A flash of lightning outside illuminated Luo Jingfeng’s face, twisted like a vengeful ghost.
The Emperor’s pupils dilated in terror as he scrambled to his feet, shouting, “Protect your sovereign! Protect your sovereign!”
For someone to dare barge into the palace without summons…
It could only mean one thing: the entire imperial palace was already under his control.
The Emperor, like a dying locust, screamed repeatedly, but no one answered. Even Eunuch Huang, who usually attended to him closely, was nowhere to be seen.
Luo Jingfeng had not come alone.
In his grip, he dragged a figure—no, more accurately, a corpse.
It was the chief of the Emperor’s secret guards.
Luo Jingfeng hurled the body forward, slamming it into the Emperor with such force that stars burst before his eyes. Turning his head, the Emperor saw the lifeless, wide-eyed stare of the guard.
The assassination had failed.
Luo Jingfeng… he knew!
“Ah… ah! Luo Jingfeng! How dare you! How dare you kill my chief guard!” the Emperor shrieked, his voice breaking.
Luo Jingfeng sneered, his tone dripping with arrogance. “What is a mere chief guard worth? Anyone who dares lay a finger on my Cheng’er will have the entire imperial family buried with him! Why don’t you guess, Your Majesty, who I’ll kill next?”
The Emperor’s heart nearly stopped from sheer panic. Trembling, he spat, “Treacherous rebel! You defy your sovereign, you dare raise your hand against the Son of Heaven! Someone—someone save me! Whoever rescues me, I’ll grant them the title of a prince!”
Thunder rumbled ominously overhead.
His plea seemed to work—another figure appeared at the door.
It was Zong Zhao.
The General of the Western Garrison, personally appointed by the Emperor to counter Luo Jingfeng. Yet just days ago, he had learned that the bastard child had been secretly harbored by Zong Zhao and the Crown Prince.
Now, he couldn’t be sure if Zong Zhao was in league with Luo Jingfeng. But with no other options left, he had to try.
“Zong Zhao!” the Emperor bellowed. “Kill Luo Jingfeng! I’ll make you a prince! I swear your descendants will enjoy wealth and glory for generations!”
Zong Zhao lifted his gaze and stepped into the study.
Then he took his place beside Luo Jingfeng.
Luo Jingfeng smirked, triumphant. “Seems the promise of a princely title isn’t enough to buy you a savior, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor collapsed onto the steps in despair.
Pointing a shaking finger at Zong Zhao, he wailed, “Zong Zhao… Zong Zhao! You’ve betrayed me! Betrayed the Crown Prince! Betrayed Great Chu! You’re joining Luo Jingfeng in rebellion! You’ll be damned for all eternity!”
He still remembered Zong Zhao’s once-fervent vows of loyalty—now nothing but hollow lies.
Yet Zong Zhao repeated those very words: “This subject remains forever loyal to Great Chu… and to His Majesty the Emperor.”
“Except tomorrow, ‘His Majesty’ won’t be you anymore,” Luo Jingfeng cut in. He seized the Emperor by the collar and dragged him to the desk. “Write,” he commanded coldly.
The Emperor was flung forward, his vision swimming. “Write what? What do you want me to write? An abdication edict? Never! I’d sooner die than let you succeed! You and that bastard will be branded as usurpers, scorned by the court and mocked for generations!”
Luo Jingfeng’s veins bulged with fury. He gripped the Emperor’s throat and hissed, “One more insult against my Cheng’er, and I’ll carve you into pieces—leave you just alive enough to watch wild dogs feast on your flesh.”
The Emperor shuddered.
The image was too horrifying—worse than death itself.
Had Zong Zhao said it, he might have dismissed it as a threat. But Luo Jingfeng? This madman would do it.
“Write!” Luo Jingfeng barked.
Trembling, the Emperor slumped into the dragon throne.
Zong Zhao ground ink for him.
Luo Jingfeng toyed with a dagger, its edge glinting—a silent promise of dismemberment should he refuse.
Hands shaking, the Emperor picked up the brush. Desperate, he bargained, “I’ll abdicate. I’ll even draft an edict naming the new emperor. Just spare me! Let me live as the retired emperor—I’ll surrender the throne and the realm to your nephew!”
Afraid Luo Jingfeng would refuse, he hastily added, “If I die the night before the coronation, the world will know it’s a coup! And with a 27-day mourning period, the new emperor can’t ascend immediately. That’s more than enough time for rebels to rise or enemy states to invade! Your boy won’t last a month on the throne!”
His reasoning was sound, and the threat to Chu Jincheng seemed minimal.
Luo Jingfeng scoffed. “Write properly, and I’ll spare your life.”
Seeing a glimmer of hope, the Emperor eagerly agreed. “Yes, yes! I’ll write at once! What was the boy’s name again?”
Luo Jingfeng’s smile turned icy. “Playing dumb? You sent assassins after him.”
The Emperor fell silent, then corrected himself. “He’s my son with Concubine Shu. He should bear the imperial surname—I’ll restore it to him.”
At the mention of Luo Shu, Luo Jingfeng’s killing intent flared, but he forced it down as the Emperor began writing.
Two edicts were soon completed.
The Emperor stamped them with the imperial seal, then offered it to Luo Jingfeng. “H-Here…”
“Leave it on the desk,” Luo Jingfeng said, indifferent to the seal.
The Emperor obeyed.
Luo Jingfeng and Zong Zhao scrutinized the documents, ensuring no traps had been laid. The Emperor, it seemed, valued his life too much for tricks.
Gazing at the name on the succession edict, Luo Jingfeng felt a surge of emotion. “The Fifteenth Prince, Chu Jincheng.”
Cheng’er had reclaimed his birthright.
Uncertain of his mood, the Emperor explained, “I adjusted the royal lineage by age, moving the original Fifteenth Prince down to make room for him.”
Luo Jingfeng shut his eyes briefly, then smiled. “No need. He won’t live long enough to need the title.”
“You—you killed him?!” the Emperor croaked.
Luo Jingfeng’s grin was chilling as he listed, “The Third Prince, second only to the Crown Prince in favor… The Fifth Prince, surrounded by strategists… The brilliant Fifteenth Prince… The Eighteenth Prince, backed by a powerful maternal clan… Tell me, which one were you grooming as your true heir?”
The Emperor clenched his fists.
He had many promising sons—and more hidden away. All were his hope to topple the Luo family.
Leaning in, Luo Jingfeng whispered, “Thinking I won’t find out who it is? Is he hiding in court? The cold palace? Or perhaps… the Duke of Ying’s estate?”
