The carriage of the palace was extremely luxurious, and the floor was covered with a golden and red Persian carpet. It was said that during the era of Emperor Taizong, the western Abbasid Caliphate royal family presented it to Emperor Taizong.
The inner walls of the carriage were also covered with an extremely luxurious tapestry.
The entire carriage was beautiful and extremely comfortable.
However, Wang Chong wasn't in the mood to enjoy it.
Seated in the carriage, Wang Chong's heart was in turmoil, unable to calm down for a long time.
Regardless of whether it was his previous life or this life, the current Holy Emperor was a legend of the Central Plains, a myth! At the same time, he was also the greatest emperor in the history of the Central Plains!
It was in his hands that the Tang Empire made great efforts to govern and put good officials in important positions. Thus, the Tang Empire reached its current level of political and military success. It was prosperous and was worshipped by people from all over the world.
The wealth of the entire Tang dynasty allowed it to dominate the world and look down on all the other countries!
It was under his hands that the entire Tang dynasty became the most powerful era in the history of the Central Plains.
However, it was also this person who, in his later years, indulged in wine and women, neglected the affairs of the court, placed treacherous officials in important positions, alienated the capable, and pushed the empire into the abyss of destruction.
It was the same person, but how could he change so much? His earlier and later years were like two different people?
This was the deepest doubt in Wang Chong's heart, as well as an unsolvable riddle in the hearts of the future generations.
In his previous life, Wang Chong was just an ignorant profligate scion. He couldn't even enter the royal palace, needless to say, meet the emperor.
Later on, when Wang Chong came to his senses and worked hard, the Wang Clan had already declined. He didn't even have the qualifications to meet the officials of the royal court, needless to say, the Holy Emperor.
Later on, when Wang Chong finally became the Grand Marshal of the Central Plains …
The greatest Holy Emperor in the history of the Tang dynasty had already turned into smoke, disappearing into the dust of history.
For his entire life, Wang Chong was destined to never meet the greatest Holy Emperor in the history of the Tang dynasty.
This was the deepest regret in Wang Chong's heart!
However, as a person who had lived two lives, everything had changed!
This was the first time Wang Chong had entered the palace to meet the Emperor!
"I wonder why Your Majesty is looking for me?"
Wang Chong felt uneasy. As he sat in the carriage, countless thoughts flashed through his mind. Wang Chong had some vague guesses in his heart, but he could not confirm them.
The summons this time was too sudden.
Just as he was feeling apprehensive, the carriage suddenly stopped. A faint sound came from outside.
"Greetings, Eunuch Hai! … "
"Lord Wang?"
…
It seemed like someone had stopped the carriage. The carriage of the palace was no small matter. This person actually dared to stop the carriage of the palace. His identity was definitely no small matter.
"Uncle!"
After listening for a while, Wang Chong abruptly sat up, greatly surprised. One of the voices belonged to the head eunuch, and the second voice... was Wang Chong's big uncle, Wang Gen!
Wang Gen was an influential official in the royal court, and he had the authority to discuss politics. His position was high, and his standing was extremely high. This' standing 'wasn't just in the royal court. It seemed like big uncle was even able to speak a few words in the royal court.
The two of them spoke with hushed voices, and at the very end, Wang Chong only heard the voice of the head eunuch:
"Lord Wang, hurry up. Remember not to take too long. "
Hua!
Just as the head eunuch spoke. Hua! The carriage door opened, and Big Uncle Wang Gen hurriedly squeezed in with a grave expression.
"Chong-er, time is of the essence, so listen carefully. There are some important points that you must remember well in this trip to the palace! "
Wang Gen sat opposite to Wang Chong, and he hadn't even taken off his morning robe yet. Despite knowing big uncle for so long, this was the first time Wang Chong saw such a grave expression on his face. It was even more formidable than when the Yao Clan schemed against the Wang Clan.
"Lord Prime Minister has already gathered all of the officials and Hu generals in the royal court to request His Majesty to pass the regional commanders system and the policy of utilizing the Hu. However, it has been refuted by your grandfather!"
Wang Gen went straight to the point and threw a heavy blow at Wang Chong.
"Ah!!"
Wang Chong's body jolted in shock. It really was the regional commanders system! However, what Wang Chong was concerned about wasn't this. Instead, he was concerned about big uncle's words, 'refuted by your grandfather'.
Even though Wang Chong didn't know much about politics, as someone who grew up in a clan of ministers and generals, he knew what it meant.
The regional commanders system and the policy of utilizing the Hu were proposed by the current prime minister. Since grandfather refuted this matter, it meant that the Wang Clan was on the verge of falling out with the current prime minister.
Not only so, in the Tang dynasty, grandfather was aloof from worldly affairs. His students and acquaintances were scattered all over the world, and he wielded a unique status.
Even though he rarely participated in the politics of the royal court, he wielded immense influence in the royal court.
This time, he has stood out and publicly opposed the 'regional commanders system' and the 'Hu system'. This is something that has never happened before. Wang Chong was well aware that the impact this matter would have on the Imperial Court was not as simple as his big uncle had said, that it would only be a rebuttal.
"What is His Majesty's stance on this matter?"
Wang Chong suddenly asked.
"You're smart! You managed to think of the crux of the matter so quickly! "
Wang Gen praised. His nephew's intelligence truly left him in awe at how he was able to understand the situation so quickly.
"However, that's where the problem lies. Even though the officials were caught off guard by your grandfather's reaction, causing the royal court to be in chaos during the morning assembly. More importantly, the Holy Emperor didn't express his stance on this matter at all. No one knows what the Holy Emperor is thinking. "
"Ah!"
Wang Chong exclaimed in realization.
"Now, do you know why I was so surprised and anxious when His Majesty summoned you to the royal palace?"
Wang Gen said.
He had only received the news after the morning assembly ended. Just as the court was dismissed, he received news that the head eunuch of the royal palace had arrived at the Wang Family Residence, and he was summoning Wang Chong to the royal palace to meet the emperor.
This news caught him off guard, and he was extremely shocked, as well as deeply uneasy. Almost instinctively, Wang Gen felt a sense of danger.
Entering the palace to meet the emperor was a matter of great importance to any aristocratic family or clan. 'The Son of Heaven doesn't summon anyone for no reason'. It would be fine if the emperor and his subjects did a good job, but if they didn't, it would spell disaster.
In the previous dynasty, it wasn't the first or second time that a clan fell out of favor due to such a matter.
Wang Chong had no experience in this aspect, so Wang Gen couldn't help but worry. Time was of the essence, so Wang Gen could only try to hail a carriage on the road.
"Wang Chong, this matter concerns our entire Wang Clan. Not just you and your father, but me, your big aunt, your little uncle, and everyone else as well," Wang Gen said grimly.
He couldn't tell whether Wang Chong's entry into the royal palace was a blessing or a curse! He could only secretly hope that nothing would go wrong with this matter.
"So, you better listen to me. Once we enter the royal palace, answer whatever His Majesty asks you. Even if you don't know anything, you must say that you don't know anything. Whatever His Majesty doesn't ask, you mustn't say anything. Don't act on your own, don't try to act smart, and don't try to show off your talents! "
After saying those words, Wang Gen stared fixedly at Wang Chong. The atmosphere in the carriage was incredibly heavy.
Wang Chong could sense the worry in his big uncle's heart. Even with his eyes closed, Wang Chong could sense the unease in his heart. 'The summons of the Son of Heaven is no small matter', especially when this matter involved the current Prime Minister, grandfather, and all the civil and military officials in the court, as well as the Han and Wu. More importantly … this matter involved the future fate and lifeline of the Great Tang.
"Big uncle, don't worry. I know what I should do! "
Wang Chong closed his eyes, and after a moment of silence, he spoke. His expression was calm, and it gave people a strong sense of influence.
"It's good that you understand."
Wang Gen was taken aback for a moment before nodding his head. After which, he swiftly explained the details of the meeting with His Majesty. Wang Chong listened attentively to his words.
"Lord Wang, it's time."
A sharp voice sounded from outside the carriage. The head eunuch of the Cloudweave Guards knocked on the wall of the carriage, and a crisp sound echoed.
Wang Gen didn't dare to dally. After giving a few more reminders, he quickly dashed out of the carriage.
Under the escort of a dozen Chamberlains of Imperial Insignia, the carriage headed toward the royal palace.
"I hope that nothing will go wrong with this child!"
Wang Gen looked at the departing back of the carriage worriedly.
…
The royal palace of the Tang dynasty was grand and majestic. The thick walls of the palace, which were several dozen zhang tall, glistened under the sunlight. Sitting in the carriage, Wang Chong parted the curtains, only to see palaces, halls, and patrolling Imperial Army soldiers.
The entire royal palace had a majestic and austere air to it.
Looking at the majestic royal palace, Wang Chong suddenly felt a little dazed. In truth, Wang Chong had been to the royal palace before. Even though all that was left of the palace back then was a pile of rubble and rubble.
Seeing the majestic, majestic, and complete palace before him, Wang Chong couldn't help but feel an indescribable sorrow in his heart.
'Mountains and rivers crumble in the wind, one's life floats in the wind, and the rain hits duckweed' — these were the two lines of a poem that Wang Chong recited back then.
The royal palace was the center of the entire Tang dynasty, as well as the symbol of the unparalleled authority of the entire Central Plains! The fall of the royal palace didn't just represent the fate of a city, it also represented the fate of the entire nation.
"The past is in the past. This is my life. No matter what price I have to pay, I won't allow it to repeat itself."
Wang Chong clenched his fists so tightly that he didn't even realize that his fingernails were digging into his flesh.
"Wang gongzi, the Taiji Hall is right in front. His Majesty, the Holy Emperor, is waiting for you inside. Make sure not to offend the Holy Emperor when you arrive. "
The voice of the head eunuch sounded from outside the carriage.
"Thank you, gongzi. Wang Chong understands."
Recovering from his daze, Wang Chong nodded.
Weng!
After an unknown period of time, without any warning, a bizarre feeling suddenly welled up in his heart. Inexplicably, Wang Chong felt the world around him darken. In an instant, a powerful energy that could shake the world gushed toward him.
This feeling was as if he had suddenly entered another world from one world.
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