NABC Chapter 192 When I was a child!
Chapter 192 When I was a child!
"Your Majesty, it's been many years. How is your health?"
"How can there be peace and prosperity when there are treacherous officials and rebels everywhere?"
"Since he is a traitor, Your Majesty, you may kill him. There are 800,000 Imperial Guards in the capital at Your Majesty's command, is that not enough?"
"Traitors and rebels should be punished by everyone. Your words, my brother, have relieved my worries."
The emperor's icy expression melted away, and he smiled, "My brother, you've been adventuring in the martial world for over a month now. Have you had any interesting experiences to share with me?"
Chu Yang shook his head and said, "There were no interesting sights or sounds. All I saw along the way were corpses of the starving people everywhere, people suffering terribly, and demons rampaging across the southern lands, causing untold misery to the people."
"Oh?" The emperor's lips curled up in a smile as he said with amusement, "I didn't expect that your trip would turn into a concern for the common people. This is not like you at all."
"The renowned wise prince, who doesn't frequent brothels, drink wine and women, or indulge in extravagance and debauchery, is he destined to become burdened with paperwork and manage countless affairs of state?"
As the emperor's voice grew colder, the temperature in the imperial study seemed to drop as well, and Wei Zhongxian, who was standing to the side, suddenly shivered.
Cao Zhengchun and Yu Huatian, standing by the door, watched Chu Yang's back, their hands behind their backs, silently circulating their internal energy.
Chu Yang smiled and nodded, "That's how it should be."
The emperor stared intently at Chu Yang, his eyes filled with murderous intent. He grabbed a paperweight from the table and hurled it at Chu Yang.
Chu Yang flicked his finger, and the sword energy cleaved the paperweight into dust, scattering broken stones everywhere.
The commotion startled Wei Zhongxian, who was closest to the two men. The old eunuch knelt down with a thud, trembling.
Cao Zhengchun and Yu Huatian's expressions changed, and they stepped forward at the same time, about to make a move!
"Step back!"
The emperor shouted angrily, "This is the imperial study; it's not your place to run wild here!"
Cao Zhengchun and Yu Huatian stopped in their tracks at the same time, and knelt on the ground, saying, "This servant dares not."
Chu Yang sighed softly, "With two factories, one guard, and the Dragon Guard Manor, what in the world can escape the eyes of my royal brother? Why bother with these pointless tests?"
"This is such a trivial matter that it shouldn't make my brother so angry, so there's no need for you to put on an act in front of me."
Upon hearing this, the emperor's anger vanished instantly, and he nodded calmly, saying, "You are the one I feel familiar with now, exactly the same as when I was a child."
"Despite his young age, he is more mature than most princes, so mature that it is frightening."
He never showed his emotions, and no one present could guess what the emperor was thinking. But just seeing him like this was enough to send chills down one's spine.
For the first time, the three powerful eunuchs felt genuine awe and respect, realizing they had underestimated the emperor.
His magnanimity is in no way inferior to that of the late emperor.
Chu Yang replied meaningfully, "My brother wasn't as composed as he is now when he was younger..."
The emperor knew what Chu Yang was referring to and deliberately smiled, asking, "Is the lake water in the palace cold?"
Chu Yang nodded and said, "It was bone-chillingly cold, like falling into hell."
The emperor lamented, "In the end, it's not really hell."
If it were truly hell, you wouldn't have climbed up here, and you wouldn't have caused so much trouble.
He never regretted pushing Chu Yang into the lake; his only regret was not kicking him afterward.
Chu Yang understood his thoughts and shook his head with some regret, saying, "I thought you would feel a little guilty."
The emperor looked at Chu Yang with disdain and said scornfully, "I never expected such childish words to come out of your mouth. It's disappointing."
Chu Yang smiled and said, "I will not disappoint my royal brother in the future."
After saying that, Chu Yang turned and walked out of the house.
An unexpected voice came from behind him.
"Not seeking revenge?"
"It's just kids playing around."
As they were talking, Chu Yang had already walked out of the imperial study. Cao Zhengchun and Yu Huatian then looked up at the emperor, seemingly asking whether they should take action.
The emperor glanced at them, shook his head in disappointment, and silently sat back down in his chair. After a moment, when there was no sound outside, he suddenly spoke: "More than twenty years ago, a meteorite fell from the sky in the suburbs of the capital. The Divine Marquis's Mansion took most of it to make weapons to kill demons, while the late emperor, seeing the potential, also took some to make some stationery and calligraphy."
"The paperweight we just used was one of them; it was exceptionally tough, and even ordinary grandmasters could hardly damage it in the slightest."
Cao Zhengchun trembled, and Yu Huatian's face turned ugly. They naturally knew about the meteorite from outer space. Zhuge Shenhou's unique weapon and the weapons of the Four Great Constables were all made from this meteorite.
It can be described as a divine weapon rarely seen in the world.
Cao Zhengchun asked softly, "Did Your Majesty deliberately use that paperweight to test the Prince of Xian?"
"Nonsense!" The emperor's displeasure was almost tangible as he said viciously, "If you two dog servants hadn't been so clueless about his cultivation level, why would I have let him into the palace to put on this show?"
Yu Huatian immediately shouted, "This servant deserves to die!"
The emperor sneered, "Don't rush to talk about death. When the Mid-Autumn Festival comes, I will invite Prince Xian to the palace to admire the moon. If you cannot join forces to take him down then, I will exterminate your entire family."
Cao Zhengchun hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, if the Prince Xian's martial arts skills are truly that powerful, it would indeed be difficult for the two of us to deal with him, and we might ruin Your Majesty's grand plan."
Yu Huatian bowed and said, "What Eunuch Cao said is true."
Things had come to this point, and anyone who dared to take on any more responsibility would be courting death. Cao Zhengchun understood this, and Yu Huatian understood it even better, so the two stood together without hesitation.
"If you two lackeys can think of this, do you think I can't?"
The emperor turned to look at Wei Zhongxian, who was kneeling on the ground, and frowned, asking, "How is Li Chengliang's training of the Imperial Guards going?"
Wei Zhongxian said tremblingly, "Your Majesty, General Li said that the Imperial Guards are of one mind and only recognize Your Majesty's edict."
Under pressure from the six major powers, the civil and military officials finally reached a cooperation agreement. The civil official group led by Yan Song recommended Li Chengliang to become the instructor of the Imperial Guards and to command the 800,000 Imperial Guards stationed in the capital.
The emperor was well aware of the underhanded dealings between the two groups, but for him, Li Chengliang was indeed a good candidate.
Li Chengliang, who had just taken over the Imperial Guard, displayed a decisive and efficient style.
He dispersed all of Guo Bujing's former subordinates and sent them elsewhere, and then placed all of his old subordinates, whom he had brought from Liaodong, into the Imperial Guard.
He used various methods and took control of the troops in just a few days.
"If the two of you can't take him down, then add these 800,000 Imperial Guards. That should be enough, shouldn't it?"
The emperor's gaze was like a knife, coldly sweeping across the faces of Cao Zhengchun and Yu Huatian.
"Your Majesty, this humble servant will serve you with my life. Please rest assured!"
The two answered in unison.
The emperor, as if he had accomplished something extremely important, leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh, saying, "The Dragon Guard Manor, the Divine Marquis's Mansion, and the Six Doors have all proven unreliable at this crucial moment. Once this matter is over, they will no longer have any reason to exist."
"From now on, the affairs of these three companies will be handled by your East and West factories."
Making grand promises is an essential professional skill for business owners.
Especially for a boss as powerful as the emperor.
Cao Zhengchun and Yu Huatian had been working in the palace for so many years, and they all knew that he was just making empty promises, but to be honest, it was hard for them not to be tempted.
In fact, let alone completely replacing the two marquises and their families, even just taking some power from them would be enough to turn the two factories around completely.
The two men's earlier declaration of loyalty to the emperor, even at the cost of their lives, was merely lip service. Yet now, they were truly prepared to risk their lives.
As the saying goes, fortune favors the bold; given enough potential profit, any price is worth paying.
Upon witnessing the fanatical expressions on Cao Zhengchun and Yu Huatian's faces, Wei Zhongxian, an observer from the sidelines, suddenly felt that the emperor was terrifying...
at the same time.
Chu Yang has already left the palace.
He arrived in a sedan chair, but when he left, there was no one to see him off. The guards on duty at the palace gate couldn't help but laugh out loud, as if nothing that happened to this prince was surprising.
But then he felt that this was not right, so he immediately resumed his serious expression and stared straight ahead.
"Laugh if you want to, why are you making that face? Do you not like me?"
"Your Highness, please calm your anger! This humble servant would not dare!"
"A real man shouldn't even admit to laughing a few times. You're supposed to be a guard. I wonder who taught you that."
"Your Highness, you may scold me, but you cannot scold Lord Guo."
"Oh, you've got quite a temper, now you're talking back. Why didn't you say anything earlier? What's your name?"
"Your Highness, my name is Chai Hu."
Seeing that Chu Yang was relentless, the guards knew they couldn't escape this fate today. With a "what's the use" attitude, they suddenly became tougher.
Chu Yang was taken aback. "What's your name? Say it again."
The guard looked displeased and had a rougher, more uncouth air about him. He clasped his hands in a fist and said, "My name is Chai Hu. It was given to me by the town doctor. It doesn't sound very nice. Please forgive me, Your Highness."
"That's not what I meant." Chu Yang waved his hand, looking the guard named Chai Hu up and down, and suddenly noticed that the man was very strong and looked like a master of physical strength.
The reason he was so surprised was that this man named Chai Hu was supposed to be a member of Li Gexiao's "One Plum Blossom" team, nicknamed "The River-Turning Bandit," who specialized in robbing the rich to help the poor.
Now he has become a guard, responsible for guarding the main gate of the Forbidden City.
"Were you brought into the Imperial Guard by Lord Guo?"
"That's right, sir, you have shown me great kindness."
"Hehe, you got into trouble and were caught by Lord Guo. He valued your talent, so he put you in the Imperial Guard for training so you could redeem yourself, right?"
"How...how did you know?!"
Chai Hu became extremely flustered. Only Guo Bujing knew that he was the "Great Bandit Who Turns the River Upside Down," and Guo Bujing had promised him that he would never tell a second person.
Where did this "useless prince" in front of me get this information from?
A ruthless glint flashed in Chai Hu's eyes. He had finally decided to settle down and live a peaceful life. If people found out his true identity, how could he continue living like this?
If all else fails, we'll have to resort to drastic measures...
"You big dummy, can't you use your brain for once? This is the main gate of the palace. Fighting here is practically suicide!"
"You don't think the guards patrolling nearby are all idiots, do you?"
Chu Yang looked at him speechlessly.
Upon hearing this, Chai Hu's fierce expression gradually disappeared, and he returned to his harmless appearance, his eyes revealing a clear stupidity.
Killing him was one thing, not killing him was another; the big, clumsy man stood there, completely at a loss.
Chu Yang was too lazy to tease him anymore and said, "Since you know Lord Guo, why don't you go back and ask him? He will give you the answer. With your temperament, you shouldn't be a guard. Sooner or later you will cause a big disaster."
After saying that, Chu Yang left, and Chai Hu stared blankly at his retreating figure.
Chai Hu was unaware that Chu Yang thought he had great potential and it would be a waste for him to stay in the palace as a guard.
Perhaps Guo Bujing just wanted to hone his skills before taking him to the Six Doors as a constable. If he didn't have the aptitude, he wouldn't be able to be teammates with Li Gexiao.
Moreover, the person who knows thieves best is definitely the thief himself. On this point, the famous thief-catching expert, "The Saint of Thieves" Bai Zhantang, has a lot to say.
This shows just how well Chai Hu, the "River-Turning Bandit," was suited for the work of the Six Doors.
……
The location of the Prince Xian's Mansion is quite special. As the most dissolute playboy in the capital, Chu Yang's mansion is not located in the most prosperous area, but is only one street away from the slums.
The so-called slums are places where people who engage in lowly occupations gather.
Retired soldiers, blacksmiths, actors, thieves, pickpockets, and other professions that cannot be brought to the public eye almost always band together for mutual support, but there is also a hierarchy of contempt among them.
Interestingly, at the very bottom of the hierarchy of contempt is Prince Chu Yang.
Being neighbors with a prince is not something anyone would consider a glorious thing; on the contrary, it might bring bad luck to one's ancestral graves. This prince is already the most famous joke in the capital, and anyone who gets close to him might become the next joke.
When Lu Xiaofeng first arrived at the Prince Xian's mansion, he thought he had gone to the wrong place. The mansion, which was even more spacious than the Paradise Tower, only had two or three old servants and maids.
According to the old steward, the current emperor dismissed most of the servants in the mansion to punish the prince for his extravagance and debauchery.
As a result, Chu Yang rarely returned to the manor, spending his days indulging in pleasure outside. Some of these people wouldn't even see Chu Yang for several years.
The clever Lu Xiaofeng discerned a different meaning in these words.
"Our Emperor is quite wary of his own brothers, not keeping any young men in his residence, for fear that the prince might rebel."
"He's already the emperor, why is he still so suspicious all the time? Is that really necessary?"
"You're wrong. It's precisely because you've become emperor that you become suspicious and paranoid. Only a beggar isn't afraid of being targeted by thieves."
Lu Xiaofeng and Sikong Zhaixing were having a heated discussion about this in the courtyard of the Prince Xian's mansion, completely unaware that Chu Yang had already arrived behind them.
"That's enough, you two. Who are you calling a beggar?"
Chu Yang interrupted their conversation with a displeased expression.
Lu Xiaofeng turned around and saw Chu Yang, exclaiming in surprise, "Your Highness, you made it out of the palace alive?!"
Chu Yang glared at him irritably, "Lu Xiaoji, what nonsense are you spouting? Are you hoping I die in there?"
Lu Xiaofeng laughed awkwardly, "How could that be? I was just worried about you. The emperor is as wary of you as he is of a thief. What if he couldn't resist..."
Chu Yang said, "I managed to hold back today, but who knows what will happen in two days."
Lu Xiaofeng's smile faded, and he asked seriously, "Mid-Autumn Festival?"
"He probably wants to invite me to the palace to admire the moon." Chu Yang smiled and said calmly, "I originally wanted to watch the show, but I didn't expect to become the main character myself."
"I hope you won't disappoint me." (End of Chapter)