Published: March 7, 2025
Chapter 298: Brothers' Farewell
In the palace, Emperor Zhao Zhe was trembling. This emperor, who had grown up in a greenhouse, could never have dreamed that Diwu Qingrou's methods were so ruthless and so bloody!
No mercy at all!
He didn't care about the dignity of the royal family! Tens of thousands of lives meant nothing to him!
The civil and military officials didn’t matter at all! To him, everyone was just one word: kill!
The concubines on one side huddled together, their pretty faces pale, devoid of color, their bodies trembling like leaves in the wind.
“Fifth Minister has arrived!” A soldier outside announced, raising his blood-stained long knife. It was as if the death knell had been sounded.
“Diwu Qingrou has come!” Emperor Zhao Zhe's lips turned purple as he trembled and said, “What does he want?”
No one answered him; silence enveloped the room.
The sound of steady footsteps approached. Diwu Qingrou entered with a gentle smile, walking in leisurely, hands behind his back, dressed in an ordinary cotton robe.
His expression remained elegant and calm; it seemed as if nothing troubled his heart.
But to Zhao Zhe, he seemed like a blood-soaked demon from hell, his eyes rolling back as he nearly fainted.
“Your Majesty, how are you?” Diwu Qingrou greeted him.
“Fine... fine! Minister, you are fine...” Zhao Zhe struggled to control his facial muscles, trying to display a smile, not wanting to lose the demeanor befitting the emperor, but he did not succeed.
Diwu Qingrou stood with his hands behind his back, and with a slight glance, a guard hurriedly brought over a chair and placed it behind him. Only then did Diwu Qingrou smile faintly and sit down gracefully.
“Your Majesty.”
“...Hmm?”
“You and I have been sovereign and minister, which is a form of fate,” Diwu Qingrou smiled, sighed, and said, “I originally thought we could work together in harmony, unite the world, and stand at the peak together for the world to worship!”
“I possess the ability and ambition to unite the world! It's a pity, Your Majesty, that you never placed trust in me.” Diwu Qingrou sighed heavily, looking at Zhao Zhe with pity: “What is the reason for this?”
“It... it is my fault…” Zhao Zhe dared not meet his gaze and trembled as he spoke.
“Indeed, it is a mistake…” Diwu Qingrou chuckled lightly.
“Back then, when you did not trust me, I was forced to seek opportunities on the battlefield to seize power! Who would have thought... that it would actually be much better than being granted military authority by you…”
Diwu Qingrou slightly narrowed his eyes, seemingly recalling the fierce battles of that year.
“One exchange after another, one battle after another, piled up my extraordinary reputation as Diwu Qingrou; it also accumulated countless military achievements that compelled you to reward me... And when the frontline command was completely in my hands, the situation was already set!”
“You could no longer control me!” Diwu Qingrou paused his voice and said, “Next, I will conquer the south and the north; firstly, to eliminate dissidents, and secondly, in the eyes of the world, I am the invincible commander. Even in the eyes of Iron Cloud, I am controlling the battle situation, for my numerous great military achievements…”
“But he was wrong! What I sought was not military achievements, but power.” Diwu Qingrou said calmly: “During that time, I mobilized the entire Great Zhao Empire's two million troops to the battlefield at different times! What I wanted was familiarity with the army, the generals' loyalty within the troops, and my control over each army.”
“Because of that, I knew you would not give it to me! So I had to fight for it myself.”
“Countless traps were set; while Iron Cloud suffered great losses, the number of deaths in Great Zhao was not less, because too many were led into Great Zhao's ambush by traps I had personally set... And those people were loyal to Your Majesty and to Great Zhao; but because of your distrust, I also lacked trust in them, so what I wanted were those loyal to Diwu Qingrou…”