Chapter 139: Returning It to You

Shang Gu hadn't heard a word those two said.

Right now he only wanted to rush back to Ducheng as fast as possible.

Seeing his nephew clearly getting anxious, Situ Kuo didn't waste any more time and called out to the soldiers behind him.

"What are you standing around for? Didn't you hear what the Crown Prince just said?"

"Hurry up and move the grain!"

Shang Gu said softly to Old County Magistrate Qin.

"I'll send someone to escort you back right away."

County Magistrate Qin nodded.

"This old minister thanks the Imperial Prince."

Seeing them leave, the Three Cities County Magistrate also prepared to sneak away, but before he had taken two steps, soldiers surrounded him.

Shang Gu supported County Magistrate Qin as they walked ahead, not looking back, and ordered sharply.

"Seize these three men!"

A chill ran through the three men's hearts; the last shred of侥幸 in their eyes vanished completely.

It's over!

After settling matters in Lucheng, Shang Gu and Situ Kuo led the soldiers onward. With the Fifth Prince's personal Token, no one along the road dared stop them, and so they entered Ducheng without incident.

……

In the small hours of the morning, inside the National Lord's bedchamber.

The old National Lord had been woken by coughing in the middle of the night. He sat up on the bed and coughed violently for a while; it took him a long time to recover his strength, and he called out toward the outside.

"Someone come!"

"Someone come!"

He had to call three times before the chamber door was finally opened, and the sound of footsteps drew near from afar.

But the old National Lord was too agitated at that moment to notice that those footsteps were far heavier than usual.

"You dog of a Servant—were your ears deaf just now? You actually made Me call so many times!"

"Hurry up and pour Me a cup of water, will you?!"

Having said that, he immediately broke into another fit of tearing, racking coughs.

"Cough, cough, cough…"

But the next moment, no water came; instead, the candles inside the chamber were lit, and the room brightened.

"Stupid Servant—Me wants water, what are you doing lighting lamps for?!"

But when he saw the figure not far away, his voice cut off abruptly, and his eyes flew wide open.

"How is it you?!"

"Why are you here?!"

"As a Border Guard Commander, returning to Ducheng without an imperial edict is one thing—but you actually dare bring a weapon into the National Lord's bedchamber. Situ Kuo, do you think I truly wouldn't dare kill you?!"

The old National Lord warily stared at the man opposite while slowly reaching his hand under the soft pillow to grope for the Dagger he kept for self-defense.

"Hmph!"

Situ Kuo gave a cold snort.

"You killed your own elder brother—what person is there you wouldn't dare kill?"

After fumbling around several times, he finally found the Dagger.

Gripping the Dagger tightly in his hand, the old National Lord felt a sliver of confidence and security, and demanded sharply as he looked at Situ Kuo.

"What exactly have you come to find Me for?"

Situ Kuo poured a cup of tea, drank it, tossed the teacup onto the table, pulled out the chair beside the table, and sat down with an imposing air.

"I can't be bothered to look at your ugly old face, but there's no helping it—some old debts need to be settled properly while you're still alive!"

Hearing this, the old National Lord grew both anxious and furious, coughing without cease.

"Are you… cough cough cough… are you here to help your sister… settle the score with Me?"

Situ Kuo planted his great blade on the ground, rested both hands on the hilt, and shook his head at those words.

"Not this time. I've come this time just to help out."

To help out?

Whose side?

Suddenly, the old National Lord's eyes widened in disbelief, and a thought rose in his heart.

Could it be…?

He shook his head frantically, muttering softly under his breath.

"No, no…"

No, it can't be—their whole family is dead, wiped out completely!

"Squeak—"

Just then, the bedchamber door was opened once more.

A bead of cold sweat slid down the old National Lord's temple. He nervously swallowed, and turned his head with a slightly stiff neck to look.

Seeing who had come, his pupils contracted sharply; he shrank back, his gaze evasive, utterly unable to meet their eyes.

"Are you man or ghost?!"

Shang Gu, a blood-dripping Long Sword in hand, walked closer step by step, looking at him with a half-smile, and ground out a few words through clenched teeth.

"Long time no see, Uncle Wang."

Once he drew near and saw the shadow on the ground, the old National Lord forced himself to calm down and put on a look of delight.

"A Gu, you're still alive? This is wonderful!"

He stood up, tucked the Dagger into his wide sleeve, stepped forward a few paces, and made a show of reaching out to pat Shang Gu on the shoulder.

Shang Gu seized his arm and wrenched it hard. The old National Lord cried out in pain, his grip loosened, and the Dagger clattered to the ground.

Then he hurled him heavily to the floor and looked down at him with a cold, lofty gaze.

"No need to keep pretending. You don't think that after all these years, I haven't found out anything, do you?"

The old National Lord let out a laugh, braced himself with both hands, stood back up, and brushed the creases and dust from his clothes.

He slowly walked over to the rack where the dragon robe was laid out and put it on himself.

"Since you already know, then there's nothing more to say."

"The guards outside have all been dealt with by your people. Is it my turn next?"

"Go ahead!"

Having said that, he closed his eyes.

Shang Gu did not move, but asked a question.

"Why?"

The old National Lord opened his eyes.

"In this world, not everything has a reason. If you insist on an explanation—people climb higher. Is there any position higher than Emperor?"

"Open your eyes and look, go and ask! Under heaven, who doesn't want to be Emperor?!"

Shang Gu closed in step by step.

"Was my Father Emperor ever unkind to you? When did he ever mistreat you? Yet for your own selfish desires, you murdered your brother and usurped the throne!"

The old National Lord let out a cold laugh.

"Just the charity of those on high. I have no need for it!"

In his agitation, he once again lost control and burst into violent coughing.

"Cough, cough, cough…"

Seeing him in such a state, Shang Gu turned his face away.

"As long as you voluntarily make public what you did to my Father Emperor back then, let the world see your true face, and then kneel before my Father Emperor's memorial tablet in front of everyone to repent, I can spare your life and let you live a few more days."

"Hahahaha!"

Hearing this, the old National Lord suddenly threw back his head and laughed wildly.

"Wrong?"

He spread his arms wide and shouted at Shang Gu.

"I schemed and exhausted myself to get what I wanted. What wrong is there in that?"

"If you must say there was a wrong, then it was that I didn't send more elite men back then, letting you escape that one disaster!"

As he spoke, the old National Lord slowly took two steps.

"This Emperor business—I've had my turn at it, and it's nothing special."

Wife gone, children scattered, home ruined, all kin lost—so it was that an Emperor was always destined to be utterly alone…

Thinking of this, he suddenly bent over and began coughing again.

Then he raised a hand toward Shang Gu.

"Take it back."

I didn't lose—I just don't want it anymore!

Having said that, he moved with lightning speed, snatched the Dagger from the ground, and slashed it viciously across his own throat.

Shang Gu tilted his head back, eyes closed.

Father Emperor, Mother Empress, your son has finally come home.

At that moment, a ray of light slipped in through the crack of the door and fell upon him.

Dawn had broken.