If you're made a fake emperor, why did you change the country's name?

"Oh?"

The anger in Zhao Yu's eyes subsided, and he turned to look at the obese figure in the corner.

Tell me about it.

Grandpa Hai's plump body emerged from the shadows, the dim light casting dappled shadows on his face, making his usually humble smile appear somewhat unfathomable.

"Your Majesty, the beggar emperor's scheme is nothing more than an open plot."

His voice was calm and even, yet it added a chill to the damp cellar.

"He's trying to force you to choose between being a 'general' and a 'coffin maker'."

No matter which one you give up, he's still ahead.

If we send the "General" to stop the Empress Dowager, the "General" will be exposed.

If we do nothing, the Empress Dowager will eventually find out about the Prince of Zhennan's residence, and even the "Coffin Maker" won't be able to stay afloat.

Zhao Yu had already figured these things out, and he waved his hand impatiently.

Get to the point.

"The key question is, why should we choose this?"

Grandpa Hai's lips curled into a strange smile.

"We can go along with him and make him think that we've made the choice."

Zhao Yu was stunned.

Grandpa Hai continued to explain: "On the surface, we've abandoned the 'coffin maker' profession."

Let her try again tomorrow night. Whether she succeeds or fails, expose her to the Empress Dowager.

In this way, in the eyes of that beggar emperor, one of our hidden agents had been eliminated.

"Isn't this still like cutting off your own arm?" Zhao Yu frowned.

"No."

Grandpa Hai shook his fat finger.

"The 'coffin maker' is the Princess Consort of Zhennan, His Majesty's maternal aunt. Even if the Empress Dowager finds out about her, what can she do?"

To be beaten to death on the spot?

The Prince of Zhennan is the Empress Dowager's younger brother and also His Majesty's maternal uncle, so the Empress Dowager has no way to deal with him.

Finally, the person had to be handed over to the beggar for further processing.

Inside the cellar, Zhao Yu's breathing gradually became heavier.

He seems to have caught something.

"My plan is to send a pill to the princess."

Grandpa Hai's voice was even lower, carrying a sticky, chilling quality.

"Have her find a way to see that beggar emperor after she's discovered, and then... bring out the effects of the medicine."

Your Majesty, imagine, an emperor sleeping with his own aunt... This scandal is enough to overwhelm him and leave him no time for anything else.

He either has to bear the blame for driving the Princess of Zhennan to her death, or he has to accept this enormous cuckoldry.

No matter what, the Prince of Zhennan will not let him off.

"Snapped!"

Zhao Yu slapped the wine jar next to him, his face full of excitement.

"Good! What a brilliant scheme!"

Wasn't he showing off his cunning schemes in front of me? Let him taste the consequences of his tricks!

This time, instead of losing a piece, the "sacrificial piece" was turned into a poisoned blade aimed at the opponent's heart!

"Your Majesty, this is not all."

Hai Gonggong lowered his eyelids, concealing the gleam within.

"Oh?! What else? Tell me quickly." Zhao Yu's face was full of urgency.

"Our real trump card is the doctor!"

"While everyone's attention is drawn to the Imperial Clan Court and the Princess Consort of Zhennan, we can take advantage of the situation to activate—'the Physician'."

"Physician, I also intend to have him poison the beggar, but I know that although you were once hailed as the third most skilled poison master in the Sakura Kingdom."

But in reality, it was because the people of Sakura were utterly inhuman, only capable of betraying those they trusted, thus enabling them to successfully poison others.

Zhao Yu shook his head. Although he had hired a physician, he didn't actually have high hopes for him. He had only acted out of anger and wanted to fight back.

Now put aside your anger until the doctor can no longer gain the beggar's trust.

"That's alright."

Grandpa Hai began to explain.

"Since the doctor's poison is so potent, we should play to his strengths and avoid his weaknesses, creating an opportunity for him to act without being detected."

"Previously, that beggar emperor killed the aristocratic families, resulting in half of the court being vacant. Now, he must have promoted many new people to fill the positions in the court."

This is the best opportunity for a 'doctor'.

He can use his medical skills to turn these newly rich into our puppets one by one, without them even realizing it.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yu's eyes lit up.

The beggar was hard to trust, but the newly appointed minister easily gained the doctor's trust by presenting some tokens.

He was 80% confident he could control those new ministers!

Hai Gonggong continued, "If that beggar doesn't trust the doctor, how could he not trust the minister he promoted?"

In this way, opportunities can be created!

Zhao Yu immediately became excited and clapped his hands in approval.

Thus, while that beggar emperor was still gloating over getting rid of a "coffin maker".

His court and his confidants are being replaced one by one by an unseen hand, becoming its own pawns.

When the time is right, those ministers will create an opportunity, and they will succeed!

"Excellent! Eunuch Hai truly lives up to his reputation as my great advisor. With you by my side, what do I have to worry about?"

Zhao Yu shook off his previous dejection and became excited.

He sat down again, his face bearing the same majesty as the one on the dragon throne, only with a touch more sinister intent.

"Eunuch Hai, you should handle this personally. Send a message to the coffin maker, tell her to prepare and send the medicine over as well."

Tell her that this is for the greater good, and also for the future of the prince.

Furthermore, immediately activate the 'Physician' and have him keep a close eye on those newly emerging figures in the court—don't let a single one escape!

"Yes, ma'am."

With a deep bow, the portly Hai Gonggong silently retreated into the darkness.

Zhao Yu was left alone in the cellar again.

He stared at the water-soaked stone slab above him, a cold smile playing on his lips.

"Beggar, I'd like to see how you'll handle this."

……

The night grew deeper.

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, candlelight shone brightly.

Zhao Yu put down his vermilion brush and rubbed his temples.

A gentle knock was made on the palace door, and Qiu Ping appeared at the entrance.

"His Majesty."

"explain."

News came from the Imperial Clan Court that the Empress Dowager had just had another member of the imperial clan beaten to death; he was the second son of the eldest brother of the Qian family.

This is the fifth one already.

"Did you find anything?" Zhao Yu's reaction was calm.

"No. The Empress Dowager went through almost all the imperial relatives in the capital, but still couldn't find someone who matched your description."

"This humble servant suspects that the so-called 'coffin maker' might not even be a member of the royal family, but judging from the Empress Dowager's attitude, tomorrow she will likely begin investigating outside the palace."

"Um."

Zhao Yu responded and began to make plans in his mind.

He knew that Zhao Yu was not a fool.

Or perhaps, there's a clever person next to Zhao Yu...

They have most likely seen through my open scheme.

So, what will they choose?

If he were Zhao Yu, a spy who could provide intelligence and a coffin maker who could deliver the fatal blow, he would choose to abandon the former.

After all, battles are ever-changing, and the safest defense is offense.

But what Zhao Yu said...

There are probably other tricks up their sleeves.

Therefore, giving up the "coffin maker" job would seem more worthwhile.

But it doesn't matter anyway.

That's enough to remove the coffin maker as a thorn in our side.

"Keep an eye on it; we might have results tonight."

"yes!"