“Your Majesty, where are you?” Another shout rang out, and from the sound of it, it seemed a bit closer than before.

Your Majesty? Could it be that guy is actually playing for real? My heart suddenly skipped a beat. Wouldn’t that mean that I’m the damn emperor now?

“I—I, I am here.” I shouted with all my might. After yelling this, I grew even more nervous, all sorts of thoughts flashing through my mind. Whatever, I’ll just gamble on this. Then, I shouted a few more times in quick succession.

“It’s His Majesty, it’s His Majesty’s voice!” The people over there immediately got excited, shouting and yelling in a frenzy.

Before long, a large group rushed to my side. Good grief, one after another, there must have been several hundred people. All sorts of people were there: some were beautiful women dressed in palace attire, some were eunuchs, and some were armed guards in full armor, swords at their sides.

I was stunned, once again realizing the reality of the situation. There’s no way those guys at the TV station could have put together such a lavish lineup. How much would that even cost?

My heart instantly sank. If this is real, and they find out I’m impersonating the emperor? That would be the end of me. I’ve heard of things like death by a thousand cuts and being torn apart by five horses.

A person’s wits are usually at their sharpest when under pressure. I immediately made a decision—to lie.

Not everyone is good at lying.

“Guards, guards! Protect the emperor, protect the emperor!” Clutching the dragon robe, I shouted in panic. At that moment, I steeled myself and used a lighter to set my hair on fire. After frantically patting it out, most of my hair was already burned off. If there were a mirror, my hair would look like a patchy mess right now. Of course, that’s exactly the effect I wanted. As far as I know, people in ancient times all had long hair. My short hair was my biggest giveaway.

“There’s an assassin! Protect His Majesty!” The sword-bearing guards rushed over like the wind, quickly surrounding me and keeping a vigilant watch on all sides.

“Your Majesty!” A group of eunuchs, not to be outdone, rushed to me, dropped to their knees with a thud, and wailed, “Your humble servants arrived too late to save you. We deserve to die a thousand deaths. Please, Your Majesty, order us to be executed by a thousand cuts, torn apart by five horses.”

Next, a large group of palace maids also threw themselves at my feet, crying and begging me to have them executed.

Things had come to this point, and I had no choice but to take it seriously. Because I knew, if my true identity was exposed, my fate would be even worse than death by a thousand cuts.

“Rise, all of you. You have done well in saving me. When I return, I shall reward you all handsomely.” I had no choice but to put on an imperial air, speaking with force and authority.

“We dare not.” The eunuchs kept kowtowing, desperately begging for my forgiveness.

But at that moment, I was freezing to death. I pointed at a young eunuch and barked, “You, come here and help me put on my clothes.”

The young eunuch’s face instantly turned ashen, and he cried out in terror, “Your Majesty, please spare your humble servant!”

Damn it, what went wrong? Didn’t that guy say his clothes were always put on by eunuchs?

“Y-your humble servant will help His Majesty dress.” Not far away, another young eunuch spoke timidly, but his voice was trembling, as if he was extremely frightened.

Then it dawned on me: there must be a designated eunuch to help the emperor dress. I just randomly picked one to help me put on the dragon robe—of course he wouldn’t dare.

“Very well, you come here and help me put on the dragon robe.” I imitated that guy’s tone, unconsciously adopting a hint of authority. Luckily, that guy really didn’t know how to dress himself, or I’d be exposed right now.

The young eunuch got up, bent over, and walked to my side, trembling as he helped me put on the dragon robe. Suddenly, I heard him gasp softly, staring in shock at my chest.

I was startled too and glanced at my chest. There was nothing there—just a small birthmark at most.

Chapter One: Let’s Have a Different Emperor (Part Two)

A birthmark. I shivered. I remembered that guy’s chest was fair and clean, with no birthmark at all. This young eunuch must have been the one who usually helped him dress, so he’d naturally know his master’s chest had no birthmark.

Thinking of this, my expression darkened, and I barked coldly, “Why are you not moving? Do you want me to freeze to death?”

The young eunuch jolted, trembling as he finished helping me into the dragon robe. I could even hear his teeth chattering.

I’m sorry, young eunuch. I sighed inwardly. To save my own life, I have no choice but to sacrifice you.

“You, come here. I have something to ask you.” I called to a sword-bearing guard.

The guard immediately walked over respectfully and knelt down. “Your Majesty, your command?”

“Kill him.” I pointed at the young eunuch and said coldly, “Immediately.”