Ju Zi almost subconsciously changed the subject, trying to steer the conversation back to a more realistic level that she could understand:
"By the way, since Xu Tianran ascended the throne, he has been restless and unable to eat or sleep. He has demanded that all the empire's top Soul Engineer put aside their other research and devote all their efforts to developing a Soul Tool specifically for you."
"Led personally by Kong Deming, the most elite forces from the Illustrious Virtue Hall and the Imperial Offering Hall were assembled..."
Before Ju Zi could finish speaking, a sharp glint suddenly flashed in Toji's eyes, which had been as cold and silent as ice.
"The opportunity has arrived." Toji's voice remained calm.
"Opportunity?" Ju Zi was taken aback, not understanding at first. "What opportunity?"
Toji's gaze shifted to a certain direction deep within the palace outside the window, as if piercing through layers of palace walls to see that heavily guarded top-level laboratory.
"If I were to take this opportunity..." he said slowly, "To disrupt Kong Deming's Soul Tool research and development, causing enough chaos... could you possibly win Kong Deming over to your side?"
"What?" Ju Zi exclaimed in surprise, almost losing control of her voice.
She stared at Toji in shock, as if she were seeing this terrifying man for the first time.
Trying to win over Kong Deming?
That was the father of the Soul Engineer of the Sun Moon Empire, an absolute loyal subject of the Sun Moon Empire, and a pillar of the Empire's Soul Guidance Technology.
What others considered an almost impossible task, something they wouldn't even dare to dream of, he described as a calculable, manageable, and reaping opportunity.
Compared to his grand vision and ruthless methods—aiming to become a god and viewing the empire as a chessboard—my own political skills and calculations, which I was so proud of, seemed as childish and laughable as playing house.
After the initial shock, a fire of ambition quickly ignited within her. Ju Zi took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in her heart, and her eyes instantly became incredibly sharp and focused.
Her mind raced, analyzing the feasibility of this crazy plan.
"Well... it's not impossible." She spoke rapidly, her voice tinged with a burning excitement. "Although Grandmaster Kong Deming is loyal to the Empire and Soul Guidance Technology itself, what he values most is the research itself. If... if we, while causing destruction, also demonstrate a more powerful force, enough to overturn his understanding, and let him see that Xu Tianran's rule is an obstacle to the development of the Empire's Soul Guidance Technology, or... when his most desperate research is destroyed, I step in to rebuild it and provide unlimited resources..."
"If handled properly, winning him over is not entirely impossible."
As Ju Zi spoke, her thoughts became clearer and clearer, as if a shortcut to the core of power had suddenly appeared before her eyes.
This plan may seem crazy, but if it succeeds, the benefits will be revolutionary.
"Hmm." Toji simply responded, as if Ju Zi's analysis was already within his expectations. "Give me the intelligence: the lab's location, the core members' list, the defense deployment, and Kong Deming's daily routine. I'll help you carry out the sabotage."
"No problem." Without hesitation, Ju Zi immediately took out a specially made information storage crystal from a hidden Storage Soul Tool she kept close to her body. "This contains all the core intelligence I could obtain, including the laboratory's structural diagram and the shift change times for several key guards."
Toji took the crystal, didn't even look at it, and put it away directly.
With the serious business concluded, the atmosphere in the bedchamber seemed to ease Sisi.
But a hint of embarrassment and shame crept onto Ju Zi's face. She twisted her fingers nervously, her voice barely audible, completely devoid of the sharpness she had displayed when discussing the coup.
"Um, Toji, there's one more thing." She bit her lower lip, as if making a huge decision, "You know, I'm the Empress now... but the key thing is, Xu Tianran... he's... impotent."
Saying that word made her cheeks burn.
"Meanwhile, the old prime ministers and members of the imperial family are constantly urging Xu Tianran to have an heir as soon as possible in order to stabilize the foundation of the country."
" Xu Tianran has privately hinted to me... that there's a high chance he'll ask me... to use another man's... that... for inoculation, and then pretend it's his child..."
She was so ashamed she could barely lift her head, her voice trailing off as she said, "Look at us... how are we going to solve this?"
This issue concerns her future status, as well as her dignity and health. It is currently the heaviest and most unspeakable source of pressure for her, apart from the coup attempt.
Toji as he recalled that absurd and humiliating scene from the original work, his lips twitched almost imperceptibly.
He looked at Ju Zi, his gaze so calm it sent a chill down Ju Zi spine.
"How do you plan to solve this?" he threw the question back at him.
"I... I..." Ju Zi became even more flustered, her beautiful face turning as red as a ripe apple. She could barely speak, only repeating like a helpless child, "I, I don't know... I, I'll do whatever you say... everything you command."
She lowered her head, as if she had completely handed her fate over to the other person.
This answer made Toji raise his hand, and in Ju Zi's astonished gaze, with an almost rude force, ruffle her meticulously combed queen's hair, making her carefully styled hair a little messy.
"If it were an ordinary person, they would definitely say that they would just take their own seeds." He stated this mundane choice in a flat tone.
"If someone is truly ruthless, they'd be willing to take no risks and let a beauty like you carry another man's seed."
But if it were me...
I would say, you don't need to take orders from anyone.
"If you don't want to, then you don't want to; if you're unwilling, then you're unwilling."
"I'll kill anyone who forces you to make a choice."
"Let's kill each other until the end of time."
"Kill until no one dares to force you."
Upon hearing this, Ju Zi's mind went completely blank!
Toji's words were like a world-destroying thunderbolt tearing through the chaos, severing all the grievances, fears, compromises, and resentments deep within her soul.
She suddenly raised her head, her beautiful eyes widening instantly, her pupils reflecting Toji's domineering figure, as if a demon god had descended to earth.
Tears, uncontrollable, scalding tears, instantly filled her eyes and streamed down her pale cheeks.
The domineering declaration that struck at the deepest part of her soul made Ju Zi realize that there are times when she doesn't need to weigh the pros and cons or compromise.
If I don't want to, I don't want to; if I'm unwilling, I'm unwilling.
Who dares to force me?
kill!
Kill them all!
Slaughter until no one dares to speak out!
This is Toji, the man she has always revered and even subconsciously admired.
His answers were always so simple, so violent, yet so exhilaratingly satisfying.
At this moment, the last trace of hesitation in Ju Zi's heart, the last trace of awe for imperial power and worldly rules, was completely crushed by this violent declaration.
She is not a tool, nor a pawn.
She is Ju Zi.
And this man told her in the most direct and domineering way:
Her will was paramount.
Crystalline tears slid silently down her cheeks, but Ju Zi's gaze was brighter and more determined than ever before, with an almost burning intensity that was deeply imprinted on Toji's cold, hard face.
Love, like a raging wildfire, completely consumed her heart at that moment.