Sky Curtain: A Review of Historical Foes and the Secrets of Ministers

The next morning.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, illuminating Wang Xi's face.

He groggily grabbed his phone, habitually opened the backend to glance at the data, and his previously sleepy eyes instantly widened like saucers.

"Holy crap? 100,000 views?!"

Wang Xi sprang out of bed with a somersault, almost straining her back.

"It seems that netizens' tastes have changed this year. This kind of angry rant about a minor historical figure is much more interesting than any serious list of the top ten emperors."

Wang Xi's morale soared, and he didn't even bother to eat breakfast before sitting back down in front of his computer.

"Since everyone likes to see things from the perspective of ordinary people, then today I'll give you a show about twisted humanity and moral decay."

His fingers flew across the keyboard as he consulted materials and conceived a new script in his mind.

……

The Qin Dynasty world, Xianyang Palace.

The atmosphere at today's court assembly was extremely strange.

Normally, the only sounds in the main hall were the rustling of the First Emperor turning the pages of bamboo slips and the voices of his ministers reporting on state affairs.

But today, almost everyone's gaze drifted, seemingly unnoticed, towards the sky above the palace.

Nobody is focused on politics.

The scene yesterday was incredibly shocking for them.

Behind the ranks of military officers, Zhang Han, the current Junior Minister of the Imperial Household, sat kneeling on a cushion with two huge dark circles under his eyes and his legs weak.

Not far from him, in the ranks of civil officials, Zhao Gao, the Chief of the Imperial Carriage Office, also looked pale and emaciated.

Both of them wrote sick leave slips overnight after returning home last night, using the excuse of catching a cold and staying in bed, in an attempt to avoid today's morning meeting.

but.

As soon as it was light today, the two of them, as if by unspoken agreement, came to court again.

There's no other way. What if the sky suddenly cracks open again today, and some earth-shattering news breaks out in the heavens? If I'm not there, I won't even have a chance to plead my innocence. Wouldn't I be subjected to the five punishments on the spot by His Majesty?

At this moment, Zhao Gao was staring intently at Zhang Han.

It's you, you black-faced, heartless contractor.

They usually seem honest and unassuming, but yesterday they actually tried to wipe out my entire family from the sky.

When Zhang Han noticed Zhao Gao's gaze, he almost burst into tears.

I'm just a lowly official repairing the imperial tombs, while you're a favorite of His Majesty. I wouldn't dare offend you even if you gave me eight lives.

Zhang Han frantically tried to convey his innocence with his eyes, but clearly, there was no way he could clear his name now.

At the end of the main hall.

Ying Zheng sat upright on the dragon throne.

The Imperial Guards were mobilized in full force last night, searching every mile around Xianyang City, but they found nothing unusual.

Since he couldn't find anything, Ying Zheng pretended nothing had happened and continued calmly reviewing the memorials.

That imposing aura, so powerful that even if Mount Tai collapsed before them, they remained unmoved, so oppressive that the assembled officials dared not even breathe.

But in fact……

Every so often, Ying Zheng would glance outside the palace out of the corner of his eye.

Will that so-called "sky curtain" of today ever return?

If you come again, you'd better tell me directly whether Fusu is suitable for this position.

……

Outside Taiji Palace.

A peculiar sight has appeared in Chang'an City today.

Emperor Li Shimin, the mighty emperor of the Tang Dynasty, did not hold court in the Taiji Hall. Instead, he had the eunuchs move all the folding stools to the square outside the hall.

The emperor and his ministers of the Tang Dynasty sat in broad daylight, enjoying the cold wind as they held court.

Although this action was somewhat impolite, Wei Zheng surprisingly refrained from criticizing anyone today.

Because everyone knows that the sage is waiting for the heavens to appear.

"Cough cough..."

Li Shimin sat in the main seat and cleared his throat seemingly casually.

"My beloved ministers, yesterday's Qin dynasty was truly a lamentable sight. That brat Hu Hai squandered the First Emperor's legacy, demonstrating that the path of a ruler is indeed long and arduous."

At this point, Li Shimin glanced around and began his usual mode of seeking praise.

"Since my ascension to the throne, I have pacified the Turks and brought peace to the realm. What do you all think of my meager achievements compared to those of the ancient emperors?"

Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling exchanged a glance and immediately picked up the conversation skillfully.

"The sage is divinely mighty; the Tang Dynasty's might subdues the four seas, unprecedented in history!"

The flattery from his ministers made Li Shimin feel completely at ease, and he could hardly hide the smile on his face.

The atmosphere in the princes' camp, sitting to the side, was somewhat oppressive.

Crown Prince Li Chengqian remained silent; one of his legs was crippled, and he was staring intently at the sky.

His eyes were filled with excitement, and even a hint of anticipation.

Father, do you even have eyes for me, the lame prince?

Li Chengqian glanced out of the corner of his eye at Prince Wei, Li Tai, who was sitting not far away, surrounded by several ministers and deeply favored by his father, the emperor.

Since this celestial canopy can judge the merits and demerits of later generations, it must know who the final successor of the Tang Dynasty was.

Is it me, Li Chengqian, or that fat bastard Qingque?

Broadcast it quickly.

Whether you're dead or alive, just give me a quick death.

These days, like being roasted over a fire, are unbearable for me; I can't even endure a single day alone.

Meanwhile, on the other side, King Li Tai of Wei, though outwardly smiling, kept glancing at the sky, his heart also itching with longing.

Father loves me so much, not only allowing me to open a literary museum, but also bestowing upon me gifts beyond the prescribed limits... Could it be that the heavens are prophesying that I am the true Son of Heaven of the Tang Dynasty?

……

Outside the Fengtian Hall in the Ming Dynasty world.

Compared to the eeriness of the Qin Dynasty and the undercurrents of the Tang Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty's atmosphere is like an old man at the village entrance waiting for an open-air movie.

It was still pitch black.

"Biao'er! Biao'er! Hurry up! What are you dawdling about!"

Old Zhu, dressed in casual clothes with his hands tucked into his sleeves, stood outside the Fengtian Hall like an anxious old farmer, shouting at the top of his lungs.

A moment later, Zhu Biao came over, yawning and looking completely bewildered.

"Father, isn't this too early?" Zhu Biao rubbed his eyes helplessly. "It's not even dawn yet, and all the officials are still waiting outside the Meridian Gate to enter the palace. Why don't you go and rest a bit more?"

"Stop taking a break, my foot!"

Upon hearing this, Old Zhu became anxious, his face filled with barely suppressed excitement.

"What do you know? Yesterday, that light screen was listing the contractors from the Qin Dynasty. Today, it's almost our Ming Dynasty's turn!"

Zhu Yuanzhang is now obsessed with the dream of his glorious achievements in expelling the Tartars and restoring China, which will be proclaimed to the world and hailed by future generations as the "Emperor of Martial Might for All Time."

Just imagine that scene, it's even more intoxicating than drinking ten kilograms of strong liquor.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Biao's lips twitched twice, and he couldn't help but remind him.

"No... Father, I think you might be setting your expectations too high. Logically, after the Qin Dynasty, there should be the Western Han Dynasty, then the Xin Dynasty, then the Eastern Han Dynasty, then the Three Kingdoms, the Jin Dynasty, the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the Sui Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty, the Song Dynasty..."

"Ah-de-de-de-de!"

Zhu Yuanzhang found the long list of dynasties annoying and waved his hand to interrupt Zhu Biao.

"What? You think we haven't read history books? Do we need you, you brat, to teach us?"

Zhu Biao quickly bowed and clasped his hands, "That's not what I meant..."

"Then what do you mean?" Old Zhu raised an eyebrow.

Zhu Biao silently rolled his eyes in his mind.

It means you still have to wait in line, so don't get excited.