Chapter 1443

The overly splendid welcome banquet finally ended with the Right Minister being thrown into the great prison.

A few days after the welcome banquet, Muyue entered the palace to discuss with the Emperor the unfinished business from last night, concerning the conditions of the vassal state for the marriage bestowal.

Inside the Imperial Study, the Emperor had the imperial decree all ready; he only needed to finalize today's talk and immediately issue the marriage-bestowal decree for his close friend.

Even as the consort of the Lord of Xiwu, it wouldn't affect Jin Chen continuing as their Great General of the Crimson Void.

Who would have thought Muyue would say, 'Please, Your Majesty, do not affix the official seal to the imperial decree.'

Ah…?

The Emperor, puzzled, said, 'What the Lord means is…'

Thinking Muyue didn't understand their Crimson Void's customs, the Emperor hurriedly explained, 'The imperial decree only takes effect when the dragon seal is affixed; my Lord, have you misunderstood something?'

'No.' Muyue said.

He pressed his wrist, lowering his voice again: 'In a year, when the Emperor issues another imperial decree, this one can be annulled.'

His older brother would then not be bound by the deceased him.

Muyue had naturally once thought of sharing a tomb in life and death, yet he could not bear to part.

Days passed like this; he had no other concerns besides Jin Chen and his mother, while Jin Chen still had many people to care for.

He could not bear to let Jin Chen accompany him to death.

The Emperor looked blankly at Muyue's changing expression, then glanced down at the imperial decree, asking, 'My Lord, why would you do this?'

Muyue: 'Don't worry about it.'

The Emperor: '……'

Fine!

Whatever, just do it!

I, this Emperor, am truly pathetic!

Muyue added, 'If the Emperor agrees to this request, I can issue the imperial edict today, and later Xiwu will be governed by someone more capable, becoming a vassal of the Crimson Void.'

As for the candidate, Muyue had already decided on it when he killed the Lord and seized the throne.

Muyue took the imperial edict from his sleeve, handed it to the Emperor, and cautioned, 'This is a gentleman's agreement; please, Your Majesty, be sure not to tell anyone else, not even my older brother.'

The Emperor seemed reluctant, but in fact he gladly agreed.

Anyway, it's none of his business; only Jin Chen will be angry a year from now.

Muyue stared as the Emperor wrote the imperial decree; only after receiving the edict did he feel relieved to leave, though his expression looked very sorrowful.

Just after seeing Muyue off, the Emperor personally saw Jin Chen emerge from the side hall, his face grim.

The Emperor:???

'When did you arrive?!'

Nobody reported it?!

Jin Chen coldly glanced at the imperial decree pressed under his hand, then gave a slight nod.

The Emperor immediately retracted it, saying, 'A gentleman's agreement! You can't look!'

Jin Chen: 'I already know.'

The Emperor was startled!

'You really were eavesdropping! This is a capital offense…… Here, take it!'

After reading the imperial decree, Jin Chen stared as he affixed the official seal.

'Come act in a play with me.'

Jin Chen fiddled with his sleeve, his expression somewhat complex: 'Muyue has been poisoned.'

'I see.'

Only then did the Emperor suddenly understand.

——

Muyue left the imperial palace, but instead of returning directly to the General's residence, he went straight to his mother's home in the capital.

'Yu'er has arrived.'

Mother was learning embroidery from the neighbor's aunt; having never encountered such delicate wares in Xiwu, she immediately found great enjoyment.

Mother's smile faded upon seeing Muyue's worried, grim face; she hastily set down the embroidery cloth and welcomed him in, asking, 'Yu'er, what's wrong?'

Muyue didn't sit; he merely crouched beside his mother, leaning his head on her knee, his expression forlorn, his handsome, radiant face looking especially heartbroken.

'Mother, I'm running out of time.'

Mother's worried expression instantly changed, heartbroken to the point of being speechless.

She could only sigh and pull him into her arms, "Good Yue'er… it's Mother's uselessness, having stayed in the Xiwu Imperial Palace for so long, yet still found no news of the antidote."

There was never any antidote, was there?

Muyue's voice was soft, "If I die, will Mother and my older brother miss me?"

Today Emperor Chixiao issued a marriage edict, giving only one year, but I barely have even a year left.

"Yue'er, why not tell the general about this?" Mother stroked his head lovingly, "Although we've tried every possible useful method."

But the great general might have another way.

Muyue shook his head, a little choked, "Mother, do you still remember how terrifying it was when my poison flared?"

That's basically not human; I'm afraid that when I'm about to die, I'll scare my older brother.

"Silly child." Mother sighed again, "The general loves you—who would find a loved one frightening?"

"Everyone says the great general's ghostly face is terrifying; even I was startled when I first saw him, but Yue'er loved him immensely and didn't despise him, so how could the general despise you?"

Mother's voice came gently, soothing Muyue's fear and unease.

In the struggle, A Yanxing rushed in excitedly, "Master, I found it!"

After leaving Saiwai, A Yan has been helping Muyue find a solution to the poison; this time upon returning, he also brought a piece of good news.

"What?" Muyue suddenly rose to his feet, both delighted and terrified, afraid this news might not be what he wanted to hear.

A Yan said, "Using your status as the monarch, I traced back through the lineage of the former National Preceptor and finally found the master who taught him the poison‑crafting technique."

"Master… yes, the National Preceptor's poison has no antidote, but the master surely knows how to neutralize it—where is that old master?" Muyue asked hurriedly, a glimmer of hope appearing in his eyes.

"That master is called Fengyun laoren, living on the peak of Divine Mountain; sadly, there has been no word from him for decades, but perhaps if the lord steps forward and summons him in the monarch's name, he might come down the mountain."

A Yan finished speaking and quickly drank a large cup of tea.

Compared to the previous slim hope, this truly counts as good news.

"Okay, I understand."

Muyue was almost overcome with joy to the point of tears.

He patted A Yan's shoulder, tears glimmering in his eyes, "A Yan, thank you."

"My lord saved my life; I will naturally devote everything to my lord." A Yan smiled, "As long as we find Fengyun laoren, my lord can live a very long life."

Mother had already burst into tears, "Good, good… as long as the poison is cured, everything will be fine."

"Not good!" the servant from the Jiangjun fu who had followed Muyue here came running in a panic.

"Your Majesty! Our second young master has been poisoned!"

"What!" Muyue sucked in a breath, feeling his blood congeal throughout his body, unable to think straight.

"Older brother…"