"Did you kill Father?"

Upon hearing this, Tuoba Ze suddenly stopped the cup of tea he was about to bring to his lips, and paused for a moment.

Then he came to his senses and, feigning composure, continued to pour himself a drink.

Finally, he vehemently denied it, saying, "Nonsense! It's been a long time. Have you lost your mind? That old man's death was clearly caused by that girl you favored. Now you're turning right and wrong upside down and even trying to frame me. What are you up to?"

Then, looking extremely annoyed, he said, "If I had known there would be such a disaster, I should never have brought her back to the country. I never imagined she would turn out to be a jinx."

Regarding this scene before him, Tuoba Hong had actually anticipated it countless times over the past few days and nights. If he were ever asked about it by his own mouth, he would never so easily admit his guilt.

Although he didn't want to believe it, all the evidence pointed to the person in front of him as the real culprit who killed his father.

That was the emperor who gave him and his brother life and raised them with all his heart. How could he do that at that time?

At the moment when he turned his sword against his father and risked his life, how much sorrow and disappointment must have been in his father's eyes and heart...

With this thought in mind, Tuoba Hong tried his best to suppress his grief and indignation, took a deep breath, and asked, "Where is that short sword?"

Tuoba Ze seemed not to have reacted yet and asked, "What short sword?"

Tuoba Hong silently took out the delicate and exquisite short sword that he had always carried with him since childhood, gripped it tightly, and showed it to Tuoba Ze.

Upon seeing this, Tuoba Ze finally understood. He smiled contemptuously and pulled out his own weapon, tossing it onto the coffee table in front of him: "So it's this piece of junk. Wasn't it here?"

Gazing at the short sword on the coffee table, which had been carelessly tossed aside, Tuoba Hong finally felt a sliver of relief: "He actually kept this short sword; he didn't just throw it away like trash."

So he took two steps forward and slowly picked it up from the coffee table. Instantly, fragments of happy times that the father and his two sons had shared together flashed before his eyes.

“Hong’er, our Northern Lie people’s empire was won on horseback. You must learn horseback riding and archery from your elder brother.”

“Ze’er, you are smart and good at everything, but you must know that everything in excess is as bad as deficiency. You must always know how to be moderate. In the future, you must protect your younger brother.”

...

Recalling the joyful smiles they shared when they received the two short swords from their father as children, tears welled up in his eyes without him even realizing it.

Tuoba Ze seemed to understand his thoughts, but by nature he couldn't bear to see people cry, especially men, and his own brothers at that.

Upon seeing Tuoba Hong's appearance, she became impatient and furious. Her eyes swept across his face with disdain as she said, "That old man was quite a ruthless character in his life! I really don't know how he could have given birth to such a useless piece of trash as you."

Tuoba Hong completely ignored what he said.

For a moment, the room fell silent.

A moment later, Tuoba Hong suddenly blurted out coldly, "Where is the ruby ​​that Father Emperor personally inlaid on this sword... 'Light of the Grasslands'?"

Tuoba Ze thought for a moment, seemingly not remembering when he had dropped it, and casually said, "It's just a broken stone, isn't it? I probably just dropped it by accident sometime."

Tuoba Hong smiled and said coldly, "The Light of the Grassland... that was a token of love between Father and Mother when they first met. There are only two of them in the world. Father cherished it as his life's treasure, and you treat it like a broken stone..."

After saying that, he took out a crystal-clear rhombus-shaped ruby ​​from his person.

"Where...where did you find this?" Upon seeing it, Tuoba Ze finally stood up abruptly, staring at it in astonishment.

Just as he was about to reach out and snatch it back, Tuoba Hong suddenly dodged, and Tuoba Ze's hand grasped at empty air.

Tuoba Ze was puzzled by his actions when Tuoba Hong suddenly turned serious and said, "There are some things you are not worthy of having in your life."

Tuoba Hong moved two steps to the side, carefully re-set the ruby ​​into the notch of the short sword, and asked, "Do you want to know where I found this Light of the Grasslands?"

Tuoba Ze still looks puzzled by his every move.

Tuoba Hong carefully compared the two short swords, which he had just restored to their original state, along with his own, and found that they were now exactly the same.

He smiled with satisfaction and asked, "I remember that my elder brother had a falling out with Father over the military tally, and he hadn't visited Father even once for more than half a year before Father fell seriously ill and passed away, is that right?"

Recalling the past, Tuoba Ze took a deep breath, clearly having nothing to say.

Unexpectedly, Tuoba Hong suddenly became extremely serious, and this time he raised his voice to question him: "I'm asking you, is that right?"

From childhood to adulthood, he had never spoken to him in such a loud tone before. Tuoba Ze was genuinely startled. Finally, with his hands behind his back, he answered in a deep voice, "So what if it is?"

Even now, he was still lying, and Tuoba Hong was extremely saddened.

He secretly stroked the gemstone he had just inlaid himself over and over again, gritting his teeth as he said, "If what my brother said is true, and we haven't seen Father, who is bedridden for half a year, then how did this light of the grassland, which was lost from my brother's sword, end up in Father's tent?"

"What did you say? You said this is from..." Clearly, Tuoba Ze, who had finally learned the truth, turned around and looked at Tuoba Hong's face. Memories flooded back, but he dared not continue to think about them.

"Could it be that even now, Your Majesty, you still refuse to admit it?" Faced with this scene, Tuoba Hong was naturally extremely saddened.

Tuoba Ze thought for a moment, gritted his teeth, and decided not to hide it any longer. Suddenly, he seemed to have changed his expression and roared at him with a ferocious look.

"Since you already know, I won't hide it from you anymore. That old bastard, I did indeed send him on his way myself, so what can you do to me?"

"you……"

Before Tuoba Hong could speak, Tuoba Ze continued, "He should have died long ago. From childhood to adulthood, I've been riding horses, shooting arrows, and leading troops in battles. Compared to other members of the royal family, in what way am I inferior to you? But why is it that the heir to the throne he favored not me, but you? You are cowardly, weak, and incompetent. In what way can you compare to me? Rather than sitting and waiting to die, watching helplessly as the throne is handed over to someone else, I'd rather strike first and take a gamble."

Having suppressed his thoughts for so many years, Tuoba Ze finally spoke them all, and he felt extremely relieved.

But when he thought about the ending, he was quite disappointed and said, "It's a pity that all of this, despite all the planning, was ultimately ruined by that girl."

But he still wouldn't give up, he would never give up, and said confidently, "But it doesn't matter, as long as the green hills remain, there's always firewood to burn. There's plenty of time in the future, and I will make those who betrayed and wronged me pay back a thousand times over all the humiliation I've suffered."

Upon hearing that he seemed to be planning some action against Yi Shangyun, Tuoba Hong immediately forgot everything and anxiously asked, "What are you going to do? What do you want to do to Wule? I won't allow it."

Tuoba Ze's lips curled into a sly smile: "At first I didn't believe it, but it turns out the world really is fair. Look at that old man, wise all his life, yet foolish for a moment, so his death was the price he deserved for his mistakes. And that girl, since she also did something wrong, she should naturally pay the price she deserves. Besides, I'm not the only one who wants to settle accounts with her."

Tuoba Hong grew increasingly worried and anxious as he listened, and quickly stopped him: "I won't allow you to harm a single hair on her head, not even anyone..."

Before he could finish speaking, Tuoba Ze took two quick steps forward, closing the distance between them. Suddenly, he grabbed the man's collar, pulling him close to his face, and looked him into the eyes, asking, "You won't allow it? Do you think you still have the right to stop me? Or do you think... that old man... can still crawl out from the darkness and protect you?"

"I..." Tuoba Hong was clearly speechless. Yes, he had never been his match.

Taking advantage of Tuoba Hong's unpreparedness, Tuoba Ze snatched his short sword back from Tuoba Hong.

With his other hand, he loosened his grip slightly and released Tuoba Hong.

Before Tuoba Hong could react, Tuoba Ze turned around and said to him in a deep voice, "Get out, and don't let me see you again."

Tuoba Hong watched Tuoba Ze's almost frantic back, but there was nothing he could do. In the end, however, he still said firmly, "No matter what, I will absolutely not allow you to hurt her in the slightest."

After saying that, he turned around and strode out.

Tuoba Ze secretly gripped the short sword that Tuoba Hong had just restored, as if he wanted to hold onto something with all his might.

No sooner had Tuoba Hong left than Mei Xiyuan and Lu Tianjiao, both wearing long white veils, brushed past him at the door.

They arrived as promised and stepped into the Sihai Tea House.

"Your Highness, Princess Yongle and the young lady from Xiqin Academy have arrived."

Tuoba Ze was deep in thought when he heard the report from the guard outside the door. He quickly got up and came out of the private room, changing his expression to personally greet them with a smile: "I have been waiting here for several days. The two beauties have finally arrived. It has been a long time! It has been a long time!"

However, Mei Xiyuan and Lu Tianjiao did not seem to give him a friendly look. They only nodded slightly at him and said nothing before hurriedly entering the private room and taking their seats.

Upon seeing this scene, Tuoba Ze seemed to have anticipated it, so he gave a slightly awkward smile, turned around, and followed him into the room.