Qiu Yongcheng burst into tears and snot, “Your Majesty…Prince Dai…Prince Dai has passed away…”
The officials behind him followed suit, wiping their tears, “Your Majesty, please accept our condolences…”
Inside the carriage, Yan Ge was still in shock. It took him a moment to come to his senses and he tightly held Huangfu Yuchen’s hand.
Huangfu Yuchen led him off the carriage and said coldly, “Where is Prince Dai now? Lead the way.”
“Yes, yes! Your Majesty, Yan Guiqing, this way, please—” Qiu Yongcheng’s legs were trembling He struggled to get up from the snow, falling repeatedly before managing to stand up.
“Useless!” Huangfu Yuchen scolded.
“Yes, yes.” Qiu Yongcheng wiped his sweat, “Your Majesty, this way, please.”
“How did Prince Dai die?” Yan Ge asked.
Hearing this clear and pleasant voice, Qiu Yongcheng guessed it was Yan Guiqing and didn’t dare to delay. He immediately replied, “Replying to Yan Guiqing, yesterday… Prince Dai received news that the relief convoy would arrive soon. He was very happy and had a few extra drinks. Unexpectedly, there was a fire in the eastern courtyard that night. Poor Prince Dai… was burned… this official is guilty…” Qiu Yongcheng began to cry again. It was unknown whether he was genuinely grieving for Prince Dai’s death or just afraid of facing the Emperor’s punishment.
In a short while, they arrived at the main hall.
Commoners were not qualified to hold funerals for royals. Therefore, Qiu Yongcheng only had Prince Dai’s body placed in a silver coffin. Fortunately, it was winter, so the body would not decompose quickly.
Prince Dai’s widow and Song Ruhao knelt in front of the coffin, weeping silently.
“His Majesty has arrived——Yan Guiqing has arrived——”
Prince Dai’s widow and Song Ruhao prostrated themselves.
Song Ruhao thought about how the first man he loved didn’t love him back, and the man he married died shortly after their wedding. The more he thought about it, the sadder and more hopeless he felt. He fainted on the ground but nobody paid attention to him.
Huangfu Yuchen went directly to the coffin and opened the lid with a single palm.
Yan Ge also leaned over to take a look. Inside the coffin was a charred corpse, its figure resembling Huangfu Yuchen, but the face was burnt beyond recognition.
Huangfu Yuchen sent a voice transmission to Yan Ge, his firm tone mixed with indifference and disappointment, “This is not Huangfu Yuhu.”
Yan Ge felt a pang of pain in his heart. He turned his head, looking straight into Huangfu Yuchen’s eyes, “Yuchen, he’s not worth it.”
“Mmm,” Huangfu Yuchen closed his eyes briefly and when he opened them again, they were clear, “Bring Prince Dai onto the carriage.”
“Yes!”
“Qiu Yongcheng, Yongzhou’s magistrate, and the incompetent guards shall all be dismissed, investigated and imprisoned for life! The guards shall escort Prince Dao back to the capital for burial.”
Qiu Yongcheng cried even more bitterly.
Yan Ge remained silent. This judgment was unfair to Qiu Yongcheng and the others, but he understood that Huangfu Yuchen and Huangfu Yuhu’s brotherly feud was a shameful secret of the royal family and could not be exposed. If Huangfu Yuchen didn’t punish them severely, others might think he didn’t care about his brother Huangfu Yuhu, which would be harmful to the harmony of the court.
Huangfu Yuchen held his hand, “Baby, I know what you’re thinking. But there will be a chance to give them a general amnesty in the future.” Since being with Yan Ge, his heart was no longer as cold and hard as before because he knew his beloved had a soft heart. In the past, Yan Ge dared not kill, nor did he want to kill. But now, his love could kill those black-clothed men without hesitation, all for him. He was so fortunate to have such a understanding lover.
Yan Ge looked at him with encouraging and supportive eyes, “Yuchen, you’re doing the right thing.”
Huangfu Yuchen instructed Jiang Gan and Wei Hao, “Prime Minister Wen, General Wei Hao, I leave this place to you.”
“Yes, Your Majesty, please rest assured! Please accept our condolences!”
“Your Majesty, please depart——”
Yan Ge, Huangfu Yuchen, and Yan Jin had a quiet ride on their way back.
Back in the capital, Huangfu Yuchen made elaborate funeral arrangements for Prince Dai. The common people didn’t know much about Prince Dai, except that he was the Emperor’s brother and was deeply cherished by the Emperor. They sympathized with the Emperor and Yan Ge, and many of Yan Ge’s business partners and ordinary citizens even sent gifts to the Emperor, hoping to console him and bring him some comfort.
This showed the high esteem in which Huangfu Yuchen was held among the common people. Both Yan Ge and Huangfu Yuchen were pleased about this. As their cultivation progressed, they grew less attached to money, power, and fame. If it weren’t for the young Crown Prince, they would have long retired from the secular world. The love and support of the common people gave them the motivation to govern the court.
However, Huangfu Yuhu’s fake death and his unwillingness to explain caused a great blow to Huangfu Yuchen, and he was in low spirits for several days.
Yan Ge was very worried that this incident would become a knot that would hinder his path of cultivating. As long as Huangfu Yuhu didn’t die, he wouldn’t be at ease either. There were still many things they needed to do and could do.
“Yuchen, come with me.”
“Where are we going, baby?” Huangfu Yuchen followed Yan Ge with a smile.
“The saltpeter and sulfur you had people look for has been delivered.”
“Oh?” Huangfu Yuchen became interested.
The two quickly arrived at the laboratory of the Ministry of Works. Yan Ge sent everyone away, measured the appropriate amount of saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal, and skillfully made a very small explosive, about the size of a firecracker.
“Watch this.”
He lit the fuse and threw the small explosive into a pit on the ground.
“Boom!”
“Is this the gunpowder you mentioned?” Huangfu Yuchen asked in surprise.
“Yes. If you increase the quantity, it will be more powerful.” Yan Ge said. He wiped his hands, then went over to him, holding both of his hands and gazing into his eyes, “Yuchen, have you ever wondered why Huangfu Yuhu did all this?”
Huangfu Yuchen nodded and said calmly, “Mostly, it’s to usurp the throne.” People always have a purpose in their actions. It was either for money, fame, power or love, and Huangfu Yuhu’s betrayal was no exception.
In terms of wealth, the late Emperor and the deceased Empress had shown as much favor to Huangfu Yuhu as they did to Huangfu Yuchen, so Huangfu Yuhu’s wealth must have been considerable. In terms of love, Huangfu Yuhu went through so much trouble to marry Song Ruhao, but he didn’t bring him along after his fake death, which showed that it wasn’t for love or revenge. As for fame, it was even less likely. Betraying his older brother wouldn’t earn him a good reputation. Therefore, the only answer was power. The Centipede organization looted so much wealth to prepare for some future coup.
“Baby, I know what you want to say.” Huangfu Yuchen pulled him into an embrace, “Now that I think about it, the rise of the Centipede organization coincided with the year when Huangfu Yuchen took a liking to travel. It was my subconscious reluctance to doubt him that caused me not to thoroughly investigate him. He spent so much time and effort, and now he has even faked his death and escaped. It’s clear he won’t easily give up his goal. He will undoubtedly reappear in the future. What you want to say is that we can’t relax, right?”
Yan Ge glanced at him, “Since you understand, why have you been so despondent and unwilling to face the situation head-on? It makes me angry…”
And a bit jealous.
Huangfu Yuchen’s lips twitched. He embraced Yan Ge and said, “I’ve been waiting for my love to come and comfort me. Who would’ve thought my love would be so ruthless and take so long to come to me.”
Yan Ge was speechless.
Huangfu Yuchen chuckled and gently kissed his cheek, “Baby, don’t worry. I’ll be back in court in two days.”
Yan Ge arched an eyebrow, “Can’t it be tomorrow?”
“No.” Huangfu Yuchen slipped his hand into Yan Ge’s clothing and sucked his earlobe, “I will be with you today and tomorrow.”
“Mmm…” Yan Ge shivered all over, trying to struggle. This was not their bedroom, but a laboratory.
“Don’t move. Let me love you properly.” Huangfu Yuchen’s arms tightened around him. His beloved had been through a tough time lately, and he planned to surprise him later.
When Yan Ge woke up, he found himself lying on the dragon bed, with only him in the bed. He felt a little disappointed, but then he heard a low voice outside the bed curtain, “Prepare hot water and porridge. If the Crown Prince or Prince Jin come, send them away.”
“Yes.”
Yan Ge smiled, lazily turning over to lie on his side. He looked through the bed curtain at Huangfu Yuchen, who was dressed in his inner garment. He then turned and noticed a rolled-up yellow edict lying next to the pillow.
He picked it with curiosity and unfolded it: Huang Quiqing!
–“Ding! Congratulations on successfully completing the main mission 11—Being promoted to Huang Quiqing (Imperial Noble Consort) by the Emperor. Mission rewards include-500,000 taels of silver, ‘Fengyun Immortal Records’ cultivation technique up to the Late Nascent Soul stage. Main mission 12—Being promoted to Empress by the Emperor. Mission rewards upon completion: 10,000,000 taels of silver, ‘Fengyun Immortal Records’ cultivation technique up to the Tribulation Crossing Stage. Punishment for mission failure: Deduct 1,000,000 taels of silver. To accept the mission, choose ‘Yes.’ To refuse the mission, choose ‘No.’”
*Ranks in order-Daying, Changzai, Shirén (scholar), Cairen, Guiren, Shiqing, Caiqing (honorable official), Guiqing(Noble Consort), to Huang Guiqing (Imperial Noble Consort).
“Are you happy?” Huangfu Yuchen lifted the bed curtain and lay down beside Yan Ge, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear.
He had made a vow in his heart, he was determined to make Yan Ge his Empress in the future. Even if Yan Ge was unwilling, he would find a way to make it happen.
“Yes.” Yan Ge folded the imperial edict, feeling a mix of happiness and worry as he accepted the mission. ‘The next task is to become the Empress. Damn, who could tell me how I can become an Empress?”
It was not a simple matter but their cultivation was only at the late Golden Core (Divine Transformation) stage now, and there was no urgency to obtain a cultivation technique for the Tribulation Crossing stage.
“What are you thinking about?” Huangfu Yuchen lifted him up and let him lie on his lap, gently massaging his waist.
“Nothing, I’ll take a nap.” Yan Ge closed his eyes, as Yan Jin was communicating to him.
“Master! The system can be upgraded now! After this upgrade, the system backpack will be able to preserve items. Not only that, you will be also be able to sell products in the system store!”
“That’s great. Little Jin, help me see if I can buy more Foundation Establishment Pills after the upgrade is complete, or the recipes for them.”
“No problem.”
Huangfu Yuchen sensed from Yan Ge’s unstable breath that he was not asleep. He lowered his head and saw a smile on Yan Ge’s lips. He couldn’t help but smile too. He didn’t ask why Yan Ge was smiling, and continued to massage his beloved.
After about the time it took to finish a cup of tea, Yan Jin’s voice rang out again, “Master, the system upgrade is complete. The current progress is 95%. I’ve searched, and there are Foundation Establishment Pills, but they are a bit expensive. One Foundation Establishment Pill costs 10,000 taels of silver.”
A bit expensive? It was very expensive! Yan Ge replied helplessly, “Are there any recipes for the Foundation Establishment Pills?”
“Yes.” Yan Jin said, “They are very expensive—wait a moment, let me count the zeros. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven—”
Yan Ge became more and more alarmed as he listened and quickly interrupted him, “Stop! No need to count anymore. I’ll have the courage to see how much it is when I’ve earned more money.” Forget it, he’ll take it one step at a time. The priority now was the gunpowder.
“Baby,” Huangfu Yuchen touched his face, “Don’t think too much. I’ll take care of everything.” He didn’t know what Yan Ge was worried about, but whatever it was, they were together, and they would always find a solution.
Yan Ge opened his mouth and bit Huangfu Yuchen’s leg.
“Is it delicious?” Huangfu Yuchen chuckled.
Yan Ge licked his lips, and said seriously, “It’s not bad.”
“Haha…” Huangfu Yuchen caressed his hair, “Enough playing around, you should rest a little bit more.”
Yan Ge nodded and closed his eyes.
