he knew.
Meng Qi watched the two princes amusingly, pondering, and decided that the Second Prince was more fun to tease.
Lu Zhang, uninterested in dealing with his two incompetent sons, focused his gaze on Meng Qi and then on Mo Li behind him, speculating about this person’s identity in his mind.
Could he be a descendant of the Chu dynasty?
Lu Zhang was slightly startled and scrutinized Mo Li more closely, but soon dismissed the idea.
The only uncaught descendant of the Chu dynasty’s Prince Zhaohua was still under fifteen years old, and besides, there was no one of such caliber within the Chu royal family.
“Your compensation, I find it unimpressive,” Meng Qi stated, taking out a paper bag and stuffing the last bayberry into his mouth.
Lu Zhang: “……”
At such a critical moment of “forcing the palace and regicide,” the opponent was actually eating preserved fruit?
Mo Li noticed the palace servants trembling in the corner.
He sighed silently and waved his hand. The servants were shocked to feel a great force pushing them out of the hall, eager to shout out, but darkness overtook their vision before they lost consciousness.
They fell outside the hall, mixing with the palace servants and guards who were originally stationed outside.
Seeing Mo Li’s act of mercy, Lu Zhang initially felt perplexed by today’s events, then thought he might exploit Mo Li to uncover Meng Qi’s true intentions.
His expression shifted, but before he could speak, Meng Qi noticed.
“Although the Chu dynasty is no longer as prosperous as before, the common people still have their lives to live. I don’t care about your usurpation and power grab, but the indiscriminate killing and bringing chaos to the people of Taijing, causing unrest throughout the land, makes me very, very eager to twist your neck.”
Meng Qi’s tone was chilling, his expression turning murderous, making the Third Prince wish he could disappear into the walls.
Lu Zhang involuntarily took a step back, then realized his reaction and showed annoyance.
His gaze then took on a hint of madness, as if suppressing something.
“How ridiculous, the Chu dynasty was unjust and murdered its meritorious officials. What kind of person was Emperor Li of Chu, it seems the Imperial Teacher doesn’t know? To balance the power within the court, he fabricated crimes, oppressed capable officials, his sins are no less than those of Emperor Yuan of Chen. Emperor Li trampled on the lives, property, and dignity of officials who served the country, all for his position as the true dragon emperor.” Lu Zhang’s face twisted in anger, “The Chu dynasty’s Li family led the country astray and had no right to rule. How could such a dynasty deserve the throne?”
Mo Li found Lu Zhang’s words both annoying and amusing. For someone like Lu Zhang to accuse others of trampling on dignity was ironic. What about his own sons? Didn’t he have any thoughts on their actions?
“So? Emperor Li of Chu was indeed a great sinner, and you were his henchman,” Meng Qi scoffed, deriding, “I wasn’t aware that being a minion for a tyrant allowed one to gild oneself and strut around so confidently.”
“……Since my ascension to the throne, I have diligently attended to state affairs, treated my officials generously, and never oppressed the people. Even if there were natural disasters or calamities, the blame does not lie with me. Was the prosperity under Emperor Li of Chu’s reign truly his doing? He merely had a good father and lived off the legacy of his ancestors!”
Lu Zhang raged, yet still clung to his imperial dignity, “Within twenty years, the Chu dynasty would have collapsed due to his folly. I averted all that, providing a new path for the scholars, so they wouldn’t waste their lives in despair!”
Meng Qi laughed loudly at this.
Mo Li’s expression darkened; he had never seen someone as shameless as Lu Zhang, yet as a physician accustomed to observing and understanding, he realized Lu Zhang might genuinely believe his own narrative.
Why always encounter those who deceive themselves to the point of believing their own lies? Could Ancestor Qingwu be delusional, and Lu Zhang suffering from amnesia, forgetting his own actions?
“Hahaha, have you forgotten the Chu dynasty officials you killed?” Meng Qi was laughing, but his eyes were filled with genuine murderous intent, no longer feigning.
There were no capable officials left in the Qi dynasty, why? Because those with aspirations either despised Lu Zhang’s usurpation and massacre or were killed by him in that catastrophe.
Lu Zhang had forcefully made the court officials submissive, lacking in spirit and integrity.
Meng Qi had no interest in loyalty unto death, nor was he like those who refused to acknowledge Lu Zhang, denouncing him as a traitor. Yet, the throne of the Qi dynasty was undeniably soaked in blood, littered with corpses.
“Do you call that diligent governance and love for the people? Treating your officials well?” Meng Qi couldn’t stop laughing, his gaze icy.
Lu Zhang felt as if he had fallen into an ice pit in the dead of winter, his whole body stiff and unable to move, his throat working but unable to make a sound.
“You are nothing but a self-serving villain!”
Meng Qi pointed at Lu Zhang and shouted, “You desired high office and wealth, to be above others, so you willingly became Emperor Li’s henchman. A dog that turns on its master deserves its fate. Emperor Li was indeed deplorable, but what are you? Unwilling to be seen as a lackey, despised by others, you wanted to sit as the ruler of all, to have the world kneel before you. So, you embarked on a massacre, killing all who opposed you! Once you seized the supreme power, to secure your position, you sought to wash away your infamy, proving Emperor Li’s tyranny by changing your facade, treating your officials well, concocting justifications, until you even believe your own lies. Such desperate, laughable efforts!”
“Shut up!”
Lu Zhang’s face turned from green to purple, he gasped for air, ignoring his fear, roaring in rage, “What do you know? What do you understand?!”
Lu Zhang was nearly driven mad.
He lost his father at a young age, his mother was driven to death by his clan, enduring bullying and cold looks.
With a powerful clan against him, his difficult background, and status, only by standing out could he finally breathe freely and trample those who had bullied him underfoot.
He struggled for decades, experiencing life and death, resorting to any means necessary.
His rank continued to rise, yet he never attained what he desired; he was still scorned, with court officials openly berating him as a lapdog, even going as far as to hit him with a jade scepter. Even Emperor Li of Chu looked at him with contempt. Who would want to be a dog?
This must be because he hadn’t risen high enough, his status was not prominent enough, his grasp on power not strong enough! He hadn’t reached the end of this path; once he ascended to the supreme throne, he would be the true Dragon Emperor, and no one would dare to disrespect him to his face!
Blood-red filled Lu Zhang’s vision; he staggered a few steps and leaned against the wall, his expression ferocious beyond measure.
Even the Second Prince was startled, let alone the timid Third Prince.
Lu Zhang’s mind was in turmoil, vaguely recalling the day he sat in Wanhe Hall, filled with joy, as a court official was dragged in, shouting “traitor” and berating him.
Meng Qi’s face blurred, his figure seeming to transform into an old minister of the Chu dynasty.
Looking around, Lu Zhang seemed to see the hidden scorn and anger in those ministers’ expressions, standing upright, unwilling to submit to a usurper.
“Kill! Drag them out, behead them to show the public!” Lu Zhang screamed madly, pointing at Meng Qi, then at everyone in the hall, including Mo Li and the two princes.
“Kill all those who don’t beg for mercy!”
Lu Zhang panted heavily, his eyes red, like a wild beast.
The Second Prince instinctively grabbed a gold-enameled vase and hurled it.
Lu Zhang was knocked back a step, his consciousness blurry.
He touched the blood flowing from his forehead, then was suddenly pushed forward, falling to the ground.
Lu Zhang screamed as a dagger plunged into his back.
The Third Prince shrank to the side, his hands trembling, lacking strength, the dagger not even a proper weapon, somewhat blunt.
This dagger, meant to be a decorative item adorned with jewels, was never intended to be sharp.
Such weapons were strictly forbidden in the palace of the Qi dynasty; the Third Prince had acquired it stealthily, sharpening the blade himself.
The wound was not fatal.
But the Third Prince, inexperienced, saw everyone looking at him, especially his glaring Second Brother, and his father, still frightening even in his confused state.
“He… he killed the First Prince!” the Third Prince wailed.
“What?” The Second Prince was shocked.
Meng Qi and Mo Li were equally astonished; wasn’t the Crown Prince still alive?
“If Father intended to appoint me as heir, how could he do so if the First Prince were still alive?” the Third Prince sobbed.
Meng Qi, Mo Li: “……”
Wake up, the Crown Prince was already dying; Lu Zhang’s talk of appointing another heir was inconsequential. How did it turn into murdering the Crown Prince?
The author’s note:
Song Dynasty, Deng Chun in “Hua Ji·Volume Five·He Yuan”: I once saw a “Cloud Watching Painting,” depicting a high monk sitting on a rocky shore, embracing his knees, looking up, his demeanor transcending the mundane, inspiring awe in the viewer.
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“Xia Ming Yu Xing,” meaning radiant and dazzling, doesn’t necessarily describe a person.
Qing Dynasty, Wang Zhuo in “Jin Shi Shuo·Literature”: Gu An’s prose soared among the scholars and knights; each stroke was radiant and dazzling, making all the Hanlin scholars feel inferior.
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“Jin Shu·Wang Zhan, Wang Shu, etc. Biographies”: Reflecting on the distant and impartial, with a spirit and purity like jade.
Chong Jin, a broad and unadorned mindset; Yu Cui, purity like jade.
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“Yao Lin Yu Shu,” Baidu told me, comes from Song Dynasty, Xiang Zi Yan’s “Nan Ge Zi·Guo Xiao Niang Dao Zhuang”: “Ethereal between the clouds, graceful above the waves. From the dust of the world emerges the jade tree of the Yao Lin.”
However, this phrase certainly appeared on the epitaph of Helan Minzhi from the Tang Dynasty, “Yao Lin jade trees, untouched by dust. With the demeanor of phoenixes and dragons, they stand apart from worldly matters.” It predates the Song Dynasty, though the term may be more widely used OTZ
Lastly—the author is not well-read, hasn’t seen many ancient texts, just knows many ways to praise people →_→
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I seem to have forgotten to take leave yesterday, sorry QAQ, no, it’s not a day off, tomorrow night there will be an update of three thousand words
