Prince Jing was greatly shocked, "Imperial Father..."
The Desolate Marsh Emperor looked at him, his gaze stern, "What? You don't seem very happy to see your Imperial Father?"
"No... no, Imperial Father, you misunderstand," Prince Jing said, unable to fathom how someone who had died could be alive again.
It was likely that no one could have imagined it.
"Chang Jing, assist me well, and this throne will be yours."
Prince Jing's gaze chilled, but his face showed deference, "Imperial Father, the throne has always been yours. I am content with assisting you."
"Is that so?" the Desolate Marsh Emperor stepped closer, inquiring.
"Yes," Prince Jing replied.
"But this body of your Imperial Father's is truly too old, it cannot support me for many more years. Chang Jing, will you do anything for your Imperial Father?"
Prince Jing was startled, he raised his head and looked at the Desolate Marsh Emperor, asking, "Imperial Father, you..."
The Desolate Marsh Emperor suddenly leaned closer, a glint in his eyes and a smile as sinister as he had never shown before.
He instinctively took a step back and said, "Your son does not understand Imperial Father's meaning."
"It's not to fear not understanding, but to fear Chang Jing that you are feigning ignorance."
"Imperial Father, please command me. Your son will certainly do what he can."
"Good, I have been waiting for you to say that, Chang Jing..."
"What I want is your body..."
Prince Jing trembled all over. He looked up and saw those sinister, icy eyes. He suddenly remembered that day, his Imperial Father had looked at Princess Chang Ning's retreating back in that manner, and that night Chang Ning's palace had been engulfed in flames.
"Imperial Father, if you want a body, your son can find you a better one."
The Desolate Marsh Emperor chuckled softly, his laughter utterly terrifying, "But others are not you, Xue Chang Jing."
Prince Jing felt an unprecedented terror. He got up, intending to flee outside, but hands had already firmly gripped his shoulders.
"Im... Imperial Father..."
"Why is my good child running? I gave you life, what is wrong with me wanting it back now?"
"Imperial Father, spare my life! Imperial Father, spare my life!" Prince Jing pleaded.
The Desolate Marsh Emperor smiled. He reached out and caressed Prince Jing, "Chang Jing, I let you be a prince for many years, giving you the opportunity to enjoy wealth and honor. Now is the time for you to repay me. Don't be afraid, I will be very gentle, it won't hurt."
"No... don't..." Prince Jing struggled, watching as that loose-skinned hand reached towards his brow. He suddenly remembered that day, he had watched the hall engulfed in flames, and he had wondered whether to save someone.
But he knew that only when the exceptionally talented Chang Ning died would his own day come.
He watched the flames spread throughout the entire hall, but at the last moment, he still remembered the little girl who used to call him Imperial Brother.
She had said, "Imperial Brother."
So, in the end, he still broke in and took away the unconscious person, never expecting that it would instead give him a chance he could never recover from.
Later, he watched this exceptionally talented Chang Ning gradually approach the imperial palace, and in the end, she controlled everything and obtained the throne. All of this should have been his, but because of his momentary kindness, he had ended up not sitting on the throne to this day.
The images in his mind became increasingly chaotic. He knew that soon, he would no longer be himself.
For some reason, he thought of that stunningly beautiful little girl. When he disappeared, would she also feel as unwilling as he did?
He was unwilling, not unwilling at all.
Suddenly, his whole being cleared. Fire, a sky full of flames. How had he returned to the day when his Imperial Father intended to harm Chang Ning?
He was now outside the hall, watching the flames within. He didn't know why he had returned. This time, if he didn't save her, would that stunningly beautiful person truly die, and from then on, no one could compare to him?
He turned away. This time, he didn't want to save her.
"Imperial Brother..."
The voice suddenly came from behind him. His body stiffened, and he turned back, seeing the sky full of flames, but no one. He chuckled, "Why am I hearing his voice?"
"Imperial Brother..."
A weak voice came from within. Finally, he sighed, "Even knowing what will happen later, but now I know that if I don't save you, I will be in debt to Imperial Brother."
He strode into the hall. This time, he did not see the unconscious Yin Qi Li on the bed as he had hoped.
He was startled and searched around. Suddenly, a voice came from behind him, "Imperial Brother..."
His body stiffened, and he slowly turned. He saw that clear, beautiful face and those bright, clear eyes.
"You..."
"Imperial Brother..."
"You... you are not Chang Ning... No, you are..." The person before him was not the young Chang Ning, but the adult Chang Ning.
"Imperial Brother, it's me, Chang Ning."
"You... why are you here?" He looked at the person before him, uncomprehending.
"Imperial Brother, I am in your dream now."
"Dream? Who are you? Why are you in my dream?"
"Imperial Brother, I am Zi Li. You are ill, Xing Zhi said you injured your brain, so I entered your dream to wake you up."
Prince Jing sneered upon hearing this, "Impossible. I did so many things to frame you, how could you save me? Impossible, you must want to harm me. Leave, leave..."
"Imperial Brother, I will not harm you."
"Impossible, I don't believe it. I took your throne, I sent people to kill you. How can you not resent me? Stop deceiving me," he roared.
"Whether you believe it or not, in my heart, you are still the Imperial Brother who dared to risk a great fire to save me that day. The throne is what you deserve, otherwise, I wouldn't have let you oversee the state affairs. Imperial Brother, don't you understand yet?"
Prince Jing trembled all over and took a few steps back, "How... how is that possible? But if that's the case, why didn't you leave the imperial seal?"
"Imperial Brother, I hope that Desolate Marsh is built by you personally, including the imperial seal, it is all yours, not to live under my shadow forever."
"But... why did you give up the throne?"
"Imperial Brother, compared to the throne, I have more important people waiting for me."
"Chang Ning..."
"Imperial Brother, please wake up quickly!"
Prince Jing suddenly startled awake. He opened his eyes and saw Xue Zi Ning's face. "Ning... Guard Ning..."
Xue Zi Ning looked at him and said coldly, "Your Highness, do you perhaps wonder why this subordinate is still alive?"
Prince Jing shook his head, "Ning An, I... where is my Imperial Father?"
Xue Zi Ning said coldly, "His late Majesty has already passed away. Speaking of him thus would be disrespectful to the late Emperor."
"Wh... where is this king?" he asked.
"The Prince's manor," Xue Zi Ning replied.
"What exactly is going on?"