terror
Zhou Ziliang smiled faintly, squatted down, and carried Tang Feng on his back. "Still angry? Weren't you enjoying it just now...? Okay, okay, I'll make it up to you after this is over, alright?" Tang Feng obediently nestled on Zhou Ziliang's back, rolling his eyes. "I don't want to... You've set me up again. Who knows what your compensation will be?" Seeing that Tang Feng was still angry, Zhou Ziliang didn't intend to continue the topic and steered the conversation towards the important matter, "What are your plans after burning down the Star-Picking Pavilion?"
"Naturally, a trip to the Hall of Longevity is necessary... Also... no one can remain in the palace. If it's a concubine, maid, or eunuch, they can be executed. We can't leave any stain on His Highness's reputation when he ascends the throne." Seeing Tang Feng's resolute words, Zhou Ziliang didn't object but smiled, turning to look at Tang Feng. "Little Feng, this can be considered paving the way for His Highness. I just don't know if His Highness will appreciate it." Zhou Ziliang naturally hadn't forgotten Li Yunyu. Back then, after forcing his third brother to rebel, Li Yunyu was forced to death by Tang Feng and turned against him. Although many years had passed and Li Yunyu had grown up, Zhou Ziliang still felt somewhat wary. After all, Li Yunyu was a prince, the future emperor of Yan Yun. It wasn't impossible for him to be ungrateful and turn on his benefactor. Back then, when he suspected Tang Feng, Tang Feng didn't investigate further, but ultimately, his power wasn't fully developed then. What would he do in the future? Tang Feng naturally sensed Zhou Ziliang's reluctance and smiled. "Well... it's fine. Whether he appreciates my offer or not, he can go with His Highness. He's grown up now and can distinguish right from wrong. Not everyone is as ungrateful as Li Linglan. Li Yunrui taught him integrity, and presumably, he also taught him magnanimity, don't you think?" Zhou Ziliang stopped talking and quietly descended the stairs, leaving only the creaking of the wooden planks. After a while, Zhou Ziliang finally said, "Okay... it's good that Xiao Feng understands. I won't say anything more." Seeing that Zhou Ziliang wasn't pursuing the matter, Tang Feng breathed a sigh of relief and leaned on Zhou Ziliang's back, saying, "Let's go to Lin Siwen's place later. I'm afraid they'll suffer. After all, Consort Rong and Li Yunheng are not kind people, and they're still young. What if they make a mistake..."
"Then what are you going to do?" Zhou Ziliang was obviously more worried about Tang Feng. After all, the person he was going to see alone was none other than Li Linglan, who had killed his father. Zhou Ziliang was afraid that Tang Feng would act rashly and fall into Li Linglan's trap. But Tang Feng shook his head and said, "This is my business. I should go and settle it myself. No one can interfere."
"Xiao Feng... should I bring Li Linglan to see you?"
Tang Feng looked out the window at the city of Xiling, ablaze with flames, and shook his head. "He is the king, and I am his subject. It is my duty to pay my respects to him... lest I give others cause for gossip later." Hearing Tang Feng's words, Zhou Ziliang had no choice but to give up. "Alright..." Zhou Ziliang gently placed Tang Feng on the ground and kissed him lightly. After a moment of tenderness, he gazed into Tang Feng's eyes, their foreheads touching, and whispered, "Be careful... Don't be reckless, understand?"
Tang Feng just felt Zhou Ziliang was being a little too nervous, and smiled, "Don't worry! I know what I'm doing." Zhou Ziliang nodded, picked up a torch, lit the gauze curtains of the Star-Picking Pavilion, and watched the fire roar up before throwing the torch inside. Tang Feng, seeing the strange sight of the Star-Picking Pavilion, said, "Go quickly to His Highness the Ninth Prince's side... I'll come find you after I've finished here." Zhou Ziliang gently hugged Tang Feng, leaving behind the words, "I'll wait for you," before departing.
Tang Feng watched Zhou Ziliang's departing figure, took out the two Spirit-Controlling Tokens from his pocket, looked up at the Star-Picking Monster already engulfed in flames, and threw the Spirit-Controlling Tokens into the sea of fire. "Whether I succeed or not, I will stay... and not go back..." He then turned and walked towards the Hall of Longevity. At this moment, a tearing pain came from his lower body, causing Tang Feng to lose his balance and lean against the wall. "Zhou Ziliang... that bastard... I told him I had something to do in a while, and he still used so much force. How the hell am I supposed to get to the Hall of Longevity!" Tang Feng limped towards the Hall of Longevity, the excruciating pain in his waist and lower body making every step an ordeal. Fortunately, the Star-Picking Pavilion was not far from the Hall of Longevity. Tang Feng heard increasingly loud screams and groans coming from the palace. Presumably, Meng Lie had seen the raging fire at the Star-Picking Pavilion and rushed into the palace. Tang Feng walked halfway towards the Hall of Longevity until he saw the long steps of the Hall of Longevity. He straightened up, enduring the discomfort in his lower body, and slowly walked upstairs until he saw Eunuch Feng pacing anxiously at the door. He stopped. Eunuch Feng, hearing the sound, turned around and immediately sat down on the ground in fright. "Grand...Grand Tutor...you...you...I burned paper money for you on your seventh day after death, what...what are you doing...this humble servant..." Seeing that Eunuch Feng could barely speak, Tang Feng didn't intend to frighten him. He stepped forward, took Eunuch Feng's wrist, and smiled. "Don't be afraid, Grand Tutor...Tang Feng is a human, not a ghost...Look, my hand is warm..." Feeling the warmth of Tang Feng's hand, Eunuch Feng finally relaxed, wiped away his cold sweat, and stood up shakily. "Grand Tutor...why did you come back...Since you're alive, go back and live your life properly...don't cause yourself any more trouble."
Tang Feng smiled at the tightly closed wooden door. "Conquering a kingdom is easy, but maintaining it is difficult. Li Linglan must know this very well. It's just that I didn't die; I can't swallow this insult. Today, Xiling City must change hands..." Seeing Tang Feng's reaction, and thinking of the rebel army that had stormed the city earlier, Eunuch Feng was at a loss. He couldn't even hold onto his whisk, which slipped to the ground. "Tang... Grand Tutor... you... you're plotting a rebellion! Absolutely not! If His Majesty finds out... you..."
"Father-in-law, I know you are kind-hearted, there's no need to persuade me. What can he do even if he knows? Such a hypocrite doesn't deserve to sit there. Rest assured, even if he dies, I won't harm you. Just treat him as a demon from hell coming to claim your life." After a moment of deep thought, Eunuch Feng sighed and opened the door. "Young Master Tang... I hope you're not... acting impulsively..." Tang Feng glanced at Eunuch Feng, then pushed open the door and went inside without lingering.
Walking through the long corridor into the main hall, Tang Feng saw Emperor Yun sitting on his throne, looking down at him. He raised his head and said to Emperor Yun, "Greetings, Your Majesty." Although he spoke respectfully, he did not actually bow.
Emperor Yun put down his teacup. "You've come..."
"It seems His Majesty has been waiting for me all along."
"Hmph... If it weren't for you, who could have instigated Zhou Ziliang to betray us? But are you a human or a ghost now?"
Upon hearing Emperor Yun's words, Tang Feng smiled. "Whether human or ghost... if it's towards Your Majesty, then I'm probably an unforgivable demon. I wish I could skin you alive, tear you apart, and eat your flesh." Emperor Yun looked at Tang Feng with disdain, leaning back on his dragon throne. "Tang Feng, have you ever considered... that you could have gone to see the carefree doctor Zhou Ziliang? Why did you have to come back seeking death?"
“I only wanted the Ninth Prince to be made crown prince, as I promised him. He wanted to overturn his elder brother's case, but now…” Tang Feng looked at Li Linglan with coldness and determination in his eyes, “I only wanted to force the abdication… I don’t understand, what kind of person would be so ruthless as to kill their own son? Even the ruthless imperial family would only do such a thing if they made a mistake. And what mistake did Li Yunrui make! Should he not have been born into your family, Li Linglan? Should he not have sent troops to Xiling? Should he not have become the crown prince! I admit he is straightforward and stubborn, but I also think he is a good crown prince, a good son, and may even become a wise ruler in the future!”
Emperor Yun looked at Tang Feng with disdain and sneered, "Forced abdication? Do you dare to kill me, Tang Feng? What right do you have to question me? I am the ruler of a country. Killing whomever I want is as easy as crushing an ant. Why do I need your opinion?"
"I never intended to murder the emperor, but I never intended to spare you either. My actions, though sinful today, will be meritorious for generations to come."
Emperor Yun snorted coldly, "You are indeed smarter than your father, and your tongue is sharper, but have you ever considered why I didn't make the Ninth Prince the Crown Prince? If the Ninth Prince were exceptionally capable, I might not have needed you to do those things; I would have already given him important positions. However, the Ninth Prince is too mediocre. Even if you succeed, then what? Pu Yuan is eyeing us covetously! What can he do? He can neither write nor strategize, nor fight for the country with a sword! Such a mediocre prince, I really don't know what you're wasting your time on..." Tang Feng narrowed his eyes, listening quietly to Emperor Yun's words, "So, because the Crown Prince was suspected of rebellion due to troop deployment, you killed him. Because the Ninth Prince is mediocre, you no longer give him important positions... You are truly unworthy of being a father..."
"Tang Feng... Didn't you teach Yu'er that as a monarch, the first thing to abandon is love, and the second is family? I am their father! So I can take care of them in their childhood, but I am also a monarch! How can the next crown prince be chosen based on only one aspect? Yu'er's mediocrity is a fact! It cannot be denied! When you were teaching him, did you ever consider that this child is not suitable for the throne? Forcing him onto the throne will only make this country more unstable! Tang Feng! Do you think that by forcing the emperor to abdicate and rebellion, in order to exonerate Yun Rui and push Yun Yu to the high ground, you will become the hero of Yan Yun? Let me tell you! If one day, the enemy invades, even if Yun Yu has many good generals around him, he will not know how to use them! Then Yan Yun will still disappear into the long river of history like Da Ruan, and you will be a sinner for all time!"
Tang Feng smiled faintly, "If that's the case, I won't complain... In my life, I've never caused trouble, nor have I been afraid of it. I've never regretted the path I chose. I, Tang Feng, have the ability to distinguish right from wrong. People will naturally fail to become talented if they aren't taught, and trees will grow crooked if they aren't pruned. Your Majesty's decision to let the Ninth Prince live alone in the Crown Prince's residence and then call him mediocre is utterly ridiculous."
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