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

Seeing Li Fu'an slap himself, Zhao Yu coughed lightly as a reminder.

"Eunuch Fu'an, is it... time to go to court next?"

He didn't have time to watch the old eunuch slap him; he needed to quickly accumulate role-playing points to gain rewards and become stronger.

This reminder brought Li Fu'an back to his senses from self-blame.

He slowly raised his head and looked at Zhao Yu, a fierce glint appearing in his cloudy eyes.

This child must not be allowed to live!

He can have such an imposing presence simply by changing his clothes. If given more time to learn His Majesty's essence, wouldn't he be able to pass for the real thing?

No, there are too many variables if we wait for the wolf army to enter the city. After the three-day court session, this old servant must take action personally to ensure everything is in order.

A chilling killing intent instantly locked onto Zhao Yu.

Zhao Yu also noticed the murderous intent in Li Fu'an's eyes. In just a moment, he knew that Li Fu'an's acting was too good, which made the old eunuch wary.

Just as he thought, what a loyal subject!

But there was no other way; he had to start reaping the rewards of his role.

We can't just give up playing the emperor because we're afraid of the consequences, can we?

For him now, the ability to portray a character is the most important asset for survival!

With a blank expression, Eunuch Li took out a jet-black jade pendant from his waist and casually tossed it to Zhao Yu.

"What? Can't wait to become emperor?"

"Hehe, no matter how well you pretend, it's useless. Everyone's aura is different. You don't have dragon aura. A master at the Grandmaster level can see through your disguise at a glance."

"You got off easy. This is the East Sea Flood Dragon's Reverse Scale Domino, which can conceal your aura. Even Grandmasters cannot detect it, and even Celestial Realm experts would find it difficult to distinguish without special techniques."

These words, seemingly meant to explain Zhao Yu's actions, were actually a warning to him.

Let Zhao Yu know that no matter how much he resembles the emperor, it's useless; a fake is still a fake.

Zhao Yu naturally understood the implied meaning, but he didn't care.

There's no point in worrying about these things now. What he needs to do is figure out the situation, reap the rewards, and find a way to survive.

He looked down at the black dominoes in his hand; they felt cool to the touch, yet smooth and warm to the touch, like jade.

Zhao Yu's lips curled up slightly.

Although I don't know what level Grandmaster Realm or Celestial Realm are, just hearing the names tells me that these are good things.

Received!

Zhao Yu hung the dominoes on his waist without any hesitation.

As Li Gonggong watched his actions, his eyes grew increasingly cold.

"Remember this: after the court session, you only need to do one thing: after I give you a look, you let me announce the imperial decree."

"We'll take care of the rest for you."

"If you dare to speak or act recklessly and ruin His Majesty's grand plans, I guarantee I'll make you wish you were dead!"

"Thank you for your concern, Father-in-law." Zhao Yu wore a perfectly measured smile. "However, I may value my life more than you imagine."

"snort."

Li Fu'an snorted coldly and said no more.

He stepped back, bowed, and stood behind Zhao Yu with his hands at his sides, looking every bit like a loyal old servant.

The next second, his high-pitched yet powerful voice resounded throughout the palace.

"Your Majesty, please come to court!"

Zhao Yu took a deep breath, straightened the hem of his dragon robe, and walked out of the hall.

Outside the palace gate, the imperial carriage had been waiting for a long time.

Unlike before, this time, the eunuchs kneeling around the imperial carriage no longer had their faces covered with black cloths.

Zhao Yu stepped into the dragon carriage in a few strides.

This time, he walked in himself and truly felt how spacious and comfortable the sedan chair was. It was more than enough room for one person to sit or even to lie down and roll around.

A voice called out from outside the sedan chair, "Let's go!"

The sedan chair shuddered slightly, then began to move forward smoothly.

After sitting for an unknown amount of time, the imperial carriage slowly came to a stop outside a palace far more magnificent and splendid than the Tangquan Palace.

"Your Majesty, we have arrived."

Li Fu'an's voice rang out from outside.

Zhao Yu lifted the sedan curtain and stepped out.

Looking around, the magnificent hall was filled with civil and military officials, who were already lined up on both sides, completely silent.

Guided by Li Fu'an, Zhao Yu walked through the main gate and onto the long red carpet that symbolized supreme power.

At the same time, a eunuch shouted "Greetings!" at the top of his lungs.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

Splash!

On both sides of the hall, the two rows of ministers who had been standing straight suddenly knelt down like dominoes that had been toppled.

Zhao Yu walked past them step by step and arrived at the ninth-tiered platform at the top of the main hall.

He turned around and slowly sat down on the dragon-carved throne.

Li Fu'an's shrill voice rang out again.

"Attend court!"

The kneeling officials shouted in unison.

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Although the voices were in unison, they sounded rather weak to Zhao Yu.

Li Fu'an whispered, "It's time for all my beloved ministers to rise."

Zhao Yu understood, but didn't say anything.

Instead, he lazily rested his right elbow on the armrest of the dragon throne, propped up his cheek, and then impatiently waved his left hand downwards.

Li Fu'an frowned, but still shouted loudly, "Rise!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Everyone then stood up abruptly.

Only now did Zhao Yu truly see the true nature of the court officials.

The two rows on the left are civil officials dressed in robes adorned with various birds, with an elderly man at the head of the group, his body hunched over, his hair white, and a cane with a crane's head in his hand.

On the right, in two rows, were military officers clad in sturdy armor. Leading them were two imposing middle-aged generals, one of whom wore a robe embroidered with a four-clawed python dragon.

Li Fu'an stepped forward, and his shrill voice rang out again.

"If you have something to report, speak now; if not, leave the court!"

The words fell.

From the ranks of civil officials, a minister dressed in the robes of a third-rank official with a stern face stepped forward and bowed.

"Your Majesty, I, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, have a memorial to present."

"I have heard that Your Majesty allowed the four imperial concubines to leave the palace alone by carriage this morning. This is not in accordance with the proper etiquette."

"The departure of the Imperial Concubine would damage the royal family's reputation; how could she be allowed to leave so easily?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the middle-aged general in the four-clawed python robe in the right-hand ranks of the military officers sneered.

"Minister Sun, your information travels incredibly fast. His Majesty only made the decision this morning, and you already know?"

The Vice Minister of Rites remained expressionless and bowed slightly in a show of humility.

"This old minister was on his way to court when he happened to see the four imperial concubines' carriages leaving the palace in a grand procession. That's when I became worried, fearing it might damage the etiquette of our Great Liang and the majesty of His Majesty."

The general in the python robe snorted coldly and spoke in a gruff voice.

"Isn't it enough that His Majesty is still here?"

It really is a makeshift operation.

Instead of discussing important military and national affairs, why are they discussing whether it is proper for the imperial concubine to leave the palace during court sessions?

Zhao Yu was about to wave his hand to dismiss the two, but then abruptly put it down.

and many more……

What does "It's enough that His Majesty is still here" mean?

Why does it sound like you're afraid the emperor will disappear?

Could it be... that they're afraid the Emperor will run away?

The more Zhao Yu thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

He's been used as a scapegoat even though he's a fake emperor; there's a high chance the real emperor has fled.

Thinking of this, Zhao Yu slowly sat up straight and put on a playful expression.

"Oh? Then, according to Minister Sun's suggestion, why don't I issue an edict immediately to summon the Imperial Concubine and the others back?"

Upon hearing this, Li Fu'an, who had been standing with his hands at his sides beside the dragon throne, suddenly became anxious!

"Your Majesty, the decree cannot be changed lightly!"

As he spoke, Li Fu'an kept giving him meaningful glances.

Seeing Li Fu'an's expression, Zhao Yu understood.

Zhao Yu has most likely really run away.

But it's good that they ran away!

He's gone. In this vast capital of Liang, he's the only one left, "Zhao Yu"!