Free Web NovelChapter 682: Chapter 205: The Empress’s Secrets, Li Yuan and the Ugly Child, The Realm Rallies to the King
Although Xie Wei was not so severe, she was nonetheless extremely displeased with this appearance. Additionally, since she had no feelings for the Emperor, she found it challenging to endure her son’s ugliness due to any maternal affection.
On the contrary, Li Yuan would often hold the child’s hand, teach him to walk, and make him laugh.
Gradually, Ji Hu began clinging to Li Yuan, but he was very frightened when he saw his birth mother.
In the blink of an eye, Ji Hu turned one year old.
And his first birthday banquet was extremely unique.
Xie Feng commanded the Hanzhou Iron Cavalry, while Gao Kaiping led the Flying Bear Army, surrounding the perimeter with an impenetrable guard.
The banquet took place in front of the General Temple.
The guests of the banquet included envoys from various Commanders as well as emissaries from different regional powers.
Everyone was abuzz with discussion, observing the Emperor and the Crown Prince seated at the head.
The Emperor was without a successor, so naturally, this one-year-old boy was the Crown Prince.
Yet, many doubts lingered in everyone’s hearts.
The reason for the gathering of envoys was precisely to observe and then report back to their respective domains.
The banquet was bustling, a myriad of exquisite delicacies beyond count.
The envoys laughed heartily, feasting and drinking... but these were mere appearances; they silently watched the Emperor and the Crown Prince.
They had to ascertain... the true standing of the Emperor and the Crown Prince—were they puppets of the Xie Family, or something else?
After several rounds of wine and five flavorful courses, nothing happened.
The envoys were somewhat disappointed.
Because "nothing happening" implied "the Emperor and the Crown Prince were indeed puppets of the Xie Family," otherwise, this banquet would inevitably have featured "explanations" and "demonstrations."
Many envoys exchanged glances, some preparing to rise and take their leave.
Just then, not far from the banquet, a heavy rumbling sound suddenly resounded, as if some monster was treading the earth.
Following the sound, everyone looked to see General Gao Kaiping entering the Ghost Realm of the General Temple, his silver spear and heavy armor rapidly transforming.
The heavy armor morphed into an eerie black full-body armor...
The silver spear turned blood-red, with a rusty, decayed look...
The horse he led was also armored in heavy gear; the horse’s eyes glowed a ghostly green, its skeletal frame faintly visible through the armor’s gaps, treading with an aura of chilling wind, a snort like a thunderous roar.
This was no longer Gao Kaiping; it was evidently a ghostly general.
The ghost general stood behind the Emperor and the Crown Prince, bringing down his blood-colored spear with a resounding clang.
Clang!!!
A thunderous sound, like a tidal wave, rippled outward, quickly engulfing the surroundings, silencing the entire banquet.
The envoys sitting at this banquet were naturally not ordinary people; they knew many secrets and had vaguely heard of this one.
Everyone solemnly composed themselves, sitting upright in vigilance...
Taking advantage of the moment, Xie Feng stepped forward, raising his voice to recite the long-prepared speech.
"The Lotus Thieves harm the country, entrenched in the Jade Capital, and the Emperor and Crown Prince have long been absent—how can this be justified?
Our Xie Family wishes to raise the banner, calling upon the heroes and champions of the realm to unite in overthrowing the Lotus Thieves, destroying the Incense Worship Sect, and restoring the world order!!"
The plan was naturally devised by Xie Wei.
It was she who communicated with Gao Kaiping.
After Xie Feng’s words, none of the envoys declined but instead said they would return to seek instructions.
Ji Hu’s first birthday was bustling, yet it seemed to have nothing to do with Ji Hu himself.
After the banquet, the future Emperor was stuffed into a carriage, sitting in the dark, listening to the monotonous and tedious turning of the wheels, feeling the cold jolt of the hard seats as they moved into the distance.
"Mother..."
"Mother..."
Ji Hu softly called out in the darkness.
But after a while, no one answered; only the wet nurse was in the carriage.
"Father..."
"Dad..."
Ji Hu continued to use his limited vocabulary.
But the wet nurse only said, "Your Majesty and the Empress are both busy..."
Ji Hu wailed, and the wet nurse hurried to comfort him.
But she couldn’t console him at all.
Until the silk curtain was lifted, and a figure entered, the moonlight poured in, revealing the Emperor’s face.
Ji Hu was still crying; Li Yuan wiped away his tears and picked him up, ruffling his hair.
The wet nurse sensibly withdrew.
And after a while, Ji Hu finally calmed down, asking in an extremely childish voice: "Father, why... won’t... Mother... pay... attention to me?"
Li Yuan softly responded, "We all love you very much; it’s just that your mother is busy.
Also, you shouldn’t call me ’Father’; you should call me ’Emperor Father.’
"Emperor... Father..." Ji Hu buried his head in Li Yuan’s embrace, feeling the warmth from his father.
Li Yuan turned his head slightly to look out the window.
Outside, the moonlight was cold.
Ji Hu was born in the deep winter, and now it was also midwinter.
Today was a rare sunny day, but outside, the skin-slicing cold wind still howled.
Li Yuan looked at the ugly child in his arms and said, "Practice walking more when we return, and when spring comes this year, I’ll take you to fly kites."
"Emperor... Father... what is a ki... kite?" Ji Hu asked.
Li Yuan began to explain to him.
As he spoke, the ugly child’s eyes slowly filled with light, with anticipation.
However... at this time, Li Yuan was merely weaving deceptive emotions.
Yet the child before him needed this kind of emotion.
No matter how cruel and dark the future is, at least with lies, he could bring a slightly better childhood to this future Puppet Emperor.
