Vol 2 Chapter 3: Final Years' Prosperous Appearance
Imperial Capital, Imperial Palace, Diligent Governance Hall.
The emperor repeatedly reviewed morials, utterly unable to understand why he had lost Heaven's favor. Even the Dao Marshals had hinted that he must focus on handling governntal affairs and refrain from petty maneuvers.
As emperor, he knew best where his power originated.
Not from his imperial guards, not from royal relatives, external relatives, or eunuchs, not from Daoist temple support or people's affection—but purely from his moral character and personal capability as emperor.
Through the connection between heaven and humanity, his every action influenced the fortunes of various regions. He exercised celestial authority, spoke with divine decree. Even millennium-old noble families, if they dared offend imperial dignity, could have their rise or fall determined by his single word. If imperial blood was shed, heads would surely roll.
Therefore, since ascending the throne, he had never dared show the slightest negligence.
His personal life imitated ancient sages. Beyond ensuring adequate nutrition and robust physique, he never indulged in culinary desires. Beyond necessary clothing to display imperial majesty, he never dared any extravagance or waste.
He built no pleasure palaces, sought no immortality, restrained personal desires, distributed wealth to the people, cracked down on academic cliques, suppressed noble families, promoted commoners, and broadened channels for criticism.
He vigorously supported various technological research and developnt, promoted handicraft and shipbuilding industries, diated conflicts between regions and ethnic groups, personally visited communities to ensure every decree was accurately implented.
At the very least, he could be considered average.
"Who exactly is hiding problems..."
Nearby, his personal attendant Little Li hesitantly said: "Your Majesty, I've read that land annexation can make common people unable to survive."
The emperor, while reviewing docunts again, decisively denied: "That's not the issue here."
"Although I haven't completely nationalized land rights, I regularly suppress land concentration. Various industries flourish, and I firmly control grain rights and prices—no one dares manipulate them. Though not every person is wealthy, absolutely no one starves."
"Even those with nothing to do receive two pounds of spirit rice monthly just for being registered. It's not enough for cultivation needs, but definitely sufficient for a month's sustenance."
Little Li said bitterly: "Perhaps there are too many lazy people."
Little Li said bitterly: "Perhaps there are too many lazy people."
"Little Li, even eunuchs like you enjoy spring palace paintings. Common people have scholarly honors to pursue, martial arts to practice, nurous marvels to purchase, reputations to compete for—naturally they won't be lazy."
Little Li said helplessly: "Your Majesty, please don't tease . I know I'm not as clever as you. I shouldn't disturb you further."
"One person's wisdom has limits..." The emperor's eyes brightened. "Exactly! My close ministers lack sufficient wisdom. I should announce this matter throughout the land and invite wise people from all regions!"
This approach had never been tried in any dynasty throughout history.
An emperor without virtue losing Heaven's favor, provoking celestial anger and popular resentnt—this was naturally a major event that could destabilize a dynasty. All manner of monsters would erge. But if this couldn't be resolved before natural disasters erupted everywhere, there would be no hope left.
If the situation couldn't change within two years... no, within one year, he could only try abdicating the throne through suicide to see if that could reverse the situation and continue the nation's destiny.
Just then, the Shadow Guard commander's voice ca from outside the door: "Your Majesty, urgent matter to report."
"Enter!" The Shadow Guard commander entered the room. The emperor's brush never stopped moving as he said sternly: "Speak!"
"The Shadow Guard discovered that Liang Province laborers aren't receiving normal spirit rice rations but 'pork trotter rice,' and it's provided to all personnel. All are fresh spirit rice and spirit at."
Soone's rebelling?! Anger flashed in the emperor's eyes.
The most critical requirent for transitioning from laborer to soldier, from Body Forging to Murderous Aura Refining, is at consumption. But only spirit plants consud at every al or spirit beasts born in mystical lands with extraordinary strength can produce spirit at.
An entire province's laborers, all receiving spirit at...
After the anger passed, the mont he truly realized what this ant, the emperor felt all his strength drain away, collapsing weakly into his seat.
To produce this much spirit at required animal husbandry surpassing the entire Chenyao Dynasty's capacity—needing larger population, more advanced technology, broader territory. Not just slightly stronger, but overwhelmingly superior.
Being able to donate spirit at to another country's laborers—he couldn't even imagine how many soldiers and fierce generals this massive force possessed.
But after several breaths, he recovered and said calmly to the Shadow Guard commander: "Has this pork trotter rice-providing force sent anyone to urge surrender?"
The Shadow Guard commander shook his head: "No surrender urging. The pork trotter rice is provided by a labor supervisor—it's his special ability. He claims that whenever laborers co before him, he can produce a portion of pork trotter rice. Testing confird that whether laborers from other provinces or temporarily recruited laborers, all can receive pork trotter rice."
The emperor's expression beca one of both amusent and exasperation: "If you frighten like this again, I'll definitely charge you with deceiving the sovereign."
The emperor's expression beca one of both amusent and exasperation: "If you frighten like this again, I'll definitely charge you with deceiving the sovereign."
The Shadow Guard commander didn't withdraw but continued: "Xu Province discovered a talking monkey that begs everyone for immortality thods."
Talking monkeys aren't rare—whether through simple throat bone refinent or rudintary transformation arts, such things are possible. But for the Shadow Guard to specifically ntion it...
"This monkey—could it be speaking human language without cultivation, without becoming a demon?"
The Shadow Guard commander nodded: "Yes."
Legends say that when a country approaches destruction, monsters appear everywhere. The emperor didn't know if a talking monkey counted as a monster, but... never mind, brutal killing wouldn't help.
"If the monkey hasn't committed evil, let it enter the Daoist temple for cultivation. Inform if abnormalities appear later."
The Shadow Guard commander nodded: "Yes. Also..."
Before he finished speaking, the Diligent Governance Hall's doors were suddenly thrown open as the current Dao Marshal rushed in.
"Yang Ruixuan, terrible news! The celestial phenona suddenly changed just now—the Purple Star wavered. This is no longer just end-of-dynasty montum, but that you're about to die imdiately."
", die?" The emperor froze.
Seeing his old friend stunned, the Dao Marshal grabbed him: "No ti for nonsense—co with ."
As he spoke, he flicked his fingers, scattering large flas around them.
The emperor imdiately snapped back to attention, eyes wide as he demanded: "What are you doing?"
The Dao Marshal instead roared: "If you want to survive, you must prove you're already dead! Besides burning the imperial palace, everyone who would protect you must also die!"
Hearing this, the Shadow Guard commander's long sword left its sheath at his waist, blade turned inward as he calmly looked at the emperor.
Little Li panicked. Watching the rapidly spreading flas, the arguing emperor and Dao Marshal, he didn't know what to do. Seeing the unsheathed cold steel, he steeled his heart: "I'll go first."
"Scram!" The emperor angrily threw an inkstone at Little Li's face, knocking him down. "You don't get to make decisions here!"
He then glared furiously at the Dao Marshal: "Li Yuanjie, rember this—I am the Son of Heaven, bearing the nation's burden, carrying the people's weight. I can die but cannot flee!"
"As long as I live one more day, you cannot betray imperial commands."
"Extinguish the flas!"
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