Chapter 263: Emperor Hongren, "Obsessed" with Alchemy and Cultivation...
Compared to its original solemnity, the Imperial Palace is now more magnificent and splendid, reflecting the style of the retired emperor.
"Greetings to Father Emperor."
Emperor Hongren sat at the head of the table, coldly staring at his unfilial son Shi Ran, who sat down in complete silence. He questioned, "Is this your way of showing filial piety? You come to pay your respects to me without even bowing your hands or bending your waist?!"
"Haven't I knelt many times before?" Qi Chengming retorted.
How many times had he endured humiliation before Emperor Hongren? Back then, his life was in the hands of his sovereign. Now that he's the emperor, does he still have to do things that disgust him just to show "trivial filial piety"? Wouldn't that make him a useless emperor?
Emperor Hongren snorted unhappily, barely suppressing his anger, but secretly pleased.
...This is a flaw you exposed yourself. Don't blame the world for criticizing you, the puppet emperor, for being disloyal and unfilial.
Qi Chengming could tell what the old man was thinking just by looking at his expression, but Qi Chengming didn't care.
Before ascending the throne, he was persuaded by his confidants to hold back, and the forced abdication was eventually resolved. Now that he has ascended the throne, he doesn't care much about how perfect his future reputation is; he knows that he will be a good emperor and have a clear conscience, and that's enough for him.
Let my trusted confidants handle the rest.
The Grand Tutor and Lord Mu's group... sometimes made Qi Chengming feel that they weren't looking at him, but rather at some clay sculpture sitting in a temple, having already deified him. He wanted people to know! Even if he displayed supernatural abilities, he should be the god he ruled, not some deity that those people had arbitrarily imagined.
Qi Chengming skipped over this and waited for Emperor Hongren to speak.
"Chengming."
Emperor Hongren's tone softened, as if he were considering something, "I heard... you dismissed Minister Yao and the others from their posts?"
The young emperor sitting opposite him tacitly agreed, looking on with interest as if he were eager to hear what the emperor might say.
"Um."
Emperor Hongren was secretly annoyed, but he really lacked confidence.
He was helpless. Although most of the court officials had sided with this rebellious son, a small number were his trusted advisors and beloved ministers. A new emperor brings a new court, and Emperor Hongren had always cherished these remaining heirs, fearing the rebellious son would squander their wealth and cause retribution. Who knew that his worst fears would come true! He had tolerated it for the past few days, but this time… this time it had gone too far!
The old ministers came before him and wept…
Emperor Hongren could no longer bear to watch.
"There's a method to being a ruler," Emperor Hongren patiently instructed. "Regardless of whether they are civil or military officials, if you don't like them, demote them far away and never see them again. If they prove useful in the future, you can reinstate them." He continued, "They are all your subjects. No one knows whether they are capable or not. Why should you, as the ruler of a country, contend with them?"
“That makes sense.” Qi Chengming nodded earnestly, resting his chin on the back of his hand, then remained unmoved. “So you think my punishment of banning their families from holding office for three generations after their dismissal was too harsh?”
Emperor Hongren had never put so much effort into speaking to anyone before, nor had he ever been so tactful and diplomatic: "...They are all from well-educated, scholarly families of officials. Surely there are one or two capable juniors among them. If three generations of them don't enter officialdom, wouldn't it be a complete waste of such a fine family?"
"I understand." Qi Chengming listened with a smile, deeply moved but still refused. "But Dingguo is a vast and resourceful country with a wealth of talent. I do not lack one or two capable people, especially... the children of those who are disloyal to the emperor and the country."
"Nonsense!" Emperor Hongren felt increasingly insecure, but feigned anger and bluntly stated, "They are loyal to me, the retired emperor. Does that not count as loyalty to the emperor and patriotism?"
Qi Chengming, impatient with his roundabout way of talking, stood up abruptly and said coldly, "Of course not. There should only be one voice in a country. Father, you never taught me how to be a ruler before, and you don't need to now... I am the emperor on the throne!"
Emperor Hongren nearly fainted from anger, his face turning pale, but he managed to catch his breath for a while. He pinched his nose and, with remarkable resilience, forced a smile through gritted teeth: "I was just joking with you... Chengming, you're right. But, what if we consider their long-standing harmonious relationship with Father Emperor? They only gave one wrong piece of advice, and they've already realized their mistake. You—give Father Emperor some face."
The fact that the extremely stubborn Emperor Hongren could utter these words in such a humble tone meant that he had finally given in.
Qi Chengming turned around and saw Emperor Hongren adopting a dejected and pitiful appearance, sighing and pleading. The old emperor's appearance was almost unrecognizable compared to the majestic and powerful young emperor he had met when he first transmigrated.
This was an attempt to make him feel guilty or soften his heart, but Qi Chengming only felt a sense of satisfaction upon seeing it.
Qi Chengming's lips curled up, and he let out a slight sigh: "Father, it's not that I'm unwilling, but if word gets out... the old ministers I dismissed can simply go to the Emperor Emeritus's palace and cry their grievances, and my decree will be overturned. In the end, whose world is this?"
Emperor Hongren's expression changed slightly as he noticed the problem.
He desperately wanted his subjects to understand this, to know that although he had abdicated, he still held power, and that the emperor, no matter what, was still his son and had to obey him. But if this rebellious son found out… then things would be bad.
"Father is old and cannot bear to see the fate of these disgraced officials. I am considerate—if you don't want to see it, then don't." Qi Chengming looked outside and said coldly, "Yinbing Guard."
A group of people entered with a whoosh, their hands resting on the swords at their waists, all solemnly silent.
Emperor Hongren's expression changed.
This group of people not only carried knives, but also looked familiar. Wasn't this the imperial guards that had been taken from him—the ones passed down from the late emperor?
"From this day forward, you shall protect the Emperor Emeritus. If anyone dares to disturb his rest again, write down their name and drive them away!" Qi Chengming gave the order. He renamed the group of guards and explained the meaning behind it, hoping they would really do so, which would also be a good test of their loyalty.
"Yes." The head of the secret guards responded in a deep voice, his gaze toward his former master filled with unfamiliarity.
Emperor Hongren abruptly stood up, no longer caring about saving face. He had tried everything, from kind words to gentle persuasion, but this rebellious son wouldn't budge—what did this mean? All that nice talk! Were they planning to imprison him?!
"This is outrageous! How can you be so unfilial? Do you dare let the world know how you forced the emperor to abdicate and imprisoned your father?!" Emperor Hongren's temper flared up, and he shouted angrily.
"Father has always been like this," Qi Chengming sneered. "He thinks he can appease others by lowering his head a little, but it's as difficult as it takes to kill him. Deep down, he's still arrogant and aloof."
He paused for a moment and said, "I only know that after the Emperor Emeritus abdicated, he became obsessed with alchemy and Taoist cultivation. I have granted Father's request today and will certainly cooperate fully—the alchemy furnace and the Taoist priest will be delivered soon."
Qi Chengming walked out.
Emperor Hongren was stunned for a long time before he realized what this nonsensical statement meant. He was so angry that his nose almost twisted out of shape: "Who cultivated Taoism?!"
As the new emperor and his entourage were almost gone, Emperor Hongren was still blocked at the palace gate by the Yinbing Guards. He couldn't care less about anything else and could only anxiously shout, "You bastards! Is this how you treat your father? At least return my private treasury!"
What retired emperor could be so repressed? The newly enthroned emperor not only failed to provide for him properly, but also withheld all his food, clothing, and servants! Even if he didn't want extravagance, he couldn't simply be denied it! This extremely stingy approach was far too harsh!
Even after Qi Chengming had walked a distance, he could still hear Emperor Hongren roaring. He frowned in displeasure, and Xiao Dezi quickly ran back to reprimand the rigid leader of the Ice Drinking Guard. What did it mean that the Emperor Emeritus's voice could be heard shouting like that?!
Feeling uneasy, Song Gu, who had rushed to the palace specifically to seek an audience, had overheard the entire proceedings outside the main hall. Now, following the new emperor, his face filled with anxiety, he whispered, "Your Majesty, this will damage your reputation..."
In my past life, I was considered a pitiful puppet ruler... which was better than my current reputation for being disloyal and unfilial!
The former might at most be criticized, while the latter could easily have his throne destabilized by someone waving the banner of righteousness.
"If it doesn't get out, then it's up to you all to do your best." Qi Chengming patted the stunned Song Gu encouragingly, and then pitifully played the victim, "Our Dingguo is short of money everywhere, and we don't have enough wealth to squander. Father was also very harsh on me when I was young, as you know."
"I have no intention of spending those funds to support the retired emperor. Isn't the emperor's private treasury mine?"
The new emperor's gaze was so sincere, but his mood sombered again when he spoke of his childhood experiences.
In an instant, Song Gu recalled the new emperor's experiences from childhood to adulthood, the things the new emperor had ordered him to investigate in his previous life, and the perpetually melancholic and silent new emperor of his past life who eventually fell ill and passed away peacefully...
Then look at the young new emperor staring at him, his eyes burning, his face ruddy...
Song Gu took a deep breath and solemnly assured him, "Your Majesty, rest assured, leave these matters to me!"
Wasn't the retired emperor a Taoist practitioner?
How can a cultivator of Tao be close to women? How can he indulge in the desires of the palate? If the Emperor Emeritus doesn't retreat into seclusion to cultivate Tao, how can he sincerely refine excellent elixirs?
Now that he has embarked on the path of cultivation, he no longer needs to concern himself with worldly affairs! Song Gu will absolutely not allow even the slightest suspicious rumor about the new emperor to spread outside!
Manager Song walked away with a proud and imposing air.
Qi Chengming revealed a genuine, gentle smile as he instructed Eunuch Cheng to write down the instructions: "Have you written them down? Go find the alchemy furnace and the Taoist priest openly and honestly, so that everyone knows. Oh, and remember to find those Taoist priests who know how to blast the alchemy furnace."
Xiao Chengzi glanced warily at the guards following behind him. A troubled smile appeared on the young man's round face. He leaned closer to the emperor and whispered in a voice as low as a mosquito's buzz: "Your Majesty... it's too obvious, and it'll be hard to explain."
Xiao Chengzi hardened his heart, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes, and whispered almost without moving his lips, "If His Majesty wants to do it, I'll go, and I'll make sure he doesn't find a thing..."
Qi Chengming felt something was off as he listened, and quickly interrupted, "Wait, what are you thinking?"
"Does the Emperor Emeritus really need so many Taoist priests?" Qi Chengming was unwilling to drag all the rare chemistry talents along to play along with Emperor Hongren. "I'm asking you to find these Taoist priests and have them secretly help me with my research! The Imperial Palace is such a large place, can't the Emperor Emeritus spare me a back hall while he cultivates Taoism?"
Xiao Chengzi was speechless: "..."
Even though this was his own prince, he couldn't help but think to himself, "His Highness is unwilling to let the Emperor Emeritus get any benefit at all!"
Xiao Chengzi immediately echoed confidently, "Yes!"
There's nothing wrong with that! The retired emperor neglected His Majesty from a young age, letting him grow up in hardship. His Majesty is simply now able to repay the debt, and it's the retired emperor's turn to suffer!
Qi Chengming nodded calmly.
He didn't need to do anything more; the poison in the elixir was enough for Emperor Hongren to slowly endure.
You see... he had already settled accounts with most of the original owner's enemies, so how could he forget about Emperor Hongren? He also didn't need a retired emperor who was always getting in his way.
After that day, those who wanted to find out knew that after the old ministers pleaded with the retired emperor, everything calmed down and the original punishment was handed down. Moreover, after the new emperor left, the retired emperor promptly announced his decision to refine elixirs and cultivate Taoism, and then went into seclusion, refusing to see anyone.
Whether it's true or not remains to be seen, but in this contest between the retired emperor and the new emperor, the new emperor undoubtedly won.
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Author's note: Hmm... In many ways, Mingming is actually a super stingy person. Sometimes he feels it's not worth it even to spend money on himself, so how could he let the enemy be so happy?
Modern people who grew up under the red flag have no idea how extravagant people in ancient times could be; all they see is waste.
Cut them all off! Cut off the private treasury too!
Let's change the approach to governing the country through funding!
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