Chapter 128 The Empress Destroyed Your Country (54)

Nie Suzhi stared coldly, speechless.

He was well aware that Bai Tang wouldn’t actually execute him publicly. The scene of coming back to life right in front of everyone would’ve been interesting.

The next step was to cleanse the capital’s Imperial Palace. Once the enthronement date was confirmed, preparations began in earnest.

On the eve of the enthronement, Bai Tang publicly beheaded “Nie Suzhi.”

This “Nie Suzhi”, of course, was not the real one but securely confined by Bai Tang in a secret location. The imposter was a notorious condemned criminal, transformed by Bai Tang’s disguise techniques to take his place.

Returning home that day, Bai Tang went to see Nie Suzhi.

Taking a bow and arrow, Bai Tang raised an eyebrow, “Nie Suzhi, today is the day of your public execution. Did you hear the cheers outside? They are celebrating your death.”

Nie Suzhi shrugged indifferently, “But I’m not dead, am I? These ignorant people don’t know that I am immortal.”

Bai Tang curved her lips, arching the bow and nocking an arrow, “Nie Suzhi, today I’ll give you a gift.”

Dodging was possible, but it was meaningless.

In this confined space, Nie Suzhi didn’t want to hide like a plaything. Without even blinking, he watched as Bai Tang’s arrow pierced his body, propelling him into the edge of the cage.

Unable to execute him publicly once, Bai Tang was here to make up for it.

Even though killing Nie Suzhi this time was difficult to quell the hatred in Bai Tang’s heart, she still would not torture him, nor would she kill him sadistically.

After Nie Suzhi came back to life, he murmured, “Empress, you have always lacked ruthlessness.”

Bai Tang rolled her eyes at him, “Nie Suzhi, I’m not like you. I can’t be as heartless as you. You will spend your entire life here, never to leave. You will witness me leading this world towards prosperity. The grim fate you desire for humanity ends here.”

Nie Suzhi smiled, “Empress, you are still somewhat naive. The grand trends of the world, alliances formed over time will eventually break, and divisions endured will eventually reunite. Prosperity lasts no more than a century. You are here now, but what about when you are gone? My failure this time doesn’t mean I won’t keep failing. You may die, but I’ll still be here— that’s my advantage.”

Bai Tang gave Nie Suzhi a deep look, “You fail to understand the power of setting an example. I have created a flourishing era, ensuring that no matter when, there will be a group of people following in succession, never giving up.”

Drawing strength from history is a characteristic of this era.

Nie Suzhi fell silent, choosing not to say anything more, merely watching as Bai Tang departed.

His fate wouldn’t have been any better initially, and now being confined here, losing freedom was the extent of his discomfort.

On the day of the enthronement, cheers erupted from the people.

The cheers were so thunderous, it was almost deafening.

In a daze, Nie Suzhi felt like he had heard such cheers somewhere before.

At this moment, the jubilant laughter, the hope filling the world, and the feast across the land still had nothing to do with him.

Well, as an outright villain, these things were all opposed to him. Why would they matter?

Ascending the long staircase, adorned in a bright yellow dragon robe, Bai Tang looked down upon the world.

Thus began the reign of the first female emperor.

The country was named Sheng, referred to as the Great Sheng Empire.

Bai Tang, with time on her hands, would visit Nie Suzhi, sharing updates on the outside world. In her words, there emerged a progressively optimistic scenario.

At first, Nie Suzhi countered Bai Tang’s statements, but after more than a decade, he simply listened.

Being imprisoned oddly brought him a sense of peace.

As the founding empress, Bai Tang’s lifelong issue was a matter of concern for all. However, Bai Tang immediately ordered the selection of suitable individuals, both in virtue and talent, from the students in the state-established academy for inspection. Those who passed the inspection would inherit the throne. Against popular opinion, she established a relatively complete abdication system.

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