Chapter 1: Am I the Emperor Now?

"Your Majesty, just sign this edict. Once you do, tonight I promise to serve you well," a seductive voice whispered, her intoxicating fragrance snapping Tang Yu instantly awake.

The woman before him was breathtakingly beautiful, her delicate, pale hand caressing his chest. Though Tang Yu had no idea who she was, nor why he had suddenly appeared here, this scene was enough to make anyone lose their composure.

What did it matter? Without hesitation, Tang Yu pulled the beauty into his arms, his eager hands itching to explore.

The woman half-heartedly resisted, murmuring, "Your Majesty, sign the edict first. Once it's done, we can return to the bedchamber and enjoy ourselves."

Bedchamber? What bedchamber?

Tang Yu glanced at the assembled officials in the imperial hall and finally realized what was happening.

Damn.

A flood of memories surged into his mind.

Could it be… he'd traveled through time?

Year thirty-three of the Great Xia, Emperor Tang Yu?

He was the emperor now?

Tang Yu could scarcely believe it—he, a lazy drifter from the twenty-first century, had overnight become the emperor.

Wasn’t this a dream come true?

"Very well! I’ll sign it now!" Looking at the exquisite woman beside him, Tang Yu’s heart was already ablaze with desire. What else mattered?

He prepared to sign the edict.

But…

Tang Yu, never having received nine years of compulsory education, frowned at the archaic language of the document. He coughed lightly and asked the woman beside him,

"Ahem, beauty… my beloved, what does this edict say?"

Seeing Tang Yu so bewitched, the imperial concubine laughed softly. "Your Majesty, this is an edict to cede territory to the Southern Barbarians."

"Hurry and sign it. You've been busy with state affairs all day, and I can hardly wait!"

Her words struck Tang Yu like thunder—cede territory?

"No!" he barked.

"Damn it, I’ve spent my whole life claiming turf, never giving it away! How could I hand over my land to someone else? Are you out of your mind?" Tang Yu, hardened by street life, had seen countless beauties and loved them, but never would he surrender territory won through hardship for a woman.

Even if the land hadn’t been conquered by him, it was his now!

Ceding territory? Out of the question.

The imperial concubine froze. She was so close to success, but why did the emperor suddenly seem like a completely different person?

As Tang Yu finished speaking, all the civil and military officials in the hall were stunned.

After all, this emperor, usually obsessed with pleasure and besotted with the imperial concubine, had suddenly become as crude as a street ruffian.

Watching their faces, Tang Yu confirmed once more—this was no dream. He truly had traveled to another time!

The feel of the beauty’s flawless skin was unmistakably real.

In his previous life, he had performed countless feats for his gang, but never made it to the top. Now, he’d been transported here and was instantly the boss!

The ultimate boss, at that!

Wealth, countless beauties—he could probably have a different woman every day and never run out.

Though the woman beside him was exquisite, he would never surrender his territory for her.

Impossible.

"Your Majesty, the Great Xia is vast and rich; ceding the small northern frontier to the Southern Barbarians would bring peace to our realm—why not do it?" The imperial concubine pressed closer to Tang Yu, rubbing against him.

"Come now, Your Majesty, sign it and tonight I’ll fulfill your every desire…"

"Utter nonsense!"

All the ministers were dumbfounded.

Their emperor, who spent every night reveling with Lady Su and never spoke of state affairs, was entirely controlled by her father, Minister Su.

"This is bad. If His Majesty defies Lady Su, what will happen when Minister Su finds out?"

Lady Su was shocked. Though she was a peerless beauty, her eyes now flashed with suspicion and anger, her face darkening, her voice cold.

"Your Majesty, as ruler of the realm, you must mind your words."

"I ask you again—will you sign the edict or not?"

Tang Yu loved beautiful women, but to be threatened by one? He was the boss now—how dare a woman speak to him this way?

"Are you deaf?" Tang Yu’s gaze turned icy, a hint of murderous intent flickering in his eyes.

"All under heaven belongs to the king; all who dwell upon the land are his subjects!"

"This empire is mine, the northern frontier is mine, every inch of the Great Xia is mine. I am the sovereign—how could I cede land to another?"

Every word resounded powerfully in the ears of all present.

Was this truly the foolish, pleasure-obsessed emperor they knew?

Even Lady Su was stunned by Tang Yu’s words.

But the arrow was already drawn, and had to be released.

"Today, you must sign the edict—whether you wish to or not, otherwise…"

"Guards!"

At her command, the doors of the Golden Palace swung open, and dozens of armed guards rushed in, eyes fierce.

Tang Yu remained calm, seated high upon the dragon throne, a faint aura of imperial authority about him.

Such scenes no longer fazed Tang Yu.

"How dare you! What are you trying to do?"

The guards, all carefully selected and resolute, now hesitated, unwilling to advance.

The emperor before them radiated a wholly unprecedented presence.

There was no fear in his eyes.

"How dare you? You say I’m insolent?" Lady Su burst out laughing, her wild laughter echoing in the hall, while the ministers remained motionless.

"Dog emperor, you ask what I want? Today, I want your life!"

A rebellion!

How could there be a rebellion the moment he arrived?

Tang Yu wasn’t afraid, but how had the emperor ended up like this?

In this crisis, not a single loyal follower remained, nor even a weapon—he couldn’t fight even if he wanted to.

His few loyal men were all locked up.

There was not a single ally in the Golden Palace.

Well, if death was inevitable, so be it!

If a man dies, he soars to the heavens; if he lives, he’s immortal.

Eighteen years later, he’d still be a hero!

"Bring me my blade!"

"I’ve never been good at anything—but I sure know how to fight!"

At that moment, a woman’s cold voice rang out, "Your Majesty, catch the blade!"