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Ji Xiao closed his eyes. “Don’t speak. Just transmit.”
Black Cat: “…”
It felt utterly rejected.
‘Fine, I’ll transmit then!’
Ji Xiao opened his eyes to the sight of a glittering golden dragon bed, immediately recognizing this as another ancient world.
He sat up, gazing at the empty bedchamber, and thought silently, ‘[Do I have points now?]’
Black Cat replied, “Your last world’s mission is complete. You have one hundred points now.”
Ji Xiao’s throat worked. ‘[Bring me a pack of cigarettes and a lighter.]’
Black Cat mused, “You’re using mental communication instead of speaking aloud. Haven’t you sensed the hidden guards in the bedchamber?”
Ji Xiao spoke coldly, “Leave. No peeking.”
Black Cat: “…”
One figure dropped silently from the rafters, another emerged from behind a pillar, and both swiftly exited the bedchamber.
Ji Xiao’s impatience was evident. “Cigarettes.”
Black Cat sighed softly.
A pack of cigarettes and a lighter materialized on the bed.
It even considerately added an ashtray. “Smoke. I’ll store them in the dimension once you’re finished.”
Ji Xiao lit a cigarette. “The mission.”
Black Cat began, “It’s like this…”
The original host, Zhao Lingxiao, was the Third Prince of the Qin Kingdom. He had an benevolent First Prince, beloved by the people, and a Second Prince, a military genius.
Below him were the Fourth Prince, exceptionally talented and influential among scholars, and the Fifth Prince, adorable, sensible, and prone to charming pleas.
Zhao Lingxiao, caught in the middle, was neither adept in literary arts nor martial skills.
However, his appearance was as stunningly beautiful as his birth mother, Consort Li, with a pair of captivating peach blossom eyes.
Moreover, in his youth, he had saved Yan Wangchen, the son of a prominent military family.
The Yan family had guarded the Qin Kingdom’s borders for generations since its founding, loyal to the emperor and patriotic, their favor unwavering.
His friendship with Yan Wangchen ensured he wasn’t overlooked amidst his brilliant elder and younger brothers.
Yet, being ‘not overlooked’ was all it amounted to.
He desired more.
He believed he was the Son of Heaven.
This conviction grew after his coming-of-age ceremony, when the other princes began to meet with accidents.
The benevolent First Prince, while out, rescued a youth who had fallen into the water, only for the youth to unexpectedly stab him.
The assassin bit down on a hidden poison and died when the hidden guards approached.
Before the mastermind behind the assassination could be uncovered, news of unrest from the border arrived, reporting the loss of a city.
The Second Prince, a military genius, was dispatched to the battlefield.
Next, Zhao Lingxiao was ambushed on his way back to the Third Prince’s manor.
Fortunately, Yan Wangchen, who had arranged to spar with him at the manor, was also in the carriage. He saved Zhao Lingxiao and safely escorted him back to his residence.
The Emperor realized someone was deliberately plotting against his children.
He was unsure if it was an external enemy, internal strife, or his own sons turning on each other due to his prolonged delay in naming a Crown Prince.
Regardless, he could not afford to lose any more of his remaining children.
The Emperor immediately assigned two hidden guards to protect each prince.
Soon after, the learned Fourth Prince narrowly escaped harm from a beloved concubine, thanks to the timely intervention of his hidden guards, who saved him.
This incident brought both relief and profound grief to the Emperor.
‘If only I hadn’t been so bound by the rule that only the Emperor and Crown Prince could have hidden guards, would my eldest son still be alive?’ he lamented.
The Emperor, unwilling to acknowledge his age, had never named a Crown Prince.
This recent loss of a son, however, shook his resolve.
While still contemplating whether to select a suitable prince as Crown Prince, the Emperor received an urgent report from the border.
During a battle, the Second Prince had been murdered by his trusted deputy commander from behind!
Even with his unparalleled military prowess and bravery, the Second Prince had never anticipated being stabbed in the back by a trusted subordinate in the midst of a grand battle.
The Emperor was even more devastated.
He ordered a thorough investigation to find the mastermind.
Yan Beiling, Yan Wangchen’s father, accepted the grave responsibility of pacifying the border regions.
The Emperor personally oversaw the investigation, vowing to find the person who had harmed his sons and tear them to shreds.
When the investigation revealed that everything was orchestrated by the adorable, sensible, and charming Fifth Prince, all for the sake of the throne, the Emperor was utterly broken.
He had always believed his princes were fraternal, each possessing their own merits.
Having lost two sons, even knowing the Fifth Prince was responsible for fratricide, the Emperor could not bring himself to kill him.
Instead, he banished him to guard the imperial mausoleum, never to leave.
His health began to decline, and the matter of appointing a Crown Prince became critically urgent.
Everyone knew that the Third Prince possessed only a handsome face, lacking both literary and martial talent.
They all believed the Emperor would surely name the Fourth Prince as Crown Prince.
Even Zhao Lingxiao thought so.
He had competed even when his two elder brothers were alive, so now, when he at least had a slim chance, why not try?
Knowing he was neither scholarly nor martial, and ignorant of state affairs, his chances of winning were almost nil.
His birth mother was merely a beautiful woman with an ordinary family background.
She could not compare to the Fourth Prince, whose maternal family included the Minister of Rites.
After much deliberation, he concluded that his only path to victory lay with Yan Wangchen and the Yan family.
The Yan family had served as generals for generations in the Qin Kingdom, defending its borders. Each generation produced famous generals, making them a respected and honored noble family even by the Emperor.
However, the Yan family was loyal and patriotic, always prioritizing their monarch.
It would be incredibly difficult to gain the support of Yan Wangchen, and by extension, the Yan family.
Zhao Lingxiao devised a plan.
He got Yan Wangchen drunk and seduced him, then committed the deed. Upon waking, he blamed everything on Yan Wangchen.
Yan Wangchen, aware of his own martial prowess, and despite his memory being hazy due to intoxication, believed Zhao Lingxiao’s account.
He accepted that he had made a mistake while drunk and offended Zhao Lingxiao.
Yan Wangchen was not one to shirk responsibility.
With Zhao Lingxiao’s deliberate efforts, Yan Wangchen gradually fell for him.
Under Zhao Lingxiao’s careful persuasion, Yan Wangchen agreed to help him ascend the throne.
…
Did Zhao Lingxiao truly love Yan Wangchen?
No.
He was merely using him.
Wouldn’t a soft, delicate woman be preferable to a rigid man?
Before ascending the throne, he had promised Yan Wangchen he would have no empress, only him.
When the throne was not yet secured, he could say anything.
But the moment the imperial power was in his grasp, he grew restless.
Disregarding the critical situation at the border, he framed the Yan family for colluding with the enemy and betraying the country. He recalled all Yan generals serving abroad and had them executed.
With the fall of the Yan family,
Other nations, receiving word, seized the opportunity of the Qin Kingdom’s military disarray to launch an offensive, carving up the Qin Kingdom.
Zhao Lingxiao became the last emperor of a fallen dynasty.
Black Cat coughed lightly. “This mission is to first let Yan Wangchen conquer the enemy nations, unify the realm, and once there are no external threats, find a way to make Yan Wangchen willingly relinquish his military power.”
Ji Xiao took a deep drag from his cigarette.
‘Zhao Lingxiao’s ambition was certainly grand.’
In reality, Zhao Lingxiao disliked men and had never actually had relations with Yan Wangchen.
That night, Zhao Lingxiao had merely posed.
Yet, Yan Wangchen had believed it implicitly.
A knock sounded at the door, followed by a delicate voice. “Your Majesty, General Yan has arrived.”
Ji Xiao extinguished his cigarette.
Black Cat discreetly collected it.
“Let him in.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
At this moment, Zhao Lingxiao had only recently ascended the throne.
Soon, he would dispatch Yan Wangchen to the frontier, then secretly prepare to frame him, detain the Yan family members, and recall all Yan generals serving abroad…
The grand doors swung open.
A figure entered, silhouetted against the light.
Ji Xiao squinted slightly, noticing the armor covering the man.
Yan Wangchen closed the door.
As he approached, Ji Xiao clearly saw his appearance.
Yan Wangchen possessed deep, chiseled features, stern eyebrows, and eyes. Coupled with his cold metal armor, he looked every inch a formidable general.
Yan Wangchen walked to the bedside, his nose twitching. “Your Majesty, why does it smell of tobacco here?”
“I’ve recently grown fond of the scent.”
“It’s somewhat like opium, yet not quite…”
“It’s not opium.”
Hearing his denial, Yan Wangchen didn’t press further. Instead, he simply looked at him, pondering how to begin speaking.
Ji Xiao: ‘[Cat.]’
Black Cat: “?”
Ji Xiao: ‘[Go watch TV.]’
Black Cat: “???”
Ji Xiao: ‘[My latter half of the last life was so stifling. I need to prove I can do it.]’
‘To reclaim my glory.’
Black Cat exclaimed, “Host, wake up! This is your first meeting!”
Ji Xiao: ‘[As long as I like it.]’
Black Cat: “…”
“Your Majesty…”
Just as Yan Wangchen began to speak, Ji Xiao beckoned him closer. “A’Chen, whatever you have to say, come sit and tell me.”
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Read : Obey Like A Dog
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