Claiming the Throne of Gods, Starting from the Rebirth of Nezha
Chapter 133: Daji’s Wickedness Creates the Scorpion Torture Pot

Chapter 133: Chapter 133: Daji’s Wickedness Creates the Scorpion Torture Pot

"Young master, you may not know, but in the past two days, the Emperor has posted decrees at the four city gates, ordering the citizens of the capital that each household must offer four snakes. It’s unclear what they’re to be used for."

Lv Zhu’er, standing beside, explained, not noticing that Nezha’s entire body had already stiffened.

Just then, Jiang Shang returned from Qintianjian after work, and there was a citizen asking, "Lord Jiang, do you know why the Great King wants the citizens to offer snakes?"

"Offering snakes? I only saw that decree this morning. Dammit, watching stars at Qintianjian all day long and not getting involved in others’ affairs, how would I know?"

Jiang Ziya flicked his sleeve, pushed open the door, and walked inside.

Only Nezha and the accountant knew why he was angry.

People always want more; when they have no money, they want to make money, when they have money, they want to become officials, and once they’re officials, they want to be officials who can get things done.

Jiang Ziya was just like this. When he was under the seat of Yuanshi Tianzun, he already felt his talents were unrecognized, and even more so when he was driven down the mountain. He always sought opportunities to showcase his talents.

Originally thinking that after becoming an official, he could make a significant impact, only to find himself watching stars all day long, dammit.

When drinking with the accountant, he would often say, His Majesty should have that General of Sanshan Pass removed, replace him with me, and the war would have been settled long ago.

Each time at this point, the accountant opposite would always snort dismissively, saying that the Nanbo Hou was also useless, and if it were him, taking Sanshan Pass would be a matter of time.

Seeing that Jiang Ziya didn’t know, a white-haired elder by the roadside cried, "The citizens are to offer snakes; how can there be so many in Zhaoge, and we have to go to other counties to buy them? Poor me, with these old bones, having no money or strength, what shall I do?"

The accountant saw this and hurried to comfort him, "Don’t worry, brother, I wouldn’t forget you. This time I went so far to buy your share too. But when I got there, even that county almost ran out of snakes to sell, and many couldn’t even buy any."

"What does His Majesty want with so many snakes?"

"Yes, what does His Majesty want with so many snakes?"

Nezha remained silent for a long time, sighed, and followed Jiang Ziya into the house.

He certainly knew why King Zhou wanted so many snakes.

To properly explain this matter, one must trace back to two days prior:

That day, King Zhou was feasting with Daji at the Star Pick Building. Half-drunk, Daji stood up from the banquet to dance and sing for King Zhou’s amusement.

The concubines and palace attendants of the Three Palaces and Six Courtyards cheered in unison, but over seventy palace attendants remained gloomy, tears in their eyes.

This alone wasn’t too problematic, but when Daji noticed it, things became serious. She immediately stopped her performance and ordered someone to investigate which palace these attendants belonged to.

Soon, it was discovered that these attendants were from the former Empress Jiang’s retinue.

This was significant; before King Zhou favored Daji, he had a middle palace Empress Jiang, daughter of Eastern Marquis Jiang Hengchu, who bore two sons, Yin Jiao and Yin Hong, famed on the Investiture of the Gods.

King Zhou favored Daji and neglected court affairs. Empress Jiang directly admonished him, thus offending Daji, who plotted her demise, with the two princes’ whereabouts unknown as well.

These palace attendants, their late mistress wrongfully harmed, now seeing the one who caused her death in glory, were emotionally moved, leading to today’s incident.

Daji, at the Star Pick Building, angrily declared, "Your mistress committed treason and was executed. Instead of feeling remorse, you harbor resentment, which will undoubtedly become a great peril over time!"

King Zhou, originally a young hero, though clever, had his mind entranced by Daji’s Illusion Technique and generally had little assertiveness.

He wasn’t concerned about such trivial matters but seeing his beloved angry, he waved his hand and ordered: "My dear concubine is right. Someone, take these attendants downstairs and execute them with the Golden Gourd Striking Penalty."

The so-called Golden Gourd Striking involves smashing the skull with a golden hammer.

Then, Daji approached King Zhou, respectfully said, "Your Majesty, let’s not rush to have these rebels executed by the Golden Gourd Striking and instead send them to the Cold Palace prison for hard labor. I have a plan that can eliminate the palace’s hidden dangers."

"Oh? Does my dear concubine have another brilliant plan?"

King Zhou, raised in the palace, having enjoyed luxury and wealth, seemed uninterested in the world’s novelties, yet Daji’s novel ideas always appealed to him, earning his applause.

Daji said, "Great King, you can have these attendants dig a pit twenty-four zhang in circumference and five zhang deep under this Star Pick Building. Then issue an edict, ordering the capital’s citizens to offer four snakes per household, throwing them into the pit, wash and peel these treacherous attendants clean, and throw them in to feed the venomous snakes. I’ve even named this punishment, calling it a ’Pit of Vipers.’

Speaking of which, King Zhou was indeed peculiar. If an ordinary person heard such a vicious plan from their partner, they’d likely have shivers down their spine. Yet Daji, after proposing cruel executions like paoluo, now created the Pit of Vipers, and he joyfully applauded, calling it wonderful.

King Zhou said, "The method my dear wife proposes is indeed wonderful. Without such brutal punishment, the palace’s longstanding problems can’t be eradicated."

Therefore, the accountant had to travel so far outside Zhaoge City to buy snakes.

Nezha entered the inner room. Born with a benevolent heart, he knew the world’s darkness yet couldn’t bear witnessing injustice, causing his somber mood.

He understood, once the Pit of Vipers was completed, it wouldn’t only be those seventy-some innocent palace attendants who’d die.

"I’ll be honest, when you recently taught that widow Wang a craft after her husband died by fire, I looked down on it. But I didn’t expect this tofu pudding to taste so good. The tofu her family sells is also delicious."

Jiang Ziya put out a plate of peanuts, giving Lv Zhu’er money to buy three bowls of tofu pudding from the Widow Wang across the street.

"Don’t bother."

"Who provoked you now?"

Nezha then told Jiang Ziya about the Pit of Vipers incident. Hence, the number of silent people inside the room increased by one.

After a while, Lv Zhu’er ran in, carrying four bowls of tofu pudding with gravy.

One bowl was for Da Hei, and the two bowls for Nezha and Jiang Ziya were placed down, as she happily went to the table to enjoy her soup.

Listening to Lv Zhu’er happily slurping, with the tantalizing aroma of tofu and the savory scent of brine tickling their noses, Nezha and Jiang Ziya couldn’t help but gulp down a mouthful of saliva.

Eventually, Jiang Ziya was the first to speak, "The tofu pudding is getting cold."

"Let’s eat first."

The two finished their tofu pudding, still unsatisfied, so they pulled out two jars of wine from under the bed.

Outside, it was dark, and all the shops had closed.

Lv Zhu’er sat obediently on a small stool holding Da Hei’s leash, watching the two rummage through the house like headless flies looking for a side dish for their drink, and after a long search, they only found two pickled radishes.

"Good sword."

Helpless, Nezha drew out the Seven-star Treasure Sword, using it to slice the pickled radishes into thin strips.

The two drank while nibbling on the pickles, drinking late into the night.

Lv Zhu’er had fallen asleep on the stool, tilting over to lay perfectly on Da Hei’s broad back.

"Uncle, since you’re now an official, if King Zhou acts unrighteously, you should submit a memorial to advise him."

"Nephew, you’re mistaken. There are countless loyal ministers and good generals in court. As a minor official in Qintianjian, my words carry little weight. How could I intervene in such matters? Best not to get involved in this chaos."

After speaking, Jiang Ziya downed another cup of wine. His cheeks, rosy beneath the white, showed signs of intoxication.

Nezha said, "You’re right, but if King Zhou only listens to Daji, others’ advice might not only be useless but could even threaten their lives."

"Good nephew, you’re right, but if others’ advice is useless, would mine have any effect? Didn’t you recently say I offended the Empress by burning the pipa spirit? Has that already been forgotten?"

"Uncle, didn’t you often claim that you have the fate to be given a marquisate and ministerial rank? Since Yuanshi Tianzun spoke, you’re to enjoy earthly riches after descending the mountain. Surely it means you won’t die now. The virtuous naturally have celestial fortune, Uncle."

"You damn Nezha, so this was your plan all along!" Jiang Ziya suddenly became furious, glaring with eyes wide open.

"How could I have laid a trap for you? Just now, when drinking, didn’t you say Daji’s perverse actions would be condemned by heaven? Weren’t you just lamenting for the innocent palace attendants on the brink of death? Now that I offer you a solution, you say I’m pressuring you."

"Damn it! I won’t die because I don’t seek death!

If I continually courted death, ten lives wouldn’t suffice!

You think I don’t want to save those palace attendants, but why should I? Now that I’m a good official, visiting my brother’s mansion gives me more face than before, and the wife at home finally greets me with a smile. For what should I risk it now?

Do you know, passing by the Great Hall of the Imperial Palace every day, seeing those twenty copper pillars to the east, I’m so scared my legs tremble, not daring to look, fearing I’ll be the next one tied to them. And now you want me to submit a memorial!"

Seeing Jiang Ziya was both exasperated and furious, Nezha no longer expected anything from him.

He took out his Seven-star Treasure Sword from the Qiankun Bag, inspecting the battle-worn blade under the dim oil lamp’s flickering light.

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