A week had passed since the infamous classroom incident that shattered half the training grounds and sent political shockwaves through the capital.
The explosive clash between Xu Tianran and Xu Xuandong had left the imperial court in turmoil, causing the reputations of both the Emperor’s loyalist faction and Prince Xu Gongfeng’s camp to waver on precarious ground.
Then came Hall Master Kong Deming.
Standing before the court with unshakeable authority, the elder powerhouse officially expelled both princes from the inner academy, declaring it a necessary trial to temper their flawed natures—Xu Tianran was far too volatile, and Xu Xuandong was…
well, Xu Xuandong.
However, Kong Deming left a door open: so long as both boys showed true reform and improvement, they would eventually be permitted to return.
Immediately following the disciplinary announcement, Kong Deming unveiled a groundbreaking breakthrough that stunned the nation: the Sun and Moon Scripture.
Originally engineered in secret by Xu Xuandong, the manual was presented by Kong Deming under a three-tiered implementation system designed to revolutionize the empire: The First Level (Up to 1 Ring): Open entirely to the public, distributed to every commoner child for free upon martial soul awakening.
Introduced across every school in the land, it instantly became the empire’s standard foundational cultivation manual.
The Second Level (Up to 2 Rings): Restricted strictly to the nobility.
Designed to satisfy the arrogant vanity of the aristocrats who felt humiliated cultivating the same art as commoners, this tier kept the peace while ensuring noble compliance.
The Third Level (Up to 3 Rings): Reserved exclusively for the core talents of the Sun Moon Imperial Family and top military elite, keeping the absolute ceiling of power firmly within the empire’s inner circle.
Both Emperor Xu and Prince Xu Gongfeng gave their immediate approval to the decree.
Emperor Xu, ever the visionary ruler, saw it as the ultimate path toward national prosperity.
Prince Xu Gongfeng, on the other hand, realized he was politically cornered; the Emperor and the neutral faction were pushing the decree relentlessly.
Opposing it would only earn him the bitter hatred of the populace once its benefits became obvious.
Furthermore, both leaders desperately needed a massive, empire-shattering event to smother the raging rumors regarding Xu Xuandong’s recent antics—specifically, the young prince purchasing a high-end courtesan who conveniently shared the exact same name as Xu Gongfeng’s wife.
The public decree was issued, and the empire transformed overnight.
At the lower power spectrum, the Sun Moon Empire’s strength skyrocketed.
Commoner soul masters found their potential vastly expanded thanks to the manual’s profound foundation-building and nurturing effects.
In the military, low-rank soldiers—who formed the bulk of the armed forces—gained significantly larger spirit power reserves, allowing them to operate advanced soul tools for far longer in battle.
Even the nobility fell in love with the scripture; while they lacked no cultivation resources, the manual dramatically improved their bodies’ efficiency in digesting the medical essence of expensive spiritual drugs and herbs.
Virtually overnight, Hall Master Kong Deming—already a respected figure—became the absolute center of adoration, worshipped by millions across the land.
Beyond the borders, absolute panic erupted.
The three eastern empires—Star Luo, Heavenly Soul, and Soul Dou—watched in horror as their enemy grew stronger at a visible rate.
Obtaining a leaked copy of the first-level scripture was trivial, but analyzing it sent cold chills down the spines of their grandmasters.
The entry-level Sun and Moon Scripture was demonstrably superior to even Shrek Academy’s finest foundational cultivation techniques.
The only saving grace for the eastern nations was that the public manual capped out at lower ranks, leaving current Title Douluo power balances untouched.
Yet, the long-term implication was terrifying: in ten or twenty years, the Sun Moon Empire’s massive talent pool would yield an army of high-level powerhouses.
Desperate to assert dominance, the three empires mobilized massive troops along the borders.
Sensing the rising threat, the Sun Moon Empire responded in kind, stationing heavy soul tool legions along the frontier as an icy, suffocating tension blanketed the continent.
Inside the quiet sanctuary of his private bedchamber, Xu Xuandong sat comfortably at his desk, dipping a feather pen into black ink.
He scribbled a single line into his leather-bound secret diary: “The taste of a Tiefling isn’t bad.” Closing the book, a look of pure bliss and deep satisfaction washed over his face.
Before he could put the pen away, his bedroom door swung wide open.
His twin sister, Xu Xia, bounded into the room, her eyes sparkling with childish excitement.
“Xuandong!
Are you prepared yet?” she called out, leaning forward.
Xuandong looked up, offering a broad smile.
“I’ve been looking forward to this for a while now, Xia.
How could I not be ready?” Dressed in a pristine, luxurious robe woven with shimmering gold thread depicting the dual symbols of the Sun and Moon, he tucked his diary securely into his spatial ring and stood up.
Xu Xia giggled, taking his arm tightly as she looked up at him.
“Are you really that excited for our birthday?” Xuandong walked alongside her, his heart full of genuine anticipation.
“I’ve been waiting for this day for so long…
I almost thought it would never come.” Seeing her twin brother so genuinely happy, Xu Xia’s smile widened.
Arm in arm, the twins strolled down the grand, gilded corridors toward the main imperial reception hall.
Upon stepping through the tall double doors, they were greeted by the majestic sight of their family.
Seated at the head of the hall were their parents, Emperor Xu and the Empress, flanked by their six sisters.
Every single member of the royal family was draped in captivating, high-grade silk robes that radiated imperial dignity.
Xu Xia immediately broke away, skipping cheerfully toward the front, and wrapped her arms around their mother.
“Happy birthday, my sweet children,” the Empress beamed, kissing Xu Xia’s forehead.
Emperor Xu chuckled warmly, his sharp eyes softening.
“Happy birthday, twins.
I have prepared grand gifts for both of you today.” One by one, their elder and younger sisters crowded around to offer their congratulations.
Xuandong’s eyes naturally drifted toward his eldest sister, Xu Mie’er, who stood tall with her arms crossed, looking strikingly gorgeous in her formal velvet dress.
Before Xuandong could even open his mouth to tease her, Xu Mie’er glared at him with icy intensity, her voice dropping into a razor-sharp whisper.
“Say one single word, and I will personally pluck out your eyes.” A burst of warm laughter rippled through the family at their familiar banter.
Xuandong merely smirked.
Leaning sideways toward his mother, he whispered audibly, “Mother…
the most prestigious and powerful young men in the entire empire are arriving today.
It’s time to do your thing.” The Empress’s eyes glinted with sudden, sharp intrigue as her gaze locked onto her eldest daughter.
Xu Mie’er caught her mother’s predatory look and instantly panicked.
Casting a furious, challenged glare at Xuandong, she quickly turned on her heel, scurrying over to Emperor Xu and tightly grabbing his arm.
“Daddy…” Xu Mie’er cooed with an exaggerated, pouty face, clinging to him like a helpless child.
“Mother is looking at me weird again…” Emperor Xu smiled fondly, patting her head gently.
“Don’t worry, my dear daughter.
Whoever wishes to court you must pass through this Emperor first.” Xu Mie’er clung tighter to his arm, beaming proudly.
“Thank you, Daddy!” She then shot a smug, triumphant look straight back at Xuandong.
Xuandong narrowed his eyes, opening his mouth to launch a swift counter-verbal strike—but before the sibling war could escalate any further, the heavy doors at the back of the grand hall creaked open, and an imperial herald announced a new arrival…
The new arrivals were led by Ye Guan, accompanied by his daughter Ye Yue, his son-in-law Ye Ling, and his young grandson, Ye Xing.
Seeing the elder enter, Xuandong opened his mouth, ready to throw a playful, jab-filled greeting at his old acquaintance.
But before he could fire off a witty insult, Ye Guan skillfully cut him off with a warm smile, stepping forward to bow.
“Happy birthday to both of your Imperial Highnesses,” Ye Guan announced smoothly, looking between the twins.
He then turned his gaze directly to Xuandong, his eyes twinkling with hidden meaning.
“Your Highness, the gifts have been fully prepared and set in motion.” A wave of satisfaction washed over Xuandong.
He knew instantly that the subtle message meant their secret plan was officially underway.
Grinning broadly, he dropped his playful attitude and gave a genuinely appreciative nod.
“You have my deepest thanks, Elder Ye.” Next, young Ye Xing stepped forward, bowing politely to the birthday twins.
“Congratulations on your birthday, Prince Xuandong, Princess Xu Xia.” Xu Xia offered him a bright, sweet smile.
“Thank you, Brother Ye!” Xuandong’s eyebrows shot up in complete bewilderment.
He looked back and forth between his sister and the boy, utterly baffled.
“Wait…
since when did you two become so close?” Xu Xia crossed her arms, giving her twin a mischievous, exasperated side-eye.
“Well, considering you spend half your time in class fast asleep and the other half pulling off life-threatening stunts, so the two of us have to work together just to help him out!.
Of course we became close!” Before Xuandong could defend his honorable academic reputation, an icy, sharp chill ran down his spine.
He slowly turned his head to look behind him.
His mother, the Empress, was gazing at him with an unnervingly pleasant smile—her eyes narrowed into dangerous slits.
“My, my,” she purred softly, her voice dripping with terrifying gentle authority.
“It seems my sweet son has been spending his precious time at the academy very productively.” Xuandong swallowed hard, breaking into a cold sweat as his mother prepared to deliver a thorough scolding.
Thankfully, the heavy double doors creaked open once more, saving him from impending doom.
The imperial herald’s voice echoed across the hall, announcing the next distinguished guests: Hall Master Kong Deming and Duke Yang, arriving side-by-side.
Xuandong’s jaw dropped.
The sheer, unadulterated audacity of the old man!
“Look at this guy,” Xuandong blurted out, loud enough for the entire hall to hear.
“The nerve!
You expel me from the academy and then show up to eat my birthday cake?” The entire grand hall froze instantly.
Imperial guards held their breath, and the nobles turned pale as marble.
Before Emperor Xu could even clear his throat to intervene, a thunderous, booming laugh shattered the icy silence.
It came directly from Duke Yang, who was clutching his stomach, laughing so hard he nearly shed a tear.
He slapped Kong Deming’s shoulder, grinning wildly.
“Old Kong!
I absolute love this brat!
Why on earth did you expel him?
If you kept him around, your days in the Virtuous Hall would’ve been ten times more entertaining!” Xuandong let out a loud, dramatic sigh, throwing his hands in the air.
“Right?!
It wasn’t even my fault in the first place!
My dear cousin was the one throwing a massive, childish tantrum!” Kong Deming didn’t bat an eye.
His expression remained utterly impassive as he adjusted his robes.
“Well, if His Imperial Highness feels so wronged by my presence, I suppose I shall take my birthday gifts and depart.” He turned around as if to leave.
“Hey, hey, wait!” Xuandong called out hastily, waving his hands.
“Let bygones be bygones!
As the future Crown Prince, how could I possibly be so petty over a minor misunderstanding?” A collective wave of second-hand embarrassment washed over the entire imperial family.
Every single one of Xuandong’s sisters covered their faces, while Emperor Xu winced, rubbing his temples in utter shame at his son’s shameless flip-flopping.
Emperor Xu quickly stepped forward, coughing into his hand to regain control.
“Hall Master Kong, Duke Yang, please forgive my son’s unrefined tongue.
I assure you, I will personally see to his strict discipline and proper education in the coming days.” Duke Yang waved his hand dismissively with a loud chuckle.
“Ah, Your Majesty, there’s no need for that!
The brat is hilarious!” Before the conversation could go any further, the herald’s voice bellowed through the hall once more, announcing the arrival of the day’s final high-profile guests.
Prince Xu Gongfeng stepped into the room, accompanied by his wife, Lady Lu Fie, and their son, Xu Tianran.
The second Xuandong spotted Xu Tianran, his eyes lit up like a child opening presents on Christmas morning.
A wide, ridiculously dramatic grin spread across his face.
“Ranran!” Xuandong called out cheerfully, waving exaggeratedly.
“You actually came!” Xu Tianran’s face instantly flushed a violent, furious shade of red.
His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, his veins bulging at the humiliating, overly affectionate nickname.
Capitalizing on the moment, Xuandong immediately turned back to Kong Deming, pointing an accusing finger right at Xu Tianran’s angry face.
“See?!
Look at him!
Why did I have to get expelled because of him?!” An oppressive, awkward silence blanketed the hall once again.
The tension was so thick you could cut it with a soul tool blade.
Reading the room, Xuandong let out a long, heavy sigh, his expression instantly softening into one of deep, tragic nobility.
“Ah, whatever…
at the end of the day, we’re still family.” With a warm, magnanimous smile, Xuandong stepped forward, extending his arms wide open as he walked right up to his furious cousin.
“Come on, Ranran!
Give your big bro a big hug!” Xu Tianran stood frozen, looking like an active volcano seconds away from a catastrophic eruption.
Standing right beside him, Lady Lu Fie watched her son dangerously close to losing his mind.
On the surface, a beautiful, graceful smile remained plastered on her delicate face.
But deep within her dark eyes, there was no warmth—only a chilling, suffocating reservoir of pure, venomous hatred directed straight at Xuandong.
Lady Lu Fie’s knuckles turned white beneath her long, silk sleeves, her nails digging so deeply into her palms that she nearly drew blood.
Every time she looked at Xu Xuandong’s smug, innocent-looking face, the crushing humiliation of the past week flashed violently through her mind.
The entire capital was still whispering behind her back about the high-end courtesan—the one carrying her exact name—that this wretched little monster had so brazenly bought out.
It was a calculated, filthy insult that had dragged her personal dignity through the mud, and yet, because of the political chaos surrounding the Sun and Moon Scripture, her faction hadn’t been able to land a single retaliatory blow.
Beside her, Xu Tianran’s chest heaved with suppressed rage.
His spirit power flickered dangerously beneath his skin, itching to tear his cousin limb from limb.
“Get away from me, Xuandong,” Tianran growled through tightly grit teeth, his voice a low, murderous hiss that only the two of them could hear.
“Touch me, and I swear to god—” “Aww, look at you, getting all emotional!” Xuandong interrupted loudly, completely ignoring the death threat as he forcefully wrapped his arms around Tianran’s stiff, rigid shoulders in a theatrical bear hug.
Xuandong leaned in close to Tianran’s ear, his warm, cheerful demeanor instantly melting into a razor-sharp, bone-chilling whisper.
“Careful, Ranran…
lose your temper here, and Hall Master Kong might just extend your suspension to a lifetime ban.
Keep smiling for the cameras.” Tianran froze, his body trembling with absolute, helpless fury as he realized Xuandong had him completely cornered.
Forced to endure the horrific embrace, Tianran could only rigidify his posture, offering a terrifyingly strained, twitching smile to the surrounding crowd while Xuandong patted his back with obnoxious vigor.
“Truly, a breathtaking display of brotherly love!” Duke Yang roared with delight, breaking the suffocating tension in the room with another booming laugh.
“Your Majesty, it seems the younger generation is already putting their grudges behind them!” Emperor Xu let out a long, silent sigh of relief, though his sharp eyes didn’t miss the subtle, venomous glare Lady Lu Fie shot toward his son.
He stepped forward, raising his golden goblet high into the air, his majestic voice echoing across the vast marble hall.
“Today, we do not speak of politics, academy disputes, or imperial rivalries!” Emperor Xu declared, his imperial aura filling the room with dignified warmth.
“Today, we celebrate the seventh birthday of the imperial twins—Xu Xuandong and Xu Xia!
Let the banquet begin!” The crystal chandeliers of the Sun Moon Palace’s central banquet hall cast a brilliant, glittering radiance across the sea of silk robes, spirit metal ornaments, and high-ranking aristocrats.
Today marked the grand birthday celebration of the royal twins—Crown Prince Xu Xuandong and Fourth Princess Xu Xia.
At the main royal table, seated beside their imperial parents and sisters, Xu Xuandong casually swirled his fruit juice, leaning over to whisper into his twin’s ear.
“You know, Xia’er, you’re being remarkably ungrateful,” Xuandong murmured with a innocent grin.
“Did you see Ranran over there earlier?
He was so deeply touched by my presence that he was literally trembling.” Xu Xia turned her head, staring at her brother with a completely deadpan expression.
“Xu Tianran was barely stopping himself from shredding you into a thousand bloody pieces,” she retorted flatly.
She took a tiny sip of her tea, letting out a tired sigh.
“I swear, I don’t understand why the two of you hate each other so much.” “Hate him?
Me?” Xuandong gasped, placing a hand over his heart in mock offense.
” Xia’er, I’m not a sadist.
I don’t hate my dear cousin at all.
It’s just that seeing Xu Tianran suffer brings a profound, inexplicable joy to my soul.” Xu Xia opened her mouth, her eyebrows knitting together as she prepared to scold him for his ridiculousness, but the sound of a loud, echoing trumpet cut her off.
“Announcing the arrival of Marquess Lu Wang!” The heavy double doors swung open, revealing an elderly man dressed in luxurious maroon robes trimmed with golden thread.
Marquess Lu—head of the influential Lu Clan and maternal grandfather to Xu Tianran—stepped into the hall.
He first navigated toward the table where Prince Xu Gongfeng was seated, exchanging brief, hushed greetings, before bowing his way toward the main royal table.
“Your Imperial Majesty, Your Highnesses,” Lu Wang bowed deeply, his voice raspy yet polite.
“Please forgive this old man for his late arrival.
A sudden emergency arose at our family’s estate that required my personal handling.” Xuandong waved his small hand dismissively with a breezy smile.
“Don’t worry about it, Marquess Lu!
Better late than never.” “Thank you for your gracious understanding, Crown Prince, Princess Xu Xia.
May the heavens grant you both eternal health and prosperity,” Lu Wang offered warmly.
Xu Xia watched her brother’s cheerful, bright expression with deep suspicion.
She leaned in close, her voice dropping into a low, threatening whisper.
“I don’t know what kind of outrageous scheme you’ve set up this time, Xuandong, but you better stop it right now.” “Relax, Xia’er,” Xuandong chuckled softly, completely ignoring her glare as he watched Marquess Lu retreat.
“It’s our birthday.
We’re here to have fun.” Across the hall, Xu Tianran sat at his father’s side, his knuckles turning white as he stared at Xuandong with eyes completely brimming with malice.
The humiliation from their previous encounters burned fresh in his veins.
Marquess Lu Wang took his seat beside his grandson, placing a heavy, warning hand on the boy’s shoulder.
“Calm yourself, Tianran,” Lu Wang transmitted his voice softly.
“The empire is entering a chaotic, sensitive period right now.
We must bide our time and act with utmost discretion.” Beside them, Lu Fei—Lu Wang’s daughter and Prince Xu Gongfeng’s wife—looked at her father with worry.
“Father, what’s wrong?
Did something happen at the border?” Lu Wang shook his head slowly, refusing to speak further, though his eyes flared with a complex mixture of deep worry, suppressed anger, and hidden desperation.
Before the tension could settle, the head chamberlain stepped forward, his voice echoing across the wide hall.
“Let the Birthday Gift Presentation begin!” In the Sun Moon Empire, the gift ceremony for royal children was far more than a joyous occasion—it was a brutal, transparent political showdown.
Guests presented gifts that explicitly declared their political allegiances.
Because the celebration was for twins, the rules were even more delicate.
Presenting a grand, lavish gift to Xu Xuandong while offering a lesser gift to Xu Xia signaled direct support for the Crown Prince’s ascension.
Reversing the priority meant backing the Fourth Princess.
Meanwhile, presenting a single, shared gift to both twins declared absolute neutrality—supporting Emperor Xu’s imperial authority without taking sides between the royal children.
It was also an unwritten arena for high nobles to flex their astronomical wealth.
“Baron Chen presents: A Grade 7 Soul Metal Alloy block and a 5,000-year-old Deep Sea Coral!” “Count Zhao presents: A pair of Grade 7 custom attack soul tools!” The presentations moved swiftly as nobles lined up to showcase rare metals, high-ranked soul tools, and precious spiritual herbs.
Then, a high-ranking noble belonging to the court’s Neutral Faction stepped up to the dais, holding a long, ornate wooden box.
He presented it directly to Xu Xuandong.
“Your Highness, this humble subject presents to you a specialized Carving Knife.
Its historical origin remains unknown, but according to our top internal experts, its craft and spiritual resonance are easily equal to the top twenty tools on the imperial Carving Knife Leaderboard.” Seated nearby, Xu Mie’er’s eyes lit up with intense, burning desire.
As a passionate Soul Tool Engineer, the sight of a leaderboard-level carving knife made her fingers twitch with greed.
She immediately began plotting three different ways to coerce, trick, or force her younger brother into handing the knife over to her workshop.
She glanced over at Xu Xuandong, expecting him to be cluelessly admiring the shiny metal.
To her absolute surprise, while Xuandong maintained a pleasantly surprised smile on his face, the look in his eyes was dead serious.
He was staring at the knife with sharp, guarded wariness.
Something is wrong with that knife, Mie’er realized, her brow furrowing.
Inside his mind, Xu Xuandong’s internal alarms were screaming.
There is something extremely wrong with this blade.
Because his current Steam Deck character was set to a Bard class build, he lacked the specific magic class or diagnostic spells needed to fully analyze the curse or hidden array etched inside it.
However, his passive Alert feat was ringing like a fire alarm, warning him of hidden danger.
Suppressing his reaction, Xuandong smiled smoothly.
“A fine tool.
Thank you, My Lord.” The noble then turned to Xu Xia, presenting a secondary velvet box.
“And for Princess Xu Xia, a Grade 6 custom defense necklace with a Sun Butterfly design.” With the minor nobles finished, the true titans of the empire took the stage.
Hall Master Kong Deming of the Illustrious Virtue Hall stepped forward, his voice calm yet carrying enormous weight.
“The Illustrious Virtue Hall shall craft a custom Grade 9 Soul Tool specifically tailored for the Crown Prince upon his maturity.” Gasps of shock rippled through the entire hall!
A Grade 9 custom tool was a strategic asset capable of altering continent-scale wars!
Next, Duke Yang walked up holding a stone pot containing an bizarre, dual-colored plant.
“Your Highness, I offer this rare plant obtained from the Yin Yang Love Querying Valley.
Truthfully, I do not know its name, its exact effects, or how to cultivate it.” The crowd buzzed in surprise before quickly understanding Duke Yang’s brilliant political play.
The plant came from a legendary, dangerous valley, making it priceless in status, yet because its function was totally unknown, it was practically useless in immediate power.
It was the ultimate neutral gift—giving massive face to the Emperor while contributing zero military strength to the Crown Prince.
Duke Yang then presented Xu Xia with a rare block of Grade 8 spirit metal, balancing his gift perfectly.
“Many thanks, Duke Yang,” Xuandong accepted with a polite bow.
Senior Ye Guan stepped up next, offering a crystal decanter glowing with radiant aura.
“A fine wine brewed from 10,000-year spiritual herbs and the concentrated blood of 100,000-year spirit beasts—a joint gift for both the Crown Prince and Princess.” Finally, Prince Xu Gongfeng prepared to step up to take the spotlight.
But before he could utter a single word, Marquess Lu Wang abruptly stood up and walked into the center of the hall, bowing deeply to the Emperor and the Crown Prince.
“Your Imperial Majesty, Crown Prince,” Lu Wang spoke loudly, capturing the attention of every noble in the room.
“My son-in-law, Prince Xu Gongfeng, and my daughter have long felt immense regret over certain…
minor misunderstandings that occurred between our families recently regarding young Tianran.” Lu Wang paused, his voice filled with grand emotion.
“We know the Crown Prince meant no harm, for he is young and currently going through a very difficult period in his life.
Therefore, on this joyous day, my son-in-law, Prince Xu Gongfeng, and the Lu Clan wish to stand before the empire to show our unconditional support for our dear family!” Lu Wang reached into his robes and pulled out a long, golden scroll—a Lidan, an official asset transfer ledger.
“This is our true sincerity to the Crown Prince.” Xuandong took the golden scroll, unfurling it.
He glanced at the contents, his eyes widening slightly.
Before Xuandong could say a word, Lu Wang smiled warmly and gestured with his hand.
“Please, Your Highness…
read the inventory aloud so the entire court may bear witness to your uncle’s love.” Xuandong hesitated, looking up at his father.
Emperor Xu gave a slight, firm nod.
“Read it, son.” Nodding, Xuandong cleared his throat and began to read aloud: “The Lu Clan main Mithril Mine…
the southern Copperite Mine…
the imperial capital’s Central Tea House…
the Red Rock City Grand Auction House…
forty percent shares of the Eastern Spirit Freight Network…
twelve commercial real estate blocks in the upper district…” Xuandong read from the scroll nonstop.
Five full minutes passed, and the listing of sprawling corporate empires, rich metal mines, real estate, and trade routes showed no sign of stopping!
When Xuandong finally rolled the golden scroll shut, an absolute, suffocating silence descended upon the grand banquet hall.
Without giving anyone a single second to process the sheer madness of what had just happened, Marquess Lu Wang turned toward the audience, his eyes shining with theatrical reverence!
“Child!” Lu Wang proclaimed loudly, his voice echoing off the marble pillars.
“Your uncle, Prince Xu Gongfeng, is a man of absolute generosity, kindness, virtue, and unconditional love!
He knows that mere material wealth cannot ease the difficulties and pain in your heart, but he hopes this vast sincerity reaches your soul and proves that family will always stand by you!” Before Xu Gongfeng could even process the words coming out of his father-in-law’s mouth, Senior Ye Guan instantly stood up, his face full of profound admiration!
“Prince Xu Gongfeng is truly a man of noble virtue!” Ye Guan praised loudly.
“Even when his nephew’s past actions caused friction, he chooses the grand path of love and support rather than petty suppression!
I, Ye Guan, respect you from the bottom of my heart!” Hall Master Kong Deming stood up next, nodding in deep approval.
“Prince Xu Gongfeng has demonstrated how the upper echelon of our empire ought to conduct themselves.
I admit, I once misjudged you as a narrow-minded man, Prince Gongfeng.
You have proven me wrong today.
You have my deepest respect.” Adding gasoline directly onto the roaring inferno, Duke Yang stood up with a grand laugh, clapping his hands!
“Little Gongfeng, you have truly grown up!
I completely misjudged you!
Even though you look cold on the outside, you are soft and full of love on the inside!” In an instant, the entire banquet hall erupted into thunderous applause and overwhelming compliments!
Every noble in the room chimed in to praise Prince Xu Gongfeng’s astonishing benevolence—after all, the man had just handed over nearly thirty percent of his total family net worth to his troublesome nephew!
At the royal table, Prince Xu Gongfeng sat rigid as a corpse.
The thick blue blood vessels on his forehead and neck looked as though they were literally about to explode!
He stared at his father-in-law, Lu Wang, with murderous, bloodshot eyes, wishing he could rip the old man into a million bloody pieces right then and there!
Lu Wang caught his son-in-law’s lethal gaze and subtly shook his head, his eyes pleading with silent terror—There is a massive trap going on, calm down until the party ends!
Gritting his teeth until his gums bled, Xu Gongfeng forced his breathing to stabilize, waiting desperately for the banquet to end so he could demand an explanation.
Xu Xuandong stepped forward, wearing a look of total, wide-eyed astonishment.
He looked at his uncle, his voice trembling.
“Uncle…
even after…
even after everything I did…
you would still give me all of this?
Is…
is this really real?” Xu Gongfeng felt like he was swallowing broken glass.
He was backed into an absolute political corner.
If he denied the gift now, his political prestige would instantly shatter, his reputation would be ruined, and the entire court would brand him a hypocritical liar.
Forcing his facial muscles into a stiff, terrifyingly fake smile, Xu Gongfeng nodded slowly.
“Of course, nephew…
I only hope…
that you become a better person.” Inside his mind, Xu Gongfeng was screaming: ONCE I TAKE THE THRONE, I WILL SLICING YOUR BODY INTO A THOUSAND PIECES!
Suddenly, Xuandong’s eyes welled up with big, shimmering tears.
Tears spilled down his cheeks as he wiped his face with his sleeve.
Emperor Xu looked at his son and said gently, “What are you doing, Xuandong?
Express your gratitude to your uncle.” Xuandong looked directly into Prince Xu Gongfeng’s eyes.
He didn’t perform the formal, rigid royal bows, nor did he use grand, flowery court etiquette.
He simply looked at his uncle and spoke two soft, trembling words from the absolute bottom of his heart: “Thank you…” The raw, unfiltered emotion in his voice resonated through the entire hall.
Anyone who heard him could feel the profound, genuine gratitude bleeding from his soul.
Meanwhile, inside his mind, Xuandong was practically rolling on the floor, laughing his absolute ass off: THE PLAN WORKED SO PERFECTLY!
I swear Old Ye and Duke Yang are having the hardest time of their lives holding back their wheezing!
Seeing his brother’s “unprecedented generosity,” Emperor Xu stood up from the imperial throne, his majesty radiating across the room.
“My royal brother has truly outdone himself today,” Emperor Xu announced warmly.
“As an Emperor and a father, I cannot allow myself to be outdone in showing love to my son!” Emperor Xu pulled a golden scroll from his robes, bearing the grand Imperial Seal.
“My gift to the Crown Prince is a fully signed, blank Imperial Decree.
At any point in his life, he may write a single demand upon this parchment, and it shall instantly become the supreme law of the Sun Moon Empire!” The banquet hall gasped in absolute shock and envy!
A blank Imperial Decree was a power second only to the Emperor himself!
Truthfully, Emperor Xu had been forced into a corner as well—if his brother gave away thirty percent of his wealth to the Crown Prince, the Emperor had to offer something of equal or greater value, or risk losing his imperial prestige in front of the entire nobility.
Xu Xuandong took the golden blank decree, letting out a long, hidden sigh of immense relief.
He bowed deeply to his father.
“Thank you, Imperial Father!”