Stephen Kang, a newcomer to the city, was only eight years old at the time, but he was remarkably intelligent and mature beyond his years. The hatred for his country and family was deeply etched in his heart, and no matter how much the people of the Xuanyuan Dynasty tried to deceive and manipulate him, Stephen Kang never forgot.
The Xuanyuan Dynasty met Stephen. Kang was unmoved by either soft or hard tactics, and his attitude towards him was unusually different. Not only did he change Kang's name to Stephen, but he also assigned the hardest and dirtiest jobs to Stephen. The eight-year-old child was hungry and cold, growing up in an environment of constant beatings and scoldings.
Ten years passed quietly. The current ruler of the Xuanyuan Dynasty grew old and frail, and his energy waned. He voluntarily abdicated in favor of his son, Xuanyuan Yujing. At that time, Xuanyuan Yujing was in his prime, and everyone in the Xuanyuan Dynasty wholeheartedly supported his ascension to the throne.
As expected, Xuanyuan Yujing became the new head of the Xuanyuan Dynasty. At the same time, witnessed by the clan elders, Xuanyuan Yujing married Yuehua Liuguang in a grand wedding procession. A year after their marriage, Xuanyuan gave birth to Xuanyuan Yujing's eldest son, Xuanyuan Cheng.
The marriage between Xuanyuan Yujing and Xuanyuan Shi was an arranged marriage, without any real love between them, not even a vow of eternal devotion. Moreover, Xuanyuan Yujing didn't believe in love. How could a devil raised in darkness believe in the existence of bright, warm sunlight?
However, an unexpected twist occurs: Xuanyuan Yujing falls for Bai Wanxin, a maid in his household. Initially, Xuanyuan Yujing treats Bai Wanxin as a plaything, toying with her at will. Gradually, however, he is captivated by Bai Wanxin's indomitable spirit, her optimistic smile, and her kindness in turning the other cheek even when someone slaps him. He is completely won over by Bai Wanxin, bit by bit.
Once he understood the meaning of love, Xuanyuan Yujing fell deeply in love, showering Bai Wanxin with affection and doting on her. Bai Wanxin, believing herself imprisoned by Xuanyuan Yujing, was constantly gloomy and unhappy. To make Bai Wanxin smile, Xuanyuan Yujing repeatedly staged the elaborate scheme of lighting the beacon fires to amuse the feudal lords. Xuanyuan Yujing was cruel and ruthless, relentlessly killing, all for the sake of winning a smile from his beloved.
The retainers of the Xuanyuan Dynasty were greatly disappointed with Xuanyuan Yujing's actions. Some upright and loyal old ministers even threatened suicide to persuade Xuanyuan Yujing not to indulge in frivolous pursuits and abandon the country and its people.
Since ancient times, good medicine tastes bitter but is good for the disease, and honest advice is unpleasant to the ear but beneficial to conduct. The old minister's words not only failed to awaken Xuan Yuan Yu Jing, but instead stirred up a rebellious streak that had never surfaced in his youth: "You want me to do this? I'll do that instead!" Enraged, Xuan Yuan Yu Jing favored Bai Wanxin even more and simultaneously ordered the execution of the old minister's entire family, sparing even the newborn infant.
After this incident, Xuanyuan Yujing lost the support of the people, and the court and the public were even more disheartened towards him. As Xuanyuan Yujing's wife and the matriarch of the Xuanyuan Dynasty, Xuanyuan Shi had tried to persuade him with all her heart, but Xuanyuan Yujing was stuck in a rut and became convinced that he could not have anyone but Bai Wanxin.
To put it nicely, Lady Xuanyuan was the matriarch of the Xuanyuan Dynasty; to put it bluntly, she was merely a human tool that Xuanyuan Yujing had married to bear children. Lady Xuanyuan understood this, and after one attempt to persuade him failed, she focused her attention back on her son.
Xuanyuan's son, Xuanyuan Cheng, was just two years old, and was round and adorable. Xuanyuan Cheng had a chubby face and smiled at everyone he saw, especially his mother, Xuanyuan, whom he never hesitated to shower with kisses.
For the past twenty years, the seemingly heartless and loveless Lady Xuanyuan had cherished Xuanyuan Cheng as if he were her own precious jewel, treating him with utmost care and affection. This was absolutely true. Lady Xuanyuan lived contentedly with her son, Xuanyuan Cheng, in her own little world. She wasn't afraid of trouble from Xuanyuan Yujing; after all, out of respect for Xuanyuan Cheng, Xuanyuan Yujing still treated her with great deference.
Even tigers don't eat their cubs, and a man without ruthlessness is no true man; Xuanyuan Shi underestimated Xuanyuan Yujing. When Xuanyuan Yujing took Xuanyuan Cheng from Xuanyuan Shi's arms, Xuanyuan Shi simply thought it was a father and son exchanging affection. A day passed, and Xuanyuan Cheng didn't return; two days later, he was nowhere to be found. On the third day, Xuanyuan Shi anxiously went to find Xuanyuan Yujing.
Upon arriving at Xuanyuan Yujing's courtyard, Xuanyuan smelled the fresh scent of human blood, and her long-dormant murderous intent stirred. However, upon thinking of the ignorant and naive Xuanyuan Cheng, Xuanyuan forgot about it immediately.
When Xuanyuan entered Xuanyuan Yujing's house, she saw Xuanyuan Yujing holding a small knife, anxiously slashing open Xuanyuan Cheng's chest. Xuanyuan saw the wound on Xuanyuan Cheng's chest, which appeared to have been there for some time. Xuanyuan didn't know how to describe her feelings at that moment; she only felt an emptiness in her heart.
When Xuanyuan arrived, Xuanyuan Cheng was already on the verge of death. The child, covered in wounds, saw his mother and reached out his hand, wanting Xuanyuan to hug and comfort him.
At that moment, Xuanyuan Shi could no longer heed dogma and rushed towards Xuanyuan Yujing like a madman. Xuanyuan Yujing, immersed in anxiety, was slow to react and was knocked to the ground by Xuanyuan Shi.
Upon seeing the Xuanyuan clan, Xuanyuan Yujing's eyes flashed with fear and guilt, but this was quickly replaced by composure and resolve. Xuanyuan Yujing summoned his henchmen to restrain the Xuanyuan clan, then snatched the pale-faced Xuanyuan Cheng from the Xuanyuan clan's arms and cruelly slashed open Xuanyuan Cheng's heart once again in front of the Xuanyuan clan.
Even a grown man can't bear having a sharp knife scribbles across his heart. Although Xuanyuan Cheng was raised to be chubby and robust by the Xuanyuan clan, it didn't change the fact that he was still a two-year-old child.
Ten minutes later, Xuanyuan Cheng breathed his last. His face was pale, his eyes were still filled with tears, and his blank eyes stared unblinkingly at the screaming and biting Xuanyuan Shi. He died in agony in his biological father's arms.
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
