Chapter 946

Eunuch Cheng unfolded the posthumous edict, just as he was about to recite it,

"Hold on!" Masked Man shouted sharply.

Eunuch Cheng wore a puzzled expression, looking at the Emperor.

Xiao Jieyun was also a bit surprised: "Why block it? Isn't your forged edict just for the world to see?"

Masked Man was silent for a moment: "His Majesty, please let the Empress and Princess Consort Ning take the princess away."

The others were slightly startled by the words.

Tuan Tuan clutched the Emperor's neck: "Imperial Uncle, I won't leave!"

Xiao Jieyun hesitated for a moment, then turned to Cheng Ru'an, placed Tuan Tuan on the ground, patted her little head: "Good, go wait in my bedchamber first."

"As you command." Murong Jin and Cheng Ru'an each took Tuan Tuan's little hand.

Tuan Tuan refused, shaking the two: "I don't want to go!"

Murong Jin looked a bit embarrassed, glancing at Cheng Ru'an.

"Tuan Tuan," Cheng Ru'an thought, "Mother is tired and hungry; accompany Mother to eat something and sit for a while, okay? We'll be back soon."

"Mother is hungry?" Tuan Tuan answered in one breath: "Okay, I'll go with Mother."

The three stepped toward the bedchamber.

Masked Man watched the three's backs recede into the distance.

"His Majesty!"

"Father Emperor!"

Xiao Ningchen and Xiao Ran, with Chen Hao holding a knife, pushed the door and entered.

Xiao Ran saw Xiao Ze and was filled with anger, marching straight to him: "Seventh brother! Why didn't you tell me you were playing dead? You made me shed a bunch of tears, it's so humiliating!"

"Is it because you wear everything on your face?" Xiao Ran shook his head helplessly, "If I told you, you'd laugh out loud in front of others and I'd have to burn incense."

Xiao Ran, embarrassed, patted the back of his head.

Chen Hao smiled.

Xiao Ningchen stepped forward a few paces, knelt on one knee before the Emperor: "Your Majesty, the rebel forces inside the Palace have been completely eradicated; the Ni Ze's three thousand iron cavalry are either dead or surrendered."

"Good!" Xiao Jieyun nodded: "Well done."

He glanced at the soldiers kneeling on the ground: "All of you, out!"

"As you command!" The soldiers, as if granted a pardon, rolled and crawled out, and the hall doors closed again.

Masked Man slowly sat back onto the Dragon Throne.

Xiao Yuanhang's face darkened, shouting: "You have already been utterly defeated, yet you still dare to sit on His Majesty's Dragon Throne?"

Masked Man ignored him.

He leaned against the chair back, his tone calm: "Eunuch Cheng, recite."

Eunuch Cheng looked at the Emperor.

Xiao Jieyun gave a slight nod.

Only then did Eunuch Cheng read the edict aloud.

"I, having received the Mandate of Heaven, have ruled for over twenty years; now I am gravely ill and know my end is near."

"The Emperor's fifteenth son Xiao Che, legitimate and orthodox, possesses pure talent and will inherit the great authority."

"Because he is young, Song Jingxian is specially appointed Regent King, overseeing state affairs and assisting the new ruler."

"All ministers of the Six Ministries shall be loyal and wise, jointly supporting the young sovereign; anyone with ulterior motives shall be executed by the world. So be it."

The hall fell into dead silence.

Masked Man slightly tilted his head back, spat a thin golden leaf from between his teeth onto the Dragon Desk. Then he lifted his hand, his fingers gripping the edge of the bronze mask, and slowly removed it from his face.

Everyone could not believe their own eyes.

Xiao Ningyuan shouted hoarsely: "Lord Song?"

Xiao Er widened his eyes, and after a long moment managed two words: "Grand... grandfather?"

Chu Yuan furrowed his brows: "How could that be? Lord Song's aura is clearly white…"

Song Jingxian's expression remained unchanged, his voice returning to its usual tone: "In this round, you have won."

He glanced at Xiao Ningchen's left arm still hanging on his chest, smiled: "Openly repairing the road, secretly crossing Chen Cang, plus the self‑sacrificial scheme, the play was well done."

"But what truly eased my mind and made me act was that I had the Empress let the news slip to Tuan Tuan, and she fainted upon hearing it."

"I just didn't expect," he shook his head, "that she was also faking it."

"I have toiled all my life, giving my all. I didn't expect to lose at this final step."

Xiao Yuanhang looked at his former mentor, his expression complicated: "Why?"

Song Jingxian looked at him: "Did I not make it clear enough?"

"Yuanhang, you are invincible in bravery, have slain countless foes, but unfortunately you only serve the imperial authority."

He shook his head: "When I taught you in the past, I also tried to plant all this into your heart."

He turned to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, you as well."

He scanned the crowd: "You all are, otherwise why would I have to strain my mind and effort so much?"

Xiao Ningxun's face was full of anger: "So you secretly harmed my parents? And you also intend to kill Tuan Tuan?"

"Tuan Tuan…" Song Jingxian closed his eyes, "I truly like that child, have given her countless chances, hoping she could help me."

"If not forced, I would never want to harm her a single bit."

"But all my schemes are ruined by her hands!"

"Even... even Jingcheng's life as well."

"Jingcheng?" Xiao Ningyuan asked, "Who is Jingcheng?"

Song Jingxian slowly opened his eyes: "Cheng Jing's real name is Song Jingcheng. Cheng Jing is the name he uses while traveling the jianghu, seeking doctors and medicines."

"He and I are half‑brothers of the same father."

Only then did everyone suddenly understand.

No wonder when they retook Jingcheng, Cheng Jing could face death calmly; it was because he was fighting for his elder brother!

Song Jingxian scanned the crowd, his gaze landing on Xiao Er's face: "Since I got to know you, Song Shujun has begun to doubt my teachings and no longer believes them fully."

He shook his head and sighed: "Why does none of you understand?"

"I am working to create a world without war for all under heaven, granting them everlasting peace."

The Emperor furrowed his brows and silently shook his head: "You are truly possessed by demons."

"Infinite Celestial Venerable!" Chu Yuan said, "Lord Song, your obsession is too deep; you have already become demonic."

Song Jingxian's expression remained unchanged: "You do not grasp the profundity, so you judge thus. If I achieve my great undertaking today, all under heaven will be grateful to me to tears."

"Grateful to tears?" Xiao Er stepped forward, "Do you know the names of those who died miserably on the battlefield?"

"I know! I know what they were called," tears welled in his eyes, "and I know they were each a son to a father, a husband to a wife, a father to a child!"

"But they all died because of your scheming!"

"You hear not the cries of their parents, wives, and children, and thus think they never existed?"

"You…" Xiao Er choked, "How could Song Shujun have a grandfather like you!"

"When you plotted rebellion, did you ever think of her and Zhu Lin?"

Song Jingxian's expression finally changed.

He turned his head toward the window: "Song Shujun, Zhu Lin… they, like Tuan Tuan, are all good children."

"I have heard Tuan Tuan mention it," Xiao Ningxun asked, "You once blocked a sword for her; if you truly wanted to kill her, why go to such lengths?"

Song Jingxian's gaze drifted farther: "Those were all calculated by me in advance."

"At that time I had just learned that Xiao Er and she were both in Jingcheng; with Xiao Er by her side, it was impossible to kill her."

"So I deliberately sustained a minor wound, letting my blood soak through that peace talisman."

"Peace talisman?" Xiao Ningchen, sensing something, asked sharply, "What do you intend to do with that peace talisman to Tuan Tuan?"

"I originally intended to use a blood blade to track you, but unfortunately they all vanished without a trace all of a sudden."

Xiao Yuanhang's expression grew cold: "Song Shujun's death at the Nether Peak that time was also caused by you?"

Song Jingxian turned his head toward him: "At that time you were investigating the Nine-Star Repeating Crossbow, pressing step by step."

"If Song Shujun was harmed by the Nether Peak, you would naturally not suspect the Song Residence."

"You even spare none of your own family? They're all your pawns?" Lu Qi's eyes bulged wide.

"Song, Lord Song," Xiao Ran was speechless, "Were you blackmailed? Only then forced into reckless words?"

He could not believe that this benevolent, kind teacher was truly the very person he had spoken of.

Song Jingxian was silent for a moment, then slowly rose, stepped away from the Dragon throne, and knelt before Xiao Jieyun: "His Majesty, I have a request."

Xiao Jieyun looked down at him: "Speak."

Song Jingxian lifted his head: "I can give you all the officials in the court under the Nether Peak, and all the covert agents in the palace and even the jianghu."

"I only ask that you let me alone bear the guilt, and not implicate Song Shujun and Zhu Lin."

"Also, do not tell Tuan Tuan."

He paused: "That child is pure and kind; do not add trouble for her."

"If the children later ask, please, Your Majesty, tell them the court affairs are over, and I have gone to roam the world."

"This is my final wish; please grant it, Your Majesty."

Having finished, he knelt hard on the ground, his forehead pressed against a golden brick, and did not lift it for a long while.

Xiao Jieyun looked at the old man kneeling at his feet, and after a long pause said: "Approved."

Song Jingxian still did not raise his head.

Xiao Ningxun felt a stir in his heart, hurried to his side: "Lord Song? Lord Song! Your Majesty has approved."

Song Jingxian remained motionless.

Xiao Ningxun reached out and gently nudged his shoulder.

Song Jingxian's body swayed slightly, then slowly tipped to one side.

He lay on his back on the golden brick, eyes closed, face serene, a faint smile still on his lips.

Xiao Ningxun hurriedly leaned forward to feel his breath, his fingertip hovering in the air for a moment before withdrawing slowly.

"His Majesty," his voice hoarse, "Lord Song has taken his own life."

The hall fell into dead silence.

Xiao Jieyun stood with his hands behind his back, silent for a long while, while Prince Ning looked up to the heavens and sighed deeply.

Xiao Ze lowered his head, Xiao Ran opened his mouth but could not utter a single word.

Chen Hao silently extended his hand and patted his shoulder.

Xiao Ningchen lowered his eyelids, and the hand gripping his sword slowly released.

Xiao Ningyuan turned his head away.

Chu Yuan closed his eyes and sighed lightly, his lips moving silently as he recited a sutra for soothing souls.

Xiao Er stared at that extremely familiar face, recalling Song Shujun waiting for him by the stone table in the garden, and with a thud he knelt to the ground and kowtowed: "Grandfather!"

Lu Qi watched him and closed his eyes.

Xiao Ningxun reached into Song Jingxian's chest and retrieved several sheets of paper.

He unfolded them and saw them densely filled with names and official titles, the ink heavy and the strokes orderly like soldiers in formation, from start to finish without a single alteration.

Xiao Ningxun's hand trembled slightly, he lifted his head to look at the crowd, his throat dry to the point of being unable to speak: "He… even wrote this down."

Xiao Jieyun walked to the Dragon Desk, picked up the bronze mask on the table, and rubbed it gently with his fingertips for a moment.

Cheng Jinyan!

Eunuch Cheng hurried over: "This old servant is here."

The Emperor passed the mask to him: "Put it on him."

Yes!

Xiao Er!

Your servant is here!

I grant Song Jingxian a coffin; find a place to bury him and erect… a wordless stele.

Xiao Er kowtowed: "I obey the decree! I thank Your Majesty for your great grace!"

Dad! Imperial Uncle! I'm coming!' A string of happy footsteps drew nearer.

Xiao Yuanhang hurriedly turned and strode over, catching the daughter running toward him in one motion, then bent down to hold her firmly in the crook of his arm.

Cheng Ru'an smiled at him: "All settled?"

Xiao Yuanhang nodded, took his wife's hand: "Let's go home!"

Tuan Tuan clapped her little hands: "Going home!"