Firmament Sword

The others all stared at Huangfu Chongzhi in astonishment. While not as overtly shocked as Little Fatty, their gazes were filled with questions.

A bitter look flashed in Huangfu Chongzhi’s eyes. He said in a low voice, ”It’s a long story...”

He then turned to the Maid and said, ”I’m a bit busy here. Go take care of the child and see if he’s hungry.”

”Y-Yes, My Lord...” The Maid fled in a fluster, her face bright red.

Huangfu Chongzhi glanced at the others, then said to Little Fatty and Sui Yan, ”He’s Yueru’s child.”

”Yueru?” Little Fatty’s eyebrows shot up. He then gasped softly, ”Sister-in-law? She’s back?”

Sui Yan was also taken aback. Others might not know, but the two of them knew very well. They had both met that woman, who was like an Immortal from a fairy tale.

Huangfu Chongzhi nodded, his expression somber. ”She sent the child back in secret and left again. I didn’t even get to see her.”

”How... How could she be so heartless?” Little Fatty said, his voice laced with anger. ”That’s just cruel!”

”Perhaps she has her own difficulties,” Huangfu Chongzhi said softly before giving a bitter smile. ”Forget it. For now, let’s discuss our next move.”

”This matter now involves the power of a major sect. We’re no match for them on our own. For now, our only option is to hide and come up with a long-term plan.” Speaking of serious matters, Little Fatty sighed and grumbled, ”If only Third Brother were here. He’s the only one among us with any connections to the sects.”

”Third Brother will come back,” Sui Yan said from the side.

Just then, Luo Xinlan, Xia Muyao, Guo Ying, and the others entered from outside. Xia Muyao’s and Guo Ying’s faces were etched with weariness, and a touch of sorrow clouded their features.

Luo Xinlan’s expression was calm, but a deep sorrow was hidden in the depths of her eyes. ’Xu Ji stayed behind in the Imperial Capital to cover our retreat. His chances of survival are slim. If I could, I would throw everything away, even my own life, just to die with my husband.’

’Unfortunately, there are too many things in this world that one cannot simply do as one pleases. Now, there’s a huge mess of affairs that she needs to preside over.’

Fortunately, those who had managed to follow them here were all completely loyal. Plus, most came from Military General Clans, so Luo Xinlan didn’t have to worry about them too much.

Even so, these past few days as fugitives had left Luo Xinlan utterly exhausted, both in body and mind.

Upon their entry, Huangfu Chongzhi and the others rose to their feet in greeting.

Huangfu Chongzhi bowed deeply to Luo Xinlan. ”Aunt, I’m sorry! Something so terrible has happened, yet I was powerless to help. Instead... I may have even dragged you all into this.”

”How could this be your fault?” Luo Xinlan gave a bitter smile. She understood what Huangfu Chongzhi meant, but they were all in the same boat now—fellow outcasts with nowhere to go. She didn’t blame anyone. If there was someone to blame, it was that treacherous villain, Huangfu Haoyue.

”We can’t stay here in this fiefdom any longer. Huangfu Haoyue will never let any of us go,” Luo Xinlan said softly. She glanced at the others. ”In this entire Cangqiong Empire, there is no longer any place for us.”

Little Fatty quietly suggested, ”We could go to the Cao Kingdom. The Emperor of Cao, Cao Tianyi, owes Third Brother a huge favor. If we went to him for shelter, I’m sure he’d take us in.”

Xu Su gently shook her head. ”Cao Tianyi... might not dare to take us in. After all, the ones hunting us have the power of a sect behind them. The Cao Kingdom is a tiny, weak nation. How could it possibly dare to oppose a sect?”

For a moment, everyone fell silent.

Just then, a frantic commotion erupted outside. Someone came running, shouting at the top of their lungs, ”My Lady, great news! It’s great news!”

The door was then thrown open, and a Guard from the Xu Family burst in, tears streaming down his face as he waved a letter.

But at that moment, no one thought to reprimand the Guard. All eyes were fixed on the letter in his hand!

Luo Xinlan took the letter, her eyes flying across the page. Tears she had held back for so long finally streamed from her eyes. She murmured, ”My husband... he’s safe. Xiaoluo is back. The Imperial Capital... is safe!”

Those few words struck the room like a thunderclap, plunging it into dead silence. Everyone stood frozen as if struck by an Immobilization Skill, their eyes wide in disbelief at what they had just heard.

Huangfu Chongzhi was the first to recover. The normally calm and composed Eldest Prince threw a fierce punch into the air, as if releasing all his pent-up emotion. ”I knew it! I knew it! With him there, I knew everything would be alright!”

Xu Su murmured, ”Xiaoluo... really turned the tide?”

Little Fatty wept with joy. ”Third Brother, you’re finally back!”

Sui Yan slowly closed his eyes as tears slid from their corners. ’Why... why didn’t you come back sooner?’ he thought. ’If you had just returned before all of this happened, my father... might not have died!’

Nearly everyone was overwhelmed by a mix of joy and sorrow. They didn’t blame Xu Luo, but they couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret... ’If only Xu Luo had returned sooner, would any of this have happened?’

Luo Xinlan let out a long breath, then looked at the Eldest Prince and said slowly, ”My husband’s message says that we are to escort you, Eldest Prince, back to the Imperial Capital... to ascend the throne!”

The Eldest Prince was taken aback for a moment, then nodded lightly. ”In that case, I am at your disposal, Aunt.”

...

「One month later」

Huangfu Chongzhi ascended the throne in the Cangqiong Imperial Capital, becoming the new Emperor.

Xu Ji was named Regent King and National Guardian General King. This princely title was to be hereditary in perpetuity.

Xu Su was made Marquis Zhongyong. Little Fatty Liu Feng was made the Carefree Marquis, and his fiancée, Lan Xin, a Second-Grade County Lady. Sui Yan was made the Guardian State Marquis.

Luo Xinlan was named a First-Class National Lady, while Xia Muyao and Guo Ying were named Second-Grade County Ladies.

The Champion Marquis’s wife was named a First-Class National Lady, and the late Champion Marquis, Xu Zhongtian, was posthumously named Duke Jingguo.

Liu Ruyu, a daughter-in-law of the Champion Marquis’s Mansion, was named a Second-Grade County Lady. Liu Xuan was named Marquis Wen, and his wife a Second-Grade County Lady.

The wife of the Mighty Grand General Sui Wanli was named a First-Class National Lady, and the late Mighty Grand General Sui Wanli was posthumously named Duke of the Realm.

The other members of the factions who had fought to the death to break out of the Imperial Capital with Guo Ying were also handsomely rewarded.

Originally, there was a plan to name Xu Luo the Qingtian King, signifying that he had acted as a pillar supporting the heavens in the Empire’s time of crisis. He had turned the tide, defeated Huangfu Haoyue’s forces, and ensured the legitimate line of the Cangqiong Royal Family would not be broken. However, Xu Luo refused the title.

The reason was simple: the Xu Family had already reached the pinnacle of prosperity. One hereditary princely title was enough to make everyone burn with envy. Xu Luo did not want a situation where his family had two Princes in the same generation.

Not even if the current Emperor was his own sworn brother.

Besides, Xu Luo’s future path did not lie in the mortal realm. Worldly titles and ranks had truly become as meaningless as passing clouds to him.

The late Emperor’s old joke about the ”Civil Servant’s Rice Bowl” had become just that—a joke, long since faded into obscurity with his passing.

With Xu Luo overseeing matters in the Imperial Capital, everything proceeded with remarkable smoothness.

Leng Mengde was imprisoned for inciting rebellion, the rest of the Leng Family was exiled, and Leng Ping left the Southern Army, his whereabouts unknown.

Wei Feng and his son were imprisoned and the Wei Family’s assets were seized. The confiscated wealth was equivalent to the Cangqiong Empire’s total revenue for twenty years, a sum that shocked the entire nation.

Wang Moxuan was already dead, and his son, Wang Ziweng, was imprisoned. The Wang Family’s assets were also seized, yielding a vast fortune. Though it couldn’t compare to the Wei Family’s, the amount was still staggering.

The two officials, Zhao Wenzhao and Sun Yunpeng, had not chosen the wrong side at the critical moment and were rewarded handsomely. Not only were their own positions elevated, but their entire clans rose in status with them. While not as brilliant and powerful as Xu Ji’s family, they still became one of the most prominent families in the Cangqiong Empire.

As for the other families involved in the palace coup, those who had sided with Huangfu Haoyue were naturally purged, while those who had not made the wrong choice were all generously rewarded.

「Two months later」

The Cangqiong Empire finally began to settle down. Aside from Wei Feng and his co-conspirators who had yet to be tried, nearly all other matters had been concluded.

A new atmosphere permeated the imperial court. Although Huangfu Chongzhi had been largely unknown in the past, his actions over the last two months were plain for all to see, and he quickly won the approval of nearly everyone.

He had become the new Monarch of the ancient Cangqiong Empire.

But just then, Huangfu Chongzhi made a startling decision.

He decided to abdicate the throne in favor of his son, who was not even a year old—Huangfu Hongzhi!

The news shocked everyone. A tidal wave of opposition arose; from the court to the common folk, nearly every faction was surprisingly united in their stance.

They would absolutely not agree!

Even Xu Ji stated that Huangfu Chongzhi’s move was improper.

Although Xu Ji held two princely titles—an unprecedented honor—he had become exceptionally low-key because of it, rarely participating in any political matters.

On this matter alone, Xu Ji voiced his dissent.

That night, the new Emperor, Huangfu Chongzhi, paid a late visit to the Xu Family.

In the Xu Family’s main hall, only Xu Ji, Xu Su, Xu Luo, and Huangfu Chongzhi were present. Luo Xinlan personally served them tea before quietly departing.

”Your Majesty, how could you make such a decision?” Xu Ji said, looking at Huangfu Chongzhi. ”The blow the Cangqiong Empire has suffered, while it may not seem deep, will in fact take a very long time to heal from. As the legitimate heir of the Royal Family, you must be the one to preside over the realm. How can you make such a childish decision?”

Huangfu Chongzhi gave a bitter smile and waved his hand. ”There are no outsiders here, Uncle. You don’t need to be so formal. Before I came, I thought you were going to give me a harsh scolding.”

Xu Ji gave Huangfu Chongzhi a helpless look. ”The proper relationship between a monarch and his subject cannot be thrown into chaos.”

Xu Luo chuckled from the side. ”When you named my father the Regent King, I bet you had already planned this, hadn’t you?”

”Xiaoluo, don’t speak nonsense!” Xu Ji shot his son a harsh glare. Although his son and Huangfu Chongzhi were sworn brothers with a deep bond, there was now a clear distinction between monarch and subject. Even if Huangfu Chongzhi took no offense, if word of such talk got out, it would ultimately bring no good to the Xu Family.

They would inevitably be accused of arrogance born from favor.

Huangfu Chongzhi, however, waved his hand dismissively and smiled. ”I knew I couldn’t hide it from you.”

He then turned to Xu Ji and said seriously, ”Uncle, to be honest with you, I absolutely will not continue to be the Emperor. If you really don’t agree... I’ll just run away!”