To think that he was willing to trade half his life for her to live freely for the rest of hers. It was then that Jun Xiqing understood that he really loved Elder Sister Mo’er deeply.
It was true love.
The Emperors of the past had all been fickle-minded, yet fixated strongly when they found someone they loved. Lu Jinwen was an ideal role model. He loved Madam Xuanji deeply his entire life. But as for Lu Yeming, he was able to keep one forbidden love in his heart even as he had other women surrounding him.
The limousine pulled over and Fan Men said, “Master, Miss Jun, we’re at the Palace.”
Jun Xiqing looked out of the bright car windows. She was back at the towering Palace. But there was someone standing outside the Palace.
Murong Jiancheng.
The Emperor of this Palace.
And also Lu Yeming’s father.
Jun Xiqing saw a familiar beautiful figure standing beside him as well, Dongfang Ruoli. She had heard that every Emperor in Country Z married a Holy Lady so that their lineage would contain the purest blood.
As this thought crossed her mind, Jun Xiqing’s lashes quivered and her red lips slowly curved upwards. Yes, their time at the wooden hut had officially expired.
They were back in reality.
…
Murong Jiancheng was over forty this year. Standing there, he stood tall and calm, wearing a black woolen coat. His hands were clasped behind his back as he stood beside the lake, the wind billowing through his coat. As someone who had commanded this Palace for over forty years, he had retained his control even as the Dukes slowly carved up the land. He was Country A’s most esteemed and powerful person.
Lu Yeming walked behind him and said lightly, “My Lord.”
Murong Jiancheng turned around to look at Lu Yeming and said, “You’re back?”
“Yes.”
Murong Jiancheng had been pretending to be ill these few years so that Murong Fu would build his arrogance, before he finally revealed everything. He had merely sat back and watched as the North, South, East and West Duke fought bloody battles each year.
Lu Yeming’s deep, narrow eyes weren’t from Lu Jinwen. They had been inherited from this legendary Emperor, Murong Jiancheng.
Murong Jiancheng was the father of the Dragon Totem.
The relationship between Murong Jiancheng and Lu Yeming was frosty, as though there was a piece of glass between them. None of them were willing to approach one another.
“Since you’re back, when are you going to recognize your heritage? You should change your name to Murong and start taking over the country soon.”
In response, Lu Yeming’s handsome face remained impassive. “I’ll never change my name to Murong.”
Murong Jiancheng frowned. “All for the sake of the Lu family’s daughter, Tang Mo’er? You don’t even want to acknowledge your forefathers?”
Lu Yeming smiled faintly. “I haven’t had forefathers in many years.”
This insolent boy! Murong Jiancheng was already seething. But this was his son after all, so he decided to take a step back. “If you really love Tang Mo’er, I can order my men to bring her to the Palace as your consort.”
It was only then that Lu Yeming’s eyes swept over to him. “Touch her if you dare.”
Murong Jiancheng’s lips pressed into a thin line, his narrow eyes turning dangerous. He was the most powerful person in this country! But Lu Yeming was calm and collected, like a precious blade that had been polished by time, sharp and dangerous.
Beside the lake, the two of them stared each other down with burning gazes. The air around them became heavy and oppressive.
“My Lord,” at this moment, Dongfang Ruoli walked over and cautioned in a gentle voice, “The West Duke has just escaped from great danger. Don’t ruin your relationship with your son just because of one woman.”
Murong Jiancheng’s expression softened and he said in a low voice, “Ming’er, in view of all the industries and businesses of this country, I hope you will let go of these feelings for this girl. You can have as many consorts as you like, but all Emperors have to marry a Holy Lady, so Ruoli is your fiancée and your Queen.”
Dongfang Ruoli lifted her head and looked at him with eyes filled with love.
But Lu Yeming didn’t even spare a glance at her. His lips curved into a sarcastic smile as he kept his eyes on Murong Jiancheng. “My Lord, then I presume your wife was the previous Holy Lady?”
His queen had been Lu Yeming’s biological mother.
Hearing this, Murong Jiancheng’s face darkened into a pitch black. Without saying another word, he threw back his sleeves and left.
The most respected man of Country A had held his own against so many battles for power in his country, but the moment his Queen was mentioned, he left in anger.
…
Jun Xiqing didn’t get out of the car, but she saw everything that happened clearly through the bright car windows.
“The Lord is out, but why do I not see the Queen?”
The Queen was the West Duke’s biological mother. Did she not miss her own son after being separated for so many years?
Seated in front, Murong Ling blinked lazily and merely said, “Qingqing, the Queen has left the palace for many years already. She’s no longer here.”
What?
Jun Xiqing’s eyes widened and she looked over at Murong Ling curiously. “The Queen really isn’t the previous Holy Lady?”
Murong Ling shook his head. “No.”
With that, Murong Ling smiled and said, “The Lord was born into the royal family, which put heavy emphasis on law and decorum and was, to be honest, a little outdated. But the Lord was handsome and the youngest Emperor. Which woman in the world wouldn’t have wanted to marry him?
“The Lord’s father married a Holy Lady, so it was natural that he would do the same, so the previous Holy Lady and him were childhood friends. He loved her and viewed her as his wife, but this was all destroyed by one person.”
Jun Xiqing’s face was full of anticipation as she surmised, “The Queen?”
Murong Ling smiled and nodded. “That’s right, the Queen snatched away his love and plotted to make the Lord marry her instead.”
“Wow.” Jun Xiqing couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration. “That’s amazing.”
“Right? I think the Queen was pretty amazing too.” Murong Ling turned to face Jun Xiqing.
Fan Men who was in the driver’s seat looked at these two children in consternation. Master, could you come and put them in their place?
“Qingqing, let me tell you, the best part has yet to come. She got pregnant with the West Duke after just three months of marriage. After ten months, she gave birth to her son and pushed him to our Lord before escaping on horseback. She even left him a letter that said she was sick of sleeping with him and didn’t want him anymore. She also said that she was leaving the child to him as compensation and that there was no need to thank her, as he was never seeing her again.”
Pfft.
Jun Xiqing laughed unkindly. This Queen… she really was something else.
Murong Ling tried to keep a straight face before suddenly turning more serious. “But the escape of the Queen triggered off the first turmoil in the history of this country, which is also the reason the West Duke was lost.”
“Quick, don’t just leave me hanging,” Jun Xiqing urged.
“Qingqing, I was still young at that time, so whatever I know is only what I heard from secret whispers of the previous generation. I heard that after the queen escaped, the Lord was so angry he chased for thousands of miles on horseback just to catch the Queen’s shadow.
“When the Lord got back, he found out that the infant West Duke, who was the Crown Prince of the North Palace, was missing as well. That night, he bathed the North Palace in red. Over a thousand people died and the lakes in the North Palace were dyed in blood. Along with the Queen’s disappearance and the number of bodies buried that night, no one has ever dared mention that night ever again.”
