Chapter 576 If half a corner of her clothes gets dirty
"Father!" Baozhu hugged Li Rong's neck, her eyes filled with joy.
Daddy's all better! Wow, that's amazing! He could fight so many people!
Unlike Baozhu, Xiao Er, seeing his father covered in blood and resembling the Emperor, stood worriedly beside Li Rong and asked, "Father, why have you come?"
"Look, His Majesty hasn't made things difficult for you, has he? General Li, you've been so rude, why don't you quickly apologize to His Majesty!" Eunuch Li interrupted the waiter, stiffening his neck and forcing a smile.
Li Rong hugged his daughter, and with his other hand he held Xiao Er's cold little hand. When he opened his eyes, a giant falcon with an outstretched arm of nearly two meters landed in front of the hall.
Finally, his gaze fell indifferently on the Emperor.
“Xuanlang,” he called him by his full name for the first time, his voice slow and hoarse, like a frozen bowstring: “I used to uphold the principles of a gentleman. Even when my family was raided and exiled, and my entire clan was wiped out, I never had a selfish thought. It was only because I was once the God of War of the Great Jing Dynasty, and my Li family has protected this land for generations. You are both my dearest friend and my sovereign. I am willing to become a pawn in your hands.”
"What do you want to say?" The emperor's eyelashes trembled as he stared intently at Li Rong's face.
“There are some things that I am not incapable of doing, but that the former Li Rong did not want to do. But now, the former Li Rong is dead.”
“Xuan Lang, even if I disregard my own life, I hope that you, Xiao Yuanshan, and even the entire Dajing can withstand my full-force attack.”
"Insolence! You...you have no soldiers at your disposal, do you really think you're a god?" Eunuch Li said, pointing a trembling finger at Li Rong.
He clearly believed what he was saying was true, but Li Rong's voice, though calm and unhurried, struck like a heavy hammer, sending chills down the spines of those who heard it.
He swallowed hard, his voice trembling as he continued, "With so many people holding the top spot in the capital, a single spit from each of them could drown you!"
"Li Quan!"
The Emperor called out to Eunuch Li beside him, coughed heavily a few times, and his scarlet eyes seemed to be fixed on Li Rong, never looking away.
Compared to his previous spirited and vigorous self, Li Rong in front of him had become several times thinner.
In a daze, he realized that he hadn't really looked at Li Rong in a long time. The last time he had really looked at him was when he returned victorious in full military uniform. At that time, he was wearing golden armor and a long crown, and his divine steed, Dao Li, rode him into the long street of Shengjing.
So many people came to welcome him that day that he couldn't see the end of them even standing on the city wall.
Amidst the thunderous cheers, they frantically welcomed their god of war. However, that fanatical faith, like a sharp claw, would often seize his heart and tear it apart in his dreams.
He would wake up countless times wondering what it must feel like to be so revered by the world.
The people loved him, the world relied on him, and even enemy kings and princes bowed down to him. Even he, the emperor, relied on him in his heart.
Before his death, my father said that with Li Rong's loyalty, he would barely be able to compete with Xiao Yuanshan as emperor.
How ridiculous!
The reason he became emperor was all because of him.
Are these the chosen ones of heaven?
Completely different from his frail body, he didn't need to scheme against people's hearts like a snake or rat in a sewer.
But how could the way of Heaven be without its fluctuations?
Even a prodigy like Li Rong should experience hardship, right? Otherwise, wouldn't it be too unfair to others?
He actually wanted to see what he would be like in a desperate situation.
However, when the Li family fell, he ultimately did not dare to step onto the city wall to take a look.
He even cowardly wanted to hide away, to avoid seeing or looking, as if these things had nothing to do with him.
His memories suddenly drifted back to his childhood, when he was often bullied by his second elder brother. Li Rong would always stand in front of him, his eyes gentle yet reassuring as he would say, "It's alright, I'm here."
He would also sneak out at night with him and Aheng to put the second prince in a sack and beat him up.
When he ascended the throne, the court was in turmoil and the border was under heavy war. He abandoned his family and went to the frontier. Before leaving, he was dressed in military uniform and holding a long spear. He looked out at the city wall and said to himself in silence, "Don't worry, I'm here."
In fact, he had been under his protection since childhood, as had the common people and the entire Great Jing Dynasty.
Xuan Lang had never seen Li Rong like this before.
Now, his dark robe fluttered without wind, dried blood staining his clothes and hair. His bloodshot eyes held no trace of past affection; an aura of murderous intent emanated from him, making one feel as if they too had become his enemy.
Xuan Lang had always known that he was no benevolent person who had fought on the battlefield for many years, but this was the first time he had faced his murderous aura so directly.
When the once-mighty guardian deity turns all his blades against the Great Jing, how long can the Great Jing, or even himself, withstand it?
This was not only the emperor's question, but also a question that sent shivers down everyone's spine.
However, while others were unaware of Li Rong's true strengths, the emperor knew them all.
Back then, Li Rong was misunderstood by everyone, scorned by the world, and his entire family was destroyed. Yet, he never used that trump card, because...
Using it would be tantamount to treason. Confirming his crime, he would forever bear the guilt of treason, and the Li family massacre of that year would never be redressed.
But now... he doesn't care anymore?
A sudden sweetness rose in his throat, and Xuan Lang coughed up a mouthful of blood, his gaze still fixed on Li Rong. He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and suddenly chuckled, "Li Rong, you're quite pleased with yourself, aren't you? Even though I am the emperor, I can't do anything to you when you come to my door, and I'm even thinking of rekindling our old friendship."
Li Rong lowered his head, looking down at the frail emperor before him, who seemed as if he might breathe his last at any moment. The gentle, youthful face that had once held the tenderness of the boy who had stood by his side, offering him hot tea, was gone. The silk threads were strange and unfamiliar to him.
"That's all I have to say. Those underhanded tactics you used on me, stay away from my wife. If you even smear a single patch of her clothing, I'll tear down your entire imperial city. If you don't believe me, feel free to try."
As soon as he finished speaking, he turned around, picked up his daughter, and took the waiter's hand. The hem of his black robe trailed behind the bloodstains on the gold bricks, leaving a winding dark mark and blood-stained footprints.
As Li Rong left, numerous enormous falcons circled above the imperial city, making the entire city seem dark and gloomy, as if the sun had never risen.
All the guards looked up, and for a moment they felt as if it were a harbinger of an impending hell. The bizarre sight sent chills down their spines.
Beneath the palace, the old man in black robes stared excitedly at the giant falcon that had circled away with Li Rong in the sky, his eyes gradually filled with a hint of infatuation: "Is this the Great Jing War God? A unique destiny that combines the stars of generals and the star of calamity?"
The old man in black stared at Li Rong for a long time, as if he were a delicious feast.
Inside the palace, Xuan Ting stared blankly as he watched his master leave. He turned helplessly to the Emperor before him, his voice choked with emotion for a long time before he finally managed to utter, "Father."
This chapter took a long time to polish. I didn't finish it yesterday. I revised it, took a break, and finally published it to my satisfaction.
(End of this chapter)
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