I meet all the requirements for becoming a god in this world!

Chapter 241 National Scholar

Within the illusory mist.

"Duke Dingguo, the Eighth Prince has given his orders!"

"Capture Cheng Laiyun alive! Capture the Crown Prince alive!!!"

The sounds of battle shouts had already begun outside the palace and were gradually approaching the imperial study.

The crown prince suddenly raised his head, wiped away his tears, and his gaze became firm.

He walked to the dragon throne behind the imperial desk, his fingers groping at the bottom of the armrest, finding a very fine groove, and pressed it down hard.

"Crack."

Suddenly, a dull creak of machinery came from the gold brick floor beneath the imperial desk, and several gold bricks silently sank down, revealing a narrow entrance that could only accommodate one person at a time.

Below the entrance was endless darkness, and a cold wind blew up from underground, carrying the scent of earth and stone.

"Zhongjie, hurry! This is a secret escape route that Father Emperor left when he built the imperial city. Only Father Emperor and I know about it."

"The army outside the palace certainly doesn't know, we'll go out from here!" The Crown Prince grabbed Cheng Laiyun's arm and dragged him toward the entrance of the secret passage.

After taking two steps, he suddenly felt his hand go empty—Cheng Laiyun had pulled his hand back.

The crown prince turned his head and watched as Cheng Laiyun picked something up from the ground.

It was a knife, with blood still wet on its blade.

Cheng Laiyun held the knife, the tip pointing downwards and tilted slightly.

"Hmm? Zhongjie, what's wrong with you...?"

The crown prince looked puzzled.

……

Outside the illusory mist, Yu Qingzheng's brows furrowed suddenly.

Zhang Linzheng's fingers tightened slightly inside his sleeve.

Emperor Jianye leaned back on the soft couch, his tired eyes suddenly narrowing as his gaze fell on the hand holding the knife in Cheng Laiyun's hand.

Xie Yuheng stood beside the battlements, watching this scene, and let out a very soft, cold snort. They all had only one thought in their minds.

Why else would Cheng Laiyun attack the Crown Prince at this point?

It's highly likely that they wanted to survive, so they offered the crown prince's head as a pledge of loyalty...

……

In the illusory mist.

The crown prince stared blankly at the knife in Cheng Laiyun's hand, opened his mouth, and his voice trembled slightly:

"Zhongjie, what...what are you going to do?"

Cheng Laiyun did not answer, but walked step by step toward the Crown Prince.

suddenly.

He spread his five fingers, then raised the knife with his right hand, the blade pointing at his palm.

The blade pierced his palm; he gritted his teeth and slashed horizontally. Blood gushed from the wound in his palm, dripping onto the gold brick.

"Snap~" He threw the knife aside, dipped his right index finger in the blood on his palm, took off his clothes, and wrote words on them.

The handwriting was crooked and uneven because it was written with blood dipped in his finger. Each stroke was of uneven thickness, and some strokes would fade halfway through, forcing him to dip his finger again and trace over them.

"Your subject, Cheng Laiyun, is the Inspector General of the Imperial Censorate. In the autumn of the twenty-sixth year of the Jianye era, I personally witnessed the rebellion of Duke Dingguo, Yang Shi'en, at the Chengtian Gate. Your Majesty passed away, and Chancellor Zhang died for his country, as did Minister Yu."

"Knowing that I am about to die, I will use my blood instead of ink to leave the essence of the new policies to future generations before I die."

"The conversion of poll tax into land tax is not intended to amass revenue for the imperial court, but to reduce the burden on the people. The problem with poll tax is that it is levied on a per capita basis regardless of wealth. The poor have less land and more poll tax, so they become poorer the more they pay; while the rich have more land and fewer poll tax, so they become richer the more they pay."

"The new policy is based on land area; those with more land pay more, those with less land pay less, and those with no land pay nothing. This is a fundamental policy to distribute wealth equally among the people and save them from suffering, and is by no means what Yang Shi'en and his ilk claim—that it 'shakes the foundation of the nation.'"

He stopped, wiped his left hand on his clothes to remove the blood still seeping from his palm, and then continued writing.

"The Edict of Grace was not intended to weaken the power of the feudal lords, but to provide a way of life for the people in their territories."

"The sons of princes, even those born out of wedlock, are still blood relatives. The eldest son of the legitimate wife inherits the entire fiefdom, while the sons born out of wedlock receive nothing. This forces the sons born out of wedlock into slavery and forces the fiefdoms into chaos."

"The decree of grace was issued to distribute fiefdoms equally among the princes. After three generations, the fiefdoms naturally dispersed, and the people's hearts were won over without bloodshed. This is Your Majesty's benevolent policy; I merely wrote it on your behalf."

When he wrote the four characters "Your Majesty is benevolent and virtuous," his finger paused on the silk, and the bloodstain spread into a small dark red halo on the last stroke of the character "benevolence."

He looked down at the halo of light, smiled, and continued writing. "These two policies are the culmination of my life's work. My death is not a pity, but the new policies must not be abandoned."

"If any loyal and righteous officials in future generations see this book, please carry out the new policies on my behalf. The people of the world will all remember your kindness."

"The last words of Cheng Laiyun, the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner."

He folded the blood-written letter, turned around, looked at the crown prince, and stuffed the letter, still warm from his palm, into the prince's arms.

"Your Highness, please take this blood-written edict. It contains the core principles of the new policies, the implementation methods for the land tax reform, and the detailed rules for the enfeoffment under the Grace Decree."

"The most impressive thing I have ever done in my life is written on this."

"Take it with you through the secret passage. Once the world is at peace, find a reliable person to finish these tasks for me."

The crown prince looked down at the blood-soaked silk in his arms, then looked up at Cheng Laiyun, his lips moving for a long time before he finally managed to utter a single sentence:

"I'm not leaving. If we have to leave, we'll leave together."

"You are my study companion, I cannot abandon you. As the Crown Prince, I command you—come with me!"

Cheng Laiyun suddenly smiled.

It wasn't a triumphant laugh, but a faint laugh, the kind that comes from being pushed to the brink and then relaxing. He stretched out his right hand—the blood-stained hand that had just been writing on the silk.

He patted the prince's shoulder lightly, leaving a clear bloody handprint on his moon-white robe.

"Your Highness, there is no other way now."

"You should know how many guards there are outside. Yang Shi'en never wanted your life; he wanted your abdication edict with your seal on it."

"If you stay in the capital, you're doomed."

"I am different—I am the standard-bearer of the new policies. When I stand here, all of Yang Shi'en's eyes will be focused on me."

"The longer I hold on, the longer you can run."

"By the time Yang Shi'en realized you were missing, you had already left through the secret passage."

"So Your Highness, hurry. Don't waste any more time."

Before the Crown Prince could say anything more, Cheng Laiyun suddenly withdrew his hand, took a step back, and bowed deeply to the Crown Prince.

It is the most solemn bow a subject can give to the crown prince.

He straightened up, looking at the Crown Prince's young face, still streaked with tears, and his voice suddenly softened, so soft it was as if he were talking to himself. But every word clearly reached the Crown Prince's ears, and also the hearts of everyone watching him outside the illusionary mist.

"Your Highness knows that you have always felt indebted to me."

"Your Highness, please be sure to see the day when the new policies are implemented."

Then he turned around, facing the door of the imperial study, facing the approaching sounds of iron boots and clashing weapons outside the door.

He straightened his clothes.

His dark official robe was stained with blood—his own, Yu Qingzheng's, and Zhang Linzheng's.

He wiped his face with his sleeve, cleaning away the tears and snot, and then straightened his back.

He strode towards the door, pushed it open, and stepped into the dark mass of Weilin Army soldiers outside.

He faced death with equanimity.

……

Outside the illusory mist.

Emperor Jianye stood at the entrance of the city gate, his hands gripping the battlements, his knuckles white. This was an extreme reversal.

Even this emperor, who had sat firmly on the throne for decades, felt a pang of guilt.

Zhang Linzheng remained silent for a long time.

He stared intently at the scene of the illusory mist in the air.

He never showed his emotions in front of anyone, but at this moment there was a very subtle tremor in his voice, one that only those who had worked with him for many years could detect:

"What my heart desires, I will not regret even if I die nine times."

These words are written in blood and tears.

"He did it."

……

Yu Qingzheng turned around, his back to everyone, his shoulders trembling slightly.

He opened his mouth, wanting to curse "brat," but the words just wouldn't come out.

Finally, a sentence squeezed out from his throat, so hoarse it was almost inaudible, was something he himself didn't recognize: "You get out of here alive. You haven't taken care of me in my old age, you can't die."

Xie Yuheng remained silent for a long time.

His gaze was somewhat blank.

It was a feeling of bewilderment and helplessness.

Then came shame.

Just now... he was actually thinking that Cheng Laiyun was betraying his master for personal gain...

This is an insult to Cheng Laiyun.

He suddenly thought of a sentence.

I spoke subconsciously:

"Guoshi."

"Peerless".

The sound wasn't loud, but it was deafening!

……

Within the illusory mist.

Still going on.

The door to the Imperial Study closed behind Cheng Laiyun, very gently, as if afraid of disturbing something.

He stepped across the threshold and stood on the white marble steps outside the hall. The night wind blew in from the direction of Chengtian Gate, making his blood-stained black official robe flutter loudly.

Below the steps was a dense, dark formation of the Imperial Guard, their iron-gray armor layered upon layer, stretching from the entrance of the Imperial Study all the way to the end of the palace gate. The torchlight danced on the blades, like countless cold and hungry eyes.

Yang Shi'en stood at the very front of the formation, his black sword pointing diagonally at the ground. The dark red military aura on the blade was still slowly flowing, casting a small dark red halo at his feet.

Cheng Laiyun took three steps forward and stopped at the edge of the steps.

The soldiers rushed forward, bound Cheng Lai with ropes, and dragged him firmly to Yang Shi'en.

Cheng Laiyun did not struggle, but simply watched calmly.

He looked at Yang Shi'en ahead. His gaze was calm and indifferent.

Yang Shi'en looked at him, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips:

"Where is the Crown Prince?"

Cheng Laiyun did not answer.

He simply raised his chin and then closed his eyes.

"I'll ask you one more time, where is the Crown Prince?!"

Yang Shi'en suddenly raised his knife.

It was placed on Cheng Laiyun's neck.

His eyes flashed with extreme indifference.

"Tch~"

Cheng Laiyun kept his eyes closed.

He didn't even bother to say a word. A faint snort escaped from his nose.

"Cheng Laiyun, are you really not afraid of death?"

Yang Shi'en squinted, staring at Cheng Laiyun with an uncertain expression:

"Now that Emperor Jianye is dead, the overall situation is settled, and you alone cannot change anything."

"Tell me the Crown Prince's whereabouts honestly, and I might consider sparing your life."

Cheng Laiyun opened his eyes.

A glint of light flickered in his eyes.

He gazed at Yang Shi'en with a deep, wistful look.

That was a look that said, "You're insulting me."

Then, he closed his eyes again.

calm.

Calm and composed.

This young man showed not even a trace of fear of death.

"Will you talk or not?!" Yang Shi'en's imposing aura pressed down on Cheng Laiyun like Mount Tai.

Blood had already begun to flow from the neck where the blade had touched.

He stared intently at Cheng Laiyun.

As long as the crown prince lives, he will remain a threat!

However, he saw Cheng Laiyun take a deep breath and speak softly to him:

"This is what my heart desires."

"Though I die nine times, I will not regret it!"

"What?" Yang Shi'en was taken aback.

Cheng Laiyun suddenly opened his eyes, his voice loud and full of energy:

"Since ancient times, who has ever escaped death?" "I will leave behind a loyal heart, shining brightly in the annals of history!!!"

The next moment, he actually used his neck to forcefully strike Yang Shi'en's blade!

"Sizzle~"

Cheng Laiyun closed his eyes calmly.

"Pfft~"

The body lay on the ground.

……

silence.

silence.

Regardless of whether it's outside the illusionary mist.

Still in the illusory mist.

At this moment, all was silent. Yang Shi'en remained silent for a long time.

He looked at Cheng Laiyun's body on the ground.

For a moment, I didn't know what to say.

He sheathed his blade.

Cut the ropes binding Cheng Laiyun.

The sound of a blade cutting through the air was very soft, as soft as a sigh.

"A lavish funeral."

"yes!"

…………

The illusionary mist shattered the moment the blade touched Cheng Laiyun's neck.

Countless pale gray specks of light, like dandelions scattered by the wind, drifted from above Chengtianmen Tower into the night sky, disappearing mid-air as if they had never existed.

The night sky reappeared above everyone's heads. The moon was still in its original position, and the stars were still in their original positions.

"They're out."

Cheng Laiyun stood in the center of the city gate tower, head down, looking at his hands.

There was no blood, no knife.

It was empty; there was nothing there.

He moved his fingers to make sure each knuckle was still movable, then raised his head and looked around.

Yu Qingzheng, Zhang Linzheng, Emperor Jianye, Xie Yuheng.

All four of them stared at him blankly.

No one's gaze was calm.

They had all witnessed what happened in the illusionary mist.

They just couldn't understand it.

The young man before me, barely in his early twenties, actually... seemed so perfectly at ease with the phrase "unparalleled national hero," without the slightest incongruity! "Your Majesty?? Grand Master Uncle?? Grand Tutor Xie?? Prime Minister Zhang??"

"Huh~"

"You guys aren't dead??"

Cheng Laiyun looked at the four people with a blank expression.

He now knows for certain that he has emerged from the illusionary mist.

But you still have to pretend when you need to!

Hearing his words.

The four of them then came to their senses.

Emperor Jianye took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on Cheng Laiyun with extremely complex emotions:

"Cheng Qing, you're not dead."

"You're just trapped in an illusion."

"I was outside the illusionary mist just now, and I saw it from beginning to end." He took two steps forward and stood in front of Cheng Laiyun.

His voice suddenly softened, so softly it sounded less like an emperor speaking to a subject and more like an elder speaking to a junior:

"In my life, I have doubted many people. But after tonight, I will never doubt you again."

Regardless of what happens in the future.

At least for this moment.

Emperor Jianye knew that these words came from the bottom of his heart.

"Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty!"

Cheng Laiyun quickly bowed.

Emperor Jianye turned around to face Xie Yuheng, his tone carrying a mixture of emotion and curiosity:

"Grand Tutor Xie, how exactly did you save me tonight?"

"How did Yang Shi'en die? How did the spirit fox die? What exactly happened on this city wall while I was unconscious?"

"Give me a proper explanation." Upon hearing this, the air on the city wall froze for a moment.

Yu Qingzheng stood beside the battlements, his back, which had relaxed, tensed up slightly again.

Zhang Lin's hand, which was behind his back, twitched slightly.

They all knew very well what had happened on the city wall tonight—the dragon aura emanating from Cheng Laiyun, and the gray-robed man's cry of "Your Majesty."

In front of everyone, Cheng Laiyun proclaimed himself "I" and ordered the gray-robed man to kill Yang Shi'en.

If Emperor Jianye were to find out about these things, Cheng Laiyun, who had just been spared from the illusionary mist, would probably die somewhere else very soon...