Tang Dynasty Demon Suppression Division

Chang'an, in the Dali Temple prison.

A chilly, damp atmosphere filled the air, mixed with the smells of mold and feces.

"Young Master Li, you know the rules; it'll only take the time it takes to drink a cup of tea."

The jailer stopped and glanced sideways, shaking the chain in his hand.

"Yes, thank you, Chief Wang."

Young Li Yuan lowered his head and responded repeatedly, his posture timid.

As he watched the jailer walk away, his hunched back slowly straightened, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

A figure was huddled in the haystack in the corner. Hearing the noise, the figure suddenly raised its head.

Li Yuan looked at him quietly, his eyes filled with an almost cruel indifference.

After just over a month in prison, the once elegant Vice Minister of Revenue, Li Chongwen, had become emaciated, his hair disheveled and matted, and his prison clothes stained with dirt.

Tsk tsk, karma really does come in a satisfying way.

Upon seeing Li Yuan, a light shone in Li Chongwen's cloudy eyes.

"Yuan'er".

He scrambled over, grabbing Li Yuan's arm through the wooden fence. "Have you raised enough money? When can you let your father out?"

Li Yuan squatted down seemingly casually, but just in time avoided his touch. He slowly opened the food box layer by layer.

On top were two flatbreads, in the middle was a small dish of neatly sliced ​​braised mutton, and underneath was a small pot of warmed, cloudy wine.

"Father, don't be in a hurry, have something to eat first."

He handed in the food, his tone indifferent, "My son is trying to figure something out, but the ransom has increased to 30,000 taels, and smoothing things over will require additional planning."

"My child, I am truly powerless to help..."

Li Chongwen's eyes widened suddenly: "What? Thirty thousand taels!"

He was burning with anxiety, and in the dimly lit cell, he didn't even notice the mocking smile on Li Yuan's lips.

"Those old scoundrels, they're really taking advantage of our misfortune!"

Looking at Li Yuan, he seemed to see a last glimmer of hope. "Yuan'er, no matter how difficult it is, we have to find a way. You are my son, you must save your father!"

"But I've borrowed from everywhere..."

Li Yuan curled his lip in mockery. Now you know he's his son?

Hehe~

"My mother was already packing her things yesterday, saying... that she was going to be separated from you, and she also said..."

Li Yuan hesitated, which startled Li Chongwen, whose face changed drastically, and his withered hand gripped his arm tightly.

"What else did she say?"

"My mother said that you have been sentenced to exile in Lingnan to do hard labor building the city wall, and you will be leaving soon..."

Li Yuan admired his face, which had turned pale in an instant, and felt a surge of pleasure.

"Exiled to Lingnan?"

That was a malaria-ridden land; how could he possibly survive? Li Chongwen collapsed to the ground, his face ashen.

"Father, I've already begged Grandfather, but... I'm an unfilial son, I can't save you, I deserve to die, sob sob sob..."

Li Yuan let out two exaggerated, fake groans and covered his face with his sleeve.

Li Chongwen, however, was completely oblivious to the fact that his face flushed red and then turned pale, and intense hatred blazed in his eyes: "Bah! What grandfather? Since that old bastard doesn't care about my life or death, don't blame me for being ruthless."

He gave a sinister smile, gritted his teeth, and carefully looked around before leaning close to Li Yuan's ear.

"Go back to Changning Lane, find the sixth house from the left. The key is under the stone slab in the center of the threshold, under the third floor tile on the north wall of the east wing, there's a hidden compartment..."

Li Yuan's lips curled slightly. Sure enough, this old man wouldn't reveal his last trump card unless he was pushed to the brink.

"There's something yellowish-white inside. Take it quietly, and whatever you do, don't let that wicked woman know..."

"Father, where did you get so much silver?"

"Don't worry about it, just do as I say."

Li Chongwen waved his hand impatiently, "I've prepared a few letters and a list in the secret compartment. Go find Imperial Censor Chen. He and I were classmates, so you'll know the details at a glance."

"Yes, I will certainly do as you say."

After Li Chongwen finished speaking in one breath, his expression softened considerably. He seemed to be in no longer in a hurry and even had the leisure to eat a flatbread.

The biscuits were too dry, and he choked, so he quickly grabbed the wine jug and gulped it down.

"Father, rest assured, I will risk my life to get you out of here. Please take care of yourself and wait for my good news."

Li Yuanliang spoke in a low voice, a mocking smile playing on his lips.

Want to get out? Maybe in your next life!

"Good, good, that's my good boy."

Li Chongwen nodded haphazardly, then repeatedly warned him with concern, "Be extremely careful, and whatever you do, don't let that wicked woman find out..."

"My son understands."

Having gotten what he wanted, Li Yuan was too lazy to continue with the pretense. He lazily packed up the food box, turned around, and left the death row.

Waiting outside the door, jailer Wang Wu forced a dry laugh: "Young Master Li, actually, Lord Li's matter... might not be without a way out, it's just that the money..."

Li Yuan blinked, then feigned surprise and bowed deeply to Wang Wu.

"Really? As long as it can save my father, I'd give up everything I own..."

He looked at Wang Wu with feigned gratitude, "Thank you so much, Boss Wang. I'll go and raise the money right away, even if it means selling our ancestral property, I'll make sure I get it."

Wang Wu was secretly delighted; this纨绔 (wán kù, a spoiled brat) was truly naive, and a smile immediately appeared on his face.

"Young Master Li's noble character will surely move Heaven and bring good fortune," Wang Wu said with a smile, patting him on the shoulder.

Li Yuan thanked him repeatedly before turning to leave. As he turned into a quiet alley, the sorrow on his face vanished instantly, leaving only cold indifference.

He straightened his back and gently dusted off his sleeves, as if to shake off the bad luck that had settled on them.

"Li Chongwen, how does it feel to be betrayed?"

Li Yuan smiled. That's right, the person who anonymously reported Li Chongwen for corruption was none other than his filial son.

He had spent six months meticulously collecting that evidence, bit by bit.

It wasn't until Li Chongwen's father-in-law, a high-ranking official, was locked in a life-or-death struggle with his political enemies that the letter of denunciation was eventually delivered to his political adversaries.

In order to ensure a perfect strike.

"Father? Heh..."

Li Yuan gave a self-deprecating laugh, his voice devoid of any warmth.

He was originally a middle-aged soldier in the 21st century. After a mission, he took a flight back from Malaysia.

As the plane was flying over the Indian Ocean, it was struck by a mysterious object, and the fuselage disintegrated instantly.

At the critical moment, he nimbly leaped out of the plane and plunged into the boundless ocean.

In a daze, it was as if the seawater carried me into an ancient bronze palace that had been silent for thousands of years.

A beam of intense light suddenly pierced my forehead, burning like a brand.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in an unfamiliar place. His body had transformed into that of a young boy, his breath shallow and his bones still undeveloped. Only the iron-blooded years deep in his memory remained as clear as yesterday.

It's been half a year since I transmigrated to this place, and I still feel a bit dazed when I think about it now.

This is a Tang Dynasty that is both real and unreal.

Completely different from the history he knew, it took a bizarre and unpredictable turn after the An Lushan Rebellion.

As the spiritual energy of heaven and earth revived, not only did humankind awaken supernatural powers, but demons and monsters also roamed freely, bringing new power and order.

The imperial court established the Demon Suppression Bureau, which operated in parallel with the existing government system, specifically to deal with various extraordinary events.

Supported by extraordinary power, the Tang Dynasty continued for another four hundred years. Its territory changed several times, but the name of Tang never faded. However, the imperial court and the martial world were completely different.

The original owner of this body, Li Yuan, was an insignificant nobody.

His biological father, Li Chongwen, came from a poor family. He passed the imperial examination through hard work and became a Jinshi. In order to curry favor with the powerful, he abandoned his wife and children and married the daughter of a high-ranking official who had lost her husband.

Li Yuan's mother fell ill from overwork and died in depression, while the original owner of the body wandered around begging and suffering greatly.

Several years later, Li Chongwen and his new wife still had no children, so they brought Li Yuan back to Chang'an.

But what awaited him was abuse from his stepmother, Wang, and indifference from his biological father.

Six months ago, after being disciplined by Mo Ming, Li Yuan fell ill and died quietly.

The current Li Yuan was transported here by an accident, and his soul was reborn in another body.

On the surface, it was a miraculous resurrection of Li Yuan, who had been dead for some time or was just barely clinging to life.

In his previous life, he was a soldier. He quickly realized his situation and became more patient than the original owner. He also learned to flatter and fawn, and to live a life of ignominy, while secretly plotting revenge for the original owner.

After Li Chongwen was imprisoned, his family property was seized. Wang's family, in an effort to protect themselves, rushed to distance themselves from the situation.

Li Yuan had already planned it all out. Li Chongwen knew too much, and since his father-in-law had treated him as a pawn, he would definitely find a way to shut him up.

Today's prison visit serves two purposes: first, to put on an act and pave the way for my future reputation; second, to extract Li Chongwen's last secrets from him.

Having achieved his goal, he didn't linger any longer. After getting his bearings, he quickly headed towards Changning Lane.