Chapter 1: Li Er Ascends the Throne, Su Liang is Ennobled

The ninth year of Wude of the Great Tang.

The fourth day of the sixth month, Changancheng.

Beneath the Profound Martial Gate, there was a scene of carnage.

Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and Prince of Qi Li Yuanji both met their deaths.

At this moment.

Inside the Sweet Dew Hall of the Taiji Palace.

The Son of Heaven of the Great Tang, Li Yuan, looked at the court officials who were being held under house arrest.

It was not until a long while later.

That Li Yuan slowly regained his senses, his eyes deep and his aged face full of the weariness of time.

His sharp gaze.

Stared fixedly at the blood-stained Prince of Qin, Li Er.

Knowing that the situation was lost, he sighed helplessly...

"Transmit my imperial decree!"

"Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and Prince of Qi Li Yuanji intended to rebel and have now been executed by the Prince of Qin!"

"Depose Crown Prince Li Jiancheng and install the Prince of Qin, Li Shimin, as the Crown Prince of our Great Tang!"

"As for how to deal with the remaining rebels, let His Highness the Crown Prince handle it with full authority..."

Li Yuan said this in a listless voice.

He then slowly turned around and walked step by step toward the inner chambers of the Sweet Dew Hall.

Walking toward his own sleeping quarters, and at the same time, retreating behind the scenes.

From now on, he would simply live out his days as a carefree Retired Emperor.

A moment later.

Li Er slightly regained his composure.

He lifted his head slightly, watching the figure of his Imperial Father as it gradually moved away.

That aged, slightly stooped back appeared all the more lonely!

Li Er could not help but clench his fists slightly, thinking to himself.

"Imperial Father, you are already old; just retire in peace. I will surely become a wise and sagacious monarch whose name will be remembered for eternity."

"I will let the people of the Great Tang live and work in peace, create a golden age for the Great Tang, and make all nations come to pay homage!"

The next morning.

Inside the council hall of the Prince of Qin's mansion.

Every staff member of the Prince of Qin's mansion present.

Had bloodstains on their bodies to varying degrees.

Especially Yuchi Jingde, Cheng Yaojin, and the others.

Seeing all this, Li Er could not help but sigh.

He then stepped back a few paces.

And bowed deeply to everyone present, cupping his hands in a slight salute.

"That we have succeeded today is entirely due to the planning of you all."

"When I ascend the throne as Emperor in the future, I will never fail any of you!"

At this moment, Li Er's eyes were full of sincerity, and his expression was exceptionally solemn.

Looking at the blood-covered crowd, there was a hint of emotion in those sincere eyes.

"Transmit my orders!"

"Hou Junji, arrest the remaining rebels of the hidden Crown Prince, and remember to pacify the hearts of the people!"

"Cheng Yaojin, follow the Imperial Father's decree to transmit orders to the city barracks to prevent riots!"

"Qin Qiong, take the military tally to take command of the thirty thousand troops outside the city to prepare for any remaining rebels who might commit treason!"

The crowd received their orders and left one after another.

Only by doing these things could he completely control Changancheng!

"Your Highness!"

"I have already ordered the Eastern Palace and the Prince of Qi's mansion to be completely surrounded!"

"All the family members of the former Crown Prince and the Prince of Qi are inside; not a single one has escaped!"

Yuchi Jingde said, cupping his hands.

He looked at Li Er, who had become the Crown Prince, with a face full of smiles.

"I wonder how Your Highness the Crown Prince intends to deal with them?"

Zhangsun Wuji, who was standing to the side, suddenly spoke up.

"If we execute them all, I fear it will cause a backlash from the forces of the former Crown Prince and the Prince of Qi."

Upon hearing this, Li Er's eyes sharpened!

Li Er was naturally very clear about what his brother-in-law had said, and for a moment, he found it difficult to decide.

Regarding what his brother-in-law said, Li Er was naturally very clear in his heart, yet he found it difficult to make a decision for the moment.

South of Changancheng, outside the Mingde Gate.

A youth of fifteen or sixteen years old, in fine clothes and on a spirited horse, entered Changancheng.

This youth was as beautiful as jade, with sword-like brows and star-like eyes, peerless and refined, with an innate air of pride; one could only wonder how many young maidens would be charmed by such a noble young master.

The youth's lips curled slightly, and he smiled, thinking to himself: "Li Er, oh Li Er, you owe me another massive favor!"

Outside the Prince of Qin's mansion.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness the Crown Prince..."

A guard outside the gate came to report in a hurry.

"Presumptuous! What matter could cause such panic!"

Zhangsun Wuji, standing to the side, said angrily.

"Reporting to Your Highness the Crown Prince, there is a young master outside the mansion who says he has a matter he wishes to discuss with Your Highness."

"That young master says he can resolve the knot in Your Highness's heart regarding the killing of your brothers and the forcing of the palace coup!" the guard said, trembling.

A while later, a youth entered, peerlessly handsome and ethereal.

"You are Li Er?" the youth asked indifferently, raising an eyebrow slightly.

The entire hall was shocked, and there was dead silence!

"Presumptuous! You bold commoner, how dare you address His Highness the Crown Prince like that!"

Cheng Yaojin scolded angrily.

"It is fine, let him explain in detail."

Li Er also wanted to hear what this youth had to say.

"The former Crown Prince and the Prince of Qi plotted to kill their brother and force a coup; what does that have to do with Your Highness the Crown Prince?"

Before anyone could ask, the youth continued.

"I, Su Liang, a commoner, saved a man three days ago fifty miles south of Changancheng; this man is a personal guard of the former Crown Prince."

"He was being besieged by a group of men in black when I happened to pass by."

"Upon questioning, I learned the truth about the former Crown Prince and the Prince of Qin's conflict."

"Five days ago, the Prince of Qin attended a banquet at the invitation of the Crown Prince and accidentally drank poisoned wine; General Yuchi fought his way out of the Eastern Palace."

"Three days ago, the former Crown Prince brutally murdered the Prince of Zhao, Li Yuanba, of the Western Mansion..."

"Presumptuous! You commoners are spouting nonsense; my third brother passed away nine years ago."

Before Su Liang could finish, Li Er roared.

"I have both human and material evidence, so why would I deceive Your Highness the Crown Prince? The Prince of Zhao is currently buried thirty miles southeast of Changancheng."

"Because of his severe injuries, that guard could not walk and has been placed by me in Room Number One of the Heaven Wing at the Tongfu Inn."

Su Liang said indifferently.

In an instant, the entire hall was shocked, silent, and one could hear a pin drop!

At this moment, Li Er's heart was surging with waves, unable to calm down for a long time.

A moment later, Li Er spoke.

"Li Junxian, take one hundred Qianniu Guards and go quickly to the Tongfu Inn. Guard that personal guard well; this concerns my third brother. Bring me his head if you fail!"

"Li Junxian, take one hundred Thousand-Ox Guards and go quickly to Tongfu Inn, keep a close watch on that personal guard; this concerns my third younger brother, bring me his head if you fail!"

"Fuji, go call Zhangsun Wugou, and accompany me to welcome my third brother."

"Little brother, I hope you will lead the way."

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, please allow me a word with General Li."

Su Liang turned and said to Li Junxian.

"That guard is being accompanied by one of my own guards. General Li can take this item; my guard will know it upon seeing it. Do not clash with him; that guard of mine possesses the strength of ten thousand men!"

"That personal guard is being accompanied by one of my own guards; General Li may take this item, and the guard will know it upon seeing it. Do not clash with him, for my guard possesses the courage of ten thousand men!"

Inside the Liangyi Hall of the Taiji Palace.

"Rebellious son! Rebellious son! Rebellious son!"

"Rebellious son! Rebellious son! Rebellious son!"

"They deserve to die! Well killed! Well killed!"

Li Yuan looked at the human witnesses and physical evidence before him, cursing loudly.

Beside him, Li Er’s eyes were already bloodshot, his gaze splitting with rage.

His hands were clenched into tight fists, and the veins on his forehead were bulging.

He wished he could immediately lead his troops to slaughter everyone in the Crown Prince’s residence and the Prince of Qi’s residence!

Zhangsun Wugou was already shedding tears.

She could not help but recall that younger brother from back then.

He would follow behind Li Er and Zhangsun Wugou all day long, trotting happily.

Calling out "Second Brother" and "Second Sister-in-law" with every breath.

"Second Sister-in-law, when will you and Second Brother give birth to a little nephew for me to play with?"

"A little nephew is not for Yuanba to play with."

"It is for you, as his uncle, to protect."

"Fine, fine, fine, then Yuanba will teach my nephew martial arts."

"Whoever dares to bully my nephew, Yuanba will hammer him to death!"

"Second Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, Yuanba is hungry."

"Yuanba wants to eat the flatbread Second Sister-in-law makes."

"Fine, fine, fine, Second Sister-in-law will make some for you right now."

"Hehe, make plenty, I can eat it all!"

A short while later.

The Son of Heaven, Li Yuan, exhaled a breath of stale air and spoke slowly.

"Transmit my imperial decree!"

"The former Crown Prince and the Prince of Qi, having murdered their brother and killed their sibling, forced the palace and usurped the throne; all their descendants are to be executed, and their families exiled three thousand miles."

"The Tang Crown Prince Li Shimin loves the people as his own children, has won the hearts of the people, and deeply resembles my own person; he will surely be able to carry on the great succession. I command him to succeed me, ascend the throne, and become Emperor this very day; I shall move to the Angong tomorrow!"

Truly, emperors have always been fickle; the imperial family is the most heartless of all. Su Liang sighed slightly, thinking to himself.

The ninth year of Wude of the Great Tang, the eighth day of the sixth month.

Li Shimin ascended the throne as Emperor, with the reign title Zhenguan.

Inside the Liangyi Hall of the Taiji Palace, Li Shimin sat upright on the dragon throne.

"Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, is the matter I tasked you with prepared properly?"

"Your Majesty, your humble servant has prepared it properly!"

"Since that is the case, then proclaim the decree!"

"His Majesty has a decree: Since our Great Tang raised troops to found the nation, there has been no lack of ambitious men who have joined our Great Tang and established illustrious military achievements. The current Emperor rewards and punishes clearly; all those who have merit, regardless of size, shall be rewarded."

"Appoint the Lady Zhangsun as Empress, move her to the Lizheng Hall, and grant her authority over the inner palace!"

"Appoint the eldest Imperial Prince Li Chenggan as Crown Prince, and have him take residence in the Eastern Palace!"

"Appoint the third Imperial Prince Li Ke as Prince of Shu, and the fourth Imperial Prince Li Tai as Prince of Wei..."

"Appoint Zhangsun Wuji as Duke of Zhao, Fang Xuanling as Duke of Liang, Du Ru as Duke of Lai..."

"In recognition of Su Liang’s insight into the Xuanwu Gate incident, appoint Su Liang as a Founding County Baron, grant him a fief of three hundred households, reward him with a thousand gold, and bestow upon him a mansion in Wannian County and a thousand mu of fertile land!"

At this moment, Su Liang’s heart was blooming with joy; having both a house and land—hehehe, he never expected Li Er to grant him a title directly.

But thinking about it, it made sense; if this young master hadn't helped Li Er with such a huge favor, Li Er would have only been able to wear the hat of a brother-murdering, throne-usurping tyrant for the rest of his life, leaving a legacy of infamy.

It was fortunate that he wasn't given an official post; he didn't want to attend court.

In the Tang Dynasty, court was held at the hour of the rabbit, which was five to seven in the morning; officials generally had to wake up at the hour of the tiger, three in the morning, to wash and wait outside the hall early.

Only after the court was dismissed could they eat breakfast, and after finishing their duties and leaving work, it was generally around three in the afternoon, which was the hour of the monkey.

There would be lunch and rest time at noon, so it added up to about eight hours of work, similar to now.

As a good youth of the twenty-first century, having finally transmigrated to the Great Tang, wouldn't it be nice to just be a salted fish?

Waking up early was impossible; was the bed not soft enough, were the girls not fragrant enough, or was he unable to raise his spear?

By now, Su Liang had already been transmigrated to the Great Tang for fourteen years and had long since accepted all of this.

The Great Tang in history was disaster-ridden, but fortunately, thanks to this guy Li Er, after decades of effort, he created the Reign of Zhenguan, and the people lived in peace and contentment. From now on, let this prosperous Great Tang be protected by this young master!

Unknowingly, Su Liang’s thoughts returned to the day he first arrived in the Great Tang.

Fourteen years ago...

Thanks to a system called "Heavenly Pride," Su Liang, who had died on a woman’s belly,

transmigrated his soul to the Great Tang to live another life.

The ninth year of Daye, in the Su residence of Jiangning, Jiangnan Circuit.

A unicorn child descended from heaven, named Liang, courtesy name Ziyu.

From that day on, he kept checking in, and the system also bestowed upon him various abilities.

At one year old, he could walk and talk—a natural prodigy, self-taught without a master!

At two years old, he was proficient in all the Four Books and Five Classics and all kinds of books!

At three years old, he was skilled in both literature and martial arts, with ingenious ideas that benefited the world!

At four years old, he reached the level of a grandmaster in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, military strategy, and formations!

At ten years old, he was peerless in medicine and martial arts; with one man and one horse, a flask of wine at his waist, he traveled the world with his sword!

That journey lasted five years...

Su Liang didn't even know how he had gotten through those five years.

It was all because of that pit-father system.

For the first ten years, he stayed at home every day, checking in properly.

Every day he fantasized about various innate divine abilities; he really wanted that kind of "true man" physique...

Thinking about a few years later, hehe...

Suddenly, one day, the system issued a mission: Travel the world, requiring five years.

Accept mission: Reward is a storage ring.

Reject mission: Revoke all rewards.

Mission reward: Three times the strength of the Overlord Xiang Yu!

Su Liang was stunned for a moment.

A storage ring, a storage ring...

Su Liang muttered to himself.

Three times the strength of the Overlord was acceptable; he had already obtained the strength of the Overlord when he was eight.

After some communication, he realized the system wasn't asking him to cultivate immortality.

Although flying on a sword was cool, not everyone wanted to cultivate immortality, where life and death were at stake at every turn.

Otherwise, this Great Tang would be very dangerous; it would be too terrifying!

Three times the strength of the Overlord—after thinking it over, he loved it, he loved it.

The Prince of Zhao of the Western Prefecture, Li Yuanba, was braver than Xiang Yu.

His weapon, the drum-beating golden hammers, weighed four hundred catties each, eight hundred catties for the pair.

It was truly a divine weapon; one could say he killed gods if gods blocked him, and killed Buddhas if Buddhas blocked him.

In the Battle of Siming Mountain, the Prince of Zhao, Li Yuanba, held his drum-beating golden hammers and furiously slaughtered an army of six hundred thousand, killing so many that the one million two hundred thousand troops of the eighteen rebel kings threw away their helmets and armor.

From then on, the many rebel kings never recovered.

Recalling that Xiang Yu could lift a thousand-catty cauldron with one hand, and his weapon was only three hundred catties, three times the strength of the Overlord, tsk tsk...

This was excellent.

At the beginning, Su Liang cursed his luck every day, but seeing the people in the midst of fire and water, he felt relieved.

Fortunately, he had the storage ring; in these five years, Su Liang had also collected quite a few good things...

Not until the last official was rewarded did the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel turn to bow to Li Er.

"My lords, do you have any objections to the rewards?"

"We have no objections, we thank Your Majesty for your great grace!"