"Your Majesty, Crown Prince Your Highness and Prince Xue Beng have arrived."
Outside the bedchamber, the wrinkled-faced Chief Steward Yu shouted toward the inner quarters.
Qian Renxue and Xue Beng stood behind Chief Steward Yu, waiting.
Before long.
A petite palace maid emerged from the bedchamber with measured steps, her head lowered as she bowed respectfully to Qian Renxue.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, Your Highness Xue Beng, His Majesty summons you for an audience."
Hearing this, Xue Beng frowned deeply.
It seemed this time, it wasn't his father who had summoned them.
If it had been the Emperor's initiative, Chief Steward Yu, standing guard outside, would have directly allowed them to enter.
Instead, he had first reported their arrival to the Emperor from outside.
In other words.
This audience with the Emperor was entirely the idea of his elder brother, Xue Qinghe.
At this realization.
A hint of wariness arose in Xue Beng's heart.
But then he thought again—over the years, he had trained relentlessly.
His cultivation had secretly approached the Spirit Emperor level.
This already placed him among the elite within the entire Heaven Dou Empire.
Barring any accidents, he would undoubtedly reach the Spirit Douluo level before the age of thirty.
The Heaven Dou Empire's hereditary martial soul was not considered top-tier.
Being able to become a Spirit Douluo was already an outstanding achievement.
And based on the intelligence he had gathered, his elder brother's cultivation was only around the Spirit Emperor level.
Right now, Xue Qinghe had no other experts by his side.
If anything unexpected were to happen, Xue Beng was confident he could turn the tables.
Of course, that was the worst-case scenario.
Xue Beng refused to believe his elder brother would dare to commit fratricide in front of their father.
If he had been summoned today, perhaps there truly was an important matter to discuss.
Maybe he was overthinking it.
Xue Beng silently reassured himself.
"Little brother, let's go in." Qian Renxue smiled gently.
Toward this nominal younger brother, she held no real affection.
Qian Renxue was inherently cold-natured, and to fulfill her grandfather's expectations,
Sometimes, extreme measures were necessary.
"Alright." Xue Beng forced a smile and nodded.
Yet, as he looked at his elder brother's face, he couldn't help but feel a chill.
This elder brother of his was far too terrifying!
Led by the palace maid, they entered the bedchamber.
The air was thick with the scent of medicine.
Emperor Xue Ye had galloped across battlefields in his youth, securing illustrious military achievements for the empire, which allowed him to stand out among the princes and ascend to the throne.
But years of warfare had also left his body riddled with hidden injuries.
In his prime, his robust physique had masked these ailments.
Now, in his old age and frailty, those hidden injuries became the final straw that broke the camel's back.
Especially last winter, when Emperor Xue Ye had fallen from his horse during a hunt in the Sunset Forest.
From that moment on, he had never risen again.
All military and political authority had been delegated to Prince Xue Xing for handling.
Approaching the bedside.
Qian Renxue saw Emperor Xue Ye, his eyes tightly shut.
Even upon hearing his sons' arrival, the Emperor showed no intention of opening them.
With a weak voice, he asked, "For what matter have my sons come?"
"Your son wishes to speak with you, Father." Qian Renxue's eyes reddened slightly, her voice tinged with sorrow.
A faint smile tugged at Emperor Xue Ye's lips as he struggled to open his eyes a sliver, tilting his head to gaze at Qian Renxue.
"Speaking is good, speaking is good. This emperor's time is likely short."
"Father, with the fortune of Heaven Dou protecting you, your health will surely recover!" Xue Beng stepped forward, his expression resolute.
Hearing this, Emperor Xue Ye's brows softened with paternal warmth.
"This emperor hopes the same. The great task of resisting the Spirit Hall remains unfinished. If I descend to the underworld now, I would shame our ancestors."
"Alas! This emperor knows his own condition. My time is nearly spent."
"Beng'er, you have always been reckless in your actions, drawing criticism from the court ministers."
"If this emperor is no more, you must cease such wayward behavior."
"Focus your mind on state affairs. Learn well from your uncle, Prince Xue Xing, and assist your elder brother in securing the throne."
"Your son understands."
As Emperor Xue Ye's voice grew increasingly feeble.
Xue Beng couldn't help but feel grief welling up inside him.
He was no fool—his elder brother lacked magnanimity.
If the Emperor were to pass and he didn't flee Heaven Dou City in time.
Forget becoming a prince like Uncle Xue Xing, supporting the empire's stability.
He might not even keep his life.
But to comfort his father, Xue Beng suppressed his discontent.
Moreover, he knew that voicing dissatisfaction wouldn't change his elder brother's position as Crown Prince.
In recent years, though his elder brother hadn't achieved glorious military feats, he had steadily consolidated his power, securing his status.
One day, when the Emperor passed.
His elder brother's ascension was an inevitability.
"Qinghe." After instructing Prince Xue Beng, Emperor Xue Ye turned his weary gaze to Qian Renxue.
"This emperor knows you harbor great ambitions. However, this era is not the time for you to display them."
"Our Heaven Dou Empire appears vast in territory, yet it suffers deeply from the ills of feudalism. The four subordinate kingdoms and one duchy within our borders occupy half our land."
"Even within the provinces directly controlled by the empire, many noble fiefs remain beyond imperial jurisdiction."
"And internationally, the Spirit Hall looms as a formidable enemy, leaving Heaven Dou no room for respite."
"After your ascension, there will be much work to do."
Emperor Xue Ye paused here, gasping for breath.
A maid at his side, heartbroken,
Pleaded softly with tears in her eyes, "Your Majesty, please conserve your strength. Say no more."
"A man destined to die sooner or later—if I don't speak now, these words will rot in my heart forever." Emperor Xue Ye responded with calm resignation.
He continued looking at Qian Renxue. "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is a natural ally of the Heaven Dou imperial family. After your ascension, you must continue strengthening this bond."
"Alas, during my reign, I failed to persuade Ning Fengzhi to unite our families through marriage."
At this, Xue Beng's face revealed regret.
Had they been able to wed the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's young mistress, Ning Rongrong, to one of his sons, forming a political alliance, the imperial family's position would have been twice as secure.
"Though the Spirit Hall is our enemy, we must not openly display hostility, lest we provoke their direct retaliation—this would be disastrous for Heaven Dou."
"Qinghe, remember this: as an emperor, you must learn to endure."
"Endure…" Qian Renxue murmured, momentarily lost in thought.
Faced with Emperor Xue Ye's earnest admonitions, she couldn't help but waver.
Her hand hovered at her waist, hesitating to draw the sword hidden in her storage space.
Several times, she resisted the impulse.
"If only we were truly father and son!"
"Then I could rightfully inherit the Heaven Dou Empire from you and lead it to even greater heights!"
Bloodshot veins surfaced in Qian Renxue's eyes.
The longer they spent together, the deeper her emotions became.
Though everything had been pretense at the start.
After years of deception, who could distinguish truth from falsehood?
"Qinghe! This emperor is not yet dead—why are your eyes red!"
Emperor Xue Ye suddenly grew angry, glaring at Qian Renxue.
"As the empire's Crown Prince, how can you be so emotional, like a girl!"
"Remember! An emperor must govern with reason, not sentiment!"
"Your son accepts your reprimand."
Qian Renxue bowed deeply to Emperor Xue Ye.
Witnessing this, Xue Beng felt a flicker of smugness.
An emperor must learn to endure.
Did this mean he had hidden himself well?
An emperor must not be swayed by emotion.
Even as his elder brother was reprimanded, he felt no sorrow—did this mean he possessed the heart of an emperor?
At this thought, Xue Beng sighed inwardly at the injustice of fate.
Merely being born a few years later had forever barred him from the throne.
This made him envy the Star Luo Empire.
There, the throne was not determined by age but by merit.
If Heaven Dou had such a system.
Why couldn't he contend for the throne?
Crack!
Lost in his thoughts.
Xue Beng suddenly felt a searing heat in his chest.
He looked down mechanically.
A sharp blade was embedded in his heart.
Crimson blood gushed from the wound, draining his vitality.
His body rapidly grew cold.
In disbelief, he followed the blade to its wielder.
…His revered elder brother!
"I… never imagined! I would end up like my other brothers—killed by your hand."
Qian Renxue's expression was vacant, her face pale as she stared at Xue Beng with golden eyes, silent.
Clang!
The sword was withdrawn.
Blood surged forth even more fiercely.
Xue Beng collapsed, powerless to resist.
From the strike to his death, only an instant had passed.
Despite being a level 59 Spirit King, Xue Beng hadn't even sensed Qian Renxue's movement.
Beside them.
Emperor Xue Ye's eyes flew open, his aged face contorted with fury.
"Qinghe! Why?!"
The Emperor's roar was hoarse with anguish.
"The throne was already yours! Your brother posed no threat—why kill him?!"
In that moment.
Emperor Xue Ye seemed to age decades.
What was done could not be undone.
As an emperor, he had long known his other sons had also died by his eldest's hand.
But flesh of his flesh—if the back of his hand was gone, could he also discard the palm?
His momentary mercy had led to this irreversible tragedy.
He had misjudged his eldest son, deceived by his gentle facade, blind to the devil's heart beneath.
"Forgive me, Father."
Qian Renxue held the bloodied Angel's Sword.
This blade was an heirloom of the Angel Clan.
Their ancestors had sworn an oath: one day, their descendants would wield this sword to rule the continent.
Qian Renxue had first held it on her tenth birthday.
She still remembered.
That day, her grandfather, Qian Daoliu, had led her to the Elder Hall and solemnly entrusted it to her.
With grave sincerity, he had said, "The glory of our lineage now rests with you, Xiao Xue."
Back then.
She had vowed to protect this sword with her life.
To let it taste the blood of their enemies.
For ten years.
The Angel's Sword had remained sheathed in her storage.
Never drawn.
Now unsheathed, its first victim was the last person Qian Renxue wished to face.
Now.
The sword felt unbearably heavy.
Her grip trembled slightly.
Qian Renxue took a deep breath, tears streaking down her cheeks.
She was afraid—terrified of facing Emperor Xue Ye.
Over the years, she had killed many.
Personally ended lives with her own hands.
Her hands were stained with blood.
Yet now, as she pointed the sword at Emperor Xue Ye.
Her entire body shook.
This sight amused the dying Emperor.
"What's wrong? Can't do it?"
"Daring to raise your sword against your father—you are a worthy emperor after all."
"This emperor… shall not have died in vain!"
Emperor Xue Ye laughed heartily.
His laughter dissolved into violent coughs.
But his eyes held not a trace of fear.
As an emperor, he had known boundless luxury.
As an old man, he had endured endless pain.
Thus, death held no terror for him.
Merely the reluctance to part with this world.
A mortal's sentiment.
Not fear.
"I am not Xue Qinghe."
Qian Renxue's voice trembled as she spoke the truth buried for a decade.
"I am the heir of the Angel Clan, the Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall, granddaughter of Qian Daoliu, daughter of Bibi Dong—Qian Renxue."
"But I still call you Father."
Emperor Xue Ye fell silent.
His widened eyes locked onto Qian Renxue's golden pupils.
His voice was hoarse. "So, Qinghe also died by your hand."
Qian Renxue lifted her chin, fighting back tears. "Yes!"
"Good! Good! This emperor thought himself no conqueror, yet at least a capable steward!"
"Hahaha! To think… to think the fool was me all along!"
Cough!
Emperor Xue Ye vomited a mouthful of blood, his throat convulsing.
Blood flooded his airways.
His breathing grew labored.
Until, at last, he choked to death.
His eyes remained wide open, unseeing.
Qian Renxue gazed at the lifeless Emperor and bowed deeply.
Nearby.
The palace maid who had attended the Emperor sat frozen on the ground.
She had never witnessed such brutality.
Too terrified to flee.
Too stunned to speak.
She could only stare at Qian Renxue.
Qian Renxue met her gaze.
"Forgive me."
The sword flashed.
Then, she cast the Angel's Sword aside.
Its weight was too much to bear.
Exiting the bedchamber.
Qian Renxue encountered Chief Steward Yu, who was rushing toward the Emperor's quarters with guards.
Seeing the blood staining Qian Renxue's noble attire, the steward paled.
"Your Highness! What has happened?!"
Qian Renxue spared him only a glance before walking past.
Her voice was calm.
"Xue Beng conspired to assassinate His Majesty and was executed by this Crown Prince."
"His Majesty, overcome with rage, has passed away."
At these words.
Chief Steward Yu's eyes bulged as he collapsed to his knees.
(End of Chapter)