Chapter 161: Wang Chong Faces the Emperor! (1/2)

The carriage to the royal palace was extravagant, and the floor was covered with a persian rug colored in gold and red. It was said to be a gift from the Abbasid Caliphate’s royal family to Emperor Taizong.

The walls were also cloaked with a layer of expensive and opulent fabric.

All in all, the interiors were extraordinarily beautiful and comfortable.

Unfortunately, Wang Chong wasn’t in the mood to enjoy it.

While seated in the carriage, Wang Chong’s heart beat furiously.

The Sage Emperor was a legend of the Central Plains! At the same time, he was also the greatest emperor the Central Plains had ever had.

It was in his hands that Great Tang expanded its territories and capable individuals were brought into the royal court, thus ushering in an age of prosperity. The affluence of Great Tang towered over the other states, and countries from all directions visited and paid respect to Great Tang.

It was in his hands that the might of Great Tang was brought into greater heights, perhaps even becoming the strongest it had ever been in history.

At the same time, he was also the one who eventually indulged in alcohol, neglected politics, promoted corrupted officials, and turned away from capable subjects, thus pushing the entire empire into an abyss.

How could such a vast difference occur in the same person? It was as though he was replaced by an entirely different persona.

This was one of the greatest doubts Wang Chong harbored, as well as the unsolvable mystery in everyone’s hearts back then.

In his previous life, Wang Chong was only a profligate scion. He couldn’t even step through the gates to the royal palace, needless to say, meet the emperor.

By the time Wang Chong woke up and strived hard, the Wang Clan had already fallen from grace. He didn’t even have the rights to meet with powerful officials, lest to be said, the emperor.

Eventually, when Wang Chong became the Grand Marshal of the Central Plains…

The noble Sage Emperor of Great Tang had already been reduced to nothing, disappearing into the annals of history.

Throughout his entire life, Wang Chong had been unable to meet the noblest Sage Emperor of Great Tang.

This was one of his greatest regrets!

But upon reincarnation, this was about to change!

This was Wang Chong’s very first time meeting the emperor.

“I wonder why His Majesty would summon me”

Wang Chong felt uneasy. Countless thoughts flashed through his head, and even though he had some guesses of his own, he couldn’t confirm anything at all.

This summon came too abruptly.

Just as Wang Chong’s heart was beating furiously, the carriage suddenly halted. Some voices could be vaguely heard from the outside.

“Hai gonggong, pardon me! …”

“Lord Wang?”

…

It seemed like someone had stopped the carriage. To dare to stop a carriage of the royal court, the other party must be of exceptionally high standing.

“Big uncle!”

Hearing the voice, Wang Chong abruptly sat upright in surprise. One of the voices belonged to the head eunuch, while the other one… was Wang Chong’s big uncle, Wang Gen!

Wang Gen was an influential official of the royal court. He had the rights to participate in politics, and due to the importance of his position, he possessed a high standing. This ‘high standing’ didn’t just apply to the royal court, it gave him a say in the affairs of the royal palace as well.

The duo negotiated in a hushed voice, so Wang Chong only heard the final words of the head eunuch.

“Lord Wang, go on. However, don’t take too long.”

Hua!

As soon as the head eunuch finished his words, the door to the carriage opened. With a grave expression, Big Uncle Wang Gen bent down and dived into the carriage.

“Chong-er, we’re lacking in time, so listen well. You must remember these few things!”

Seated opposite to Wang Chong, Wang Gen was still wearing the robe from the morning assembly. Wang Chong had known his big uncle for a long period of time, but this was the first time he had seen such a grave look on him. It was even graver than the time he learned of Yao Clan’s ploy against his son.

“The regional commanders policy and the utilizing Hu talents policy, which the prime minister had liaised with many officials and Hu generals in the royal court to appeal with His Majesty to pass, has been refuted by your grandfather!”

Wang Gen dove straight into the point, dropping a bomb immediately.

“AH!!”

Wang Chong’s body jolted in shock. It really was about the regional commanders policy! However, what Wang Chong was the most concerned wasn’t this, but his big uncle’s words of ‘refuted by your grandfather’.

Wang Chong didn’t know much about politics, but being in the Wang Clan, he came into contact with such matters fairly often, and over time, he learned a fair bit of it.

The regional commanders policy and utilizing Hu talents policy were proposed by the prime minister. Given that grandfather had refuted it, it meant that the relationship between the Wang Clan and the prime minister would be severed.

Things didn’t just end here. In the Great Tang, grandfather possessed extraordinary standing. He had many students and old subordinates, which gave rise to his immense influence.

Even though he rarely participated in politics, he held great influence over the royal court.

It was unprecedented for him to publicly object to policies like that. Wang Chong knew that the impact of the matter in the royal court wasn’t as simple as big uncle said.

“What is His Majesty’s view on this matter?”

Wang Chong suddenly asked.

“You sure are smart to be able to think of the crux of the matter so swiftly!”