Chapter 216 - Chapter 216: 216 Supreme (1/2)
Chapter 216: 216 Supreme
Translator: 549690339
Dawn broke.
Zhao Yi called over one of the servant girls and said, “Change my clothes for me.”
Soon, one of them carried over a dragon robe and helped him put it on.
Donning the dragon robe once again filled him with the sense of power that came with life and death at his command, and also the heavy burden on his shoulders.
For a moment, he seemed to be transported back to that night eighteen years earlier.
A group of court officials stormed into his imperial residence, promptly bowing before him in unison.
He had never experienced such a spectacle before and it terrified him.
Back then, he was the least valued among many princes.
That one time, the emperor took all the other sons hunting, but left him out.
He was well aware that he was not favored by his own father, and as such preferred to avoid being seen in his father’s presence.
He originally thought that he would live his entire life without gaining any notoriety.
Little did he know, fate had a big joke in store for him.
On that night, his father, and all his brothers died. He became the only heir to the throne.
He was practically carried into the imperial palace.
A few days later, he was enthroned as the emperor.
The first time he put on the dragon robe, he was mostly terrified, feeling as if he was carrying a thousand pounds of weight on his shoulders.
At the same time, he was worried that the five hundred years of the Zhao family’s rule would collapse under his reign,
And feared Wu Da, the famously rebellious man, would storm the imperial palace and behead him.
During his first year on the throne, he was scared to death and treaded lightly.
Not until he exterminated the entire Wu Ni family, was he finally able to lay down the worries that had kept him on edge.
In the following six years, he dedicated himself to governing the state, but the condition of the country progressively worsened.
Distressed and battered by the death of the empress, his weak body completely fell apart.
It was then he met the most special woman in his life.
He adored her like a man infatuated with love, so much that he quickly elevated her to the position of empress.
Due to his physical condition, he couldn’t grant his empress the experience of a normal woman. Because of this, he doubled his attentiveness to her.
He was even willing to share his supreme power as emperor with her.
Moreover, she did exceptionally well, managing the state affairs meticulously.
However, he noticed that the empress’ visits to him became less and less frequent…
“When did the empress last visit me?”
Zhao Yi momentarily lost his thoughts.
It was two months ago when, while discussing Gu Yang, he noticed a flash of curiosity in the empress’s eyes…
A sharp pain pricked his heart.
In his mind, a gloomy voice echoed, “That wretched woman is fickle as water. You’ve given everything to her, but she has another man in her heart. Perhaps, they’ve already desecrated your royal bed in the very palace…”
“Shut up!”
Zhao Yi’s expression distorted, like a wounded beast.
“We deserve to die!”
The several maidens and eunuchs next to him were so frightened that they threw themselves on the ground, shivering.
In his mind, the tantalizing voice continued, “If you devour them, you can possess the power you’ve always dreamed of. Then you can strip away everything you’ve bestowed upon that woman, kill that other man, let her cry and beg for your forgiveness…”
Zhao Yi’s breathing became heavier and heavier as an image of the empress crying and begging for his forgiveness appeared before his eyes, causing a faint sense of pleasure.
Power!
Yes, I need power!
The moment this thought was conceived, it spread like wildfire, occupying his entire mind.
Finally, he stretched out his hand and pressed it onto the head of the nearest eunuch. A surge of dark energy appeared behind him, transformed into a giant mouth, and swallowed the eunuch whole. The two beside him were also not spared.
Zhao Yi felt a surge of power flood into him, an unprecedented feeling of strength.
In the blink of an eye, the three eunuchs were completely gone, only their clothes remaining in their place.
“Not enough, still not enough!”
Zhao Yi’s face flushed. The feeling of such tremendous power was irresistible to him.
He needed even greater power!
In Chengtian Palace, the dragon throne in the center was vacant, with a smaller chair beside it where the empress sat.
Below, dozens of court officials stood in two rows.
In the front row, were three men wearing python robes, the princes who were qualified to participate in politics.
This was a decree issued by the emperor a year ago.
Everyone is well aware that this was to groom successors. It would all depend on who performed better.
At this time, a minister was presenting a report. The main topic was the rebellion of the Red Venerate cult.