Assassination Attempt Shortly After Ascending to the Throne

Speaking of the late emperor, Wang Hao's mood was complex. This unreliable father was truly devoted to his predecessor.

Wang Qian, although a foolish ruler, had reached a level of madness when it came to spoiling his son with riches. Food, clothing, shelter, and transportation were all extremely luxurious. What was more exaggerated was that whatever spirit pills or heavenly treasures Wang Qian consumed on a daily basis, even if there was only one bite left, he would save half a bite for his precious son.

According to Wang Qian's twisted logic: he was already an expert at the sixth tier of the Martial Dao in his forties. His son not only inherited the royal family's excellent genes but also had to inherit his martial arts spirit, which essentially meant his pill-popping spirit. This was the advanced experience of the older generation.

Thus, under the crazy feeding of this pill-popping maniac father, Wang Hao reached a realm at a young age that his peers shouldn't have reached, the seventh layer of the Muscle Forging Realm. If one only looked at the realm, Wang Hao was already a genius among geniuses of his generation. Unfortunately, he was fed to this level; his foundation was vain, and his practical combat experience was basically zero because he hadn't even killed a chicken.

Having such an unreliable father, I can neither scold him nor praise him. Now it's great, he threw this mess at me, kicked the bucket, and left me roasting in this fire pit.

Just as Wang Hao was wallowing in self-pity, the heavy palace doors were gently pushed open, making a soft creak.

A middle-aged eunuch wearing a grand red python robe walked in. He had a beardless white face, thick eyebrows, and big eyes, looking like a loyal and honest person at first glance.

This person walked silently, as if his soles were padded with a layer of cotton. This was a manifestation of internal light movement arts cultivated to an extremely high realm, treading on snow without leaving traces, landing without a sound.

Wang Hao instantly remembered this person. This was the close companion who grew up with his predecessor since childhood, and also one of the few reliable core members left by the late emperor, Wei Xian.

Although Wei Xian bowed and hunched his back in front of him, looking like a servant, his cultivation had already reached the fifth tier of the Martial Dao, the Acupoint Opening Realm. Placed in the martial world, he would be a figure capable of establishing his own sect.

Crown Prince, the auspicious hour has arrived, Wei Xian said in a soft and fine voice, his words revealing deep concern. It is time to go to the Taiji Hall to hold the enthronement ceremony. The civil and military officials are all waiting.

Wang Hao took a deep breath to make himself look calmer. Grand Companion Wei, is there any news from Imperial Grandfather?

Hearing this, a trace of solemnity flashed across Wei Xian's originally respectful face, and he lowered his voice.

To reply to Your Highness, after the Grand Emperor struck that evildoer dead with his palm, he went straight back to the imperial mausoleum for secluded cultivation. The old man passed down a message...

Wei Xian paused, seemingly weighing his words, and finally told the truth: The old man said he doesn't want to care about such disgraceful matters anymore. Unless the Great Zhou is destroyed, don't bother him.

Wang Hao's heart skipped a beat, turning half cold.

His biggest backer could not be counted on. This old man was obviously thoroughly disappointed with his son, and by extension, he didn't like his grandson either, preparing to adopt an out of sight, out of mind attitude.

Your Highness, do not overthink, Wei Xian quickly comforted. A country cannot go a single day without a monarch. Right now, all the officials are watching. If the auspicious hour is missed, I am afraid it will cause a lot of trouble. Those vassal kings, powerful ministers, and noble families are all keeping a close eye.

What else could he do? Bite the bullet and take it one step at a time.

Like a duck driven onto a perch, Wang Hao, supported by Wei Xian, sat on the imperial carriage symbolizing imperial majesty and slowly headed toward the Taiji Hall.

Along the way, countless tragic endings flashed through Wang Hao's mind: Being reduced to a puppet by powerful ministers? Having vassal kings raise armies to clear the emperor's side? Or being granted a cup of poisoned wine in a palace coup?

Just as his mind was in turmoil, an emotionless mechanical voice suddenly rang in his mind.

Ding! Detected that the host's identity is confirmed as the Emperor of Great Zhou. The Emperor Intelligence Sign-In System is binding...

Binding progress: 10 percent... 50 percent... 100 percent!

Binding successful!

This system is dedicated to assisting the host in controlling the world. It can detect all secret intelligence within a radius of a hundred miles. It refreshes daily at dawn and updates a special intelligence sign-in location. Sign-in rewards can be accumulated and saved.

Novice task issued: Please proceed to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion in the Imperial Garden for your first sign-in. Completing the sign-in will activate the system.

Sign-in reward: One novice gift bag.

This voice came suddenly, but it sounded like heavenly music!

Wang Hao's body stiffened abruptly, and then his pupils contracted violently.

System? Daily intelligence updates? And I can sign in?

As a veteran bookworm who had read countless novels before transmigrating, Wang Hao knew exactly what this meant.

This is a system! The standard equipment for transmigrators, a divine artifact to defy the heavens and change one's fate! Even with a hellish start, as long as I have this thing, I can turn things around!

What powerful ministers and vassal kings, what barbarians invading the borders, what demons and ghosts, in front of an omniscient and omnipotent system cheat, they are all trash!

Imperial Garden... I must go to the Imperial Garden!

Wang Hao took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the ecstasy and restlessness in his heart.

Subsequently, over the next few long hours, Wang Hao was like a marionette, allowing the officials of the Ministry of Rites to manipulate him. Offering sacrifices to heaven, reporting to the ancestral temple, receiving the imperial seal, accepting the worship of the civil and military officials... That set of tedious and lengthy etiquette made him feel like days were years.

His body sat on the dragon throne, accepting the worship of long live the emperor, but his mind had already flown to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion in the Imperial Garden.

Finally, with a high-pitched "Ceremony complete" from the Minister of Rites, this torture finally ended.

The officials had just dispersed when Wang Hao, ignoring his physical exhaustion, abruptly stood up from the dragon throne.

Prepare the carriage! I am going to the Imperial Garden!

Wang Hao's hurried voice startled Wei Xian beside him.

Wei Xian was taken aback and hurriedly bowed to advise, Your Majesty, today's enthronement ceremony took a long time. Your dragon body is fatigued, and it is already late. Although the palace is protected by a grand formation, evil aura has been breeding recently, bringing much ominousness. For Your Majesty's safety, it is better to return to the Qianqing Palace to rest. How about tomorrow...

Cut the crap!

How could Wang Hao wait until tomorrow? This system was the foundation of his survival in this highly dangerous world; a delay of even a second could breed unexpected changes. How could an old eunuch like you know how difficult it is for a transmigrator without a system to struggle in another world? That is a life-and-death situation! Thinking about those protagonists in his past life's novels who didn't have cheats, living a precarious life where they were constantly hunted down, made his scalp tingle.

My mind is made up, let's go!

Wang Hao lifted the hem of his robe and walked out of the hall with great strides.

Seeing this, Wei Xian sighed helplessly and could only quickly call people to follow.

A group of eunuchs and maids immediately surged in from outside the door. The leader was a middle-aged eunuch with a deep aura and silent steps, looking like a master at first glance. This person was named Cao Chun, also one of the few reliable legacies left to him by the late emperor, and his cultivation had also reached the fifth tier of the Martial Dao, the Acupoint Opening Realm.

...

Night fell.

Within the Imperial Garden, the exotic flowers and rare herbs that usually competed in vibrant beauty now appeared as indistinct silhouettes in the interplay of light and shadow. As they swayed in the wind, they resembled twisted, ghostly faces, exuding an eerie aura.

"Halt!"

Wang Hao called the procession to a stop and stepped down from the imperial palanquin, unable to wait a moment longer.

"I wish to go to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion to pay my respects to the late Emperor," Wang Hao spouted a random excuse. Taking the lead, he walked toward the pavilion with a few young eunuchs trailing behind him.

Wei Xian and Cao Chun exchanged a glance and stopped a few dozen yards away. After all, they were deep within the imperial palace, which was protected by a Saint-tier grand array. They were not worried about any trouble occurring.

Wang Hao quickly walked to the center of the pavilion and silently chanted in his mind, System, sign in!

Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully signing in at the Imperial Garden!

System officially activated!

Congratulations to the host for receiving the Novice Gift Pack: ...

Before the system's voice could finish, a sudden anomaly occurred!

A spine-chilling coldness instantly enveloped his entire body. It was the aura of death!

From the originally tranquil cluster of peonies beside the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, a snow-white blade light erupted without warning!

Fast!

Too fast!

The assassin had clearly been lying in ambush for a long time. The angle of this strike was incredibly tricky, perfectly catching the blind spot of Wei Xian and Cao Chun in the distance.

This blade even carried a hint of rhythm that resonated with the grand momentum of heaven and earth, thrusting straight at Wang Hao's throat!

Every hair on Wang Hao's body stood on end, his soul nearly shattering from terror!

"Holy crap! I'm going to die right after taking the throne!"

The freezing blade light reflected in Wang Hao's pupils, which were dilated in sheer panic. His mind had gone completely blank.

In this hair's breadth of a moment, his thoughts could no longer keep up with the action. Humanity's most primal survival instinct instantly took over his body.

Just as the tip of the blade was a mere meter away from his throat, Wang Hao made a move that no one could have ever expected.

His hands shot out like lightning, grabbing the collar of a young eunuch who had been standing half a step to his side, holding a lantern to serve him.

"Save the Emperor!"

Accompanied by a heart-wrenching, voice-cracking roar, Wang Hao used every ounce of his strength to ruthlessly yank the unreacting, unfortunate young eunuch right in front of himself!

Squelch!

The sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh was clearly audible.

That certain-kill strike accurately pierced through the young eunuch's chest. Blood instantly sprayed out, dyeing Wang Hao's bright yellow dragon robe red.