VHBF – Chapter 34 Emperor Daddy (Part 11)

The reborn male lead was the cousin of the villain, Emperor Wei. He was the heir of Prince Wu, while Prince Wu was the late emperor’s half-brother.

Back then, there had been grudges between the late emperor and Prince Wu.

The late emperor was the legitimate heir, while Prince Wu was born to the emperor’s most beloved concubine, and thus became the apple of the emperor’s eye.

This made the position of the legitimate heir rather awkward. Though rightful in name, the emperor delayed appointing a crown prince, and instead showed signs of favoring Prince Wu.

Prince Wu was sweet-tongued and fawning before the emperor, but turned his face against others once behind his back, making him unpopular. The legitimate heir, however, showed the bearing of a wise ruler and was highly valued by the ministers.

Bound by the court, the emperor did not dare break tradition openly by naming his favorite son crown prince.

But as both emperor and father, his favoritism planted the seed of usurpation in Prince Wu’s heart. Prince Wu already considered the throne to be within his grasp and no longer held his elder brother in regard.

When the emperor grew old and fell gravely ill with a cold, he foolishly ordered a eunuch to draft a decree skipping over the legitimate heir and appointing Prince Wu as crown prince.

The head eunuch realized the gravity of the matter, risked beheading, and secretly informed several high-ranking ministers, thereby stopping the farce in time.

When the emperor died, Prince Wu could only watch helplessly as the elder brother he had dismissed ascended the throne with the ministers’ support.

Afterward, Prince Wu continued his petty schemes, but the late emperor, for their father’s sake, did not strike him down. Still, he stripped him of all power, granting only wealth and leisure, and made him a prince with no duties.

Now reborn, the heir of Prince Wu recalled his father’s lifelong frustration and the events of the previous life. A thought grew in his heart—to reclaim the throne. That throne belonged to his father, to their family. Why should it be given to Emperor Wei’s line?

It was only right that things return to their rightful owner.

The system, thinking of this, dimmed its halo in worry. The male lead had already been reborn for months now—would the villain still be provoked into falling into darkness?

In the original story, the male lead, knowing all that had happened in his past life and the weaknesses and preferences of his imperial cousin, carefully laid a trap for him.

Although Emperor Wei was ruthless and seemingly omnipotent, he was still human, with his own vulnerabilities.

As a boy, he had been a pawn in the palace harem struggles. Under his mother’s manipulations, he nearly perished in a fire set up by a concubine’s scheme.

That he merely lost his voice to burns was already a fortune. All his attendants were removed, and he was left trapped in the burning chamber. He barely escaped by relying on himself, but since then, he had developed pyrophobia.

No one knew of this—not even Eunuch Dou, who served closest to him. Emperor Wei would never allow anyone to know his weakness. The heir of Prince Wu had stumbled upon it by chance in his past life.

The heir knew Emperor Wei was highly guarded, and only liked people who were useful and easy to control. So he cultivated a woman for him.

She was crafted entirely to Emperor Wei’s taste—talented, beautiful, harmless, and easy to control. She appeared before him several times, slowly revealing herself. She even saved him twice, intentionally or not. When she discovered his fear of fire, she persuaded him patiently, winning his trust, softening his killing intent, and leading him to open up.

Of course, she never cured his phobia. But her persistence and kindness moved him, and he let her be. Unbeknownst to him, under her subtle guidance, his fear of fire grew worse.

When Prince Wu finally staged a coup, Emperor Wei could have crushed them easily. But he was betrayed by those around him and trapped in Longqian Palace, which was set ablaze for a full day and night. By the time the fire burned out, father and son had seized the palace inside and out. Longqian Palace contained nothing but a charred corpse.

No one knew there was a hidden passage. Emperor Wei had escaped, terribly burned and disfigured. No one recognized him outside; commoners avoided him, children called him a monster, even throwing stones at him.

He hid away to heal, quietly gathering loyal old subordinates. After three years, he returned.

By then, Prince Wu had sat on the dragon throne for three years. He had even issued an edict naming his son crown prince, promising to abdicate in five years.

But he never lasted that long. The villain Emperor Wei had not died. He returned, slaughtering the palace. He especially hated women—particularly the pure and beautiful ones. Blood ran through Chang’an for three days and nights. In the years that followed, his cruelty never ceased. Eventually, people feared him so much that newborns were sent away. The city of Chang’an was nearly emptied by the tyrant’s massacres.

Following such tyranny, it was foreseeable that years later, the Da Chen dynasty would suffer drastic depopulation, with no women, no people, and inevitably, utter chaos.

Not even the original author had imagined that after turning villain, Emperor Wei not only survived but tore apart the male lead, dismembering him and feeding him to the dogs.

The system shivered. This time, the blackened villain was even more dangerous than in the first world. At least in the first, a law-bound society restrained him. He waged financial wars, unable to kill freely. But in this world, the emperor held the highest power, killing as easily as eating or drinking.

The banquet was drawing to a close. The qin player saluted and withdrew. At the Shiyuan Festival banquet, there was a tradition: at the end, ruler and ministers would share joy together.

Ministers could speak freely, airing any opinion. The emperor could not punish them for bluntness. It was truly an equal dialogue. They could even complain about the emperor without fear of execution.

In past years, wary of Emperor Wei’s majesty, officials spoke cautiously. No one wished to be remembered and lose his head later.

But this year, ministers had much to say.

Among them was a young man in dark robes embroidered with dragons, sitting in the front row to the left. He had fine features, upright and dignified in appearance, exuding steadiness—someone who looked reliable at first glance.

But the system knew better. This was the dark-hearted male lead, brimming with ambition.

Several elder ministers opened the discussion with praise for the emperor, lauding his great achievements, the year’s favorable weather, and the promise of another good year to come.

Then, glancing at the emperor’s side, the grand chancellor stroked his beard. “I hear His Majesty is seeking a tutor for the princess’s early education? Has Lord Zhou, the Grand Academician, been chosen?”

Eunuch Xiaoyuzi smiled, while the emperor remained impassive, neither confirming nor denying.

The chancellor continued, “Since that is so, why not also find companions for the princess?”

The sly old fox wore a benevolent look. “The princess is still so young, innocent and playful. If she studies alone, it may bore her. With peers by her side, she might learn even better.”

Seeing the emperor’s thoughtful look, he pressed further: “In my experience, a child learns much better in company. Companions provide motivation, and since the princess is still small, learning through play is better than solitary study, don’t you think?”

When the emperor nodded, the old fox smiled more kindly. Looking at the obedient little princess sitting beside the emperor, eyes wide with curiosity, he pushed forward his great-grandson.

“My unworthy little one is four, a year older than the princess. He can care for her and play with her. He’d be perfect as her study companion.”

The boy, Jiang Cao, blushed shyly, fidgeting nervously, but secretly he just wanted to play with the little princess!

Before the emperor could reply, the grand preceptor’s youngest grandson, Cao Lian, boldly raised his hand. “Your Majesty, I also want to play with the princess!”

His mother nearly fainted, hastily covering his mouth. Sending her child into the palace with the terrifying emperor? She couldn’t bear it!

Emperor Wei glanced over. A boy of four or five. His eyes narrowed, fingers idly stroking the armrest.

First the chancellor’s family, then the grand preceptor’s—all wanting to send children into the palace. Others quickly had the same thought.

The emperor had no sons, only this adopted princess, whom he clearly doted upon. Who knew when or if a prince would be born? In the meantime, currying favor with the princess might not be a bad move.

After all, a princess’s status was not low—she had her own fiefdom. Befriending her early could only be beneficial.

The children, innocent of adult schemes, only wanted to play with the formidable little princess. One of them, the eldest grandson of Duke Chengguo, grew anxious and urged his grandfather: “Grandfather, I also want to study with the princess.”

Soon, more nobles joined in—Marquis Beiyang, the Minister of Personnel, the Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review—all volunteering their children as companions.

Everyone waited for the emperor’s decision. Normally, royal companions numbered no more than three. Already, more than enough candidates had been offered.

At this moment, the silent man in black robes rose, saluting the emperor. “Elder Brother, why not also allow my children into the palace? I have a son and a daughter, both three or four years old, about the princess’s age. Since they are cousins, they will surely get along well.”

The system jolted. Its cold mechanical heart nearly seized. Why was this black-hearted male lead targeting its little cub now? Shouldn’t all his energy be on cultivating that woman and building power in secret?!

Though far older than these humans, the system, built of data, still could not grasp all their devious tricks. Hearing the male lead’s words, it panicked and whispered urgently into the little cub’s ear: “Don’t choose this bad uncle’s children. He has evil intentions.”

The little princess blinked her big eyes at the so-called bad uncle. He looked handsome enough, and when he noticed her gaze, he even gave her a warm smile, looking every bit the kind, gentle elder.

Yinyin hesitated. System Uncle wouldn’t lie to her—she believed him. But this uncle didn’t look like a bad man at all. He even smiled at her.

Others were surprised as well. Though Prince Wu’s status was high, since the late emperor’s death, he had lost all power. He stayed home, drinking away his days, avoiding politics.

For him to suddenly suggest sending his children into the palace—this was unexpected.

In the adult world, nothing was as simple as “I like you, so I’ll play with you.” In politics, everything was about profit.

Some speculated: perhaps the heir of Prince Wu had finally thought it through, using this chance to reconcile with the emperor?

It wasn’t impossible. He had a family, but aside from the title of heir, no position, no official post. Maybe he wanted to use this opportunity to gain favor and a future.

Otherwise, when he inherited his father’s title, the rank would diminish with each generation. In the capital, a powerless petty prince or marquis was of no use. Even noble daughters would look down on such families. So perhaps he did it for his children’s sake.

Only the system saw the truth. This male lead was always a smiling face hiding a black heart. Had he not entrapped the villain so badly, the world would never have fallen into chaos.

The system grew frantic. The little cub was too young to understand. All it could do was pin its hopes on the villain emperor, praying he could see through the male lead’s mask to the black heart beneath.

No matter what scheme the reborn male lead was plotting, it could not be good. Most likely, he was after its little cub!

The system huffed. If the villain didn’t protect its little cub, then it would just run away with her, leaving the villain alone to suffer!