Song Liang’s “old bastard” stunned everyone present. Even Xie Yun looked momentarily taken aback, as though he could scarcely believe Song Liang dared insult the elderly man to his face.
The old man stared at him in shock as well. “What did you call me?”
Song Liang had merely let the insult slip. Their reactions left him rather puzzled, and he raised an eyebrow before repeating, “Old bastard?”
The old man’s eyes widened. His hand trembled slightly around his cane, as though he wanted to strike Song Liang with it.
Song Liang thought the old fellow had quite some nerve. Ever since he had transmigrated here, even the Grand Empress Dowager had never dared hit him outright; she only dared punish him by confining him to the ancestral temple. Yet this old man actually wanted to beat him.
3085 was speechless. 【…Has it occurred to you that you might be the one with too much nerve?】
Song Liang was puzzled. 【What do you mean?】
3085: 【First of all, although this is a feudal era in which imperial authority reigns supreme, that doesn’t mean the emperor can do whatever he likes. The emperor represents justice and must consider the welfare of his people.】
3085: 【In short, an emperor has to maintain a favorable public reputation. Otherwise, he’ll be overthrown.】
This was the first time Song Liang had heard such a notion. After all, no one in the previous world had taught him how to be an emperor. He asked, 【Isn’t it enough for an emperor to control the army and hold power? Why does he need public support too?】
3085: 【What you’re describing is a tyrant.】
Song Liang considered this for barely a breath before making his decision. 【Then I want to be a tyrant.】
3085: 【???】
3085: 【Would you care to remember how the original owner died?】
Song Liang: 【Wasn’t he killed by the rebels under Helan Ze?】
3085: 【Exactly. Now guess why he was killed.】
Song Liang: 【Because he didn’t have any troops.】
3085: 【…Because he was an incompetent, immoral ruler who lost the people’s support! That’s why, when Helan Ze marched into the capital, he wasn’t treated as a rebel—he was welcomed with open arms. All because the original owner was a foolish emperor and a tyrant!】
Song Liang: 【If he’d really been a tyrant, he would’ve killed them all beforehand.】
【Helan Ze’s whole family too. Hang his parents’ corpses over the city gates so they’re the first thing he sees when he arrives. A warm welcome to the family reunion.】 At this, Song Liang suddenly smiled. 【How festive.】
【…】
3085 was horrified. Things even the original owner had never done, no matter how outrageous he was, came effortlessly to its host’s mind. It dared not imagine what shocking deeds he might commit once he truly held absolute power.
3085: 【You’re here to clear the original owner’s name, not outdo him! You’ll get struck by lightning for being this vicious!】
Song Liang: 【Didn’t you say this was a materialist world? Why would there be divine lightning strikes?】
3085: 【I’ll strike you myself!】
Song Liang: 【…】
3085: 【The point is, this world’s scenario is not allowed to end with a tyrant on the throne!】
Then what the hell am I being emperor for? Song Liang thought.
While he was inwardly grumbling, Xie Yun raised his eyes to him. “Do you know who he is?”
“Your uncle. Your only remaining family.”
“…”
Xie Yun paused. He had not expected that answer from Song Liang.
After a moment’s silence, he asked coolly, “Then Your Majesty intended to humiliate my uncle?”
Song Liang: “…”
That wasn’t it. The old bastard simply had a foul mouth.
“He called me a damned emperor first. Under the laws of Great Yao, disrespecting one’s sovereign and insulting the Son of Heaven is a capital offense.”
“Under the laws of Great Yao, I am the teacher of Shizong and Gaozu, as well as yours. It is only right that I discipline you!”
“And insulting me counts as discipline?”
“You slaughtered the descendants of meritorious officials, cut back the Twelve Guards, and disregarded the institutions established by your ancestors. Do you not deserve to be rebuked?”
“No.”
Song Liang regarded him coolly. “I have done nothing to shame Heaven and Earth or the ancestors of the Chen dynasty. What right do you have to insult me?”
“You slaughtered the descendants of meritorious officials, and you still think you were right?” Xie Cheng pointed at him indignantly. “Do you know what people outside are saying about you?”
“They can say whatever they please. They still have to wish me a long reign when they see me.” Song Liang straightened his sleeve without a care. “I have always been generous. I don’t quibble over such trifles.”
Xie Cheng stared at him, unable to believe anyone could be so utterly shameless. “You… Aren’t you afraid the people will revile you and your name will stink for ten thousand years?”
“If my name really survives for ten thousand years, does it matter whether it’s remembered with praise or curses?”
“…”
Xie Cheng stared in astonishment. Then, suddenly recalling something, he turned sharply toward Xie Yun. “What did he say to you earlier? Cheating? What does that mean?”
Xie Yun: “…”
Song Liang: “…”
Xie Yun glanced at the person whose eyes were now wandering evasively. “This prince doesn’t understand either. Perhaps Your Majesty would enlighten us.”
“Ahem.” Song Liang cleared his throat and answered calmly, “I meant straying from the proper path—overstepping one’s bounds. I was reminding the Prince Regent not to do anything improper.”
“And what improper deed has this prince committed to warrant a personal warning from Your Majesty?”
“Assaulting a member of the imperial family.”
“…”
Xie Yun stared at him for a while. Even after considerable thought, he could not imagine what imperial relatives someone from a collateral branch of the Chen family might have in Yanjing.
Song Liang promptly pulled the bruised and battered Xuan Seven over. “Allow me to introduce my newly sworn younger brother.”
Xuan Seven: “…”
After a brief silence, Xie Yun gave a cold laugh. “Ha. A sworn younger brother.”
Song Liang: “…”
He frowned and asked inwardly, 【Does his tone sound a little strange to you?】
3085: 【…】
How could it not? That familiar, unmistakably sarcastic tone belonged to a certain someone from the previous world.
3085: 【It’s nothing. Probably a bug in the model.】
Song Liang: 【Advanced models get bugs too?】
3085: 【…Yes. I’ll report it for investigation later.】
Still somewhat doubtful, Song Liang continued, “Yes, my sworn younger brother. An immediate member of the imperial family. Your men beat him up. Shouldn’t you take responsibility?”
Xie Yun eyed him coldly. “How would Your Majesty like this prince to take responsibility? Apologize to your sworn younger brother?”
Song Liang still found the way he said “sworn younger brother” rather strange, though he could not put his finger on why. “Just have your men apologize, then promise they won’t lay hands on my sworn younger brother without cause again.”
“If Your Majesty’s sworn younger brother refrains from trespassing in my residence, my men will hardly bother laying hands on him.” Xie Yun turned away without another glance. “This prince is not receiving visitors today. Kindly take your sworn younger brother and leave.”
“I haven’t finished.”
“…”
Xie Yun stopped and looked back.
Song Liang met his gaze for a moment, then turned toward Xie Cheng. “I seem to recall you once declared that you would not return to the capital until the Chen dynasty had a different emperor. Why have you suddenly returned to Yanjing?”
“To visit the Prince Regent, or to see an old acquaintance in the capital?”
“…”
A flicker of alarm crossed Xie Cheng’s aged face, but he quickly regained his composure and frowned. “That is my private affair. It should have nothing to do with Your Majesty.”
“Indeed, it has nothing to do with me. But these have been troubled times. The relatives of the rebels from the Jiang, Yang, and other families remain in prison. I merely executed a few traitors, and already people are calling me a vicious tyrant. Clearly, someone is stirring up trouble in secret to ruin my reputation. I have to take precautions.”
Watching Xie Cheng’s face, Song Liang continued slowly, “To be frank, unless there is absolutely no alternative, I have no wish to cross swords with the Prince Regent. As his only remaining family, you are also someone I would rather not allow to come between us unless forced to. Do you understand?”
Xie Cheng was stunned. “…Are you threatening me?”
“If a threat will get through to you, then consider it one.” Song Liang turned to Xie Yun. “The autumn hunt is approaching. I have often heard of the Prince Regent’s valor and extraordinary archery. I hope to witness your prowess there.”
Behind him, Zhou An stepped forward at just the right moment with the rare medicinal ingredients they had prepared.
Cen Huan glanced at Xie Yun. Seeing that he said nothing, he went forward to accept them.
Even after Song Liang left with his attendants, Xie Cheng had yet to recover. He stared after their retreating figures for a long time before asking incredulously, “Is that really the little emperor from back then?”
“Uncle, do you think he seems different?”
“…”
Different hardly began to describe it. He seemed to have become an entirely different person.
After a long silence, Xie Cheng suddenly said, “If he had possessed even a fraction of his present quick wit back then, I would never have suffered such humiliation and indignation.”
Leave a Reply