0p0 Chapter 431 Emperor Tai'an Passes Away in the Zichen Palace, Xiao Ruofeng Receives His Last Edi
Chapter 431 Emperor Tai'an Passes Away in the Zichen Palace, Xiao Ruofeng Receives His Last Edi
After bringing Xin Baicao back, the group bid farewell to Nangong Chunshui, and with the sound of hooves, the five people and four riders sped away.
Xiao Ruofeng walked heavily toward the palace. Ye Xiaoying walked to his side and whispered, "Your Highness, what about His Majesty..."
"I will go and apologize." Xiao Ruofeng looked up at the majestic palace, a resolute glint in his eyes. "Master and Yanzhao are right. The more you care, the more you will lose. We will find a way to cure Father's illness. Even if we have to seek out the most famous doctors and medicines in the world, I will cure him!"
He clenched his fists tightly, his eyes gradually welling up with tears. Just then, Nangong Chunshui's voice rang out again from behind him:
"Feng Qi, you must remember: those who wield the sword must know why they wield it. For the ruler? For the people? For the Way? Think it through, and the sword will not stray."
Upon hearing the sound, Xiao Ruofeng suddenly turned around, only to find that the phantom image of Nangong Chunshui, who had seemingly left his body, was already standing behind him.
“Master…” Xiao Ruofeng choked up, unable to utter another word.
Nangong Chunshui looked at his most admired disciple with some tenderness, and after a moment's thought, said:
"Don't worry, I'll go talk to your father now."
After saying that, he disappeared from Xiao Ruofeng's sight.
Zichen Palace.
Xiao Chongjing, who had just recovered somewhat after receiving acupuncture and moxibustion from Xin Baicao, lay on his side on the dragon bed, unaware of why Xiao Ruofeng had suddenly taken Xin Baicao away.
Before leaving, Xiao Ruofeng kowtowed repeatedly, saying things like "Your subject is unfilial."
Xiao Chongjing did not stop him, because Nangong Chunshui's words outside the Qinglong Gate, "I will personally go to Tianqi and ask the Xiao royal family whether they still want the Beili kingdom?" had clearly reached his ears.
'Li Changsheng, oh Li Changsheng... why have you returned to Tianqi again? Why do you always have to make things difficult for me? It seems this calamity is about to befall you once more...'
Xiao Chongjing closed his eyes, feeling both indignant and helpless. The emperor of the mortal world possessed the wealth of the four seas, yet he could do nothing against a banished immortal who had lived in seclusion.
At this moment, Xiao Chongjing knew that there was no way to turn the tide, but when Xiao Ruofeng returned from the Southwest and took Xin Baicao away, he felt somewhat relieved.
He didn't blame Xiao Ruofeng. This son was the most outstanding among all the princes and had been deeply loved by him since childhood.
As he grew older, Xiao Chongjing increasingly realized that although Xiao Ruofeng was adept at handling court affairs and military matters, far surpassing other princes, he seemed to have other ambitions.
Compared to the imperial palace and royal residences, Xiao Ruofeng always preferred to drink and practice swordsmanship with his fellow disciples at the Jixia Academy.
'Feng'er, my days are numbered. It seems the fate of the Great Li kingdom rests in your hands. I hope you will not fail our ancestors…'
Xiao Chongjing's eyelids grew heavier and heavier. The eunuchs who were close to him noticed that the emperor was not in a good condition. They were so frightened that their faces changed drastically. They hurriedly ran out of the inner room and called the guards at the door to invite Zhuoqing.
Just then, Nangong Chunshui's phantom suddenly appeared in front of the dragon bed, and Xiao Chongjing seemed to sense that someone was in front of him as well.
He struggled to open his eyes and barely managed to sit up, his cloudy eyes reflecting the image of Nangong Chunshui.
The two stared at each other for a long time, and the mortal emperor finally gave a bitter smile:
"It seems the legends are true; you can actually reverse aging! Mr. Li, you truly deserve the title of 'immortal'... cough cough... but shouldn't I call you Mr. Nangong now?"
Nangong Chunshui said calmly, “Now that Your Majesty knows that I have become Nangong Chunshui, you should understand that when I left Tianqi City that day, I did not want to get involved in the affairs of the court anymore, but after I left, you did not sit peacefully on the dragon throne!”
First, you sent Zhuo Luo to Qian Dong City, and an imperial edict forced the originally loyal Marquis of Zhenxi to rebel. Then, in order to live a few more years, you sent assassins from the Dark River to kidnap Xin Baicao, causing my disciples to fight each other. This is all your own doing.
Feng Qi is a good boy. It was my order to take Xin Baicao away from you; you don't need to blame him!
Upon hearing this, Xiao Chongjing gave a bitter laugh, then coughed violently, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Knowing that every word Nangong Chunshui spoke was true, he waved his hand to signal the trembling eunuch beside him to leave. Once only the two of them remained in the hall—or rather, one person and one phantom—he panted as he said:
"I will not blame Feng'er... cough cough... I know that I am seriously ill and my days are numbered."
Mr. Li, I have fought with you my whole life, from the martial world of our youth to the imperial court now... I admit, I, the emperor of this world, have never been able to defeat you, this immortal recluse..."
He paused, a complex look flashing in his eyes: "But this time, I'm not fighting you. Luo Chen in the southwest holds considerable military power, along with his grandson and the little poisoner from the Wen family. Sooner or later, these people will be a threat to the Northern Li court!"
As an emperor alone, I cannot stand idly by! Alas... man's plans cannot overcome fate's. Who would have thought that the Marquis of Zhenxi, though old, would be so shrewd, and that most of the southwestern kingdom would have changed hands in just half a year... Heh... It was my fault for miscalculating!
"Ahem... The Northern Kingdom is in turmoil, and I know my days are numbered. That's why I sent the Shadow Sect to find the Medicine King, but only to ask him to prolong my life for a while so that I can have the energy to arrange my affairs after my death, recall Feng'er to stabilize the court, and lead the army to quell the rebellion."
Nangong Chunshui remained silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Do you really intend to pass the throne to Feng Qi?"
“He is the most suitable candidate.” Xiao Chongjing’s eyes were firm. “His literary and military talents, his magnanimity and temperament, are all superior to those of the princes. More importantly… he cares about the people. I can rest assured that this country is in his hands.”
“You may be willing to pass the throne to him, but he may not be willing to accept it.” Nangong Chunshui sighed softly, “In that child’s heart, the martial world is no less important than the imperial court.”
Xiao Chongjing closed his eyes and after a long while said, "I have long known all this, Mr. Li. You are his master, and I would like to ask you, for my sake, to persuade him—"
A dying man's words are often kind. Seeing that Emperor Xiao Chongjing had actually set aside his pride to beg her, Nangong Chunshui was also somewhat moved.
After thinking for a moment, Nangong Chunshui shook his head: "It's not that I'm unwilling to persuade him, but as his father, you should understand Feng Qi's personality better than I do..."
Xiao Chongjing sighed deeply and closed his eyes again: "Then everything is up to fate..."
"You should rest. I won't force Feng Qi to make any choice." Nangong Chunshui looked at Xiao Chongjing, who was so weak that his illusory figure began to thin.
"However, I can promise you one thing: if Feng Qi really takes over the throne, I will help him secure his position. But if he is unwilling to ascend the throne, then we can only leave it to fate and do our best..."
As soon as he finished speaking, Nangong Chunshui's illusory image completely vanished.
Xiao Chongjing stared blankly into the empty hall, then suddenly chuckled, and as he laughed, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"Someone come here..." he called out weakly.
Zhuo Qing, who was receiving the message from the close eunuch, rushed into the main hall at that moment. Seeing the emperor coughing up blood, he rushed to the bedside, supporting Xiao Chongjing with one hand and wiping the blood from his chest as he replied, "Your Majesty, this old servant is here. Your Majesty, please do not be angry!"
"Draft an edict." Xiao Chongjing said slowly and deliberately, "Summon Prince Langya, Xiao Ruofeng, to the palace immediately. Also... instruct the other chief eunuchs of the Directorate of Ceremonial to enter the palace, and have Zhuoxin prepare the imperial seal and the dragon-sealed scroll. I want to write... write... my will."
Zhuo Qing trembled and knelt down with a thud: "This old servant begs Your Majesty to retract those words. Your Majesty's health will surely recover—"
"Go now!" Xiao Chongjing shouted sternly, followed by another violent coughing fit.
Soon, Xiao Ruofeng entered the inner palace and headed straight for the Zichen Palace.
When he saw his father, who looked withered and frail, on the dragon bed, his eyes instantly welled up with tears.
"Father..."
Xiao Chongjing raised his hand with difficulty, and Xiao Ruofeng hurriedly stepped forward to grasp that cold hand.
"Wind...hear my decree."
Xiao Chongjing's voice was weak but clear, "After my death, the throne of Dali will pass to you. The Dragon Seal Scroll has been written and entrusted to Zhuoqing for safekeeping. After the national mourning... you will ascend the throne before my spirit tablet, lead the army... pacify the southwest, and restore... the land."
Xiao Ruofeng was struck dumb, and abruptly looked up: "Father! Your son—"
"This is... an imperial edict." A final trace of authority flashed in Xiao Chongjing's eyes, then softened.
"Feng'er, your father knows... that your ambition lies in the martial world. But the Great Li empire... needs you more. Promise your father... to protect the Xiao royal family's empire, to protect... the peace of the Great Li..."
Tears streamed down Xiao Ruofeng's face as he nodded heavily, "Your subject... obeys the decree."
Xiao Chongjing smiled with relief, his hand slowly falling to his sides, his breath growing weaker. Before his last breath faded, he murmured:
"You are the child I admire most. The Great Li will surely regain its glory in your hands..."
Before he could finish speaking, the emperor who had ruled Beili for seventeen years finally breathed his last.
"Father Emperor—!!!"
Xiao Ruofeng's mournful cry echoed throughout the Zichen Palace.
On the dragon throne, Zhuoqing and Zhuoxin knelt and kowtowed, tears streaming down their faces.
No one noticed that a subtle slyness flashed in the seemingly tearful eyes of the man.
……