By the time Cao Shu returned to his Marquis residence, night had already fallen. Along the way, he had used the Heavenly Demon Shadow Step to travel at full speed.
He carried Gongsun Ruoqian into a room that had long been prepared and placed several restraints on her before leaving.
After stopping by the alchemy room, he saw Old Jia still drenched in sweat, refining the Heaven-Transcending Pill. Not wanting to disturb him, Cao Shu went out into the courtyard.
The night sky was moonless, yet filled with countless stars—perfect for enjoying the scenery.
He had servants bring over a long chair and reclined on it. A young maid approached, serving wine and fruit.
Resting amid soft comforts, enjoying her attentive service, Cao Shu let his mind wander.
Everything today had gone smoothly. Aside from Ye Sulong’s sudden appearance, which caused a minor disruption, everything had been incorporated into the plan.
Things were going well on his side… but over on Ji Wuxin’s side, it was probably far from smooth.
The Empress had never been close to him.
Thinking back to the Empress’s appearance and figure in his memories, Cao Shu couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. The old Emperor had neglected such a woman—it was truly a waste of something precious.
But this was a common flaw of the royal family. Beauty alone meant nothing—bearing children was what truly mattered.
Inside the Royal Palace…
The current Empress had already removed her phoenix crown, taken off her luxurious palace robes, washed away her makeup, and changed into plain mourning attire.
Though she was no longer young, this was a cultivation world, and many treasures preserved one’s appearance. Time had not left deep marks on her face—she still maintained the looks of a mature woman.
Her features were refined, her charm lingered, and she exuded a rich, mature aura.
Dressed in mourning clothes, she carried a unique, somber beauty.
At that moment, another woman approached from outside. She was equally beautiful, her eyes slightly red.
This was Noble Consort Zheng, Ji Wuyi’s birth mother. She said, “Sister, the men’s rituals have paused for now. It’s time to deal with that brat Wuxin.”
The Empress immediately stood up, her presence turning fierce. “Let’s go! We can’t let him have it easy!”
The old Emperor had fathered children late in life, but none were born to the Empress. She disliked the Eldest Prince Ji Wuxin and favored the Second Prince Ji Wuyi, so she had always been close to Noble Consort Zheng.
“That old fool clearly favored Wuyi, yet in death he passed the throne to that brat Wuxin. We can’t let his mourning ceremony be peaceful—we won’t let that brat feel comfortable!”
At the thought of the throne being handed to Ji Wuxin, the two of them ground their teeth in anger, having already cursed the old Emperor countless times in private.
They arrived at the grand hall where the Emperor’s coffin was placed.
All the royal men present in the Capital City were kneeling, with Ji Wuxin at the front. Ji Wuyi, having coughed up blood earlier, had been excused from attending tonight.
The complicated rituals had just paused, and most people looked exhausted.
The moment the Empress arrived, she burst into tears, completely shedding her earlier fierce demeanor. She threw herself beside the coffin, wailing loudly.
“Your Majesty, why did you leave so suddenly~”
“I haven’t even properly served you yet—how could you go like this~”
“Take me with you, Your Majesty~” New chapters come out on g.com first.
Noble Consort Zheng knelt beside her, also crying, though far less exaggerated.
Ji Wuxin showed a pained expression and reached out. “Mother Empress, please restrain your grief.”
As the Emperor’s official wife, the Empress was addressed as Mother Empress by all princes and princesses.
The Empress slapped his hand away. “Who are you calling Mother Empress? I don’t remember having a son like you!”
“My only son is Wuyi!”
“I don’t have a son like you! Wuu wuu wuu~”
Ji Wuxin’s face darkened instantly. Ever since childhood, the Empress had never treated him kindly. His birth mother had died in childbirth, leaving him without support in the harem. Now that the Empress was making trouble, there was no one to help him.
He said helplessly, “Mother Empress, I am your eldest son, Wuxin. Have you forgotten me?”
With no allies in the harem, Ji Wuxin could only endure. During the enthronement ceremony, there was a crucial step where he had to bow to the Empress to demonstrate filial piety. Only after that would she hand over the imperial jade seal, completing the ceremony.
Only after the ceremony would he officially become Emperor, and she would become Empress Dowager. Until then, he had no choice but to endure her provocations.
Zhao Si stepped forward with a bowed posture, attempting to support her arm. “Your Majesty the Empress, this is the Eldest Prince Wuxin. You must be tired. Let this servant escort you to rest.”
The Empress shoved him away. “Filthy slave, get away! Who allowed you to touch me!”
She slapped the Emperor’s coffin with both hands and continued her wailing.
“Your Majesty, look at him! He’s been kneeling here for so long, yet since I arrived, he hasn’t even knelt to me. He doesn’t respect me as his mother at all~”
“Why did you pass the throne to such an unfilial son, Your Majesty~”
“Wake up and look at him, Your Majesty~”
“Wuyi even coughed up blood, yet as his elder brother, he shows no concern~”
“The moment you left, he turned heartless, Your Majesty~”
“What’s the use of such an unfilial son, Your Majesty~”
“You misjudged him, Your Majesty~”
As these words rang out, the expressions of the royal family members and nobles changed. The Empress was openly targeting the future Emperor.
Her accusations weren’t serious in essence, but she deliberately exaggerated them to disgust him.
Yet no one dared step forward to offend the Empress.
Ji Wuxin’s face turned even more ashen. He had not left the palace early in life and had not experienced much of the harem’s schemes. Only now did he realize how troublesome these women could be.
His slender fingers clenched tightly, his jaw locked, his eyes burning.
He had only one thought.
He wanted to strike someone.
Seeing that he was on the verge of losing control, Zhao Si hurried to his side and whispered, “Your Highness, calm yourself. She is deliberately provoking you. If you lose your temper here before the Emperor’s coffin, it will be seen as great unfilial conduct. The officials could unite and remove you.”
“Do not fall into her trap, Your Highness.”
With that reminder, Ji Wuxin gradually calmed down.
Once he regained composure, he remembered that he was the one in control of this hall.
“Guards! The Empress has lost her senses, speaking madness before Father Emperor’s coffin and disturbing his rest. Send her to the Royal Medical Institute for treatment!”
“Yes.”
The palace maids responded softly and quickly approached.
The Empress had come precisely to cause trouble and had no intention of letting Ji Wuxin succeed. As she cried, she shouted, “Your Majesty, look at this unfilial son! He won’t even let me keep vigil for you~”
“What’s the use of such an unfilial son, Your Majesty~”
“You misjudged him, Your Majesty~”
“Who dares come closer!”
“Mm—”
Her expression suddenly froze, her face flushing red.
“Pfft—”
She spat out a mouthful of blood, staining the coffin. Her body collapsed as if all strength had left her, falling silent.
Everyone in the hall was shocked.
“Your Majesty the Empress!”
“Your Majesty the Empress!”
“Mother Empress!”
“Summon the imperial physicians! Quickly!”
…
[Ding! Conspired with Zhao Si to poison and kill ***, affecting the fate of the Great Zhou Empire. Obtained 50,000 villain points.]
[Reward: 20 years of cultivation.]
Cao Shu slowly opened his eyes. After waiting so long, the notification had finally appeared. A trace of dissatisfaction flickered in his gaze.
“Zhao Si… too slow.”
A surge of spiritual energy erupted within him, his cultivation rising rapidly until it reached the 9th stage Foundation Establishment Realm.
For Ji Wuxin to ascend the throne smoothly, the situation in the harem had to be resolved as well. From Zhao Si, Cao Shu had learned that the Empress favored Ji Wuyi and treated him as her own son. She would undoubtedly become a major obstacle to Ji Wuxin’s ascension.
Thus, she had to be eliminated.
Zhao Si’s cultivation ranked second within the palace. As long as the Commander was not constantly watching him, he could act without anyone noticing.
Although Zhao Si had been slower than expected, he had ultimately carried out the plan to poison the Empress.
Ji Wuxin’s ascension… had to proceed without obstruction.