Chapter 276. Cao Cao: I Have Always Restrained My Feelings for You, My Lady.
After Xue Ye's funeral, Lady Zou was immersed in grief, and at the same time, she was also afraid of her future, because she was not the biological mother of the newly enthroned Emperor Xue Qinghe.
Lady Zou, dressed in white mourning clothes and wearing a white collar, was crying in her room when Xue Qinghe walked in without warning.
"Your subject greets Your Majesty."
Lady Zou turned around and saw Xue Qinghe, wiped away her tears, and said fearfully, "Your Majesty, is there something you need?"
"It's like this, your subject would like to introduce someone to you." Xue Qinghe said.
Lady Zou: "????"
Behind Xue Qinghe, Cao Cao walked in, came to Xue Qinghe's side, and his pair of cunning eyes looked Lady Zou up and down.
Lady Zou's face flushed slightly. When Xue Ye was here, she knew that Cao Cao had feelings for her. Now, why was Xue Qinghe introducing Cao Cao to her?
Could it be that Lady Zou thought of a very absurd possibility?
"Alright, Mother, and Lord Cao, you two continue your conversation. I, Qinghe, will take my leave now."
Cao Cao nodded, watching Xue Qinghe leave before closing the door.
Now, only Lady Zou and Cao Cao remained in the room.
"It's only natural to have desires for your wife."
"I have always restrained my feelings for you, my wife."
"Now, I want to enter your heart."
After ascending to the throne, Xue Qinghe began by bestowing titles upon the Imperial Uncle's faction. First, she appointed Cao Cao as the Grand General of the Heavenly Dou Empire's Armed Forces, responsible for commanding all the Heavenly Dou Empire's armies except the Imperial Guard. She also granted some power to members of Prince Xue Xing's faction.
Following this, Xue Qinghe used Cao Cao as a tool to purge the aristocratic system within the Heavenly Dou Empire, adjusting domestic policies. After several reforms, the Heavenly Dou Empire became more efficient in its governance, no longer experiencing the situation under Emperor Xue Ye where orders were confined to Heavenly Dou City.
While Xue Qinghe was carrying out internal reforms, a major event also occurred in the Star Luo Empire.
Upon returning to the Star Luo Empire, Dai Mubai was indeed given a grand reception.
After all, Dai Mubai was six years younger than Davis, yet his soul power level had already caught up. Dai Tianfeng's gaze towards Dai Mubai didn't seem disappointed; clearly, Dai Mubai was being groomed as his successor.
In contrast, Davis's status was declining daily; his former Crown Prince's residence, once filled with three thousand advisors, was now practically deserted.
However, Dai Mubai lacked a woman to inherit the throne. The Star Luo Empire had negotiated with the Spirit Hall to return Zhu Zhuqing, but the Spirit Hall sternly refused, and Dai Mubai no longer wanted her.
Who knew if Zhu Zhuqing was with Qian Xunji, or if she had been taken advantage of by him? In the eyes of others, Dai Mubai had ascended the throne wearing a jade crown.
Therefore, Dai Mubai requested the Zhu family to dissolve his marriage with Zhu Zhuqing and instead marry another woman from the Zhu family. The Zhu family readily agreed, and thus, both the Zhu and Dai families annulled Dai Mubai's marriage to Zhu Zhuqing.
When choosing a marriage partner for Dai Mubai, he played another trick, designating Zhu Zhuyun as his future empress. The Zhu family again readily agreed.
After all, Zhu Zhuyun was another favored daughter of the Zhu family besides Zhu Zhuqing. If she were to marry Davis and then be deposed, it would be a great loss to both the Zhu and Dai families. Since Dai Mubai didn't care, they would betroth Zhu Zhuyun to him.
Thus, news broke in the Star Luo Empire that Davis and Zhu Zhuyun's marriage had been annulled and Dai Mubai was engaged to Zhu Zhuyun.
Until that day, Dai Mubai, holding Zhu Zhuyun, came before Davis, and Dai Mubai said triumphantly, "My foolish brother, I'm taking Sister Zhu Zhuyun away!"
"Dai Mubai, you've gone too far!" Davis roared, his eyes red.
Dai Mubai said, "Excessive? No, no, no. Compared to the previous generation, I am not excessive at all. They killed their brothers, while I, at least, only crippled you and took your wife away."
Davis looked at Dai Mubai with humiliation. If he had a choice, he would rather be killed by Dai Mubai, the "gatekeeper," along with Zhu Zhuyun.
"Beauty is only for the strong, aren't you right, Sister Zhu Zhuyun?" Dai Mubai kissed Zhu Zhuyun in front of Davis and said.
"Little brother, you're right," Zhu Zhuyun laughed.
"Hahahaha."
Davis was incredibly humiliated throughout.
The more humiliated Davis was, the more delighted Dai Mubai became. Why? If he wanted Zhu Zhuqing, it would be like picking up Qian Xunji's discarded shoe. Even if Qian Xunji didn't touch Zhu Zhuqing, in other people's eyes, he was still crowned with a green crown.
But taking his brother's wife was a completely different feeling for Dai Mubai.
Your woman has been conquered by me, your throne has been stolen by me, and I've put a green hat on your head—that's the manifestation of the desire to conquer!
After showing off his woman to Davis, Dai Mubai turned and left triumphantly.
Davis clenched his fist, glaring venomously at Dai Mubai's retreating figure, before finally letting go helplessly.
In the Star Luo Empire, the loser had no voice, and he, Davis, had become a complete and utter loser.
"Mr. Davis, your throne and your woman, everything you have, has been taken from you by your brother. Are you just going to swallow this insult?" A voice reached Davis's ears.
Davis looked around for a moment and asked, "Who is it?"
"Who I am is unimportant. Don't you want revenge?"
"Revenge?" Davis said warily, "Who are you? Did Father or my brother send you to test me?"
"No, of course not. Do you think I would need to test you like this if I were Dai Tianfeng? Besides, if I were Dai Mubai, your fate would be decided by a single word from me. Would I need to test you like this?"
Hearing this, Davis felt relieved. His father had already chosen Dai Mubai as the heir to the throne. His fate was determined by Dai Mubai's word—either kill or cripple. There was no need for him to go to such lengths to test him.
Thinking of this, Davis gave a bitter laugh: "I want revenge, but so what? I'm the loser, Dai Mubai is the victor. All my former advisors have abandoned me. Soon, my soul power will be crippled, and I'll be imprisoned. What right do I have to talk about revenge?"
"But you still have soul power, you have a life, you still have resources, and you still have hope of fulfilling your deepest desire for revenge. But in a few days, Dai Mubai will choose to cripple you or kill you. Your fate will be in his hands. Will you choose a glorious death or a humiliating existence?"
Hearing his words, Davis immediately realized. He still had soul power, he still had a life. Why should he let Dai Mubai play with his fate? Even if the final result was death, he had to fight for it, whether he succeeded or failed. Even if he died, it would be his decision.
"Thank you for reminding me. I'm still alive, my soul power is still intact, and I won't let Dai Mubai get away with this."
"No need to thank me. I can help you achieve your desired revenge."
A projection appeared in Davis's mental world. In the scene, Dai Mubai was embracing his fiancée, feasting with his former advisors.
Those advisors who used to fawn over her were still fawning, only now the object of their flattery had shifted from her to Dai Mubai. They even occasionally made sarcastic remarks about her, which infuriated Davis.
"This is what's happening now," she said.
"You opportunistic bastards!" Davis said angrily.
(End of Chapter)