170: The truth of that year

"System, what was the truth back then? Did the Li Imperial Family really use living people for Alchemy?"

If so, did Li Shun know?

The reason he trusted Li Shun was because Li Shun had no karmic debt on his Divine Soul, but if the Li ancestors truly used living people for Alchemy, then this karmic debt would inevitably affect their descendants.

Li Shun couldn't escape unscathed.

Even if Li Shun was not favored before his ascension, as long as the Li Bloodline flowed within him, he couldn't be completely unaffected.

It's truly a tangled mess.

"Ding! Retrieving historical archives..."

The System's mechanical voice sounded, "According to residual energy analysis, there are indeed records of living people being used for Alchemy in the Li ancestral tombs, and in Great Yan's history, it happened every six months."

"Every six months, huh? It seems this Li family really can't be washed clean."

"Of all things to eat, they had to choose people."

They truly used up all their good fortune for generations to come.

Lin Chuping muttered to himself, then suddenly remembered something, a sharp glint in his eyes: "System, scan Li Shun's Bloodline!"

"Scan complete. Li Shun, born in the winter month of the thirty-seventh year of Tianqi... Wait!"

The System suddenly raised its volume, "Host, his destiny is problematic!"

Lin Chuping's pupils contracted slightly: "Explain clearly."

"Li Shun is not of the true Li family Bloodline! His destiny shows that his birth father should be... should be the descendant of Prince Zhenbei, who was executed with his entire family back then!"

"Is that true!"

Li Shun not being a Li family member, this unexpected discovery left Lin Chuping stunned yet greatly relieved.

Good, no need to worry about the puppet anymore.

During this time, Li Shun had been doing quite well as Emperor, rising earlier than a rooster, sleeping later than a dog, and working harder than an ox.

It would be a pity to lose such a good puppet.

"System, why was Prince Zhenbei's entire family executed back then?"

"Alchemy."

Li Shun: "..."

It was clear that the Li Imperial Family truly had a special fondness for Alchemy.

"The Li progenitor used Prince Zhenbei's entire family for Alchemy, yet he didn't know that an infant was swapped into the Imperial Family. This is retribution, retribution."

"Probability 99%."

The System analyzed calmly, "This also explains why Li Shun was unfavored since childhood, yet could suddenly be made Crown Prince—the direct Li Bloodline had all died due to karmic backlash."

Lin Chuping sighed, "What a Heavenly Dao Reincarnation..."

* * *

The confrontation between Netherworld Old Ghost and Li Shun continued, and as Netherworld Old Ghost produced more and more evidence, Li Shun seemed to be completely dumbfounded.

Netherworld Old Ghost's ghostly body flickered in the lightning, but he still stared intently at the pale-faced Li Shun.

"What? Does our Your Majesty not believe it? Then open your eyes wide and look carefully!"

He pulled out a yellowed silk scroll from his embrace, densely covered with names and dates.

"On the seventh day of the third month of the fifteenth year of Tianqi, Liujia Village in the Northern Territory, seven boys and seven girls were taken..."

Li Shun staggered backward.

"There's more to come!"

Netherworld Old Ghost, still not satisfied, sneered and took out a memory stone. After activating it, a horrifying scene appeared—in the Alchemy chamber beneath the Imperial Palace, dozens of children were pushed into a blazing Pill Furnace.

"Stop!"

"This isn't real!"

As he watched, Li Shun suddenly spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and collapsed to the ground.

Lin Chuping was astonished.

Was the blow really that great?

Modern people believe in individual responsibility; even if parents commit murder or arson, it doesn't affect their children.

Of course, except for civil service exams.

Moreover, it was an ancestor from generations ago, whom he had never even met!

Lin Chuping didn't understand, but he respected it.

At this moment, Li Shun's hands were trembling as he drew his sword.

"I... I..."

Netherworld Old Ghost laughed sinisterly: "What? Are you going to kill me? Come on!"

"Hehehehehehe, our Your Majesty couldn't possibly be thinking of committing suicide to atone, could he?"

Li Shun's face was ashen, the blade already at his neck.

"If this empire was truly bought with tens of thousands of wronged souls... I... I... would not wish to live in this world."

* * *

Was he serious?

Lin Chuping let out a roar, emerging from hiding to stop him.

"Wait!"

A divine light precisely struck the sword, and the treasured sword broke in two.

Li Shun knelt dejectedly, his eyes vacant: "Lord Chuping, why stop me? I, a man burdened with so many sins, do not deserve to live..."

Two years ago, for some unknown reason, all his imperial brothers died. He was dug out of the cold palace and hastily ascended the throne. Before that, he lived a life worse than pigs and dogs in the cold palace, but he cherished the throne greatly. Every word, every action, he strictly adhered to the rules, fearing any misstep.

Later, he gradually became involved in court affairs and learned that Chancellor Liu was abusing his power. He could only gradually reclaim authority from him.

Diligent and assiduous.

The boldest thing he had done in his life was to lead the common people in relocating the capital alone.

Life had just begun to improve.

He... he truly had no words to face the common people.

Lin Chuping lightly tapped his toes, and auspicious clouds surged forward to Li Shun. With a flick of his sleeve, he enveloped him with immense spiritual power, steadily lifting him up.

"Foolish child."

He flicked his fingertip, and a gentle spiritual force flowed into Li Shun's spiritual platform, re-coalescing his scattered consciousness: "Do you still remember the first article of the 'Great Yan Code'?"

Li Shun looked up blankly, a broken sob escaping his throat.

Tearful, puppy-dog eyes, it was truly enough.

Lin Chuping looked up, gazing at the sky at a 45-degree angle.

"The Code states clearly—'The survival or demise of the imperial lineage shall be guided by the welfare of the myriad people'! Since Your Majesty's ascension, you have built water conservancy projects, reduced taxes, and quelled banditry. Are all these city lights and laughter in the fields mere illusions?"

Netherworld Old Ghost's ghostly fire suddenly flared: "Stop your glib talk! The Li family's sins are monstrous, and this offspring... is not worth regretting his death."

"Shut up! It's not your turn to speak."

Lin Chuping suddenly turned, his voice like a booming bell, shaking Netherworld Old Ghost's ghostly fire several times.

"Does Your Majesty know his true identity? The Li Imperial Family committed monstrous sins, and you—"

He deliberately paused, waiting for the entire audience to hold their breath, then said word by word, "You are fundamentally not of the Li Bloodline! The descendant of Prince Zhenbei is your true identity."

Netherworld Old Ghost's ghostly body twisted violently, letting out a sharp, piercing shriek: "Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!"

Lin Chuping ignored him and looked gently at Li Shun.

A muddled fool who couldn't even get his revenge right, it's best to cash him in quickly later.

Li Shun's pupils suddenly constricted, his body trembling violently.

"Lord Chuping... what you said... is it true?"

The ministers observing the battle had already fallen into chaos.

Some were shocked, some panicked, some were silent, and some were confused.

But no one dared to harbor ulterior motives; with Lord Chuping present, they wouldn't dare seek death.

"Absolutely true!"

Lin Chuping waved his sleeve, and the phantom of Prince Zhenbei appeared in the air.

In the phantom, a general in silver armor held an infant, battling fiercely against the Li family's pursuers amidst roaring flames.

"Back then, Prince Zhenbei was falsely accused of rebellion. In reality, the Li family, in order to refine an elixir of immortality, intended to use his entire family as medicinal ingredients. Loyal subordinates fought to the death to swap you, then an infant in swaddling clothes, into the Imperial Palace, thus preserving Prince Zhenbei's last Bloodline!"