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

The Imperial City of Daliang.

At noon, the imperial city was devoid of its usual festive atmosphere. The imperial guards searched the city thoroughly, trying to find the emperor who had disappeared into the fog!

Instead of protesting, many people spontaneously joined the search.

They all shared the same goal: to find the wise ruler who would bring them a better life!

At this moment, a riot broke out at the gate of the imperial city.

Then a dragon carriage escorted by a group of Sakura warriors appeared.

Seated atop the imperial carriage was Zhao Yu, who bore an exact resemblance to Zhao Yu!

When the imperial guards saw that familiar imperial face, they were first stunned, then excitedly knelt down in unison.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!!"

The voice was exhilarating!

The people along the way turned their heads to look when they heard the sound.

Upon seeing Zhao Yu's face, she was immediately moved to tears.

thump!

thump!

.......

Countless people were moved to kneel down.

"His Majesty is alright!"

"His Majesty is back!"

"Long live the Emperor!!!"

Their heartfelt gratitude.

Little did they know, the person aboard the imperial carriage was not the one they were grateful to...

Surrounded by a group of Sakura warriors, Zhao Yu walked down the long street, listening to the deafening cheers of "Long live the Emperor!" around him, a sickly smile playing on his lips.

"Hehehe~ Hahahaha!!!"

After the laughter subsided, his face became contorted with rage.

He enjoys the feeling of being respected by everyone.

But he also knew that the more respect these people showed him, the more successful the beggar would be, and he would be even more successful!

The more you fail, the more likely you are to fail!

Zhao Yu's eyes flashed with madness as he gritted his teeth and said, "These things should have been mine! That beggar only stole my things! I want him dead!"

He had arranged everything; the beggar was to be his substitute, to die amidst the chaos of war in the Wolf Kingdom.

Taking advantage of the situation, his spies eliminated dissenting voices in the court, and finally, with the help of his uncle, he returned to the court and completely took control of the Liang Dynasty!

But what about the beggar?

He disobeyed the imperial decree and refused to die for him, causing him so much loss.

Tap tap tap~

At this moment, the civil and military officials rushed over and breathed a sigh of relief when they saw the unharmed figures on the imperial carriage.

"Your Majesty has pacified the wolf kingdom, eradicated the parasites, and brought blessings to the people. Heaven will surely protect you, and all will be well!"

"Long live Your Majesty!"

...........

While everyone was cheering, only Prime Minister Wang Zhang noticed that the person next to His Majesty was from Ying Kingdom, and his heart skipped a beat.

Not right.

Why are there a group of Sakura warriors standing next to His Majesty?

And what about Commander Meng and the others?

Could it be... that His Majesty has been defeated by Zhao Yu?!

Thinking of this, Wang Zhang broke out in a cold sweat.

But he didn't show it; instead, he suppressed his emotions and began to think carefully.

He must fight for the last interests of his Majesty!

Seeing the cheers of the civil and military officials, Zhao Yu grinned maliciously and asked a meaningful question:

"All is well? Hehehe... That truly puts my mind at ease."

"Your Majesty, please don't say that. Your safe return is a blessing for the nation."

Upon hearing this, the official assumed he was about to be favored and immediately began to flatter him.

A warrior from the Sakura Kingdom was about to make a move, but Zhao Yu stopped him, coldly saying, "Return to the palace and convene a court assembly."

The crowd then noticed the Sakura soldiers and, though somewhat puzzled, responded nonetheless:

"Yes."

As everyone arrived at the Xuanzheng Hall, they took their seats.

The same official who had spoken out earlier stepped forward again, eager to strike while the iron was hot and offer further flattery.

"Your Majesty, you are truly the Son of Heaven and Earth! In just one day, you have managed to subdue these damned Sakura people..."

Whoosh!

Before he could finish speaking, one of the Sakura generals next to Zhao Yu suddenly moved.

A cold light flashed.

The official's head rolled to the ground, and the blood spurting from his neck splattered all over the face of the minister next to him.

"what!"

A gasp rang out in the court, and everyone turned pale with fright.

Zhao Yu sat on the dragon throne, watching this scene indifferently, his voice devoid of any emotion.

"The Sakura Kingdom is our best friend in Liang. Anyone who dares to speak disrespectfully to them again will face the consequences."

The entire hall was deathly silent, with only tense breathing audible.

Everyone felt a sense of unfamiliarity and fear.

The Prime Minister's heart sank to the bottom.

Oh no, this is really bad!

It seems His Majesty... really died at Zhao Yu's hands?

Zhao Yu was very satisfied with this effect; for him, fear was the best way to control people.

He leaned back on the dragon throne, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest, and issued his first imperial edict.

"Issue an imperial decree: effective immediately, disband the Imperial Guards, and transfer all military power to the inner court, to be personally controlled by me."

Upon hearing this, the ministers exchanged bewildered glances.

The Minister of War suddenly stepped forward and said urgently, "Your Majesty, this is absolutely unacceptable! The Imperial Guards are the foundation of the nation, protecting the capital. How can they be disbanded so easily? Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

A cruel smile curled at the corner of Zhao Yu's mouth.

It was that same Sakura general again, with the same flashing sword.

The Minister of War swayed, then fell straight down, a huge bloody hole in his chest.

The court was in complete uproar. All the officials were trembling with fear, and several of the more timid ones had already collapsed to the ground.

"Does anyone dare to question my words?"

Zhao Yu's chilling voice echoed in the hall, and no one dared to respond.

He enjoyed the feeling of having the power of life and death, and continued to announce the second imperial edict.

"The Meng family colluded with foreign enemies, plotting a rebellion; their crimes are unforgivable! By imperial decree, the entire Meng clan shall be executed immediately!"

"Empress Meng Qing, as a daughter of the Meng family, is also a member of the rebel faction. She is to be imprisoned and executed at noon!"

These words were like a thunderclap, exploding in the deathly silent imperial court.

The civil officials who had been brutally suppressed could no longer hold back.

An elderly imperial censor with white hair walked out tremblingly and knelt on the ground.

"Your Majesty, please reconsider! The Meng family has been loyal and virtuous for generations; there is absolutely no way they would plot a rebellion! Moreover... Moreover, Her Majesty the Empress, she... she is carrying your imperial heir!"

"Dragon heir?"

Zhao Yu suddenly burst into laughter, a sharp and maniacal laugh.

"Pregnant? Then she should be killed even more!"

"That little bastard, does he even deserve to live in this world?"

These words plunged everyone into an icy abyss.

This is no longer a tyrant, but a madman, a complete and utter madman!

Looking at the terrified faces below, Zhao Yu felt an even greater sense of pleasure.

He wants to destroy everything that the double left behind, everything!

"There is a third decree."

He stood up, opened his arms, and shouted frantically in a declarative tone.

"We cede three prefectures and thirty-two cities in the northern border of Daliang to Ying Kingdom as a sign of eternal friendship between our two nations! We also invite Ying Kingdom's elite troops to garrison Daliang to jointly safeguard peace!"

"Use the resources of Daliang to win the favor of foreign powers!"

These words caused an uproar in the imperial court.

Ceding territory? Paying reparations?

And they want to allow other countries' troops to be stationed on their own territory?

This is something only a ruler who has lost his country would do!

"Your Majesty! You mustn't!"

"The legacy of our ancestors must not be easily abandoned!"

"Your Majesty, are you destined to become a ruler who brings about the downfall of his kingdom?"

The courtiers were outraged, and even those who had been terrified before now showed signs of struggle and anger.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the hall.

Several Sakura warriors led a group of people in, with Empress Meng Qing at the head.

Zhao Yu's gaze fell on Meng Qing's slightly protruding belly, and the look of madness on his face intensified.

You stinking beggar, aren't you so powerful? Aren't you so popular?

Now, in front of the entire court, I will kill your woman and your unborn child!

As soon as Meng Qing entered the main hall, she glanced at the person on the dragon throne, and the smile on her face vanished instantly, her pupils dilating in shock.

not him!

Although they look exactly alike, that madness and sinister aura is definitely not that of her husband!

She was extremely anxious and immediately sent a secret telepathic message to her personal maid, Peach Blossom.

"Peach Blossom, run! He's not His Majesty! Go find Qiu Ping, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and tell him what happened here!"

Immediately, she feigned anger and scolded Peach Blossom.

"How come I only just found out about His Majesty's return to the palace? Go to the Imperial Clan Court to receive your punishment!"

She wanted to use this method to give Peach Blossom a chance to escape.

"Ah?! Your Majesty!" Upon hearing the telepathic message, Peach Blossom was completely flustered and lost her composure.

This behavior is so obvious to an ordinary person that it's clearly problematic.

"Trying to run away?"

Zhao Yu, sitting on the dragon throne, saw through her little scheme at a glance and sneered.

"The Empress is truly touching. Even though she is about to die, she still wants to send a message."

He waved his hand.

"Guards, cook this slut and her unborn child alive!"

Meng Qing's face turned deathly pale.

Several Sakura warriors grinned and stepped forward, reaching out to grab Meng Qing.

Upon hearing this, Wang Zhang was greatly alarmed. He activated his meager innate internal energy, desperately trying to fight back.

Just at this critical moment, several shrill screams suddenly came from outside the main hall.

"Help! Run!"

"A demon god! He is a demon god!"

Immediately afterwards, a furious voice rang out, shaking the entire hall!

"Who dares?!"

As soon as the words fell, with a loud "boom!", a figure stepped over the corpse of a young general from the Sakura Kingdom and arrived at the entrance of the main hall!

The newcomer wore a tattered dragon robe, stained with blood and filth, and had a sharp gaze, like a god of death descending upon the world!

Behind him followed Shen Miaochu, whose face was cold and aloof, and Eunuch Hai, whose body was wrapped in sand.

The entire Xuanzheng Hall fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone stared wide-eyed, looking incredulously at the entrance and then at the dragon throne.

Two...identical emperors?

Time seemed to stand still in the imperial court.

Zhao Yu, sitting on the dragon throne, froze his madness and smugness in an instant, replaced by utter shock.

How could he possibly be back so soon!

But the shock lasted only a moment; he quickly calmed down and burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! Very well, I was just wondering when you, this imposter, would walk right into my trap, but I didn't expect you to actually dare to come!"

Zhao Yu walked into the main hall step by step, looked directly at Zhao Yu, and said coldly:

"Zhao Yu, you will die today!"