Chapter 481 Her life is also my life

Xiao Nanyan frowned slightly and was silent for a while before asking:

"What about you? Where are you going from now on?"

Helian Feng smiled, that smile contained a bit of self-mockery and a bit of relief:

"It's just a word of death, what's there to be afraid of?"

"What if I forgive you and spare your life?" Xiao Nanyue suddenly said.

Helian Feng raised his eyes suddenly, a trace of disbelief flashed in his eyes, and then he laughed softly:

"Then I will guard my father's mausoleum and spend the rest of my life in Qianling Mausoleum."

Helian Feng's gaze fell on Xiao Nanyan's face again, and his voice was as light as the wind:

"After half a lifetime of hatred, I finally understood the saying, 'The emperor's worst fear is obsession.' Now that all grudges are settled, I feel relieved... Where is there any hatred left? If there is any, it's probably only hatred for myself. I woke up too late."

The hall was silent for a moment, with only the remaining smoke from the incense burner still curling around.

Xiao Nanyan looked at his pale face, and the tit-for-tat and veiled attacks of those years surged in his mind. He suddenly laughed dumbly:

"The grudge between you and this king runs deep. You owe this king, and I owe you... Fortunately, everything is over now."

Xiao Nanyan's fingertips gently stroked the corner of the imperial edict: "Have you thought about this a long time ago?"

"I had already thought it through on the day of the palace coup."

Helian Feng looked at him, "I am not qualified to be the emperor, and I am ashamed to see my father in the afterlife. This is clearly our kingdom, but it almost fell into the hands of outsiders. I deserve it. But..."

He looked out the window. "Please apologize to Xi Yan... on my behalf. I've let her down this time. From now on, I will never bother her, or you... again."

Xiao Nanyue's hand holding the imperial edict tightened slightly.

The resentment, suspicion, and hatred that had lingered in my heart for many years suddenly faded away like smoke blown away by the wind.

He recalled that before they were fourteen, before they were involved in the power struggle, they had once drunk together under the pear tree in the Imperial Garden. Helian Feng had said with a smile:

"Nan Yan, when I become the emperor, you will be the general who protects the country, and we will protect this world together."

It turns out that some things never really change.

"This king will not accept the imperial edict."

Xiao Nanyue chuckled, suddenly raised his hand, and threw the abdication edict that symbolized imperial power towards the stove in the corner of the hall.

The bright yellow scroll drew an arc in the air and fell into the dancing flames. The edges instantly curled up and turned black, and sparks crackled.

"what you do?"

Helian Feng's pupils suddenly shrank, and he almost instinctively rushed over and stretched out his hand to grab the stove.

The scorching heat burned his fingertips, but his wrist was firmly grasped by a strong hand - Xiao Nanyue stood in front of him, his eyes as calm as a deep pool.

"This prince has never thought of returning to his ancestral home." Xiao Nanyan's voice was not loud, but it was filled with unquestionable certainty:

"This Tianqi Kingdom was originally meant to be yours."

Helian Feng raised his head suddenly, his eyes wide open, his throat seemed to be blocked by hot gravel, and after a long while, he squeezed out two words:

"What?"

"Father...before he died, he asked me to spare your life."

Xiao Nanyan's voice was slightly hoarse:

"At that moment, I understood his meaning. Although he blocked that arrow for me, the one he cherished most was you, who had been with him for over twenty years. You and he had been a loving and filial son for over twenty years, and their love was truly deep. He always wanted to leave the kingdom to you."

“Father——!”

Helian Feng could no longer hold on, his legs went limp and he fell to the ground, his forehead hitting the cold gold bricks hard.

The guilt, grievances, and regrets that had been pent up for months burst like a flood, instantly breaking through all defenses. Tears burst out, mixed with suppressed sobs, echoing in the empty hall.

Xiao Nanyan took a deep breath, looked down at the person lying on the ground, and his tone gradually became cold and hard:

"In fact, ever since I learned of your life story, for over a year now, I've been waiting for you to repent and giving you chances. Helian Feng, if you hadn't still held onto a shred of kindness that prevented you from ruthlessly killing those royal brothers, if you hadn't upheld the last bit of gentlemanly courtesy and remained unmoved by Xiyan, and if you hadn't held onto a trace of kindness on the day the city fell, surrendering without a fight to spare the people from suffering—otherwise, I would never have spared you today."

He paused, his eyes softened slightly:

"You saved Xiyan's life. Her life is also my life."

Xiao Nanyan leaned over, staring into Helian Feng's eyes filled with shock and bewilderment, and said word by word:

"When I led an army of 200,000 to conquer Southern Zhao, I had already made a choice between the kingdom and the beauty. I valued Xi Yan more, so I am definitely not a qualified king."

A smile appeared on his lips:

"As for you, Helian Feng, you certainly made a grave mistake, but admitting your mistakes and being able to correct them is a great virtue. Moreover, you are the most suitable person to be the emperor of Tianqi right now. You are capable and courageous, and you still have a trace of kindness in your bones. Now that Su Qinyao is no longer there to influence your mind, I believe that you will be a qualified monarch in the future."

Helian Feng suddenly looked up, his tear-stained face filled with disbelief. He opened his mouth, his voice hoarse and almost inaudible:

"You...you actually want to give the throne back? I...suspect you, hate you, and even...even thought about taking your life..."

"The past is the past."

Xiao Nanyan released his wrist and stood up:

"What Dad wants is a stable kingdom, not fratricide. If you truly remember his kindness, then sit on the throne and don't let him down again, and don't let down the people of Tianqi again."

The imperial edict in the furnace had long since turned to ashes, leaving only a few wisps of smoke rising and drifting out of the hall.

Helian Feng looked at the ashes, then at Xiao Nanyue's tall and straight back, and suddenly understood - the so-called grudges, the so-called power and position, at this moment, were no longer important.

What’s important is that someone gave him a chance to be reborn on behalf of his father and the world.

He stood up slowly, tears still falling, but a hint of determination gradually appeared on his face.

Facing Xiao Nanyan's back, he bowed deeply. Although his voice was hoarse, it was more solemn than ever before:

"Thank you...Royal brother."