Chapter 310 Extra Chapter: Viewing This World from the Original Book's World^...
In the twentieth year of Hongren's reign, the seventh prince, Qi Chengjing, ascended the throne.
Emperor Zunhongren was honored as the Retired Emperor, and his foster mother, Consort Shun, was honored as the Empress Dowager. At that time, the eldest, third, and sixth princes had all lost in the struggle for the throne, and the original empress and her entire family were demoted to commoners. Only the second prince, who had little presence, was left to live in fear in his fiefdom.
Qi Chengjing had no objection to it, so he casually pointed to a eunuch and ordered him to take some poisoned wine and secretly put it into the Second Prince's residence, where he would be poisoned to death.
Killing this cowardly and ridiculous fellow is easier than crushing an ant.
At that time.
With the country in ruins and everything needing to be rebuilt, the young emperor, who had just eliminated all the thorns in his side, was full of vigor. He seemed to have a natural talent for understanding people's hearts and manipulating power. After ascending the throne, he gave the entire court a strong show of force. In the back-and-forth, he did not lose out. On the contrary, his people tore open several good positions to fill, and he initially gained a firm foothold.
At the grand court assembly that day, before two sentences had even been exchanged, a commotion erupted outside. A chief eunuch rushed in, stammering in a state of panic, "Your Majesty! The sky outside... the sky has cracked open!"
"What nonsense are you spouting!" Qi Chengjing reprimanded, his face darkening.
To dare pull this stunt on him right after he ascended the throne, it seems his sword isn't sharp enough!
"It's true... The Emperor Emeritus saw it too, he just came out of the side hall!" The eunuch dared not hide it, and hesitated to say something, but he couldn't speak because so many officials were present.
Qi Chengjing flicked his sleeve, signaling the guards to come and escort him out to take a look.
Many of the imperial guards outside were in turmoil; the more timid ones had already knelt. Qi Chengjing raised his head, his pupils contracting sharply, staring blankly at the sky. The officials who had followed His Majesty out were also stunned.
A giant human figure appeared in the sky, talking and moving, as if a real person had grown up and flown into the sky.
"This is fertilizer. Distribute it to the people of Liuzhou and let them try it. It can increase grain production. We'll need to continue improving it next year." A boy squatted on the sky, staring at an abandoned pit without caring about the filth, and gave instructions to the people next to him.
Every minister present in the palace felt that the young man resembled a member of the Qi clan, but they didn't know who he was. Only the sickly old Earl Weiyong suddenly had tears in his eyes, stood in a corner, gritted his teeth, and remained silent.
"A treasure that can increase grain production? Could this be a great opportunity bestowed upon us by heaven?! Is it specially sent here to teach us?" The Minister of Revenue asked excitedly, staring at the familiar face of the young man on the sky, trying to guess.
Is this a manifestation of the ancestors of the Great Qi?
His words were met with silence; the young emperor did not respond, but instead his face darkened.
Others might not recognize him, but surely Qi Chengjing would recognize him? The person in the sky is none other than the cowardly and weak Second Prince whom he looked down upon!
"Liuzhou? Liuzhou is located in a remote area, but it has an advantage that other places cannot match: the climate is suitable, and crops can be harvested twice a year... Look at this! The new grain varieties can yield nearly 10,000 jin per mu. With the addition of chemical fertilizers, the people can fill their stomachs."
The boy in the sky was holding something in his hands, and he instructed people to plant it. He personally selected several villages as control fields and carefully explained why they were being used as control fields.
The ministers were almost driven mad with excitement, wondering if they had misheard each other.
What kind of grain is so amazing?
"This is divine food! A blessing from heaven... Your Majesty, please send someone to Liuzhou to find divine food for Your Majesty!" The Minister of Revenue knelt down deeply. He had mentioned the place name Liuzhou in his previous words. Even if he didn't know if the food was real or not, as long as there was a clue, it was necessary to investigate.
The mere thought of how much grain the seeds could produce... made few of the ministers present not enthusiastic.
However, some ministers with good memories began to have doubts. Liuzhou... wasn't this the fiefdom that the Emperor Emeritus had once granted to his second son?
Grand Scholar Mu: "..."
He stared intently at the rapidly flashing images in the sky, his brow furrowed the entire time. Sometimes they were fragments, sometimes they included speech, and sometimes they were just fleeting glimpses. But even with the information fragmented like this, Grand Scholar Mu understood what had happened.
He had seen the second prince who had not yet taken up his fiefdom, and he could also see the divine physician on the sky arriving in Liuzhou. He even saw the second prince discussing how to grow new grains with his own second son!
Physician Bian was on good terms with the Mu family and never wanted to get involved in the struggle for the throne among the princes, nor did he like the turbulent vortex in the capital, so he always kept his distance. Why would he, from the Heavenly Curtain, willingly set foot in Liuzhou? Moreover, Mu's second son, after years of experience abroad, had already secured a position in the capital a few years ago, aiming for the position of Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet! Why would he also be serving as an official in Liuzhou?
His second son never went to Liuzhou.
"The glass experiment failed again, but the alcohol experiment was successful... The mirror factory has also started recruiting." The man wearing the robe of the chief steward of the Prince's mansion reported something with his head down. The young man nodded in satisfaction, but then got up with some unease. "Chief Steward Song, come with me to the factory to check on the situation. Someone will always break the rules, but this time the alcohol is absolutely forbidden to be drunk, or it will cost you your life."
Under the sky, Song Gu, who was idly guarding the door of a warehouse in the distance, stared at "himself" in the sky with a puzzled look.
The skylight provided a glimpse into the ingenious uses of alcohol within the Imperial Guards. Since its introduction, the chances of the guards dying from injuries sustained during their campaigns in Liuzhou had significantly decreased. The exquisite mirrors, as large as a doorway, reflected images with perfect accuracy; such wondrous treasures were rare even within the palace.
Qi Chengjing clenched his fists, feeling very uncomfortable. His face was dark and gloomy. He ordered, "...Alright, all of you go back to court. I will leave someone here to record this."
He didn't want to admit that the second prince had fooled everyone with his act, and that he had actually done so many things behind the scenes!
But so what? The Second Prince has already been killed. Even if more discoveries are made, as long as his men reach Liuzhou, those things will be in his hands. On the contrary, this sky... I can't look at it any longer.
Qi Chengjing, with the keen insight of an emperor, judged this outcome.
"Wait!" the retired emperor called out in a strong voice, "Stay and take a look."
His face lit up with a gleam of shrewdness. With so many wonderful things displayed on the sky, how long would it take to come up with ideas if they didn't brainstorm? As for his son's little schemes, now was not the time to concern himself with those.
Roads were built in Liuzhou city using a material called cement, which worked extremely well.
The minor official, without being urged, took out his official tablet, licked the tip of his pen, and began writing furiously on it, not even having time to look up.
But there was much more on the screen, knowledge that was too obscure and difficult to understand. For example, a young man was lecturing a few trusted confidants, explaining how important "tickets" were and how to use them. Even though the officials of the Six Ministries tried their best to listen and learn, they were still dizzy and confused.
The clerk who was recording the entries was even more perplexed, as he didn't even know how to record them...
In the blink of an eye, the boy in the sky conjured an object that was neither gold nor wood from his robes and solemnly handed it to his subordinate. Several months later, a man far away on an island respectfully picked up the object and carefully wrote something on it.
"It's lit up! What is that?" someone exclaimed, instinctively feeling that the small cube didn't seem to be from this world.
Some, however, were focused on what the man had written on the object: "This place... has a large... open-pit silver mine, starting at a million. Please give your orders, Your Highness."
He was shocked when he finished reading it: "A million taels of silver?!"
The Minister of Revenue's eyes turned green on the spot.
Even Qi Chengjing, whose expression was unpredictable, relaxed slightly. This Sky Curtain... brought him considerable benefits.
"Very good. Let's name this island you're on Silver Island, and divide it into two parts, called Silver Island Prefecture." The young man on the sky replied calmly, his expression unchanged, as if he had known about this place all along.
The retired emperor stared at that familiar yet unfamiliar face, and suddenly felt a lump in his throat.
To say he neglected his two sons would be true. But who would have thought... the two sons would be so capable! At such a young age, they've already expanded their territory. This celestial realm seems to have been a great opportunity for them, but...
But the two sons were already dead.
Why did he die?
The Emperor Emeritus's regret lasted only a moment.
But the more he looked back, the more regretful he felt.
The second prince fought the other princes to a standstill, even thwarting the seventh prince's plot to poison him, and returned to the capital unharmed, where he was named crown prince.
—When the screen played this part, the square was completely silent.
Even the most excited officials fell silent, too terrified to utter a word. But all the officials present subtly glanced in His Majesty's direction. They weren't fools; they already knew that the young man on the celestial screen was the Second Prince, who had been sent to Liuzhou to assume his fiefdom and had recently passed away.
But looking at it now...
Did the second prince really die of illness?
The square was eerily quiet. No one uttered a sound, yet it was as if voices were questioning Qi Chengjing.
Qi Chengjing's face flushed red, and he clenched his fists, which were bulging with veins. He felt a burning pain on his face. He wanted to shout angrily and order the ministers to go back, but he was afraid that he would seem to be overreacting and that it would make him look guilty.
He frowned and turned his gaze to his confidant, General Wen.
Wen Zhongnan: "..."
Wen Zhongnan silently looked up, intently gazing at the sky.
Although he didn't understand how the person in the sky seemed to know something in advance, rushing to Liuzhou to meet the Second Prince and then joining the army, while avoiding the Seventh Prince like the plague, the method of poisoning was still contrary to his principles and integrity.
Later, the second prince flashed across the sky and ascended the throne. The entire capital city was illuminated by a bright white light, and a grand voice resounded throughout the imperial city, deterring the rebel army.
The retired emperor was somewhat confused and furious.
He abdicated in the heavens too? Which rebellious son's army stormed the palace?! And that child Chengming... was he really a celestial being descended from heaven to save Dading?
The retired emperor, thinking of the endless treasures appearing in the sky, quickly believed it.
"..." Even though the officials in the square were mindful of His Majesty's displeasure and dared not speak out, they couldn't help but kneel down in unison at this scene, creating a cacophony of sounds. The Director of the Imperial Observatory was so excited that his face turned red, and he almost fainted.
Heaven bless Dading! Heaven bless Dading! This is a celestial being descending to earth to manifest his power!
"Nonsense!" Qi Chengjing had been holding back for a long time, but he couldn't help but shout, "Get up, all of you!"
Even if he still had his senses, he couldn't let things continue to escalate.
These people revere the Second Prince as a celestial being descended to earth, and kneel before him. What then is I, the Son of Heaven?!
Some people scrambled to their feet, while others knelt reverently on the ground, not daring to move an inch. Qi Chengjing scanned them with a grim expression, memorizing some of their names.
The retired emperor was deep in thought, his expression turning serious for a moment.
...If his second son was a celestial being descended to earth for trials, then why did he die so hastily in Liuzhou in reality? Does that count as a failed trial? What about the treasures he brought back during those trials?! Is that why Heaven is making these noises, to show these sinners what they've missed?
Furthermore, the relationship between Emperor Taiyuan on the celestial canopy and his own son seemed quite good. The retired emperor hoped that his celestial son could also help him in the heavens, and Emperor Taiyuan on the celestial canopy agreed!
The retired emperor felt restless and itchy, as if weeds were growing in his heart.
He was unwilling to accept it!
And then...
Emperor Taiyuan quelled natural disasters and man-made calamities, amassed vast amounts of silver and grain, and forged powerful weapons. The entire court functioned flawlessly, unleashing a terrifyingly immense power. He was able to single-handedly annihilate a large portion of a multinational coalition and unify the territory.
"Well done!" someone blurted out involuntarily upon arriving at the location.
Qi Chengjing looked over with eyes as sharp as knives, only to see that the person who spoke these words so openly was his father, the Emperor.
"Father?" Qi Chengjing was taken aback, a hint of hurt in his eyes. He had always been his father's most beloved child, and had even triumphed over his brothers to ascend the throne. Now, all his former confidants had become Qi Chengming's confidants on the celestial screen, remaining silent just moments before. How could his father have shown favoritism?
Emperor Hongren could no longer care about his son. His face flushed red, and he excitedly brushed away Zhao Fuman's hand that was supporting him, pacing back and forth.
In his lifetime, he actually witnessed the day when the country was unified and its territory was settled!
This will be remembered for eternity!
At this moment, Emperor Hongren felt a deep envy for the version of himself reflected in the sky. Although that version of himself hadn't appeared much since Emperor Taiyuan ascended the throne, their father-son relationship was so good, and Emperor Taiyuan had achieved lasting fame—who could say it wasn't due to his own teaching?!
Back to reality.
The more beautiful the fantasy, the crueler the reality.
The more ambitious Emperor Hongren's heart was shattered, the more devastating the blow.
Emperor Hongren gritted his teeth, his face ashen, and launched into a scathing critique of Qi Chengjing: "—Do you really think I don't know how you secretly murdered your brother?! You unfilial and disloyal scoundrel who has harmed the very foundation of the nation, how dare you continue to be emperor?!"
"Lord Mu, Minister Cao, Lord Liu, bear witness here that I am going to depose the emperor!"
"Father, have you gone mad?" Qi Chengjing regained his composure, seemingly amused by his anger. He smoothed his sleeves and said calmly and coldly, "I am already the Emperor. Even you, Father, cannot depose me!"
As the two confronted each other, the atmosphere in the square grew increasingly tense.
"Really?" Emperor Hongren asked slowly. He looked at the civil and military officials who had not dared to utter a word since then, and announced loudly, "I intend to appoint the eldest son of my eldest son Chengxiao as the Crown Prince. What are the opinions of the ministers?"
On the celestial canopy, the child, having been around Emperor Taiyuan, learned a great deal from what he saw and heard; he was quite promising.
As for the young... aren't there still these people? So much has been taught on the Heavenly Curtain; it has to be passed down. Before the Crown Prince comes of age, Emperor Hongren is extremely envious of those achievements; he doesn't even feel old anymore. He can't wait to quickly acquire that knowledge so that he can be the emperor who leaves his mark in history and unifies the country!
Moreover, now it's not enough to appease public anger without changing the emperor...
The secret guard just came and told him that the people outside the palace could also see the sky, and the secret guards who went to investigate further away had not yet returned.
Emperor Hongren made this decision without hesitation.
As soon as he finished speaking, after a brief moment of deliberation, all the civil and military officials knelt down and shouted, "Your Majesty's will is ours!"
"—You guys?" Qi Chengjing's eyes blazed with fury, feeling betrayed, but he quickly loosened his clenched fists and glared at the group with hatred in his eyes.
Where is the betrayal?
It's clear his beloved father doesn't want to abdicate again, and is just using the Heavenly Curtain as a pretext to punish him! This entire court is made up of his father's old ministers, who turned against him before he could even establish himself properly—he couldn't stop them. But those who originally followed him are the most hateful! Did they think that their good second brother, who followed him in the Heavenly Curtain, was no longer one of his people? How dare they kick him when he's down!
But no matter how angry Qi Chengjing was, once Emperor Hongren made up his mind and united with his civil and military officials, nothing could stop them from collectively deposing the emperor.
...
The twentieth year of Hongren.
Because of a great injustice that has shaken the world, the retired Emperor Hongren was restored to his former position, the seventh prince was deposed, the deposed emperor was renamed Emperor Yang, and the crown prince was reinstated.
In the same year, the case of the poisoning of the second prince, who was posthumously granted the title of Prince Rui, was finally resolved... and his name was cleared.
(The End)
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Author's note: This is my first time writing in the "movie viewing style," sob sob, I feel completely unskilled at it, or rather, it would probably take me tens of thousands of words to write it smoothly. I really would write tens of thousands of words — closes eyes.
(Not everything is displayed on the sky in this story, so Emperor Hongren only saw part of it and misunderstood, haha.)
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This concludes the extra chapters for this story. Is there anything else you'd like to see?
I'm quite emotional because I fell seriously ill while writing this article. The illness was intermittent, which resulted in many rough parts. I will fix them all in the next couple of days.
Overall, I enjoyed writing it, and I'm really looking forward to the second part where Qi Chengming continues his modern-day relationship with his ministers.
Let me reiterate the pre-orders for the new article in this column here!
My ministers have all traveled from ancient times to the present?!
Copywriting:
After transmigrating into a novel about vying for the throne, Qi Chengming successfully became emperor for a lifetime with the help of an infrastructure system, and only returned to reality after dying a natural death.
"—My air conditioner, shower, hot pot, and spicy hot pot!"
We're finally free!
Qi Chengming's eyes welled with tears. Who could understand? Even if he brought all the technology the system provided to ancient times, it still wouldn't compare to the conveniences of the modern world. He dreamed of returning... *sobs*
but.
What's with this group of ancient people crowding into the living room waiting for him when he woke up?!
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The top civil official, Grand Secretary Mu; the Grand Tutor Wu, whose students are spread throughout the land; the Minister of Personnel, He Santie; the valiant General Wang Shuo; and the Grand Eunuch of the Imperial Palace, Song Gu… all of them were his trusted and beloved generals in ancient times. Even his most favored head chef of the Imperial Kitchen has transmigrated here.
"Your Majesty," Song Gu said wistfully, "it seems we can't go back."
Grand Secretary Qin Liusong was the first to kneel and plead, "Your Majesty, I am willing to follow you here!"
"We follow Your Majesty!" These were the resounding words of the assembled officials.
.
Qi Chengming's vision blurred as he said, "You can't say things like that! This is modern society. I have impeccable revolutionary credentials. We can't be feudalistic anymore."
That's too much torture!
Besides, how is he supposed to support dozens of unregistered residents all by himself?!
.
After scratching their heads, Qi Chengming finally found a solution in the system store:
[One-time group teleportation scroll, requires 100,000 points].
Qi Chengming slowly asked his ministers, "Do you know about Shennongjia?"
No one can go deep into Shennongjia, so this is the only way to solve the problem of dozens of unregistered people in one go!
...
A month later, a major news story in China topped the trending topics list, with the same thing ranking at the top:
#Ancient Village Discovered Deep in Shennongjia!#
#The mystery of the Wild Man in Shennongjia, which has lasted for many years, has finally been revealed#
#Real-life Shangri-La#
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"The next step is the issue of livelihood." Qi Chengming had already made plans, and continued holding small meetings with his confidants.
“The officials are even more concerned than we are, and they are providing a lot of support. How about we just rent a mountain in Shennongjia and build an ancient-style tourist resort? You can still be generals or scholars in the resort, and you can continue to do what you normally do. I won’t let you have a hard time.”
The infrastructure system from when Qi Chengming transmigrated into the book also came along, isn't that a perfect match?
The ministers looked at each other, none of them having any objections: "Yes, Your Majesty."
Qi Chengming quickly stopped him: "You're wrong. From now on, you all have to change your address and call me Village Chief!"
"Yes, village chief!!"
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