Chapter 572: Chapter 572

Fengyu stayed with her family for the entire night. At dawn the next day, she entered the palace. The palace was adorned with lanterns and streamers, radiating joy and festivity. In front of the Hall of Ascension, palace maids and eunuchs had already completed the preparations. Civil officials and the court’s dignitaries were waiting at the ceremony square, having entered the palace at yinshi. Lin Hongyuan and Lin Hongcheng also entered the palace together to attend Xie Xun’s coronation ceremony. The inner court of the Imperial Palace was under increasingly strict surveillance that day. Xie Xun hadn’t slept all night.

His heart was conflicted and complicated, mixed with a tinge of excitement. This day had arrived earlier than he had anticipated and gone smoother than he’d imagined. Even though he knew someone on the Hall of Ascension would make trouble, Xie Xun didn’t mind—it was nothing but mere rumors. He also knew that with Yuwen Jing’s death, half of his troubles would dissipate. Yet, he understood clearly that he wouldn’t kill Yuwen Jing unless he could guarantee Fengyu’s safety. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel-fire.net

When Fengyu entered the side hall, Xie Xun was already dressed and groomed. Clad in a black dragon robe embroidered with golden edges, he exuded nobility and solemnity. With a crown atop his head and a black-and-gold belt fastened at his waist, he had entirely assumed the bearing of an emperor. Fengyu’s eyes lit up at the sight—this was the conclusion of their three years of hard work.

Xie Xun was worthy of this dragon robe. He would become Beining’s founding emperor, the most wise and courageous ruler in the history of Beining, bringing peace, prosperity, and stability to the nation.

She wouldn’t allow Yuwen Jing to destroy what belonged to Xie Xun—his achievements and future.

As soon as Xie Xun saw her, he smiled. Fengyu approached him with a smile and embraced him. Just one day without seeing her felt like endless longing to Xie Xun. "One day without seeing you feels like three autumns apart. Ayu, even though you only went to Xiangguo Temple for a day, I’ve felt as if we hadn’t met for several years."

"Today is your big day. Have you sweetened your lips with honey?" Fengyu pinched his waist playfully.

Xie Xun chuckled lightly and said, "The coronation ceremony will take a long time. You should rest in the side hall and take a nap before heading over. I still need to perform the ancestral rites. If you go too early, it’ll only tire you out."

"It’s fine. I want to watch you ascend the throne," Fengyu replied with a gentle smile. Seeing this, Xie Xun was relieved—her cousin’s words hadn’t disturbed her. He even entertained the thought of holding Ayu’s hand to perform the ancestral rites together, though they would have that opportunity during their wedding. Fengyu’s brows showed a trace of worry. "Will those old ministers make things difficult for you?"

"Don’t worry, I know how to handle them. They’re just like grasshoppers after autumn—not a real threat. I also have countermeasures prepared. At most, it’s some rumors and verbal attacks, nothing serious. The Forbidden Army won’t be swayed by the old ministers into rebellion. General Gao has already returned to his post, and the tens of thousands of Ningzhou Iron Cavalry will arrive in the Capital City in a few days. Initially, there might be some chaos, but it won’t lead to major unrest. Ayu, I’ll take care of everything. Trust me." Xie Xun didn’t want her to worry about too many things.

Over the past years, Ayu had shouldered far too much. If he hadn’t met her, she should have been a carefree and joyful girl, living a prosperous and leisurely life in the Capital City. She wouldn’t have followed him to West State to cultivate barren land, wouldn’t have endured Sannan’s siege, and wouldn’t have been captured by Chen Mo.

What he owed Ayu was far too much.

"Alright, I will always, always believe in you." From three years ago to now, she’d never once doubted Xie Xun. She also knew that one day, Xie Xun would storm into the Capital City, avenge past wrongs, and provide peace to the people of the world.

Nuanyang reminded them from outside, "Master, it’s time."

Xie Xun still wanted to talk to Fengyu a little longer, but time wouldn’t allow it. He kissed her forehead. "Wait for me."

"Alright, I’ll be watching you from below."

Reluctantly bidding each other farewell, Fengyu watched him leave. The light in the hall elongated Xie Xun’s figure, making it seem as though he were walking alone into the darkness, leaving behind only a thin silhouette. Fengyu’s eyes grew warm. After the coronation ceremony, Xie Xun would officially become the rightful emperor.

Xie Xun went to perform the ancestral worship. There were so few members of the Xie family in the Capital City now, with only him remaining. Yet, the ancestral temple wasn’t at all deserted. The Ministry of Rites had rushed to replace the name plaques and renovate the ancestral temple in time for Xie Xun’s grand ceremony. Kneeling on a prayer mat, he gazed at the name plaques of Marquis Zhenbei, Xie Zhang, and others. Waves of piercing pain surged from the depths of his heart.

He cared nothing for the throne and had never been ambitious about vying for dominion over the world. If he could exchange the throne for his family’s safety, he would do so in an instant. He longed to return to three years ago when no tragedy had befallen the Marquis Mansion. Though it was impossible now, every time he thought about it, his heart was riddled with countless wounds.

Father, elder brother, this world now belongs to our Xie family. In the afterlife, under the nine springs, will you feel joy, or rage? Second Brother and I have overturned the Yuwen Dynasty, which Marquis Zhenbei Mansion defended for hundreds of years, and established a new dynasty. How will we face you in the future?

Inside the Yangxin Palace, the disheveled and battered Yuwen Jing also heard the joyous chatter of palace maids and eunuchs, as well as the music and cannon salutes. Today was Xie Xun’s coronation day.

A sinister smile crept onto Yuwen Jing’s lips. "Xie Xun, you think ascending the throne will go smoothly? Do you really believe that a transition from the old dynasty to the new would be so simple?"

Fengyu arrived at the gates of the Yangxin Palace. Xie Xun’s personal guards were stationed there, allowing no one to pass. At the gate, Fengyu asked coolly, "Are you telling me I’m not allowed either?"

Several of the guards had followed Fengyu back in West State and knew of her relationship with Xie Xun. They would rather offend Xie Xun than dare to cross Fengyu—a mutual understanding among the guards.

"Miss, although Yuwen Jing is restrained, there’s still danger. If you insist on meeting him, may we accompany you?" one of the guards asked.

"Very well!" Fengyu didn’t make things difficult for them. Dongxue and Xia Zhu stayed outside the palace while two guards entered the Yangxin Palace with Fengyu.

Yuwen Jing looked incredibly wretched, emaciated to the point where his flesh clung to his bones after his prolonged imprisonment. His disheveled hair almost completely covered his face. Xie Xun had bled him multiple times and then treated him, leaving bloodstains all over his body—a clear sign of deliberate torment. Yet even as Yuwen Jing hovered near death, he managed to cling to a breath of life. He had grown numb to pain and felt no fear of death.

Why, then, was he holding on?

"So, it’s you, Fengyu... Seeing me in such a pitiful state, are you finding pleasure in this?" Yuwen Jing rasped, his laughter hoarse and deranged.

"You’re truly a pathetic creature—a pitiful, contemptible, and hateful wretch. Yuwen Jing, after today, Yanyang will face its downfall, and both you and your Yanyang will vanish into oblivion. That’s the only thing that brings me satisfaction." Fengyu spoke with a hint of regret, adding, "If only my elder sister were here to see this moment."

At the mention of Feng Shu, a shadow passed through Yuwen Jing’s eyes. Soon, he thought, he would see Feng Shu again. Just a little longer...

"Yes, it would be wonderful if Shu’er were still alive. But that’s all your fault, Fengyu! It’s you who killed your elder sister. She was living peacefully in Yingchun Palace, leading a quiet life. If you hadn’t come to take her away, she wouldn’t have died. She was imprisoned in the palace because of you. Having you as a younger sister was her greatest tragedy. You are the one responsible for her death!"

"Silence!" Fengyu barked in anger. Yuwen Jing’s words had struck a painful chord within her. She had always been haunted by regret—if only she hadn’t tried to take her sister away, perhaps her sister wouldn’t have died. If not for protecting her and Xie Xun, her sister wouldn’t have perished. Yuwen Jing wasn’t wrong.

It was her fault her sister had died.

She had been avoiding that truth all along, lost in grief, blaming everything on Yuwen Jing. Yet she knew, deep down, that her sister had leapt from the tower to save her.

"We are all complicit in my sister’s death, so we must all pay the price." Fengyu’s smile turned eerie, especially under the dim light of the Yangxin Palace. "I deserve to die. And so do you!"