Feng Rui never imagined that, at this critical moment, Old General Yuan would lead troops to block his path.

The two armies faced off on the widest street near the city gate.

“Feng Rui, surrender! Feng Qiongcang’s reign over this world ends here!”

Old General Yuan’s voice rang out loud and clear, easily heard by the nearby soldiers and commoners alike.

Many of the commoners looked startled, turning to look toward Old General Yuan as if waiting for an explanation.

“It is Night Prince who is the true Feng heir. Feng Qiongcang is nothing but a criminal who murdered his father to seize the throne.”

The moment Old General Yuan’s words fell, an uproar broke out among the crowd.

“The Emperor isn’t the true Feng heir? It’s Night Prince?”

“So the legends were true after all!”

“The late emperor was the Emperor himself… surely not?”

“Night Prince is the true Feng heir, Night Prince is the rightful Son of Heaven!”

“……”

Sitting astride his horse, Old General Yuan looked at the commoners lining both sides of the road, some poking their heads out from doorways and windows, and raised a broad hand.

“Everyone, please stay calm!”

Old General Yuan cupped his hands with a look of gratitude on his face and continued, “Last night, I am deeply grateful to all of you.”

“If not for you, I probably wouldn’t be alive to see today’s sun.”

“I will never forget everyone’s help to me for the rest of my life, but today’s matter has nothing to do with you.”

“Feng Rui.” Old General Yuan drew his gaze back and fixed it ahead.

“What happens today is the doing of my own Yuan family troops. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the people of Xiyuan City.”

“All of you should leave. Come back once the battle is over,” Song Qi called out loudly to the commoners.

“Old General Yuan is deeply grateful to you all, and he hopes there will be a chance to see you all again — quick, leave!”

“I won’t leave. Where Old General Yuan is, that’s home!” Very quickly, someone answered Song Qi’s call.

“We won’t leave either!” commoners on the other side echoed.

“We’re not going! Wherever Old General Yuan is, that’s where home is. Whoever Old General Yuan says is the true Feng heir, that’s the true Feng heir!”

“Hahaha……” A low laugh echoed through the entire street.

Feng Rui’s internal energy ran deep — even a simple laugh could feel like a demonic sound invading one’s mind.

The street, packed with thousands upon thousands of people, instantly fell silent.

Feng Rui lifted his head and stared at Old General Yuan.

“The old fool says whoever he pleases is the true Feng heir, and that makes it so? How much of his drugged wine have you people drunk? Heh…”

“You all think he genuinely wants to save you? That’s far too naive! He’s just trying to make use of you all one more time.”

“I know someone was stirring things up in the crowd last night. Is it the same now?”

Feng Rui suddenly turned his head, staring at the window of one particular house.

But by the time he looked, the place was already empty, no one there.

“Hmph!” He gave a cold snort and drew his gaze back.

“The Emperor has issued an imperial edict for you to hand over the military tally. Instead, you colluded with Night Prince against the Emperor, and now you spout such absurd words trying to incite the people to rebel?”

“Yuan Nanshan, what crime shall be charged to you?”

“True gold fears no fire.” Old General Yuan curved his lips calmly.

“The Feng Clan has always been ruled by a true Feng son or Feng daughter, and has always known peace and prosperity. Look at how the Feng Clan has fared these past years — everyone has seen it with their own eyes!”

“Night Prince was originally one of the princes, and upon returning to court he found things utterly changed, yet he had no intention of fighting for the throne — instead he worked hard to support the new king.”

Speaking of what pained him most, Old General Yuan clenched his fist tightly.

“Even to this day, if not for discovering the truth that Feng Qiongcang had murdered his own father to seize the throne all those years ago, Night Prince would not have returned in such a manner.”

“Feng Rui, if you want to strike at Night Prince, you’ll have to step over my corpse first!”