A leisurely life in the world of cultivation

Chapter 134 Palace Coup!
"Drink! Sanlang, you must have a couple more drinks today! Sanlang, you're riding high these days!"

At the Li family banquet, Li Changping glanced at the table of his sisters-in-law, each with their own unique charm, and then looked at his own widowed wife. He suddenly felt that he had wasted his life and had no reason to live. He then insisted on getting Li Weizhou drunk.

He did so, and Li Chang'an was somewhat spurred on as well, so he rolled up his sleeves and joined the fray.

You can't really blame them. Zhou Yueniang was already exceptionally beautiful, Feng Biwu was an absolute beauty, and then there was the alluring Qi Erniang...

Which man wouldn't be jealous of Li Weizhou?
If these women were a little more troublesome, like the old couple, the fourth one, everyone could feel a little more at ease, secretly making sarcastic remarks like, "They're bound to have endless petty squabbles and never have a moment of peace," just to comfort themselves.

But look at Li Weizhou's women: the first wife is magnanimous, the second wife is aloof but respectful to the first wife, and the third wife is even closer to the first wife with a hint of flattery...

Is this a blessing that men should enjoy?
Um? ! !
Why is all the auspicious smoke rising from the Li family's ancestral graves going into Li Weizhou's body?

So Li Changping and Li Chang'an, though not drunk from alcohol, were intoxicated by jealousy, and they pulled Li Weizhou from the left and right, desperately trying to get him drunk.

What they drank wasn't rice wine, but Langjiu, a "famous local liquor" that Li Weizhou presented to Li Delong as a tribute!

Of course, Langjiu is not produced in Changzhou, but it is very close by and is brewed with water from the Chishui River, so people in Changzhou also like it very much.

Although the Chishui River is dirty, it is excellent for brewing wine. More than 40% of the sauce-flavored liquor in China is brewed with water from the Chishui River.

At first, Li Delong and his two sons weren't used to the taste, but the more they drank, the smoother and more mellow it became. The tipsy feeling after getting drunk could really solve all their problems, and incidentally, it allowed them to skip a meal...

Li Weizhou drank heartily, accepting all drinks offered, and didn't cheat by spitting the alcohol out the other side of the earth.

I don't drink with my own family.

But how could someone with the physique of a martial master get drunk?
My two cousins ​​were so drunk that their eyes were practically spitting fire and turned bloodshot, but they just couldn't outdrink me!
So angry! !
Fortunately, Li Changning, the fourth son, returned at the crucial moment.

Li Da and Li Er thought that Li Changning was a martial emperor and could definitely drink a lot, so he was a great help!
The two brothers, as if seeing a savior, pulled Li Changning over, one raising a glass and the other pouring wine, and then made Li Changning drink!

When did Li Changning drink alcohol?

But today, he was also burning with resentment. Looking at someone who wanted to be his "master," he took the initiative and said, "Third Brother, drink!!"

"Drink my ass!" he swallowed in one gulp, then spat it out.

The poor eldest brother was excitedly cheering on the youngest brother, their faces flushed from the alcohol, and they were so close together that this incident conveniently blocked the "spring."

The group of women at the table who were watching the commotion burst into laughter upon seeing this scene, including Madam Luo.

Don't think women are stupid. Do you really think they can't see why these two are so determined to get Li Weizhou drunk?

Having his face sprayed with saliva and wine, he felt incredibly happy!
Luo only regretted that she hadn't spat out that mouthful of wine!
Li Weizhou was also overjoyed. Li Changning's face was flushed, and he looked at the contents of his cup with a puzzled expression. He then looked at his father and brothers, completely unable to comprehend the world around him, and asked with a sense of existential doubt, "Why would you drink something so spicy?"

Li Delong, drunk, waved his hand and said, "Hey, Silang, you're still young and don't know the wonders of this thing. If we had this a few years ago, your father wouldn't have suffered so much."

Li Weizhou looked at Li Changning and chuckled, "So, are you going to offer me a toast again?"

A toast?!
Do you really want to be a respected master or elder?
The anger that had just subsided suddenly flared up again, and Li Changning said fiercely, "Again!"

Cao Shi said with heartache, "Si Lang, you can't drink, so don't compete with your brothers."

Li Changning shook his head, picked up the cup and drank it all in one gulp. This time, he used a little more strength and felt much better.

Then, somewhat guiltily, he looked at Li Weizhou.

Li Weizhou didn't care; he simply downed a cup with a "squeak."

The two drank seventeen or eighteen cups back and forth. Li Changning gradually got used to the taste of the alcohol and stopped using his internal energy to block the drinks. He gradually fell into a slightly tipsy state. After finishing his twentieth cup, he looked at Li Weizhou seriously and said, "Third brother, you have acted improperly."

Li Weizhou chuckled, "Did I owe you something?"

Li Changning said angrily, “That’s my master! A teacher for a day is a father for life. My master is someone I respect like my own parents! How could you…” He couldn’t even finish his sentence!
Li Weizhou laughed and said, "What do you mean? With your mind so full of complicated formalities, when will you ever become truly invincible? Do you see if the Grand Commander cares about this issue? He even congratulated me."

Even my newly sworn father-in-law, does he care about such trivial matters? No, he doesn't. Why? Because he is a true enlightened Confucian scholar who knows what is true, the true meaning of returning to simplicity!
And then there's your third sister-in-law. Although she hasn't read many books, she has great wisdom and knows what it means to live a normal life and what it means to make a living.

And look at you, your head is like a foot binding cloth, two confidantes, one you can't bear to part with, the other you can't let go of, so hesitant and indecisive!
How could our Li family have such a disappointing offspring as you?

Li Changning was completely numb, his face turning pale and then red. Finally, he drank the wine in his cup in one gulp and whispered, "Third Brother, please teach me."

On the women's side, several women chuckled.

Li Weizhou laughed heartily, exclaiming with boundless confidence, "It's simple! She likes you, and you like her too, so just do what you should do. Of course, there's a prerequisite for this kind of liking: at least one of you must be willing to sacrifice your life for the other. As the saying goes, 'What is love in this world that makes people willing to die for it?'"
Ask your sisters-in-law, "If a peerless expert stands here with a sword today, saying I must die here unless one of me takes my place, look at them, which one of them would back down?"

Zhou Yueniang and the others smiled but remained silent.

Li Changning glanced at them, then looked at Li Weizhou with envy and asked, "What about you, Third Brother?"

Li Weizhou said confidently, "Of course I ran. When you can't beat someone, you have to run so you can come back for revenge."

"..."

Li Changning was furious and raised his voice, "Can't you just die?!"

How could you say that? I really feel sorry for those third sisters-in-law!
Li Weizhou cursed, "Brainless! If I die, will they be spared? Of course, I won't let any of them die. No one should let others decide their life or death; that's stupid. If that happens, I'll give that scoundrel a good beating. At that point, everyone will scatter and run for their lives. Whoever survives must work hard and avenge their enemies. I'll stay behind to cover the retreat and be the last one to run."

So you see, I naturally ended up with your sisters-in-law.

Look at you, you saved Wanyi first and then Yuanzhi. They were willing to disregard societal and family pressures for your sake.

As a result, you've become an idiot because of the cloak of your own imagination.

What a useless thing, I wonder when it will ever stand up straight... *squeak*. He took another sip of wine, looking worried.

However, in the eyes of women, Li Weizhou at this moment, laughing and cursing, was truly a man of endless charm, upright and indomitable.

Guo was so enraged that she yelled at Li Chang'an, "If you could find a few men willing to die for you like my third brother, I would agree to your request!"

Li Chang'an chuckled and remained silent.

Li Changping looked at Luo Shi with longing eyes. There really was a woman who had told him when she received money that she loved him to death...

Unfortunately, Mrs. Luo didn't even glance at him.

Li Changning's face flushed red. After taking a big gulp of wine, he got up and started to walk out.

Madam Cao hurriedly called out, "Fourth Brother, where are you going?"

Li Changning blushed and said, "I'm going to find Yuan Zhi and Wan Yi. I'm going to tell them I want to marry them!! Both of them, I want to marry them both!!"

However, as soon as he finished speaking, he stood there stunned, because there were two girls standing at the door, neither of them wanting the other to go in first, and now the two girls were also standing there in a daze...

The rest of the Li family also held their breath and watched quietly.

Whether worried, expectant, or... watching the show!

Fortunately, Li Changning was, after all, a member of the Li family, and with the effects of the alcohol, he really went all out this time, shouting loudly to the two young ladies, Zhao Yuanzhi and Zhang Wanyi, "I want to marry you both!"

Zhao Yuanzhi nodded emphatically and said, "Yes, Aning, I understand. You have to marry me!"

Having said that, he rushed in first and said urgently to Li Weizhou, "Third Brother, something has happened in the palace! Just now, someone from the palace, carrying the Emperor's command token, suddenly went to the Southern Palace to take over the Southern Palace's Imperial Guards. But this person is Zhu Wansheng, the Prince of Wei's cousin and the Empress's nephew!"

Zhang Wanyi also came over and said, "Not only that, the commander of the six armies of the Northern Army has also been changed, and he is also a member of the Prince of Wei's faction."

Li Weizhou blinked, not expecting that even at this point, a "Xuanwu Gate" incident could still occur.
I knew that Emperor Yongping and the Crown Prince were both deposed, but I never imagined they would be deposed to this extent!
He asked in bewilderment, "Shouldn't the emperor have skilled warriors by his side? Where are they?"

However, it suddenly occurred to me that there was no spiritual energy within the palace.

But that doesn't make sense either. The Imperial Execution Office is located on the east side of the palace. What kind of expert could possibly sneak into the palace without the Grand Master of the Imperial Execution Office's knowledge?
Zhang Wanyi said, "Martial artists are not allowed to use force in the Forbidden City unless they are acting on imperial orders. But if the Emperor passes away and Zhang doesn't speak up, then... Alas, this is supposed to be an ironclad rule to suppress rampant rebels throughout the land, but I never expected that the Imperial Family would end up like this. The Imperial Execution Office is also subject to restrictions; if there is no unrest by martial artists, then the Imperial Execution Office is not allowed to appear within the Forbidden City."

For the Great Qian Dynasty, it was almost impossible for external rebellions to break into the capital, unless the Imperial Prison was completely wiped out.

They were not without precautions against the imperial clan, and most of their resources were focused on preventing the spread of the Qi Prince's Mansion.

No one expected that the King of Wei would have such methods to arrange everything so that everyone around the emperor would be in a safe place...

Li Weizhou was still puzzled and said, "Why would the Grand Secretary remain uninvolved at a time like this... Doesn't anyone suspect that the Grand Secretary is plotting a rebellion?"

Wasn't the Imperial Punishment Office supposed to be the emperor's personal guard? Was it only targeting those of different surnames and the Eight Princes' rebellion?
So it doesn't matter if it's a prince?

Furthermore, the reason why the Great Qian Dynasty can restrict martial arts to this extent is entirely due to the Grand Master's power suppressing all experts, right?

But what about the Grand Master of Justice? Who will guard against him?
Zhao Yuanzhi asked curiously, "Third Brother, don't you know? There are rules in the world. Human emperors in the mortal realm are not allowed to cultivate. This is a rule of the spirit realm. Otherwise, cultivators will unite to attack them. If cultivators in the mortal realm do not abide by this rule, they will not be able to ascend to the spirit realm. The Grand Minister's rebellion is useless."

Zhang Wanyi said, "Not only that, there are also Venerables sent down from the Spirit Realm in the mortal world. They are the mortal world's observers, specifically watching to see if anyone violates the Heavenly Rules. If a Martial God-level cultivator dares to disrupt the court, even if it's just supporting a puppet, it's still a violation of the Heavenly Rules and will be punished."

So that's how it is. No wonder Daisuke and the black cat know each other...

Li Weizhou nodded and said, "Alright, then one last question... Something has happened in the palace. One of your families is the Prince of Qi, and the other is the General of the Army. Why aren't you two going to quell the rebellion? Why are you coming to me?"

Zhao Yuanzhi and Zhang Wanyi exchanged a glance and said in unison, "My grandfather (father) sent us to find you!"

Li Weizhou laughed angrily, "Who do I think I am? They've never even seen me. Besides, what good would it do them to see me? Wanyi, the Prince of Qi is old, and your father is a great general. Why won't he show up?"

Zhang Wanyi said with distress, "My father is also a martial artist. The Southern Palace Imperial Guards are manageable; he has already gone to keep them in check. But the Forbidden City is a different story. Unless the Emperor gives the order, no one dares to practice martial arts within the Forbidden City, especially those above the Martial Emperor level. Furthermore, he cannot mobilize a large army to attack the capital to defend the Emperor without an imperial edict."

However, both he and the Prince of Qi went to see the Grand Master of Ceremonies. Although the Grand Master of Ceremonies said he was powerless to do anything, the only guarantee he could make was that the military officers within the imperial city would not cause trouble, and that the military officers within the forbidden palace would not take action. But he still could not and would not interfere with the ordinary troops.

But he also pointed out a path for my father and the old Prince Qi: find you, Third Brother! He said you, Third Brother, are the only variable.

Li Weizhou said speechlessly, "I've only been in the capital for one day, I'm completely clueless, what use is it to you to come to me? What's the situation in the palace right now?"

But he already had a pretty good idea of ​​what was going on. The Grand Master of Ceremonies was a cunning old fox, and he was trying to use someone else to do his dirty work...

Zhao Yuanzhi said, "The only thing we can confirm right now is that His Highness Prince Zheng is alright. He's being treated by the Grand Master of Ceremonies for his voice, which was poisoned and made him lose his voice. Oh, and he also wrote you a letter."

As he spoke, he handed Li Weizhou a piece of paper.

It's just an ordinary piece of white paper; when you open it, there are only two simple lines of text:
Big brother, please save me.

Little monkey, Zhao Yuanlong.

Zhang Wanyi said softly, "My father said that if the Prince of Wei really succeeds in ascending the throne, His Highness the Prince of Zheng will be sent back to the palace tomorrow. The affairs of the imperial family are decided by the imperial family."

Li Weizhou roughly understood why the Grand Justice had pointed the finger at him from the two bigwigs, so he no longer hesitated and said to Li Changning, "You, Yuanzhi, and Wanyi, work with your third sister-in-law and the others to send your family out of the city to wait. Wanyi, your father controls the Southern Court, right? Tell him to open the gate and let them pass."

Zhang Wanyi replied in a deep voice, "Yes!"

Li Weizhou said, "Also, have your father send five hundred elite warriors to follow me. I'm going to the palace to defend the emperor!"

However, just as he was about to use a grenade to open the eyes of the world, suddenly a bell rang out from outside, its sound continuous.

The country bumpkins from out of town didn't understand this, but how could Zhao Yuanzhi and Zhang Wanyi not know?

The two men's faces changed drastically, turning deathly pale in an instant. They murmured, "It's too late."

When the Jingyang Bell tolls 108 times, a great mourning ensues throughout the land!
Emperor Yongping has passed away.

There was no way to reverse the situation...

No, at least one person hasn't admitted defeat yet—Li Sanlang from Qingzhou!

……

"Wanyi, can you still open the city gates?"

Li Weizhou continued to ask.

Zhang Wanyi looked at him, puzzled. Zhao Yuanzhi, thinking he didn't understand, explained, "Third Brother, it's too late, the Jingyang Bell is already..."

Li Weizhou waved his hand and said, "I know, but I have a way."

Zhang Wanyi replied crisply, "Sure, I'll do it. My cousin is guarding the Golden Light Gate in the West City."

Li Weizhou nodded and said to Li Delong and the others, "I'm not being reckless, nor am I just trying to save the little monkey. The Prince of Wei's sudden outburst was all because we saved the little monkey; he'll hate us to the core, that's one reason. Secondly, Shangqing Palace was his loyal hound, and we slaughtered it, that's another deadly grudge. Thirdly, the Prince of Qi's residence has cared for the Crown Prince for many years; in the Prince of Wei's eyes, he'd love to break them to pieces. Yuanzhi is our Li family's daughter-in-law; when the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken. I can't watch her suffer. Wanyi is in a similar situation."

Therefore, a decisive decision must be made! You will all wait for my good news fifteen miles west of the city!

Actually, there is an even more important reason that I haven't mentioned. Once the King of Wei successfully ascends the throne, he can designate the Li family as a traitorous clan. At that time, even the Imperial Punishment Bureau and the Mountain Forest Guard will obey the emperor's orders and eliminate the rebels.

That will be the real dead end.

Although it's possible to find a way to do it, it's simply not worth the effort...

Let's turn things around before the worst happens!
Moreover, there's a cunning old fox waiting for him to make his move...

Li Changning said urgently, "Third Brother, I'll go with you!"

Li Weizhou frowned and shouted, "Martial arts are not allowed in the Forbidden City, don't you understand?"

Zhou Yueniang stood up and walked up to him, looking into his eyes and said, "You must promise that you will come back safely."

Li Weizhou laughed and said, "Don't worry at all!"

Zhou Yueniang refused, her amber eyes fixed on him. Li Weizhou suppressed his smile and agreed, "Alright, I promise! If even a single hair is missing, I'm not a true hero! My lady, did the palace send over the earl's court robes before?"

Zhou Yueniang nodded with pursed lips, and Li Weizhou smiled and said, "Bring it here, so that I can change into my court robes and boots. I'm going to the palace for court!"

……

As the Jingyang bell rang continuously, Li Weizhou changed into his newly issued "work clothes" and easily prepared to set off.

When he was saying goodbye to his family, he hesitated for a moment, then looked at Li Changping and asked, "Brother, do you want to go?"

Everyone was startled, and Madam Cao hurriedly said, "Sanlang, I'm afraid your eldest brother is not going to make it..."

After a moment of surprise, Li Changping looked into Li Weizhou's eyes and said, "Sanlang, you want me to go?"

Li Weizhou hesitated for a moment before saying, "I don't know if this is right or wrong, but after I ascend to the Spirit Realm, the title of Earl will be passed to my eldest uncle. However, after my eldest uncle passes away, I will suggest that he pass the title to my second brother. It's not because I have a better relationship with my second brother, but because he has the ability to protect this family business. At that time, he will be in Qingzhou, and my fourth brother will be in the Imperial Execution Department, one inside and one outside, ensuring the Li family's safety for a hundred years. But I don't want you to suffer any injustice. Today is an opportunity. If you dare to fight hard, perhaps you will have a chance to change your fate..."

"No, no, no, no..."

Before Li Changping could speak, Li Chang'an immediately objected, saying, "I can go, but not my elder brother. Give the title to my elder brother, and I will pursue my own merits. Sanlang, I'll go with you."

"Shut up!"

This was the first time I'd ever seen Li Changping so angry. Not only did he yell at me, but he also slapped Li Chang'an on the forehead, exclaiming, "Do you even respect me as your older brother? You look down on me too?!"

Li Chang'an's eyes reddened instantly, and he looked at Li Changping solemnly, saying, "Brother, you are my elder brother, I have never looked down on you. But today..."

"Shut up!!"

After Li Changping had intimidated everyone, he cautiously asked Li Weizhou, "Sanlang, do you think I can do it?"

Li Weizhou smiled and said, "If you do as I say, there shouldn't be any major problems. However, I can't guarantee your safety; there's still some risk."

After hesitating for a moment, Li Changping gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, I'll go with you!"

"no!"

This time, it was Madam Luo who turned hostile. Tears streamed down her face as she grabbed Li Changping's arm, saying, "You're not allowed to go! All you want is to take a concubine and have a daughter, right? I agreed, I agreed! You can't go! You should at least think about me and Huan'er..."

Li Changping looked at his wife and smiled, "Yun'er, when did I really want to take a concubine? I was just teasing you, otherwise I would feel guilty for being so good to you. I don't want to take a concubine, I just want to earn you an imperial title."

Li Weizhou has a toothache. Are all the children of the Li family born with this problem?
Sure enough, Luo held on even tighter, desperately pulling her husband back and refusing to let him go.

Li Delong looked directly at Li Weizhou and asked, "How confident are you?"

Li Weizhou thought for a moment and said, "Seventy percent... eighty percent. But we still need to rely on Yuan Zhi's help; she'll be responsible for protecting my elder brother."

Although Zhao Yuanzhi was unaware of Li Weizhou's plan, she still bravely said, "Third Brother, I'll listen to you!"

After taking a deep breath, Li Delong said to Luo Shi, "Eldest brother, let him go. Otherwise, he'll lose all his ambition and become a useless person. He's always been timid and cowardly. Although he loves studying, he's afraid of hardship, so he's always been stuck in the middle. It's rare for him to be brave like this. You should support him and also trust your third brother, who is his brother."

Luo was crying so hard she could hardly breathe. Li Changping gently pulled her hands away, bowed to Li Delong and Cao, and then instructed Li Chang'an, "Second Brother, take good care of the family."

Li Chang'an, his eyes red and his throat choked with emotion, nodded and then looked at Li Weizhou, who was standing a little behind him, saying, "Sanlang, bring Big Brother back..." He paused and added, "Alive!!!"

Li Weizhou chuckled and said, "Okay!"

……

Is it difficult?

difficult.

Under the strict prohibition of martial arts, with the Imperial Punishment Office forbidden from interfering in the internal affairs of the imperial family, and with Emperor Yongping and the Crown Prince mostly eliminated, and the Six Armies of the Northern Army all under the control of others, who could possibly turn the tide?

Even if Zhang Wanyi's father is a high-ranking general, if he dares to make any unusual moves, the Grand Master of Justice will probably arrest him.

If King Zheng were an adult, or even a twelve or thirteen-year-old boy, things would be easier.

But King Zheng is only five years old, and the Grand Master of Ceremonies would not take the risk of such a situation.

He was inherently ruthless; as long as the state remained intact and the throne remained in the hands of the Zhao imperial family, it made little difference to him. Whoever ascended the throne would have to treat him with utmost respect.

In this situation, who can turn the tide?

Others fear the Imperial Punishment Office and the Grand Master of Justice, while the Grand Master of Justice fears the Heavenly Rules of the Spirit Realm; each link is tightly connected to the next.

Once Emperor Yongping and the Crown Prince are dead, King Wei will be virtually invincible.

Don't bring up the story of a loyal and righteous minister. The second son killed his brothers, murdered his father, and was still a great ruler.

After the incident involving the candlelight and the axe, Zhao Guangyi remained firmly seated on the throne.

This is why the King of Wei dared to suddenly lash out!
But the Grand Master was a truly shrewd man. He knew that there was a person in this world who possessed heaven-defying power without using martial arts!

As for Li Weizhou, the Grand Master of Ceremonies could keep the other martial artists from making a move, so the rest wasn't too difficult...

Perhaps, the Grand Master of Justice didn't actually like the King of Wei, that kind of scoundrel...

"Did you remember it?"

Before queuing to enter the palace gate, Li Changping had already put on the attire of the Director of the Imperial Punishment Department and followed behind Zhao Yuanzhi. After Li Weizhou gave him a final instruction, he asked a question.

Sweat beaded on Li Changping's forehead, his pupils darting around, but he still gritted his teeth and nodded, saying, "I'll remember!"

Li Weizhou patted him on the shoulder and said, "It's just a matter of two sentences, brother, you can definitely do it!"

After saying this, the group entered the imperial city and, guided by the human wall formed by the Imperial Guards, made their way to the Zichen Palace...

……

Li Weizhou was still very emotional, feeling as if ten or even decades had passed in just one day.

It is evident that the illusion and absurdity of the world are common to all.

While moving forward in line, he suddenly thought of the double-slit experiment.

Unobserved photons exhibit wave-like properties, while observed photons behave drastically, even when observed behind a cracked plate or after the photon has passed through the crack and then the plate is temporarily opened.

It completely defies common sense and logic.

Li Weizhou wondered if these things happened because of his observations of the world.

However, even so, he couldn't change anything; perhaps that's the wonder of the Creator...

Lost in thought, he noticed a young man in front of him suddenly turn around and look at him, whispering, "Brother, you look unfamiliar."

This person also wore a qilin robe, but his qilin insignia was more three-dimensional, lifelike, and looked more vivid.

Li Weizhou knew that this person must be a marquis.

Although both marquises and earls wore qilin robes, the marquis's robes were more dazzling...

Li Weizhou, unaware of this person's background, was unwilling to discuss it further, and simply responded with a curt "Hmm."

This man is incredibly audacious, daring to spout nonsense even during a national mourning period. He turned his head back, but his mouth remained clear as he whispered, "You're the Earl of Qingzhou, just appointed by the late emperor, right? Tsk tsk, I don't know whether to call your luck good or bad? Fortunately, even if the new emperor ascends the throne, he won't renege on your promise, since I heard the Grand Secretary was present during the investiture ceremony? However, your merit in saving the imperial grandson is probably going to be nullified. Sigh, I was hoping to be on good terms with him, but now that a newcomer has appeared, well, I'm about to be sent back to the north to eat sand..."

What a chatterbox!
Soon, officials of the fifth rank and above from the capital city filled the square in front of the Zichen Hall.

There were over two hundred civil officials of the third rank or above, plus imperial relatives, military officers, and generals, filling the Zichen Hall to capacity.

However, all the officials and civil servants were stunned when they saw the motionless Emperor Yongping on the imperial bed and the dead and motionless corpse of Crown Prince Zhao Zhaoyan on the ground.

"emperor!!"

The Minister of Rites, Shangguan Chen, broke the silence of the Zichen Hall with his excited and shrill voice, which also led all the civil officials and nobles to kneel and weep for the late emperor.

However, from the time of the Grand Master of Ceremonies onwards, all the military men bowed in farewell.

Tsk tsk, no wonder the ban on weapons is so strict, they don't even kneel at a time like this.

Li Weizhou had no time to think. He saw the Empress, who had previously had a deathly expression, now the Empress Dowager, emerging in white mourning clothes, supported by Prince Wei, Zhao Zhaoyun, and a group of palace servants. She solemnly proclaimed, "This evening, His Majesty inadvertently discovered that Crown Prince Zhao Zhaoyan had violated human ethics by indulging in incestuous relations with palace concubines. Enraged, His Majesty issued an edict deposing Zhao Zhaoyan from his position as Crown Prince. Who would have thought that this beast, in his rage, would assassinate his father! I witnessed it myself and issued an imperial decree ordering Chief Eunuch Liang Xingzhang to kill this rebellious beast. My heart is broken and my head is shattered. What should I do next? I need your advice..."

Minister of Rites Shangguan Chen abruptly rose, overcome with grief, and said, “The late Emperor was murdered by a treacherous villain, and we, his subjects, are all heartbroken, as if the sky were falling. However, a country cannot be without a ruler for a single day. The late Emperor had only two sons, and now that the treacherous villain is dead, His Highness Prince Wei should ascend the throne. Moreover, the late Emperor mentioned the matter of changing the heir apparent many times before his death. I believe that the reason why the treacherous villain was so depraved is because of this. At this time of turmoil, the throne cannot remain vacant. I, Minister of Rites Shangguan Chen, humbly request the new Emperor to ascend the throne!”

No merit is greater than saving the emperor, but the merit of supporting the emperor during the turbulent period of imperial power change is even greater than that of saving the emperor.

Countless civil officials secretly resented this villain for stealing such a great achievement, while the rest knelt down in a rush and said to the Prince of Wei beside the Empress Dowager, "Your subjects humbly request the new emperor to ascend the throne!"

Before the King of Wei could even begin his performance of declining the throne three times, before he could even utter his first refusal, a voice screamed in terror: "How can this traitor who murdered his brother and father be ranked as the Emperor?!"

After giving a soft "tsk" of praise, Li Weizhou moved silently toward the direction of the Grand Master.

It wasn't that I wanted to do anything to the Grand Commandant, but rather that his direction offered the best angle for firing...

……

What should have been a sure thing and a natural outcome turned out to be quite unexpected.

Countless officials turned around to see which lone hero was so valiant. This was no longer a simple matter of mortal enmity; it involved risking the lives of nine generations of ancestors.

Shangguan Chen was absolutely furious. He turned around and shouted, "How dare you! Who are you to spout such nonsense? You must be a henchman of a traitorous villain! Guards, seize him!"

Before he could finish speaking, the young man trembled so badly he could barely stand, his voice even sharper than his own, as he roared and howled, "Confucius said, 'To achieve benevolence,' Mencius said, 'To uphold righteousness!' Only by fulfilling righteousness can one attain benevolence. What do we learn from reading the books of sages and worthies? We learn loyalty, righteousness, benevolence, filial piety, propriety, integrity, and a sense of shame!"

How can we worship this treacherous traitor who murdered his ruler and father as emperor and father?

Are there no Confucian scholars in the world?
For five hundred years, our dynasty has nurtured scholars; now, the day will come when those who uphold righteousness and die for their principles will be exemplified!

After saying this, he became so excited that he suffocated from lack of oxygen, fell backward, and lost consciousness.

It is very much like someone who sacrificed their life for their cause.

As for the effect...

The court is full of high-ranking officials, all of whom are scholars.

For hundreds of years, even military officers and nobles read books.

Therefore, the shock of these words was like a meteorite falling from the sky into the ocean, creating endless waves in the hearts of the officials!

Yes, we read the books of Confucius and Mencius, and learned about propriety, righteousness, integrity, shame, benevolence, and morality. Is it all for the sake of recognizing a traitor as our sovereign and honoring a traitor who murdered his sovereign and father as a human emperor?

Did the Yongping Emperor and Crown Prince really have no idea how they died?!

Those are the emperor and the crown prince!

Although the man's origins were unknown, his words caused a massive upheaval in the foundations that King Wei had previously built.

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Chen's face turned ashen. He was about to shout at the top of his lungs to have this unknown traitor dragged away when a clear voice rang out: "Well said! We, who have studied the classics, how can we recognize this traitor who killed his brother and father as emperor?"

"BANG!"

Suddenly, a loud bang was heard. Right under the nose of the Grand Master of Ceremonies, Li Weizhou fired a shot at the King of Wei, who was in a fit of rage, from more than ten paces away.

Just like that, the King of Wei's head exploded like a winter melon.

Brain matter splattered, splashing all over the Empress Dowager's face.

The Empress Dowager could hardly believe what she was seeing. Her emotions shifted from extreme excitement to utter despair in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Seeing her beloved child lying on the ground with a shattered head, completely dead, the Empress Dowager screamed and fainted.

Even when he was lying on the ground, he was still convulsing, which shows how agitated and pained he was.

This earth-shattering event instantly silenced the entire Zichen Palace...

Countless people stared in disbelief at the suddenly deceased King Wei, their hearts filled with despair.

The attendants around the King of Wei were all furious, but those above the rank of Emperor Wuzong could keep them in check because they knew the power of the Grand Master of Ceremonies.

However, a few young masters who had not yet passed the fifth or sixth level of the Dragon Gate, who were full of pride in their merit and about to enjoy wealth and glory, completely collapsed upon seeing this scene and rushed towards Li Weizhou like madmen.

"BANG!"

"BANG!"

"BANG!"

"BANG!"

Dead people were everywhere.

Li Weizhou said indifferently, "You dare to perform martial arts in the Zichen Palace? You're courting death! Who else wants to come and die?"

After regaining his senses, Shangguan Chen pointed tremblingly at the Grand Master of Justice, questioning him with extreme anger: "Why...why didn't you stop him? He's from the Imperial Execution Department. Does your Imperial Execution Department want to rebel? You are the Grand Master of Justice of the court. Were you just going to stand by and watch him plot a rebellion?!"

The Grand Master of Justice said calmly, "He was appointed Earl of Qingzhou by the late Emperor today, and he did not use any martial force. Moreover, he opened the Hidden God Palace and will ascend to the Spirit Realm in three years. He will be a person outside the mortal world and will not participate in court affairs. How can there be any talk of rebellion?"

After saying that, he stopped looking at Shangguan Chen and glanced at the other guards around King Wei. One glance was enough to make them freeze.

Then she looked at the prince, who was still lying on the ground.

He didn't interfere when the King of Wei murdered the Crown Prince, so naturally he won't care when the Crown Prince's faction returns to fight back.

After bowing to the Grand Master of Ceremonies, Li Weizhou took the little monkey, who was hunched over in fear and curled up with an incredulous expression, from behind him and led him step by step toward the throne, just as he had rescued the monkey from its skin the day before yesterday...

Li Weizhou didn't think too much about it. The biggest crisis had been resolved. After placing him on the throne, he whispered a few words and then stood aside again...

Fortunately, the Grand Master of Justice was a man of profound learning and extraordinary skill, and he managed to heal the little monkey's throat to a great extent.

That chair might have some kind of magic; sitting on it gradually straightened the little monkey's back. Li Weizhou's instructions echoed in his mind, but he didn't follow them completely...

He shouted in his childish, hoarse voice, "My disappearance was caused by the Empress, Uncle Wei, and Chief Steward Liang from my grandfather's side. I was rescued by the Earl of Qingzhou yesterday. My grandfather told me that he would definitely avenge me. But unexpectedly, overnight, the sun set and the sky collapsed, and my family was destroyed and my relatives died."

"I, Your Majesty, am still young and unable to rule personally. At this critical juncture for the nation, I earnestly request that the Venerable King of Qi, along with the Right Minister of Works, Grand Minister Haoran, and General Zhang Ponu, serve as regents to assist me in rectifying the situation, eliminating the calamity, restoring order to the nation, and bringing blessings to the world. I, Your Majesty, humbly request this!"

Having said that, he jumped down from the dragon throne and knelt down to kowtow beside the remains of Emperor Yongping and his father.

Li Weizhou felt somewhat ashamed; these words were far more cultured than the two phrases he had taught him...

The gaunt old man who had been sitting directly opposite the Grand Master, looking like a withered tree, stood up shakily. But the moment he stood up, everyone realized how tall he actually was.

He was the head of the eight princes, the eldest prince in the royal family, the Prince of Qi.

Even his son, who was already quite old, stood behind him.

King Qi stepped forward, picked up Zhao Yuanlong and placed him on the dragon throne. He then stepped down from the Sumeru pedestal, bowed and said, "This old minister greets Your Majesty and will obey Your Majesty's decree."

That’s a deal!

A taller man stepped forward and bowed deeply, saying, "Your subject Zhang Ponu greets Your Majesty the Emperor, as you command."

Among the few civil officials who had not knelt, one stepped forward, his face gaunt and serene, and bowed, saying, "Your subject obeys the decree."

However, not everyone accepted their fate. For example, those who remained by the body of the King of Wei went mad after their despair.

They knew that they couldn't attack the Grand Minister, and they even knew that if they tried to rush over and kidnap the young emperor without using their martial skills, they might have a chance to survive.

Li Weizhou found it amusing. The reason why the King of Wei could be killed so easily was because it was the Grand Minister's intention. He probably couldn't stand that beast's behavior of killing the king and murdering his father. Otherwise, who did he think he was to be able to kill the King of Wei so easily?

Now that the King of Wei is dead, these people have no legitimate reason to attack, yet they still dare to try to harm the new ruler; they are simply courting death.

Sure enough, without him even lifting a finger, those people didn't even take five steps before they exploded into a bloody mist and vanished into nothingness.

Li Weizhou looked solemn. He was truly gaining a new understanding of these old folks who had mastered over 360 things every day.

Li Weizhou kept his distance, and seeing that the overall situation was settled, he decided to take his leave. He was too lazy to get involved in the rest, as too much of a good thing would be bad.

But then the little monkey... who should now be called the new ruler, suddenly asked, "Minister Li, who was that brilliant person who spoke just now? Does Minister Li know?"

Li Weizhou said, “Oh, this is my elder brother, Li Changping from Qingzhou, who also lives in the capital. Because he is worried that the late emperor, the crown prince, and Your Majesty have been harmed by treacherous officials, he insisted on coming to the court to say a few words of justice for you. He is quite a scholar, so please forgive any rudeness, Your Majesty.”

Zhao Yuanlong pursed his lips and said, "The Li family are all loyal and courageous! Minister Li, I will reward you handsomely!"

The others all turned to look at them.

Li Weizhou smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Your Majesty, didn't you hear what the Grand Master just said? I am now a person beyond the mortal realm and will soon ascend to the Spirit Realm. All so-called glory, wealth, power, and fame are like fleeting clouds to me. Your Majesty, please take good care of yourself."

After saying this, he bowed slightly to the Grand Master, then carried the still unconscious Li Changping on his back and left.

He acted like a superior person, but didn't say that the Li family didn't need to be rewarded.

General Zhang Ponu has already begun to reorganize the Imperial Guards, purge those responsible, and stabilize the Six Armies of the Northern Army.

With the emperor's golden words, and with his martial arts skills, crushing those rebellious officials and traitors would be no more difficult than crushing a few ants.

When Li Weizhou passed by him, this broad-shouldered warrior invited him, "If the Earl of Qingzhou has some free time, you may come to visit me in three days."

Li Weizhou also cupped his hands in a gesture of respect and said with a smile, "Definitely."

Zhang Ponu watched his light and quick steps as he left, a hint of envy flashing in his eyes.

Is this the carefree joy of those destined to break free from constraints...?

……

"Sanlang, it's done?"

After Li Changping regained consciousness, although he refused to let Li Weizhou carry him, he still swayed a bit while riding the horse, looking somewhat incredulous.

Li Weizhou chuckled and said, "Under the great power of heaven and earth, there is indeed no need to kill until rivers of blood flow."

After a moment of silence, Li Changping asked softly, "Then... I didn't get any official position?"

Li Weizhou sighed and said, "There should have been one, but you didn't even introduce yourself after you finished speaking, so no one knows who you are!"

"..."

Two streams of tears instantly slid down Li Changping's face.

Ah! Regret!

Damn it, he almost lost his life, he only dared to be brave once in his life, and when he finally reaped the rewards, he passed out...

pain.

My heart aches.

Li Weizhou laughed heartily, "Thank goodness, elder brother, I spoke up for you. The Emperor praised you, saying that our Li family is full of loyal and brave men. Just wait, your life is secure now. By the way, with this merit, you can definitely get your sister-in-law a title. Elder brother, you really don't want to be an official or take concubines, you just want to get your sister-in-law a title?"

Li Changping quickly wiped away his tears, and his whole demeanor changed. He asked excitedly, "Can I really become an official?"

Li Weizhou glanced at him sideways and said, "Didn't you want to change your sister-in-law's imperial title?"

Li Changping laughed heartily and said, "If I can become an official, why would I be afraid of not having an imperial decree? With my great talent, it's a piece of cake!"

Li Weizhou earnestly inquired, "What kind of great talent?"

Li Changping said solemnly, "Confucius said, 'To achieve benevolence,' and Mencius said, 'To uphold righteousness.' Only by fulfilling righteousness can one attain benevolence. What is the purpose of reading the books of sages and worthies?"

Li Weizhou said expressionlessly, "You copied my wisdom?"

Li Changping was almost moved to tears, but upon hearing this, his back slumped, and he said with a forced smile, "Sanlang, you're about to become an immortal, why are you still concerned about this? How about this, if anyone asks later, I'll just say that my second uncle taught me this when I was a child?"

Li Weizhou stroked his chin and nodded, saying, "That's a good idea."

Li Changping said smugly, "Do I not know my own capabilities? If I really dared to impersonate someone, others would easily expose me with a few questions. By using my second uncle's name, people won't be so critical, and I can even get some benefits."

After saying that, he looked at Li Weizhou seriously and said, "Sanlang, thank you."

Li Weizhou smiled and said, "No problem, let's go, our family is waiting for us outside the city."

"Okay! Go!"

The two brothers rode forward.

……

P.S.: I just finished writing this at dawn, and then I felt hungry, so I boiled water to make instant noodles. But when the water boiled, I realized I'd already eaten the whole box of instant noodles. I feel so empty right now. Have a great weekend everyone.

(End of this chapter)