C131. AR in 20 Seconds.
Chu Hechao's physical resilience was stronger than the average person's, and fortunately, the rain did not cause his wound to become infected. Several days later, his wound began to itch, indicating that it was healing, much to Yuan Li's relief.
During Chu Hechao's recovery, Yuan Li did not neglect his duties. He discreetly found ways to provoke trouble for the Prince of Chen.
Additionally, Yuan Li spent half a day with the emperor in the palace every day. This had already made the emperor extremely fond of him within a few days.
This undoubtedly sent a message to the Prince of Chen: Yuan Li also wanted to take the emperor back to Youzhou, but the emperor had not agreed.
While there was no agreement, prolonged exposure to Yuan Li might eventually sway the emperor. The Prince of Chen did not want to delay any longer but needed Yuan Li and Chu Hechao to allow the emperor to leave.
However, the current situation with the Youzhou troops stationed in Luoyang indicated they had no intention of leaving.
Meanwhile, other vassals, like Lu He and others, had already received rewards from the emperor and left early.
The Prince of Chen sensed trouble. If the eighty thousand Youzhou troops in Luoyang blocked their path to bring the emperor back to Yangzhou, it would only lead to a deadlock where both sides would lose. Furthermore, Yuan Li's increasingly provocative behavior was causing concern for the Prince of Chen.
Upon learning of Chu Hechao's arrival in the capital, Prince Chen suddenly understood.
No wonder Yuan Lejun had become increasingly arrogant—it turned out that Chu Hechao's return had boosted his confidence. After some contemplation, Prince Chen sent someone to invite Chu Hechao and Yuan Li to the palace for a feast.
Prince Chen saw the situation clearly.
Wu Shanshi had acted recklessly accepting Li Li's bribe, and now he was not to be feared. The only ones who could contend with Prince Chen were Chu Hechao and Yuan Li.
Prince Chen's only advantage was the emperor's favor, and rather than risking mutual destruction or having the emperor swayed by Yuan Li, it would be better to act decisively, negotiate with Youzhou early, and offer some wealth and provisions to make Yuan Li and Chu Hechao step back.
Prince Chen believed that Yuan Li and Chu Hechao were not fools, and Yuan Li's recent provocations likely hinted at a desire to push Prince Chen into a corner.
Upon receiving the message from Prince Chen, Yuan Li raised his eyebrows and calmly said, "Luoyang is currently under construction, and the people are struggling to make ends meet and have enough to eat. Does Prince Chen really have the mood to entertain guests at this time? Even if he does, we are not interested in being involved. If Prince Chen has any business with us, he might as well speak openly."
Prince Chen's attendant had a bad feeling from the first sentence Yuan Li spoke and wiped the sweat from his forehead as he relayed the message back to King Chen with a troubled expression.
Upon hearing the message, Prince Chen burst into laughter. "Exactly. Yuan Lejun's intention is clearly to get some money out of me."
Chen Xi asked, puzzled, "How did Father figure that out?"
"When he acted so confrontational with me before, now at the mention of the feast, all he talks about is provisions. Instead of kicking us out, he even says 'speak freely.' That's just his way of saying we don't need the feast. If he wants to leave with the emperor, we just need to give them enough to clear the path," Prince Chen explained, stroking his beard. "I trust Yuan Lejun is smart. If he doesn't want to end up with both sides losing, he will only make demands within my limits."
The following day, as Prince Chen prepared to send someone to the Prince of Chu's residence again, he learned that Chu Hechao, Yuan Li, and others had taken Li Li to pay respects to their parents.
*
Outside Luoyang City.
Yuan Li and Chu Hechao found the burial site of the Prince of Chu and his wife.
Chu Hechao was bundled up, his face slightly pale, but his expression was stern, posture straight, exuding an aura of invincibility.
Although his injuries had not fully healed, he had to come out and make an appearance in front of everyone.
With Li Li kneeling before the grave, Chu Hechao pressed down on him, his foot on Li Li's back, exerting a weight that made it impossible for Li Li to struggle, his head forced to the ground.
Li Li has been imprisoned for these days, living a life worse than a pig or a dog. He had thought that his attack would result in Chu Hechao's death, but to his surprise, a few days passed and Chu Hechao seemed completely unaffected. Li Li was both incredulous and filled with resentment and sorrow.
He understood the principle of "might makes right". Li Li didn't want to beg for mercy from his enemies, so he shouted loudly, "Chu Hechao, if you have the guts, just kill me with one stroke! Rest assured, if I become a ghost after death, I will haunt you day and night, and you will never find peace!"
Chu Hechao remained calm, waiting for Yuan Li to finish paying his respects to the Prince and Consort.
Li Li laughed heartily, continuously trying to provoke Chu Hechao, "Why were your parents caught in a dilemma between me and the eunuchs of the royal palace? It's all because of your ruthless actions. If you hadn't treated the eunuchs of the royal palace so harshly at your brother's funeral, how could they have sabotaged your army supplies and threatened your parents out of fear of retaliation from you? Chu Hechao, oh Chu Hechao, you truly are an ill-fated star, as your parents' deaths were caused by no one but yourself!"
Yuan Li's expression suddenly changed, and he grabbed Li Li's neck, his demeanor dark and terrifying, "You're talking nonsense even in the face of death."
He exerted all his strength, almost crushing Li Li's bones. Li Li's face turned red, then pale, his eyes rolling back as if he was about to show a relieved smile.
But at the last moment, Yuan Li let him go. Li Li coughed violently several times, as if his lungs were about to come out.
Yuan Li coldly gazed at Li Li, his eyes as if seeing a dead man, even smiling slightly, "Do you really think you can die so easily? Rest assured, we won't let you have your way."
Li Li looked grim, his voice hoarse from being choked, "I advise you to just kill me quickly. Chu Hechao, do you feel guilty for your parents' deaths? If it weren't for your..."
Before Li Li could finish, Yuan Li's expression turned completely cold, his fist clenched tightly. Chu Hechao, however, remained unfazed, turning to Yuan Li, "It's alright, let's see what nonsense he can spew out."
Li Li's words were cutting, "If you hadn't insisted on joining the military in the borderlands, your family wouldn't have met this fate! If you weren't a renowned and powerful general, how could the late emperor have guarded against Chu Mingfeng? If it weren't for guarding against Chu Mingfeng, how could the eunuchs of the royal palace have caused harm? If your brother hadn't died, how could your parents have ended up like this— it wasn't because of me or the eunuchs of the royal palace, it was clearly you who forced your parents to their deaths, you who forced your brother Chu Mingfeng to his death—hahaha, Chu Hechao, it was you who killed them!"
Chu Hechao stepped on him, unmoving.
Breathing calmly, slowly, as if hearing the sound of his breath.
Li Li's laughter pierced his thoughts, and as he listened, Chu Hechao couldn't help but smile, "Li Li, you truly know how to twist the truth. Whether good or bad, you've said it all. If I don't use you as a sacrificial offering to my parents, I can't justify it either."
With that, he suppressed his smile, "Bring the knife."
Yang Zhongfa handed over the newly sharpened large knife.
Li Li waited calmly for death, but Chu Hechao did not attack his neck. Instead, he kicked Li Li to the edge of the grave.
Li Li rolled over, then Chu Hechao caught up and stomped on his abdomen. Chu Hechao lifted the knife and waved it a few times, causing Li Li's hands and feet to throb with pain. Blood oozed from four wounds, soaking the grave.
"If you want to die," Chu Hechao looked down at Li Li, saying faintly, "then die by bleeding."
Dying by bleeding is a painful and desperate way to die. In this process, one remains conscious, watching blood drain from their body, witnessing life fading away until consciousness becomes blurred.
The feeling of watching oneself die bit by bit often leads to a breakdown. Li Li's face changed drastically, cursing Chu Hechao in agony, wishing Chu Hechao would end his suffering with one strike. But even until his death, Chu Hechao didn't make a move.
The blood was absorbed by the soil.
Chu Hechao released the lifeless body of Li Li, "Take his corpse and hang it on the walls of Luoyang, let the people vent their anger."
The body was immediately taken away by the soldiers.
The amount of blood from a single person is much more than one would imagine, with most of the grave soaked. Chu Hechao watched quietly, then suddenly lowered his head, "Everyone else, leave."
After they left, Chu Hechao turned to Yuan Li, "Le Jun, stay with me."
Yuan Li agreed, "Okay."
As they stood outside, Chu Hechao continued to look at the red soil and sand, suddenly asking, "Am I disturbing their peace by doing this?"
Yuan Li felt a pang in his heart, shaking his head immediately, "How could that be? If the Prince and Consort could see you avenging them, they would be very happy."
Chu Hechao shook his head, "They never liked me killing."
He sighed softly, "They always thought I had too much blood on my hands. If they knew I had dirtied their graves with Li Li's blood even in death, they wouldn't rest peacefully."
Yuan Li wanted to speak but couldn't find the words.
Chu Hechao smiled casually, though it lacked warmth, "But if I don't kill Li Li at their graves, I will never find peace. Let me bear this burden of being a filial imposter, hoping if they are reincarnated, they won't have to endure another child like me."
With that, Chu Hechao planted the big knife in the ground, grasped the hilt, and slowly knelt down, bowing his head to the grave.
He had to take it slow, mindful of the wounds on his waist and abdomen.
Yuan Li, hearing Chu Hechao's words, knew that Chu Hechao had taken Li Li's cutting words to heart.
Those chilling words were like cold arrows and swords, repeatedly wounding Chu Hechao's already scarred heart.
The deaths of the Prince and Consort, and Chu Mingfeng, all lay heavily on Chu Hechao's shoulders, piercing deeper with Li Li's death.
Yuan Li clenched his lips tightly, a mix of heartache and anger. Suddenly, he remembered the reward the system had given him: a one-minute AR special effect.
He paused.
Could the one-minute special effect time be split?
Could the content of the special effect be determined by Yuan Li himself?
He tentatively asked, "System, I want to use the AR special effect."
The system responded promptly this time.
[Emperor Development System activated.]
[Please answer the following two questions.]
[One: duration of the special effect; Two: content of the special effect.]
Yuan Li immediately replied, "Twenty seconds to recreate the images of Prince Chu and Consort, is that acceptable?"
Afraid the system might not agree, Yuan Li added, "I am not wasting the reward but rather testing the effect of this AR special effect. Will only I be able to see it, or will everyone? How realistic will it be, and how broad will the scope be? I must conduct a trial in advance. If I don't have specific data, it will be too late when the AR special effect is needed. This is a justifiable situation, and you cannot refuse."
Yuan Li was not making excuses; he was stating the facts.
He needed to test the reward the system gave in advance to have certainty. This was an essential step that could not be skipped.
The system was indifferent to his lengthy explanation. As soon as he finished speaking, it coldly responded, "Twenty-second AR special effect initiated."