The man before Lin Mucian reached out to hold her. He lowered his head, his tone aggrieved.
“What do you mean I’ve never had you in my heart—you sure do talk nonsense. How could I—how could I have never had you in my heart?”
“Who is it that loves you so much they’re about to die? You know it perfectly well in your heart.”
“You insist on saying such things, do you want to flay my heart?”
He was also at a loss as to what to do with the young girl before him.
The girl, however, raised her head, her eyes sparkling.
Deep within her gaze, it was as if a bright, flickering flame burned, consuming fiercely.
Then, the girl turned to ask him.
“Do you truly wish to ascend the throne and become Emperor?”
Prince Yan, asked this question, was momentarily silenced.
Silence enveloped the surroundings. Yet, deep within her pupils, it was like a pool of clear spring water.
The water flowed gently. He gazed into her eyes, and the image that surfaced in his mind was of his youth, when he had first arrived in the north and witnessed the vast expanse of snow.
The world knew the north to be harsh and cold, its people fierce.
The barbarians would often come to pillage.
And he, a mere teenager, had essentially thrown himself alone into this chilling abyss, desperately seeking a sliver of hope, a feat made incredibly difficult.
He took the initiative to engage the enemy in battle, unwilling to be a sheltered, idle prince.
But many times, many, many times, he had faced near-death, almost perishing in the north. The north was covered in vast snow, and he trudged through it with such hardship.
He ate the simplest food, just enough to sustain him.
In the heavy snow, day after day, he fought against the barbarians.
What he thought of then was far more than just surviving by any means necessary.
He wanted to return to the capital, he wanted to reclaim everything that rightfully belonged to him.
He was a half-demon, but he didn't want to live his life in constant fear, worried that if his half-demon identity were exposed, he would lose everything.
He had ambition.
From his teenage years, this ambition had been hidden within his body, never disappearing. His ambition was so distinct, so dazzlingly bright, it would eventually be unstoppable, breaking through any obstacle.
He looked quietly at the girl before him, the young princess of the Duke’s estate, a famously pampered beauty. Her delicate face, fair and gentle, gazed at him.
He felt as if he could sense the calm lake deep within her eyes, reflecting moonlight, so gentle it was intoxicating.
The people of the north were fierce; there were never such gentle, such captivating beauties.
But it was this captivating beauty who had perfectly imprinted herself on his heart.
Making him yearn for her every moment, all the time.
Every moment he rushed to the capital, he was nearly spitting blood, his heart filled only with her. He missed her so much, loved her so much, wishing only to give her everything he had.
She knew it.
She had always known it.
He was the one who couldn't leave her.
Prince Yan sighed, the sound seeming to fall heavily into the depths of people’s hearts. Then Prince Yan spoke.
“Yes.”
“I want to ascend the throne and become Emperor.”
To protect the most exquisite beauty in the world, one had to possess the world’s ultimate power.
He knew it.
The Crown Prince coveted her, so he killed the Crown Prince.
Even knowing the peril, even knowing the unforeseeable consequences, he had done so.
He hadn’t lost his reason like this before. In battles against the barbarians, he had always been one to plan before acting, to calculate everything with meticulous precision.
But—
This girl was an exception.
For her, he could disregard everything, he could abandon himself.
He extended his hand, carefully, as if embracing the entire world, and tightly embraced her body. Then, he whispered hoarsely into her ear.
“Be my Empress.”
“I promise, in this life and the next, I will only ever have you.”
“Please, I belong entirely to you.”
The beautiful girl before him seemed to be contemplating. She thought for a moment, then raised her head, gazing at the young man opposite her. The corners of her lips curved, a gentle smile, yet with a distinct sharpness.
Then she said.
“Then—”
Deep within her eyes, there was a bright and brilliant light.
“You must become Emperor.”
…
Within the imperial palace, the Duke knelt on the ground. Through a curtain, he heard the man on the throne speak, his voice deep and profound.
“What do you think of Prince Yan?”
The middle-aged man kneeling below was trembling, not daring to utter a single extra word.
What of Prince Yan—
This was not something he could casually discuss.
Moreover, the Crown Prince had just met with misfortune. The court was now filled with unease.
It was heard that the Empress had fainted several times, crying out in anguish.
Even the imperial physicians who had been imprisoned were released to examine the Empress. There were also rumors that the Empress had turned white-haired overnight upon hearing the news.
In such circumstances.
His Majesty mentioned nothing of the Crown Prince, but instead inquired about Prince Yan—this truly put him in a difficult position. He could only vaguely reply.
“Your Majesty is wise and sees people clearly. Your humble servant dares not to speculate.”
The man high above was silent for a while, then suddenly spoke again.
“Just tell me the truth. I will grant you immunity.”
“You say I am wise, but I feel I have never truly understood Prince Yan all these years.”
“When I sent him to the north, he uttered not a word. When I assigned assassins to his side, he never utilized them. This child, for so many years, never submitted a memorial requesting to return to the capital.”
“I bestowed your daughter upon him as the Prince Yan’s Consort, and he accepted it silently.”
“He achieved countless military merits and is said to be highly respected in the north. But after so many years without seeing this child, I can no longer clearly recall his appearance. I only vaguely remember that he had a—very stubborn temperament.”
“Indeed, if he were not stubborn, he could not have stayed in the north for so many years without begging me for mercy.”
Duke Mu remained silent.
The Emperor above clearly did not expect him to respond. He merely sighed softly, a trace of loneliness in his tone.
“It’s no wonder they say this position is for a solitary man. Heh—a solitary man, is that not what I am?”
“How can I possibly deserve to have…”
He was silent for a moment, his voice gradually deepening.
“To have a close and devoted son.”
“Enough, I am also very tired.”
“For so many years, I have worked diligently for the empire, never daring to slacken even slightly. I know the Crown Prince’s aptitude is lacking, but since the Crown Prince has committed no major offense, he is a suitable choice for maintaining the status quo.”
“However, it now appears that this choice for maintaining the status quo is also in vain.”
“I also know that you secretly brought back your own youngest daughter. You look down on Prince Yan as a son-in-law; I am also perfectly aware of this.”
Duke Mu immediately knelt and kowtowed.
“Your servant has been presumptuous!”
“Your servant also pities his daughter… which is why he committed such rebellious acts…”
The Emperor before the hall waved his hand, his tone filled with weariness.
“I do not blame you in the slightest.”
“Your rebellious actions are simply because you pity your pampered daughter, who is renowned throughout the capital. I am also a father, how can I not understand your feelings?”
“Everyone has their personal affections; favoring one child means not wanting them to suffer hardship.”
“For many years, I have occasionally wondered if it would have been better if I hadn’t sent Prince Yan to the north and had raised him by my side.”
“But if I had kept him by my side, he might not have become who he is today. A victorious general who decimated the barbarians, striking fear into their hearts.”
“Many things have their own causes and effects.”
Duke Mu lowered his head, his forehead touching the ground, remaining silent, his attitude respectful.
He knew that His Majesty must have many… unspoken thoughts.
But as a subject, the more he knew, the less favorable it was for him.
He could only respectfully lower his head, hearing the Emperor’s low sigh.
That sigh seemed to sink heavily into the depths of his heart.
“Perhaps… what happened back then, in the end, was my fault.”
Duke Mu dared not move.
Others did not know what had happened back then.
But he, in his heart, knew more or less.
Precisely because he knew in his heart what had happened back then, he felt an indescribable sense of crisis. This involved the greatest secret between His Majesty and the Empress.
If he were to become involved, he feared he would be unable to preserve the glory of the entire Mu clan, which was why he felt precariously poised.
But fortunately, His Majesty showed no intention of continuing, he sighed, and a profound weariness showed in his tone.
“You may go. Go see the Empress.”
“I am also weary.”
Duke Mu nodded in assent—he withdrew, trembling. A young eunuch led him to visit the Empress, his tone also cautious.
“The Empress’s condition is very poor, Duke, you must be prepared.”
“Ever since she heard… heard that His Highness the Crown Prince had met with trouble, Her Ladyship fainted. She woke a few times in between, but her face was constantly stained with tears, even exhibiting some… mental instability. Her Ladyship cannot believe that His Highness the Crown Prince has met with trouble, she constantly mutters. We, who watch, also feel heartbroken.”
“Moreover, Her Ladyship’s mouth… is always saying that she wants… wants to kill Prince Yan.”
“She says Prince Yan is the murderer of His Highness the Crown Prince, and that Prince Yan is a demon… His Majesty visited once, and it seemed they had some argument, and His Majesty severely reprimanded Her Ladyship.”
“In short, Her Ladyship’s state is extremely abnormal. Duke… you must help Her Ladyship to find peace!”
Duke Mu’s expression tightened. His expression was grave. After a long pause, he gave a wry smile and nodded in agreement.
“I will do my best. Whether I succeed—it is difficult to say.”
He also felt that this was not an easy matter.
The Empress was likely already mad.
After all, the Crown Prince was her hope, her son whom she had longed to see ascend the throne for so many years.
Now that the Crown Prince had met with misfortune, and she had nowhere to escape, nowhere to retreat.
How much longer could she remain Empress?
She likely didn’t even know herself.
Duke Mu sighed and walked into the Empress’s palace, only to hear her hysterical cries.
“It’s all Prince Yan!”
“Kill him!”
“The Crown Prince cannot die… the Crown Prince is a true dragon, protected by imperial dragon qi, how can the Crown Prince die?”
Duke Mu walked into her sleeping quarters and saw a woman with her hair disheveled, her face displaying a mad fervor, lifting her head towards him. In her eyes was a look of infatuation. As she saw him, she reached out, revealing her emaciated wrist.
Her voice was trembling.
“The Crown Prince will not die…”
“How could I have lost my son?”
“It’s all that demon’s fault… the demon gave birth to a little demon, they should have all been burned to death with fire from the start!”
“Burned to death with fire, he should never have been spared… sparing the demon cost my son his life!”
“That demon should have been burned to death in a great fire, reduced to charcoal, so he could not reincarnate…”
In an instant, she burst into tears, her hair disheveled, her expression filled with extreme suffering.
Duke Mu remained silent for a moment, then sighed softly and walked to the Empress’s side, taking her wrist.
“Don’t say that anymore…”
“It will do Her Ladyship no good if others hear it.”
“Listen to this humble servant’s advice, let it go. The situation has reached this point, Her Ladyship should think of preserving herself.”
The woman suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with a sinister light. Her entire being clearly seemed to be in a highly abnormal state.
“What do you mean I should preserve myself, should save myself?”
She extended her hand, and with fingers so frighteningly thin, she pointed to her chest. Her voice, like sharp fingernails scratching across wood, left an unsettling mark in people’s hearts.
“Why… my son is dead, and her son can still live?”
She laughed, but her laughter was incredibly tragic. Her smile was more unsightly than crying. She extended her finger to her chest, her voice hoarse, each word penetrating the depths of one’s heart, yet instilling fear.
“Why should her son live?”
“She herself is already a skeleton…”
“She gave birth to a demon! Demons should die!”
Duke Mu’s expression suddenly changed. He reached out, placed his hand on her shoulder, and his voice became immeasurably serious.
“Her Ladyship, please compose yourself, Her Ladyship, please do not say such things.”
“Her Ladyship—”
He took a deep breath.
“If Her Ladyship still wishes to live, from this day forward, she should not speak such nonsense.”
She merely had tears streaming down her face, her face etched with tragic tear marks.
“Why should I still want to live? My son is already dead—why do I still think about how to live?”
“I want them all to be buried with my son!”
She desperately tried to break free.
“I want the whole world to know what a terrifying demon Prince Yan is! He is not human at all!”
“Someone like that should be burned to death in a great fire, die in immense pain, unable to reincarnate!”
Her tone was so resolute, while Duke Mu remained silent for a long time, only able to sigh slowly. He looked at the Empress, once so glorious, with only one thought in his mind.
She was utterly finished.
Hatred and pain had destroyed all her rationality.
His Majesty would no longer look at her.
She had lost all her bargaining chips.
From now on, she would only be a madwoman confined to the cold palace.
He had come to see His Majesty today. With a few words, he had guessed His Majesty’s intentions.
No matter how much she hated Prince Yan.
However, Prince Yan was the ultimate victor.
The Crown Prince is dead.
His Majesty will abdicate.
Prince Yan will ascend the throne!