Chapter Five: The Story Begins

“Then I wish Your Majesty an enjoyable evening. I heard tonight’s temple fair is quite lively, and there’s a lantern festival as well. Perhaps Your Majesty should attend and have some fun,” Chancellor Cai said, still with his air of insolence.

Zhu Yu fought the urge to curse and walked out of the palace without a word.

As he stepped outside, a cold wind swept through, seeping straight into Zhu Yu’s heart. It made him question himself. After all, films are just films—could someone with enough reach to infiltrate the palace really meet such a miserable end as in the plot? Was this Chancellor Cai before him still the same sybaritic villain who only cared for pleasure, as portrayed in the original story? How could he possibly keep the Dragon Guard Villa, the Eastern Depot, the Western Depot, and the Six Gates Bureau—all four organizations spread across the realm—under his thumb?

But Zhu Yu was overthinking it. If even one among Cao Zhengchun, Yu Huadian, or Liu Xi had remained in the palace, the earlier situation would not have unfolded as it did. With Zhu Yu’s three main supports having just left, Chancellor Cai had immediately extended his influence into the palace. The significance of this was subtle and intriguing, though Zhu Yu was completely unaware of it.

As for Chancellor Cai's ability to suppress so many villains, it wasn’t due to any particular prowess, but rather his sheer, brazen wickedness. Zhu Wushi, along with Cao Zhengchun and Yu Huadian, never lost any benefits under his watch. They simply had to tolerate an additional loudmouth above them, while all the infamy and blame landed solely on Chancellor Cai’s head.

Where could one find such a convenient scapegoat? Even if they held him in contempt, everyone outwardly treated him with due respect. Thus, the illusion was created that Chancellor Cai wielded unchecked power—a deception so convincing that, save for those trapped within the web, it fooled the entire world.

Eunuch Wu had grown up in the palace. Though he knew nothing of martial arts, he was unmatched in cunning and resourcefulness. Otherwise, he would have long since perished in some forgotten corner of the palace, and would certainly not be serving as the emperor’s close attendant today. Even the three great eunuchs of the inner court treated him with courtesy and deference, addressing him as Eunuch Wu and yielding politely.

Although Zhu Yu had never left the palace before and didn’t understand the situation, Eunuch Wu was not so naïve. Sensing danger, he watched the emperor’s retreating figure and urgently called out to the assembled eunuchs, “Notify the Six Gates Bureau at once!”

He then hurried after Zhu Yu.

Chancellor Cai heard this as well; a cold smile played at his lips, and he said brazenly before the crowd, “The Six Gates Bureau? Hmph!”

After a moment, as if realizing something, Chancellor Cai’s face lit up with delight. He instructed his personal guard, “Quick, inform Master An that the emperor has left the palace to travel for pleasure! Such a heaven-sent opportunity must be fate itself!”

Meanwhile, after leaving the palace, Zhu Yu glanced up at the bright sun and thought, I’m out too early—the assassination in the story doesn’t happen until nightfall.

When Eunuch Wu caught up, Zhu Yu picked a tavern at random and instructed, “Arrange a boat for tonight. I wish to cruise the river and view the lanterns.”

Eunuch Wu acknowledged the order and withdrew, leaving Zhu Yu alone to drink.

Though Zhu Yu was not without fear, bringing along several people he could not trust was little different from going alone.

This was his first time outside the palace. The scenery and people were so different from what he was used to that he found the experience oddly delightful.

No wonder taverns and inns were said to be the best places for news to circulate. In just a short while, the massacre of Prime Minister Zhang Hairui’s family became clear to Zhu Yu—all thanks to a single bit of gossip drifting over from the next table.

“Hey, have you heard? The Prime Minister, Zhang Hairui, and his whole family have been wiped out.”

“Ah, that’s old news—three days ago! Everyone’s already talking about something else.”

“But I’ve got new information. Do you know why Zhang Hairui’s family was slaughtered? Want to know?”

“Interesting! Do tell.”

“Sigh, maybe tomorrow. I’m almost out of wine today. I’ll tell you tomorrow.”

“Oh, come on! Don’t leave me hanging. If it’s just wine, tonight’s my treat.”

“All right then, let me tell you: The Prime Minister’s family wasn’t killed for any ordinary reason, but because of half a corpse!”

“A corpse? Only half? You’re not just angling for more wine, are you?”

“How am I tricking you? That corpse is extraordinary! I heard it contains the secret to some Mara Divine Skill, said to be unimaginably powerful!”

“Hiss!” The listener drew a sharp breath in. “That really is something! But how did you get such classified news?”

“Ah, a few nights ago, I drank too much and fell asleep under the bridge ahead. Half-dreaming, I overheard people talking on the bridge. That’s how I got this information...”

The case was solved just like that! Zhu Yu had thought his only concern was the Four Great Constables, but now the plotline of the Rain of Swords had appeared.

Yet, the details of the Rain of Swords story were hazy in his memory. He only remembered there was a group called Blackstone—a vast assassin organization led by a eunuch. The entire plot revolved around the Mara Divine Skill, which was rumored to grant the power to regrow severed limbs.

But that was a problem for later. For now, the pressing matter was to survive the Four Great Constables; otherwise, everything else was moot.

Night fell over the capital, the Huai River glimmering under lantern light.

Zhu Yu and Eunuch Wu sat on a pleasure boat, feigning enjoyment of the riverside scenery, their hearts filled with anxiety. Knowing an assassination attempt was imminent, who could focus on the view?

“Your Majesty.” A voice called from behind, making both Zhu Yu and Eunuch Wu jump.

Zhu Yu turned to see an older man with graying temples standing on the boat, bowing low in greeting, a retinue of guards behind him.

Eunuch Wu, recognizing the man, breathed a sigh of relief and whispered in Zhu Yu’s ear, “Your Majesty, it is Prince Qi.”

Zhu Yu nodded. Prince Qi was one of the few loyal ministers left, protector of many upright officials wronged by others, and his own uncle—he recalled that the original story included such a supporting character.

“Uncle, please, join me on my boat,” Zhu Yu warmly invited.

Prince Qi accepted and sat beside Zhu Yu.

Meanwhile, the people on shore noticed the commotion on the river and began to exclaim that the emperor was aboard the boat.

Soon, many knelt spontaneously, offering loud cheers: “Long live the Emperor! Long live, long live!”

Witnessing this, Zhu Yu’s heart surged with emotion—these were his people, his subjects.

In this moment, Zhu Yu finally felt that he had truly become part of this world, finally understood that he was the emperor—the ruler bearing the lives of countless millions.

Peace and prosperity—the phrase he had often uttered in the palace now felt heavy with real meaning.

Zhu Yu swore to himself that, if he survived, he would make his kingdom the true celestial empire, revered by all nations.

With a bang, fireworks exploded in the distance. Seeing that the people onshore had not yet risen, Zhu Yu was about to call out for them to rise when, at that very moment, chaos erupted.