From childhood to adulthood, that man had rarely shown his face. To him, he had been little more than an Imperial Father in name.
Yet when he truly confirmed the news of that man's passing, something in his heart still inexplicably felt empty.
He couldn't quite describe the feeling.
There was no grief, no reluctance to let go. Instead, it was more like the relief of finally bringing a long-buried matter weighing on his heart to a complete close.
"Then... what about the final edict?" Xu Yanli asked softly.
Xu Tianran took a roll of bright yellow silk from his sleeve, gently set it on the desk, and slowly pushed it toward him.
Xu Yanli didn't reach for it right away. He merely lowered his eyes and stared at the edict, at the vivid red imperial seal stamped upon it, remaining silent for a long time.
Only after a while did he reach out and take the edict.
The wavering candlelight fell across his face, casting shifting shadows that made it impossible to guess what he was thinking.
Xu Yanli's Ascension—Rewritten
The characters on the scroll were neat and stiff. The whole document was filled with standard official platitudes, every inch of it proclaiming that Heaven's will had been fulfilled and the great succession passed on—grand, dignified words.
But Xu Yanli's gaze remained fixed on the final line from beginning to end.
Appoint Crown Prince Xu Tianran as Regent, to take charge of the government and assist the new emperor.
He raised a hand to his forehead and remained silent for a long time.
The wavering candlelight illuminated half his profile.
The crown on his head had long since vanished along with his divine armor. His golden hair fell loose over his shoulders, a few stray locks hanging before his