"Unfilial son! You dare defy His Majesty's imperial decree? Come down at once and accept your death!"
A loud, murderous shout echoed in Gao Yang's ears as he groggily woke up, his head pounding.
Defying the imperial decree?
Wasn't he just running a scam, making millions off some foreigners, and then calling a few blonde girls to his hotel to "serve his country"?
Gao Yang instinctively opened his eyes and looked around.
He had somehow ended up on top of a courtyard wall, lying there.
Below him, a quaint courtyard with the fragrance of old-time charm, a group of people were standing, shouting at him to calm down and not act impulsively.
Several maids had their hands up, ready to catch him if he fell.
The middle-aged man at the forefront stood with an imposing aura, glaring at him with eyes full of fury, as if he wanted to eat him alive!
"Unfilial son, I'll give you three breaths to come down and avoid embarrassing yourself!"
Gao Yang's temper flared instantly.
The man looked quite dignified, unshaken in his wrath, but did he really think he was in charge? Calling him an unfilial son like that? Did he take Gao Yang for his father?
As a black-hearted capitalist from the 21st century, feared by many foreigners, could Gao Yang take this kind of insult?
And with the enemy down there and him up here, in a legal society, what was there to fear?
So, Gao Yang shouted back, "Old Bidden, stop spouting nonsense. Who are you calling an unfilial son?"
At this, everyone in the Duke's mansion froze in shock.
"He's gone mad! The eldest young master is definitely out of his mind to speak like that to the master!"
Not far away, a middle-aged woman, graceful and still charming, heard Gao Yang's words and dropped her jade scepter, the sound of it shattering echoing in the air.
She didn't react to the broken scepter but looked on in astonishment.
The middle-aged man, trembling with rage, seemed on the verge of exploding.
"Unfilial son, you dare speak to your father like that?"
Gao Yang blurted out, "You're my father? I'm your father!"
"WHAT?!" The middle-aged man's body shook violently.
His lips turned white with fury, and he yelled, "Someone, bring the ladder and my great sword! It's better to clean up this mess myself than let this unfilial son cause chaos and drag our family down! Then I'll go to the Empress and beg for forgiveness!"
The roar echoed throughout the Duke's mansion.
Several armored servants quickly brought a long ladder and a gleaming sword.
What the hell?!
What was going on?
Gao Yang immediately recognized that this sword was the real deal!
Looking around at the luxurious estate, the ancient, elegant courtyard, his heart sank.
Could it be… he had really traveled through time?
Just as the thought crossed his mind, a sharp pain surged in Gao Yang's head, as if a massive wave of memories flooded in.
The next moment, his eyes widened in shock.
This was bad! He really had traveled through time!
This wasn't a society governed by law; it was the Great Qian Dynasty, a kingdom that had never existed in history!
The middle-aged man before him was his father, Gao Feng, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, a third-rank official!
His grandfather, Gao Tianlong, was a veteran of three reigns and the top military leader of the country.
Through the influx of memories, Gao Yang understood everything.
Two months ago, the Empress Wu Zhao ascended the throne, becoming the first female emperor in the history of the Great Qian Dynasty!
However, the current Great Qian Dynasty was in turmoil, with corrupt ministers in power, local warlords vying for control, and the Huns watching from the north.
The Empress, full of ambition, sought to pacify the chaos and establish a lasting foundation for the Great Qian Dynasty.
A month ago, the Empress issued an imperial decree, calling for talented individuals to help strengthen the country.
She emphasized that only extraordinary individuals could be appointed, regardless of their social status, as long as they had remarkable talents.
But the original owner of this body, the most infamous young master in the capital, had carelessly defied the imperial decree!
This enraged Gao Feng, feeling the family's reputation was at risk.
The imperial decree stated that anyone who dared defy it would be summoned to the imperial palace. Those with real talent would be rewarded, but those seeking fame without merit would receive thirty strikes!
Those who were severely guilty would be punished for treason!
Upon hearing this, Gao Feng had chased Gao Yang around the mansion with a stick.
Gao Yang had scrambled up the courtyard wall to escape.
The Duke's mansion, known for its noble lineage, feared not future generations of indulgent heirs but those who, unaware of their own shortcomings, tried to prove themselves by making a big name for themselves.
Gao Feng saw Gao Yang as this kind of reckless young master.
Clenching his fists, Gao Yang suddenly realized what was happening.
He looked down at Gao Feng, who was holding the sword, the killing intent obvious.
Cold sweat immediately drenched Gao Yang's forehead.
As he pondered how to escape, a shout rang out.
"Gao Feng, how dare you!"
Li Shi, like a mother hen protecting her young, quickly stepped in front of Gao Feng. "Even a tiger won't harm its cubs! If you want to kill my son, you'll have to kill me first."
Li Shi, the eldest daughter of the Li family, one of the five prominent families,
was Gao Yang's birth mother and managed the household affairs of the Duke's mansion.
"You step aside. This unfilial son is out of his mind. If he makes it to the Golden Throne Hall, who knows what trouble he'll cause!" Gao Feng snapped, pointing angrily at Gao Yang. "This son has caused a disaster, climbed up on the courtyard wall, and refuses to bow his head. How can I let him be?"
But in the next moment, Gao Yang quickly scrambled down the wall, tidied his clothes, and respectfully bowed to Gao Feng. "I, Gao Yang, greet Father."
"In fact, when I defied the imperial decree, I was thinking of achieving great things, restoring our Gao family's hundred-year glory. It wasn't an impulsive act."
Gao Feng was speechless.
This unfilial son had bowed so quickly—it almost threw him off.
Gao Feng's expression was cold. "Do you remember when you were seventeen? You wrote a poem about reed flowers, 'One, two, three, four, five, six...' and made the Gao family the laughingstock of Chang'an."
Memories flooded back. That incident had led to both Gao Feng and Gao Tianlong beating him up together. He had been bedridden for a month afterward.
Before Gao Yang could speak, Gao Feng continued, "At eighteen, you wrote a poem about a large stone, making the Gao family the talk of the town once again, a disgrace to the literary world."
"Now, at nineteen, you defy the imperial decree. Do you know what this will do to the Gao family?"
As he spoke, Gao Feng's grip on the sword tightened.
Gao Yang understood that if he didn't come up with a reasonable explanation now, he would surely be beaten.
"At this point, Father, even if you beat me, it won't help."
"The new Empress has just ascended the throne and is desperately seeking talented individuals. I defied the imperial decree, and now I am the target of public scorn in Chang'an. If you stop me, it could be seen as disrespecting the Empress, or worse, it could be considered treason!"
Gao Feng's pupils contracted as he looked at Gao Yang in shock.
Those words had hit a nerve.
The new Empress had just ascended the throne, and it was a time of political instability. The news of Gao Yang defying the imperial decree had likely already reached the palace. If Gao Feng tried to stop him, he would definitely be reported to the authorities.
But this unfilial son—when had he become so sharp-tongued?
Gao Feng was taken aback.
Gao Yang calmly added, "Father, have you heard of the term 'poison strategist'?"
"Poison strategist?" Gao Feng frowned.
"There are three types of strategists: those who plan for themselves, those who plan for others, and those who plan for the world. The one who plans for himself is a poison strategist! A strategist who uses underhanded means damages their moral integrity, and they are also poison strategists."
"In today's world, the north is unstable, and within, corrupt officials plague the country. There are warlords in control of territories, and the barbarians from the north are threatening. Common methods won't work. This is a world for poison strategists!"
Hearing these words, Gao Feng was stunned.
Although he knew his son was trying to bluff, the argument actually had some merit.
Could he be hiding his true potential?
Just as Gao Feng was pondering, a gentle voice came from outside the Gao family estate.
"Uncle Gao, Wan'er has come uninvited and disturbed you."
Gao Yang looked up to see a woman in a dark green gown, her fair skin almost glowing. Her cold eyes were fixed on him, though her expression was indifferent.
It was Song Qingqing, the daughter of Song Li, the Minister of Rites, and his fiancée in name.
Her arrival at this moment made Gao Yang feel a sense of unease.
"There's no need for such formalities in the family, Qingqing. Why so distant?" Gao Feng said with a gentle smile when he saw her.
Song Qingqing raised her chin proudly and coldly replied, "Uncle Gao, I've come to call off the engagement!"