Chapter 25: Please, Master, help me!

Xuanhui had gone, and the distant mountains were shrouded in solemn mist.

The past events here were nothing more than another warm droplet of water.

It is blood, or perhaps something else......

Du Shanü could no longer tell.

She only knew that a ghost‑like voice still echoed faintly——

Why can't the Young Emperor uphold the world?

Why...... cough cough......

In the end, the person chosen by Taizong failed to bring them stability to the world......

Instead, they hoped this 'Chinu' born of a lowly mat could turn back the raging tide and support the collapsing great hall?

Heroes under heaven are like carp crossing the river; even outstanding talents find it hard to move.

How, they hoped this 'Chinu' born of a lowly mat would serve as a bulwark against the flood and raise the banner to sweep away dust?

Who still remembers he is merely a minister?

Who still remembers he is one year younger than the Young Emperor?

Who still remembers......

He needs a Wise Lord more than anyone in the world!

In the dim waiting for dawn, the hatred here wishes it could soar to the heavens.

Du Shanü, scorched by the two rolling hot things in the darkness, felt her soul tremble slightly, and instinctively said:

We need a Wise Lord, but we cannot rely on killing the former lord......

Wrong, wrong.

As soon as these words were spoken, Du Shanü knew things were bad, and she remedied:

I didn't mean that you will definitely rebel.

Having just seen how conflicted the other party was, she realized the source of their turmoil might not be the matter of killing the Young Emperor at all, but......

But you all think I will rebel, don't you?

Du Shanü had her words cut off, her eyes hidden in the night flickered slightly, but she could not speak again.

Yet that shadow, resembling a sneaky ghost under the night sky, only laughed maniacally, seeking Du Shanü's neck in the darkness.

His breath was very cold, carrying a lingering chill; when he exhaled, it always bore a chilling smile:

But you......

Don't you all think I will rebel?

Since Taizong's reign, this minister has lived on the edge of life and death.

Taizong had been ill for a long time; the mother of the Young Emperor, who had long haunted Taizong's dreams, refused to come see him.

The Young Emperor was incapable, unable even to summon her; he could only watch Taizong's decline day by day, doing nothing but weeping in bed.

He pretended a letter from a woman to give Taizong a final thread of life.

But when Taizong saw him, he said, {'Xiao Ai, kill Chinu'} {'This child bears the aspect of a hawk's gaze and wolf's watch.'}

The emperor he considered closest to a Wise Lord gave him the lowly name 'Chinu' and without hesitation sought to take his life.

Taizong thought he would rebel.

After Taizong's death, the Young Emperor's parents entered the capital to resolve the urgent crisis of foreign tribes invading the passes.

But that world‑renowned Imperial Tutor, upon seeing him for the first time, said, {'Xiao Ai, kill Chinu'} {'This minister relies on his talent and indulges in idleness; later he may cause trouble.'}

The Imperial Tutor also thought he would rebel.

The other four ministers who grew up with him from childhood treated him either with fear or resentment......

During the intermission, the five ministers sat opposite each other, vying to test each other's strengths and weaknesses......

Don't they all think he will rebel?

Since they want to kill him, believing he is destined to rebel, why doesn't he rebel, why doesn't he kill?

In the darkness, a cluster of flames suddenly flared up.

A slender, fair hand lit the taper; a handsome, gloomy face emerged from behind, speaking word by word:

But you, don't you also think I will rebel?

I left for one night; upon returning, when we spoke of the Young Emperor and asked you when you would kill him...... I don't believe you had no suspicion then that I was going to leak information.

Du Shanü was once again guessed at her thoughts, and she completely submitted to the chief of ministers who stood above all peers.

She weighed whether to explain a few sentences or to find another way for him......

Fortunately, thanks to that newly lit taper.

In the long night, Du Shanü finally got to see everything around her——

The slender youth propped himself up on his knees, one hand holding the taper, the other pressing his waist and abdomen; bright red blood spurted from the ruptured bindings all over his body, almost covering him entirely.

Yet he seemed utterly unaware of the pain, only giving another cold laugh:

Too bad, you guessed wrong.

Compared to the Young Emperor, I hate those 'parent officials' who pluck feathers from passing geese even more; rather than let the Young Emperor die at their hands, I would rather find another way to kill him.

After all, the Young Emperor is unworthy of the world, and those people are even less worthy.

Du Shanü......

She clearly met his eyes.

His posture was one of submission, his appearance handsome.

Yet his gaze carried an aggressiveness that could not be ignored.

Sinister, crafty, assessing.

Anyone he catches making even a slight mistake will surely rebel against superiors.

Perhaps, Taizong was not wrong, the Imperial Teacher was not wrong, A Chou...

Actually, nobody was wrong.

Ordinary people who encounter such an arrogant and unruly minister, even if they know he could be put to great use, will inevitably be wary of his future accomplishments shaking the throne.

Moreover, this dynasty...

The lord is not a lord, the slave is not a slave.

Yu Yiai is not an ordinary emperor.

Chinu, too, is not a minister of undivided loyalty.

He has his own mind, can think, can argue.

He may even waver, struggle, be conflicted.

Such a character, if not overwhelmed by a ruthless figure like Taizong, would be made to sincerely submit and willingly serve as a minister.

Then, upon discovering his lord is inferior to him, he will inevitably feel unwilling, hate, despise, and one day abandon his lord and leave...

Even to the point of regicide.

Perhaps, it is merely a matter of time.

Back then, Taizong and the Imperial Teacher might not have failed to consider these; perhaps it was simply because there was truly no one usable.

Perhaps, moreover, under their firm belief in this 'will surely rebel' rhetoric spoken to his face, this destined rebel minister will mix in this unwillingness, rebelling a little later.

After all, Chinu's body has two hundred and six bones, and perhaps two hundred and five of them are rebellious bones.

Advise him not to rebel, and he will surely rebel.

Say he will surely rebel, and he...

He also followed the Young Emperor from north to south, wandering all the way here.

This, is not a rebel minister.

Just as, after Taizong's death, the world has already divided into the Northern and Southern Dynasties.

The ministers left by Taizong for the Young Emperor are also not utterly loyal, sacrificing liver and brains.

This is one who stumbles forward and backward, wavering, a 【Front-and-back Minister】.

Just——

The ages have never held onto the Northern and Southern Dynasties; how could this era tolerate a Front-and-back Minister?

Du Shanü let out a soft sigh in her heart and asked:

"If I kowtow to you a few times, you can treat the Young Emperor as dead and come assist me, okay?"

This sound was not loud, yet it was louder than thunder, startling the ground full of resentment.

The light and shadow on the tinderbox flickered, and on that pale face filled with hatred and unwillingness, the expression suddenly froze.

Du Shanü hesitated not, placed the crossbow mechanism on the open ground before her, knelt upright and gave Chinu a resounding kowtow, then asked again:

"Never mind the Young Emperor, defect to my side and come assist me, okay?"

No one answered her; she bowed her head in kowtow, and could not see Chinu's expression at all.

Du Shanü noticed nothing, yet was not discouraged, and only solemnly said:

"I have said before, I will not merely be a cooling ointment for a lifetime; I also have confidence and courage, daring to contend with the sun and moon—"

"Before there is a water wheel, here there is also a primordial war crossbow; even your sir's martial prowess would be wounded by this crossbow, so you should know my abilities all the more."

"Now the north and south are divided, the false dynasty merely adds taxes, already showing the signs of a chaotic age; I truly cannot bear it!"

"I beg you, sir, to assist me, to help drive out the foreign tribes and sweep clean the Nine Provinces and the universe."

"If I cannot achieve anything in the future, sir, just kill me, seek another wise lord, and I will have no complaints!"

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