That night at the traveling palace, blood flowed everywhere. In the end, only two people walked out alive.
One was Cao Shu. The other was Chief Eunuch Zhao Si.
The eunuchs and palace maids who had not been near the palace had no idea what had truly happened. They all assumed that those inside had angered the emperor and were executed in his fury. None dared to speculate further.
Following Zhao Si’s orders, they disposed of the corpses of the palace maids and eunuchs, then returned to await further instructions.
Cao Shu also gained Villain Points from the incident. Unfortunately, these palace maids and eunuchs were all ordinary people. Even combined, they only yielded 5000 points.
Early dawn.
Following Cao Shu’s arrangement, Zhao Si announced that the old emperor would return to the capital. To avoid suspicion, they did not use cultivation to fly back, instead traveling at a normal pace.
Once everything outside was prepared, Zhao Si put on a show, dressing the emperor’s corpse carefully. He then carried him onto a dragon carriage draped with dark curtains, ordering the eunuchs to carry it out of the traveling palace.
They arrived at the canal leading to the capital, where a dragon boat had long been prepared.
Zhao Si carried the emperor onto the boat and placed him in a private chamber, claiming that His Majesty was ill and forbidding anyone from approaching.
Since the distance to the capital was still considerable, and to prevent others from smelling the corpse, Cao Shu followed Zhao Gao’s example and bought a large quantity of abalone to store on the boat.
Once that many abalones died…
The stench.
Ugh…
Cao Shu stuffed cotton into his nostrils, yet he could still smell it. There was nowhere on the entire boat to escape.
It truly was… a scent that spread for kilometers, completely overpowering the odor of the emperor’s corpse.
Every passing boat kept its distance.
At first, some people aboard complained. After one or two were killed, no one dared to speak again.
Thinking of how Qin Shi Huang had been treated in the same way, Cao Shu suddenly felt a deep sense of pity.
Thus, they continued along the waterway.
Ten days later, they finally arrived at the capital.
At the dock, which had once been lively, the foul stench filled the air. Those working in transport could barely continue their work, cursing inwardly.
Zhao Si once again carried the emperor’s corpse onto the dragon carriage with dark curtains and ordered the eunuchs to carry it back.
Outside the palace gates.
With the emperor’s return, civil and military officials, along with members of the royal clan, had long been waiting. The Eldest Prince and the Second Prince stood at the forefront, one on each side.
The officials’ alignment reflected the same division, though there were slightly more on the Second Prince’s side.
The Eldest Prince, Ji Wuxin, had a face as flawless as jade—so handsome it bordered on unreal. His hands were slender and delicate, and his skin was as fair as a woman’s. Countless people in the court secretly mocked him as a pretty boy.
Ji Wuxin was the first to speak, a cold smile on his lips as he said, “Second Brother, Father has returned and you came to greet him so diligently… bringing so many people. Anyone unaware might think you were here to stage a coup.”
The Second Prince, Ji Wuyi, was also strikingly handsome, with thick brows and bright eyes. Because of Ji Wuxin’s reputation as a pretty boy, he paid special attention to his physique, deliberately training himself until his entire body radiated masculine vigor.
Ji Wuyi countered, “Elder Brother jests. This younger brother merely wishes to show filial piety to Father. How could there be anything as treasonous as staging a coup? On the contrary, Elder Brother, the fact that you can even say such a thing… does it mean you’ve considered it?”
The two confronted each other, and in an instant, the air was filled with tension.
Ji Wuxin chuckled, “Second Brother really knows how to joke. How could I have such thoughts? However, I heard you’ve secretly recruited an expert surnamed Ye. When will you introduce him to your elder brother?”
Ji Wuyi smiled without warmth. The matter of recruiting that expert had been extremely well hidden, yet Ji Wuxin knew about it. It seemed there were spies around him.
“Elder Brother is indeed well-informed. But it’s not recruitment… merely a friend. I’ll introduce him another day.”
“Then it’s settled?”
“Agreed.”
Ji Wuyi looked into the distance and said, “Alright, let’s speak of something serious. Elder Brother is well-informed—do you know what Father has been doing these past few days? This younger brother has not received any news and is quite worried.”
The informants he had placed near the emperor had suddenly gone silent. For days, he had felt uneasy, as if something was wrong.
Ji Wuxin shook his head. His sources were the same. “I only heard that Father has fallen ill. During his illness, he developed a liking for abalone. Beyond that, I know nothing. But with Lord Zhao Si attending him, there should be no problem.”
Ji Wuyi felt somewhat relieved. He had thought he alone lacked information. Since both of them were in the same situation, there was nothing to worry about. He nodded. “That’s true.”
“Father has arrived.”
Outside the palace gates, the dragon carriage slowly approached… but what reached them first was a strong, fishy stench.
The two princes frowned slightly, forcing themselves to endure it as they stepped forward to greet him. The officials behind them followed closely.
In the next moment, an unbelievable scene unfolded.
The eunuchs set the dragon carriage down. Zhao Si and Cao Shu suddenly knelt before it.
With a mournful face, Zhao Si cried out, “Your Majesty… Your Majesty has passed away!”
“What? Father has passed away?”
“His Majesty has passed away?”
“Impossible! His Majesty was fine before!”
The sudden bad news spread through the officials. Every face was filled with shock—the emperor had died!
It was completely unexpected.
“Your Majesty…”
“Your Majesty, how could you leave us like this?”
“Your Majesty, this old servant has not yet properly served you… how could you go like this—”
The officials all cried out in grief and knelt. Even the commoners watching from the roadside followed suit.
Ji Wuxin’s body trembled as tears streamed down his face. “Father… this can’t be… it can’t be… Father…”
As he spoke, he tried to rush toward the dragon carriage.
“Your Highness, calm down!” Those beside him hurriedly stopped him.
Only then did Ji Wuxin restrain himself. His gaze lingered on the carriage, filled with sorrow, before he slowly knelt.
Ji Wuyi fared slightly better. His eyes were also misty, but he did not act rashly. Beneath his grief, his thoughts raced, and his fists clenched tightly as he thought, “How could Father suddenly pass away? What exactly happened?”
The old emperor’s death had completely caught him off guard.
Now he finally understood why no news could be obtained… and the abalone scent was merely to mask the odor of the corpse.
Could this have been the ominous sign from before?
Seeing that the timing was right, Zhao Si took out the royal edict, stepped forward before the two princes, and announced, “His Majesty’s final edict.”
Although it was improper to proclaim it here, with officials, royal relatives, and commoners all present, it effectively announced it to the entire empire.
Everyone present was shaken. The emperor had died… and now came the most critical moment.
“I, entrusted by Heaven, have borne the great mandate and ruled the realm, nurturing the people with diligence and care…”
“The Eldest Prince, Wuxin, is benevolent, wise, and filial. The hearts of the people incline toward him. He is fit to ascend the throne and govern the people diligently. Let all civil and military officials unite to assist him, for the prosperity of my people. The rites of burial and mourning shall be proclaimed to all under Heaven…”
Ji Wuxin and Ji Wuyi both lifted their heads abruptly, their eyes filled with shock.
The officials and royal clan were equally stunned. Most had not expected this outcome—the old emperor had actually passed the throne to the Eldest Prince?
In the court, the old emperor had clearly favored the Second Prince, even allowing him to oversee state affairs for a time. Yet now, the throne was given to the Eldest Prince… completely beyond expectations.
But the one proclaiming the edict was Zhao Si, the emperor’s closest attendant. No one dared to question its authenticity.
Beside the dragon carriage, Cao Shu secretly glanced at the two princes, a meaningful smile playing at the corners of his lips.
In a place they could not see, an unseen hand had already rewritten their fates.
The future of the Great Zhou Empire… would be decided by him.