Chapter 22

In the third year of the Dayan era of the Liang Kingdom, twenty-eight years ago, a cataclysmic upheaval shook the nation. The direct imperial lineage of the Liang Kingdom was completely wiped out by Liang Xun, a member of a branch family.

Chun Heng, a general of the Liang Kingdom, fled with the sole surviving heir of the imperial family, an infant prince still in swaddling clothes. Spending two years recruiting troops and gathering strength, he finally led the loyalists of the old imperial court back to the palace in the third year and executed Liang Xun.

With the dust settled and the civil war pacified, just as Chun Heng was preparing to place the young prince on the throne, a massive fire broke out in the palace. Chun Heng was betrayed and murdered by his subordinate general, Qi Yu. At the critical moment of life and death, Chun Heng swapped his own biological son with the young prince. The father and son sacrificed their lives for the country, their bodies charred beyond recognition.

To mimic the young prince’s appearance, Qi Yu personally branded his own biological son with a hot iron, thereby placing him on the throne.

But Qi Yu was greedy and tyrannical. He did not hesitate to beat and abuse his emperor son, and even killed the boy’s mother right in front of him. The young emperor grew up in constant terror. Qi Yu even plotted to kill his son and take the throne for himself, but he died suddenly of an acute illness before he could.

Qi Yu was dead, but he left behind many children. Qi Zheng, the Pillar Prince, was the one who inherited his title.

Even later, when Liang Shi held absolute power and ruled arbitrarily, it was difficult to shake Qi Zheng’s position.

Meanwhile, the real young prince, whom Chun Heng had swapped out, was smuggled to the State of Zhao by palace servants who risked their lives. He was entrusted to Chun Heng’s close friend, Squire Cheng, who had long since changed his name and retired from the world.

As Liang Shi spoke to this point, his eyes had already turned red.

Qin Xiyi was so shocked that it took her a long time to snap out of it.

She looked at Cheng Mozhi. “So, you are the real young prince of the Liang Kingdom. And Liang Shi is Qi Yu’s child…”

“But,” Qin Xiyi calmed down and asked rationally, “Liang Shi, why are you telling us this? Shouldn’t you be more eager to kill us right now?”

Never delude oneself into thinking an emperor possesses kindness, let alone fantasize about him having a sudden awakening of conscience. Qin Xiyi had understood this truth since childhood.

Liang Shi sneered. “But Heaven is not kind. The sins committed by my traitorous father have brought retribution upon me! I can never have children, and I might only have a month left to live! But I hate Qi Yu! And I hate Qi Zheng even more.”

He looked at Cheng Mozhi, his words urgent and earnest. “I sent people to find you, but you refused me! You said you were living happily, and that none of this had anything to do with you. How could it have nothing to do with you! I want you back. I want you to return, slaughter everyone in the Qi family, and destroy this filthy, wretched imperial family of Great Liang!”

“Cheng Mozhi, I have brought the woman you love, and I have spared your child! Life or death, I ask you only one question today: will you or will you not agree to take my throne?”

Liang Shi trembled all over with agitation, looking as if a gust of wind could knock him down.

After a long silence, Cheng Mozhi let out a laugh.

He took Qin Xiyi’s hand, covered Liang Ying’s ears, and said, “You see, there is no place in this world more filthy and corrupt than the imperial palace. Xiyi, do you blame me?”

Qin Xiyi squeezed his hand back, smiling exceptionally happily. “I hate that place too. The days we spent in the valley were the happiest of my life. Do whatever you want to do, and don’t do what you don’t want to. Either way, we won’t be parted again.”

Cheng Mozhi looked at her, his eyes brimming with a tenderness that could melt water. Then, he turned back to Liang Shi, his brows furrowed. “Your Majesty, Emperor of Great Liang, our family of three is at your disposal!”

Pfft—

A mouthful of fresh blood sprayed from Liang Shi’s mouth, and he fell backward, collapsing onto the ground.

“Father…” Liang Ying, who only half-understood what was happening, cried until his nose was red, but he didn’t dare approach Liang Shi.

This imperial father was utterly unfamiliar to him, yet he could feel that his father was currently in immense pain and suffering.

Cheng Mozhi quickly walked over, supported Liang Shi, checked his pulse, and pulled a pill from his robes to feed him.

But Liang Shi shook his head, his breath as faint as gossamer. “No need.”

“Cheng, Cheng…” His eyes suddenly widened. Grabbing Cheng Mozhi’s collar, he pulled it down with the last of his strength, staring at the exposed butterfly brand. “This throne… whether you want to or not, you must take it now. I’m sorry…”

Liang Shi drew his last breath. Emperor Chenghong of Great Liang had met his end in such a manner, dying without a peaceful death.

Qin Xiyi pulled the child into her embrace, her eyes also turning red.

But at that moment, the sounds of battle and shouting erupted outside.

A leading general stumbled in. Seeing Liang Shi collapsed on the ground in a pool of blood, he fell to the floor in shock. Yet, this rugged general did not weep; instead, he quickly pulled a letter from his robes.

Behind the general, a group of officers fell to their knees one after another. They remained silent, passing around the letter that had been in the general’s hand.

Once they had all read it, the general crawled on his knees toward Cheng Mozhi, staring intently at his chest. After looking again and again, tears suddenly gushed from his eyes.

“Young Master, we are all your family retainers…”