If you're made a fake emperor, why did you change the country's name?

Inside the quiet study, the candlelight flickered, and Zhao Yu's shadow was reflected on the golden gauze curtain, as if he had fallen into a river of quicksand.

The imperial edict announcing the change of the dynasty's name spread throughout the capital at lightning speed, and then, as if it had sprouted wings, flew to every corner of the Great Liang.

A stone stirred up a thousand waves.

In the capital, the streets and alleys were abuzz with discussion.

Some people cheered, believing that this was a sign of a new emperor and a new era, and that the Great Liang had escaped death and deserved a new life.

Some scholars beat their chests and stamped their feet, denouncing this move as a betrayal of their ancestors, a shake-up of the nation's foundation, and a sure way to bring chaos to the world.

A flurry of calls and petitions came from all over the world, some supporting, some opposing, and many more subtly probing the bottom line of this emperor whose temperament had drastically changed.

Inside the imperial city.

In secret, the remnants of those aristocratic families who had been massacred were beginning to stir again, colluding with each other in an attempt to find an opportunity to exploit the turmoil.

Qiu Ping stood below the throne, reporting in a low voice the movements of various parties that the Embroidered Uniform Guard had gathered, from the private discussions of court officials to the secret gatherings of aristocratic families in the city, down to the smallest detail.

"...Your Majesty, many people are watching and waiting, as if they are waiting for something to happen during the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven."

After reviewing the last memorial, Zhao Yu placed his vermilion brush on the inkstone with a soft sound.

He looked up, his face expressionless.

"Make them wait."

He picked up the teacup beside him and blew away the foam.

"Fish need enough time to bite the hook with confidence."

……

It is dozens of miles outside the capital.

A dilapidated temple abandoned for many years, covered in cobwebs, with the Buddha statue's head lying on the ground, covered in a thick layer of dust.

A cold wind blew in through the dilapidated window, causing the oil lamp in front of the shrine to flicker.

Snapped!

A rough ceramic teacup was slammed to the ground and shattered into pieces.

The scalding hot tea splashed out, mixing with the dirt.

"He dares!"

Zhao Yu's eyes were bloodshot, his chest heaved violently, and his whole body was trembling.

He pointed in the direction of the capital, his voice becoming shrill and distorted.

"He's just a double! A beggar I picked up from a mud pit! What right does he have to threaten the Zhao family's imperial title!"

"They've rebelled! They've all rebelled!"

He roared hysterically, the shards of broken porcelain cutting his palms and drawing blood, but he was completely unaware.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger! Your health is of utmost importance!"

Hai Ping'an immediately knelt down, but sighed inwardly.

Ever since the beggar rose to power, the emperor he served has become increasingly irritable.

However, he owed the late emperor a debt, having promised to protect Daliang.

Grandpa Hai took a deep breath and began to persuade him:

"Your Majesty, now is not the time to be angry! That traitor's move is a fatal blow! We must ensure the success of this operation!"

"Otherwise, once the country's name is changed and the era name is altered, not only will the hearts of the people be pinned on the beggar, but the very fate of the nation, in the darkest of times, will likely vanish completely!"

"Therefore, the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven in three days is our last chance! If we miss it, the Great Liang dynasty will truly change hands!"

These words calmed Zhao Yu down a little from his rage.

He was panting heavily, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms.

Yes, it was the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven.

That was his last chance to take everything back.

"Master Hu..."

Zhao Yu turned his head and looked at the Taoist priest in the corner who had been resting with his eyes closed, seemingly detached from the matter.

"How confident are you about the plan you've described?"

The Taoist priest, known as Master Hu, slowly opened his eyes, and the stars and the sea appeared in his pupils.

It then slowly turned back to black.

Master Hu stroked his beard, a cold smile playing on his lips.

"Your Majesty, have no worries. This old Taoist priest has an 80% chance of success in this sacrificial ceremony."

He made an eight gesture with his hand and smiled sweetly.

"I, a humble Taoist, observed the celestial phenomena last night and, with my lifespan of thirty years, altered a slight anomaly."

On the day of the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven, a celestial dog will surely devour the sun; this celestial phenomenon is enough to weaken the beggar's fate.

"They are weak while we are strong; Your Majesty has nothing to worry about."

"Besides, doesn't Your Majesty still have spies in the court who are loyal to Your Majesty?"

In addition, the old Taoist priest had some experts in the martial arts world who had laid an ambush in Lianghe, a thousand miles away, waiting for the beggar!

Upon hearing this plan, Zhao Yu's breathing became rapid.

"Very well! I never expected that beggar could push me to such an extent. I was too arrogant."

Master Hu shook his head and said confidently, "Your Majesty need not belittle me. I foresaw three years ago that golden light would descend upon Daliang."

The throne of this Great Liang Dynasty is destined to be yours!

This world is destined to be yours!

This destiny rests with you!

Zhao Yu's mind was completely at ease, and a smug look returned to his face.

"May the Master calculate again, what is the fate of that beggar?"

Master Hu frowned almost imperceptibly.

He had already anticipated the current emperor's fate, but the outcome left him completely baffled.

"Your Majesty, this man's fate... I cannot fathom it."

Seeing Zhao Yu's expression change, he asked, "Could it be that his fate is even more powerful than mine?"

Master Hu immediately explained.

"Your Majesty need not worry, it is not so."

The old Taoist priest's prediction of his fate was shrouded in mystery.

This situation is mostly because he has been tainted by His Majesty's dragon aura and has taken a position that does not belong to him, causing his original destiny to be disrupted by the will of Heaven.

Ultimately, it was nothing more than borrowing His Majesty's good fortune.

"That's right!"

Zhao Yu laughed smugly.

"A beggar is a beggar!"

If I hadn't made him emperor, he wouldn't have been worth a fart from me even in eight lifetimes!

His life belongs to me!

Hai Ping'an, who was standing to the side, also spoke up in a sinister tone.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, this old servant has already arranged for dozens of assassins to infiltrate the sacrificial procession and the Imperial Guards."

"Once the ceremony begins and the celestial phenomena change, they will coordinate from within and without to create chaos!"

Zhao Yu looked out the window towards the capital, his face contorted with a ferocious glee.

Zhao Yu, your death is near!

This empire belongs to me!

……

Three days later, it was still dark.

Inside the Xuanzheng Hall, Zhao Yu had already changed into an elaborate dragon robe with black and gold thread.

His robe was embroidered with the sun, moon, stars, mountains, and rivers, which made him look extremely majestic.

Meng Qianshan, dressed in military uniform with a sword at his waist, strode in from outside the hall and knelt on one knee.

"Your Majesty, ten thousand imperial guards have assembled outside the palace, and the sacrificial procession is ready to depart at any time."

Zhao Yu adjusted his cuffs, his movements unhurried and deliberate.

"Have all those who were supposed to come arrived?"

Meng Qianshan raised his head and answered in a muffled voice.

"As Your Majesty instructed, Commander Qiu's men have been keeping a close watch on all suspicious aristocratic residences and officials in the city."

The doctor also took care of it in the morning.

Furthermore, I have already dispatched five thousand of the elite troops, broken into smaller units, to ambush along the route from the palace to the Temple of Heaven.

Zhao Yu nodded and stood up from the dragon throne.

He walked down the steps one by one and came to stand in front of Meng Qianshan.

"Let's go then."

His voice was flat, revealing no emotion.

"It's time for this farce to end."