Quick Wear: Everyone knows I am a good person

Even the grandest drama eventually comes to an end.

Even as the emperor of a nation, he could not resist the "temptation" from the King of Hell, and Emperor Jiaheng eventually grew old and weak.

After falling seriously ill once again, Emperor Jiaheng had no choice but to accept his fate and begin to consider who should be his successor.

Who to choose?

Emperor Jiaheng raised his eyes and looked at Shu Jiao.

Shu Jiao: ???

She silently looked away.

"Say something. Cough cough..."

Emperor Jiaheng drank the medicine in one gulp and said with disdain, "It's so bitter. If you speak, would I punish you?"

He simply disliked those courtiers who, even before he died, sided with his sons.

But how could he possibly doubt Shu Jiao, his loyal, devoted, and impartial friend who had been by his side all this way?

You have far too little faith in me.

Emperor Jiaheng glared at Shu Jiao with a hint of reproach.

Shu Jiao spread her hands and said, "Your Majesty, do you want to hear the truth or a lie?"

Emperor Jiaheng: "A lie?"

"Ouch~"

Shu Jiao laughed exaggeratedly, "The princes are all outstanding individuals, I can't find a single one. Your Majesty, would you like to hear the truth?"

Emperor Jiaheng: ...

have to.

He shouldn't ask anymore.

That's a really harsh truth. Isn't it just that he's complaining that none of his sons are capable?

Emperor Jiaheng: "Stop talking."

Shu Jiao shrugged slightly, looking helpless.

You're the one who's allowed to speak, and you're the one who's forbidden to speak. You old man, you still have so many trivial matters to worry about even as you're dying.

Looking at Shu Jiao's face, Emperor Jiaheng's lips twitched. "I'm so sick right now, can't you say something nice to comfort me?"

Shu Jiao: "His Majesty will surely live to be a hundred years old."

"what."

Emperor Jiaheng laughed in exasperation, "Sun Wenzhong, look at her."

Sun Wenzhong immediately looked down at his nose and pretended not to hear.

Emperor Jiaheng snorted lightly, "Then you tell me, which of my princes is better?"

Sun Wenzhong: ...

Is this something he can say?

"Shu Jiao, look at you! The Emperor is so ill, can't you just give in to him? Why are you making him angry? Your Majesty, this old servant is so heartbroken for you..."

Sun Wenzhong's expression immediately changed.

Emperor Jiaheng and Shu Jiao were speechless. They stared at his old face and rolled their eyes.

"I knew I couldn't count on either of you."

Emperor Jiaheng waved his hand, choosing to think for himself.

Shu Jiao and Sun Wenzhong exchanged a glance and both fell silent, while Emperor Jiaheng stared at Shu Jiao's still young face, a thoughtful look passing through his eyes.

In the blink of an eye, it's time for the red plum blossoms to bloom again.

Emperor Jiaheng, who had not yet established a crown prince, woke up coughing in his sleep and felt a chill all over his body.

"emperor?"

Sun Wenzhong's aged voice rang out from outside the door.

Emperor Jiaheng: "Go and summon the princes, Shu Jiao, members of the imperial clan, and the ministers of the six ministries... to the palace."

Sun Wenzhong seemed to realize something and paused, "Your Majesty..."

"Go."

Hearing Emperor Jiaheng's voice, which seemed slightly more energetic than usual, Sun Wenzhong's eyes immediately welled up with tears, and he replied with difficulty, "Yes."

He knew that the master he had served his whole life was about to leave.

An urgent summons was issued from the palace.

The princes rushed into the palace.

Years of success or failure hinged on this one moment, and beneath the sorrow of impending father loss in their eyes lay an undisguised excitement and exhilaration.

The imperial relatives and court officials followed closely behind and arrived at the palace.

Emperor Jiaheng sat on the bed, staring at them back and forth several times. Then, after glancing at everyone present, he immediately sat up straight and asked anxiously, "Where is Shu Jiao?"

"emperor."

Sun Wenzhong bowed and replied, "She's at the estate; she'll probably be there in about fifteen minutes."

"Hurry up."

Emperor Jiaheng gulped down two mouthfuls of ginseng tea.

He can't die yet; he has to wait for Shu Jiao to arrive and give her his final instructions before he can leave in peace.

Forced to leave her boudoir, Shu Jiao rushed to the palace, weary from her journey and braving the cold.

"emperor."

Emperor Jiaheng's expression relaxed the moment he saw Shu Jiao.

Judging that he didn't have much time left, he didn't delay. "I hereby appoint the fifth prince as the crown prince, and he will succeed me after I am gone. Although he is of mediocre talent, he can still be a good ruler who can maintain the status quo."

"From now on, I'll have to rely on you for support."

"Father!"

The Fifth Prince looked delighted.

The throne ultimately fell into his hands.

Although his father didn't think highly of him, he was, after all, the crown prince and the future emperor!

Just as the Fifth Prince was about to give his acceptance speech, Emperor Jiaheng waved his hand to interrupt him, saying, "Shut up. Save your words for the coronation ceremony."

After saying that, Emperor Jiaheng looked at Shu Jiao with a serious expression, "After I leave, keep an eye on Fifth Prince for me."

Shu Jiao: ???

“I know you (look down on this child)... but this child is already outstanding. I'm entrusting him to you. You must keep a close eye on him. If necessary, reputation doesn't matter, use any means you want.”

Shu Jiao: ...

How did he end up as a regent again?

Those members of the imperial family and court officials who had experienced her disgusting methods all twitched at the corners of their mouths.

Was Emperor Jiaheng senile? He actually appointed Shu Jiao as a regent.

Heavens above! Our ancestors! We can't let the Fifth Prince be led astray and become a worthless bastard after he ascends the throne!

"Your Majesty, don't worry."

Shu Jiao bowed, thus accepting this dying wish.

Emperor Jiaheng finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Sun Wenzhong, after I pass away, you can leave the palace and retire to your estate."

"Yes."

Sun Wenzhong agreed, his voice trembling slightly.

After Emperor Jiaheng had arranged all the people and matters he needed to handle, his face turned pale and he began to cough violently.

He didn't even call the imperial physician, but waved his hand to send everyone out, saying, "Fifth Prince, stay. All of you, get out."

The father and son were about to have a private conversation.

The group of people tactfully left the palace and went to the side hall to wait.

"Lao Wu!"

Emperor Jiaheng stared intently at the Fifth Prince, "Shujiao, you keep a close eye on her. If you encounter any difficulties, seek her advice. If she is not willing to be as devoted and hardworking as she is to me, do not force her."

"She can do whatever she wants."

"Just one sentence, Shu Jiao: don't let yourself escape to a vassal state. Otherwise, you'll sleep with one eye open for the rest of your life!"

Shu Jiao's idea is too bizarre.

Do you know how many of Shu Jiao's grand plans to destroy a country and its people have been thwarted by him over the years?

Do you know how many lives he has saved over the years?

He even felt like he was about to achieve sainthood through good deeds!

If Shu Jiao were to associate with someone else, even the Fifth Prince and those people in the court who value reputation, morality, bottom lines, and rules might not be able to defeat her ten times over.

"Did you hear me?"

Seeing that the Fifth Prince remained silent, Emperor Jiaheng shouted impatiently.

"I heard it."

The Fifth Prince quickly responded.

Then, Emperor Jiaheng gave him some more instructions, and as he spoke, he gradually fell silent.

"His Majesty—has passed away—"

The sound traveled very, very far.

After Emperor Jiaheng's funeral and the ascension of the new emperor, various matters were settled, and the affairs of the court gradually returned to normal.

"Wow~"

In Sun Wenzhong's estate, two cups of wine were spilled on the ground.

"Hey~"

Shu Jiao sighed softly, "With the Emperor gone, our conversations have lost their atmosphere."

"No."

Sun Wenzhong also sighed deeply, "If only His Majesty were still here."

"I heard that the Xu couple are fighting again. If the Emperor were here, he would definitely want to climb over the wall in the middle of the night to watch."