Luo Daoqing’s vision went dark.
When he opened his eyes again, he was curled up in a cramped, damp servant's room, wearing a coarse blue tunic with an unhealed burn on the back of his hand.
He had become Xiao Shunzi, the tea-serving eunuch.
Xiao Shunzi's original name was Chen Shun.
But his life had never been smooth.
When a flood struck the south and submerged his village, Chen Shun’s parents both died in that disaster.
He followed the refugees and walked four hundred li.
Then, he fainted from hunger on the streets of the capital and was picked up by palace eunuchs and castrated.
In the three years since entering the palace, he had endured endless torment.
The job of serving tea to the Emperor was something he had begged for on his knees, shamelessly flattering an old eunuch.
Not for wealth or status, but only to assassinate Emperor Ling of Yong.
Chen Shun had never attended school, was illiterate, and didn't understand how to save those suffering like him, nor did he understand the consequences of assassinating the Emperor.
He only knew that Emperor Ling of Yong deserved to die!
When the village was flooded, government officials said it wasn't that the court didn't want to help, but that the national treasury was empty and couldn't provide funds for disaster relief.
At the time, he had foolishly believed them.
It wasn't until later, after becoming a eunuch in the palace, that he learned Emperor Ling had been engaged in massive construction projects the very year his village was flooded and the people were displaced. Just one Taihu stone in the Imperial Garden had cost a full one hundred thousand taels of silver.
One hundred thousand taels!
It was enough to buy the lives of everyone in his entire village.
Yet Emperor Ling used it to build a palace!
How could he not hate him!
It took a great deal of effort for Luo Daoqing to suppress the overwhelming hatred belonging to Chen Shun before he carried the tea tray into the main hall.
Emperor Ling was leaning back on the dragon throne, with two beauties feeding him grapes, looking quite content.
Inside the hall, songs and dances flourished, and the sounds of music were constant.
Luo Daoqing knelt down, lifting the teacup above his head.
This was the first time he looked up at Emperor Ling on the dragon throne from the perspective of an ant.
The second day.
Luo Daoqing tossed and turned, unable to sleep all night.
Under his pillow was a polished, shining dagger, the weapon Chen Shun intended to use for the assassination.
He admitted he was someone who feared death, especially since he had already died three times. The pain of death was so real that it made him fear it from the bottom of his heart.
And treason meant being dismembered by five horses.
Being torn apart alive—how much would that hurt?
He didn't even dare to think about it.
Chen Shun had the courage to attempt the assassination because of the ignorance of the brave, but Luo Daoqing knew that assassinating a monarch was undoubtedly seeking death. Whether he succeeded or not, he would be dismembered.
Before he could make up his mind, dawn broke.
He had to go to the Imperial Study to serve tea again.
A moment later, tea in hand, he walked into the Imperial Study with his head bowed, only to encounter Emperor Ling taking out his anger on the palace servants again.
It was because someone had submitted a memorial asking for money for disaster relief, which put Emperor Ling in a foul mood. A palace maid just happened to be in the line of fire.
The young maid knelt on the ground, kowtowing for mercy until her forehead was a bloody mess, but Emperor Ling didn't even spare her a glance. He just waved his hand and said, “Drag her out and beat her to death.”
Afterward, Emperor Ling picked up his vermilion brush and wrote “Denied” on a memorial, tossing it aside.
As Luo Daoqing stepped forward to serve tea, he caught a glimpse of the memorial's contents out of the corner of his eye. There was a severe drought in the northwest, the people were starving, and they were requesting a tax reduction from the court.
“These people only think about asking Me for money. The little bit in the treasury isn't even enough for Me to spend; where would I find spare cash to give them to save those insignificant commoners?”
“There are millions upon millions of commoners in the world. What does it matter if a few thousand die? They’re making a mountain out of a molehill!”
Emperor Ling angrily threw down the vermilion brush and said to the black-robed State Preceptor beside him, “State Preceptor, in the future, don't let anyone bring such memorials before Me. It's annoying.”
“By the way, State Preceptor, you mentioned last time that you were going to refine an elixir of immortality for Me. When will it be ready?”
The black-robed State Preceptor smiled. “Your Majesty, I came to the palace today specifically to discuss this matter. Refining the elixir of immortality is fraught with difficulties and requires a vast amount of silver. If the treasury is empty, I fear it will be difficult to succeed. Perhaps we should delay it for a year.”
Luo Daoqing quietly stole a glance and saw the State Preceptor version of himself who already held immense power at court.
He knew very well.
What the current “Luo Daoqing” was actually planning. Refining elixirs was a lie; asking Emperor Ling for money to build cannons was the truth.
Emperor Ling frowned. “Refining the elixir of immortality is of great importance. How can it be delayed? If the treasury has no money, tell them to collect more miscellaneous taxes. I am the Son of Heaven, destined by fate. It is the honor of these commoners to provide for Me!”
The State Preceptor bowed. “Your Majesty is wise.”
Emperor Ling laughed loudly. “Minister Luo, I am able to achieve such feats today and be praised by everyone as a wise ruler thanks to the support of an indispensable official like you.”
In the corner of the Imperial Study, Luo Daoqing listened numbly as this pair—a fatuous ruler and a treacherous official—flattered each other.
The third day.
Luo Daoqing went to the Imperial Study to serve tea as he had yesterday.
As he turned the corner of the palace wall, he paused.
Under the eaves, the State Preceptor was speaking in low tones with the new Number One Scholar, Zhang Xun.
Zhang Xun said with a forced smile, “Lord State Preceptor, a distant cousin of mine got into a conflict with a scholar over a girl at a brothel a few days ago, and the matter even reached the Prefect's yamen.”
His smile became even more sycophantic. “Do you think you could put in a good word with Prefect Zhao and have him release my cousin?”
“Enough, I am aware of this matter. I'll speak to Prefect Zhao later; he'll know what to do.”
Luo Daoqing’s hand gripping the tea tray suddenly tightened.
When he had become Xu Yi last time, his life and death had been decided by such a single sentence, and he had died with a stained reputation.
Rage surged in his heart.
He stepped forward with his head lowered and whispered, “Luo Daoqing, I know you’re a transmigrator.”
Before the other “Luo Daoqing” could react, he pulled out the three-inch blade from his sleeve and stabbed it fiercely into his heart.
The blade sank in all the way to the hilt.
The State Preceptor spat out blood. “You... who are you?”
“I’m here to clean up your mess on behalf of your parents. They raised you for so many years, only to end up with a beast like you!”
These words were an insult to the former version of himself.
And also an insult to himself.
Because he still didn't have the courage to assassinate Emperor Ling. He was afraid that if he failed and was captured alive, he would be dismembered by five horses. So he could only choose to kill his former self and then commit suicide, considering it an account given to the innocent people he had harmed.
As the Imperial Guards closed in, he pulled the dagger from the chest of the State Preceptor and plunged it deep into his own.
It was all over.
Seeing Luo Daoqing commit suicide, Yun Shu thought for a moment and then released him from the Domain of Retribution.
She didn't let him actually die in the domain.
Although whether Luo Daoqing lived or died in this play didn't affect the overall situation.
And given the crimes he had committed, he didn't deserve to live.
But the knowledge in his head was indeed useful. At least until she collected the full Thousand Machines and Myriad Crafts Set, she had to keep him.
“Luo Daoqing, your soul should have been scattered,” the Divine Lady’s voice was as cold as frost. “Considering that you finally came to your senses and personally killed your wicked self, I will grant you two years to redeem your sins and earn the chance for reincarnation.”
Luo Daoqing was slightly stunned. He opened his mouth, wanting to say that he didn't want to live anymore. Now that his reputation was completely ruined, living would only bring him contempt and cold shoulders. However, the Divine Lady no longer looked at him and turned her gaze toward the people of Xindu.
“The rise and fall of human dynasties have their own karma. I did not intend to interfere in the change of dynasties.”
“However, Emperor Ling of Yong is fatuous and incompetent, cruel and merciless, harming the people. His actions have incited the wrath of both gods and men.”
“I observe that the Yong Dynasty's fate has run out.”
From this day forward, she would overturn the entire world.
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