The Republic of China: From Storyteller to God

A brothel? Entering the palace? Duke of Luding?

What kind of storybook is this?

Huang Zhen had just gone upstairs when he heard Liu Che's description and was immediately stunned.

Not only him, but all the guests sitting around listening to the storytelling also fell silent and looked at each other in bewilderment.

Huang Feihong was also shocked when he saw Liu Che on the stage, who was calm and composed.

Is Liu Che's story about things happening in the palace?

Is he really that bold?

Making irresponsible remarks about the royal family is a serious offense punishable by death according to the law!

His thoughts raced, and Huang Feihong turned to look at the guests behind him.

Many guests were already restless and wanted to get up and leave.

Even if Liu Che dared to tell such a story, which risked great disrespect, not many people would dare to listen.

His gaze settled, and he saw Huang Zhen at the top of the stairs. He quickly got up to greet her.

"Brother Huang."

He approached and whispered, "I didn't know Brother Liu would tell such a story. Why don't you leave first?"

Such stories are quite risky; if someone reports them to the authorities, it could lead to the arrest of officials.

Huang Zhen smiled, unconvinced: "What's there to be afraid of? This story is so interesting, I have to hear it."

"Brother Huang."

Huang Feihong wanted to persuade him again, but then another person came up from the bottom of the stairs.

He was about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, dressed in a long gown, with a refined appearance. He held a folding fan in his hand and looked at the stage with a curious gaze.

When Huang Feihong saw him, he was immediately startled.

Is it him?

Immediately afterwards, a voice came from the stairwell: "Master Huang, don't worry. With me here, even if Zhang Mingshan personally leads his troops, they won't be able to harm a single hair on the Assistant Minister's head."

As they were talking, another person came upstairs.

He was about the same age as the former, but he was dressed in a coarse cloth jacket, tall and strong, with bright and piercing eyes.

Upon seeing him, Wong Fei-hung's expression immediately turned serious, and he cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "So it's Master Lin and Master Fang. I'm so sorry for not welcoming you sooner."

Huang Feihong was older than these two men, but he addressed them as "Grandpa".

Actually, "old man" is a respectful term for their status.

Both of them were heads of the Renwen Hall of the Hongmen in Guangzhou Prefecture.

The first person to come up and take the folding fan was named Lin Juesheng, the head of the incense hall of Renwentang, also known as the white paper fan.

People in the martial arts world also have a respectful title for this position: "Grandpa of the Holy Hall".

The latter is the head of the Punishment Hall, named Fang Shengdong, who is respectfully called Master Xige by people in the martial arts world.

Although both of them were commoners, Renwentang had a great influence among the people of Guangzhou Prefecture, with more than 10,000 disciples.

In terms of prestige and influence, even Wong Fei-hung couldn't compare to them.

"Master Huang."

Lin Juesheng was very polite and greeted Huang Feihong with a smile.

Fang Shengdong, however, was arrogant and haughty. He merely gave a perfunctory bow as a greeting.

Huang Feihong didn't care, because he knew that the people of Renwentang didn't have a good impression of him.

Because he had once served as an instructor in the Black Flag Army, he had essentially worked for the imperial court.

Since everyone in Renwentang took it upon themselves to oppose the imperial court, they naturally didn't have a good attitude towards him, who had once been a "lackey of the imperial court."

But seeing Fang Shengdong's perfunctory attitude, Lin Juesheng straightened his face and solemnly reminded him, "Adong, Master Huang is now a fellow disciple. As the head of the Punishment Hall, are you trying to break the rules?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Shengdong's expression immediately hardened, and he quickly abandoned his perfunctory attitude, bowing respectfully to Huang Feihong once again.

"It's alright, they're all family."

Huang Feihong didn't dwell on these things. He glanced at the stage, turned around, and said, "I'll go ask Brother Liu to change the storybook..."

But he had only taken two steps when Huang Zhen called out to him, "Feihong, it's alright, let him speak."

"But……"

Huang Feihong wanted to persuade him further, but a customer walked by with a smile and said, "Master Huang, I have something to attend to at home, so I'll head back first."

"Oh, okay..."

Huang Feihong was about to respond when he suddenly realized what was happening.

He clearly wasn't troubled at home; he simply couldn't bear to listen to this traitor's tale.

The guest bypassed Wong Fei-hung and headed towards the stairwell.

But Huang Zhen and his group were blocking the stairwell, so he could only step forward, cup his hands in a gesture of respect, and say with a forced smile, "Excuse me, gentlemen..."

"Huh? Boss Song? Don't you recognize me?"

Lin Juesheng smiled and said, "The lecture has only just begun, why are you leaving already?"

This Mr. Song, the owner of the rice shop on the next street, twitched his eyelids upon hearing this, but could only force a smile: "So it's Mr. Lin. Look at my eyes, you didn't even recognize me."

I just remembered that the shop was due to pay the grain ships today, so I had to hurry back.

"It's just a small boat fare, what's the rush?"

Lin Juesheng's smile remained unchanged: "Whose ship is it? I'll just say hello, it won't make a difference if I stay a couple more days!"

"Mr. Lin..."

Boss Song's forehead was already sweating, and he repeatedly clasped his hands in apology, saying, "I'm just an ordinary citizen, please don't make things difficult for me..."

"Who gave you trouble?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Shengdong frowned immediately: "Are you in such a hurry to leave because you want to report this to the authorities?"

Mr. Song was startled and quickly waved his hands, explaining, "I didn't! I really didn't!"

Huang Zhen, who was watching from the side, said, "A-Dong, don't scare people."

He smiled kindly at Boss Song, reassuringly saying, "Don't be afraid. If you have something to do, go ahead and do it. Let's go listen to the story!"

After saying that, he strode towards the front row.

Boss Song looked at the stairwell in front of him, lifted his foot, but then put it down again.

If no one knew him, he would have left without a care in the world.

But Lin Juesheng had already recognized him.

What if someone reports it to the authorities and Lin Juesheng and the others blame him?

For a moment, Boss Song was sweating profusely, but he dared not go downstairs.

Many guests were also watching from the tea table in front.

Seeing Boss Song standing motionless at the top of the stairs, they didn't know what had happened and felt uneasy, so they didn't dare to get up.

Huang Zhen and the others went to the front row and took their seats one by one.

Huang Zhen removed his wide-brimmed hat and looked at Liu Che on the stage with great interest.

This was the first time he had seen Liu Che up close.

But Liu Che had already discovered them.

Is it him?

Liu Che recognized Huang Zhen as soon as he saw his face.

This Assistant Minister is quite an extraordinary person.

He not only orchestrated the uprising in Guangzhou the following year, but also made an indelible contribution to overthrowing the imperial court.

Unfortunately, his life was fraught with misfortune, and he passed away from illness a few years later.

In his previous life, Liu Che had met him in Shenghai and even had a meal with him.

However, they did not cross paths in this life, so Liu Che only glanced at them before looking away.

Looking around at the restless guests below, Liu Che smiled and said loudly, "After hearing my story, are you all scared? Don't you dare to listen anymore?"

Making irresponsible remarks about the imperial family was, according to the law, a serious offense of disrespect.

But do you know why I still dare to say it?

Hearing Liu Che's words, the previously apprehensive guests were also aroused.

Yes!

Why did he dare to tell such a story that made irresponsible remarks about the royal family?

Liu Che chuckled and then gave his answer: "You may not know this, but this year, the imperial court promulgated the 'New Criminal Law of the Great Banner'."

The crime of great impiety has been removed from the new law.

The guests present were taken aback upon hearing this and quickly looked around to ask others for confirmation.

"This kid even knows about this?"

Huang Zhen, sitting at the very front, was quite surprised, and the look of praise in his eyes as he looked at Liu Che became even stronger.

"This is a real talent!"

Lin Juesheng also leaned over and praised him.

The new law was only promulgated this year, and even he hadn't seen it. How could Liu Che know about its provisions?

Although they are rebels, knowing themselves and their enemy gives them a better chance of winning.

For a moment, Lin Juesheng waved his paper fan, a thought forming in his mind.

Why don't we recruit this kid?