The world is like a prison, my body is holy

An invisible storm has quietly taken shape...

When Wang Wen was killing people in the Chuigong Hall, Hei Erniu, in the form of a black unicorn, blocked the imperial guards who were about to arrive.

For the Imperial Guards, who had lived in the capital for a long time and had little experience of the world, the Black Qilin, a ferocious and evil mythical beast that came out of legends, was far too much for them. More than a thousand well-dressed and skilled elites of the Imperial Dragon Guard surrounded Black Two Ox and fought with all their might, using swords and spears and firing arrows, for about a quarter of an hour, but they still could not step onto the steps in front of the Chui Gong Hall.

Not long after, the shocking news of the emperor's death spread from the Chuigong Hall.

At that moment, the thousands of elite Imperial Guards besieging Hei Erniu felt as if the sky had fallen...

The Imperial Guard commander, who was in command on site, felt as heavy-hearted and disoriented as if his father had died, and sent troops to report to the Palace Guard.

Upon hearing this news, Zhao Shizhong, the commander of the palace guards who was still frantically assembling his troops, nearly fainted on the spot...

After a brief yet lengthy mental journey, Zhao Shizhong, feeling as heavy-hearted and disoriented as if his father had died, sent troops to report to Chancellor Cai of the State Council, requesting that the truly important figures in the court take charge of the situation.

If he weren't afraid of death, he would have rushed into the Chuigong Hall, grabbed Wang Wen by the collar, and roared at him: "You killed people, fine, but why didn't you leave after you did? What are you pretending to be, acting all high and mighty?!"

Because Wang Wen killed Emperor Zhaode with a single shot for no reason, many things that were originally simple suddenly became complicated.

Furthermore, because Wang Wen not only didn't leave after killing people, but also ate in the Chuigong Hall, many originally complicated matters became simple.

He did indeed simply sit in the Chuigong Hall with his bowl, eating, without doing anything else.

But his existence was like an insurmountable mountain, blocking all malicious schemes and plots.

If you can't get past him, nobody else's opinion matters...

The news that Wang Wen, the Demon-Slaying General of Huainan, had entered the capital and assassinated the emperor spread like wildfire from the imperial city to the ears of all the important figures qualified to know about this earth-shattering event.

For a time, the capital was filled with knights on fast horses, racing against time to dash back and forth between the grand mansions.

Every important figure who learned of the shocking events in the palace was like an ant on a hot pan, pacing back and forth restlessly.

Everyone is racking their brains trying to figure out how to form alliances and strategies to protect their vested interests, or even gain greater benefits, in this dramatic turn of events...

But all the solutions, no matter how roundabout, will eventually come down to the person sitting on the throne in the Chuigong Hall, eating and drinking.

If we can't handle him, all our efforts are just empty talk.

As for getting rid of him... if he were so easy to get rid of, how could Emperor Zhaode have died so inexplicably and so easily?
At least at this critical juncture, no big shot is absolutely certain of dealing with Wang Wen.

Thanks to Emperor Zhaode's reign of more than four months, nine out of ten important figures in the capital are now thinking about how to protect their own interests.

Meanwhile, those important figures who genuinely uphold justice and speak out for what is right are either in prison or on their way to serve as officials in remote and impoverished areas.

Unwittingly, this allowed Wang Wen to escape a calamity...

To be honest, he was genuinely worried that a group of stubborn old men with white hair and beards might suddenly appear, rush in, and insist on performing a head-breaking act for him.

He only breathed a slight sigh of relief when he finished his meal and the stubborn old man still hadn't come in.

This invisible storm is radiating from top to bottom and expanding from the inside out at an alarming speed, and sooner or later it will affect every aspect of this no-longer-young dynasty.

But as the instigator of this great storm, Wang Wen stood firm like a pillar of strength, firmly controlling the direction of the storm.
The nerves of all the important figures in the capital were on the verge of snapping, as the powerful, resounding sound of horses' hooves, like war drums, began to faintly drift from outside the city...

An unremarkable carriage slowly passed through the deserted street, which had been cleared of an inexplicable atmosphere of panic, and entered the gloomy east gate of the imperial city, the gate through which civil and military officials usually went to court.

Wherever the carriage passed, masked figures carrying sharp blades fell silently onto roof beams, in dark alleys, and in houses, wisps of smoke rising from their bodies.

Inside the carriage, the young Tang Emperor Chai Shen lifted the curtain and looked out at the Imperial Guards who were running back and forth with swords and spears, their expressions filled with the same fear as theirs, but also with an undisguised sense of anticipation and secret joy.

He already knew the whole story of the earth-shattering upheaval in the palace, and he deeply understood that this trip was a matter of life and death, with one foot in the imperial palace and the other in the gates of hell!
But for him, even if it was just a fantasy, he would gladly accept it...

Although he was of noble birth, such fantasies only appeared in his dreams.

The late emperor was always strict with his heirs and placed great importance on etiquette. He never allowed these heirs, who were just there to make up the numbers, any thoughts or desires that were not his to have. During his reign, these heirs, who were just there to make up the numbers, did not have an easy time. They had to be obsequious and subservient all day long, for fear of accidentally doing something wrong and offending the emperor.

After their "good elder brother" ascended the throne, life became even more difficult for these imperial heirs who were merely there to fill a quota. They lived in constant fear, afraid that they would never open their eyes again, and afraid that when they did, they would see the pale, bloodless faces of the old eunuchs in the palace...

He still can't understand how a person can have such a huge contrast.
To say that their good older brother's care and love for them was all fake, all an act, Chai Shen genuinely didn't believe it... If a person can pretend for a day, a month, or a year, how can they pretend for ten, twenty, or thirty years?
But given the actions of their elder brother after he ascended to the throne, he had no choice but to believe him...

In recent days, he had mentally prepared himself for the possibility of his entire household dying out.

He knew that their good older brother would definitely take action against them; it was just a matter of time.

Perhaps he died of illness, perhaps he choked to death, perhaps he fell from a horse and died, or perhaps he died of depression...

A good older brother would always arrange a way for them to die in a way that would shut up gossip.

After he secured his throne.

Perhaps that location does indeed possess a magical quality.

Now it's his turn to take that position.

He didn't know if he could handle it...

As the Chuigong Hall drew closer, Chai Shen lowered the carriage curtain, turned his head, and with a smile, said softly to the eunuch beside him, "Eunuch Liu, tell me more about that General Wang..."

This eunuch surnamed Liu was naturally the same eunuch who had first recommended Chai Shen to Wang Wen in the Chuigong Hall. Given his seniority among the eunuchs in the Chuigong Hall, he shouldn't have been the one to claim this full share of the "meritorious service of following the emperor."

Since Wang Wen personally pointed him out, no matter how envious, jealous, or hateful the others were, how could they dare to compete with him?
"Your Highness, please don't be so harsh on this humble servant. How can I, a person without any roots, be worthy of Your Highness calling me 'Eunuch'!"

Liu Qi, feigning panic, maintained her duty as a servant, while racking her brains for something else to say...

From the Tang Prince's residence to here, he had recounted General Wang's words and actions in the Chuigong Hall no less than ten times, and he really didn't know what else to say.

But looking into the Tang King's anxious yet eager eyes, how could he not know that this hurdle was the one that would determine his and the Tang King's fate?
He racked his brains for a long time before gritting his teeth and whispering, "Your Highness, General Wang's words are somewhat... rough and unrestrained, seemingly very common, but in my humble opinion, General Wang is a virtuous gentleman with a discerning mind. Although I only met General Wang today, I can sense that he treats us disabled servants as human beings more than those high-ranking officials in the court who constantly talk about benevolence and righteousness..."

Chai Shen was shocked and surprised, his mouth slightly agape. Although he was young, he had grown up in the palace and had seen more eunuchs than normal people. How could he not know that these eunuchs were always extremely sensitive to how others viewed them?

Some court officials may never have known until their deaths why the palace eunuchs would persecute them so cruelly, when they had no grudge against them whatsoever…

How could they possibly remember what look they had given that secretly glanced at any eunuch?
In the eunuch circle, to be treated like a human being was the highest praise!

General Wang, do you really have such personal charisma?

Chai Shenxin understood, and gratefully grasped Liu Qi's hands without saying anything more.

Liu Qi, however, felt that his act of standing up for himself today had not been in vain...

……

Just then, Wang Wen, inside the Chuigong Hall, slammed his rice bowl onto the imperial desk covered with a landscape painting, his expression strange. He turned and grabbed the collar of the eunuch serving him, who was sitting beside him with his waist tied back. He pulled the eunuch close to him and asked fiercely, "Tell me, are you a gentleman?"

The young eunuch looked at him, bewildered and confused, wondering why he had suddenly asked such a question. Finally, he looked around cautiously and whispered, "The General is certainly a virtuous man. If the General is not a virtuous man, then who in this world is?"

Wang Wen inexplicably broke down, spitting as he cursed, "You're the real gentleman, your whole family are gentlemen!"

Lao Tzu killed people and set fires, but he was still a righteous gentleman?

Bah, isn't this like wanting to be a prostitute while also trying to maintain a virtuous image?
"Yes Yes Yes……"

The young eunuch nodded vigorously in response. Although he did not know why Wang Wen had suddenly become angry, he could not contain his joy and delight. He straightened his thin chest and loudly replied, "This servant is a virtuous gentleman, and my whole family are virtuous gentlemen!"

A real man is a gentleman!

General Wang said it himself!

Let's see which bitch dares to talk behind a man's back again!

The eunuch's response was overheard by Tang King Chai Shen as he entered the room.

He was already trembling with fear at the sight of Wang Wentang sitting so grandly on the dragon throne when he heard those words, and his heart skipped a beat.

He struggled to suppress his gaze from Liu Qi, turning instead to the familiar corpse on the other side, its head disheveled and its white brocade robes stained with blood. After staring at the corpse for a few seconds, he turned back and bowed respectfully with his hands clasped, saying, "Little Wang Chai Shen greets General Wang!"

Wang Wen glanced at the pretentious little brat below and sneered, "You seem quite curious about me? What else do you want to know? Should I turn your underwear inside out for you to see?"

Chai Shen: 'Truly vulgar!'

He hesitated for a few seconds, then said in a serious tone, "If the General is willing, I am not unwilling to see it."

Wang Wen's eye twitched, and he said expressionlessly, "Truly a pervert!"

Chai Shen:......

Wang Wen: "Alright, everyone's busy, let's stop beating around the bush!"

“My killing of your elder brother was a personal grudge. I have no interest in your Chai family’s empire, so this mess is something your Chai family has to clean up.”

"Perfect timing. Among you brothers, you're the only one who's somewhat decent. That's why I called you here. I wanted to hear your thoughts on the mess your family is in. If your answer makes me think you're reliable, I'll give you this seat today. If you're just a pretty face, then I'm sorry, please go back to where you came from and don't waste my time!"

He patted the armrest of the dragon throne and said.

The user experience of this thing is actually not very good; it's uncomfortable on your butt.

Chai Shen: 'You sit on the dragon throne, you have the final say!'

"General, you are so generous! Then I will not hold back either. The Crown Prince murdered his father and seized the throne. He is disloyal and unfilial, which is outrageous. We princes of the royal family are willing to set things right, but we are powerless to do so. Today, General, you have set things right, turned the tide, and saved the country and the people from suffering. You have made a name for yourself in history!"

"We, the princes of the imperial clan, are so grateful to the General for his righteousness that we have no resentment whatsoever, nor will we ever seek revenge. Heaven and earth can bear witness to our sincerity!"

Wang Wen remained unmoved and sneered, "You're definitely someone who gets served. Your flattery skills are truly impressive!"

"Enough with the nonsense. First question: If you were to ascend the throne, what would you do about the war in the Northeast?"

Chai Shen took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement... He knew that the most crucial moment had arrived!
He slightly raised his head, looked directly at Wang Wen, and answered, pausing between each sentence: "The King of Qin is my third brother. Logically speaking, I should not compete with my third brother, but how can I hand over the ancestral land and the people's livelihood? If the King of Qin is willing to negotiate, I am willing to give everything, except the throne, to restore peace to the world; but if the King of Qin insists on his own way, then I will have no choice but to strengthen my army and do my best to end the war in the Northeast as soon as possible and reduce the harm to the people."

Wang Wen remained noncommittal and continued to ask, "According to my judgment, most parts of the south are very likely to experience severe drought and famine this year. If you were to ascend the throne, what would you do then?"

Upon hearing this, Chai Shen raised an eyebrow: 'So he really is a virtuous and benevolent man?'

"If the situation is truly as the General says, the imperial court should reduce taxes and provide disaster relief to help us overcome this difficult time." (End of Chapter)