Indestructible God King - Chapter 132.1
Chapter 132.1 Thousand Elderly Feast (1/2)
Qing Capital—inside a courtyard!
Mahjong tiles were clattering.
Zhu Yan stood inside the courtyard with a twitching face.
He muttered to himself in frustration, “What is this? You guys saw my ancestral uncle’s token, and yet you choose to ignore me? You asked me not to run around and be careful… That’s all? What are all of you guys doing? My ancestral uncle sent you here to watch over the Qing Capital, but the only thing you’re doing is play Mahjong! Can you do something more meaningful? Damn it!”
Zhu Yan was very careful when he arrived in the Qing Capital, fearing that the righteous disciples would have their eyes on him. That’s why he sought the demonic disciples first so they would protect him. Alas, they were too obsessed with Mahjong so they refused to help him. Zhu Yan eventually had to go out alone.
He shook his head. I took Zi Bufan’s benefits, and now I have to run errands for her, sigh! What’s the use of convincing my ex-officials to submit to her ancestral nephew? These officials are useless now; they have no authority. It wouldn’t do any good even if they do decide to support me!
He felt that such an endeavor was futile, but Zhu Yan still went and visited one of his ex-officials.
His only concern was that soldiers patrolled the streets frequently, all because of the current state of war; he didn’t want to expose his identity. I’ll be a goner if the righteous disciples find out that I’m here!
He wrapped himself in a black robe and scurried around the city until he finally reached an official’s residence.
Vice-minister of Revenue? Old man! You were truly loyal, and did many dirty jobs for me in the past. Your power may have been stripped off, but you have many sons and nephews working as officials; I’m sure you have control over armies and resources outside the Qing Capital. Your family and relatives will also benefit if you agree to help Zi Bufan’s ancestral nephew. That’s right, I shall start with you! Zhu Yan’s eyes glistened with determination.
Zhu Yan then leaped over the walls and entered the residence’s courtyard.
He expected the atmosphere of the former Vice-minister of Revenue’s home to be bleak and grieving, but he realized that it was quite busy and lively.
“Quick, quick! The great general is going to recover our master’s position. Bring our master’s official robe! Quick!”
“Prepare the horse! Quick! Our master is heading to the palace! He’s about to claim his official position once again!”
……………………
………………
The people in the courtyard were all cheering; Zhu Yan was dumbfounded by what he saw.
“Impossible!” Zhu Yan muttered, perplexed, “The great general and the Vice-minister of Revenue were on very bad terms back then! How is it possible that he’s about to reinstate him as Vice-minister of Revenue?”
He silently infiltrated the residence and found the Vice-minister of Revenue, a gray-haired old man.
The servants were visibly elated, but the old man still looked calm and composed. His helpers were in the process of cladding him with the official robe.
“Vice-minister of Revenue!” Zhu Yan said.
The old man raised his eyebrow and looked back in shock, noticing a man in a black robe standing by the door.
“Who’s that? How dare you trespass into my residence!”
“Guards! Assassin!”
……………………
…………
……
“Shut up!” the old man shouted.
“Master?” All the servants looked at their master in confusion.
The old man simply ordered, “All of you, get out! Guard around the house and prevent anyone from approaching!”
“Ahh? Understood!” The servants left.
Zhu Yan walked into the main hall and sat in the head armchair.
The old man greeted him respectfully, “Greetings, my emperor!”
“Vice-minister of Revenue… What happened to you? I left the Qing Capital for less than a year, you swore fealty to them already?” Zhu Yan mocked.
The old man replied with a bitter smile, “My emperor, why did you choose to become a demon! Your father bestowed a great mercy upon me when he was the emperor, and I swore to faithfully serve the Great Qing Empire. But now, it’s just… My emperor, why did you become a demon!”
“Enough talk! Answer me, are you going to serve that bast*rd Great General?” Zhu Yan asked with a strict face.
The old man shook his head and said, “Although the Great General occupied the capital after you left, he stabilized the situation and prevented chaos from descending! He did right by the common folk! He didn’t go after old officials like us, either! I’m a person of the Great Qing while I draw breath, and I’ll be a ghost of the Great Qing if I die! I stand loyal to the Great Qing! I didn’t swear loyalty to the person!”
“You’re not loyal to him? Humph, that’s good!” Zhu Yan said.
“Still, I’m not sure about the others. My emperor, are you aware that the Great General is surnamed Wang?” the old man asked.
“Of course I do! I’m the one who nurtured him; how would I not know?” Zhu Yan said.
“No, I mean ‘Wang’! Wang Ke’s ‘Wang!’” the old man emphasized.
Zhu Yan was astonished to hear that. “You mean, the Great General serves Wang Ke? This… Impossible!” he said.
“I didn’t think it was possible, either. But, my emperor, look!” The old man took out an invitation.
“The Thousand Elderly Feast?” Zhu Yan read out loud in shock.
The old man continued explaining, “The Great General is holding a feast in the royal palace. He’s inviting officials like us to attend, including retirees! Look at the signature. Who else could it be other than Wang Ke?” the old man said.
“Wang Ke? Wang Ke! This bast*rd! To think he would appoint a man who worked with me for years! Assh*le!” Zhu Yan raged.
“Some of my servants think that I’m recovering my post, but I don’t think this Thousand Elderly Feast is that simple! They’re not just inviting officials like myself, even old officials you personally dismissed from office are being forced to attend! I don’t know what they’re trying to do!” the old man said helplessly.
“Let me tag along so I can take a look!” Zhu Yan said.
He was full to the brim with hatred for Wang Ke, so he wanted to see if he could find an opportunity to get rid of the latter during the feast!
“Okay!” The old man nodded.
Zhu Yan warned him, “Listen carefully. I hate Wang Ke the most; you must not serve Wang Ke and his clan. I will recommend you to a military clan when the time comes. I can’t be emperor anymore, but I will not allow you to serve Wang Ke!”
The old man gave him a bitter smile before nodding.
Zhu Yan then joined the old fellow in the carriage and headed to the royal palace.
At the Thousand Elderly Feast—
All the old and experienced officials were invited, including many who had already retired. No one knew what the feast’s purpose was, but Wang Ke’s name surprised those seasoned officials.
They still remembered the coup staged by Wang Ke a dozen years prior. Wang Ke’s rebellion turned the entire capital upside down. Lots of people had supported him back then. The Great Qing Empire would have already changed hands if not for the immortal practitioners’ interference.
And now, Wang Ke returned.
Some were hopeful about his comeback, while others behaved disdainfully; many years had passed, and Wang Ke could no longer command their respect as he used to. Many of those seniors were unwilling to attend, but Wang Clan’s army was too forceful; they were unable to decline.
The Thousand Elderly Feast would be held in a massive open square, with tables and food prepared.
The elderly officials arrived; they were ushered to their seats.
The Vice-minister of Revenue was of a higher ranking, so he sat closer to the front. Zhu Yan, wrapped in his black robe, sat and waited next to the old bureaucrat; no one was concerned about who he was.
The elderly officials exchanged pleasantries and sighed bitterly. It was a veritable torment to be locked inside their own residences all that time. Still, they managed to remain composed thanks to the experience accumulated in such a high-ranking position.
This novel is available on Hosted Novel.
Soon, all the invited were there, and soldiers stood to watch on all sides.
Wang Ke ambled to the front, followed by his big cousin-brother and other clan members.
“Wang Ke?” Zhu Yan looked at him with narrowed eyes.
“It’s really Wang Ke? He’s still alive?”
“He really went and turned into an immortal? He looks so young!”
“It’s been a couple of decades, and he still looks the same!”
“What is he trying to do? Is he trying to conquer the world?”
“Ptooey!”
…………………………………
………………
……