Chapter 537: The Long River

Rejected by Li Chang, Yan Zhenqing left in displeasure.

He does not believe Fang Youde can turn the tide, because the elite troops under Huangfu Weiming this time are completely unlike the Western Army that, after feasting and drinking inside Chang'an, was already well fed and rested last time.

Li Chang refuses to leave Chang'an for temporary refuge; if Chang'an truly falls, how will this new ruler conduct himself?

This is a question Yan Zhenqing dares not contemplate in detail. And the "one cover blocks two openings" scheme proposed by Fang Youde is also baffling.

Yan Zhenqing, on one hand worries that Fang Youde cannot win, and on the other hand is deeply concerned about Li Chang's stubbornness; after getting caught in the rain, he fell ill upon returning home.

As for Li Chang, after Yan Zhenqing left, Li Chang sat alone in the main hall of the Purple Imperial Hall for a long time, staring blankly at the palace doors rattling under the fierce wind.

The torchlight in the hall flickered, and Li Chang's reflected shadow on the wall swayed along with it.

"How has the Retired Emperor been lately?"

Li Chang opened his eyes and asked Cheng Yuanzhen, who stood beside him.

"Your Majesty, the Retired Emperor has been eating well and sleeping well; those living in luxury have all put on quite a bit of weight."

Cheng Yuanzhen pretended to be cautious, speaking while keeping his head down, not daring to look at Li Chang.

Sensing the provocation in the other's words, Li Chang did not expose it, but a faint cold smile appeared on his face.

Ji Ge could not possibly have gained much weight now; clearly Cheng Yuanzhen was hinting to Li Chang that the old immortal should be dealt with sooner.

Otherwise, relying on the lingering authority of having been Son of Heaven for decades, Ji Ge could still stir up trouble.

Of course, Cheng Yuanzhen thought they needed to sneak into the village, leave the firearms behind, and silently kill Ji Ge.

"Lead the way; I wish to see the Retired Emperor."

Li Chang stood up and headed straight toward the main gate of the Purple Imperial Hall.

"Your Majesty, the rain outside is heavy; perhaps we should wait until it stops before going, it won't be too late."

Cheng Yuanzhen followed Li Chang and whispered his suggestion.

Li Chang answered him with a cold glance as he turned.

Cheng Yuanzhen dared not persuade further and hurried to prepare the carriage. The Daming Palace was still some distance from Xingqing Palace; in the carriage, Li Chang sat with his eyes closed, silent, as scenes of past humiliations replayed in his mind.

It is time to settle the scores.

The rain outside gradually eased considerably.

Li Chang suddenly opened his eyes, stared intently at Cheng Yuanzhen beside him and asked, "If Huangfu Weiming leads troops to storm Chang'an, how will the Retired Emperor be dealt with?"

His tone was so severe that Cheng Yuanzhen felt as if a wild beast were staring at him.

"Your Majesty, probably… he will be well cared for in Xingqing Palace, still honored as Retired Emperor. Then, in the Retired Emperor's name, Li Wan would be installed as Crown Prince, and Li Wan would ascend the throne as Emperor, something like that."

Cheng Yuanzhen weighed each word carefully, cold sweat already soaking his back.

It must be said, eunuchs who survive close to the Emperor possess some political acumen. If Huangfu Weiming were to capture Chang'an, Li Chang certainly would not survive, but Ji Ge would certainly not die.

Grand Marshal Huangfu needs Ji Ge's mouth to issue the imperial edict appointing Li Wan, maintaining a warm "fatherly and filial" scene, and then shift all accusations onto Li Chang.

The Hebei rebels are no longer rebels, but righteous troops coming to the capital to "cleanse the filth".

Finally, let Ji Ge "die naturally", preferably of old age, and this episode will be over.

If even Cheng Yuanzhen can see it clearly, how could Li Chang not understand?

Ji Ge now isn't at all worried about the Hebei rebels; he even hopes Huangfu Weiming will come to Chang'an to "save the throne".

Reality is this absurd!

Yan Zhenqing's loyalty is truly loyal; knowing that Huangfu Weiming's entry into Chang'an would mean Li Chang's death, he kept urging Li Chang to leave Chang'an,

but whether his judgment is accurate is another matter.

"Indeed, noble families may be humbled, but I alone cannot be humbled."

Li Chang let out a long sigh; he had already found the answer in his heart.

Before long, the carriage arrived at the gate of Xingqing Palace.

Zhang Guangsheng, on duty and holding an umbrella, stepped forward, clasped his fists in salute to Li Chang, and said, "Your Majesty, is there anything the junior officer needs to handle?"

Having experienced so many major events, Zhang Guangsheng was long no longer the naive youngster who came from Hexi.

"Seal off Qinzhengwubenlou and expel all attendants of the Retired Emperor, including Gao Lishi.

I wish to have a private conversation with the Retired Emperor."

Li Chang leaned close to Zhang Guangsheng's ear and whispered.

"This…"

Zhang Guangsheng's pupils suddenly contracted!

Does he not understand?

No, he actually understands everything! He also knows that this day was bound to come!

As one of the people who knew the inside story back then, Zhang Guangsheng knows everything, including that Li Chang's fierce retaliation will certainly arrive!

Zhang Guangsheng even knows why, back then he drew a knife at Ji Ge, yet now the new ruler can entrust him with the heavy task of "watching over" Ji Ge who resides in Xingqing Palace.

Because a single day's rebellion against the ruler leads to lifelong rebellion; once on this path, there is no turning back.

This is like some originally ordinary people who, after killing someone, cannot turn back, continuing to kill as they go.

Killing once is killing, killing a person is killing, killing countless people is also killing! Since the precept is broken, it no longer matters whether one's hands are stained with blood.

"General Zhang, do you have anything to say?"

Li Chang glanced at him and retorted.

Zhang Guangsheng was silent for a moment, then finally clasped his fists in salute to Li Chang and personally opened the gate of Xingqing Palace for him.

He then ordered Qinzhengwubenlou to be sealed off, prohibiting any idle persons from approaching.

After the time it takes for one incense stick to burn, one after another, eunuchs and palace maids emerged from the two‑story building that Ji Ge once used for handling affairs.

Li Chang thus stared coldly at them, seeing each face clearly, overlooking no detail.

Finally, he saw the white‑haired, one‑armed Gao Lishi. The old eunuch seemed to have lost his former bearing, looking like a shabby old man.

"This person has often bewitched the Retired Emperor in the past; he is treacherous and his heart deserves death."

Li Chang pointed at Gao Lishi and said.

Zhang Guangsheng understood, stepped forward personally, and put a rope on the old eunuch who had accompanied Ji Ge for decades.

Take him aside to await punishment.

Throughout the process, Gao Lishi did not struggle at all, merely looking calmly at Li Chang without saying a word.

Now it's useless to say anything. Since the Western Army's main force was defeated by Fang Youde, Ji Ge's era has already ended.

Ji Ge has lost power, so Gao Lishi is naturally nothing either. Rather than howl like a mad dog, it's better to keep the last shred of dignity.

Li Chang stepped up the stairs of the Qinzhengwubenlou one by one, when suddenly a thought flashed in his mind:

When Wei Sanniang went up the building back then, what belief did she hold, that she would rather jump to her death than suffer humiliation?

Thinking of this, Li Chang clenched his fists, and tears uncontrollably streamed down his cheeks.

You repay me with loyalty; I will repay my enemy with his life!

It's time to find that person and demand justice!

Li Chang wiped the tears from his face with his sleeve; after drying them, what remained was an utterly stern countenance.

Like the icy cold atop the Tian Shan!

Standing before the door of the former imperial study, Li Chang took a deep breath and gently pushed open the study's door.

He saw Ji Ge wearing a dragon robe, seated before the desk, his expression imposing, as if he were still the emperor who spoke with absolute authority.

Seeing this, Li Chang felt a surge of utterly absurd and laughable thought:

Even if it were a dog, putting on a dragon robe and sitting here would look somewhat imposing, wouldn't it?

Some people are now not even as good as a dog!

"You come to see me with such a grand show—what is your purpose?"

Ji Ge asked calmly.

His tone was as if nothing had happened, as if Li Chang were a prince paying respects to the Son of Heaven.

"I have come today to ask the Retired Emperor to die!"

Li Chang met Ji Ge's gaze without weakness, straightened his back, and performed a clasped-hand salute toward Ji Ge.

These words seemed hardly unexpected to Ji Ge.

His expression turned solemn, even tinged with resentment as he bellowed: "Do you wish to regicide? To patricide? Do you no longer want the throne?"

"I only want to seek justice!"

Li Chang stepped forward a few paces, stood before Ji Ge, and directly overturned the desk.

Ji Ge was frightened, retreating several steps, even accidentally falling to the ground, his face finally showing a rare look of terror.

"Justice? I am justice!

I am no mistake! I am the one heaven sent to shepherd the people of the world!

All under heaven is mine; what fault could I have!"

He climbed up from the ground and kept retreating until he reached the corner of the wall.

He retreated while shouting.

Li Chang ignored him, stepping forward step by step.

"Li Chang, hear me: don't act rashly!

You are not seeking righteousness? I will give you an abdication edict, letting you ascend the throne legitimately!

Thus you can secure the realm; listen to me, your good days are still long—do not ruin yourself.

You hold the four seas; whatever you want, you can have.

The countless beauties of the world are yours to pick; could you still not find a good one?

Don't be impulsive; don't come over, please don't come over!"

Seeing Li Chang approach step by step, his lecture having no effect, Ji Ge gradually began to speak incoherently.

Even ending with hysterical shrieks.

He was afraid, he truly was afraid; he knew Li Chang did not want any throne, did not want to be emperor.

He only wished for his own death!

Ji Ge had never felt such fear before; the sum of all fear he had felt in his life was not as great as today's!

"I have said it, I only want to seek justice!

I want to take it from you; you must give it to me!"

Li Chang spoke while stepping forward, grabbing Ji Ge's hair in one fist and dragging him toward the window!

"Let go! Let go! I'll give you whatever you want!

Don't kill me! Don't kill me!"

Ji Ge endured the searing pain in his head, pleading bitterly!

At this moment, Li Chang was like a deaf man, turning a deaf ear to Ji Ge's pleas, continually dragging him to the window's edge!

"I ask you, back then did Sanniang fall from here?"

Li Chang looked at Ji Ge with a grim expression, questioning him word by word.

"I don't know, I truly don't know; it's been so long, I've forgotten!

"It's not my fault! I really didn't force her! It's none of my business; she herself wanted to jump, and by the time I grabbed her it was already too late!

"I truly meant no harm; back then I only wanted to chat with her, with no other intention! She misunderstood!"

Until now, Ji Ge had been desperately making excuses. But alas, Li Chang's heart is now as cold as ice, as hard as iron.

"I originally wanted to slowly find you some amusement, but Huangfu Weiming is coming."

If he were to keep you well fed and drunk, letting you die a natural death, I would be so grief‑stricken that I could not live, spending every day thereafter in remorse.

Li Chang's right hand squeezed Ji Ge's throat, murmuring as if persuading himself.

For Li Chang now, Ji Ge's safety is a thunderbolt on a clear day.

Since the Hebei rebels led by Huangfu Weiming are here to send this new ruler on his way.

Then before I set out, let Ji Ge go first. Otherwise, Li Chang would feel unwilling and couldn't even close his eyes in death.

"Don't kill me! Don't kill me! "

"Since ancient times, those who kill a ruler or murder their father do not meet a good end; if you kill me, you will not die peacefully either! "

"Spare me, and you can have whatever you want! "

Ji Ge begged for mercy while being threatened, his throat squeezed, making him feel waves of suffocation.

At this moment, he wanted to kneel and beg for mercy but could not!

Li Chang intends to assassinate the ruler; he truly dares to do it!

Ji Ge already understood Li Chang's intention.

In fact, if Li Chang only wanted to seize power and clear the imperial obstacle, he could simply poison Ji Ge, announce his death from illness, and be done with it. Such a handling would not draw attention.

But Li Chang's aim is not merely to kill Ji Ge.

Li Chang wants to announce to the world that he personally killed Ji Ge, fulfilling the promise he made to himself after Wei Sanniang's death.

This unfulfilled ambition makes Li Chang unable to live with inner peace.

Is the secret delight of covertly wearing brocade at night what he needs? It is not.

What Li Chang wants is to loudly and openly assassinate the ruler, even to be recorded plainly in history.

Even if I murder my father, even if I murder the ruler, so what!

I just want to claim justice!

"Don't… want, don't."

Ji Ge was still struggling, but Li Chang shoved him directly off Qinzhengwubenlou!

Thud!

A muffled thump sounded as Ji Ge fell from the second floor onto the grass.

The great stone that had weighed on Li Chang's heart for years finally hit the ground.

Yet, just as Li Chang's mind drifted, recalling the past and feeling an immense emptiness, he saw a scene that shocked him!

Because Xingqing Palace had long been unattended, thick weeds grew near Qinzhengwubenlou, forming a cushion‑like buffer. After falling from the second floor, Ji Ge miraculously did not die!

Li Chang even saw Ji Ge scramble up, screaming, and dash toward the main gate of Xingqing Palace!

Even a horse ride works?

Li Chang hurriedly shouted at Zhang Guangsheng, who was bewildered downstairs, "Grab him, don't let him escape!"

The latter, upon hearing Li Chang's shout, snapped out of his daze and personally moved forward to restrain Ji Ge.

A man nearing seventy could hardly be a match for the fool Zhang Guangsheng. By the time Li Chang rushed down from Qinzhengwubenlou, Ji Ge had already been held by Zhang Guangsheng at his shoulders.

The surrounding guards dared not even breathe, let alone step forward.

Ah, aaaa, ah, aaaa.

The recent fall seemed to have terrified Ji Ge into silence, only able to emit meaningless "ah" sounds from his throat.

His face showed terror as he stared at Li Chang, repeatedly trying to step back, yet Zhang Guangsheng kept him pinned.

At this moment, Cheng Yuanzhen stepped forward, knelt on the ground, clutched one of Li Chang's legs and pleaded, "Your Majesty, think again! This cannot be done, cannot be done!"

He already understood what Li Chang intended. After failing to kill Ji Ge earlier, Li Chang now moved to "finish the job"!

"Get out!"

Li Chang kicked Cheng Yuanzhen to the ground with a foot.

Now no one can stop him from killing Ji Ge, no one can!

Li Chang drew the sword at his waist and thrust it at Ji Ge!

However, the sword was merely a ceremonial dagger without a sharpened edge, and Li Chang was not a strongman, unable to kill with a blunt blade.

So this seemingly fierce thrust only made Ji Ge scream in pain, without even cutting his dragon robe.

Li Chang was so angry his eyes turned red!

How does this undying old man have Heaven's protection, how can he not be killed, how!

Li Chang took a brisk step forward, threw Ji Ge onto the ground, and clenched his throat with both hands.

"You haven't died yet, why aren't you dead! Go die for me!"

Li Chang roared like a madman, no longer caring about the onlookers.

The incident happened so suddenly that Zhang Guangsheng and the others were left dumbfounded!

"Quick! What are you all standing still for! Stop the emperor!"

Cheng Yuanzhen, still on the ground and not yet standing, hurriedly shouted to Zhang Guangsheng and the other guards.

The crowd scrambled to separate Li Chang and Ji Ge; Cheng Yuanzhen cautiously approached, only to find Ji Ge already dead from a sudden breath.

That old emperor who had ruled the Great Tang for decades was thus, without any dignity, like a wild‑dog fight, strangled to death by his own son Li Chang.

Ji Ge's eyes were wide open, his face filled with terror and unwillingness, dying with his eyes unclosed.

The light drizzle pattered on everyone's faces, and no one said another word.