Chronicles of the Lazy Sovereign Novel - Chapter 337

Chapter 337: The Loafer has an Audience (2)

Wei Yanho sighed as he saw the emperor’s expression:

“As I expected.”

“I must correct one of the assessments about you. You are more intelligent and perceptive than I thought. I should scold the one who informed me.”

“Yes, thank you for the compliment.”

The emperor smiled subtly as he saw Wei Yanho hesitate:

“Shall I guess what you’re thinking?”

“…There’s no need.”

Wei Yanho politely refused, but the emperor seemed to ignore him:

“You are calculating what would happen if you killed me right here. If, by chance, upon my death, my older brother would inherit the throne, or if you should also eliminate the crown prince. Isn’t that right?”

“Can you read minds? As they say, the emperor is chosen by the heavens…”

“It’s written all over your face. Are you going to try?”

“No.”

Wei Yanho raised his hands:

“I can handle three, but ten is too much. Escaping would be difficult.”

Wei Yanho looked at the ceiling and the floor. Although it seemed like there was no one, ten people were aiming their weapons at him. They were experts that Wei Yanho couldn’t underestimate.

Wei Yanho understood why the imperial palace was called a snake pit.

“You’re not denying it.”

“Anyway, even if I said I didn’t think about it, you wouldn’t believe me, right?”

“Of course not.”

The emperor smiled. But Wei Yanho didn’t feel the same as before.

Although the smile was the same, it felt chilling, as if he were seeing a snake.

‘My master was right.’

He said that the imperial palace was full of evil people, and the emperor, who was at the top, must be very evil.

“When did you realize?”

“After exchanging a couple of words? More or less around there.”

“Hmm… I don’t remember showing my true intentions. What made you suspicious?”

Wei Yanho sighed, took the cup, and drank it:

“Kaa!”

Wei Yanho frowned, put down the cup, and crossed his arms:

“You seemed too normal.”

“Hmm, what do you mean?”

Wei Yanho replied bluntly:

“I thought you were foolish or obsessed with power since you had someone like Yi Wangya by your side and cared about Nokgi. But you seem too normal. So, distancing yourself from Yi Wangya was also a plan.”

“Do you know that you could be executed for saying that?”

“Were you going to forgive me if I didn’t say it?”

“Hahahaha.”

The emperor avoided answering with a smile.

“Then I thought: ‘He’s just looking for a reason. He’s just looking for an opportunity to eliminate Yi Wangya’.”

Wei Yanho looked directly into the emperor’s eyes. His cold gaze could intimidate a tiger, but the emperor didn’t flinch.

“So that’s what it was…”

“What thing?”

“You already knew, didn’t you?”

“Excuse me?”

When Wei Yanho feigned ignorance, the emperor looked at him with a strange expression:

“You knew he was the crown prince. You knew it and still hit him, right?”

“Before answering, can I ask a question? If I admit it, will charges be added to my sentence?”

“Your execution is already more than assured. What does one more matter?”

“Eh? Is that how it is?”

Wei Yanho scratched his head:

“Then yes, I knew he was the prince. So what?”

“And why did you do what you did, even knowing who he was?”

“I should be asking you that instead.”

“Hm?”

“If things were as one would expect, there would be no problem. But Your Majesty is too rational. And yet, knowing that your son was going astray, why didn’t you do anything?”

The emperor looked at Wei Yanho with a strange expression:

“You could have corrected him, you could have changed him. Why didn’t you?”

“Because I couldn’t change him. Because I shouldn’t change him.”

“And why is that?”

The emperor stared at Wei Yanho without answering.

“Hmm…”

Wei Yanho said as if he understood:

“So it’s not that you’ve been manipulated by Nokgi… Coexistence? No, it was use. He used him.”

“What an insolent boy.”

The emperor looked at Wei Yanho with admiration:

“What do you think is the origin of all problems?”

“Health.”

“Correct.”

The emperor had a bitter expression. It wasn’t an expression one would expect from an emperor, but it was an appropriate expression for a common man.

“I’ve been weak since I was born. That’s why they said I wasn’t fit to be emperor. And I didn’t want to be emperor either. Because my brother was there. As you know, my brother and I have a big age difference.”

“Yes.”

“The problem is that my brother wasn’t interested in the throne. He left the palace and chose to live as a hermit. He only returned after I inherited the throne to help me. And that was the beginning of all the problems.”

“That’s a problem?”

“What would happen if I die now?”

“Hmm, the crown prince would become emperor.”

“Yes. A young and powerless prince would become emperor. Many people would try to seize power.”

“To usurp the throne?”

“It’s common.”

Wei Yanho looked at the emperor in disbelief. He couldn’t understand what he was saying.

“Didn’t you say you respected him? Even I know that man wouldn’t do something like that… so why?”

“No. You don’t understand.”

The emperor interrupted Wei Yanho:

“You don’t know how far power can corrupt people. You’ll never understand. It will seem like a fantasy of someone obsessed with power. But you don’t know. Power infiltrates without you realizing it and drives people crazy. Even my brother is no exception.”

The emperor’s expression and voice were so serious that Wei Yanho couldn’t refute.

“And that’s why he’s going to kill them?”

“Do you think the crown prince can resist Wangya after my death?”

“…That’s impossible.”

“Yes.”

The emperor nodded slowly. Wei Yanho felt a slight compassion as he saw his bitter expression.

‘Forget the compassion.’

Wi Yeonho erased any unnecessary emotions.

That man wasn’t someone worthy of pity.

He was just another monster living in the palace.

“So, I must eliminate everything that could threaten the imperial power before I die.”

Wei Yanho looked at the emperor with a serious expression:

“In terms of strengthening the imperial power, it would be better for Wangya to become emperor instead of a young and grumpy prince.”

“You’re a fool.”

The emperor clicked his tongue:

“The emperor’s authority is not simple. The important thing is not the person’s ability, but whether he is the legitimate heir. If my brother becomes emperor, it might be better than the young prince. But an emperor without legitimacy is sure to fail.”

“Wait.”

Wei Yanho waved his hand:

“There’s something strange in what you’re saying.”

“What?”

“After your death, the problem won’t be Wangya, but Nokgi. He will surely use the prince as a puppet.”

“Yes.”

“Are you going to leave it like that? Isn’t that a threat to the imperial power?”

The emperor smiled:

“The power of eunuchs who cannot have children is limited. Nokgi is exceptional, but others are not.”

“Yes, but…”

“Eunuchs don’t share power. Eunuchs at the top tend to control other eunuchs. Nokgi will eliminate his own followers. Then he will work for the prince.”

“Why?”

“Because strengthening the emperor’s authority is beneficial to him. The power of eunuchs comes from the power of the emperor. To strengthen his power, he must strengthen the emperor.”

Wei Yanho sighed:

‘He’s not a fool.’

In fact, he was cunning. Regardless of whether his plan was right or wrong, it was admirable that he had used Nokgi in that way.

The emperor asked when Wei Yanho looked at him:

“What do you think? Do you think I’m wrong?”

“No. I don’t think you’re wrong. But…”

“But?”

Wei Yanho shrugged:

“If things always go as one wants, there would be no problems. But I don’t think it will happen as you say.”

“Perhaps.”

But the emperor’s eyes didn’t move.

“But at least I can increase the possibility. I will do everything for this country. Even if that means enduring shame and criticism, it will be the right decision in the future.”

“Yes, perhaps.”

Wei Yanho sighed:

“Are you convinced?”

“I’m not convinced, but I think there are two types of people in the world. Those with whom you can talk and those with whom you cannot. I don’t think you listen to others.”

The emperor’s eyes narrowed:

“Are you calling me a tyrant?”

“No. More than a tyrant…”

Wei Yanho shrugged:

“You’re a lonely person.”

“…Lonely?”

“Yes, a lonely person. Someone who can’t trust anyone. Not his brother, not his subjects… not even his son. Someone who must endure everything alone. That’s why you’re lonely.”

“Hahahaha!”

The emperor laughed heartily:

“You say I’m alone? That I’m alone despite having everything?”

“Yes.”

“Are you a fool? Can a commoner who hasn’t experienced it understand the emperor?”

“It’s not difficult.”

“How?”

Wei Yanho looked at the emperor and spoke:

“If it weren’t like that, you wouldn’t have to tell me all this. It’s something that no one can understand or listen to, so you want to tell it to someone who is going to die.”

“…”

The emperor’s face began to tremble:

“Brat!”

The emperor’s anger fell on Wei Yanho.