"Good. You may leave."
Xue Ye waved a hand.
Everyone bowed and withdrew. The doors to the bedchamber slowly closed, and their footsteps faded into the distance outside.
But a short while later, the doors opened again, and Xue Qinghe returned alone.
"Father."
Xue Qinghe bowed, his manner as respectful as ever.
His robes stirred lightly in the night breeze, and his face looked especially gentle beneath the lamplight.
Only father and son remained in the bedchamber. The flickering light stretched Xue Ye's shadow long.
"Do you know why I summoned you back alone?"
Xue Ye looked down at Xue Qinghe and spoke evenly.
"You have an important task to entrust to me, Father, one that outsiders should not overhear."
Xue Qinghe raised his head slightly to meet Xue Ye's gaze, his tone unhurried.
"If I may venture a guess..."
"It concerns joining forces with the other factions, does it not?"
Xue Qinghe's voice remained steady.
"You wish me to contact the Extreme Alliance?"
At those words, the corners of Xue Ye's mouth had already begun to lift.
A trace of an approving smile finally appeared on the face that had been seething with anger just moments earlier.
He leaned against the back of his dragon throne and tapped the armrest twice.
"You truly are the crown prince I hold in the highest regard!"
"I feel all the more reassured entrusting this matter to you!"
"Cough, cough, cough, cough!"
Perhaps overcome by excitement, Xue Ye began coughing violently in the midst of his laughter.
His body pitched forward. One hand braced against the armrest while the other clenched into a fist against his mouth, his shoulders shaking violently.
His coughs echoed through the empty bedchamber, each carrying a muffled, tearing sound.
"Father!"
Alarm crossed Xue Qinghe's face, and he stepped