After finishing reading the imperial edict, a smug look appeared on Eunuch Wang's face.
Although he was not the one issuing the orders, being the executor of such life-and-death power and watching others obediently accept their deaths under the edict still gave him a twisted sense of pleasure welling up in his heart.
Putting away the edict, he said lightly, General, accept the decree.
Without waiting for Ren Tianye to react, he gently waved his hand. A young eunuch behind him immediately brought forward a jug of wine.
The wine jug was made of pure silver, intricately carved, exquisite, and luxurious. The wine cup was also extraordinary, seemingly made of colored glaze and engraved with characters.
Eunuch Wang had someone pour the wine from the jug. Whatever poison it was, it actually rippled with a faint red hue through the translucent cup.
It looked like the color of blood.
It was a startling sight.
However, Ren Tianye, sitting on the tiger chair, only frowned slightly.
He understood the meaning of the edict. This could be considered his first interaction with Empress Xiao Mingzhao since his transmigration. Even if it was just through written words, it gave him a better understanding of her.
It was almost exactly as he had expected. No deviations at all.
Because of this, his heart did not even stir a single ripple.
Instead, he became interested in the Barbarian Third Prince, Tuoba Xiangtai, mentioned in Empress Xiao Mingzhao's edict.
Yunji City!
Tuoba Xiangtai wanted Yunji City!
This proved that the movements of Tuoba Xiangtai and the barbarians had deviated from his previous predictions.
He had originally thought that given the barbarians' style, after taking Shanhe City, they would undoubtedly march south without hesitation.
They would cross the Yellow River and directly threaten the capital.
At that time, with Empress Xiao Mingzhao captured, the Great Yu empire would be hesitant to act for fear of harming her.
But he never expected that the barbarians would not head south.
Instead, they were scheming for Yunji City.
Yunji City was the throat of the barbarians' southern passage. If they took Yunji City, it was a no-brainer that they were aiming for the currently empty Northern Frontier.
I somewhat underestimated these barbarians. Having been enemies with Great Yu for generations, now that they have the upper hand, they can actually hold back their immediate impulses and head straight for the Northern Frontier.
It seems that not everyone among the barbarians is simple-minded and all brawn.
They do possess some wisdom.
But...
A hint of sharpness flickered in Ren Tianye's eyes. Is my Yunji City something you can take just because you want to?
If you dare to come, I will make sure you never return.
You had better obediently head south to capture Xiao Mingzhao.
After the recent battle with the Imperial Guards, Ren Tianye was completely confident in the Yunji City fortified by Zhan Shubai.
This magnificent city, with its geographical advantages, could withstand a siege of a hundred thousand soldiers with only a few thousand men, and hold out for at least several months.
The barbarians' plot for Yunji City was pure delusion.
Ren Tianye...
Eunuch Wang's words interrupted Ren Tianye's thoughts. Why haven't you moved yet?
Her Majesty has personally issued an edict to you.
Ordering your swift death.
Why aren't you bowing your head in submission and coming over to drink this poisoned wine? What are you waiting for?
Waiting for the flowers to bloom?
Ren Tianye smiled slightly, gave Sun Xiang a meaningful look, and laughed, This fine wine looks excellent. Its color is vibrant, and its aroma is so rich that I can smell it from all the way over here.
If I do not use such fine wine to reward a guest who has traveled from afar, it would make me seem stingy.
I have never been a miserly person, so please, Eunuch, drink first.
Sun Xiang had already pinned Eunuch Wang down again, picking up the wine cup to pour it into Eunuch Wang's mouth. This terrified Eunuch Wang so much that his face, which had just recovered a bit of color, turned pale and bloodless again.
You, you, Ren Tianye, how bold of you...
This was bestowed upon you by Her Majesty. Do you know that even knowing you rebelled, Her Majesty did not pursue your responsibility, nor did she touch your Ren Duke Estate.
Her Majesty merely felt that you loved her too deeply, so she gave you a chance to turn over a new leaf.
Her Majesty will forever keep a place for you in her heart. What a great honor this is.
You refuse to die, but want me to die instead?
Murdering an imperial court official is a capital offense that warrants the execution of three generations of your family. Do you insist on dragging your Ren Duke Estate into a full clan execution?
The smile on Ren Tianye's lips grew even wider.
The Eunuch's words make sense. Considering you came from afar, you must be deeply trusted by Xiao Mingzhao. If you die because of her, she will surely keep a place for you in her heart as well.
You should be the one to enjoy this great honor.
Please, Eunuch, drink the wine!
Yes! With a forceful push, Sun Xiang poured the fine wine directly into Eunuch Wang's mouth. Eunuch Wang's bloodless face immediately flushed red.
Red from choking.
His eyes were filled with terror.
In his life, he had delivered edicts countless times. Every time, the recipient was subservient and obedient, not only executing Her Majesty's orders but also stuffing him with massive bribes.
But now...
He had swallowed the poisoned wine!
A poison that would not grant a swift death!
One must know, this poisoned wine had been swapped out.
It was originally a poison from the palace meant to grant a quick death, but he had taken silver from the fake young master of the Ren Duke Estate and swapped it for a poison that would rot the intestines and torture the victim for half a day before they died.
And now, he had drunk it himself?
Fear, agony, and mental collapse eventually turned into complete hysteria!
Ren Tianye, you are murdering an imperial envoy. Your crime warrants the execution of three generations! If you do this, Her Majesty will never again consider your deep affection and will definitely hold the Ren Duke Estate accountable.
Your grand Ren Duke Estate, a century-old commander's mansion, is going to fall completely.
Even if I die, you won't have it easy.
These words made Ren Tianye frown.
Only three generations?
He ordered, Sun Xiang.
Subordinate is here.
Isn't that a whole jug of wine? Offering Eunuch Wang only such a small cup makes us look too stingy. I have taught you long ago that a person shouldn't be petty.
Yes!
After his trip to Shanhe City, it was as if Sun Xiang's meridians had been unblocked; his comprehension had suddenly become incredibly high. He immediately pinned down the struggling Eunuch Wang and grabbed the jug of wine.
And poured it straight in.
Eunuch Wang's face turned even redder.
Desperately trying to block it while continuously being force-fed the wine made his face hold a deep crimson flush. At first glance, it almost looked like it had some rejuvenating effect.
The terror in his eyes intensified, and his words became even more hysterical.
Ren Tianye, you humiliate an imperial envoy! The crime warrants the execution of nine generations!
The Ren Duke Estate, everyone must die.
Not even the chickens and dogs will be spared.
Ren Tianye was still somewhat dissatisfied.
Only nine generations?
Shouldn't this warrant the execution of ten generations?
So he said coldly, Xiao Mingzhao is nothing but a lowly wench born of a prostitute, yet she stole the throne. For her own selfish desires, she trapped and killed the Chifeng Army, plunging the world into chaos, leaving the people with no means of livelihood, and trapping the commoners in deep suffering.
My Ren Duke Estate is a century-old commander's mansion. Although we take orders from the imperial court, we serve the world even more. How can we sit by and watch Xiao Mingzhao commit such perverse acts?
Under the orders of my royal father, I act according to the circumstances in the Northern Frontier, raising an army. One day, I will definitely break into the capital, slay Xiao Mingzhao, and restore the century-old pristine reputation of my Ren Duke Estate!
Eunuch Wang's eyes widened.
So your Ren Duke Estate has been plotting treason all along! You should be executed to the tenth generation! The tenth generation!
Ren Tianye let out a breath.
Now that felt good!
rowess are unmatched, commanding a million-strong army! Yet, the Emperor wants to depose him for the sake of a false prince? Hold on, are you throwing me into some female-oriented romance plot? How can I tolerate this? With a grand wave of his hand—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! Slander the Emperor? Very well, all of you shall die! ... The False Prince: "Although I am not the biological son, Father and Mother love me more. The throne should be mine!" The Female Lead: "Qin Xiao, you are the Emperor, and I am a commoner. If you wish to marry me, you must abdicate. Otherwise, you will never have me!" The Empress: "After we divorce, you must give me half the empire!" The Transmigrator Consort: "You worthless Emperor, why should I kneel to you? All men are equal—I advise you to be kind!" The Great General: "The enemy general is my childhood sweetheart. For her sake, I willingly abandon the frontier defenses!" The Retired Emperor: "Although Yu'er was adopted, I prefer him. Qin Xiao, you should abdicate and let him become Emperor!" ... Very well! So this is how you want to play? Facing this twisted world of female-oriented tropes, Qin Xiao grins and raises his hand to unleash—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! I am the Emperor. Why would I bother reasoning with you? Seal the gates! Leave none alive!
transmigrates into the world as the sect master of the Heavenly Yan Sect, which is on the verge of being wiped out. He binds a system that grants him cultivation power based on the number of disciples he has: for each disciple, he automatically gains a year's worth of cultivation every single day! Take one disciple: every day he gains 1 year of cultivation power. While others struggle through a year of bitter training, he gets the same just by sleeping through a single night. Take ten disciples: every day he gains 10 years of cultivation power. Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul—he breezes through all bottlenecks without lifting a finger. Take one hundred disciples: every day he gains 100 years of cultivation power. Even a Soul Transformation Venerable before him can’t survive a single blow. Take ten thousand disciples: every day he gains 10,000 years of cultivation power! With a wave of his hand, he topples empires. With a single step, he crushes the sacred grounds of the universe. ... While others fight tooth and nail for secret techniques, Lin Yan casually hands out Nascent Soul-level cultivation manuals as beginner textbooks. While others strain to find talented recruits, Lin Yan opens his doors to anyone—so long as they’re human. In just three short years, the Heavenly Yan Sect went from a backwater sect made up of three crumbling huts to a sacred land that every cultivator under heaven would kill to enter. ... One day, otherworldly demon gods invade, with a million demon soldiers pressing down upon the realm. Lin Yan, yawning, rises from his lounge chair and glances at the system panel: [Current Disciples: 1.28 million] [Daily Cultivation Increase: 1.28 million years] He waves his hand casually, and the countless demon soldiers are reduced to ashes in an instant. “So noisy… interrupting my fishing.”
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
