Chapter 31

The blue-haired man named Heri clearly knew what he was doing. Within just a few days, he had rebuilt and promoted the shop anew.

With Heri managing the shop, Rao Ke only needed to supply the goods and nothing else.

Three nights before the gathering, Mo Duoya changed into a black robe and made her way stealthily to the National Advisor's Tower.

The tower's door was open, as if expecting a guest.

Mo Duoya raised an eyebrow and stepped inside.

Candlelight flickered ahead, guiding her path. She followed the flames to a resplendent room where a masked figure in a black robe embroidered with intricate patterns stood by the window.

"National Advisor, long time no see."

Mo Duoya offered a greeting.

The National Advisor did not turn around but posed a question instead.

"If you could become the Human Emperor, Mo Duoya, could you lead the Human Empire back to its peak?"

Mo Duoya's heart burned with fervor. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, yet she felt no pain.

When she first received the National Advisor's secret letter, a shudder had run through her soul.

"Of course I can. I will lead the Human Empire to its peak."

Mo Duoya declared simply and fervently. Since childhood, her idol had always been the Human Emperor who had brought the empire to its zenith.

Satisfied with her answer, the National Advisor turned around. The wide hood completely concealed his face.

"Then come and try. Three days from now, something surprising will happen," the National Advisor said enigmatically.

Mo Duoya didn't linger. She left at once.

After she departed, the National Advisor let out a low chuckle. "The Human Empire must never fall into the hands of a fool."

"Your Majesty, is something wrong?" the Empress asked, noticing the Human Emperor's suddenly furrowed brow.

The Human Emperor looked at her concerned expression and relaxed slightly. "It's nothing. I probably just haven't been sleeping enough lately."

The Empress lovingly wrapped her arms around him. "Your Majesty, you must take better care of yourself. I worry so much when you're like this."

The Emperor returned the embrace. "Don't worry."

Just then, a maid brought over a bowl of pitch-black magic potion.

The Emperor glanced at it with disdain. "Take it away!"

"Give it to me." The Empress took the potion and gave the Emperor a disapproving look. "Your Majesty, how can you be like this? You need to take your medicine obediently to get better."

The Emperor turned his head away, but the Empress fetched a box of candies and fed him the potion and candy alternately, gently.

As soon as he finished, a knight approached and reported, "Your Majesty, Consort Lian is feeling unwell and is crying for you to come."

The Emperor's face immediately showed concern. He rose and reassured the Empress, whose expression had turned indifferent, "Lian'er is timid. I'll go check on her."

"It's fine." A faint smile lingered on the Empress's face.

The Emperor left reassured.

No sooner had he gone than the Empress angrily hurled the white porcelain gold-threaded bowl to the ground, shattering it.

The attendants and maids dropped to their knees.

The Empress's expression darkened. "Bring me my Astrolabe."

Trembling, the head maid brought it over. The Empress took it, dismissed everyone, and immediately contacted Duke Peter.

"What's wrong, my dear little Anne?" Duke Peter's voice was exceedingly gentle.

"Father, when will your medicine finally take effect?" The Empress's face was grim.

Duke Peter chuckled softly. "Soon. Don't worry."

The Empress struggled to calm her heaving chest, then asked with concern, "Father, your medicine won't really harm Mo Qi, will it?"

Duke Peter paused for a moment before replying, "Of course not. Have I ever deceived you?"

Hearing this, the Empress felt relieved.

"Of course I trust you." She coquettishly chatted with Duke Peter for a while, then complained about the Emperor's wandering affections.

Duke Peter suddenly asked, "Even so, do you still love him?"

"Of course. Once you become the Human Emperor, you and I will be together forever," the Empress said, lost in fantasy.

Duke Peter fell silent.

...

After the pleasantries with his daughter ended, Duke Peter hung up the Astrolabe call and looked weary.

"No one wants to remain forever second only to one person but above all others," he muttered to himself. "Don't worry. I will lead the Human Empire to a better future!"

"Anne, don't blame me. Once I'm the Human Emperor, you can have any man you want."

He murmured, his voice echoing in the empty room.

Constantly having to bow to another was unbearable—especially when the one above was a conceited fool who only got to sit on the throne because of his birth.

"The Beast Emperor could rebel and take the throne; I can too. As long as I do well, no one will care how I got there."

Duke Peter's heart pounded violently as he repeated these words to reassure himself.

Rao Ke looked at the pile of gorgeous dresses and jewelry Duke Peter had sent and picked at random. "Just these two."

"Yes, miss." A maid quickly retrieved them and set them aside carefully.

The gathering was that evening, but Rao Ke felt uneasy, as if something big was about to happen.

At the banquet that night, Rao Ke wore an ornate dark green gown and stood in a small corner holding a glass of fruit wine.

Nobles kept trying to approach her, but Phylosain and Kalisa kept them at bay.

"Hey, you're really popular," Mo Duoya said, walking over in a black dress, teasing.

Rao Ke waved a hand. "Don't tease me."

Mo Duoya sat beside her and clinked her glass. "Something should happen tonight."

There was a hint in her words. Rao Ke looked at her.

The gathering's host, Duke Peter, dressed in expensive, well-tailored clothes, was surrounded by a crowd, greeting guests with an elegant smile.

"Looking at that old fox's smile just makes me want to slap his face," Mo Duoya remarked with a smile.

Rao Ke smiled and sipped her fruit wine. "Indeed. But it's this late—why hasn't the Human Emperor shown up yet?"

Mo Duoya's eyes darkened, but she smiled. "Who knows."

Soon, a guard pushed through the crowd and whispered something into Duke Peter's ear.

Duke Peter's face changed drastically.

"What?!"

The nobles around him tensed at his expression.

"Duke, what's happened?"

Duke Peter looked grief-stricken. "Forgive me, everyone, but the gathering must end early."

Chaos erupted. Duke Peter hurried off to the palace.

In the corner, Rao Ke and Mo Duoya exchanged glances. "What could make that old fox Peter look so stricken?"

Soon, the reason for Peter's sudden change spread throughout the capital.

The whole city fell into panic.

The cause: the Human Emperor had collapsed in bed and was in critical condition!

As his sister, Mo Duoya naturally had to join the others in visiting the palace to see the Emperor.

Looking at the unconscious Emperor, Mo Duoya wore a pained expression, but inside she could barely contain her glee and satisfaction.

"Brother, how could you just fall like this..." she said with a hint of tears.

Beautiful consorts surrounded the Emperor, all sobbing.

Only Duke Peter and the Empress were conspicuously absent.

Sensing something amiss, Mo Duoya slipped out on some pretense and finally found them in a side hall.

To her shock, they were clearly confronting each other.

The Empress, utterly bereft of her usual aloofness, screamed at Duke Peter, "You deceived me! You said Mo Qi wouldn't die! You lied to me!"

The Duke, on the other hand, remained calm. "If he doesn't die, how can your father sit on the Human Emperor's throne?"

The Empress was heartbroken. "Then you didn't have to kill him. I could have taken him away."

Duke Peter looked at his pampered daughter with disappointment. "He wouldn't have agreed. If he lost the throne, he'd rather die."

The Empress murmured to herself, "No, he said he loved me most. He wanted to travel the Kaqisha Continent with me."

Facing his naive daughter, Duke Peter sneered disdainfully, then sighed. "If he loved you most, why did he keep dallying with other women even after making you Empress?"

His words struck like a sword, shattering the Empress's defenses. She crouched down and burst into loud sobs.

Duke Peter walked over and crouched beside her. "My dear little Anne, once I'm the Human Emperor, you can have any man you want. Why are you so desperate?"

The Empress ignored him, muttering to herself as if she'd lost her mind.

Duke Peter chopped the back of her neck with the side of his hand. She slumped and fell unconscious.

He scanned the area, then carried her away.

Mo Duoya closed the recording ball in her hand, a brilliant smile spreading across her face, and left as well.

With a sorrowful expression, Duke Peter carried the Empress and handed her to the head maid to take back to rest.

To the nobles who came to ask, he said mournfully, "The Empress is overcome with grief over the Emperor's illness and fainted."

The nobles all expressed understanding.

"The Emperor has passed away!"

The cry went out, and everyone present knelt down, sobbing.

But how many of those tears were genuine remained to be seen.

In any case, Duke Peter lowered his head, a wide grin splitting his face.

One nobleman looked up and caught the Duke's eerie smile. Instantly stiff, he quickly bowed his head, his whole body icy cold.

The church's death knell rang out, informing all residents of the capital that the Emperor had died.

The entire capital was destabilized, silent and fearful.

Spies lurking in the city quickly sent word out.

In the Beastman capital, the Beast Emperor received the news, his expression shifting.

Then he sneered. "That fool died early—it's actually a blessing for the Human Empire."

He regretted that if the Emperor had lived, the Human Empire would likely have declined sharply.

The news of the Emperor's death spread swiftly across the Kaqisha Continent.

Rao Ke sat in her room, arranging flowers in a vase, while Phylosain scrolled through the Astrolabe feed beside her, sharing tidbits from time to time.

Kalisa held a little peacock doll, lost in thought.

"Knock, knock!"

"Come in!"

Duke Peter entered wearing pristine white robes, his face gaunt.

"What is it?" Rao Ke asked calmly.

Duke Peter wore a look of overwhelming grief. "With the Emperor's recent passing, I've been too sorrowful to properly host you. I apologize."

The three exchanged glances. Rao Ke inwardly marveled at how dramatically everyone in the capital could act—they could easily win an Oscar.

"It's fine," she said, feigning a softer expression.

Duke Peter was pleased. "Tomorrow I'll entertain you personally. I hope you won't decline."

Rao Ke pretended to hesitate, then sighed. "Alright."

Duke Peter was overjoyed. Fearing she might change her mind, he quickly took his leave.

After he left, Phylosain couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Boss, your acting skills are fantastic."

Rao Ke waved a hand. "Not bad, I guess."

Lately, many nobles, merchants, and mages had been visiting Duke Peter's estate.

He didn't hide this from Rao Ke, and his intentions were crystal clear.

Rao Ke's noncommittal attitude led Duke Peter to believe she was leaning toward him, so he frequently showered her with all sorts of gifts.

Though they all ended up in the hands of Kalisa and Phylosain.

Rao Ke looked at the cloudy sky.

"Storm's brewing..."