CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER 32: LITTLE POISON FIEND!

Zhao Yi has absolutely no interest in becoming emperor.

Being emperor is both arduous and tiring; he wakes earlier than a rooster, sleeps later than a dog, and even during intimate moments, there’s a eunuch monitoring nearby. Moreover, he can’t leave the palace freely.

How is this different from being imprisoned?

If possible, Zhao Yi would rather be a carefree prince.

Sleep until naturally awakened and count money until his hands cramp.

That’s what truly makes a winner in life.

Rather than bickering with aristocratic families in the Imperial Court and being imprisoned in the Imperial Palace!

However, it seems this matter isn’t up to Zhao Yi’s will to decide.

Miaoyin was here to verify the situation this time.

Although Uncle Zhao Yuan had already reported, it was clear that neither the Imperial Clan Court nor the Xuanzhen Temple seemed to trust his words much.

Miaoyin is different.

Despite being young, Miaoyin has extraordinary talent, making her the jointly recommended future leader by both the Imperial Clan Court and Xuanzhen Temple.

Miaoyin’s words carry much more weight than Uncle Zhao Yuan’s.

The decisions she makes are basically final, unlikely to be changed again!

Zhao Yi understands Miaoyin’s status.

Therefore, when Zhao Yi heard Miaoyin suggest he become emperor, he immediately told Huang Ying to see the guests out!

The moment a night owl visits, you know nothing good follows!

The power center of the Great Xia Dynasty lies in the Imperial Clan Court and Xuanzhen Temple, where the throne is merely a figurehead, akin to a hot potato.

No substantial benefits come with it, yet he would still be watched as if imprisoned.

Zhao Yi would be crazy to jump into that pit of fire.

If he’s not going to hell, then whoever wants to can go!

To prevent anyone from bothering him again, Zhao Yi had Huang Ying tidy up, and then prepared to go out.

Today is the day for the Spring Tide Poetry Gathering.

Heading east from Shengjing City for about a kilometer, you reach Wangchuan Lake, known alongside "West Mountain" as one of the "Double Edges of Great Xia."

Every spring, when the lake’s waters rise, many scholars, officials, gentlemen, and ladies from aristocratic families come here to enjoy the scenery.

While appreciating the vast emerald waves, they drink, sing, and bask in the splendid spring day.

Where there is drinking, there is certainly music and drinking games to add to the merriment.

Thus, the Spring Tide Poetry Gathering is divided into two parts.

One part is literary, making friends through literature.

The other part is martial, exchanging skills through contests.

Whether in literature or martial arts, anyone who excels can receive extra points in the next year’s imperial exams.

If they perform well enough to gain the favor of the royal family, they might achieve meteoric success!

As a result, the Spring Tide Poetry Gathering has become a stage for the younger generation to showcase themselves every year.

Of course, Zhao Yi isn’t attending the Spring Tide Poetry Gathering to showcase himself.

He’s going for a matchmaking session.

Yesterday, the Empress had already sent someone with an ultimatum.

The Spring Tide Poetry Gathering is Zhao Yi’s last chance.

If he can’t find a suitable Sixth Prince Consort at the gathering.

The Empress would personally choose for him!

Zhao Yi originally had no interest in the Spring Tide Poetry Gathering.

But upon hearing the Empress’s words, he agreed without a second thought.

Birds of a feather flock together.

The Empress’s choice for an Imperial Consort would probably be someone like her.

The Empress, while beautiful, is notorious throughout Shengjing City for her terrible temperament and disposition!

The old emperor’s bitter days were enough on his own.

Zhao Yi had no intention of following in his footsteps!

The Spring Tide Poetry Gathering is held at the Four Seas Restaurant.

As soon as Zhao Yi’s carriage came to a stop, the restaurant’s attendants, waiters, and helpers swarmed out to serve.

Supported by Huang Ying, Zhao Yi stepped out of the carriage. Two quick-witted attendants immediately kneeled in front of the carriage, using their backs as a step for Zhao Yi to dismount.

The blue bricks at the entrance of the restaurant had been washed clean countless times. As Zhao Yi stepped on them, his white Deer Hide Cloud-Stepping Boots remained spotless.

Zhao Yi nodded satisfactorily.

"Reward them!"

Huang Ying complied, taking out a few golden ingots from her waist pouch and giving each attendant one!

The attendants were instantly overjoyed, bowing their heads repeatedly in gratitude.

"Thank you, Your Highness, for the reward!"

The helpers nearby, seeing that even the floor sweepers received golden ingots, immediately looked regretful.

A single golden ingot was enough to cover a family’s expenses for a year.

They couldn’t bring themselves to serve as a footstep for the Sixth Prince, but they could sweep the floor!

As long as the reward was generous enough, they would lick the floor clean if needed!

Zhao Yi paid them no heed.

Ordinary rulers might worry about "not the scarcity but inequality."

But Zhao Yi didn’t need to.

Because he was simply too wealthy!

Thus, Zhao Yi never bothered with benevolent governance.

He followed the path of dominance.

Let wealth pave the way.

Prosper if you follow me, suffer if you oppose.

In this sense, Zhao Yi figured he really seemed like a villain!

The Four Seas Restaurant had six floors in total, with the first five welcoming regular patrons.

The sixth floor was exclusively Zhao Yi’s.

Standing by the window, looking at the glittering spring tide in the distance, Zhao Yi was somewhat helpless.

By the lakeside, on the willow bank, many youthful and beautiful girls were playing.

However, Zhao Yi had only the experience of being a sycophant, not the skills to woo a girl.

Watching those pretty girls, Zhao Yi felt like a dog faced with a hedgehog—he didn’t know where to start.

He couldn’t just randomly pick someone to be his Imperial Consort, could he?

While pondering this, there was a sudden knock on the door.

Huang Ying stepped forward to open the door, and saw a small girl, looking about fifteen or sixteen, slender and with dry, yellow hair standing at the entrance.

Huang Ying sized up the girl, noticing that although she seemed malnourished, her clothes were clean, her face delicate, and her nails neatly trimmed, making her seem unlike a beggar. Curious, she asked, "Little sister, whose family are you from, and what do you need here?"

The food and drinks at the Four Seas Restaurant are expensive, beyond the reach of ordinary families, and those who come to revel here are dignitaries and nobles of Shengjing City.

These people know that the sixth floor of the Four Seas Restaurant is permanently reserved by Sixth Prince Zhao Yi, and generally wouldn’t come up to disturb.

This little girl coming straight to knock clearly had Zhao Yi in her sights!

Indeed!

Upon hearing Huang Ying’s question, the girl turned to look at Zhao Yi, who was standing by the window.

"Are you the great evil man?" she asked.

Great evil man?

Hearing someone call him this, Zhao Yi finally turned around.

Upon seeing her, he was momentarily stunned.

The Little Venomous Creature?

Why did this girl appear now?

In the original story, the Little Venomous Creature appeared in the latter part when the male protagonist began his rebellion.

Zhao Yi’s eyes narrowed sharply.

Could it be that the male protagonist’s new golden finger obtained from falling off the cliff was this monster?

Zhao Yi remembered the Little Venomous Creature very vividly.

The Little Venomous Creature had no parents, raised by wild beasts in the mountains from a young age.

She lacks the normal human sense of good and evil, obedient only to the male protagonist.

She has a natural body of poison, adept in creating and using poisons.

In the original, she once used a single candle to poison the Iron Armor Army of the Great Xia Dynasty.

The protagonist’s rebel army managed to conquer Shengjing City so quickly thanks to her efforts!

Zhao Yi looked at the Little Venomous Creature, his brows furrowing.

"I wonder if this monster got her hands on the Seven-Star Begonia..."

"And why did she call me a great evil man? In the original story, she kept calling me a big fool!"

"Could this monster be targeting me?"

"What a headache!"

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