Chapter 163: This year the emperor's turn has come to my home

Very good, since you have already submitted to me, I'll assign you a task: work in pairs, go to the other four countries besides the Great State, and persuade their emperors to surrender.

Those willing to surrender will join Great Zhou; those unwilling, bring back their emperors' heads, and the rest we'll handle after I fully take Great Zhou.

Lei Zhenchuan and the others exchanged glances; none had expected such a task, but no one dared refuse, and they all nodded respectfully in agreement.

We will follow your orders and surely complete the mission.

Shen Tianxing smiled and nodded.

Go; I expect your reply within three months—shouldn't be hard for you at your speed.

Don't worry, sir, this time is enough.

Again they spoke in unison; these masters now have a strong will to survive, leaving Shen Tianxing both amused and exasperated.

Go, and await your good news.

Yes, sir!

Lei Zhenchuan and the others secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then left at top speed.

Shen Tianxing immediately sent a mental message to Hong Yi, telling her to have the army for unifying Great Zhou ready to depart.

Husband, Sun Zhongquan is dealt with; where should we go?

Of course to the Capital, to see that cute little emperor and make him abdicate.

Shen Tianxing wore a smile; this was already a settled matter.

You're so confident he'll abdicate? What if the little emperor refuses—are you going to kill him?

As long as he isn't stupid, he won't make such a foolish decision.

Shen Tianxing didn't think the little emperor would be stupid; after all, if he were truly stupid he couldn't have survived to now, and of course he isn't overly clever either—too clever and he couldn't have taken the throne.

Then let's bet: I wager the little emperor won't abdicate. If I win, you can't touch me this month; if I lose, you can do whatever you like.

Ru Yan said it as if it were true. Shen Tianxing smiled and nodded, not touching Ru Yan, and besides there's also Hong Yue and Mingyue? It seems not much of a loss.

All right then, let's go, to the Capital.

Shen Tianxing held Ru Yan and rose into the air again, leaving the battlefield cleanup to his avatar Shen Tianzhen.

Three days passed in a blink; the little emperor far away in the Capital received the news, learned that Sun Zhongquan was dead, and happily ran back and forth inside the Imperial Palace.

Your Majesty, please be careful; although Sun Zhong is dead, that doesn't mean everything is fine—let alone Shen Tianxing who eliminated Sun Zhongquan.

Indeed, hardly any of the court's civil and military officials truly obey your commands; now that Sun Zhongquan is gone, Your Majesty's safety is uncertain.

The one reminding the little emperor was an old eunuch with white hair, Lord Wang, who had served his father for many years and had always stayed by his side to guard him.

Lord Wang, what do you suggest I do? If these civil and military officials don't listen to me, that's not a problem—if they want to assassinate me, I'm powerless.

And speaking of Shen Tianxing, since he could kill Sun Zhongquan and wipe out his hundred-thousand-strong army, he's surely terrifying; if he enters the Capital, what should I do then?

Drenched with cold water, the little emperor sat on the steps, brows furrowed in worry, no longer knowing what to do.

Your Majesty, the only plan now is to abdicate in favor of a worthy person; if Shen Tianxing comes to the Capital and enters the Imperial Palace, you should immediately pass the throne to him.

Only then can Your Majesty survive safely; besides, you could also tell this to the civil and military officials—Shen Tianxing will surely come to the Capital and will surely demand the throne.

That way, even if they wanted to kill Your Majesty and seize the throne, they wouldn't have the gall, since they aren't even sure whether Shen Tianxing would kill Your Majesty.

If Shen Tianxing doesn't want to kill Your Majesty but only wants the throne outright, then if they killed Your Majesty, wouldn't they be opposing Shen Tianxing?

Although Your Majesty was raised to power by Sun Zhongquan, you are ultimately of pure imperial blood; killing you to take the throne would make them traitors.

But if Your Majesty passes the throne to him, it's different—having legitimacy would save Shen Tianxing much trouble; this is now Your Majesty's only chance to survive, and I hope you will act wisely when the time comes.

After the old eunuch finished analyzing the pros and cons, even the not-so-smart little emperor fully understood; he nodded, his face full of gratitude.

Thank you, Lord Wang; I know what to do now.

Lord Wang felt relieved, but just then a little eunuch came running in from outside, his face full of panic, saying:

Your Majesty, Lord Wang, General Zhu is leading troops into the palace; he's now heading straight for your sleeping quarters—what should we do?

The little eunuch's General Zhu is Zhu Shuang, the last great general left by Sun Zhongquan in the Capital, whose ten thousand remaining garrison troops all follow his orders.

The Imperial Palace now has only a thousand palace guards, hardly worth mentioning; thus, upon learning of Sun Zhongquan's death, Zhu Shuang made a bold decision.

First kill the little emperor, then enjoy a few days as emperor; when Shen Tianxing arrives, hand over the throne to him.

That way, he would also get to experience what it feels like to be emperor, and by abdicating he could guarantee himself wealth and honor for the rest of his life!

Lord Wang, just as you predicted, someone has come to kill me—what should we do now?

The little emperor was nearly scared silly, truly not knowing how to respond.

Lord Wang also didn't know what to do; Zhu Shuang's swift assault on the palace surprised him, and he clearly knew Zhu Shuang was intent on killing the emperor, making him hard to persuade.

Your Majesty, don't be afraid first; I'll go try to block him, you hide first—hide in that secret room; I've already prepared some dry food and water, and as long as you don't come out, you won't be found.

These rations and water are enough for you to stay in the secret room for half a month; even if Shen Tianxing is slower by half a month, he should arrive by then. When he reaches the sleeping quarters, you can check through the small hole before coming out—I expect he won't take your life.

The little emperor isn't stupid; if Lord Wang can go out and stop him, all will be well; if he can't, it's a dead end with no place to bury the body. Thinking this, the little emperor felt very sad and rushed over to hug Lord Wang's leg.

Lord Wang, don't go; come hide with me—I'll eat a little less, and we can last half a month together.

Your Majesty, if I can't stop Zhu Shuang, I'll deceive him into thinking you've already been sent out of the palace by me; then he'll have to believe it, for I indeed have that ability.

But if I hide together with Your Majesty, Zhu Shuang will surely search the sleeping quarters back and forth; if by chance he finds the way to open the secret room, Your Majesty will be in danger.

Your Majesty need not grieve; I've already lived most of my life, so death is just death, but you are still young—remember, as long as you live, that's enough; this throne isn't important to you.

When you see Shen Tianxing, Your Majesty must remember to ask him for a normal life, no need for wealth and honor; you can even be kept like a pet for life, as long as you stay alive.