Bai Yin lowered his head to look at Huhehaote’s severed head at his feet. Those unclosed eyes were staring at him.

Death with eyes wide open!

As if resenting him.

Resenting his “heartlessness.”

All these years of life-and-death struggles, brotherhood—in the end, it was nothing but a dream.

Reality had told him time and again that power and status truly could corrupt the heart and blind the eyes.

This battle was finally over.

The Western Sai grassland returned to tranquility. Those small tribes on the grassland could finally stop living in constant fear, worrying day and night about being swallowed by Yuedan.

This great malignant tumor of Yuedan had finally been eradicated. As for Yuedan’s defeated remnants, most were either dead or wounded. However, Muzhaer didn’t exterminate them all but kept them to herd livestock for him.

Raising cattle, sheep, and horses.

As for Alasan, he was ultimately exiled to the northern grasslands. Muzhaer even gave him a piece of land and a few people, letting him herd and make a living there.

Those who had rendered meritorious service were each rewarded!

Following this victorious battle, Houliao celebrated for five days and five nights.

The entire Western Sai grassland was shrouded in festivity!

However—

At this time in the capital.

The Ministry of Justice prison.

In the sunless cell, only the oil lamp lit at the cell door provided a sliver of light.

In one cell, on filthy straw matting sat a man. He wore prison garb that had been torn open by whips, with crisscrossing bloody welts that made one’s back run cold—utterly miserable.

His legs were crossed, his hands resting powerlessly on his knees, his hair disheveled and mixed with straw. Yet despite such wretchedness, he still kept his spine straight, maintaining his dignity.

In just two days, he already had a face full of stubble, sunken eye sockets, and protruding cheekbones, appearing desolate.

If the torture continued, he would likely not endure much longer.

Suddenly—

“Tap tap tap…”

Anxious, chaotic footsteps echoed from afar in the quiet prison.

The visitor walked quickly to his cell, grasping the wooden bars with one hand, his face full of worry, calling out to the person inside.

“Father!”

Hearing this, Yu Dali barely moved, slowly raising his head to look at his son Yu Wei outside the cell.

Yu Wei held the position of Temple Administrator in the Court of Judicial Review, always working under his father.

He handled matters steadily and was very upright.

But he lacked some of his father Yu Dali’s smooth, tactful nature.

“Father, how are you? Can you still endure?”

“Why did you come?”

“I begged the Minister of Justice, and he agreed to let me secretly come see you. These past few days, your son has been frantic with worry.” Yu Wei gripped the bars tightly, tears in his eyes.

Yu Dali’s entire body ached, feeling as if his bones would fall apart. He breathed lightly, looking at his son. “Wei’er, Father will likely not escape death. If I die, His Majesty won’t spare you either. You must find an opportunity to leave the capital. Do you understand?”

“Father…”

“Remember what I said. Do not linger in the capital.”

“How can your son watch Father reduced to this state yet only think of saving himself?”

Yu Dali coughed twice, his hands clutching his clothes in a bunch. He said, “The situation is set. Why must you throw your life away?”

Yu Wei shook his head. “In any case, your son will absolutely not leave alone. Tomorrow I will enter the palace to have an audience with His Majesty and beg him to spare Father.”

“Beast, beast!” Yu Dali suddenly cursed excitedly, his whole body trembling. With a hoarse voice he said, “His Majesty intends for me to die. How could he release me? If you enter the palace to plead for me, you’re undoubtedly going to your death. I am your father, you must listen to me. I tell you to leave, you leave. If you don’t listen, I’ll act as if I never had you as a son.”

Ugh!

Yu Wei’s lips trembled. Holding back tears, he knelt down.

He cried out “Father” with heart-wrenching agony.

He was not a heartless person—how could he leave alone?

After a moment, Yu Dali struggled to his feet, enduring the pain in his body. He walked with difficulty to the cell bars, squatted down across from the wooden posts, and grasped Yu Wei’s hands tightly. “Wei’er, you absolutely must not enter the palace. The current Emperor is no longer that ignorant emperor of before. All court officials connected to Prince Rong have been dismissed by him one by one. Now that it’s my turn, it’s inevitable. You must leave the capital before something happens to me. You are the only bloodline of the Yu family. Nothing must happen to you.”

“But Father, your son cannot watch helplessly as something happens to you. You’ve devoted yourself wholeheartedly to the court for so many years. Many officials in court will plead for you. And Minister Qin—he distinguishes clearly between good and evil, right and wrong. Your son will go see him tonight to beg him. He cannot possibly stand by and let His Majesty kill you.”

“It’s useless, useless! The entire court has been replaced with His Majesty’s people. No one will save me. Minister Qin can barely protect himself. Don’t put him in a difficult position. At that time, you’ll drag him down too.” Yu Dali tried to dissuade him.

At this moment, he had no desire for survival whatsoever.

Yu Wei had nowhere to turn.

Suddenly he thought of something. “There’s still one person, still one person who can save you. Why don’t we…”

Before he could finish—

He was interrupted.

“Silence.”

“Father!”

“You absolutely must not notify Prince Rong.”

“But right now only Prince Rong can save you. As long as he returns, everything still has variables.”

“His Majesty purged the court of all Prince Rong’s faction precisely to establish control. If Prince Rong returns, His Majesty won’t spare him. Returning to the capital equals going to his death.”

“It won’t happen. His Majesty won’t be so ruthless to Prince Rong. Moreover, there’s Minister Ji. For Minister Ji’s sake, His Majesty will surely spare your life.”

My foolish son!

You’re so naively innocent!

Yu Dali sighed. “His Majesty intends to eliminate me and charge me with crimes. So what if Prince Rong and Minister Ji return to the capital? As long as the Emperor has intent, court officials must die.”

Helpless.

Yu Wei wept with tears!

Not knowing what to do.

The jailer came to urge him, telling Yu Wei to leave immediately.

Before leaving, Yu Dali grasped his hands and gave final instructions. “Wei’er, listen to Father. Leave the capital.”

…

The imperial palace.

Late at night, stars dotted the ink-black night sky, visible in their entirety.

Wei Yi stood atop the Moon Ascending Tower, hands behind his back, a pair of cold eyes gazing at the brilliantly lit palace, his face expressionless.

Someone approached from behind.

“Your Majesty.” Shen Changqin’s voice.

After a moment, Wei Yi asked, “How is it?”

“It’s been cleaned up almost completely.”

“Mm.”

“Does Your Majesty have any other instructions?”

Wei Yi turned to look at the respectfully deferential Shen Changqin, his refined brows raising slightly. “How is Prince Rong?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, Prince Rong went to Houliao two months ago. Houliao and Yuedan went to war, and Yuedan’s chieftain Huhehaote was beheaded.”

“Houliao, Houliao…” Wei Yi murmured softly, then suddenly smiled. That handsome face took on a trace of coldness. “What a Houliao—even destroying Yuedan. My dear cousin truly lives up to being a remarkable figure.”

“Your Majesty?”

“The stronger Houliao becomes, the greater the threat to our Da Lin. This overlord of the Western Sai grassland should change hands as well.” His eyes darkened.

Shen Changqin said, “Your Majesty intends to…”

“No rush, no rush.”