Simulates history, but Chongzhen is the Divine Emperor at the beginning

Chapter 115: Open your heart again and share eternal life?
[The Divine Emperor is truly strange...]

After you issued a decree that clearly represented your stance, you allowed Lu Zhongcheng and Yu Anmin to leave the Prime Minister's residence. Then, you sat alone in your small room, quietly reviewing all the bizarre actions of the Divine Emperor over the years.

[First, He clearly agreed to exchange known information with you, yet He chose to take advantage of it for free. With a casual "I don't know," He not only learned that you were a time traveler without any effort, but also shattered your Dao heart, leaving you mentally devastated...]

[Secondly, His view on whether you are a loyal or treacherous minister is extremely strange. In his previous life, He had forced you to rebel, and even when you truly wanted to be a loyal minister, He remained stubborn... But in this life, even though you clearly showed signs of rebellion, He has become convinced that you are a loyal minister, and even expressed his willingness to abdicate to you, as long as you are truly willing...]

[What kind of idiotic behavior is this? What a jerk, isn't he?]

You can't understand His thinking at all.

After much deliberation, you finally attempted to investigate the cause of His strange transformation. This exploration immediately pinpointed a suspicious point... Or perhaps, there's actually nothing to investigate. Since the two lives are different, wouldn't it be enough to simply look for the variables between them?

[Obviously, the variable most likely to cause the difference between the two lives is definitely your heart-to-heart with Him: The last time you exchanged information, although He came up empty-handed, He definitely took in your words about time travel.]

It's very likely that these words prompted Him to say, "I don't know"... It's also very likely that these words caused Him to have an unusual opinion about whether you are loyal or treacherous.

[But, how could a time traveler like you make Him believe you're a loyal subject? Furthermore, if you truly had gained His absolute trust through your time traveler status, He shouldn't have lied to you before. Yet, He still said, "I don't know"...]

You can't help but wonder: Did I really misunderstand Him? He wasn't lying, but He really didn't know?

"That's even more wrong. How could He not know? Even if He doesn't know everything, He should know some details, right? After all, He is the only true God in the world."

[For a moment, your logic hit a dead end. The more you think about it, the more you feel that the Divine Emperor is indescribable, unknowable, and unthinkable. Thinking about it is wrong, and thinking about it drives you crazy...]

[So you choose... to get closer, to see right up close! To ask right up close!]

[Anyway, my sanity has already dropped to negative, so I'm not afraid of it dropping further. It's really a waste to not even touch my face.]

[Do what you think. Get up and leave the Prime Minister's Residence immediately. Leave any followers behind and go to the Imperial Palace alone to meet this Cthulhu... No, "He" should be the King in Yellow...]

【…】

[Inside the palace, there are only you and the King in Yellow... Pah! Anyway, you two sit opposite each other.]

[Somehow, you had a plan in mind, intending to ask Him what He really thought, but when you actually sat face to face with Him, you couldn't open your mouth. You were silent for a long time, not knowing where to begin...]

[It was the Divine Emperor who first broke the silence.]

"I have read the Prime Minister's letter. It is just as I expected. The Prime Minister is truly loyal and is willing to govern the Ming Dynasty with all his heart, just like Zhuge Kongming!"

His praise made you feel relieved. Just as you were about to tell him the reason, he suddenly changed the subject: "It's just that I'm quite displeased with the Prime Minister comparing himself to Zhuge Kongming..."

"If the Prime Minister is Kong Ming, then does that mean I am Liu Chan?"

Your heart tightens, "Your Majesty is right. I misinterpreted the subject and am guilty..."

[But before you could finish your words, the Divine Emperor smiled and shook his head.]

"Your Excellency, you have misunderstood. I do not mean to blame you, but rather to point out that you chose the wrong ancient figure to compare yourself to. Zhuge Kongming is different from you... If I had to choose, I would like to think of someone who can be compared to you."

“Your Majesty is saying…”

"I'm talking about Zhang Liang!"

The Divine Emperor said seriously, "Zhang Liang assisted Emperor Gaozu of Han, which established the Han dynasty for four hundred years. Now that the Prime Minister is assisting me in governing state affairs, if I can be like Zhang Liang... this will elevate me, allowing me to be on par with Emperor Gaozu of Han, the greatest of Emperor Yao's descendants!"

As he spoke, the Divine Emperor couldn't help but burst into laughter. Then, taking advantage of his excitement, he said, "It just so happens that the Prime Minister doesn't have a courtesy name yet, and since he shares the same name as Marquis Liu, Liang, why not call him by Marquis Liu's courtesy name?"

[Divine Emperor: No words will do!]

【You: Sparrow food...】

Upon hearing the familiar words of the Divine Emperor, you immediately recalled everything from your past life. He had said the same thing back then, and then He gave you the courtesy name "Zifang." Thus, the name "Zhou Zifang" has been used throughout your life.

In this life, you can choose a courtesy name, but if you choose "Zifang," it would be too self-aggrandizing... As for choosing another courtesy name, you're not used to it. After all, you were called Zhou Zifang for thirty years in your previous life, so changing it wouldn't be nice. So, you've never chosen a courtesy name. Or, you could say, you've been waiting for the Divine Emperor to personally choose the name "Zifang" for you. Now, He has granted your wish...

He laughed and said, "How about calling the Prime Minister Zifang from now on? My Zifang?"

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for the calligraphy!"

[You, with mixed feelings, thank the emperor for his grace.]

【…】

Having been given a courtesy name, you seemed to have untied some knot in your heart. Without further ado, you asked Him solemnly, "Since Your Majesty has bestowed upon me the courtesy name Zifang, I will follow the example of Marquis Liu and open my heart to you!"

"Your Majesty, may I ask why you deceived me in the first place? I have fully confessed my loyalty, yet why is Your Majesty unwilling to open up to me? Are you truly content with the status quo, waiting only to resume your past slaughter in your later years?"

"You really don't understand! Clearly, exchanging intelligence would provide a chance to resolve the conflict between God and man, so why is the Divine Emperor unwilling to do so? Does He enjoy killing people?"

[After hearing this, the Divine Emperor remained silent for a long time...]

After a long while, He slowly said, "I did not lie."

【what? 】

[You're completely dumbfounded: You really don't know? This is impossible...]

[However, the Divine Emperor paid no attention to your expression. After clearly stating that he had not lied about getting something for free, He immediately changed the subject: "...As for whether I enjoy killing, I only want to say that I do not wish to kill innocent people..."]

You frowned. "Since Your Majesty doesn't want to kill innocent people, even if Your Majesty truly knows nothing, you should work with me to find a solution to this conflict!"

[But the Divine Emperor said: "This cannot be solved..."]

"How will you know if you don't try?"

[“No need to try, I know.”]

"Your Majesty, you know a bit too much... If that's the case, how can Your Majesty claim to know nothing? Your Majesty, even if you claim you're not lying, I absolutely refuse to believe you!"

Your sharp words were like knives, leaving Him speechless for a long time... But in the end, He remained unmoved, and simply spoke seriously.

"Zifang, I didn't lie to you... But I also know that the conflict between me and the people is unsolvable!"

[“That’s all… I won’t say any more.”]

He sighed, then changed the subject: "How about this? To compensate Zifang, I will abdicate the throne to the Prime Minister."

"If Zifang is willing, I will immediately write the edict of abdication!"

[“Not only the throne, but I also wish to share eternal life with you!”]

[“Should Zifang do this?”]

[For a moment, you were completely stunned...]

[Throne? Abdication? Is he serious? Is he really not fishing?!]

[And immortality... shared?!]

You stared blankly at the expectant God Emperor, unable to respond for a long time.

……

(End of this chapter)