Chapter 76 Fake Death / Meeting: "Upon returning to the palace, I will leave my fate to the Nineteenth Prince."

Inside the commander's tent.

"How could this be!" Han Dahai still couldn't believe it; there was no way the emperor could be dead.

He had seen His Majesty's movements before; they were as fast as ghosts. Who could get close to him?

"It's...it's true!" The soldier looked at the bloodstains on the letter and handed it to Han Dahai, trembling. "General, please take a look. It's a letter from General Han, sent by the eldest son."

It really was Ji Qing's handwriting.

It was clearly written in the letter.

"Father, His Majesty is dead. Keep this a secret! Do not let the capital or the Nineteenth Prince know!" The old general was in disbelief; he almost couldn't breathe. With the three kingdoms at war, the one thing they couldn't afford to lose was the emperor!

But why at this time—

What should be done at the front lines? What should be done in the capital?

this--

Han Dahai was still in a daze when he saw the curtain of the command tent be pulled open, and a white figure stood against the light in the doorway. His eyes widened. "The Nineteenth Lord..."

Yao Ruyi's eyes were already red. He felt as if a huge stone was pressing down on his heart. His hoarse voice startled Han Dahai, "Let me see."

Han Dahai vaguely knew about the relationship between the Nineteenth Prince and His Majesty, but seeing the man's expression, he silently reached out and handed it over.

A deathly silence fell over the command tent; no one knew what to do next. With His Majesty without an heir, chaos was inevitable in the capital!

Gu Huizhou had his accident two days ago. At that time, she was still writing letters to him, which she hadn't yet sent. She had hundreds of letters in her hand that she hadn't shown to him. Yao Ruyi murmured blankly, "How could this be..."

"How could Gu Huizhou be dead?"

Yao Ruyi flipped through the letter again and again, as if trying to find evidence that the person was still alive. He did not believe that Gu Huizhou was dead.

"My lord..." Han Dahai aged instantly. He had just thought of countless possibilities: could he find the bloodline that the late emperor had left behind? Did the Gu family line still have any branches?

Or who in the court could shoulder this great responsibility, Xu Yi or Xue Qingping...? And will the covetous Xiao Kingdom and the grasslands join forces to devour the Yun Kingdom?

Even in the capital, there are still a few treacherous officials who seem to thrive on chaos!

Yao Ruyi wanted to speak, but he found that he could not make a sound. The helplessness and bewilderment in his eyes became tangible.

His fingers trembled as he handed the letter back to Han Dahai. He trembled for a quarter of an hour before managing to speak, "He will leave a will; he won't let the capital descend into chaos."

Yes, His Majesty must have left a will.

Han Dahai suddenly realized what was happening, and for a moment he didn't know whether he was angry at himself for getting old or resentful that the Xiao Kingdom had killed their king. Hatred and resentment began to spread.

"Xiao Kingdom! I, Han Dahai, will make them pay for their crimes in blood!"

Upon hearing this, Yao Ruyi's pupils gradually focused. He wanted to see Gu Huizhou; the two hadn't seen each other since the New Year, but how could he possibly see him again...?

"Gu Huizhou, Gu Huizhou, Gu Huizhou..." Yao Ruyi kept repeating to herself.

Chaos grew increasingly intense outside the tent. For some unknown reason, the sound of hurried footsteps grew louder, and a soldier cried out in panic, "General! A surprise attack from the grasslands!"

How dare they!

Qin Linshan drew his longsword with one hand, his eyes bloodshot. "Alright, come on!"

"Kill them one by one, kill ten thousand if they come! They must know about His Majesty's death to dare to rush up so quickly!"

The soldier was stunned. They only knew that the Northern Yuan had sent a message, but it turned out that His Majesty had passed away!

Han Dahai glared at him and said, "Shut your mouth!"

"Yes, I understand!"

"Whoosh—" The long sword was drawn, and before the group could react, Yao Ruyi had already rushed out. He wasn't even wearing armor, just a white robe. He rushed out of the command tent, grabbed the reins, and mounted his horse.

Brightly shining, they charged at the forefront of the soldiers.

Han Dahai shouted, "Yao Ruyi!" His fists clenched, and the fire in his chest reached its peak. The old general gritted his teeth and strode out of the command tent. Looking at the remaining soldiers in the camp who were ready to go, he shouted, "Soldiers! The grasslands have gone too far! Today we will make sure they never return!"

"No one will return!"

"kill--"

"kill--"

In the height of summer, they mingled with the yellow sand, the endless sand obscuring their true vision. In the midst of battle, there was never any discussion between the two armies, and Yao Ruyi was blinded by rage.

He couldn't remember what he was supposed to do, but he could always recall Gu Huizhou teaching him how to kill and how to use his sword... Everything about him was related to Gu Huizhou.

Even his transformation into human form was because of Gu Huizhou.

Tears blurred his vision, then mingled with the crimson blood in the next second. Yao Ruyi shook his head violently. There were only a few grassland soldiers beside him, and he slaughtered all the fearless ones who rushed forward.

His round eyes were now filled with hatred and bloodlust, and Han Dahai looked at him from afar as if that person had returned.

Han Dahai's heart trembled. With a swing of his longsword, he severed another soldier's arm. His brows furrowed in anger, he spurred his horse forward and charged ahead, confronting the grassland general.

"Kill!" The silver Frost Moon was stained red with blood, dripping down drop by drop. The soldiers, spurred on by Yao Ruyi, charged forward like madmen. After they fell, others rushed forward again...

The people of the grasslands must know that the emperor is dead, and this time they are determined to take over the city behind them!

The fighting lasted from dusk until nightfall, resulting in countless deaths and injuries on both sides.

The campfire had been lit sometime earlier, spreading across the ground and creating patches of flame. Yao Ruyi's sleeve had been slashed two or three times, and her exposed arm bore sword marks, flesh torn and bloody but no longer bleeding.

His white robe was stained a dark reddish-black, mostly soaked in blood. The torn outer robe at the shoulder revealed the metal armor underneath, which protected him completely. Most of the blood on his body belonged to the people of the grasslands.

"Deputy General Yao! Watch out!" a soldier shouted. Yao Ruyi turned around sharply at the sound. Shuangyue collided with a black longsword with a "clang" sound. A pair of sinister and deep eyes met Yao Ruyi's face.

That was a general from the grasslands. He spoke in a sinister tone in a thick Central Plains accent, "Deputy General Yao, you are very handsome."

Especially those eyes and brows—he should have been a pampered pretty boy kept in a secluded courtyard, so why did he have to come to the battlefield? No, it's a good thing he came, otherwise how would I have run into him?

Once they win the battle, he will have to take the people back with him.

His gaze was like a greedy venomous snake, utterly repulsive.

"Clang—" The two swordsmen were evenly matched. Yao Ruyi didn't listen to what he was saying at all. He put all his strength into each strike. All he could see was the neck and chest of the person opposite him.

In less than fifteen minutes, the force of the punch made both of their arms go numb, and Yao Ruyi's right hand wound was bleeding faintly. His breathing became heavier, and there was no warmth in his eyes.

The grassland general, named Jin You, also gasped for breath, then sneered, "Hehehe."

He underestimated this deputy general; although he was fair-skinned, he was quite strong.

Jin You licked the blood from the corner of his mouth, his voice cold, "It must have been a lot of fun in bed." But before he could finish, "Ah—"

The burly man's pupils widened. He looked down at the longsword that had pierced his thigh, gritted his teeth, and with a cry of "Ah!" used the longsword to push Shuangyue away.

Yao Ruyi was startled and slid backward in an instant.

Frost Moon cut a gash in Jin You's leg, and blood gushed out. Suddenly, Jin You disappeared among the grassland soldiers. The soldiers rushed forward to confront Yao Ruyi, but the soldiers of Yun Kingdom were not blind either, and a dozen of them were instantly entangled in a fierce battle.

I vaguely saw Jin You take out a packet of powder from his pocket and sprinkle it on the wound. The bleeding stopped after a few breaths. Jin You waved away the soldiers and then flashed back to stand opposite Yao Ruyi.

"General of the Central Plains, did I frighten you?" Jin You said smugly, but Yao Ruyi didn't care. He looked at the black longsword that suddenly appeared in Jin You's hand for a moment and found it amusing.

It was just a poisoned knife.

In a flash, their eyes met.

"Ah—" Jin You swooped down towards Yao Ruyi, and the weapons in their hands clashed, producing a series of buzzing sounds. Qin Linshan, who was standing to the side, had already seen the two fighting. He wanted to step forward but was blocked by the soldiers.

To catch the thief, first catch the king; they've mistaken Deputy General Yao for their king!

"Lieutenant General Yao, be careful!"

The Frosty Moon Sword gleamed coldly as he slashed the chest of a grassland soldier with his sword. The bloodstains on the Frosty Moon Sword were wiped clean, and the silver longsword once again reflected the hazy moonlight and the scorching campfire.

Jin You's movements had become so unpredictable.

Yao Ruyi's eyes widened. He paused, then bent down with a suppleness beyond the reach of ordinary people, dodging Jin You's black blade.

Jin You exclaimed excitedly, "This is just my taste!" and stepped forward again.

Yao Ruyi gritted his teeth. His Frost Moon sword was so fast that only afterimages could be seen, but Jin You still saw through it. "Clang—" The two sharp weapons collided. Jin You's face turned fierce. He said in a low voice, "General of the Central Plains, take this!"

Mushroom kept a straight face, listening to the faint sound of the wind. The moment Jin You spoke, he suddenly dodged and saw a poisonous insect crawling out of Jin You's armor.

"Hahahaha," Jin You laughed wildly. Seeing Yao Ruyi freeze in shock, he swung his black blade and charged forward along with the black poisonous insects—

"Go to hell!"

The next instant, however, the burly man's pupils dilated and trembled, and he froze on the spot. The poisonous insect in Jin You's hand fell to the ground, motionless. He was suddenly kicked away, and even the tearing pain in his chest couldn't bring him back to his senses. "You, you are—"

Just as he approached the man, he suddenly lost all strength, and his body became unresponsive.

It was that general from the Central Plains who did it; he just saw that the man's pupils turn orange-red!

And then, as the voice faded from his ear, "Your hair, red..." Jin You's heart pounded wildly.

It really is beautiful.

"I'm going to take you back to be our holy son."

Ignoring his still-bleeding wounds, Jin You swayed as he got up, the knife in his hand dragging on the ground with a rustling sound. Yao Ruyi closed his eyes for a moment, then reached for the porcelain bottle on his chest but found nothing.

He didn't bring it!

Yao Ruyi's thoughts suddenly sank to the bottom, but he didn't show it on his face. He flew forward and kicked Jin You in the chest two or three times in succession. The man was kicked away again, and Jin You crashed to the ground with a "bang," spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Yao Ruyi didn't stop, holding Frost Moon, she was about to stab Jin You in the chest, but suddenly her body tilted to the side...

His legs!

Seeing this opportunity, Jin You barely managed to get up. He didn't have time to think about why the General of the Central Plains had suddenly fallen, but since fate had smiled upon him, he had to seize the moment.

"Hahahahahahahaha," Jin You, struggling to stand, raised his black knife, his face contorted in a ferocious grimace, "Ah—"

Yao Ruyi's face was deathly pale. His legs wouldn't come out, and he could only slump to the ground. In his dying moments, his mind was filled with the image of Gu Huizhou, "Gu—"

"Go to hell!"

At the critical moment, "Whoosh—"

A breeze stirred behind him, and the familiar scent of sandalwood enveloped him. Yao Ruyi nestled into a warm embrace; the man's broad body held him tightly, his face veiled, revealing only his eyes.

Her eyes were filled with endless longing and heartache as she looked at him.

It's Gu Huizhou!

"Pfft—" Jin You couldn't believe it. At the same time, the black knife in his hand fell to the ground and stuck halfway in. An arrow was stuck in his throat, with a black shaft and red fletching.

Like a ghost.

With a "bang," Jin You, his eyes still wide with greed, fell to the ground and died.

A finger was shoved into his mouth, the taste of blood exploding within. Yao Ruyi's legs materialized beneath his robes. He stared blankly for a long time, his voice low and aggrieved, "Gu Huizhou?"

The man tightened his grip on Yao Ruyi's waist, and he lowered his head to touch Yao Ruyi's nose with his own. "I am here."

"Gu Huizhou!" Tears welled up in his eyes. Gu Huizhou's heart ached at the sight. He stepped forward to hug him, but was slapped hard across the face. "Smack—"

"Gu Huizhou, are you sick?!"

The emperor was taken aback, then chuckled softly. He reached out and took Yao Ruyi's hand, then kissed it lightly through his mask. "When we return to the palace, I will leave it to the Nineteenth Prince to decide."

Having said that, the emperor swung his long sword, and with a "whoosh," sent several soldiers behind him flying.

Their wrists were intertwined, and Gu Huizhou pulled the other person up, saying, "Be careful."

Yao Ruyi nodded, and the two exchanged glances before merging into the battlefield, engaging in continuous combat.

Qin Linshan, who was not far away, breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Yao Ruyi had been rescued, and turned back to continue fighting the enemy.

He brandished his sword and shouted, "Jin You is dead! Jin You is dead!"

"The general is dead?!"

"What! The general is dead!" Several grassland people were stunned.

The people from the Central Plains couldn't understand what the grassland soldiers were saying, but their panicked appearance made them laugh.

Han Dahai watched as Yao Ruyi began fighting with the soldiers, then sneered and shouted, "Soldiers! Jin You is dead! Kill—"

"Jin You is dead! Kill—"

"kill--"

The battle, which lasted until midnight, did not last even half an hour after the death of the grassland commander. The grassland lost its siege under the pursuit of Han Dahai's troops. By dawn, a city bordering the grassland and Dayun was occupied by the "Yun" flag.

Returning to the great clouds.

As dawn broke, inside Yao Ruyi's tent, Gu Huizhou removed his mask and pulled her into his arms. He rubbed his lips against Yao Ruyi's neck and murmured, "Yao Ruyi, I missed you."

"Hmm—"

He used to dislike Gu Huizhou kissing his neck, but now Yao Ruyi was somewhat infatuated with the feeling. He also hugged Gu Huizhou's waist tightly. The ups and downs and battles of the whole day had left Yao Ruyi so tired that he closed his eyes.

He asked, "Gu Huizhou, you're not dead?"

"Heh," Gu Huizhou chuckled, "What do you mean by that, Nineteenth Lord? Aren't you happy that I'm not dead?"

"Of course I'm happy."

Yao Ruyi took the initiative to kiss his relative. He noticed that Gu Huizhou had lost a lot of weight since the New Year, and his jawline had become hard. Yao Ruyi felt both sorry for him and angry, "You're not eating again."

"I have no appetite when you're not here."

This mushroom hasn't lost weight, and Gu Huizhou didn't know whether to be happy or worried. However, when his gaze swept over Yao Ruyi's right arm, the man's eyes turned cold.

Three ripped pieces of flesh covered Yao Ruyi's entire right arm. During this period, he became even more muscular, with smooth and powerful lines on his arm. Covered in sword wounds, he had truly become a young general.

Taking the medicine from her bosom, Gu Huizhou took out a handkerchief and carefully treated his wound, her heart aching. "I only learned that you were here a few days ago."

Yao Ruyi said softly, "I told Fourteen to keep it from you. Fourteen will have someone send your letters over again."

Gu Huizhou snorted coldly, "We're not afraid of troubling them now."

Mushroom was speechless. When Gu Huizhou treated his wounds, he looked up and stared at the man's eyes. The moment his heart stopped yesterday made him feel scared. Only when he could see the person in front of him at all times could he feel at ease.

After the wound was treated, Gu Huizhou sat down beside Yao Ruyi, grasping her hand with his large hand. He seemed to finally relax. "I haven't seen you for half a year, my lord. I'm very upset."

Yao Ruyi remained silent. He was currently enjoying watching Gu Huizhou. Having finished treating his wounds, he began to scrutinize Gu Huizhou from head to toe. A white light gradually emanated from the spot where their wrists touched. Gu Huizhou felt the change in his wounds and was startled…

He gently murmured, "Thank you, Immortal Lord," as he held the other's earlobe in his mouth.

The two nestled together silently. Gu Huizhou held his hand tightly, and Yao Ruyi remained silent as he leaned on the emperor's shoulder, half asleep. It wasn't until they heard a commotion outside the tent that they sat up straight.

"General Han, please come in."

Han Dahai had countless wounds on his body, which the army doctor had just treated. The news of the past two days had made him anxious. Hearing the sound, he lifted the curtain and strode in, but then froze when he looked up.

After looking at it for a while, Han Dahai suddenly knelt down, choking back tears as he cried out, "Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty!"

"General, please rise."

Han Dahai stood up, his heart filled with uncontainable joy. He knew that His Majesty was definitely not dead!

After a long pause, Han Dahai considered the matter carefully before asking, "Your Majesty, I received a letter yesterday closing your door..."

"Yes, it was my decision."

Han Dahai frowned. So these are all His Majesty's methods?

He hesitated, "May I ask why Your Majesty would use this method to deceive the people?"

With a cold snort, the man on the high throne tapped his fingers lightly on the edge of the bed. "In the capital, someone has betrayed me."

Yao Ruyi and Han Dahai both gasped for breath.

"The letter that the general saw yesterday should have already reached the capital. Now that I have returned to the capital from the front lines, I will make sure the capital is cleaned up."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I will obey your orders."

Gu Huizhou responded lightly, "I know that Minister Han has made meritorious contributions in the war against the grasslands, but I have great ambitions." He stood up and faced Han Dahai, a flash of arrogance in his eyes, "The grassland people are stupid and ignorant. This time, I will make them completely submit to Dayun."

"What is the general's opinion?"

"Your Majesty, I am willing to expand the territory!"

He thought he would be able to retire soon, but the unexpected burden suddenly stirred Han Dahai's blood, and his aged eyes shone with light. "Your Majesty, rest assured."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, General."

"Your Majesty is too kind." Han Dahai cupped his hands in greeting, then rose and left after a moment.

Yao Ruyi sighed, "How are we supposed to find the traitor?"

Gu Huizhou smiled and took Yao Ruyi's hand the moment Han Dahai left, as if to make up for all the intimacy they had shared in the past six months. "I still need the help of the Nineteenth Prince."

"good."

The next day, Han Dahai, accompanied by his deputy Qin Linshan, once again led an expedition to the grasslands. Meanwhile, one of the inconspicuous carriages quietly left the camp and headed south, unnoticed by anyone.

The capital city, the morning court session.

Xu Yi stared wide-eyed, still unable to believe the news of His Majesty's death even after two days.

He gritted his teeth and glared at the mob clamoring for a new emperor, shouting, "As long as we don't see His Majesty's body, His Majesty will be fine! I know what you gentlemen are thinking. Since you say you want a new emperor, why don't you tell us who this new emperor is!"

Xue Qingping was equally furious, "Speak! Tell us old bones so we can hear it!"

Baili Yi remained silent. He said he hadn't spoken for the past few days and had remained remarkably calm after the news of the emperor's death reached the capital. The court was quiet for a moment after Xue Qingping shouted, and then a voice came from among the group.

"Your Majesty has no brothers or sons. Why not inquire whether the late Emperor Gu's family has any collateral branches?"

"A collateral branch?" Li Li sneered. "The Gu family lost countless cities during the late emperor's lifetime. Now, my Great Yun is at war with two countries. At this time, the emperor has passed away. If it weren't for a few generals holding the line at the front, who knows how much chaos would have ensued!"

"He's dreaming big, personally leading the Northern Yuan campaign. If he wins, he'll be a wise ruler for all time. And now? Now we're the ones cleaning up his mess, and he's even asking the Gu family for help?" Li Li looked around. "Haven't you all cleaned up the Gu family's mess enough already?"

Li Wenjing frowned and said sternly, "Lord Li, watch your words!"

These two men were both vice ministers, but Li Li didn't listen to them. "Be careful what you say? I'm just stating the facts."

Baili Yi lowered his head, concealing the slight chuckle in his eyes. "In that case, I think it would be better for the two of you to oversee the country for now. As for the new emperor... we can discuss it again after the two countries have ceased hostilities."

"A ceasefire?" one minister protested. "What kind of country is it without a ruler! Whether the Great Yun will still exist after the ceasefire is another matter entirely. Lord Baili, don't be too optimistic!"

The courtiers began to discuss the matter again. Li Wenjing and Xue Qingping, who was standing in front of them, exchanged a glance and remained silent with furrowed brows.

The emperor is dead? Not necessarily.

Xu Yi also did not believe that His Majesty was dead, but somehow he learned of that secret letter, which clearly bore General Han's handwriting!

If the message had come from the Northern Yuan, they would never have believed it, but... it said to block the news.

Having not slept for two days, Xu Yi felt a splitting headache. He became increasingly irritated by the group's argument and shouted, "My lords!"

Before his words could cause a ripple, Xu Yi called out again, "My lords! Please hear me out!"

"Lord Xu said."

Xu Yi clenched his fist. "His Majesty's life hangs in the balance, yet the court is already in chaos. Is this acceptable?"

"this……"

"How could their fate be so uncertain, with even secret messages being sent back to the capital?"

Xu Yi ignored him, saying, "Before His Majesty returns to the capital, you ministers should first think about how to win these two battles, how to find food, and how to make money. These are the things you should be thinking about!"

Li Wenjing was the first to respond, "Lord Xu is right!"

Xue Qingping: "What do you all think?"

Baili Yi's smile faded, and he turned to look at the crowd behind him. "I agree with Lord Xu's statement. What do you gentlemen think?"

"Well, let's leave it at that for now. A couple more days won't make a difference."

"Very well, I have no objection."

...

Xu Yi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He was able to get some sleep in the next few days. But he would always wake up in the middle of the night, dreaming that what was being transported back from the Northern Yuan was indeed His Majesty's corpse, which would immediately send him into a cold sweat.

And then I couldn't fall asleep.

Three days later, at the Cloud Palace.

The chief eunuch Cui Xiangzhu came out of the emperor's bedroom with a gloomy face. Even though no one lived there, he still had to lead the palace staff to clean it every day.

However, a strange noise came from the bedroom where the candles had just been extinguished. Cui Xiangzhu frowned. He wanted to turn around, but then he saw the Fourteenth Prince coming towards him. "Fourteenth Prince, is there something you need so late?"

Fourteen nodded, "I've come to deliver the battle report from the Northern Yuan to His Majesty."

The chief eunuch gave a bitter smile, a pang of sorrow in his heart. "The Fourteenth Prince has been exhausted these past few days. He should go back and rest early. His Majesty... will surely return from the front lines."

Fourteen raised an eyebrow. "What are you saying, Eunuch Cui? His Majesty has just returned to the capital after a long journey. Why don't you go to the Imperial Kitchen and prepare some food for His Majesty?" As he spoke, Fourteen walked past Cui Xiangzhu and strode towards the bedchamber, which had just been lit up.

Cui Xiangzhu looked at his back and wanted to say something, but when he caught a glimpse of the lit-up bedchamber, he froze on the spot.

A moment later, the head eunuch suddenly pointed a trembling hand at the lit bedchamber, exclaiming, "A ghost! A ghost!"

————————

[Green Heart][Green Heart][Green Heart]