Xuanyuan Peng struggled to lift his eyes and saw Xuanyuan Zhi and Xuanyuan Duo, but he was so angry at them that he started coughing.

Bai quickly stepped forward to help him catch his breath.

“Father.” Xuan Yuanzhi and Xuan Yuanduo also looked at Xuan Yuanpeng with concern.

After recovering, Xuanyuan Peng waved to the two of them.

Bai understood Xuanyuan Peng's meaning and spoke up for him, saying, "The Emperor has summoned you to come to his side."

The two of them immediately scrambled to the bedside.

Xuanyuan Peng spoke with difficulty: "Second brother."

"Your subject is here." Xuan Yuanzhi quickly stepped forward and took Xuan Yuanpeng's hand.

Xuanyuan Peng also grasped his hand, angrily saying, "Second brother, are you confused?!"

Xuanyuan Zhi's eyes suddenly reddened, and he immediately said, "It was my fault, I was wrong, I really know I was wrong..."

Seeing that he seemed to have truly realized his mistake, Xuan Yuanpeng was relieved: "It's never too late to correct your mistakes."

Xuanyuan Zhi earnestly assured him, "Don't worry, I will definitely change and reform myself. Please don't fret."

Xuanyuan Peng sighed softly: "How can Father not worry? Second son, you only have this one chance. If you make another mistake, no one can save you."

Seeing that even as Xuanyuan Peng was on his deathbed, he was still thinking of them, Xuanyuan Zhi could no longer hold back and burst into tears: "Your subject will never do it again, really, your subject swears with his life that he will never do it again."

Xuanyuan Peng then nodded: "I believe you."

Xuanyuan Peng then laboriously raised his eyes to look at Xuanyuan Duo: "Boss!"

"Father." Xuanyuan Duo, who had been crying his eyes out, immediately grasped Xuanyuan Peng's hand when he heard Xuanyuan Peng call him: "Your subject is here."

Xuanyuan Peng also squeezed Xuanyuan Duo's hand and said weakly, "You are soft-hearted and lack common sense. This time... Father Emperor hopes that you can... learn from this lesson and live a peaceful life from now on, and stop... jumping around like this."

Seeing the worry in Xuan Yuanpeng's eyes, Xuan Yuanduo felt a pang of regret and immediately cried out, "Your subject dares not do it again. I will definitely correct my mistakes and listen to Third Brother's words."

It was those few who deserved to die, causing their father to worry about them even on his deathbed.

Xuan Yuanzhi finally understood Xuan Yuanpeng's good intentions. Thinking of the foolish things he had done and the exile he was about to face, Xuan Yuanzhi once again cried bitterly in regret.

Seeing the two of them crying so hard brought tears to Xuan Yuanpeng's eyes as well. He looked at them again with concern and said, "You two should behave yourselves. Zhan'er is... broad-minded. As long as you don't cause any more trouble, he won't... make things difficult for you."

“Your sons understand, Father, please rest assured!” Xuanyuan Duo immediately patted Xuanyuan Peng’s hand, crying, to reassure him.

Xuanyuan Peng then looked at Xuanyuan Zhan, who was secretly wiping away tears beside him: "Zhan'er."

Upon hearing Xuan Yuanpeng call him, Xuan Yuanzhan immediately knelt down beside the bed with red eyes: "Your son is here."

The mere mention of "my son is here" filled Xuanyuan Peng with joy. He reached out to Xuanyuan Zhan and asked, "Do you remember everything I told you?"

Xuanyuan Zhan immediately grasped Xuanyuan Peng's hand: "Your son remembers, don't worry."

Xuanyuan Peng couldn't help but repeat, "Bring Xiaobao back... bring Xiaobao back and have him included in our Eastern Chu family genealogy..."

Xuanyuan Zhan was reluctant to let him say more, so before he could finish speaking, he immediately replied, "I know, Xiaobao will definitely be included in our Eastern Chu family genealogy and his surname will be changed back to Xuanyuan."

Now, no matter what Xuanyuan Peng says, he will agree to it!

Seeing that Xuan Yuanzhan remembered, Xuan Yuanpeng nodded with satisfaction: "Yes, that's how it should be."

As Xuanyuan Peng spoke, he raised his hand with a mixture of relief and reluctance to touch Xuanyuan Zhan's gray eyes, which were exactly the same as his own: "Zhan'er, the Eastern Chu kingdom... I can now... close my eyes in peace."

One sentence brought tears to Xuan Yuanzhan's eyes. Seeing that Xuan Yuanpeng seemed to be closing his eyes, Xuan Yuanzhan cried out anxiously, "Father!"

Bai was also quite frightened and immediately went over to him, saying, "Xuanyuan Peng, you can't sleep! Hold on a little longer. Didn't you want to see Xiaobao? Can you wait for Xiaobao a little longer? Ning'er and Xiaobao are already on their way back."

Hearing Bai's voice, Xuanyuan Peng, who was about to close his eyes, struggled to open them again. He looked at Bai with reluctance, his heart and eyes filled with her: "Ya'er, I'm afraid... I can't wait any longer. I want to share a bed with you in life and a grave with you in death. Your name must be on my tombstone..."

This was Xuanyuan Peng's obsession; he was still thinking about it even on his deathbed!

Bai cried and threw herself into Xuan Yuanpeng's arms: "I promise you, I'll agree to anything you want, please don't go!"

Xuanyuan Peng wanted to reach out and touch Bai Shi's face with affection, but his hand was already stiff.

Bai understood him. She grabbed his hand and pressed it to her face, pleading, "And your sons, they all can't bear to leave you. Please don't go."

Xuanyuan Peng also did not want to leave this world like this; he had too many things he was reluctant to leave behind!

Xuanyuan Peng looked at Bai Shi, who was crying her heart out, then at his sons who were also shedding tears, and finally his gaze fell on Zong Jiu, who was standing in the corner sobbing uncontrollably: "Zong Jiu..."

Zong Jiu, who had been sobbing uncontrollably, stopped crying as soon as he heard Xuan Yuanpeng call him. He immediately knelt down by the bedside with a thud: "This old servant is here! Your Majesty, this old servant is here."

Xuanyuan Peng looked at Zong Jiu with equal reluctance: "My old buddy, you've taken good care of me all these years..."

Zong Jiu shook his head desperately, tears streaming down his face: "Your Majesty, please don't say that. It is my great fortune to serve you by your side. It is my fault for not taking good care of you and causing you to become like this! I deserve to die!"

Hearing Zong Jiu's self-reproachful words, Xuan Yuanpeng sighed and comforted him, "It's not your fault. After I'm gone, please take good care of Ya'er and Zhan'er for me..."

"Your Majesty..." These words brought tears to Zong Jiu's eyes once again.

Does the Emperor not want him to accompany him on his journey?

But he had already planned to go and accompany the Emperor!

"Listen to me." As if guessing his thoughts, Xuan Yuanpeng's voice became stern.

Zong Jiu could only nod, crying as he agreed, "This old servant will obey Your Majesty's words. This old servant will definitely take good care of the Empress and the Crown Prince."

Having said everything he needed to say, Xuanyuan Peng gradually relaxed. He took one last, reluctant look at Bai Shi: "Ya'er, I... I'm sorry..."

After uttering his last sentence, Xuanyuan Peng could no longer hold on and closed his eyes.

"Xuanyuan Peng!!!"

Bai Shi immediately threw herself onto Xuan Yuanpeng and cried her heart out.

"Father!!!"

Xuanyuan Duo and the others also burst into tears.

"emperor!"

Zong Jiu collapsed to the ground, crying so hard he couldn't make a sound.

The cries from the inner palace reached the outside, and the palace attendants and imperial guards all knelt down.

Soon, the death knell tolled in the palace, the sound reaching all the way outside.