Silently swallowing a mouthful of blood.

Duanmu quickly walked back, grabbed his hand, and said coldly, “Stop being sarcastic with Sang Tang! That we’re willing to discuss this with you is already giving you a chance. If it weren’t for…”

Sang Tang squeezed his fingers.

Duanmu took a deep breath.

But Murong Yi suddenly smiled.

Originally his breath was weak and his face pale. His former beauty now carried a few traces of delicate and cold air. But this smile was like moon shadows swaying through flower windows, summer flowers luxuriant with evening fragrance, thick clouds dispersing in the vast sky to reveal stars and moon, filling the eyes with brilliance.

These two bosses were themselves good-looking. Sang Tang could make the Empress Dowager obsessed for years, and Duanmu was even more stunning. The two had faced each other for years and had long grown accustomed to human beauty. Even so, at this moment they couldn’t help but be dazed for a while.

Duanmu raised an eyebrow, and Sang Tang smiled.

The person before them was clever—he had probably guessed something.

Mu Si and Zhao San also got up, staring at Murong Yi in a daze. He had actually smiled after returning, but those smiles were chilling, completely different from this moment.

They didn’t know what had happened, only felt their hearts both painful and bitter at this moment, like walking endlessly on a vast snowfield with no end in sight, about to lose hope when seeing a flower bloom.

They suddenly understood that even after experiencing so much hellish suffering, deep in His Highness’s heart, there had always been an undying flower blooming.

Murong Yi sat up and said, “Fine, since you two have come, you’re giving me face. As long as I don’t die, in the future you’ll have medicine when you need medicine, people when you need people. I guarantee you’ll live comfortably in Liaodong. But killing my father really doesn’t require you two. You probably wouldn’t feel right taking things without doing work either, so how about taking some interest first?”

Duanmu said coldly, “What do you want?”

Murong Yi said, “Is Tie Ci injured?”

Sang Tang said, “We looked at her once. Her meridians seem to have problems, but it’s not something we can solve.”

Murong Yi said, “Medical Madman Jingxu dared to play tricks on you two before. I’ve been keeping track of this grudge for you. Now he’s hidden by the Great King in the deep palace underground. Would you two trouble yourselves to drag him out and send him to A’ci?”

Before the two could speak, he quickly continued, “This is just a small return for providing for you two in the future. The debts you owed before are still being recorded. I’ll bring them up when needed.”

Duanmu was amused by his audacity. Just as he was about to speak, Sang Tang stopped him and nodded, “Agreed.”

Murong Yi smiled and made a gesture of invitation.

Zhao San admiringly watched his master use these two bosses as bodyguards.

Watching Sang Tang and Duanmu leave, Murong Yi frowned slightly.

Tie Ci had never held a coronation ceremony—she indeed had physical problems.

Sending Medical Madman to her would also prevent his old man from continuing to cling to life using the Medical Madman’s medical skills. Two birds with one stone.

His expression was satisfied, but Zhao San frowned, “Master, why did you refuse to let those two heal your injuries?”

His master’s injuries were also recovering slowly. They had consulted countless physicians who all said the severe injuries and poisoning, combined with traveling thousands of miles through wind and snow without timely treatment while continuously exhausting himself, had damaged his foundation and would certainly shorten his lifespan.

Murong Yi smiled.

Top experts with supreme martial arts all had a condescending attitude toward all living beings and wouldn’t discuss sentiment or reason with anyone.

These two owed a debt and could at most repay it once. He was reluctant to waste it on himself.

The night sky gradually cleared, and the suffocating oppression from before dissipated. Countless reports poured in continuously.

Murong Yi read through them one by one, gathered the stack of reports in his hand like playing cards, and smiled, “Alright, let’s leave the city.”

“Prepare yourselves. Wait for my wonderful father to bring his pack of dogs and come out a hundred li to welcome me.”

…

Three days later, on the official road leading from Ruzhou to outside the city, all snow had been cleared away. Yellow earth paved the road, clean water sprinkled the streets, colorful pavilions were erected everywhere, and decorative barriers stood throughout.

Firecrackers had been echoing throughout the city since early morning.

The people of Ruzhou rushed to spread the news.

That Crown Prince who had achieved great merit in Great Qian was finally returning to Great Feng!

His Majesty would personally lead all officials to welcome him at the outskirts, giving him unprecedented grand ceremony.

He even ordered that officials and royalty who were victims in the recent series of bloody cases were not allowed to hold white-draped funerals today.

No one dared object. After all, those involved knew in their hearts that if their family funerals collided with the Crown Prince’s return procession, the tragedy might well repeat itself.

The Ministry of Rites had already gone out a hundred li the day before to wait, while the palace began preparations at the yin hour. Before the mao hour arrived, all officials were already waiting in the square. At precisely mao hour, while the sky was still dark, the emperor’s grand procession left the city.

Just the day before leaving the city, the Embroidered Uniform Guard commander was imprisoned. His Majesty issued an edict abolishing the Embroidered Uniform Guard and publicly announced to the realm that the mastermind behind this series of bloody cases was also the Embroidered Uniform Guard, so they deserved their punishment.

In normal times, such claims would inevitably face protests from censors, but now there wasn’t even anyone who came out to speak.

The Crown Prince who hadn’t yet arrived had already cast his shadow heavily over every minister’s head.

At the suburban welcoming pavilion thirty li outside Ruzhou city, tents were erected with all officials crowded inside, shivering as they waited.

The emperor remained in his huge palanquin without coming down.

From pitch darkness they waited until the sun was high, then waited until dusk was approaching. Everyone began to despair and fear, wondering if this might be another prelude to one of the Crown Prince’s collective terrorist incidents, gathering so many important figures including the emperor in one place for a clean sweep.

A normal person naturally wouldn’t do such things, but this one wasn’t normal!

Only His Majesty remained calm throughout, not leaving his palanquin all day.

When only the last ray of sunset remained on the horizon, scouts who had been constantly gathering intelligence came galloping back.

“He’s here! He’s here!”

All officials were overjoyed, quickly rousing their spirits, straightening their attire, and forming lines on both sides of the road.

On the horizon appeared a black carriage.

At first glance it seemed quite ordinary, but all the military officers present narrowed their eyes.

They recognized that the carriage’s exterior was made of yuan iron worth ten thousand gold.

Rumors said the Second Prince had once discovered yuan iron in Great Qian and privately forged a batch of yuan iron weapons. But all the treasures he painstakingly forged were swallowed up by this one, and even when His Majesty personally went, he gained nothing.

Looking now, the rumors were indeed true.

The ministers’ gazes quietly turned toward the imperial palanquin.

All day long, His Majesty hadn’t left the palanquin, and coughing sounds kept coming from within.

Just from the sounds, they could tell His Majesty’s body was already very weak.

But even if he weren’t weak, His Majesty might not be a match for this Crown Prince. Everyone present had heard more or less about the Battle of Wuse Plain, where the captured Crown Prince injured His Majesty and escaped, then pursued the royal procession all the way, killing all the accompanying princes and nearly finishing off His Majesty.

His Majesty’s body was ruined after that incident.

The leader of the Tiger Guards responsible for protection that time was given the responsibility of searching the entire city this time, but had never dared to search seriously.

That tough military officer always had barely concealed wariness and fear in his eyes whenever the Crown Prince was mentioned.

The lion had grown old, while opposite him was a young and powerful male lion, with gleaming fangs visible at every turn.

The black carriage drew closer and closer, its huge shadow covering the roadside.

All officials even suppressed their breathing. A Ministry of Rites official called out loudly, “His Highness the Crown Prince arrives—all officials kneel in welcome—”

Officials straightened their clothes, dusted their sleeves, and knelt in unison.

“We pay respects to His Highness the Crown Prince! May Your Highness live a thousand years, a thousand years, ten thousand years!”

The carriage remained completely silent.

Officials knelt on the cold ground, not daring to raise their heads or stand up. Their knees ached and grew numb from the cold, and their fingers supporting them on the ground trembled continuously.

Despair filled their hearts.

Indeed, this one was not easy to serve.

How would they survive the next several decades under this master?

Would they carry coffins to court daily?

Time trickled by drop by drop.

Officials knelt by the roadside, trembling all over.

Inside the black carriage, Murong Yi reclined, drinking tea, reading books, and eating melon seeds.

With a “thud,” a minister—whether from cold or fear—fainted.

The black carriage still remained completely silent, not even someone lifting the curtain to look.

Finally, an aged sigh came from within the imperial palanquin.

The Great Feng Emperor’s voice was slightly hoarse, “Murong Yi, this is between you and me. Don’t torment the innocent.”

A soft laugh came from the black carriage.

The curtain lifted. A white-clothed figure stood on the carriage shaft.

Officials should have immediately lowered their heads, but at this moment everyone instinctively looked up, staring at that white-clothed person.

They saw him slender as jade bamboo, seemingly ready to be blown away by a breeze.

They saw his plain white robes fluttering, like an immortal descending from clouds on the wind.

They saw a face carved from jade, with long, graceful eyebrows and features difficult to paint.

They saw his aloof bearing and indifferent expression, but his eyes reminded them of ice caves in the depths of Great Feng’s coldest ten-thousand-li snowfields—bone-chilling cold with no human warmth.

Of Great Feng Emperor’s eighteen sons, Murong Yi was the one who appeared least often. Before age seventeen, many people didn’t even remember his name.

No one had expected that the least favored young prince who was bullied and despised would be the final victor.

Everyone also hadn’t expected that this Crown Prince, legendary for being both ruthless and mad, was truly a beauty of unparalleled elegance.

A breeze passed, and Murong Yi descended like a wind that had gathered clouds.

When he stood before all officials, everyone snapped back to awareness, shivered violently, and quickly pressed their heads into the cold ground.

“We respectfully welcome His Highness the Crown Prince! May Your Highness be well!”

There seemed to be a soft laugh, or perhaps not. Officials only saw snow-colored robe hems silently sweep past their eyes, with faint medicinal fragrance dispersing.

Murong Yi walked all the way to the imperial palanquin. Ministry of Rites officials quickly rushed up to lay down a cushion, requesting he pay respects to His Majesty.

Murong Yi looked down at the cushion and kicked it away.

All officials: “…”

Never in their lives had they seen such an arrogant Crown Prince.

They’d heard this Crown Prince had quite an affair with that Female Emperor of Great Qian. That one had been Crown Prince for twelve years—could this style have been learned from her?

The next moment, Murong Yi lifted his foot and stepped onto the imperial palanquin.

Palace guards rushed up in alarm. Before they could speak, Murong Yi stood on the carriage shaft, turned and looked down at them.

Just one glance froze them solid.

Those eyes were coldly beautiful, seemingly hiding endless demonic fire and cold snow.

“What? I’m visiting my old man to catch up on old times. Is that your business to manage?”

The palanquin curtain was lifted, and Eunuch Chang bowed as he emerged, “Your Highness, His Majesty requests your presence.”

Only then did Murong Yi turn to address all officials, “Everyone get up and move away. Don’t disturb our father-son affection.”

The last four words made officials hear killing intent, so they quickly thanked him, rose, and retreated far to one side.

Inside the imperial palanquin, Murong Yao held a bowl of medicinal soup, slowly drinking it, and glanced at Murong Yi.

At this glance, he was slightly stunned and frowned.

His chosen heir was good in every way except for being too fierce in temperament.

To take revenge on him as quickly as possible, he didn’t even care for his own body.

For a dynasty lasting a hundred years, the heir naturally needed to be healthy and long-lived.

But what could he say now? He had wanted the strongest son, only to discover that while he was indeed strong, he was too strong to control.

He wanted to say something but couldn’t help coughing.

Opposite him, Murong Yi was also coughing. His pale face flushed red as he snatched away Murong Yao’s medicine bowl, “Our conditions are about the same. Let me try your medicine.”

He said “try” but didn’t drink it, only smelled it, then burst into loud laughter.

While laughing, he said, “I told you there’s no need to bother finding someone to kill you… How many days can you live!”

In the distance, officials heard the loud laughter and relaxed slightly.

It seemed the conversation was going well.

Exactly—between father and son, what couldn’t be discussed?

No matter how great the differences or deep the chasm, one imperial throne was enough to compensate for everything.

Murong Yao said calmly, “I indeed don’t have much time left, so I’ve already ordered the Ministry of Rites to prepare the coronation ceremony, just waiting for your return.”

Murong Yi sneered.

“Coming out to welcome you today, I’ll also issue the edict.” Murong Yao said, “When I left the palace I was emperor; when we return, it will be you.”

Murong Yi smiled, “What? You really dare hand it over to me? Aren’t you afraid I’ll order troop withdrawal and surrender immediately?”

Murong Yao smiled, “The original military campaign was just for momentum and testing, to prevent Great Qian from making any moves that might affect our founding. Now Di Yiwei returned too quickly, Yongping is difficult to capture, the war situation is deadlocked. We’ll have to withdraw troops sooner or later.”

“Of course, if you ascend earlier and withdraw troops earlier, both Great Qian and Great Feng can have fewer deaths.”

“Are you using Great Qian lives to coerce me into ascending?” Murong Yi smiled, “Your Majesty, you’ve been wise all your life, yet become muddled in old age.”

“Whether I’m muddled or not, you know in your heart. What you truly care about, I also understand.” Murong Yao said flatly, “As for surrendering to Great Qian… oh right, your mother fell seriously ill recently. I sent her out of the palace for recuperation.”

Murong Yi stared at him, his gaze dark. After a long moment, he slowly said, “Your Majesty is not only muddled but has become naive. What? You want to use my mother to coerce me?”