Chapter 284: Becoming Empress?
"This is truly… an undeserved calamity."
Zhu Zhuqing rubbed her forehead, feeling slightly troubled, but soon, a playful smile appeared on her delicate face.
"However, you've given me an idea. You've made me realize there's an even better solution."
Dai Hao's words had opened her eyes to something she had previously overlooked.
She had been planning to force the imperial family to abolish the succession competition.
But wasn't that completely unnecessary?
Not to mention, leaving Dai Hao on the throne would pose a long term risk he could always oppose her from the shadows.
Why bother with that headache?
Instead of negotiating, why not seize the throne outright?
She could take the crown for herself, or if she didn't want the responsibility, she could install someone she trusted, like her father.
If she controlled the empire, abolishing the old traditions would be as simple as snapping her fingers.
As for the noble families and their inevitable resistance
Who could stop her now?
These people feared power, not reason.
If she used force, they would submit.
Dai Hao would never have imagined that Zhu Zhuqing had no initial intentions of taking the throne she had only planned to push for reform.
Yet, his own paranoia had now put the idea in her head.
Instead of wasting her breath convincing him, why not overthrow him and rule directly?
Then she could reform the Star Luo Empire as she pleased, without any interference.
Compared to her original plan, this was much more efficient.
Why should she leave the throne to a man who might betray her?
Why should she play by his rules?
She would rewrite the rules herself.
A newfound clarity filled her mind.
For the first time, she saw the obvious path forward.
She truly owed Dai Hao a thank you
If not for his paranoia, she never would have thought of this perfect solution.
Across the room, Dai Hao felt a chill crawl down his spine.
Watching the sudden realization on Zhu Zhuqing's face, he had a terrible premonition
As if he had just made a grave mistake.
Something had changed.
The girl standing before him no longer radiated the subtle sharpness of a hidden dagger.
No
Now, she was a ferocious beast, fangs bared, no longer hiding her predatory instincts.
And then
He felt it.
A crushing pressure descended upon him.
His instincts screamed
"This is not possible !"
"A Titled Douluo?!"
"How?!"
Dai Hao's mind went blank in pure disbelief.
Zhu Zhuqing was not even twenty.
A Titled Douluo at her age?
That was impossible.
And yet
She smiled.
Nine red soul rings emerged around her, radiating an aura of overwhelming dominance.
BOOM!
A tangible shockwave erupted from her body.
The entire palace trembled
Walls cracked.
Columns split apart.
The very air itself seemed to freeze.
Even floating dust particles stopped midair, frozen in time.
Dai Hao's mind shattered.
He felt like he had been hit by a divine hammer, reducing his thoughts to fragments.
Who am I?
Where am I?
What was I trying to do?
His entire worldview collapsed.
In the corners of the room, two hidden figures finally revealed themselves.
They had been lurking in the shadows, ready to ambush Zhu Zhuqing.
But her immense soul pressure had forced them out of hiding.
Two elderly men appeared.
Their hair was white, their faces aged, and their souls weary both of them well over a hundred years old.
Even though Zhu Zhuqing didn't recognize them, she could sense their martial spirits
Both wielded White Tiger spirits, meaning they were imperial family members.
Had things been different, she might have been expected to call them 'Grandfather.'
"Zhuqing, my dear niece!"
Dai Hao's tone flipped instantly.
Gone was the imperial arrogance.
Now, his voice trembled with desperation.
"This was all a mistake! It was my mistake!"
"Please, have mercy! As family, let's put this behind us!"
"If you have any demands, just say the word I will agree to anything!"
His entire demeanor had collapsed.
He knew.
If he didn't beg for his life, he would die today.
Even if he still wanted to kill Zhu Zhuqing, that no longer mattered.
He had to escape first.
Later, he could bring in the gods to deal with her.
For now, he needed to survive.
But Zhu Zhuqing's resolve did not waver.
Dai Hao would die today.
Had he begged for mercy earlier, perhaps she would have spared him.
But now
She had already decided.
Leaving him alive was a mistake.
If she wanted to rule, she couldn't have a ticking time bomb lurking in the shadows.
Dai Hao was a threat.
A loose end.
He had to be eliminated.
Her expression turned cold.
And in her eyes, Dai Hao saw it the killing intent.
"Shit she's actually going to do it!"
His mind screamed in terror.
"I have to act first!"
Dai Hao's fingers twitched behind his back.
A flash of soul power
A small, round bead appeared in his palm.
His last hope.
It was a Summoning Pearl.
A one time gift from the gods.
A single crush, and one of the five gods who had descended to this world would arrive instantly.
This had been his final trump card, meant to protect him from Ye Cheng.
But now
He was forced to use it on Zhu Zhuqing.
He clenched his fist
The pearl shattered.
A distortion of space rippled outward.
Zhu Zhuqing's senses flared
Before she could react
A figure stepped out of the swirling void.
(End of Chapter)
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