"Hen'er, it's you, isn't it? I'm your uncle, Xue Ye, Hen'er!" Emperor Xue Ye clutched Xue Hen's arms with both hands, his eyes warm with affection as he cried out, visibly overcome with emotion.
The commotion drew the attention of the other onlookers nearby. Some recognized Xue Ye, while others realized who he was from the clothes he wore. They hurriedly bowed and fell to their knees, heads lowered as they cried, "We pay our respects to Your Majesty!"
Those who hadn't recognized Xue Ye were all startled when they heard the people around them shouting.
Y-Your Majesty?
They stared at Xue Ye in astonishment. Then, their eyes widened as they recognized him—or else pieced together who he was from the clues—and they, too, dropped to their knees one after another, joining the others in their cries.
In the end, everyone in the Imperial Ancestral Temple was kneeling, except for Xue Ye and Xue Hen. That included the few guards who had run in behind Xue Ye.
"Hen'er, your father and I are cousins. I'm your uncle! You've suffered all these years. It's my fault for not taking better care of you. Your heartless father deceived me for so long, even sending a letter accusing you of being unfilial. In my eyes, he's the one who's unfilial! He drove the pride of our Xue Family from his home. He has wronged our ancestors above and our kingdom below!"
"Child, I'll see that you get justice. I've already issued an edict and sent someone to reprimand Kundera. Your name has also been restored to the imperial family register, as heir to the Balak Kingdom. Child, since you've come to Heaven Dou City, why not stay? Let your uncle make up to you on your father's behalf. What do you say?" Ignoring the people kneeling around them, Emperor Xue Ye gripped Xue Hen and rattled off a torrent of words so quickly that everyone was left a little dazed.
This was... way too enthusiastic, wasn't it?
Just as he'd guessed someone would be waiting for him here, though he hadn't expected Xue Ye himself, he'd also anticipated Xue Ye would do his utmost to win him over and bring him into his camp. But for the ruler of an entire empire to be this enthusiastic was truly beyond his expectations.
It seemed Spirit Hall was putting too much pressure on him. Back when he'd read the novel, he hadn't grasped it as clearly. Now he could feel it for himself.
"So it is His Majesty, the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire." Xue Hen pulled his arm free from Emperor Xue Ye's grasp, placed a hand on his mask, then slowly took it off, revealing the handsome face hidden beneath.
His features were exceptionally fine, and his skin was strikingly fair. His expression was calm, and he carried himself with the air of someone who would remain unruffled even if the heavens came crashing down.
"But you've mistaken me for someone else. My name is Jian Hen, not Xue Hen," Xue Hen said calmly to Emperor Xue Ye.
Then he glanced at Queen Wang's memorial tablet. "You restored my mother's status as queen and opened the Imperial Ancestral Temple to draw me out. Your Majesty's plan wasn't exactly subtle. Plenty of people could guess what you were up to, myself included. I just didn't expect you to keep watch here in person."
That face...
It was him! It really was him—his dear nephew!
Xue Ye grew even more excited and hurriedly said to Xue Hen, "Your uncle did want to draw you out, but only so I could see you and persuade you to come home. It's no conspiracy. So what if people guessed? What does it matter?!"
Xue Hen: "..."
"Child, I understand that you're angry with your father, even that you hate him. But you mustn't say you aren't a member of the Xue Family. The blood of the Heaven Dou imperial clan runs through your veins. There's no changing that. Your Xue blood doesn't come from your father, but from your grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather... from the founding ruler of our Heaven Dou Empire! Even if Kundera once drove you from his home, that was only his little household. The Xue Family, the great family of the Heaven Dou imperial clan, will always be your family!" Emperor Xue Ye grabbed Xue Hen's hand again and continued, his face full of sincerity.
"..." This guy really knew how to talk.
"Child, you were young at the time, but when you grew up, you must have heard the story. When you were born, your royal grandfather was already gravely ill. Yet he forced himself to host an extravagant birthday banquet for you! Your name, Xue Hen, was also chosen by your royal grandfather himself. Think about it: Kundera is Kundera, and your royal grandfather is your royal grandfather. Kundera didn't choose your name, Xue Hen, so why abandon it because of him? You're royalty, the noble heir of the Heaven Dou imperial clan. Do you truly mean to cast away your honor and your family?"
"Your Majesty, I have no family." Xue Hen took a deep breath and pulled his arm free from Xue Ye's grasp once more.
This won't do. The guy's far too enthusiastic, and he seems good at brainwashing people, too. Too bad I don't remember anything about some royal grandfather. This was the first I'd heard that he chose the name Xue Hen.
And what about the birthday banquet? What king doesn't hold a feast when a child is born into his family? What does that prove?
"I'm your family! I'm your uncle, Hen'er!" Emperor Xue Ye cried out in agitation.
"You mustn't disown me!"
"If you won't acknowledge me, then... then how could I face your grandfather, my revered imperial uncle, after I die?!"
As he spoke, Emperor Xue Ye suddenly tilted his head back, pounded his chest, and burst into loud sobs.
"Imperial Uncle, your nephew has failed you! I couldn't take care of your grandson. I've failed you!"
Whoosh! At the sight of this, Xue Hen hastily took a step back, spun around, and turned into a streak of sword light that shot through the gate of the Imperial Ancestral Temple and vanished.
"Hm?" His dear nephew had suddenly disappeared. Emperor Xue Ye, his face streaked with tears, abruptly stopped sobbing. He blinked and stood there in a daze.
"Your Majesty, the prince has left," the captain of the guards who had come with him said as he rose to his feet.
"I know." Emperor Xue Ye came to his senses, put away his sorrowful expression, and wiped his face with his sleeve. Then his expression grew solemn. "He's resisting, but he still has some respect for me. I called him Hen'er, and though he insisted his name was Jian Hen, he never got angry. That means he's never truly forgotten the name 'Xue Hen.' He just needs a way to save face, and some time to think. Give him a little time. My nephew isn't going to run away. I'm confident!"
From their brief exchange, Emperor Xue Ye was at least seventy percent sure he could win Xue Hen over!
"Congratulations, Your Majesty!" Hearing Xue Ye's words, the captain of the guards immediately bowed and congratulated him.
Meanwhile, Xue Hen walked through the city without his mask.
Because of the Sky Screen, everyone on the continent knew what he looked like. When he strode openly into the street, the citizens around him all widened their eyes in excitement. Some even covered their mouths, struggling to keep from shouting.
Lord Xue Hen—the living Lord Xue Hen!
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