Chapter 181 The Powerful Minister Returns to His Youth 35.

"The common people?"

Duan Fan—no, he should be called Long Ran now, Long Ran in his previous life—his brows twisted for a moment, as if a complex expression flashed across his face, but in the end, only an indifferent and contemptuous sneer remained.

"Lord Yu, when you said those two words, didn't you want to laugh in your heart?" Long Ran from the previous life raised the corner of his mouth. "Don't be so hypocritical. What do you mean by common people? A hundred, a thousand, a million, ten million, so what? They're all just numbers, whether they're dead or alive."

"Throughout history, which emperor or hero didn't climb to a high position and achieve fame by stepping over countless corpses? There is no bloodshed without struggle, and no killing without reform! They say the people respect them, but they are just a bunch of ignorant masses. You can't find a single literate person out of a hundred. They can't even count one, two, three, four, five. What do they know? They are just cannon fodder!"

His eyes gleamed eerily as he stared intently at Yu Shiqing: "Didn't you command troops in your past life, Lord Yu? What do you know about cannon fodder? Don't tell me you and Ye Zangxing actually take them seriously..."

Before he could finish speaking, with his wide sleeves billowing in the wind and his palm as strong as an iron fan, Yu Shiqing slapped him hard across the face.

With a loud thud, Long Ran from his previous life stumbled and fell, blood gushing from his mouth.

The people around were caught off guard and were all startled. Even Prince Yong was surprised. He didn't expect that this seemingly weak scholar would beat someone up without saying a word and even knock out his teeth with one slap.

"Even pigs and dogs dare to talk about the common people and the imperial court?!" Yu Shiqing's eyes suddenly turned cold, like frost blades, and he kicked the man again, almost sending him flying.

"Mr. Yu!"

Zhao Wei and the others realized what was happening and rushed to pull him away, fearing that Yu Shiqing might be so enraged that he might beat someone to death.

Although Yu Shiqing was furious, he did not lose his mind. After beating the man until his head was swollen, he stopped at the right time.

He knew this person couldn't die; there were still many questions to ask. But looking at that arrogant and self-righteous face, and thinking that perhaps many causes and effects in his past life originated from this person, leading to a tragic and endless end, he couldn't help but feel angry and hateful.

"Look...look!"

In his previous life, Long Ran suddenly shook his head, spat out a mouthful of blood, and shouted, "Prince Yong, you fool! Look closely! You are a prince, while Yu Shiqing is just a lowly scholar. Yet he dares to act so disrespectfully, treating you as if you were nothing. This is your brother's trusted confidant!"

"He's just like his master! He doesn't respect you at all!"

Prince Yong paused, then frowned.

Zhao Wei and the others hurriedly said, "Your Highness, please do not listen to the wicked words of these villains! Mr. Yu lost his composure for a moment..."

In his previous life, Long Ran laughed maniacally and cursed at Prince Yong: "Useless idiot! You were sold out and you still expect to pay the price! You only think Yu Shiqing and your good brother are good people because you weren't reborn!"

"In your past life, after your good younger brother became the crown prince, did he ever give you a second glance? When Emperor Tianxi died and the rebels wreaked havoc in the capital, you did so much to help, but in the end, who ascended the throne? You lost the throne and your power, and could only go to Cenzhou to take up your fiefdom in a cowardly manner, and fell ill in depression... Isn't that you, Ye Boyang!"

"Everything I did in my past life was to save you, but you actually forced yourself to wake up at the most critical moment, drew your sword and committed suicide, even if it meant taking your own life, you wanted to kill the me inside you! I used to love you the most when I read the history of the Great Qi Dynasty, I was so blind..."

After these words were spoken, no one around dared to speak again.

Yu Shiqing gave a silent, cold laugh. She was still trying to sow discord in front of him. This Long Ran from his previous life was a little smarter than the one inside Prince Yong's body, but not by much.

He didn't immediately offer any rebuttal, but instead glanced at Prince Yong, and saw his smile suddenly fade.

“I truly do not know what happened in our past lives,” said Prince Yong, “but in whichever life it was, how could I not know what kind of person I am and what kind of person Xuan Shu is?”

Prince Yong glared at Long Ran, who looked like he had been ruthlessly betrayed by someone, and said, "Ever since I first experienced a strange headache at the age of sixteen, and then woke up the second time to see that note, I have never stopped being wary of 'myself'."

"I have indeed coveted the position of Crown Prince and the throne you mentioned, but I am also well aware that I do not deserve it. Due to the chaos of the past, I am not in good health. Since entering the court, I have neither made any great achievements nor committed any major offenses. Perhaps I can become a wise king, but it is difficult for me to become a sturdy ruler who can stabilize the country."

“I am well aware of this matter, and so is my father.”

"The princes of the Great Qi will be granted their own residence and titles at the age of sixteen. Why did Father Emperor keep Xuan Shu in the palace until he was seventeen? Is it really because of the rumors that Prince Ding spread that he is 'playful and unruly'? Is it because he thinks Xuan Shu is shameful and wants to discipline her more?"

"madness!"

Prince Yong was not afraid of the soldiers who filled the cave and said, "Furthermore, even if all of these are not enough, there is only one thing: with evil things like you and headaches lurking by my side, what qualifications do I have to rule the world?"

"Even if my father favors me, I will refuse!"

Long Ran, from his previous life, was stunned, his anger freezing in his face.

Yu Shiqing's gaze also paused slightly.

He was not familiar with Prince Yong in his previous life, and this was the first time he had heard these words.

"As for the estrangement and separation from Xuan Shu," Prince Yong paused, "if you had caused trouble for Xuan Shu before and after he became the Crown Prince in your previous life, then it's very likely that it was all for your benefit."

"But there are many things I'm not sure about, and I can't say them to Xuan Shu. Besides... it's not a blessing, but a disaster, for the future ruler of the country to trust a brother with such strange intentions..."

Long Ran's expression shifted slightly in his past life: "You mean... you suspected my existence a long time ago, worried that you would lose control and do something terrible, so..."

“That’s why you see what’s there,” said the Prince of Yong. “Unfortunately, judging from the outcome of my previous life, it seems that all I’ve done has been in vain.”

"No, impossible!" Long Ran shook his head frantically. "You're talking nonsense! How could anyone not want to be emperor? Don't try to fool me, I don't believe you at all!"

"I helped you so much in my past life..."

"You are harming me!" Prince Yong interrupted him sharply. "You rebelled and plotted against my family and country without asking my wishes!"

"No! I didn't!" Long Ran roared, veins bulging on his neck and swollen face. "You betrayed me! You caused my downfall! You killed me! We were about to cross Qingyang Lake, about to head north, about to ascend the throne!"

"He's a madman," a soldier suddenly whispered.

Looking at the almost ferocious face of Long Ran from his previous life, Yu Shiqing strongly agreed with the soldier's words.

Whether Long Ran was insane at first is unknown, but with the many truths he believed to be true, the infiltration of the Demon Queen's rebels, and the cycle of death and rebirth, he had long since become paranoid and insane.

If the dragon within King Yong were to witness this scene, it would likely be terrified by its future self.

Yu Shiqing's guess was indeed correct.

After being abruptly pushed back into the depths of his consciousness by Prince Yong, Long Ran clung to the ground, looking outwards.

At first, he was completely bewildered, having no idea what was going on or how it all happened. But now, things had progressed to this point, and so much had been said. As a modern person living in an era of information overload, someone who had heard about almost everything, what was there that he didn't understand?

Holy crap, this Duan Fan isn't Duan Fan at all, it's me! My reborn self!

And this Yu Shiqing, he's also a reincarnation! Plus Afu...

This world has been riddled with holes by the reborn!

And this version of myself... is this really me? How did I become like this?

To become... to become a ruthless schemer who doesn't even care about human life and acts without any scruples?!

Long Ran listened to those crazy and radical words, looked at that old and terrifying face, and was stunned and dazed. When he heard what the Prince of Yong said, his face froze even more.

Long Ran knelt down in that illusory lake, and no one knew what he was thinking at that moment.

Inside the cave, at the signal of Prince Yong, the guards slapped Long Ran from his previous life again to bring him back to his senses and quiet down.

Without the piercing shouts, Prince Yong's livid expression softened slightly.

He wanted to slap Yu Shiqing a few times to vent his anger, to make him harm Afu and them, but his status was not suitable. So he could only endure it, gritting his teeth and saying in a deep voice, "No need for more nonsense. You have been involved with the Demon Queen's rebels in both your past and present lives, so you naturally know their background. Confess honestly, or I may spare your life!"

Prince Yong ultimately wanted to eliminate them all in one fell swoop, as safely as possible.

However, Long Ran, who had lost all hope in his previous life, kept his head down, as if he hadn't heard the question and didn't answer it.

Prince Yong's face darkened again. Just as he was about to speak, Yu Shiqing suddenly turned around and cupped his hands in greeting.

Prince Yong paused.

Yu Shiqing spoke up: "The prince is asking you a question to give you an opportunity. Don't assume we don't know something just because you don't say it."

In his previous life, Long Ran showed no reaction.

"Besides, if you don't say anything, you don't actually think they're good people, do you?" Yu Shiqing retorted with what Long Ran had said in his previous life, then scoffed, "If that's really what you think, then you deserve to be where you are today."

Long Ran, in his previous life, remained unconscious and unresponsive.

Yu Shiqing didn't seem to care. He simply pressed his gaze lightly against the boy's back and said calmly, "I've already been frank with the little princess. Guess how much I know now?"

“Your Highness, or rather, your connection with the Empress Dowager's rebellious faction in your past life did not begin in Huai'an as it does in this life, but rather later,” Yu Shiqing’s voice was low and cold, “It was during the time when the Emperor passed away and the capital was in chaos, right?”

In his previous life, the dragon remained unmoved.

Yu Shiqing seemed unconcerned about his response and continued, "You are a person from hundreds of years in the future. Everything we are doing now will be history in your eyes hundreds of years from now. As time goes by, the world changes, wars rage, and natural disasters and human chaos occur. History will inevitably be turbulent and prone to omissions and errors, but in general, there shouldn't be too many mistakes."

"But you, perhaps you read the right thing, or perhaps you saw the wrong thing. In any case, in your eyes, the current emperor is probably just a king who only knows how to favor his youngest son, and Xuan Shu is just a wicked younger brother who harbors evil intentions, openly and secretly vying for the throne with his elder brother, and can't stand seeing his elder brother do well. As for me, I'm probably just a treacherous minister who pretends to be something I'm not."

In his previous life, Long Ran let out a very short breath, as if mocking Yu Shiqing for having a clear understanding of these people.

Upon hearing this, Prince Yong's brows furrowed, and he looked at the guards, but Yu Shiqing slightly raised his hand to stop him.

It wasn't that he pitied Long Ran from his previous life, but rather that if he continued to beat him, this man would truly be speechless. He was using the body of Mr. Liang, who was suspected to be the leader of the rebel party of the Demon Queen, and was also nearing seventy, so he couldn't withstand the abuse.

"When things are unclear, some people observe and wait, while others have already made their choices. Those who have made their choices will only believe what they want to believe. Even if they later see some differences, they will have their own explanations."

Yu Shiqing said, "You came to Daqi with such a pair of eyes that had already made a choice, thinking yourself right, making decisions for the prince, but you were completely blinded by a leaf and couldn't see Mount Tai..."

"fart!"

Upon hearing this, Long Ran couldn't hold back any longer. He suddenly looked up and shouted hoarsely, "What do you mean by being self-righteous and blinded by a leaf? That's the truth! Ye Zangxing and Zhao Rong poisoned Ye Boyang, causing his health to deteriorate day by day after arriving in Cenzhou. That's the truth!"

"I saw it with my own eyes!"

Author's Note:

Late but welcome! Happy New Year!