“Your Uncle Wang is dead!” the Emperor could no longer contain himself. “His matters are not for you to comment on!”

“I don’t believe it, I don’t believe it!” Upon hearing the Emperor’s words, tears burst from the Crown Prince’s eyes. Throwing down one last “I don’t believe it!” he turned and ran out. The Empress glanced at the Emperor, her eyes showing faint traces of tears: “Your Majesty, sometimes I truly don’t know what you’re thinking.” Without waiting for the Emperor’s reaction, she followed the Crown Prince.

After they left, the Emperor slowly raised his head. The monarch, who typically showed neither joy nor anger, revealed a subtle sadness in his eyes. With a wave of his hand, he swept all the memorials off his desk. The eunuchs beside him didn’t dare breathe. The deep brotherhood between the Emperor and Xuanqing Prince meant the Emperor’s overwhelming grief at the Prince’s death was understandable.

The Crown Prince ran out of the Imperial Study, stopping in the garden before a pavilion. He had grown considerably taller than a year ago, and his face no longer showed childish innocence. Sons of imperial families typically matured far earlier than their peers. He strived to appear more mature and steady, but upon hearing of Xuanqing Prince’s death from illness, this child who had been maintaining his Crown Prince image couldn’t help but cry.

He remembered his uncle who always wore a cold expression, though never refusing when the Crown Prince asked to play together, unlike his father’s outright rejections. Though he appeared stern, he was very gentle. Teaching archery and horsemanship, he gave the young Crown Prince more familial warmth than his father did. Who said there was no familial love in the imperial family? At least Fu Yunxi was family in the Crown Prince’s mind. Now Fu Yunxi was gone forever, and he hadn’t even gotten to see his uncle one last time—how could he not be heartbroken?

“Royal Brother needn’t be so sad.” A voice suddenly rang out from behind. The Crown Prince turned to see the Seventh Prince approaching with a glaring smile. “Birth, aging, sickness, and death are natural. No matter how much you grieve, Uncle Wang won’t come back to life.”

The Crown Prince gritted his teeth as he looked at him. He knew something of the hostility between the Seventh Prince and Uncle Wang. Though he didn’t know the specifics, the Crown Prince understood one thing: Uncle Wang’s death was good news for the Seventh Prince.

Seeing the Crown Prince’s silence, the Seventh Prince smiled more arrogantly. “Nothing in this world is certain. Perhaps though Royal Brother grieves now, you might see Uncle Wang again before long.”

The Crown Prince was thunderstruck, staring at the Seventh Prince in disbelief. The Seventh Prince gave a malicious grin and turned away, leaving the Crown Prince standing there dumbfounded. For some reason, the Seventh Prince’s words gave him an intense sense of unease. It seemed something major was about to happen in the imperial palace.

After Fu Yunxi’s death, the military power under the Xuanqing Prince naturally concentrated in the Emperor’s hands. Such significant military power—the Emperor didn’t trust anyone else with it. The army temporarily lay idle. If not for the Western Rong’s major attack on Da Zong two days later, no one would have realized the importance of this matter.

In the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

“Your Majesty! The Western Rong have advanced to the capital!” The scouts reported, their expressions extremely panicked. Though Da Zong and Western Rong had been in military confrontation for many years, this was the first time they had reached the city gates. People’s hearts were troubled, and citizens of the capital feared for their safety. Moreover, the Western Rong were exceptionally brutal, committing every evil act of burning, killing, and plundering wherever they went. The land was filled with suffering, and people could barely survive.

The civil and military officials stood silently as the Emperor raged: “I’ll ask once more, who will lead the army into battle!” This was truly strange—in such a grand hall, with so many generals, not one was willing to lead the army. Cheng Lei had mysteriously disappeared, and no one could find him. New generals dared not enter the battlefield, while older ones claimed they were too aged and frail for such a heavy responsibility. Some loyal generals leading troops at the front could barely hold back the flood of Western Rong soldiers. Without support from behind, they were truly between a rock and a hard place.

The officials remained silent. The Western Rong came with overwhelming force, surely having made thorough preparations. One could imagine how brutal this war would be. It was no joke—there was only one Xuanqing Prince who could repel the Western Rong at age thirteen. Anyone else would be going to their death. Self-preservation is human nature, no one wants to be the first to step forward.

With no one responding, the Emperor sat high on his throne and suddenly gave a cold laugh: “Good! Good! Good!”

After saying “good” three times, the monarch suddenly stood up, sweeping his gaze over the officials below: “So these are the pillars of state I’ve nurtured! Such fine ministers!” He trembled with anger, his hands somewhat unsteady. Before he could even process the grief of losing his brother, the Western Rong launched their attack, and now not a single person was willing to take the initiative to fight. Even the mighty Emperor felt utterly alone for the first time in his life. But the officials’ attitude was too strange.

“Your Majesty need not be anxious.” A slow voice suddenly came as the Empress Dowager emerged from the inner hall, followed by the Seventh Prince in golden robes.

The Seventh Prince approached the Emperor, not kneeling but merely giving a slight bow: “Your son is willing to lead the army into battle against the Western Rong soldiers.”

The hall fell silent. The Emperor stood quietly, his gaze falling on the golden dragon about to take flight on the hem of the Seventh Prince’s robe. “You want to lead the army?” His voice revealed neither anger nor pleasure.

The Seventh Prince said: “Yes, I request Your Majesty grant me the military tally.”

Request the military tally.

A mere bronze tablet that could command thousands of troops—throughout history, how many had fought bloody battles for military power? It was a precious thing, but also one that could cause trouble. In Da Zong, the military tally in Fu Yunxi’s hands represented not just a command token but unlimited power. Having this tally meant controlling all of Da Zong’s armies. All generals had to bow to it; in some ways, even the Emperor’s power didn’t match this tally.

“Your Majesty, the Seventh Prince is willing to fight. I believe you should give him the military tally,” the Empress Dowager spoke leisurely, her upturned eyes looking particularly fierce today.

“I refuse,” said the Emperor.

The Seventh Prince’s expression remained unchanged as he said: “Now the Western Rong approach Da Zong, and no one dares to fight. Your son is willing to don armor and lead troops, yet Your Majesty refuses. But not fighting means losing the country, which your son does not wish to see.” His voice carried a subtle threat: “I request Your Majesty grant the military tally!”

“You dare threaten me!” The Emperor erupted in fury.

The officials remained silent, their eyes fixed on the Empress Dowager.

Da Zong was about to change hands—someone had predicted this long ago. Now that it was happening, there was only the faint fragrance in the great hall, watching this scene of forcing the Emperor’s hand.

“The military tally isn’t with me,” the Emperor said with a cold laugh. “What can you do about that?”