In the Kalou palace, the Emperor of Kalou was waiting for news of the absolute victory.
However, ten days later, the military advisor fled back into the kingdom with a woefully small group, telling him that what had been a raging army of half a million had now returned with less than a thousand men.
The Emperor of the Kalou fell into a fit of rage. Faced with the near annihilation of his army, he ordered the execution of the war advisor and the other deserters on the spot.
In the Snow Kingdom, the matter of Huang Yuanwei’s collusion with officials to evade responsibility also began to surface under the joint efforts of Bai Lixin and Xiahou Chun. They followed the vine and uncovered all the officials involved in the matter.
Emperor Shengyuan was scared out of his wits. Not only was his son, Bai Liwu, involved, but half of the officials in the court had been bribed by Huang Yuanwei.
Huang Yuanwei’s identity as a member of the Kalou Kingdom was also revealed by Xiahou Chun, which made his ambitions obvious.
He spent his efforts and resources bribing so many officials, not only to get through the trading channel but also to eavesdrop on the secrets of the Snow Kingdom.
As a result, most of the officials involved were sent to jail, and some were placed under house arrest for final investigation.
Among them, Bai Liwu, the one who received the most bribes, was almost the first to bear the brunt.
However, Bai Liwu did not admit it when he saw the account book.
He threw the account book far away in a corner and struggled madly.
Seeing this, Emperor Shengyuan thoughtfully cleared everyone out, leaving only him and Bai Liwu in the room.
“This account book is a fake! Huang Yuanwei never gave me these things! ” Bai Liwu knelt on the floor and looked at Emperor Shengyuan, who was showing disappointment. He pleaded, “Father, you have to believe me. I really didn’t do it!”
Emperor Shengyuan shook his head and sighed, “Liwu, do you know why I made Xin’er the Crown Prince? My child, father may be old, but he is not stupid. I have seen everything that has been happening in this palace. I know the heart behind your gentle surface, and I know the actions you have taken against Xin’er on three occasions. But you are the child I love the most and the one I am most proud of, so I chose to keep quiet. If I let you become the Crown Prince, the day I die will be the day when Xin’er and his mother die. ”
Bai Liwu’s body shook as he looked at Emperor Shengyuan incredulously, “You …… knew?”
Emperor Shengyuan nodded, “Son, it’s not that I don’t love you; I just don’t know how to face you. You did not look like me when you were a child, but you looked like your mother. Whenever I saw you, I could not help but feel a pain in my heart. That was why I distanced myself from you. I made you the Benevolent Prince. I gave you a fortune and power and untold glory so that your life would be spent in peace and without strife. Xin’er, on the other hand, will have to sit on a cold dragon throne all his life, fighting with his ministers, fighting with his neighbours, and even fighting with the bad weather. I don’t want you to have to carry all this on your back. But I never thought that my love for you would harm you instead.”
“Love?!” As if hearing the biggest joke in the world, Bai Liwu suddenly laughed out loud and even burst into tears, “What kind of bullshit love is this? So this is the emperor’s love? Hahaha, I’ve been working hard for so many years on anything and everything, giving a hundred and twenty times as much effort. Because there was always a voice in my heart telling me that I must be better than Xin’er and that only then would you, Father, notice me and value me again!!! But now you are telling me that you have always loved me most and that all you have done is love me?!”
“I didn’t even want to live in peace. I just wanted to do something that would make your jaw drop and make you look at me with all your heart and soul! Hahaha, you love me? Hahaha, what a joke, the biggest joke in the world!!!”
Bai Liwu was in tears and almost collapsed.
Emperor Shengyuan’s eyes were also glowing red. “Son, fortunately, Xin’er and Xiahou Chun stopped this from happening in time. They stopped you before you made a big mistake. So we still have room for a lighter sentence. I will send you to a county far away from Snow City, where you will be their king and there will be no strife, no struggle for the throne. I will keep you prosperous for a hundred years, and I will give you the power and wealth you deserve.”
“The county? You’re going to drive me to the frontier to be a bitter prince? ”
“That is the best possible ending, my son. Having stopped you before you opened the gates of your country, you are now only guilty of bribery and favouritism, a crime not worthy of death….”
“Heh! Treason against the state and the enemy is punishable by nine clans. If I am convicted of treason and collaborating with the enemy, will you also be sent to the guillotine?” Bai Liwu hooked his lips into a grim smile and sinisterly said.
“You!” Emperor Shengyuan’s chest rolled up in flames. Xin’er was doing everything he could to excuse Bai Liwu, but this child is so insensitive.
“Xin’er is working hard for you, and yet you are still talking nonsense here! If you hadn’t been selfish, how would that Kalou thief have taken advantage of you? Five hundred thousand troops! Not to mention a sneak attack, even a head-on confrontation would have resulted in a bloodbath! Do you want to see our Snow Kingdom in ruins? Foolish! You are ridiculous, and deserved to be saved by Xin’er! ”
Saved by Xin’er? Heh, that’s ridiculous.
That weasel is a good-for-nothing chicken. If he wanted to save him, why would he have brought out the account books? If he wanted to save him, he could have killed Huang, Yuanwei. Why did he put him under house arrest? If he wanted to save him, why would he have used the ecstasy herb on him in the first place?
He was also a person at the centre of the power whirlpool. What did he gain in pretending to be noble by being gracious?
Ridiculous! Damned! Damn it!
Bai Liwu’s heart surged with fury, but his mind became calm and his expression became more indifferent.
After a long time, he took a deep breath and knelt on the ground in tears, “Father, it was this son who was wrong. I am willing to accept any punishment. Father, it is this son who has wronged you.”
Emperor Shengyuan’s taut face relaxed, and a few deep wrinkles appeared on his forehead. He smiled gently, “My son, I am very pleased that you can understand the hardships of being a father.”
Bai Liwu walked on his knees in front of Emperor Shengyuan and reverently knelt to kiss the tip of his toes with his lips, “Father, this son has always deeply respected you. That is why I ended up on a crooked path to gain a little more of your gaze. If it weren’t for Xin’er, I’m afraid that this son would have committed an irreparable sin. ”
Emperor Shengyuan hurriedly helped Bai Liwu up and assisted him to sitting down on a chair, “Son, sit down and take a good rest.”
“Father!” Bai Liwu tugged at the hem of Emperor Shengyuan’s sleeve, “I owe my life to Xin’er. Can I host a banquet to thank Xin’er for saving my life one last time? ”
When Emperor Shengyuan looked at his child, who looked like the clouds in the sky before, but was now in a state of dishevelment and wretchedness, He felt a pain in his heart and he nodded, “Okay, I promise.”
Bai Lixin and Xiahou Chun had gone through a lot of storms in the past few days, but despite Bai Lixin’s numerous hints, Xiahou Chun still refused to admit that he was Dijia.
Just yesterday, Bai Lixin was so furious that he pinned Xiahou Chun against the wall and shouted “Dijia” at him over and over again, but Xiahou Chun was still indifferent, his face blank.
But although Xiahou Chun denied it during the day, he sneaked into his room at night and intensified his actions, making him feel Dijia’s presence deeply.
Damn it! What the hell does he want?
Was he admitting it or not?
Does he want to be recognised or not?
Bai Lixin was thinking about the matter of Xiahou Chun when he received the invitation from Bai Liwu. When he heard Bai Liwu’s intention from the messenger, he thought for a moment and stood up, “Okay, let’s go.”
After all, he was his only blood brother. Even if there was strife before, he still had to give him a good send-off when the dust had settled, shouldn’t he?
When Bai Lixin arrived at Bai Liwu’s room, the latter had already prepared a sumptuous table of food. In this cold winter, the food was bubbling with white heat, which looked particularly delicious and sweet.
Bai Liwu waved gently upon seeing Bai Lixin. He stood up and smiled, “Xin’er is here. Come and sit down.”
His voice was soft and gentle, just like in the past. As if the two still had the false kinship of six months ago, harmoniously and peacefully maintaining the illusion of affection.
Bai Lixin smiled and sat opposite Bai Liwu.
Bai Liwu sipped a few glasses while waiting for Bai Lixin. He now picked up the wine and poured a glass of wine for Bai Lixin. “I took this wine from the imperial kitchen. I heard that you made it and it tastes very good. No wonder the Great Yao Kingdom is willing to do business with us of the Snow Kingdom. It all seems to be Xin’er’s credit. Xin’er has secretly grown into a little adult without realizing it.”
Bai Lixin looked down at the clear cup of wine but did not lift it. “All people grow up, Royal Brother.”
“Yes, people grow up. It was your brother who underestimated you before….. Thanks to your early connection with the Great Yao Kingdom, otherwise without Huang Yuanwei, our Snow Kingdom’s economy would have been damaged. But with the Great Yao Kingdom as a replacement, not only is it not damaged, but it is even more stable. I remember that the third prince of Great Yao came five months ago, but I didn’t expect that Xin’er had already started planning for something big five months ago.”
Bai Lixin only smiled gently and did not say anything.
Bai Liwu let out a long sigh, “Poor me, I thought I was extremely clever, but I didn’t know that there was such an unparalleled genius next to me. I don’t want to talk about this anymore; I’ll admit it all! Without Xin’er’s five months of planning, I am afraid that the Snow Kingdom would have been devastated and I would have become a sinner to the Snow Kingdom. I almost caused the Snow Kingdom to become a slave to another country in a moment of confusion. Come, Xin’er, brother will drink to you.”
In the Kalou palace, the Emperor of Kalou was waiting for news of the absolute victory.
However, ten days later, the military advisor fled back into the kingdom with a woefully small group, telling him that what had been a raging army of half a million had now returned with less than a thousand men.
The Emperor of the Kalou fell into a fit of rage. Faced with the near annihilation of his army, he ordered the execution of the war advisor and the other deserters on the spot.
In the Snow Kingdom, the matter of Huang Yuanwei’s collusion with officials to evade responsibility also began to surface under the joint efforts of Bai Lixin and Xiahou Chun. They followed the vine and uncovered all the officials involved in the matter.
Emperor Shengyuan was scared out of his wits. Not only was his son, Bai Liwu, involved, but half of the officials in the court had been bribed by Huang Yuanwei.
Huang Yuanwei’s identity as a member of the Kalou Kingdom was also revealed by Xiahou Chun, which made his ambitions obvious.
He spent his efforts and resources bribing so many officials, not only to get through the trading channel but also to eavesdrop on the secrets of the Snow Kingdom.
As a result, most of the officials involved were sent to jail, and some were placed under house arrest for final investigation.
Among them, Bai Liwu, the one who received the most bribes, was almost the first to bear the brunt.
However, Bai Liwu did not admit it when he saw the account book.
He threw the account book far away in a corner and struggled madly.
Seeing this, Emperor Shengyuan thoughtfully cleared everyone out, leaving only him and Bai Liwu in the room.
“This account book is a fake! Huang Yuanwei never gave me these things! ” Bai Liwu knelt on the floor and looked at Emperor Shengyuan, who was showing disappointment. He pleaded, “Father, you have to believe me. I really didn’t do it!”
Emperor Shengyuan shook his head and sighed, “Liwu, do you know why I made Xin’er the Crown Prince? My child, father may be old, but he is not stupid. I have seen everything that has been happening in this palace. I know the heart behind your gentle surface, and I know the actions you have taken against Xin’er on three occasions. But you are the child I love the most and the one I am most proud of, so I chose to keep quiet. If I let you become the Crown Prince, the day I die will be the day when Xin’er and his mother die. ”
Bai Liwu’s body shook as he looked at Emperor Shengyuan incredulously, “You …… knew?”
Emperor Shengyuan nodded, “Son, it’s not that I don’t love you; I just don’t know how to face you. You did not look like me when you were a child, but you looked like your mother. Whenever I saw you, I could not help but feel a pain in my heart. That was why I distanced myself from you. I made you the Benevolent Prince. I gave you a fortune and power and untold glory so that your life would be spent in peace and without strife. Xin’er, on the other hand, will have to sit on a cold dragon throne all his life, fighting with his ministers, fighting with his neighbours, and even fighting with the bad weather. I don’t want you to have to carry all this on your back. But I never thought that my love for you would harm you instead.”
“Love?!” As if hearing the biggest joke in the world, Bai Liwu suddenly laughed out loud and even burst into tears, “What kind of bullshit love is this? So this is the emperor’s love? Hahaha, I’ve been working hard for so many years on anything and everything, giving a hundred and twenty times as much effort. Because there was always a voice in my heart telling me that I must be better than Xin’er and that only then would you, Father, notice me and value me again!!! But now you are telling me that you have always loved me most and that all you have done is love me?!”
“I didn’t even want to live in peace. I just wanted to do something that would make your jaw drop and make you look at me with all your heart and soul! Hahaha, you love me? Hahaha, what a joke, the biggest joke in the world!!!”
Bai Liwu was in tears and almost collapsed.
Emperor Shengyuan’s eyes were also glowing red. “Son, fortunately, Xin’er and Xiahou Chun stopped this from happening in time. They stopped you before you made a big mistake. So we still have room for a lighter sentence. I will send you to a county far away from Snow City, where you will be their king and there will be no strife, no struggle for the throne. I will keep you prosperous for a hundred years, and I will give you the power and wealth you deserve.”
“The county? You’re going to drive me to the frontier to be a bitter prince? ”
“That is the best possible ending, my son. Having stopped you before you opened the gates of your country, you are now only guilty of bribery and favouritism, a crime not worthy of death….”
“Heh! Treason against the state and the enemy is punishable by nine clans. If I am convicted of treason and collaborating with the enemy, will you also be sent to the guillotine?” Bai Liwu hooked his lips into a grim smile and sinisterly said.
“You!” Emperor Shengyuan’s chest rolled up in flames. Xin’er was doing everything he could to excuse Bai Liwu, but this child is so insensitive.
“Xin’er is working hard for you, and yet you are still talking nonsense here! If you hadn’t been selfish, how would that Kalou thief have taken advantage of you? Five hundred thousand troops! Not to mention a sneak attack, even a head-on confrontation would have resulted in a bloodbath! Do you want to see our Snow Kingdom in ruins? Foolish! You are ridiculous, and deserved to be saved by Xin’er! ”
Saved by Xin’er? Heh, that’s ridiculous.
That weasel is a good-for-nothing chicken. If he wanted to save him, why would he have brought out the account books? If he wanted to save him, he could have killed Huang, Yuanwei. Why did he put him under house arrest? If he wanted to save him, why would he have used the ecstasy herb on him in the first place?
He was also a person at the centre of the power whirlpool. What did he gain in pretending to be noble by being gracious?
Ridiculous! Damned! Damn it!
Bai Liwu’s heart surged with fury, but his mind became calm and his expression became more indifferent.
After a long time, he took a deep breath and knelt on the ground in tears, “Father, it was this son who was wrong. I am willing to accept any punishment. Father, it is this son who has wronged you.”
Emperor Shengyuan’s taut face relaxed, and a few deep wrinkles appeared on his forehead. He smiled gently, “My son, I am very pleased that you can understand the hardships of being a father.”
Bai Liwu walked on his knees in front of Emperor Shengyuan and reverently knelt to kiss the tip of his toes with his lips, “Father, this son has always deeply respected you. That is why I ended up on a crooked path to gain a little more of your gaze. If it weren’t for Xin’er, I’m afraid that this son would have committed an irreparable sin. ”
Emperor Shengyuan hurriedly helped Bai Liwu up and assisted him to sitting down on a chair, “Son, sit down and take a good rest.”
“Father!” Bai Liwu tugged at the hem of Emperor Shengyuan’s sleeve, “I owe my life to Xin’er. Can I host a banquet to thank Xin’er for saving my life one last time? ”
When Emperor Shengyuan looked at his child, who looked like the clouds in the sky before, but was now in a state of dishevelment and wretchedness, He felt a pain in his heart and he nodded, “Okay, I promise.”
Bai Lixin and Xiahou Chun had gone through a lot of storms in the past few days, but despite Bai Lixin’s numerous hints, Xiahou Chun still refused to admit that he was Dijia.
Just yesterday, Bai Lixin was so furious that he pinned Xiahou Chun against the wall and shouted “Dijia” at him over and over again, but Xiahou Chun was still indifferent, his face blank.
But although Xiahou Chun denied it during the day, he sneaked into his room at night and intensified his actions, making him feel Dijia’s presence deeply.
Damn it! What the hell does he want?
Was he admitting it or not?
Does he want to be recognised or not?
Bai Lixin was thinking about the matter of Xiahou Chun when he received the invitation from Bai Liwu. When he heard Bai Liwu’s intention from the messenger, he thought for a moment and stood up, “Okay, let’s go.”
After all, he was his only blood brother. Even if there was strife before, he still had to give him a good send-off when the dust had settled, shouldn’t he?
When Bai Lixin arrived at Bai Liwu’s room, the latter had already prepared a sumptuous table of food. In this cold winter, the food was bubbling with white heat, which looked particularly delicious and sweet.
Bai Liwu waved gently upon seeing Bai Lixin. He stood up and smiled, “Xin’er is here. Come and sit down.”
His voice was soft and gentle, just like in the past. As if the two still had the false kinship of six months ago, harmoniously and peacefully maintaining the illusion of affection.
Bai Lixin smiled and sat opposite Bai Liwu.
Bai Liwu sipped a few glasses while waiting for Bai Lixin. He now picked up the wine and poured a glass of wine for Bai Lixin. “I took this wine from the imperial kitchen. I heard that you made it and it tastes very good. No wonder the Great Yao Kingdom is willing to do business with us of the Snow Kingdom. It all seems to be Xin’er’s credit. Xin’er has secretly grown into a little adult without realizing it.”
Bai Lixin looked down at the clear cup of wine but did not lift it. “All people grow up, Royal Brother.”
“Yes, people grow up. It was your brother who underestimated you before….. Thanks to your early connection with the Great Yao Kingdom, otherwise without Huang Yuanwei, our Snow Kingdom’s economy would have been damaged. But with the Great Yao Kingdom as a replacement, not only is it not damaged, but it is even more stable. I remember that the third prince of Great Yao came five months ago, but I didn’t expect that Xin’er had already started planning for something big five months ago.”
Bai Lixin only smiled gently and did not say anything.
Bai Liwu let out a long sigh, “Poor me, I thought I was extremely clever, but I didn’t know that there was such an unparalleled genius next to me. I don’t want to talk about this anymore; I’ll admit it all! Without Xin’er’s five months of planning, I am afraid that the Snow Kingdom would have been devastated and I would have become a sinner to the Snow Kingdom. I almost caused the Snow Kingdom to become a slave to another country in a moment of confusion. Come, Xin’er, brother will drink to you.”
