The Villain Starts by Tampering with the Royal Edict - Chapter 1:

Chapter 1: The Emperor’s Death, Altering the Final Edict.

“Your Majesty… Your Majesty has passed away!”

Inside the traveling palace, the old emperor of the Great Zhou Empire suddenly coughed up blood and died. The eunuchs and palace maids attending him fell into chaos, their hands trembling as they rushed about in panic, completely at a loss.

Amid the disorder, a handsome young man with refined, jade-like features collapsed to the ground. However, no one spared him even a glance.

Not long after he fell, his eyes opened again.

But this time, the gaze within them was entirely different.

Cao Shu slowly pushed himself up, his mind blank as he looked around.

Where is this?

He clearly remembered that during lunch today, he had ordered an extra fried egg. After leaving, he ran into a car accident. Just a blink of darkness… and now he was here.

At that moment, a torrent of foreign memories forcefully flooded into his mind.

Thus, Cao Shu instantly understood.

He had transmigrated into a world that resembled ancient times, yet was fundamentally different.

The original owner of this body was a hereditary minor marquis of the Great Zhou Empire, part of a cultivation empire. His cultivation was at the 1st stage Foundation Establishment Realm, though it had been forcibly raised through resources.

Because he indulged in all kinds of extravagant pleasures, the old emperor had kept him by his side as a “guide” for such matters. However, the emperor’s body had already been extremely weak. After indulging in beauties for several consecutive days and consuming excessive tonics, his frail body could not withstand it. He vomited blood and died on the spot.

The young marquis had been overwhelmed with fear. In that suffocating terror, his mind collapsed… and he followed the emperor in death.

Only then did Cao Shu take over this body.

Cao Shu sneered inwardly. This was nothing more than a foolish old emperor. He had none of the achievements of the First Emperor, yet harbored the same obsession with touring the entire realm. Now that he was dead, it was honestly for the best.

The old emperor of Great Zhou had been incompetent and depraved, obsessed with pleasure. From time to time, he would organize grand tours across the empire, constructing numerous traveling palaces everywhere. It drained the people’s wealth and labor, and resentment had long filled the land.

Many officials and citizens had secretly wished for his downfall.

Now that he had finally fallen, it could be said that it was the will of the people.

[Ding! Super Villain System binding.]

Cao Shu’s body trembled.

It’s here… it finally came.

The system—his golden finger—had arrived.

[Binding successful.]

[This system is designed to assist the host in becoming a supreme villain.]

[Committing evil deeds and completing missions will grant abundant rewards.]

[3,000 Villain Points can unlock the System Shop.]

[Scanning host environment…]

[Scan complete.]

[Mission: Take control of the Great Zhou Empire.]

At that moment, Cao Shu sucked in a sharp breath.

The old emperor had just died, and the system was already asking him to take control of the entire empire?

Interesting.

He lifted his head and looked to the side. There stood a middle-aged man with an extremely grim expression.

Zhao Si, Chief Eunuch Zhao Si… one of the peak powerhouses of the Great Zhou Empire, a cultivator at the 6th stage Golden Core Realm. He had always been the old emperor’s most loyal servant, accompanying him as a guard on every journey.

At this moment, Zhao Si was holding a royal edict. His face was ashen, his hands trembling slightly, his eyes filled with disbelief. The surrounding chaos meant nothing to him—he had completely lost himself in shock.

Cao Shu walked over and glanced at the contents. His eyes immediately caught the crucial line.

Then he exclaimed in shock, “How could it be the Second Prince inheriting the throne?”

The old emperor had two sons—the Eldest Prince and the Second Prince. However, no crown prince had ever been formally established, meaning there was no clearly designated successor. Either of them could ascend the throne.

Thus, the two had long been locked in fierce political struggle within the court.

Under normal reasoning, the elder son should inherit. Therefore, both the original host and Zhao Si had always believed the Eldest Prince would ascend. Inevitably, they had offended the Second Prince in the process.

But now, the edict clearly stated that the Second Prince would take the throne.

This completely exceeded both their expectations.

Throughout history, every new emperor, upon ascending, would purge his enemies. Once the Second Prince took power, they would undoubtedly be among those eliminated.

This was a hellish start.

However, at that moment, a flash of inspiration struck Cao Shu’s mind.

It’s not over yet.

He turned to Zhao Si and said, “Chief Eunuch Zhao Si, you’ve offended the Second Prince. You don’t want him to ascend, do you?”

Zhao Si snapped back to his senses. His brows furrowed as he rolled up the edict and said angrily, “Impudent! The Second Prince’s succession is the late emperor’s will. As subjects, we must obey!”

Even now, his loyalty to the dead emperor remained unwavering.

Cao Shu gave a faint, sinister smile. “Chief Eunuch Zhao Si, your loyalty to His Majesty is unquestionable. This marquis is the same. However, once the Second Prince ascends, he will surely purge dissidents. Do you really think we can escape?”

Zhao Si fell silent.

The answer was obvious… they could not.

He had served the emperor for many years. He knew all too well what kind of person one became after ascending the throne. If the Second Prince took power, Zhao Si would certainly be eliminated.

Cao Shu continued, his tone low and steady, “Chief Eunuch Zhao Si, you have served the royal family with utmost dedication. You wouldn’t want to die at the hands of the new emperor, would you?”

Zhao Si’s expression darkened further. After a long pause, he sighed, “But what can be done? The late emperor has already issued the edict naming the Second Prince as successor.”

Cao Shu said calmly, “I have a way to prevent this.”

Zhao Si’s eyes widened slightly as he asked, “Marquis, what method? Speak quickly.”

Cao Shu smiled mysteriously. “Chief Eunuch Zhao Si, you must swear a heart demon oath not to reveal this. Only then can I tell you.”

In the cultivation world, once a heart demon oath was made, breaking it would result in inevitable backlash.

“A heart demon oath…” Zhao Si stared at Cao Shu for a long moment. The edict had already been written—what method could possibly change this?

Yet in the end, for the sake of his own life, he relented.

“Fine. I swear upon my heart demon that I will not reveal today’s conversation.”

At that moment, Cao Shu reached out and grabbed the edict.

“The edict hasn’t been announced yet. As long as we change a few words… it won’t be the Second Prince who inherits.”

Zhao Si’s pupils shrank sharply as he stared at the young marquis in disbelief.

He… actually intended to alter the royal edict.