I have Immortality In The Cultivation World

Chapter 587: Chapter 446: Jianyuan Longqing_2
 

The trusted Prince of Pingxi had rebelled, yet Zhou Yi, who was not trusted, fought until the end.

Great loyalty resembles duplicity, and great duplicity looks like loyalty, how unvarying it is!

Around the time of Chen.

Ministry of Rites Minister Lu emerged from the palace gate, his expression somber, and coughed lightly before speaking.

“Hear the decree.”

Officials knelt down in unison, not daring to shout long live, for His Majesty had just passed away not long ago, and such a proclamation would be out of place.

“I have succeeded the great Orthodoxy, received the sealing of ancestral temples…”

With just the opening line, everyone immediately knew it was the imperial edict, and those officials with richer emotions had already tears streaming down their faces, wailing loudly.

“Over-zealous for sagacity, leading to deception by eunuchs…”

Upon hearing this phrase, Zhou Yi could hardly restrain himself from jumping up and tearing the edict to shreds.

“Prince Zhao Chen, earnest and humble, with natural virtue, is sure to be able to succeed the great Orthodoxy…”

The wailing stopped abruptly, and the officials wore puzzled expressions.

The eldest prince was born of the empress, and the second and fifth princes were known for their virtuous reputation, and even if the barely one-year-old nineteenth prince succeeded the throne, it would not be the turn of the thirteenth prince!

All civil and military officials in the court knew that the thirteenth prince had mental illness, at sixteen, he was like a three or four-year-old child.

“Civil and military officials, join hearts and provide support. Members of the royal family, do not leave your enfeoffed territories. Provincial governors and commanders, pacify the military and the people. Local magistrates, all are exempt from offering incense…

Let the decree be known to the world, may all hear and understand!”

Minister Lu finished reading the edict, casting a glance over the officials, with a flicker of sorrow and helplessness in his eyes.

“All rise, and wait to be summoned by His Majesty.”

Ministry of Rites Vice Minister Qi said, “Sir, I have never heard of a fool taking the throne, let alone such a hasty ceremony, which is not in accordance with ritual propriety.”

“Do you doubt the authenticity of the edict?”

Minister Lu casually handed over the edict: “Minister Qi, you are free to examine it right here. If you find any discrepancies, I will accompany you to confront them in the palace!”

“This…”

Vice Minister Qi swallowed hard, staring at the edict for a long time before finally sighing in defeat.

The edict was ninety-nine percent problematic, presenting an excellent opportunity to leave one’s name in history. Yet, even after studying the four books and five classics a hundred times over, he dared not examine it.

“If any of you have doubts, you are free to examine the edict.”

Minister Lu said, “If no one objects, then let the nineteenth prince succeed the throne, and I trust you all know how history books will record this!”

Upon hearing this, a few young officials were eager to try.

Older ministers nearby quickly pulled them back, whispering a few phrases, “extermination of the Nine Clans”, “banishment of the whole family”, “wives and daughters sent to The Bureau of Music”, instantly extinguishing their ambitions.

The infamy in historical records, after all, cannot outweigh the lives of one’s entire clan!

“Then let’s wait.”

Minister Lu closed his eyes in contemplation, planning to submit a petition for retirement and return to his hometown in Jiangnan for retirement after the new sovereign’s accession.

Until midday.

The officials, growing anxious, finally saw a eunuch come out.

“His Majesty summons you.”

Minister Lu led the way, with the officials following closely behind, heading towards the Diligent Administration Hall.

Zhou Yi stood silently at the palace gate, cursing every ancestor of the empress and the Prince of Pingxi, for making him the scapegoat of regicide.

“Indeed history is written by the victors; I’ve become the rebel, and the Prince of Pingxi has become the steadfast loyalist of the National Dynasty!”

…

The sixth year of the Orthodox reign.

Inspector General of the Internal Affairs Zhou Yi committed regicide and rebelled, Prince of Pingxi led troops to quell the rebellion.

The Emperor passed away.

The whole nation dressed in hemp and mourned.

Prince Zhao Chen ascended the throne, establishing the reign of Longqing.

Emperor Longqing was born with mental illness, simple-minded and unable to handle affairs, temporarily placed under the regency of the empress dowager.

…

December.

Jiangning.

Not long after the news of the new sovereign’s accession, the Imperial Court posted an announcement.

Cease the land measurement, returning to ancestral systems.

Nobles and officials hurried to spread the news, cheering that the Holy Empress Dowager was governing, ensuring peace and stability for the country and its people.

In the Suzhou residence to the south of the city.

The garden.

Tang Mingyuan, using a book to cover his face, lay in a rocking chair, feigning sleep.

The sun was just right, the breeze not too dry.

A crisp voice broke the tranquility of the courtyard: “Son-in-law, son-in-law, there’s a tea merchant outside who claims to be Zhao Da, requesting to learn the art of tea making from you.”

“The good days are over!”

Tang Mingyuan sighed and, rubbing his bleary eyes, said to the maid.

“Lead him to the Chanjuan Pavilion, I’ll get something and be right over.”

A moment later,

Tang Mingyuan arrived at the Chanjuan Pavilion.

At the entrance stood two elderly men clad in dark clothing, their eyes sharp as lightning, their temples bulging, indicating they were martial arts experts with significant cultivation.

“Halt.”

The elder’s voice was sharp and thin as he gestured with his hand to stop Tang Mingyuan, inquiring, “What weapon are you holding in your hand?”

“Hand Cannon.”

Tang Mingyuan aimed the bronze tube at the elder, but before he could pull the trigger, the figure in front of him vanished, and almost immediately, his neck felt tight as the elder had grabbed hold of it.

“Mercy, good sir!”

“Assistance, quickly!”

Two voices sounded at once as Zhao Mu quickly took a few steps forward and grasped Tang Mingyuan’s hand, speaking.

“Eunuch Ma, Mister Tang is my close and dear friend. Treat him as you would treat me in the future!”

“This servant understands.”

Eunuch Ma bowed to take the order and then bowed to Tang Mingyuan, saying, “This servant was blind and has offended the noble gentleman. Please forgive me, mister.”

“It’s nothing, it’s nothing.”

Tang Mingyuan curiously asked, “Do you recognize the Hand Cannon?”

Eunuch Ma shook his head, “I do not recognize it.”

Tang Mingyuan pressed on, “Then why did you avoid it?”

Eunuch Ma replied, “I do not know what a Hand Cannon is, but I can sense danger, so I moved behind Mister Tang.”

Tang Mingyuan looked at his Hand Cannon, feeling quite disheartened.

He’d spent over a thousand Silver to craft this Hand Cannon, thinking he could harm martial arts experts, but it turned out he couldn’t even touch their shadow.

“Your Highness, are there many experts like Eunuch Ma in the palace?”

“Mister worries too much. Eunuch Ma once served tea to General Zhou and received guidance in martial arts. His strength is among the very best, second only to several Grandmasters!”

Zhao Mu was very interested in the Hand Cannon. Tang Mingyuan, who had no foundation in martial arts, had actually made Eunuch Ma feel endangered.

If these could be mass-produced and equipped to the army, wouldn’t they sweep across the world?

“That’s good, that’s good.”

Tang Mingyuan said, “I understand your Highness’s intentions. It’s just that I’m naturally lazy and do not wish to run around and toil, so I present this Hand Cannon to you.”

Zhao Mu’s face lit up with joy, “Let us go inside to talk.”

They entered the room and took their seats.

Tang Mingyuan noticed four eunuchs with aged faces and robust auras, quite similar to Eunuch Ma who had been guarding the door, and couldn’t help asking.

“Are these four eunuchs also top-notch experts?”

“Indeed, they are.”

Zhao Mu said, “They are the elite of the Inspectorate, personally trained by General Zhou. If not for their fierce protection, I would have died in the capital long ago.”

“Even tigers do not eat their offspring!”

Tang Mingyuan frowned, “Your Highness is the sole child of the Holy Empress Dowager; why the relentless pursuit?”

“All my mother has in her eyes is the Sanyang Cult; there is no maternal affection left.”

Zhao Mu’s face showed sorrow, unwilling to comment further on his mother, and pointed at the Hand Cannon on the table, asking, “How does one use this peculiar weapon called the Hand Cannon?”

“It’s very simple.”

Tang Mingyuan aimed the Hand Cannon at the wall and pulled the trigger, the hammer striking the flint and causing a spark. With a loud bang, the bullet shot forward.

The bullet hit the wall, embedding half an inch deep.

A figure, quick as a specter, observed the spot where the bullet had hit, and exclaimed in amazement, “Your Highness, even I might be seriously injured by the projectile from this Hand Cannon if I’m not careful.”

Zhao Mu took the Hand Cannon and played with it, learning how to load the gunpowder and the bullets, and took a few practice shots at the wall, experiencing for the first time the power that comes not from status.

With a Hand Cannon, one has power!

“How much does this Hand Cannon cost to make? Can it be manufactured in bulk?”

“Not at the moment,”

Tang Mingyuan said, “This is just a prototype, entirely hand-crafted. We still need craftsmen to research and improve it… to establish a production line…”

Zhao Mu understood every word, but when put together, his eyes became misty.

Tang Mingyuan had no choice but to explain word by word, explaining what research and development was, what a production line meant, and what it was like to face a firing squad of fire guns.

An eunuch at the side, without needing instructions, had already taken out paper and pen to take notes.

After a long while.

Zhao Mu marveled, “Mister is truly a great talent of this era!”

“Your Highness is too kind. Which talented person would end up as a son-in-law behind closed doors? I am just an ordinary citizen, seeking only enough food and warmth.”

Tang Mingyuan was speaking the truth, but to Zhao Mu, these words sounded modest and open-minded, the marks of a true master.

“With Mister’s assistance, a great undertaking can be achieved!”

“Your Highness, all I want is to while away my time in Jiangning.”

Tang Mingyuan repeatedly declined, saying, “If you truly take that position one day, all I ask is that you continue to investigate land ownership and reform the tax system.”

“Of course, it is the dying wish of my father the Emperor!”

Zhao Mu said, “Mister is indifferent to fame and wealth, with no interest in power, but trouble will come seeking you out even if you wish to avoid it.”

After a moment’s thought, Tang Mingyuan asked, “Does it have to do with the Eastern Depot?”

“The Eastern Depot’s new director, Eunuch Xu, was the adopted son of the previous director and is now zealously arresting anyone associated with General Zhou to prove his loyalty,”

Zhao Mu took a slip of paper from his sleeve. It read: Eunuch Wu is ordered to search and confiscate the Su residence.

“This is intelligence from the Inspectorate; someone has reported that the Su family is connected to General Zhou. The henchmen of the Eastern Depot are already on their way!”