I Rely On The Collapse Of The Character Setting To Survive In The Hands Of The Male Lead Chapter 253

Chapter 253

“Chief Steward Sheng, what are you doing here?” Chief Steward Hai looked at Chief Steward Sheng coming out of Qin Zheng Palace, his face still wearing a faint smile.

“Please don’t tease me, sir. Now, I’m just a lowly servant responsible for managing miscellaneous tasks,” Chief Steward Sheng’s expression was grim, his face bruised and swollen. He held cleaning tools of various sizes, clearly having been treated harshly. “I… I just wanted to see His Majesty and help with the cleaning duties for a while, so I came over to take a look.”

Chief Steward Hai naturally understood his cautious intentions. The task of cleaning Qin Zheng Palace tonight was probably sought after by him, hoping to make a pitiful display in front of the Emperor, to see if there was a chance to be transferred back. After all, he was innocently implicated in the last incident.

However, judging by his current expression, it seemed that the Emperor, who was currently in a bad mood, didn’t even notice.

“Thank you for your hard work, Chief Steward Sheng. You should go back quickly. It’s going to be a restless night.” Chief Steward Hai said with a smile.

Chief Steward Sheng left with an unpleasant expression.

Chief Steward Hai didn’t take it seriously, after all, there were more important matters tonight.

Stepping through the gates of Qin Zheng Palace, Chief Steward Hai maintained a facade of urgency. As he opened the door, faint sounds of commotion could be heard from outside.

“Your Majesty, it’s bad news! Prime Minister Li and Zhao Cheng, accompanied by rebel forces, have suddenly appeared inside the capital and are about to storm the palace. It seems that the Imperial Guards are unable to stop them.”

“What!” The Emperor exclaimed, visibly shocked, as other officials rushed in to report the situation.

Pale-faced, the Emperor immediately began to deploy troops and make arrangements.

After commanding the personnel to go out, the Emperor immediately handed Chief Steward Hai a token, instructing him to mobilize troops outside the city. He also assigned one of his personal guards to escort Chief Steward Hai out secretly. After all, he couldn’t fully trust anyone at the moment. Only with them together could he feel at ease.

Chief Steward Hai immediately expressed deep gratitude for the Emperor’s trust and left with the token. Although outwardly thankful, he breathed a sigh of relief inwardly. During a palace coup, eunuchs like him were the most vulnerable. At this moment, he just needed to follow Chu Lishu’s instructions and go out with the token without taking any action.

As for the Imperial guard escorting him, they would naturally be dealt with by the experts from the Blood Abyss Pavilion.

By the time they left, the rebel army had already breached the palace gates, and the tumultuous noise echoed throughout the entire palace.

Except for the Emperor, almost all the concubines and ladies of the palace were taken to the Empress Dowager’s palace.

The Emperor listened to the battle reports while struggling to suppress his cough. After identifying the source of the poison, he had managed to recover somewhat, but now, with his emotions stirred up, he felt like he was about to collapse.

There were still many palace maids and guards in the hall. Seeing the Emperor in such a state, they couldn’t help but feel anxious. Was the Emperor really unable to hold on anymore?

As the situation with the Imperial Guards worsened, and the sound of battle drew closer to Qin Zheng Palace, the Emperor’s expression grew increasingly grim. Palace attendants and guards hurried in and out of the hall.

Suddenly, an arrow shot into the gate, causing the surrounding attendants to scream and cower.

The Emperor immediately rose to his feet, gripping his sword, but as he stood up, he was overcome by a violent coughing fit and slumped back onto the dragon throne.

“Quickly, close the gates! Assign more people to assist and guard them. We must not let them come any closer!”

Several shadow guards had no choice but to join the fight.

The Emperor never imagined that such a thing would happen tonight, and no one was prepared for it.

He had only been on the throne for five years, and he had been diligent in governance and loved by the people, much more so than his elder brother. Yet, he had fallen to the point of being besieged in his own palace.

The Emperor grew angrier as he thought more about it and shouted, “Someone, bring Concubine Mei and the Fourth Prince to me.”

As soon as the Emperor shouted, the attendants quickly went to carry out his orders. The Fourth Prince was with the Empress Dowager, while Concubine Mei was in the Cold Palace, both in the innermost part of the palace.

Wasn’t the rebellion led by Zhao Cheng and Prime Minister Li for them? With hostages in his hands, there was no need to worry. If they dared to break in, he would let them see the corpses of Concubine Mei and the Fourth Prince.

At this moment, the Emperor disregarded the Fourth Prince’s status, even though in his heart, the Fourth Prince was still his son. His own life wasn’t as important as the situation at hand. Moreover, the rebellion was led by the Fourth Prince’s maternal grandfather, with the aim of putting the Fourth Prince on the throne.

In other words, as long as the Fourth Prince was alive, he remained the only hope for these rebels. After all, unless the court’s corruption and incompetence led to unbearable suffering for the people, no one could rebel without bearing the infamy of history. Supporting a member of the imperial bloodline was their only legitimate course of action.

The number of people in the palace had dwindled significantly, and suddenly the doors were forcefully pushed open from outside.

Entering were not ordinary palace attendants, but eunuchs dressed in imposing attire, wielding sharp blades. These were the assassins left behind by Chief Steward Hai for Chu Lishu.

The Emperor sensed trouble immediately and called for protection. Palace attendants began to scatter, while the hidden shadow guards and the imperial guards rushed forward to counter the threat.

After a fierce struggle, the intruders gained the upper hand completely. The Emperor, protected by his attendants, attempted to flee from behind.

But as he moved to the side, his path was blocked by a figure.

The Emperor focused his gaze and recognized the person. Before he could speak, two of his attendants beside him were struck by hidden weapons, falling to the ground lifeless.

The Emperor swiftly drew his sword, facing the approaching figure in disbelief. It was Chu Lishu, whose demeanor was now so cold and unfamiliar, raising his arm and retracting a sleeve dart with chilling determination.

Though the Emperor possessed martial skills, his weakened body and waning resolve left him with no strength to resist. He could only retreat as Chu Lishu advanced.

He remembered Chu Lishu’s lack of martial prowess, perhaps giving him a slim chance to fight back. However, it wasn’t until he backed into the Dragon Throne that he realized the entire hall had fallen into an eerie silence.

The Emperor’s breath caught in his throat as he scanned the entire hall with growing horror, realizing that none of his own people had survived.

“How… is this possible?!” The Emperor couldn’t believe it. Even setting aside the others, his personal guards were among the best of the best.

But now, there was no time to dwell on these thoughts. Just as he tried to gather his internal energy for self-defense, he was stunned to find that he couldn’t summon it. It wasn’t due to his weakened body; it was… poison.

The Emperor quickly realized that there was a faint mist lingering in the hall, depriving people of their inner energy, which explained why those around him were so vulnerable.

This was premeditated…

The Emperor glared at Chu Lishu with eyes wide with rage. “How dare you! Do you seek to gain merit by killing me, absolving them of the crime of regicide? I spared you because of Concubine Liu’s intercession, but I should have executed you long ago, you traitorous scoundrels.”

Chu Lishu chuckled disdainfully and turned to the others. “Leave.”

His subordinates naturally exited the palace, standing guard outside.

However, the Emperor was not one to be underestimated. Seeing Chu Lishu so careless, he seized the opportunity as Chu Lishu turned away and lunged forward with his sword.

Without even turning his head, Chu Lishu smirked and took a slight step sideways. He grabbed the Emperor’s wrist holding the sword, pushed his arm, and pivoted to kick the Emperor’s knee. Then, in a move reminiscent of a wrestling throw, he executed a shoulder throw.

The Emperor felt the world spin around him, his vision blurring. In a moment, with a loud thud, he crashed into the base of the dragon throne, knocking it off balance.

As his vision darkened and his head buzzed, the Emperor reached out for the dragon throne but lacked the strength to lift himself. He could only gaze at Chu Lishu with a mixture of astonishment and fear.

This move, one he had developed during his youth and only taught to one person—Yuan Ran.

Looking at Chu Lishu before him, there was no trace of Yuan Ran, yet an inexplicable sense of unease crept over him.

The Emperor fell silent for a moment, then regained his composure. “Chu Lishu, if you defect to me now, everything can still be salvaged. My mighty army will soon crush this rebellion, and even if you follow them, your fate won’t be favorable. I know you’ve always been a clever person, choosing the best refuge. I can offer you high rank and wealth, the position of prime minister even. I swear to you, I’ll never hold today’s events against you. How about it?”

But Chu Lishu took a step forward, planting his foot on the Emperor’s chest.

The Emperor grunted, never having endured such humiliation before. He was almost wild with rage, but in order to save his life, he suppressed his temper. “If you’re not satisfied, you can make any demand, as long as it’s within my power to fulfill.”

“Well then, how about the throne?” Chu Lishu’s face twisted into a mocking smile, his hand already reaching for the dragon head armrest of the throne.

The Emperor could hardly believe his ears. “I’m seriously negotiating with you…”

“I am also answering seriously,” Chu Lishu replied, his gaze cold as he looked down at the Emperor.

“Imperial Uncle did all sorts of despicable things back then, all for the sake of this throne, right? After taking away what rightfully belonged to me, isn’t it only fair for me to reclaim it?”

The Emperor’s expression changed gradually, ending in sheer terror. His clouded eyes reflected the handsome yet distinct face of Chu Lishu, different from Yuan Ran’s. His heart twisted with pain, forcing himself to confront a possibility he had to face.

“Yuan… Yuan Ran, it’s you, how is this possible, you’re…”

“It’s me, Imperial Uncle, I’ve come back to find you,” Chu Lishu spoke as if transported back to the past. His tone stirred memories in the Emperor, reminding him of Yuan Ran’s voice.

The Emperor’s anger struck his heart, causing him to cough up a mouthful of blood. It was a nightmare he had feared countless times.

Those words were the epitome of his worst nightmare.

He knew it, he just knew it. As long as Yuan Ran’s body hadn’t been found, it wasn’t over.

Yuan Ran had indeed come back for revenge.

So, the strange feeling from before finally had an explanation.

“It’s you… It’s you who has been stirring up trouble in my court’s harem all along. It’s you who schemed and framed everything, leaving me isolated and powerless!”

Unbeknownst to him, at some point, he found himself completely alone. Upon regaining his senses, both the court and the harem seemed desolate to him. Once the Emperor who controlled the overall situation and watched the conflicts with a smile, he had unknowingly become a pawn on the chessboard.

The Emperor trembled uncontrollably, unable to believe his own words. He couldn’t fathom someone having such power, even if it were Yuan Ran. How could they force the entire dynasty to this point?

The Emperor refused to admit that despite his possession of everything, he had ultimately lost to Yuan Ran, who had nothing left, not even his identity or appearance.

In less than two years, clans had fallen, the court was in chaos, the ministries were changing, and the imperial family was on the brink of extinction… And now, he was lying here, at the mercy of others.

The emperor looked at Chu Lishu with resentment and indignation, his spirit taking a heavy blow. Yet, he quickly regained his composure. “Huo Luo… Yue Chen…”

“There’s also Chief Steward Hai and the Commander of the Imperial Guards, they’re all under my control. Half of the six ministries of the court are also in my hands, and the rest are all upright officials. Imperial Uncle, think about it, do you still have a chance to turn things around?”

Chu Lishu said, delivering words that gradually drove the Emperor into despair. As he watched this once proud uncle lose his dignity and hope, shattered by the harsh realities, descending into madness… finally, he laughed. That sense of satisfying revenge seemed to be even more successful than if he had killed him with his own hands.

The proudest individuals are often the ones least able to tolerate failure.

He could meticulously plan with others to set up a scheme that led to Yuan Ran’s demise, so naturally, he couldn’t accept that Yuan Ran, without any such scheme, could slowly erode his power and turn the tide on his own. Wasn’t this essentially admitting that he could never surpass Yuan Ran?

The Emperor collapsed into hysterical laughter. “To think… to think… hahaha… Ah!”

A piercing scream echoed through the entire hall.

A dagger plunged into the Emperor’s body, hitting a spot that was excruciatingly painful but not fatal. Chu Lishu withdrew the dagger, prompting another scream.

“This is for Father,” Chu Lishu said coldly. “Do you remember how you drove him to his death? He treated you so well, with such trust! And you betrayed him.”

The Emperor clutched his wound, veins bulging from the pain, but still glared angrily at Chu Lishu.

“All of that was his fault. This throne should have been mine! He clearly had no talent and no desire to be emperor. It was all because… because Emperor Father consulted the Supervisor of the Qintian Observatory and it was predicted that his son would have the talent to conquer the world. In order to stabilize the court and welcome you, Emperor Father passed the throne that should have been mine to him. But Emperor Father didn’t anticipate that after your birth, a new Supervisor revealed different predictions.”

“Just because of three prophecies?”

“So, you knew. Then you must know that you shouldn’t have lived. He insisted on keeping you alive, even though it was clear you would bring death to everyone around you. The closer they were to you, the more horrific their deaths. Even my Imperial Brother and Imperial Sister-in-law didn’t believe it; they insisted on loving you and raising you, and look where it got them. It’s all because of you.”

Though he already had an idea of the truth, Chu Lishu still couldn’t understand. “If you were so powerful back then, why didn’t you make a move to seize the throne right after my birth? That would have been the perfect time.”

“I was deceived! I was… deceived by the Empress Dowager and little Cheng Shi.” As he spoke, the Emperor’s expression changed gradually, filled with regret, pain, and struggle. He looked up at Chu Lishu. “My love for you back then was genuine, my willingness to defy the prophecy for your sake was genuine, and my instinctive desire to protect you by sending assassins after you the first time was genuine… because before that, I always, always believed you were my biological son!”

Chu Lishu’s face contorted momentarily, almost instinctively wanting to vomit. “Nonsense!”

“Yes, it’s all nonsense! I was deceived. You belong to Imperial Brother and little Cheng Shi, not to me. I sacrificed over a decade for this deception, gave up the throne that should have been mine, all to nurture you and make you a great emperor for the ages. But in the end, it was all a lie! Now that I know the truth, why should I continue to swallow my pride? Why should I continue to be a pawn for others? This throne rightfully belongs to me. And as you grow, you increasingly fit the prophecy. With you around, we all will perish. That’s why I must kill you. I have no choice but to kill you!”

The Emperor looked at Chu Lishu, as if seeing the young Yuan Ran of the past. The more he thought about it, the more unwilling he felt.

When his Imperial Brother ascended the throne, he showed no interest in governing, leaving all state affairs to him without any hesitation. He had effectively become the regent, wielding power over the court. The throne was within his grasp, especially since his Imperial Brother didn’t even bother with the harem, forcing other noble families to send their daughters to him. Little Cheng Shi was already one of his women, along with Wang Shi, and Pei Shi, Prime Minister Li… As his influence grew with more powerful figures surrounding him, his ambitions to rebel naturally grew as well.

However, with the birth of Yuan Ran, he felt somewhat guilty towards his sincere Imperial Brother regarding the matter of usurpation. He hesitated about seizing the throne. Being young and ambitious, he naturally didn’t easily believe in prophecies. But his son’s abilities being recognized by two generations of court Supervisors was also gratifying.

Watching Yuan Ran grow, he found a greater ambition than being emperor himself. If he could cultivate a ruler who would dominate the ages, ruling the world alone, and if such an emperor would still heed his words, under his control, then he would be almost beyond the imperial authority. Wasn’t that worth getting excited about?

He also wanted to show his late Emperor Father, in the depths of the underworld, that the best emperor predicted by Qintian Observatory was actually his son. He was the most suitable heir!

For this even greater ambition, he began to wholeheartedly cultivate Yuan Ran.

However, halfway through, he discovered that the ‘eldest son’ he once cherished and was most proud of was not his son at all.

From then on, he would no longer show any mercy toward his sons, especially the rebellious ones. As Yuan Ran repeatedly surpassed his control and showed signs of defiance, he developed a murderous intent. He wanted to reclaim everything that belonged to him, all for the future of Great Zhou, didn’t he?

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