Just as winter began, Prince Shao, already frail and sickly, fell ill from overwork in his position and suffered a sudden onset of cold that struck him down once again.
Like a severely wounded person receiving another heavy blow, this time he became more gravely ill than ever before, extremely weakened, rapidly reaching a state where medicine proved ineffective and his life hung by a thread. Whether changing his clothes, hiring new physicians, or having the tough-fated Huo Qi Lang guard by his side day and night, nothing brought any improvement.
Everyone understood clearly in their hearts that this was no longer evil spirits at work, but fate itself. This young man who had once galloped across polo fields, who had concealed his abilities and endured in silence for years, relying on exceptional wisdom to turn the tide in desperate circumstances, had finally captured the strategic stronghold of Youzhou. Just when they thought his hardships had ended and sweet days had come, who could have expected his allotted years would not be fulfilled.
According to past custom, they should have brought out the coffin and mourning pavilion again to prepare for funeral arrangements. But following Li Yuanying’s instructions, those around him strictly sealed news of his grave illness, allowing no information to leave the bedchamber, determined to keep the funeral secret.
On the day of Light Snow, he requested to leave the city.
As master of Youzhou, no longer needing disguises to slip through, his grand procession escorted the carriage slowly through the southern gate of the important town, heading toward Youzhou Tower.
The Scenic Pavilion stood quietly beneath the clear sky. The external scaffolding had long been removed, and this place had now become a new symbol of Youzhou’s thirst for talent and recruitment of outstanding individuals from across the realm.
After the guards dispersed the idle onlookers around the tower pavilion, Li Yuanying expressed his desire to go to the highest point for sightseeing. Huo Qi Lang carried him up the steps, ascending to the third level of Youzhou Tower.
The open gallery was very windy and cold. Huo Qi Lang sat on the ground and wrapped him tightly in a thick fur coat, exposing only his deeply sunken eyes.
After gazing toward the distance for a long time, a weak instruction emerged from within the heavy fur: “After I pass away, bury me under the Jing family name.”
Huo Qi Lang thought the fierce wind had caused her to mishear and quickly lowered her head to lean closer, asking: “What did Your Highness say?”
Li Yuanying continued: “After disguising yourself, succeed me as Youzhou Prefect.”
Only then did Huo Qi Lang realize with shock that he was arranging his final affairs. She couldn’t help but ask: “Do you want me to act as Your Highness’s double? But the previous times… others all felt my behavior and bearing were completely unlike yours.”
“No, not a double. Henceforth you will be the true Prince Shao, Ying.”
Li Yuanying explained softly, “Power… is authorization from bottom to top, just as when the personal troops and generals refused to acknowledge Liu Kun’s rule, they could directly overthrow him. I have already explained to Yuan Shaobai, Madam Yu, and the others that as long as these subordinates recognize your identity, others cannot question it. There is no question of resemblance, only of authenticity.”
Huo Qi Lang’s face was full of shock as she asked incredulously: “The true Prince Shao? Then Your Highness’s princely residence, the treasury’s wealth, and even Yuluozao, all become mine?!”
Li Yuanying smiled gently: “That’s right, Yuluozao, the Lulong Army… everything is yours.”
Huo Qi Lang was stunned speechless with shock. Following Chen Shigu into tombs, she had witnessed the burial chambers of countless emperors, kings, generals, and ministers throughout history, with their extremely luxurious and jaw-dropping burial goods. These nobles valued serving death as serving life, wanting to bring all earthly glory, wealth, and great achievements to the afterlife for display and enjoyment.
Yet Li Yuanying’s final words not only surrendered his distinguished position in the mortal world, but to conceal the truth, he would be buried under the humble identity of an outer consort, equivalent to completely abandoning posthumous honor as well.
“But… but I know nothing…” How could she, an illiterate wanderer of the martial world, maintain the continued operation of those complex affairs?
Li Yuanying struggled to search his bosom, and after a moment, produced the old purse containing flower mud. “Just wait for Bao Zhu to arrive and give this to her. She will naturally know how to proceed…”
Huo Qi Lang grasped this thin and icy hand, discovering that along with the purse was a heavy bronze official seal.
After entrusting her with his final instructions, Li Yuanying once again cast his gaze toward the distance, his breathing becoming increasingly faint, and the once peerless divine radiance dimming along with it.
The last time he came, the sky was overcast, and aside from that earthen platform left from the previous dynasty, he hadn’t noticed any particular scenery.
Today the sky was clear, allowing him to see extremely far. Following his gaze for a long while, Huo Qi Lang finally discerned the target his eyes were fixed upon. Looking out from the highest point of Youzhou Tower, the horizon’s end was the official road from Chengde Prefecture leading to Youzhou City. If the princess were to ride a donkey from the south, she would inevitably travel this route.
He gazed through Youzhou Tower, clinging to life, enduring until his last breath, only to await his sister’s arrival.
Yuluozao was not Prince Shao Ying’s heir—Bao Zhu was.
So then, would she accept this overwhelming wealth and fortune?
Huo Qi Lang recalled her original purpose in traveling thousands of li to deliver the message—merely for the substantial reward. Now the original master had placed enormous wealth that couldn’t be spent in several lifetimes before her, and she had also embraced the world’s most beautiful woman. It seemed this life held no more regrets.
But people often said: Heaven cannot be without the sun for a day, a nation cannot be without a ruler for a day. If she accepted this seal, she would be trapped in the Youzhou region like he had been before. Though she would have the wind-swift Yuluozao, she could no longer ride horses to distant places.
Huo Qi Lang gazed at this haggard face that had lost all color in her arms. Apart from his peerless beauty, noble blood flowed through his veins—blood so lofty it was unreachable. Like those court nobles, he could utter evil curses that would cause rivers of blood to flow, triggering conflicts and warfare. One of his fur coats was worth a thousand gold pieces, shockingly extravagant…
Yet he possessed a human heart.
Buried deep beneath the mask of a cold, ruthless ruler, he still felt pain for his mother and siblings, and was willing to sacrifice his dignity and respectability in life and death for this.
Huo Qi Lang hesitated.
Should she save him? Cui Lingrong had once said this was the best choice for the Li Tang dynasty.
She seemed much cleverer than herself… Huo Qi Lang felt goosebumps rise on her back. The cold wind of Youzhou Tower seemed to possess the power to pierce through time itself. She had sworn a solemn oath never again to concern herself with these hypocritical and hollow concepts of familial and national righteousness—they had nothing to do with her.
But… what if she viewed this as a gambling game? With her, a gambler whose entire clan was extinct, casually throwing the dice, engaging in high-stakes gambling using kings, marquises, generals, and ministers as chess pieces—what would happen in the future? Overthrowing the Tang Dynasty and bringing chaos to the realm?
Huo Qi Lang slowly exhaled from her chest, circulated her dantian’s internal energy, and thought to herself: She was already at the bottom of her sect anyway. Even if she depleted more of her martial power, her ranking had nowhere lower to fall.
She helped up the barely breathing Li Yuanying and carried him to an indoor shelter from the wind. She stripped off half the fur coat from the person in her arms and pressed his back tightly against her burning chest.
“Youzhou may confine Your Highness, but it cannot confine Old Seven. I’m unwilling to become a prisoner’s substitute. Your Highness, you must endure this cage yourself.” She whispered softly in his ear.