Under One Person: My Inner Realm Connects to All Worlds!

Chapter 283 Your subject pays respects to Emperor Taizong!

Yuan Tiangang's question was something that Li Xingyun, in his "incarnation," had not anticipated.

He felt that Yuan Tiangang probably didn't have such deep feelings for the real Li Xingyun, since his incarnation had replaced him from the very beginning of the story.

At most, Yuan Tiangang had some kindness in teaching Li Xingyun.

Moreover, as the saying goes, an adult can transform into a tiger, and a gentleman can transform into a leopard.

The changes made by those in power are always as majestic and obvious as a tiger shedding its fur, their transformation is brilliant; the cultivation of a virtuous person is like a young leopard growing up, its transformation is gradual and graceful!
Li Xingyun originally thought that Yuan Tiangang would overlook these minor details amidst the resurgence of the Tang Dynasty, and even if he did notice them, the clever Yuan Tiangang would be able to explain himself and cover them up.

Unfortunately, he insists on playing the fool now!
Isn't it good to have such a wise and decisive monarch?

Compared to the real Li Xingyun, who was indecisive, cowardly, and lacked backbone, he was worlds apart!

However, Yuan Tiangang still couldn't let go of Li Xingyun.

Perhaps it was because he had poured too much hope and effort into it, or perhaps he was worried about that person's descendant of the Li Tang bloodline; in any case, Yuan Tiangang finally asked that question.

Li Xingyun put down the vermilion brush, leaned back slightly, and gently tapped the sandalwood imperial desk with his fingertips, producing a rhythmic sound.

He looked intently at Yuan Tiangang, who was kneeling on the ground, and a smile that was not quite a smile appeared on his lips.

Then, he leaned forward.

“Yuan Qing.”

He spoke, his voice calm and heavy.

"Your question is rather presumptuous. I am none other than Li Xingyun."

Yuan Tiangang lowered his head even further, his voice hoarse: "Your Majesty is naturally Li Xingyun, the monarch I serve. However, although I served His Highness for a short time, I knew his character well."

"Indecisive and yearning for leisure, he is nothing like Your Majesty, who is decisive and ruthless, with a broad mind and strategic vision."

"Oh?"

Li Xingyun raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone carrying a hint of amusement.

"People change. Yuan Qing has lived through three hundred years of vicissitudes. Doesn't he understand that times can create heroes, and they can also reshape a person?"

"On the walls of Bianzhou, Zhu Wen's blood is still fresh, and Li Keyong's head is still intact. Isn't this enough to prove that I am no longer the ignorant fool I once was?"

He deliberately mentioned the illustrious military achievements he had personally accomplished, as these were the most irrefutable evidence.

Yuan Tiangang remained silent for a moment, then bowed again: "Your Majesty is exceptionally talented and martial, beyond the reach of ordinary people. However, one's character can be tempered, and one's aspirations can be changed."

"Only some subtle habits, unintentional preferences, and even attitudes toward certain people and things in the past are often deeply ingrained."

He raised his head, crossed his fingers in front of his chest, and bowed, saying, "For example, Your Majesty's arrangements for Yang Shuzi and Lu Linxuan are thorough, but you seem to lack a bit of concern for them."

"For example, Your Majesty treats the feudal lords of the world solely based on self-interest, showing no trace of gentleness or indecisiveness."

Li Xingyun's eyes flashed, then he regained his composure and chuckled lightly: "Is Yuan Qing accusing me of being too cold-hearted and unforgiving?"

He stood up, walked around the imperial desk, and slowly walked to Yuan Tiangang, looking down at him.

"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. To achieve extraordinary success, how can we be bound by petty sentiments? The fact that Yang Shuzi and Lu Linxuan are far removed from conflict and can live out their remaining years in peace is the greatest mercy I can bestow upon them."

"As for the feudal lords of the world, hmph!"

“They are all ambitious and treacherous, like pythons trying to devour dragons. I have already shown them leniency!”

Yes, Huairou...

Wasn't it you who personally instructed the secret administration of drugs to cause the feudal lords and their sons to die out their lineage?
There are also those in the southern warlords who are obsessed with resistance, who are executed along with their entire families; those in the court who are hindered by the emperor, who are framed and framed... All these methods are enough to prove that the emperor in front of us is not only good at open and unorthodox strategies, but also at killing people in the dark without shedding blood.

Yuan Tiangang felt the invisible pressure from Li Xingyun. Even with three hundred years of vicissitudes, he was still a subject and could not be questioned too much.

"Your Majesty's words are all reasonable; it was I who was pedantic."

He first admitted his mistake, then changed the subject: "However, while sorting through old things recently, I found some scribbles Your Highness made at the Sword Pavilion. The strokes are childish, but they have a unique charm. I wonder if Your Majesty still remembers what you drew?"

Upon hearing this, a barely perceptible glint flashed in Li Xingyun's eyes. He then stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the sky outside the hall, seemingly lost in memories.

"A graffiti work..."

He pondered for a moment, his tone carrying a perfect blend of reminiscence and wistfulness: "Nothing more than the leisurely pleasures of the mountains and fields, birds, insects, and fish. Perhaps, there's also the image of my junior sister chasing butterflies?"

Then, Li Xingyun gently threw the question back: "What, Yuan Qing, you have the leisure to care about these children's toys now? It seems the Bad People's Office has been quite idle lately."

Yuan Tiangang's heart skipped a beat, fearing he had made a fool of himself and angered the heavens. He bowed again, his tone extremely submissive, even tinged with fear:
"Your Majesty, I dare not! I was merely thinking of Your Majesty's former appearance, and I couldn't help but speak incoherently. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"

He touched the ground with his head, lowering himself to an extremely low position.

"No matter what changes Your Majesty may make or how you change, in my heart, you are the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty, the only monarch I am loyal to. I am willing to give my life and follow you for eternity!"

Li Xingyun quietly looked at Yuan Tiangang kneeling on the ground, his gaze deep, as if he could see through that cold mask and look directly at the turbulent emotions beneath.

Silence fell once more in the hall, broken only by the ticking of the water clock, marking the passage of time.

After a long silence, Li Xingyun finally spoke, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger, but carrying a sense of finality:

"Yuan Tiangang, remember this."

"The Li Xingyun of the past is dead."

His voice was not loud, but every word carried immense weight, striking Yuan Tiangang's heart.

"The one who survived is me. The emperor who will restore the Tang Dynasty, eliminate the traitors, and usher in the prosperous Qian Yuan era!"

He leaned slightly closer to Yuan Tiangang, speaking each word clearly and distinctly:

"This is the only truth."

Having said that, he straightened up, no longer looking at Yuan Tiangang, turned and walked back behind his desk, picked up his vermilion brush again, and his tone returned to its usual calm and authoritative manner:
"Rise. There are still many memorials that require our joint attention and consideration."

"The vast land of the Tang Dynasty cannot tolerate the slightest slackness."

Yuan Tiangang's body trembled slightly as he slowly raised his head to look at the figure who was now focused on government affairs.

Beneath the mask, all his churning doubts turned into a silent sigh, buried deep in his heart.

He replied respectfully:

"I obey your order."

Then, he stood up and, as he had done for the past three hundred years, silently and loyally disappeared into the shadows beside the emperor.

Some truths may never need to be revealed.

His mission, Yuan Tiangang, has never changed—to protect the Tang Dynasty until his death.

However, he still had a terrible suspicion.

This suspicion remained hidden in my heart; I never dared to try to believe it.

But today, we have already offended the emperor.

Why not provoke them again?
After today, what does it matter if I die?
He had already witnessed the restoration of the Tang Dynasty, and he had no regrets in dying. Besides, three hundred years had passed, and he was simply too tired.

He once consulted a divination regarding the future path of the Tang Dynasty.

But the only words that come to mind are "the future is uncertain".

He could no longer predict the future of the Tang Dynasty. He was exhausted and worn out; what could he possibly do now?

It's just adding bricks and tiles to the new Tang Dynasty!

His body, which should have long since decayed, should perhaps be buried beneath the foundations of this new Tang dynasty.

After a long silence, as if he had finally made up his mind, Yuan Tiangang spoke again in an extremely slow, labored tone:
"His Majesty……"

Li Xingyun didn't stop writing; he only let out a low groan from his throat: "Hmm?"

Yuan Tiangang took a deep breath, as if each word weighed a thousand pounds: "I have recently observed Your Majesty's words and actions and have occasionally been bewildered."

"When His Majesty reviews memorials, he taps the corner of the table lightly with his knuckles, pondering and making decisions; in front of the army, he surveys the entire situation with a commanding presence; and even with a calmness that regards the people's hearts and the overall situation as mere pieces."

He paused, his gaze beneath the mask fixed on Li Xingyun, his voice lowered, trembling almost imperceptibly:

"So alike...so alike...it's alarming!"

He finally voiced the guess that had been lingering in the deepest recesses of his heart, a guess that even he himself dared not touch:

"Sometimes, I feel that the person sitting there is not the boy who grew up in the Sword Pavilion, but the General of Heavenly Strategy, Emperor Zhenguan, three hundred years ago!"

Indeed, Yuan Tiangang suspected that Emperor Taizong had not died. After his own attempt to refine the elixir failed, Emperor Taizong secretly had someone else refine it again, and like him, he survived.

Even when the Tang Dynasty was in its final crisis, it turned the tide and saved the collapsing empire.

He replaced Li Xingyun and became the current emperor!
As for General Bai Qi's immortal army, it was probably created by Emperor Taizong by mixing the Xuanjia Army with incomplete longevity elixirs and other witchcraft techniques.

As the trump card for the Tang Dynasty's resurgence.

Yuan Tiangang filled in the blanks in his own mind.

This is also why he still treats "Li Xingyun" with great respect.

After all, this was Emperor Taizong, whom he had always longed for!
Upon hearing this, the air in the hall seemed to be instantly sucked out, and even the candlelight seemed to freeze for a moment.

Li Xingyun's hand holding the pen paused almost imperceptibly.

A drop of full vermilion fell from the tip of the brush, spreading out a small, glaring red patch in the blank space of the memorial, like a bloodstain.

He slowly raised his head and looked at Yuan Tiangang.

This time, his eyes were no longer calm or playful as before, but became incredibly deep, like an ancient well with an unfathomable bottom.

He neither admitted nor denied it.

Time flowed silently, and every breath seemed exceptionally long.

Yuan Tiangang could clearly hear the pounding of his heart. He waited, waiting for thunderous fury, or any other possible reaction.

Finally, Li Xingyun put down his pen.

He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the imperial desk, his fingers interlaced and resting on his chin. His gaze was fixed on Yuan Tiangang with a scrutinizing and evaluative air.

“Yuan Qing.”

When Li Xingyun spoke, his voice was frighteningly calm, yet more oppressive than any harsh words.

"You've lived for three hundred years, witnessed the rise and fall of dynasties, and seen through the wickedness of human nature. Then tell me, in this world, besides life and death, what is absolutely impossible?"

Instead of answering the question about "who he resembles," he posed a grander, more fundamental question.

Yuan Tiangang was startled.

Li Xingyun continued slowly, "Emperor Taizong's civil and military achievements were unparalleled throughout history, and his ambition was to usher in an era of lasting peace. If he were alive today, and saw the Tang Dynasty falling apart, his descendants being slaughtered, and the barbarian cavalry trampling the Central Plains, what would he think?"

"Should we calmly accept fate and watch the empire crumble, or should we spare no effort to restore order and restore the Tang Dynasty to its former glory?"

These words, while not a direct admission, left Yuan Tiangang with endless speculation.

Yuan Tiangang felt a chill run down his spine and up to his head, making him almost unable to stand.

The speculation was so shocking that he dared not think about it any further.

Li Xingyun took in his shock, and the ambiguous smile on his lips reappeared.

It must be said that the way the author bestowed upon him the title of Taizong Shenzhen was absolutely brilliant.

Furthermore, he subtly absorbed Yuan Tiangang's thoughts and learned about some of Emperor Taizong's habits in the world of Bad Guys.

And it is revealed unintentionally.

Little did he know that what Yuan Tiangang thought was just something Li Xingyun deliberately showed him.

After all, Yuan Tiangang, that old fox, is more cunning than anyone else. Only by letting him discover and deduce for himself will he be more certain of it.

"Yuan Tiangang!"

Li Xingyun no longer addressed Yuan Qing as "Yuan Qing," but instead called him by his given name.

"You assisted Emperor Taizong and protected the Tang Dynasty for three hundred years. What do you seek?"

"Your Majesty, I only wish that the Tang Dynasty's golden age will last forever," Yuan Tiangang replied in a hoarse voice, this was his unwavering conviction.

"Then," Li Xingyun leaned back, returning to his throne, his gaze indifferent, "does the process matter? Does it matter who I am?"

"The important thing is that the Tang Dynasty has been restored, and a golden age is just around the corner. The important thing is that I can lead this empire to a peak even more glorious than you can imagine."

He waved his hand gently: "Put away your unnecessary suspicions and fears, assist me well, and be a good leader of the Bad Army. This is the only thing you need to care about."

Just like back then!

The final ultimatum has been issued.

Yuan Tiangang stood there, stunned, his heart filled with turbulent emotions.

All the trials and doubts were, at this moment, led him to a terrifying yet glorious possibility that he could neither prove nor deny.

He looked at the young and majestic emperor on the throne, whose silhouette vaguely overlapped with the figure of Emperor Taizong in his memory, and finally, all the struggles and all the confusion.

At that moment, it seemed that everything was answered.

Back then, which back then?
This naturally refers to the reign of Emperor Taizong!

He bowed deeply, this time more devoutly and humbly than ever before:

"Your subject understands."

"Your subject, Yuan Tiangang, respectfully obeys the imperial edict."

The Golden Crow falls in the west and the Jade Rabbit rises in the east.

Just as the palace gates were about to be locked and Yuan Tiangang was about to take his leave.

Suddenly, Li Xingyun's voice came from behind him: "The person you care about is doing very well now, living a carefree and leisurely life. After all, he is also a descendant of the Li family."

Yuan Tiangang paused, then suddenly turned around to look at the hall and knelt down heavily.

"My lord, thank you Your Majesty!"

(End of this chapter)