Lightning flashed outside as thunder roared. The sudden brilliance illuminated Cao Shu’s face, and Zhao Si was momentarily stunned. The hand gripping the royal edict loosened unconsciously.
When Zhao Si snapped back to his senses and tried to take the edict back, it was already too late. Cao Shu had already taken it and walked toward the writing desk.
Zhao Si shouted angrily, “Impudent! This is deceiving the emperor and defying heaven itself… a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations!”
Tampering with the royal edict had never happened in the Great Zhou Empire. It was a monstrous crime against both sovereign and heaven. Zhao Si could not accept it so quickly.
The palace maids and eunuchs inside the traveling palace turned pale upon hearing this. Someone had actually committed such a rebellious act. However, their status was low—they dared not speak and could only kneel silently.
Cao Shu sat down before the desk, dipped the brush in ink, and with his back to Zhao Si, smiled faintly. “Chief Eunuch Zhao Si, you are a rootless man, with only half a life left. Your entire existence has been devoted to serving the royal family.”
“Even if you have no great merits, you’ve certainly endured hardships. When the new emperor ascends and kills you, will you accept it? You won’t.”
Cao Shu took out a sheet of fine paper and began imitating the handwriting on the edict, all while remaining vigilant. If Zhao Si made a move, he would immediately summon the Heaven-Imprisoning Chains to save his life.
“Your greatest support was His Majesty. Now that he is dead, the Second Prince commands countless experts. By then, even the Eldest Prince may not be able to protect himself, let alone you.”
“You have no path to survival except to follow my lead.”
“If you wish to stop me… feel free to strike me down with a single palm.”
Zhao Si stood there, staring at Cao Shu’s back in a daze. He had never imagined that a hereditary marquis—once known only as a frivolous wastrel—would harbor such rebellious thoughts. The difference from before was like heaven and earth.
Yet Cao Shu’s words echoed in his ears like a haunting spell. And they were not without reason.
If the Second Prince ascended, Zhao Si would undoubtedly die!
He tried to raise his right hand… but could not bring himself to do it. In the end, he slowly lowered it again.
Cao Shu swiftly copied the edict, altering only one detail—the name of the successor, replacing the Second Prince with the Eldest Prince.
Seeing that Zhao Si had not made a move for a long time, Cao Shu sneered inwardly. People were selfish, especially eunuchs within the palace. Having climbed to such a position, they feared losing everything… even more so their lives. As expected, Zhao Si could not bring himself to act.
Cao Shu picked up the royal seal from the side and stamped it onto the altered edict.
[Ding! 100000 Villain Points obtained.]
[80 years of cultivation granted.]
[System Shop unlocked (requires 3000 Villain Points).]
A vast surge of spiritual energy suddenly flooded into his dantian from nowhere, tempering his meridians and coursing through his entire body.
His aura rose rapidly, like a tide surging higher and higher… from the 2nd stage Foundation Establishment Realm all the way to the 8th stage Foundation Establishment Realm.
Cao Shu smiled faintly. It took only 3000 Villain Points to unlock the System Shop, yet simply altering a royal edict had granted him 100,000 points… and even gifted him 80 years of cultivation.
Wonderful.
He silently thanked Zhao Gao for the inspiration.
Still, tampering with a royal edict was indeed an evil act. It could directly influence the fate of a nation… just like how the Qin Dynasty fell. No wonder the system rewarded him so generously.
Cao Shu gently blew on the altered edict, letting the ink dry faster. Then he said, “Chief Eunuch Zhao Si, since you did not act, it seems you agree with me.”
“What happened tonight must remain known only to you and me. Especially His Majesty’s death… it must not be announced yet. You understand what to do, don’t you?”
The emperor’s death was a major event. Especially since they were not in the capital. If word reached the spies of the two princes, a desperate gamble could plunge the capital into chaos. Only after returning the emperor’s body to the capital could the news be officially announced.
There were many palace maids and eunuchs here. Not only did they know the emperor had died, they had also heard this treasonous conversation. Leaving them alive would be a hidden danger… only the dead kept secrets.
As Chief Eunuch, Zhao Si naturally understood Cao Shu’s meaning. A shadow crept into his eyes as the chaos in his mind gradually cleared.
In fact… this gave him an idea.
If he killed Cao Shu as well, the edict could still be altered. If he were the only one left alive, who could possibly know what the original edict had said?
When the Eldest Prince ascended, Zhao Si would become the greatest contributor.
Not only would he survive, he could continue enjoying wealth and power.
Slowly, he raised his hand.
At that moment, Cao Shu said, “Chief Eunuch Zhao Si, you’re thinking of killing me as well… but it’s already too late.”
Zhao Si was not the only one with such thoughts. Cao Shu also wanted to eliminate Zhao Si, ensuring that the matter of the edict would remain known to him alone.
However, Zhao Si was far too strong. Cao Shu was not yet his match, so he had to bide his time.
Moreover, only someone close to the emperor could publicly read the edict with credibility. Zhao Si held that position. Even if he had to be killed… it could not be now.
“Too late?” Zhao Si frowned, puzzled. Why would it be too late now?
He sneered, “Marquis, you are merely at the Foundation Establishment Realm, while I am a Golden Core cultivator. If I choose to act, it will never be too late. Don’t try to deceive me with such tricks.”
“Is that so?” Cao Shu put away the altered edict and stood up. His figure flickered… and vanished from where he stood.
Zhao Si’s expression changed instantly.
What just happened?
He could not even capture Cao Shu’s movement with his eyesight!
What kind of movement technique was this?
At that moment, a voice sounded from behind him.
“If this marquis wishes to leave… you can’t stop me!”
Cao Shu’s figure reappeared behind Zhao Si.
After obtaining 100,000 Villain Points, Cao Shu had immediately searched the System Shop for techniques—focusing entirely on movement skills for survival.
With no time to study them carefully, he chose the simplest approach… buying the most expensive one.
He spent everything on a movement technique called Heavenly Demon Shadow Step.
The result exceeded all expectations.
Now, if he wanted to leave, even Zhao Si—at the 6th stage Golden Core Realm—could not stop him!
Zhao Si’s pupils shrank as the hairs on his back stood on end. He had never imagined that this once-playboy marquis possessed such a terrifying movement technique… fast enough to appear behind him in an instant.
And his cultivation—when had it reached the 8th stage Foundation Establishment Realm?
Just moments ago, he had only been at the 2nd stage!
Had he been hiding his strength all along?
Tampering with the royal edict… a strange and powerful movement technique… a sudden surge in cultivation…
At that moment, Zhao Si found Cao Shu increasingly mysterious.
Zhao Si asked, “Marquis, just what secrets are you hiding?”
Naturally, Cao Shu would never reveal them. He said calmly, “No matter how many secrets I have, for now we are on the same side. I pose no threat to you. At this point, your only choice is to follow my arrangements.”
Zhao Si’s expression darkened. He had no other options left. “Very well. Marquis, if you have further plans, just give the order.”
Cao Shu laughed freely. “Haha, isn’t that much better?” Then a cold glint flashed in his eyes as he said, “Alright… they’ve heard more than enough. Chief Eunuch Zhao Si, you may act now.”
Zhao Si’s Golden Core aura erupted instantly.
Inside the traveling palace, terrified screams rang out.
“Chief Eunuch Zhao Si, this servant will keep the secret, please—!”
“Godfather! Godfather, don’t—!”
“Ah—!”