"King Heaven Equivalent, you’ve been so idle these past few days, you’re even reading books in the palace, huh?"
Emperor Jing, who was as round as a ball, was assisted as he walked over. His tone was calm and steady.
"Greetings, Your Majesty. I am only hoping to glean so wisdom from the ancients," responded Wang Linchi, aware of the Emperor’s ulterior motives. If the Emperor weren’t useful, Wang Linchi would have dealt with him long ago.
"Ancients? Hahaha, how far back can one go? Even the most ancient cannot compare to our founding Taizu," Emperor Jing laughed heartily. Even as dim-witted as he was, he could guess what Wang Linchi was looking for, but finding it might not be so easy.
"The awe of Taizu is sothing ordinary people like us could never comprehend," Wang Linchi flattered casually, before asking, "Does Your Majesty have any significant matters to attend to by coming here?"
"Nothing significant, just wanted to see you, King Heaven Equivalent," Emperor Jing said, deliberately trying to annoy Wang Linchi.
This tactic was utterly unseemly, yet he dared to be so impudent simply because Wang Linchi paid him no mind.
As for Wang Linchi, he didn’t mind these petty matters. After all, he had taken control that rightfully belonged to the Emperor. He couldn’t very well kill him just because of a few sarcastic remarks.
Besides, finding a replacent as suitable would be challenging.
"I’m flattered by Your Majesty’s concern, but given your poor health, you ought to rest more."
"These days, you’ve lost so much weight; it’s obvious you haven’t been eating enough. Surely the Imperial Kitchen is rushing to serve your als? Can any of you bear the responsibility if His Majesty goes hungry?" Wang Linchi berated the nearby attendants.
This caused the surrounding people to respond hastily.
As for "losing weight," that was certainly false. Emperor Jing was already so fat he could hardly walk steadily.
Indeed, Wang Linchi didn’t truly care about the Emperor. However, it was annoying to have him hovering around constantly. Whenever Emperor Jing tried to provoke him, Wang Linchi would order the Imperial Kitchen to serve the Emperor a feast, stuffing him until he couldn’t speak and could only wobble away.
"Your Majesty, you must take good care of your health. If you were to fall ill from hunger, it would be a catastrophe for Dajing," Wang Linchi said with a smile.
Emperor Jing responded, "I appreciate your consideration, King Heaven Equivalent."
He was enduring, knowing he was no match for Wang Linchi and that attempting to annoy Wang Linchi would surely result in retaliation.
His ballooning figure wasn’t solely due to his own eating habits; Wang Linchi’s deliberate machinations also played a part.
A great array of dishes was served.
There was no need to worry about poison, as specialized Spirit Masters inspected the dishes.
Moreover, with Wang Linchi, the most powerful Spirit Master present, who would dare poison Emperor Jing?
"Wait," Wang Linchi suddenly called out to a eunuch. The dish the eunuch was presenting was, in fact, poisoned.
"There’s sothing wrong with this dish. Investigate it thoroughly. I want an answer within one hour," Wang Linchi instructed calmly.
At these words, Emperor Jing was visibly startled. He hadn’t expected soone to actually dare poison him.
If Wang Linchi hadn’t been present, he would likely be dead by now.
"Has Your Majesty noticed anything unusual recently?" Wang Linchi asked.
Killing Emperor Jing would ruin his plans, and finding another replacent who was both inept and fond of gas wouldn’t be easy.
Emperor Jing pondered seriously for a mont, then shook his head. "I haven’t noticed anything unusual."
As for suspecting Wang Linchi of the poisoning? Emperor Jing didn’t believe it for a second.
Wang Linchi had countless ways to kill him, none requiring such crude thods.
"It seems this was preditated," Wang Linchi said. He wasn’t worried about failing to catch the culprit; his people were everywhere, and clues couldn’t simply vanish. So Spirit Masters possessed Spirit Laws capable of tracing such things.
In just over half an hour, a group of people was rounded up, including one of the imperial concubines.
Having reviewed the presented testimony, Wang Linchi could only conclude that Emperor Jing was truly unlucky.
This particular dish hadn’t been intended for Emperor Jing but for a concubine in the inner palace. Such direct attempts on life were rare in the harem. So, this was an accident.
"Your Majesty, as this is a matter of the harem, I believe you should make the decision," Wang Linchi said, placing the written testimony on a tray. A eunuch promptly carried it over to Emperor Jing.
Emperor Jing didn’t even spare it a glance and waved the matter off with a halfhearted, "Let the law decide."
Such fools rarely live long.
Even the Great Families wouldn’t dare to commit murder so openly. At most, they would drive their targets to despair and death, ensuring their own hands remained unstained by blood.
"Your Majesty, spare ! I was just confused for a mont... King Heaven Equivalent, we share the sa surna; a thousand years ago, we were one family! I beg you..." The concubine sobbed as she was dragged away.
"The Wang family, you say? Heh." Wang Linchi chuckled. A thousand years ago, he hadn’t even co to this world; how could they be family?
"How vexing, truly vexing." Emperor Jing stuffed a huge piece of deboned pork knuckle into his mouth and rose unsteadily from his seat. "I won’t disturb King Heaven Equivalent’s reading anymore."
He had co to annoy Wang Linchi. Being provoked by Wang Linchi usually just ant he ate more. However, nearly being embroiled in the harem’s ssy affairs and having his peace disturbed had thoroughly dampened his spirits.
So, he lost the desire to continue his mutual annoyance with Wang Linchi.
After the Emperor left, Wang Linchi resud flipping through his books, but his peripheral vision caught a eunuch tidying up the ss.
In one corner, a peculiar iron piece was revealed during the cleanup.
Wang Linchi walked over nonchalantly, reached out, and recognized it as a Dan Book Iron Coupon, also known as a death-exemption dallion.
When it landed in his hand, it felt ancient, undoubtedly a relic from the dynasty’s founding period.
Later Emperors of Dajing had not continued to issue Dan Book Iron Coupons. Only South Zhang North Kong and the Five Surnas and Seven Hopes possessed them.
It certainly couldn’t grant exemption from the cri of treason, so the Northern Kong Clan had t its end.
After a quick perusal, a smile touched Wang Linchi’s lips.
This was not just a simple Dan Book Iron Coupon; it also recorded details of the final stage of the imperial examinations: the ceremony where Emperor Cheng made his proclamation to Heaven and Earth.
Just as Wang Linchi had speculated, it required the Jade Seal and the bloodline of the Dajing Royal Family.
Of course, a Dan Book Iron Coupon was also necessary.
I recall that the Dan Book Iron Coupons of South Zhang North Kong and the Five Surnas and Seven Hopes seed to have been lted down and replaced with new ones.
It turns out that they weren’t lted but were reclaid by the Royal Family. They could grant the right to avoid death, but not the path to ascension.
The imperial bloodline wasn’t particularly rare; many commoners possessed it. Through intermarriage, it could be easily acquired.
Even Wang Linchi himself could easily clone or fabricate it if he wished.
The real challenge was the Jade Seal—that particular item... he had devoured it.
No, it doesn’t necessarily have to be the Jade Seal; it could be the Devil! Wang Linchi quickly realized.
With the Devil, the Jade Seal was a top-tier Spiritual Treasure. Without it, the seal was rely a common Spiritual Treasure, although with continued nurturing, it had indeed reached its zenith.
This Dan Book Iron Coupon was also a Spiritual Treasure, albeit a unique kind, more akin to a key.
From the very beginning, the original South Zhang North Kong and the Five Surnas and Seven Hopes could also have participated in this final assessnt.
It was only later, when the Jade Seal beca a symbol of imperial power, coupled with deliberate obstruction and dynastic breaks, that this path vanished.
Wang Linchi quickly pieced together the cause and effect.
He had this incident to thank; otherwise, he truly might never have found this Dan Book Iron Coupon.
His perception was limited by the Calamity of the Last Law. Coupled with the item being well-hidden, Wang Linchi had indeed failed to notice it.
I’ve found it. This Dan Book Iron Coupon must be a relic from the palace coup during the Gaozong Emperor’s reign. If there was a break in the dynastic records, it likely began then.
The Gaozong Emperor died suddenly during the palace coup, and the Hidden Prince ascended the throne.
Clearly, a rather ’filial’ scene had played out, and the Gaozong Emperor hadn’t had ti to pass down the secret. Of course, even if he had found the ti, he likely wouldn’t have divulged it anyway.
"Your Highness, what are you..." A eunuch approached, not having seen Wang Linchi’s earlier action, only noticing him standing in the corner.
"Nothing. I just saw a book that looked interesting, but it turned out not to be," Wang Linchi said, turning to leave.
He had long since tossed the Dan Book Iron Coupon into his Storage space.
He guessed this Dan Book Iron Coupon had likely been placed here by one of the Gaozong Emperor’s trusted confidants. This was probably to prevent it from being lost or to serve as a symbol for a future resurgence.
However, after the Hidden Prince ascended the throne, his thods were extrely ruthless. He carried out a thorough purge from top to bottom. The trusted confidant who stored the Dan Book Iron Coupon likely did not escape death, to say nothing of anyone else who knew about it.
All who knew of these matters were the Gaozong Emperor’s confidants. How could the Hidden Prince possibly spare them?
Ironically, the Hidden Prince himself didn’t live long. Having usurped the throne, he was soon overthrown by other vassal kings.
He remained in power for only about a month and was given neither a temple na nor a posthumous title. Instead, he was directly demoted to a commoner, which is why he ca to be known as the Hidden Prince.
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