Chapter 29: Impossible! Absolutely Impossible!

Boom!

The words spoken by Li Cheng struck like a thunderbolt, detonating instantly within the mind of Zhao Kuangyin! Even though he was a man of great composure, and his dark complexion often masked his inner reactions, he could not hide his emotions at this moment. He had been lounging in his chair, appearing relaxed and indolent, but he now bolted upright, his body tense, like a bow pulled to its limit. Shock, tremors, and disbelief washed over his dark face.

What had he just heard? It was seized by the Prince of Jin, not passed on by his own hand? How... how could that be possible?

The news was too savage, too far beyond expectation. Even Zhao Kuangyin struggled to process it. Could it be that his third brother had ignored his final edict, and even after he had clearly designated Rixin as his successor, dared to stage a coup and seize the throne from him? Or perhaps, had he torn up the imperial decree naming Rixin as the Crown Prince? Did his third brother truly have such audacity? Such capability?

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! My third brother would never do such a thing!" Zhao Kuangyin’s voice rose involuntarily as he retorted. "Furthermore, when I pass the throne to Rixin, I will certainly have made all necessary arrangements before my passing. I would never leave any opportunity for others to usurp the throne! Not even for my third brother!"

As someone who had arrived from a thousand years in the future, Li Cheng seemed to have no secrets kept from him. Coupled with the explosive nature of the news he had just delivered, Zhao Kuangyin’s composure was shattered, leaving him unable to guard his words. He inadvertently revealed some of the darker thoughts buried deep within his heart. Having survived the chaotic era of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, he knew all too well the bloodshed that often surrounded the throne. Yet, it was precisely because of this that he felt certain such a tragedy would not befall his own house. He would learn from the lessons of the past; once he determined his successor, he would pave the way for him and manage every detail, leaving no dangerous loopholes.

His third brother held power, certainly, but not to an outrageous degree. And he, in the future, would surely prune that power as he paved the way for Rixin, ensuring it would never become a threat. How, then, could he seize the throne from Rixin? Moreover, the generals who commanded the armies all answered to him. The Prince of Jin’s power was concentrated in Kaifeng. Zhao Kuangyin would not dare guarantee that his brother had no influence in the military after all these years, but he was certain that even if it existed, it could not be significant. With his explicit decree naming Rixin as the Crown Prince and successor, his third brother could never take the throne from De Zhao.

The emperor is whoever possesses the strongest armies and the most capable soldiers. Without the support of those who commanded the troops, such an act was impossible! This was the source of his confidence as he rebuked Li Cheng.

Li Cheng watched Zhao Kuangyin’s reaction, feeling a measure of satisfaction. Zhao the Elder had finally lost his composure. This time, his reaction matched his expectations. An ordinary man facing Zhao Kuangyin’s sharp gaze and thunderous roar would have long since crumbled, but Li Cheng stood his ground. After all, he had anticipated this reaction before he even spoke. More importantly, he knew that by now, Zhao Kuangyin had accepted that he was a traveler from the future. This was his ultimate immunity, his greatest source of confidence. With such a unique identity, Zhao Kuangyin could not truly harm him for what he had said.

Furthermore, from Zhao Kuangyin’s attitude toward his successor, it was clear that he was absolutely inclined to have his son, Zhao Dezhao, ascend the throne, rather than passing it to his brother, Zhao Guangyi, the "Donkey-Cart War God." Thus, the long-controversial "Covenant of the Golden Chamber" had, for Li Cheng, a definitive answer: this absurd, hole-ridden fabrication was simply a lie concocted by Zhao the Second after he took the throne to deceive the public—a desperate attempt to find legal justification to hide his filthy deeds. And it was not just the Covenant; even the mystery of the "shadows of candles and sounds of an axe" could be corroborated from other angles. The historians who recorded those events had written with masterful, veiled implication.

Throughout the ages, the suspicions of countless people regarding the "shadows of candles and sounds of an axe" had not wronged Zhao the Second. The man was truly insane enough to have committed fratricide.

"Your Majesty, you are wrong again," Li Cheng said, his expression calm as he met Zhao Kuangyin’s piercing gaze. He began to reveal the true face of Zhao Guangyi. "The Prince of Jin is not lacking in audacity; he is truly capable of such a thing. And he did not seize the throne from the Second Prince—he seized it from you, Your Majesty!"

Zhao Kuangyin’s expression shifted, his gaze flickering with momentary confusion. It was not a lack of resolve on his part, but rather that Li Cheng’s words were too unexpected, too inconceivable! For a moment, he wondered if he had misheard. Setting aside Li Cheng’s slander of his third brother’s character, the mere assertion that his brother had not stolen the throne from Rixin, but from him, was utterly unacceptable! It was entirely absurd!

"Stop your babbling, your baseless accusations, your distortion of truth and fabrication of lies!" Zhao Kuangyin gripped the jade axe at his waist, leaning forward, his tiger-like eyes locked onto Li Cheng. Unconcealed killing intent and ferocity surged forth like a tidal wave! He felt like a tiger that had been poked in the rear—completely enraged!

Faced with Zhao Kuangyin in this state, even Li Cheng, despite his mental preparations, was startled by the sheer force of the aura radiating from the man. His breath hitched.

"I am the Emperor! This throne was won by my own blade and spear! The armies of the world follow my command, and the civil officials look to me as their leader. As long as I am here, this realm remains stable; no one can take this empire from my hands! Not to mention whether my third brother has such intent or such courage—even if he did, how could he possibly succeed in taking the empire from me? Speak! What is your motive!!!"