Chapter 169: Chapter 148: Nighttime Palace Break-In

In the royal palace of the Capital City of Jiankang, Jia Wen, who should have been the Prime Minister, was already wearing the emperor’s robe.

He still stood before the officials, but now there was no one in front of him. After the young emperor handed over the Jade Seal, symbolizing imperial power, he retreated behind Jia Wen, indistinguishable from the civilian and military officials.

No one could stop him from ascending that grand throne.

Decades of meticulous planning finally bore fruit at this moment.

Jia Wen stepped onto the stairs.

There were originally no stairs before the throne. After all, when this throne was established, it was not designed for mere mortals—unfortunately, none of the Chen Dynasty Royal Family’s successors had the immense physique of the ancient Chen Taizu. Therefore, to facilitate the subsequent emperors’ ascension to this throne, the craftsmen of the royal family placed stairs before the throne.

The closer Jia Wen got to this grand seat, the more he could feel the difference between human and non-human.

"But, after all, this is the world of humans."

With a deep breath, Jia Wen sat on that cold seat, gazing at the civilian and military officials below.

This is the difference between human and non-human. Indeed, just like those creatures driven mad by Evil Qi, choosing the path of the non-human can indeed bestow extreme power. However, some things can only be accomplished by humans—such as creating and using tools, something only humans can do.

When human will is unyielding to the extreme, even the dangerous Evil Qi can become a tool for humans.

Yet, as a descendant of the Yu people, as a scholar, it goes far deeper than this.

As a ruler above all, one should learn to use humans as tools.

This is also why the ancient Yu people could defeat the old Chu. Perhaps in the historical records of Great Yu, it was a glorious war, a just war, but as a descendant of the Yu people, Jia Wen understood that it was actually an inevitability—a group using Evil Qi as a tool faces off against a group using humans as tools; how could they possibly win?

After all, those who used Evil Qi as a tool are themselves just another form of tool.

"Become the one who uses tools."

After reading this record, Jia Wen, who was still young at the time, set this as his ambition.

Now, he finally succeeded.

After being a tool for the Chen Dynasty for so many years, he finally rose to be one above humans; the ancient Great Yu’s goal was finally achieved in his hands, and he finally held the realm in his grip.

Of course, the realm of the Chen Dynasty today seems not so peaceful, but this mattered little to Jia Wen. Those civilian rebellions, he could quell with one hand; these new eruptions of Evil Qi couldn’t cause any waves in his hands—the nomads about to march south might pose some threat, but only a slight one at best.

The nomads heading south are merely seeking wealth; as long as they get what they want, they will naturally be satisfied. At that time, dividing them or sowing discord will be much simpler, and without needing to sacrifice soldiers’ lives, he can dissolve the nomads’ offensive into nothing.

Of course, this statement sounds too weak; in the previous court, it would surely stir up controversy.

But who could argue now that the warlike Grand General Wang Tong is dead?

Now is his time.

Jia Wen’s era.

"I wish to negotiate peace with the nomads; what do you all think?"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

The civilian and military officials all bowed, speaking in unison.

Such a scene made Jia Wen close his eyes.

Yes, this was the feeling, gathering all things under the sky for his use, his will was the will of all, everyone was his tool, he had everything under his control.

"All right, you may leave."

Waving his hand, Jia Wen suddenly felt a bit listless.

He suddenly wanted some quiet.

Only when the civilian and military officials had completely left did Jia Wen open his eyes, looking at the magnificent hall before him.

The imposing hall was empty, much like the emptiness within him.

Before his desires were fulfilled, Jia Wen had pondered several times, after all was complete, after his successful usurpation, what would his mood be like, what actions would he take—yet now, with supreme power in his hands, upon the completion of everything, he could only feel an inexplicable emptiness.

And a bewildering sense of being at a loss.

He hadn’t thought about doing something, but those things were too easy for him now, not to mention even as the Prime Minister, he already held sway over the court; whatever he wanted to do, he inevitably could, that is the manifestation of power, that is the embodiment of strength.

And now, even the nearly impossible feat of usurping the throne, he had accomplished.

What else could he do?

Or rather, is there anything else worth doing seriously?

It seems there is not.

The entire civil and military court couldn’t possibly resist him, nor pretend to obey him only superficially because he is the slyest among them. Foreign enemies couldn’t possibly contend with him; those barbarians who remained on the tool level couldn’t compete with someone above all.

At this moment, he already possessed everything he had thought of.

"It’s lonely at the top..."

Jia Wen tossed the Jade Seal into the air.

This ultimate symbol of power, in his hand, was like a child’s toy.

"Yes, why is it so cold here without any heating?"

The other hand caught the Jade Seal and continued tossing it into the air.

This left Jia Wen momentarily stunned.

"Who are you?"

He furrowed his brows, looking at the burly figure suddenly appearing before him.

Such a burly frame... If he were from the palace, Jia Wen wouldn’t forget.

But why has he no impression of this person before him?

"Who I am is not important."

The Burly Man, nearly seven feet tall, tossed the Jade Seal back onto the table, then glanced at Jia Wen in his dragon robe.

"Looking at your attire, you’re the emperor, right? Then you must be really great at fighting?"

"What..."

Feeling the menacing aura up close, even as disoriented as he was, Jia Wen had already sensed the impending danger.

"Guards! Guards! Where are the people! Guards! Protect the emperor! Quickly, protect..."

"No need to shout."

The Burly Man scratched his head.

"I already took care of your subordinates when I arrived... They were all too weak, none had seen much blood, the number of people they had killed probably didn’t even total a thousand."

"...???"

Jia Wen’s hairs stood on end.

What did he mean by "the number of people they had killed didn’t even total a thousand"?

"So, since you’re the emperor, you must be better at fighting than them, right?"

As he spoke, that palm-sized hand was already descending towards Jia Wen’s head.