"By the mandate of Heaven, I decree..."
Outside, the eunuch from the Imperial Palace's Dali Temple announced with a drawn-out voice.
The little county princess of the Duke of Mu's mansion lazily lifted her head, her accompanying maids not daring to utter a word.
They only dared to steal glances at the little county princess's profile, but as they listened, they couldn't help but reveal expressions of extreme astonishment!
The little county princess stretched lazily.
Various pastries were laid out before her, all prepared for her.
She listlessly popped a piece of osmanthus cake into her mouth. The osmanthus cake was exceptionally fragrant and sweet, soft and glutinous.
Her elder brother, the young duke of the Duke of Mu's mansion, hurried over and looked at her, too anxious to speak properly, panting heavily.
Once he managed to catch his breath, the young duke looked at his sister, his gaze filled with complex emotions – joy, worry, and a bewilderment towards the unknown. After a long pause, he lowered his voice and said,
"The Prince of Yan... is going to be emperor."
...
Several days later.
The northern lands were covered in wind and snow. It was said that someone from the palace had come to escort the Prince of Yan back to the capital to ascend the throne.
The northern regions were naturally filled with cheers and jubilation.
The white mourning veils outside the Prince of Yan's mansion had not yet been removed.
And the women of the north couldn't help but fantasize, wondering if, with the Prince of Yan ascending the throne and the Prince of Yan's consort having unfortunately passed away, he would open his harem and select new concubines.
They wondered which young lady had such good fortune.
To directly become the Empress alongside the Prince of Yan.
That little county princess of the Duke of Mu's mansion truly lacked fortune.
If she had held on for just a few more months, she could have become the Empress. But tragically, she passed away at this very moment. One could only sigh at her scant fortune.
Otherwise, with her status as the original wife, she could have directly entered the capital, and the position of Empress would have been firmly secured.
No one could have shaken her position even in the slightest.
The Prince of Yan's mansion was bleak and silent. The eunuch who read the imperial decree waited for a long while before seeing the man, as cold and powerful as ice and snow, emerge.
It was His Highness the Prince of Yan.
He wore dark robes, exuding a fierce and chilling aura, so cold that it made one's breath hitch. The Prince of Yan slowly raised his eyes, and deep within his pupils, it seemed as if infinite ripples of emotion surged in an instant.
"Return to the capital?"
The eunuch opposite him was respectful, after all, the person before him was soon to ascend the throne as emperor.
But a fleeting, rather sarcastic smile crossed the Prince of Yan's face. Then, the eunuch heard the Prince of Yan speak,
"What if I do not accept this imperial decree?"
The eunuch felt his heart pound wildly. His face instantly turned extremely grim, and he wished he could immediately kneel before him, his voice trembling with panic.
"My Prince, please do not utter such fatal words."
"Your Highness, you are on the verge of possessing the entire realm!"
"Your Highness, why are you sulking?"
"Your Highness, do not make it difficult for this old servant."
But His Highness the Prince of Yan's expression remained icy. He narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the old eunuch before him, and then calmly asked him,
"You have followed him for thirty years, haven't you?"
"From when he was still the Crown Prince, you have been by his side. You understand him best. So I ask you, is his summoning me back to the capital a matter of no other choice, or does he have a guilty conscience?"
The old eunuch's face turned ashen.
His name was Chen Li, and he had indeed followed the current Emperor for a full thirty years.
Precisely because of this, he knew countless secrets. Now, hearing the Prince of Yan's piercing words, he was dumbfounded, his breathing quickening. After a long pause,
He lowered his head, a look of dejection on his face.
"Your Highness the Prince of Yan, please do not trouble this old servant any further. I am merely an eunuch, how could I possibly know, how could I possibly sway, the thoughts of that person."
"This old servant knows what Your Highness the Prince of Yan wishes to ask, but this old servant truly does not know."
His Highness the Prince of Yan remained silent. He seemed about to turn away, and the old eunuch named Chen Li instantly fell into a panic. If the Prince of Yan refused to return to the capital, he would have failed his mission!
"Your Highness, you cannot..."
"Your Highness, this is the imperial throne."
Then His Highness the Prince of Yan spoke in a quiet tone,
"I naturally know what that represents. However, in my heart, some matters require an explanation."
The old eunuch dared not speak.
He lowered his head, wishing he could kowtow to the Prince of Yan. After much hesitation, he suddenly remembered the brocade pouch the Emperor had given him before his departure.
He could no longer afford to be cautious. He fumbled for the brocade pouch given to him by His Majesty and hastily opened it. However, upon clearly seeing the handwriting within, he was somewhat stunned.
He tentatively asked,
"Your Highness the Prince of Yan, even if you harbor anger in your heart, would you not consider the well-being of the little county princess of the Duke's mansion..."
"Your Highness, that young lady can only be yours again if you obtain the throne. Otherwise, if her family is destroyed, you will..."
"Regret it for life."
This old eunuch was unaware that the little county princess Mu Ci had not yet died. Therefore, with all sorts of thoughts churning in his mind, he did not know how to react appropriately.
He could only hesitate and open his mouth, attempting to communicate with him.
"Your Highness—"
"Your Highness, look..."
The man opposite him fell silent.
The sky was dark and gloomy, as if a blizzard was about to arrive. He lowered his gaze to the black bricks on the ground. The white curtains outside suddenly fluttered up, black and white merging, casting a heartbreaking sense of desolation.
Yet, he said,
"I will return to the capital."
"Some matters, I will ask him myself."
"Whether he has ever felt guilt in his life!"
His words were decisive. Upon hearing that His Highness had finally relented and agreed to return to the capital, the old eunuch figured his mission was accomplished and instantly felt a great sense of relief.
"It is most fortunate that Your Highness is willing to return to the capital."
"Your Highness, rest assured—everything in the capital has been arranged, awaiting the Prince of Yan's return."
His Highness the Prince of Yan strode out of the mansion. Deep within his eyes, a heavy indifference seemed to flash for an instant, but upon seeing the swirling snowflakes, it softened.
He was returning to the capital because the one he loved was there.
He had once thought of using her to seize the throne, but now that the throne was within reach, he realized that she was more important than the throne.
He could not bear to see tears in her eyes. If she shed tears, every drop would be deeply etched in his heart.
He mounted his horse and spurred it on.
Behind him, three thousand soldiers, all clad in dark armor, followed him like a surging tide, rushing forward.
And in his eyes, there was no trace of hesitation, only moving forward!
He led his troops into the capital to reclaim what rightfully belonged to him!