Chapter 1: I Became the Founding Emperor
“Those with a memorial, report; those without, withdraw from court~”
A raspy voice, like that of a drake, startled Zheng Yi from his drowsiness.
He blinked open his eyes, and to his astonishment found himself seated atop a high platform clad in bright yellow. Beneath him was a golden dragon throne, and he wore an equally splendid imperial robe of yellow. Before him stood a host of ministers and generals, all in respectful attendance; the surroundings were carved with dragons and phoenixes, a display of utmost luxury.
“What’s happening to me?... Am I dreaming? Or have I traveled through time?”
Zheng Yi gazed at the scene before him in disbelief. Last night, he’d been wandering through the antique market, bought a few odds and ends, then returned to his rented room to sleep. Yet upon waking, he wasn’t in his modest apartment, but in this opulent palace.
A dream! It must be a dream!
“Your servant has a memorial to present!”
Suddenly, an elderly man with snow-white hair and beard stepped forward and said respectfully, “Your Majesty, the Second Prince has raided Luo City, letting his soldiers pillage the people and slaughter innocents, leaving the populace destitute. I beseech Your Majesty to punish the Second Prince!”
“What’s going on?” Zheng Yi was bewildered. Second Prince? If he was the emperor, then the Second Prince would be… his son?
He’d just graduated from university, where could he have a son? And why was the Second Prince waging war outside? Who was this old man?
He instinctively glanced at his hands; gone were his youthful, strong hands, replaced by a pair of frail, wrinkled ones belonging to an old man.
“How did I become this? My hands…”
Then, a wave of dizziness swept over him, his vision darkened, and he fainted.
“Your Majesty?”
“Your Majesty!”
“The emperor has collapsed, fetch the imperial physician at once!”
“Your Majesty…!”
A quarter of an hour later, Zheng Yi slowly regained consciousness, his gaze strange.
He hadn’t merely fainted; he’d been receiving the memories of this body.
According to the unfamiliar recollections flooding his mind, he had indeed traveled through time!
This was a kingdom called ‘Yu,’ an ancient dynasty founded less than two years ago.
Three years prior, ‘he’—the previous owner of this body—had risen in rebellion with the aid of three sons, overthrowing the ‘Jin’ dynasty and crushing other rival kings. A year ago, he declared himself emperor, founding ‘Yu,’ with the reign title ‘Wu Yu,’ claiming dominion over the Central Plains.
Yet in these early days, many provinces and counties remained under the control of other rebel kings, and foreign invasions were frequent, leaving the realm unstable.
His three sons, alongside other generals, fought ceaselessly to secure the regime.
However, for reasons unknown, rumors about the Second Prince, Zheng Yuansen, had spread throughout the court for the past half year.
Some accused him of slaughtering innocents, others claimed he aspired to kingship, or even harbored treasonous intent.
With public opinion so heated, Zheng Yi could only recall Zheng Yuansen and strip him of command, confining him to the ‘Xuan Prince’s Manor.’
This matter had weighed heavily on his mind.
The Imperial Household had even selected several beauties to accompany him in the palace, and after a night of indulgence, he was still dizzy during court, ultimately allowing ‘Zheng Yi’ to usurp the emperor’s place and become the founding emperor of Yu!
At this moment Zheng Yi felt deeply unsettled; the experiences of ‘Zheng Yi’ and the present circumstances so closely mirrored the founding era of the Tang dynasty in his previous life.
He forced himself to remain calm; whatever happened, he must never let anyone discover he was not the true ‘Wu Yu Emperor,’ but an impostor.
Fortunately, he’d inherited the emperor’s memories. If he was careful and didn’t slip, perhaps he could pass for the real emperor.
“Your Majesty~! You’ve finally awakened!”
The raspy voice sounded again as an old eunuch hurried in.
Zheng Yi’s mind stirred; he recognized this confidant as Wang Zhonghai, the emperor’s trusted aide. Imitating the emperor’s tone, he said, “Zhonghai~”
“Your Majesty, your humble servant is here.”
“What did the imperial physician say?”
“The physician said Your Majesty is merely overworked and depleted; a few days of rest will restore you.”
“But…”
“But what?”
“Your Majesty must take care of your health in the future, especially regarding women…”
Zheng Yi’s mouth twitched. This old man was sixty, yet spent nights with two women at once.
He’d even requested potent tonics from the imperial physician.
Though the former emperor enjoyed such pleasures, Zheng Yi found it troublesome.
To be a sixty-year-old man, even if emperor—what use was it?
Wang Zhonghai’s gaze flickered. “Your Majesty need not worry. The physician says you once had a foundation in martial arts; with proper care and nourishing medicine, you can recover…”
Martial arts foundation!
This world possessed martial traditions.
The strong could pluck flowers, wield sword energy, and even, in the stages beyond innate ability, regain youth.
Some even claimed there were cultivators here, able to take lives from a thousand miles away, truly beings of great power!
During the past two years of conquest, Zheng Yi had witnessed such wonders on the battlefield and had expended enormous effort seeking so-called ‘cultivators.’
They were rare, but after years of searching, he’d found two, who now served as honored guests of Yu.
These two cultivators lived in seclusion; even as emperor, he had to wait patiently to see them.
Zheng Yi himself stood at the sixth stage of the Seven Realms of Martial Body Refining: the Blood Refining Stage!
A powerful martial artist at this stage possessed skin like bronze, bones like iron, and abundant vitality.
But age had robbed him of strength; years of war had left hidden injuries, his power diminished by nine-tenths.
Yet he was not discouraged; as he accepted the memories, he discovered something else in his mind.
In the depths of his consciousness, there was chaos without light.
A peculiar scroll, emitting faint pink light, floated silently.
The scroll itself was pink, its shaft carved with auspicious clouds, intricate and layered, like heavenly music.
It was slightly unfurled, yet strangely, there were no images or characters.
With a thought, clear words appeared at the start of the scroll.
[Fate Artifact: The Chronicle of Mortal Flowers]
[Fate Master: Zheng Yi]
[Lifespan: 60/69]
[Worldly Aura: 0]
Zheng Yi looked at the scroll, both familiar and strange, thoughts swirling.
Wasn’t this the scroll he’d purchased at the antique market?
Back then, it featured portraits of many beauties in ancient dress. Why, now in his mind, was it blank?
Or perhaps, this was the golden finger that brought him across worlds?
As a twenty-first century youth, Zheng Yi certainly understood the concept of transmigration and cheats.
He hadn’t expected to have one himself!
But why did he have only nine years left of his lifespan?
And what was this Worldly Aura?
At that moment, a commotion arose outside, mingled with cries and shouts.
Zheng Yi asked, “What’s happening? Why is it so noisy outside?”
This was the inner chamber of the Taiji Hall, where the emperor rested during court sessions; with ministers still waiting outside, how could there be such chaos?
Wang Zhonghai replied, “Your Majesty, please rest. I will go investigate.”
“Very well.”
Zheng Yi nodded, and Wang Zhonghai hurried out.
Only now did Zheng Yi finally breathe a long sigh of relief.
Transmigrated as emperor?
Though he was now an aged, frail man, it didn’t feel too bad.
As long as he focused on health and revived his martial arts, he could live with flair for another decade or so.
Far better than the hopeless grind of his previous life.
Thinking of the two beauties he’d enjoyed last night, and the harem full of them, Zheng Yi could barely contain his excitement.
Once his health recovered, he could…
And beyond that, this world even had cultivators!
Though he was already in his sixties, what if—
Before long, the noise outside only intensified.
Wang Zhonghai staggered back in, nearly falling to the floor.
“Your Majesty, disaster has struck! The Xuan Prince has rebelled!”
“He’s led his troops through the Xuanwu Gate, and now they’ve reached the Taiji Palace!”
“The Crown Prince and the Third Prince have all been slain by the Xuan Prince…”
Zheng Yi was stunned. Why did this plot feel so familiar?
The Xuanwu Gate Incident?
He wasn’t Li Yuan…!