Chapter 181: Chapter 160: Three Strikes to the Emperor

When the young emperor said such words, the court officials couldn’t help but focus on Du Chengfeng.

Regarding Du Chengfeng, they could only gather general information, like his origins in Jibei, his rebellion in Yizhou, the scandal involving the Prime Minister’s Mansion, and some recent intelligence—yet they had never met Du Chengfeng and knew nothing about his character and behavior.

But they knew that the young emperor had specifically sent someone to Yizhou.

The emperor sent his most trusted eunuch to Yizhou, willing to grant a seat to a madman who stormed the palace, and when some of the elder ministers were about to walk away in anger, the emperor actually said to a rebel, "I am counting on you."

This was hard not to overthink, anyone would overthink.

Especially since the usurper fake emperor Jia Wen was also killed by this person.

Could it be that this person was the emperor’s hidden card, raised outside and long lurking?

Thinking of this, many court officials were already trembling, as they were once supporters of Jia Wen, and the remaining officials didn’t look well either, because they hadn’t opposed Jia Wen’s actions—or it could be said that Jia Wen’s actions had never been opposed, as the Prime Minister was truly all-powerful at the time.

But where is the all-powerful Jia Wen now?

Even after sitting on the dragon throne, Jia Wen was still assassinated in the palace.

The entire process was not much different from killing a chicken.

Although a large part of the reason was that Jia Wen had just ascended to the throne and had not fully taken over the palace’s defenses, even as Prime Minister, Jia Wen had gathered many martial experts over the years, some of whom had reached the level where Evil Qi could be projected outside; even the former Grand General Wang Tong drank his hatred in the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

Yet even those martial experts with projected Evil Qi couldn’t save Jia Wen’s life.

"Hiss..."

At this moment, the way those elder ministers looked at the young emperor changed once again.

Indeed, they finally remembered that this Great Chen was ultimately established by martial force!

Indeed, the Prime Minister Jia Wen once had his moment of glory, but no matter how powerful he was, in the end, he was just an ordinary person.

At least in the face of this absolute martial might, even the experts Jia Wen gathered were just ordinary people.

So-called political strategy is ultimately just transient.

Only this absolute martial might is everything.

"...wait."

Some elder ministers suddenly felt something was not quite right.

This man named Du Chengfeng did indeed show extremely strong martial prowess, but this power was ultimately Du Chengfeng’s, not the emperor’s own—facing such an indomitably powerful being, what method did their emperor use to subdue him?

Soon, they got the answer.

All because Du Chengfeng drew a sword from his bosom.

"This..."

Seeing Du Chengfeng dismount and walk towards the emperor with the bladeless, strange sword, some elder ministers were already chilled to the bone.

They suddenly realized that things might not be as simple as they thought.

Is there a possibility that their emperor didn’t manage to subdue this formidable general at all?

"So why do you think just because you say it, I have to do it?"

Holding the Bladeless Sword in his hand, Du Chengfeng looked up and down at the young emperor before him.

Hmm, he doesn’t seem old, just a bit weak, can’t even fill his dragon robe, looking more like a large monkey.

"Were you teaching me to do things just now?"

"Beloved minister, what does this mean?"

The young emperor’s voice trembled as the massive shadow completely enveloped him.

"Beloved minister, what is it you want? As long as I have it, you can have it..."

"I want you to try this."

Saying this, Du Chengfeng swung the Rectangular Sword and struck the young emperor on the head with one blow.

The civil and military officials couldn’t bear to look, some even closed their eyes—yet even with their eyes closed, they could hear the "thud" sound.

But after that thud sound, nothing happened.

No expected brain matter splattered, no blood flowing; the young emperor still stood there, completely intact, just in an ungainly pose with his hands covering his head.

"...Hmm?"

This time, not only the officials in the court but even Du Chengfeng was stunned.

You must know he hadn’t held back at all, plus the Rectangular Sword was prone to shattering effects, a direct hit would blast even those with projected Evil Qi, turning them into a headless corpse.

But now, this young emperor not only didn’t die, he stood perfectly fine in front of him.

Though the emperor was clutching his head in pain, peeking through his fingers revealed he hadn’t even bled.

"You this..."

Du Chengfeng was momentarily speechless.

Even with his vast knowledge and experience, he’d never seen such a scene—flesh and blood resisting weapons, how could such nonsense possibly be true?

Thinking this, Du Chengfeng, not believing it, swung two more swords up.

Two clanging sword hits on the head, yet the young emperor was still unharmed.

Instead, the displeasure among the court officials eased.

They were startled, thinking they were about to witness a tragic scene of regicide in the hall, who’d have thought the emperor emerged unscathed—some elder ministers already guessed the reason, recognizing the uniqueness of that Bladeless Strange Sword, many had impressions of this sword.

After all, many of them, in their youth, had been struck by this strange sword.

Ruan Shantao’s Sword of Righteousness, they could remember this weapon for a lifetime, but precisely because of this, they knew it was a bladeless, non-killing sword.

Using a non-killing sword to hack at the emperor was naturally not regicide, compared to a palace bloodbath, it was more like a warning.

"Ah, so it’s him..."

After some whispers, many court officials remembered that stiff, upright old man from years ago.

That old man, though harsh and unyielding, spared no effort in recommending talents, even among these officials now, some had benefited from Ruan Shantao’s kindness, seeing that familiar sword now, how could they not feel nostalgic?

"No wonder this person came back at a critical time to set things right; it turns out he has ties with former Minister Ruan!"

Some officials felt that they had already guessed the truth, their view of Du Chengfeng becoming much kinder.

A rebel, no one knows what he might do, but someone with significant ties to old Ruan puts everyone much at ease—after all, old Ruan was always a reasonable person, and since Du Chengfeng could hold old Ruan’s sword, he must be an upright person.

Only Du Chengfeng, looking at the Rectangular Sword in his hand, frowned.