The Last Emperor of a Fallen Nation 02

Fang Zhiyi became the emperor, and Xue Wanqiu came and went from the imperial palace as if it were her own home. No one even dared to cross her, knowing of her ambiguous relationship with the emperor. The previous commander of the Imperial Guard had merely obstructed her once, and in the blink of an eye, Fang Zhiyi had him exiled to the borderlands to eat sand.

Fang Zhiyi was indeed willing to listen to her in everything. She approached him with a proposal to recall her cousin, Wei Lin, to serve as the new commander of the Imperial Guard. Without a word of objection, Fang Zhiyi agreed. He had met Wei Lin before; the man had helped him considerably before he ascended the throne and seemed utterly loyal.

Xue Wanqiu further proposed bringing Xiao Ce into the Ministry of Revenue and having Liu Yan take over the Salt and Iron Commission. To make her happy, Fang Zhiyi waved his hand and approved it all.

Even when someone accused Liu Yan of past embezzlement, Fang Zhiyi frowned and suppressed the accusation.

These people understood nothing! Anyone recommended by Wanqiu was surely a capable minister!

And indeed, with him as their backing, these men gradually consolidated power. Court affairs became easier for Fang Zhiyi; even if he didn't attend, they could handle everything. This gave him more time to spend with Xue Wanqiu.

But Xue Wanqiu had been very busy lately. After being brushed off several times, a flicker of displeasure stirred in Fang Zhiyi's heart.

However, he never imagined the downfall of the Northern Dynasty would come so abruptly. In just one night, the capital erupted with battle cries. The Imperial Guard rebelled. Apart from a few of his personal guards, he found himself surrounded by enemies on all sides!

It wasn't until he saw his own key ministers clustering around Xue Wanqiu as she stepped forward that he remained in a daze.

Fang Zhiyi was imprisoned. He wanted to ask Wanqiu what had really happened, but no one answered him.

It was only on the day a eunuch brought a pot of poisoned wine that he learned Xue Wanqiu, with the help of several men, had become the first empress regnant since the dynasty's founding. Today was her coronation day, the day the dynasty changed.

Fang Zhiyi felt as if struck by lightning. "Wanqiu... did she... did she mention me?"

The eunuch, taking pity on him, rambled on at length. From him, Fang Zhiyi learned that all his brothers were dead. The eldest had been torn apart by five horses, the second cut in half at the waist. The fourth brother suffered the worst fate; for cursing Xue Wanqiu, he had his tongue cut out and eyes gouged.

Xue Wanqiu's purpose in such cruelty was solely to intimidate the remnants of the former dynasty. But she still wasn't at ease, fearing a counterattack from the plot.

Immediately afterward, families connected to the imperial clan were purged. Not even infants under a year old escaped. It was said the orders came from the Imperial Guard commander, Wei Lin. Fang Zhiyi's mother and her entire family became headless ghosts. And he himself was the last remnant of the former dynasty.

Fang Zhiyi closed his eyes and drank the cup of poisoned wine.

"This old servant has told all he knows. Your Majesty, please do not blame me." The old eunuch pressed his palms together, bowing repeatedly. He believed in such things.

But as Fang Zhiyi fell, his lips still murmured Xue Wanqiu's name.

If I hadn't been born into the imperial family, would the ending have been different?

"Bullshit!" Fang Zhiyi, already somewhat depressed from becoming emperor again, grew even more so after reading the plot. "How utterly despicable this guy is!"

Xiao Hei, arms crossed, nodded. "Exactly! That woman is too wicked!"

Fang Zhiyi was taken aback. "I was talking about the original host!"

"Ah? Oh, oh, right."

The more Fang Zhiyi thought about it, the angrier he became, and he couldn't help but curse aloud. "What a damn simp..."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he bumped into someone around the corner. Fang Zhiyi saw a petite young woman. Rubbing her head, she looked up with a pained expression. Recognizing Fang Zhiyi's face, her eyes held confusion.

"Your Majesty, I just heard someone say 'simp'... Could it be you..."

Fang Zhiyi looked at her in surprise, then noticed the system following the girl. It looked rather dim-witted.

"A mission-taker," Xiao Hei's tentacles occasionally extended from its body.

Unexpectedly, the girl suddenly straightened up and bowed. "Hello, senior! I'm a novice! I look forward to your guidance!"

Fang Zhiyi was stunned. "Wait, what did I say?"

The girl grinned sheepishly. "An ancient emperor would never use a word like 'simp,' so you must be the senior sent to guide me, right?"

Fang Zhiyi glanced at her. He remembered this original character. Due to intense pressure from court ministers, even his mother had gotten involved, forcing him to reluctantly marry the daughter of an official. But he never touched her once until his death. He'd heard that on the day he was captured, this woman had set herself on fire and died.

He quickened his pace, putting distance between them. Staying away from mission-takers was necessary.

But the girl stuck to him like glue. "Senior, senior, what are we doing now? Are we going to put the female lead in her place?"

"Senior, senior, does your system have a shop?"

"Senior, my name is Xiaotao. You can call me Peach. What's your name, senior?"

Fang Zhiyi paused mid-step, looking back at her. Xiaotao? He actually knew one, but she was definitely not this noisy.

"Listen, you do your thing, I'll do mine. We have nothing to do with each other, understand?" Fang Zhiyi said patiently. He was realizing this mission-taker seemed genuinely a bit clueless.

Xiaotao nodded vigorously. "Understood! You're planning to first pretend to maintain the previous aloofness, then strike at the female lead at the critical moment!"

Fang Zhiyi opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.

Xiaotao walked away, muttering to herself.

"That system didn't detect me?" Fang Zhiyi watched the system that seemed as silly as Xiaotao.

Xiao Hei just glanced over. "A primary-level system. Quite stupid."

"That's fine." He turned and continued walking.

Xiao Hei imitated Xiaotao's tone. "Senior, what are you planning to do? Hey? Putting the female lead in her place is this way!"

Fang Zhiyi said nothing, simply raising a middle finger.

The current situation wasn't great. Wei Lin had already taken over as commander of the Imperial Guard. Xiao Ce and Liu Yan had also firmly established themselves. If only he had arrived earlier, things would have been much easier to handle.

Thinking this, Fang Zhiyi shot a glance at Xiao Hei, somewhat reproachful. Xiao Hei, not understanding, just grinned.

The silver lining was that Xue Wanqiu trusted him completely, having only bribed one minor eunuch to keep an eye on him.

Seeing Fang Zhiyi change into plain clothes and head out of the palace, the long-accustomed eunuch thought nothing of it. Even pretending to be busy to shirk his duties, which conveniently suited Fang Zhiyi's intentions.

Xue Wanqiu held the dress she had personally designed, immediately stepping forward as her male lead entered the courtyard.

"We really should have discussed this matter with His Majesty first. What we're doing is somewhat excessive."

Hearing this, Xue Wanqiu couldn't help but frown. My Brother Wei is truly an honest and kind man. Don't worry, Brother Wei, I will definitely not let you suffer! Xue Wanqiu hurried forward.

Xiao Ce and Liu Yan, who had entered the courtyard with Wei Lin, simultaneously glanced at the dress in Xue Wanqiu's hands. A twinge of sourness rose in their hearts, but both quickly suppressed it.

"Brother Wei, you know perfectly well the Emperor has no desire to attend court audiences."