âWait for me outside the capital, Father,â First Young Master Ning insisted on meeting with Lou Zigui. After the Duke of Yue got on his horse, he whispered into his ear, âRest assure father, I will not let Lou Zigui off.â
âYou!â the Duke of Yue grabbed his son. If he wants to beat someone up, they should go together ah! Since they canât get that dog Xie Wenyuan yet, they might as well first beat up Lou Zigui!
âThe Black Frost Cavalry has already entered the capital,â First Young Master Ning continued whispering into the Duke of Yueâs ear, âWe donât even know if Lou Zigui has anything up his sleeves. Itâs better to be safe than sorry.â
âThen why are you still going?â the Duke of Yue hastily asked. First Young Master Ning looked at those behind his family and remained silent.
The Duke of Yue wasnât stupid and immediately understood what his eldest son meant. With them waiting at the south gate, Lou Zigui would have to ask him for permission before killing his eldest son ah!
âElder Li and the others have arrived,â Pei Yan added from behind the father and son duo. âFather please tell Elder Li Iâll be back.â First Young Master mounted his horse.
âBig bro!â Ning Xiaoluo shouted. First Young Master Ning sat on his horse and looked at his dumb little brother and suddenly blurted out, âDongfu can follow me to see Lou Zigui.â
âAh? Ok.â Ning Xiaoluo heard that and immediately mounted his horse. Seeing both his sons ride away, the Duke of Yue wiped his eyes and slowly made his way down the bridge to greet Elder Li.
âWhat are we going to say when we see Lou Zigui? Are we going to give him a scolding?â On the way there, Ning Xiaoluo asked his big brother.
âYou donât have to say anything. Just let Lou Zigui look at you.â Ning Xiaoluo asked dumbly, âAfter seeing me, His Majesty will be alive again?â
âThereâs something I can finally tell you. Do you know why father rushed all the way here?â Ning Xiaoluo was puzzled. âBecause His Majesty saved my life? Father has said it before, I have to repay that favour no matter what it takes.â
First Young Master Ning sighed and relayed to Ning Xiaoluo, âFifteen years ago, mother birthed a daughter in Grand Preceptorâs estate...â Third Young Master Ning listened attentively to First Young Master Ningâs story and stayed silent throughout.
âThatâs what happened,â First Young Master Ning finished the story. Third Young Master Ning touched his face and only uttered one sentence, âNo wonder.â
âBoth of you take after mother,â First Young Master Ning stated. âThen why didnât you take her away while we were here?â
After First Young Master Ning highlighted the resemblance to their mother, Ning Xiaoluo was set ablaze and instantly shouted, âWhy did you leave her in the capital!?â Tears glistened in First Young Master Ningâs eyes. Lowering his voice, he muttered, âBecause I never thought things would end up like this.â
âYou.. Did you tell His Majesty?â Third Young Master Ning trembled.
âNo.â
âWhy ah?!â the fire that was repressed immediately flared up again and Ning Xiaoluo passionately shouted. âBecause I couldnât do anything for her then,â First Young Master Ning helplessly replied, âEven if I told her the truth, whatâs the point? Was His Majesty supposed to give me a title or rewards?â
Third Young Master Ning stayed silent. An hour later, First Young Master Ning brought Third Young Master Ning to the courtyard away from Fang Tangâs suspicious eyes. Pushing open the doors to the Supreme Splendor Hall, the two brothers walked into Ning Xiaoyaoâs bedroom.
Lou Zigui looked up and saw First Young Master Ning on the first glance. On second glance, he saw Third Young Master Ning with red and swollen eyes. Lou Zigui frantically got up and smashed the chair onto the ground.
âYour.. Your Majesty?â Lou Zigui probed and called out to Third Young Master Ning. Third Young Master Ning looked at Lou Zigui with hatred in his eyes.
âYou are not His Majesty,â Lou Zigui whispered dejectedly. Miss Ning would never look at him with those eyes.
âHe is Ning Xiaoluo.â First Young Master crisply told Lou Zigui. So what Miss Ning said was true after all. Ning Xiaoluo really looked exactly like.. like her? Lou Zigui widened his eyes and his expression morphed from disbelief to panic.
âWait for me outside.â First Young Master Ning patted Third Young Master Ningâs shoulders. Third Young Master Ning turned to leave.
âWait a second!â Lou Zigui called out.
âYouâre not the emperor yet,â Third Young Master Ning said erratically, âYou think you can order me around now? Pah! *spits on the ground*â After shouting at Lou Zigui, Third Young Master Ning slammed the door and left.
âYou might feel that you donât owe His Majesty anything,â First Young Master Ning sat down on the opposite of Lou Zigui and slowly drawled, âPerhaps that is so. His Majesty saved you once and you helped her resolve the division of the capital. The debts between you two have been settled. Thus, it doesnât matter why you took so long to come. Your motives are understandable. You are only human and the allure of the country is too seductive.â
Lou Zigui remained still while he stared at First Young Master Ning. He wanted to speak but no words came out. âI brought Dongfu to meet you,â First Young Master Ning continued, âBecause I wanted to let you know about the past. His Majesty is my Duke of Yueâs Fourth Young Miss. Fifteen years ago, my mother gave birth to a girl on the same day as Empress Dowager Xie in the Grand Preceptor estate. The little princess must have died during childbirth. Xie Wenyuan used my sister to replace that little princess.â
Lou Zigui slowly retreated and lowered himself down to a chair.
âShe and Dongfu both take after my mother. They are very similar.â Lou Zigui opened his mouth but nothing came out.
âIâm not telling you this to make you guilty and upset. His Majesty is not a male and also not of royal descent. She is the Fourth Young Miss of the Duke of Yueâs estate. Of course, I could just be making a mountain out of a molehill. Perhaps, Supreme Commander is not guilty and upset at all,â First Young Master Ning got up from the chair and looked at Lou Zigui, âCurrently, the throne has no owner. I should congratulate Supreme Commander in advance.â
First Young Master turned to leave. âWeâre leaving just like that?â Third Young Master Ning shouted indignantly from outside the door, âBig bro, are we just going to let it go like this?!â
Sounds of footsteps faded. Ning Moyuan must have took Ning Xiaoluo away. Immediately, the door opened again and Fang Tang ran into the Supreme Splendor Hall. âGet out!â Lou Zigui screamed.
âThe Ning brothers...â
âGet out!â Lou Zigui furiously roared. Fang Tang could only retreat.
The Duke of Yueâs Fourth Young Miss, Fourth Young Miss... Lou Zigui kept chanting these three words and couldnât help but laugh to himself. He mocked himself for being too stupid. Mocked himself for being obsessed with power.
In the end, Lou Zigui could no longer hold back as his mouth quivered and water dripped on his hands. Anyuanâs Supreme Commander sat in the empty palace room and wept bitterly.
Meanwhile, in another chamber, Prince Fuâs servants were packing Prince Fuâs luggage. A few imperial princes stood in front of him. After staring at each other for a long time, Third Prince finally opened his mouth, âImperial Uncle, youâre going to leave?â
Prince Fu stared coldly at the princes before him, âThe capital gates are open now, why would I stay?â
âBut His Majesty is already gone... If you leave as well, we...â Prince Fu waved his hand to stop Third Prince from continuing, âHave you already forgotten my scolding from the other day?â
Third Prince forced a smile, âI know that Imperial Uncle only said that in a fit of rage.â
âIt wasnât in a fit of rage,â Prince Fu sighed, âI have no ability to be the emperor. So, Iâm leaving.â
âImperial Uncle ah!â the princes exclaimed simultaneously.
âCurrently, all the troops in the capital lie in the possession of Pei Yan and Chen Lu,â Prince Fu continued, âLou Ziguiâs Black Frost Cavalry is located just outside the north gate. The Duke of Yueâs Destruction Prisoner Army is waiting outside the south gate. Aside from that, the Lord Protector still has the troops from thirty-six barracks. Xu Jing is in Xiyuan City. You guys can test your abilities and try to gain possession of these troops.â
Third Prince choked, âImperial Uncle, you must be joking.â
âIâm not joking. Without troops, how are you going to compete for the throne? Are you going to fight with the troops with your bodyguards?â The princes were stumped to silence by Prince Fuâs words.
âHis Majesty sent an imperial edict asking for rescue troops,â Prince Fu shook his head, âI heard that the Destruction Prisoner Army didnât enter the capital. The Duke of Yue and his sons may be bringing their troops back to Fengzhou tonight.â
âTheyâre just leaving like that?â Fourth Prince asked. âThe nine states in the southwest is the Duke of Yue estateâs haven,â Prince Fu icily stated, âIf they wanted to fight for the throne, it would definitely be better for them to start from Fengzhou.â
âThis is a country belonging to our Ning Clan ah!â Third Prince anxiously yelled, âImperial Uncle, are we just going to hand over our ancestorâs throne like this?!â
âI am useless trash,â Prince Fu sighed, âYou can protect the throne if you have the abilities.â
Without troops in their possession, who would have the ability to fight for the throne? The imperial princes were at a loss for words.
Prince Fu stood up and patted his robes. âIf you donât have the abilities, you should learn from me. Live incognito from now on and donât worry about the throne. Change your surname and live a peaceful life ah.â
âImperial Uncle!â the imperial princes all got down on their knees. âHis Majesty was a good person,â Prince Fu sighed, âUnfortunately, he couldnât defeat his fate.â Prince Fu bypassed around the imperial princes before walking out of the palace hall.
The imperial princes stayed on their knees for a long time before Third Prince blurted out, âWhat are we going to do now?â
âWith Lou Zigui and the otherâs greedy ambitions, wouldnât those scumbags think of killing us all?â Fifth Prince asked.
The imperial princes got up from the ground and hastily ran out of the palace hall. Protect their ancestorâs throne? Before they could protect the ancestorâs throne, they had to find a way to protect their own lives!
Outside the palace doors, Ning Xiaoluo turned to his big bro, âThe imperial princes are trying to escape now?â
First Young Master Ning coldly replied, âIf they donât leave, they would be awaiting death.â
âYou return to the estate!â Third Prince ordered his steward from outside the palace doors, âBring my wife and son. I.. Iâm going to leave the capital first. Iâll be waiting for you outside the south gate.â
The steward nodded in assent and ran towards the Third Princeâs estate alone. Third Prince then brought his guards and ran towards the south gate.
âWe are just going to let them off like this?â Ning Xiaoluo didnât have any interest in the imperial princesâ affairs. But after seeing the Third Prince bringing his people away, he couldnât help but ask his big bro how exactly they were going to get revenge for His Majesty.
First Young Master Ning replied, âThen Iâll wait here, you can go and fight to the death with Lou Zigui.â
Third Young Master Ning made a face, How could he be Lou Ziguiâs opponent?
âThis isnât the time for the Destruction Prisoner Army to be fighting the Black Frost Cavalry,â First Young Master Ning coldly uttered. Third Young Master Ning was still unconvinced and wanted to add on when he saw that his big bro had already turned his horse and was heading towards the south gate. Hastily shutting his mouth, he quickly followed behind him.
An hour later, a military officer informed the Duke of Yue outside the south gate. âDuke, Third Prince and Fifth Prince have left the capital.â
The Duke of Yue didnât even lift his head, âAt this juncture, where can they go?â
âDukeâs intention is?â
âLetâs do a good deed. We shouldnât let these nobles suffer. Letâs send them off.â
âAh?â
Duke of Yue scoffed, âYou donât understand ah?â âUnderstood,â the officer raised his voice and accepted the order.
Why did my precious daughter have to sacrifice her life for the throne? The Duke of Yue was currently like a bloodthirsty demon. Since my daughter is dead, none of the Imperial Ning Clan can dream of living!