3939

Chapter 3939 4.1539 Cruelty

"Wu Heng, heed my command." The Emperor of Cangzhou decisively issued the order, throwing an imperial warrant to him.

Prince Dongshan bowed in submission, received the command, and departed. Before leaving, he didn't even spare a glance for Marquis Anxing, who was still sprawled on the ground, throwing a tantrum and wiping tears.

The Emperor, fatigued, sat on his dragon throne. "Marquis Anxing, you may return first. This matter can be discussed later."

Marquis Anxing opened his mouth, wanting to argue more, but he was picked up and dragged out by several young eunuchs.

Marquis Anxing was naturally unwilling, yelling "Your Majesty, Your Majesty" all the way out until he was unceremoniously escorted out by the eunuchs.

Two days later, Duan Yue awoke in a simply furnished bamboo house. He raised a hand to press his heavy head, his brows slightly furrowing, and slowly rose from the bamboo bed.

Yuan Zhen entered, carrying a plate of hot porridge. Upon seeing Duan Yue awake, a look of joy immediately spread across her face. "Your Royal Highness, you're awake."

Duan Yue sat there silently, ignoring whatever Yuan Zhen was saying.

Xiao Kezi quickly stepped forward, took the bowl of porridge, gently placed it on a low table nearby, and cautiously said, "Your Royal Highness, you haven't eaten a grain of rice for three days and nights. Perhaps you should have a bite first?"

"What's wrong with me?" Duan Yue frowned slightly as he spoke.

His voice felt as if it had been harshly crushed by a heavy object, extremely hoarse.

Yuan Zhen whispered, "Your Royal Highness was deeply saddened. You stood in the rain by the coffin for three days. Last night... you fainted."

Xiao Kezi spoke in a voice barely audible, "Per-perhaps, Your Royal Highness, eat something first?"

Duan Yue's expression was calm and indifferent, as if a thin, cold mask had settled on his face, suppressing all emotions deep within his heart.

"Give it to me," he said faintly.

Xiao Kezi was immediately overjoyed. He quickly held up the warm bowl of porridge and bowed as he handed it over.

Duan Yue showed no expression, didn't use a spoon, and simply gulped down the warm rice porridge in one mouthful.

"Greetings, Your Majesty." A terrified voice from a young eunuch came from outside.

The Emperor of Cangzhou, Rong Yuan, entered with a grim face, his gaze heavily fixed on his son. He then sighed deeply. "All of you, leave."

After everyone submissively retreated, only the father and son remained in the small bamboo house.

"Your father has always placed great hopes on you," Rong Yuan said coldly. "But this time, you have disappointed me greatly."

"If I were you, I would never waste valuable time on sorrow, grief, or crying."

"So you are not me."

The Great Emperor was inexplicably choked by his son's words. He wanted to get angry but merely snorted coldly. "Do you know what your greatest flaw is?"

"Soft-heartedness," Rong Yuan uttered these two words ruthlessly.

"If you had been strong enough from the beginning, your mother would not have encountered such a thing."

Duan Yue suddenly looked up, his eyes sharply cold as he stared at the man before him. He scoffed, "Isn't it because of your incompetence?"

"What did you say!"

"My mother was living well on Sikong Star. If you hadn't bothered her for a lifetime, she could have continued to live happily forever!"

"Because you are my son," Rong Yuan said indifferently. "You are the most outstanding among all my sons. No one can deny that."

"So?" Duan Yue couldn't help but chuckle. "My mother was just a vessel for you to bear children?"

"Yes!" Rong Yuan nodded cruelly.

The Emperor of Cangzhou dismisses the complaints of Marquis Anxing to focus on the more pressing issue of the corpse puppet outbreak. Meanwhile, Duan Yue recovers from a period of intense grief after his mother's funeral, having spent three days in the rain. His father, Emperor Rong Yuan, confronts him, criticizing his perceived weakness and expressing disappointment. The conversation escalates into a bitter exchange, revealing a deep rift between father and son, with Duan Yue accusing his father of incompetence and valuing his mother only as a "vessel." The Emperor's brutal admission confirms the tragic truth of Duan Yue's mother's fate.