The Great Yan Emperor's Fury

Only after the outsiders had gone far away did Mu Yu lower his voice. "Father, I was startled too when I received the appointment in the Capital City. What was even stranger was that His Majesty specifically summoned me and said... said that he hoped father and son would govern Xiaoyao City well, and that we should not hesitate to ask for anything we needed."

Mu Rongyi nodded thoughtfully, suddenly understanding something.

He turned north, in the direction Mu Bai and Langya Xing had departed, deep gratitude welling in his eyes.

"The Langya Family..." Mu Rongyi murmured. "It must have been arranged by Young Master Langya."

Mu Yu looked at his father in confusion. "Father, you mean... the hidden family my elder brother went to?"

Mu Rongyi did not answer directly. He merely patted his son on the shoulder. "Come. Hurry to the study and tell your father the details."

Father and son headed toward the rear courtyard, the sunlight stretching their shadows long behind them.

The parasol trees in the courtyard rustled softly, as though they too rejoiced at this moment of reunion.

Yan Capital, the Imperial Study.

A complete mess.

Fragments of Luminous Pearls presented as tribute from the Southern Seas lay scattered across the floor. The wreckage of Glazed Lamps from the Western Regions reflected a cold gleam. Even the Duan inkstone the Great Yan Emperor cherished most had been smashed in two.

Crown Prince Mu Jian carefully stepped over the shattered treasures strewn across the floor, his heart pounding wildly.

He had never seen his father lose control like this—even in the years of great calamity, when rebel armies rose on all sides, his father had maintained an emperor's dignity and composure.

"Father..." Mu Jian called softly, not daring to approach too closely.

The Great Yan Emperor stood before the window with his back to the door, seemingly clutching something in his hand.

Upon hearing the Crown Prince's voice, he slowly turned around. Only then did Mu Jian see clearly that his father was holding a letter bearing the character "Xing."

"You're here, my son." The Great Yan Emperor's voice was extraordinarily calm, a stark contrast to the wreckage filling the room. "Have the eunuchs come in and clean this up."

"Yes, Father." Mu Jian was just about to turn and summon someone when he heard the Great Yan Emperor speak again.

"Find time in the next couple of days to visit Xiaoyao City. You have not seen your imperial uncle for a long time. It is time to renew your ties."

Mu Jian abruptly turned back, only to see that the Great Yan Emperor had already returned to his dragon throne, head lowered as he reviewed memorials, his expression so calm it was as if he had never spoken those words.

"Father means... Imperial Uncle the Carefree Prince?" Mu Jian cautiously confirmed.

The Great Yan Emperor did not even raise his head. "Mm. Bring along that Thousand-Year Ginseng from my private treasury. I hear your imperial uncle has not looked well lately."

Crashing waves surged through Mu Jian's heart.

Only days ago, his father had declared that he would utterly sweep away the power of the feudal princes. Why had his attitude changed so suddenly?

What was even stranger was that his father had actually taken the initiative to suggest renewing ties with the Carefree Prince. This was simply...

"Your son understands." Suppressing the questions filling his heart, Mu Jian replied respectfully, "Your son will depart for Xiaoyao City tomorrow."

Only then did the Great Yan Emperor raise his head, a trace of weariness flashing through his eyes. "Go. Remember: show your imperial uncle the utmost respect, treat Mu Yu with courtesy, and as for... news of Young Master Mu Bai, pay closer attention to it."

Mu Jian's heart jolted. He vaguely grasped something crucial. "Your son will remember."

After leaving the Imperial Study, Mu Jian stood beneath the corridor eaves, gazing in the direction of Xiaoyao City in the distance, his brows tightly furrowed.

He suddenly recalled a rumor he had heard yesterday at the Ministry of War—a messenger from the Langya Family had entered the palace to meet the emperor. Afterward, his father had shut himself away and refused to receive anyone, even canceling dinner.

"The Langya Family..." Mu Jian softly spoke this mysterious name, a flicker of awe passing through his eyes.

A gust of wind swept by, carrying up several fallen leaves. Mu Jian suddenly felt that the skies over Great Yan seemed about to change.

The carriage set out once more, racing north through winding mountain roads. Mu Bai watched the scenery fly backward beyond the window, and the unease in his heart gradually settled.

He had just received a message by carrier pigeon from the Carefree Prince, detailing everything that had happened recently at the Carefree Prince's Estate.

"What are you thinking about?" Langya Xing asked, setting down the bamboo slip in his hand.

Mu Bai turned to look at Langya Xing seated opposite him. "I was thinking about just how much power the Langya Family possesses, that it can make even the ruler of a nation bow his head and obey."

Langya Xing raised a brow, then gave a soft laugh. "Young Master truly is clever. But you are mistaken. The Langya Family did not make the Yan Emperor bow his head and obey. We merely... gave him a suggestion he could not refuse."

"What suggestion?"

"Treat the Carefree Prince's Estate well, and the Langya Family will not interfere in Yan's court affairs. But if he dares lay a finger on the Carefree Prince..." The pure lotus at Langya Xing's fingertips suddenly blossomed with a blinding radiance. "Then Great Yan ought to have a different emperor."

Mu Bai drew in a sharp breath.

He knew hidden families were powerful, but he had never imagined they could be powerful to such a degree—that a single direct-line young master could decide, with one word, the rise and fall of imperial power!

Seeing Mu Bai's stunned expression, Langya Xing suddenly smiled. "Now, you can follow me to the Langya Family without worry, can't you?"

Mu Bai took a deep breath and nodded solemnly. "Thank you, Young Master, for everything you have done for the Carefree Prince's Estate."

"There is no need to thank me." Langya Xing gazed out the window, his eyes distant. "If you must thank someone, thank the talent you have displayed. The Langya Family never treats those of value poorly."

Mu Bai was about to say something more when the carriage suddenly jolted, and the shriek of the Bai Ze Beast rang out from outside.

Langya Xing frowned slightly and lifted the carriage curtain. "What happened?"

"Young Master, fallen rocks have blocked the mountain road ahead. They need to be cleared." The gray-clad elder driving the carriage answered respectfully.

Langya Xing nodded and turned to Mu Bai. "Good. We can rest for a while. The Bai Ze Beast has traveled continuously for three days; it is time to feed it some spirit herbs."

The two got out of the carriage to stretch their limbs.

Only then did Mu Bai realize they were traveling along a perilous mountain road. To the right loomed a steep cliff face; to the left lay a bottomless abyss shrouded in clouds and mist.

Mountain ranges stretched endlessly in the distance, lush and verdant enough to seem dripping with green, a magnificent sight to behold.

"Where is this?" Mu Bai asked, drawing a deep breath of the fresh mountain air.

"The Qingming Mountain Range—the border between Great Yan and the Langya Family's territory." Langya Xing stood at the cliff's edge, his white robes fluttering as though he might ride the wind away at any moment. "Another three days' journey, and we'll reach the outskirts of the Langya Family's territory."

Mu Bai nodded and lifted his head, quietly gazing out at the sea of clouds in the distance.