Confession—If You Must Blame Someone, Blame the Heartless Emperor!

General Lin Junyu had naturally given the legion command token to Zichuan Mingyue only after careful consideration.

First, Zichuan Mingyue was a veteran of the Southeast Legion and could easily command the troops' respect.

Second, given his relationship with Zichuan Mingyue, what was wrong with securing a few benefits for his own woman? With the 300,000-strong Southeast Legion behind her, no one in the entire empire would dare bully her.

Third, he could rest assured entrusting the Southeast Legion to her.

Zichuan Mingyue was tallying the soldiers' merits when she saw Lin Junyu enter the main tent with Liu Fengchuan and her father.

"Your Highness? Father? And Commander Liu Feng? Why are you here?"

As Zichuan Shengxing looked at his daughter, now fully grown, he could not help but sigh. Thinking of how she was about to command an army of 300,000—more troops than he himself commanded—only made him sigh more deeply.

"Mingyue, this is the legion command token Prince Lin entrusted to me. I now place it in your hands. I hope you will not let it be wasted! Lead the entire Southeast Legion well and make it the empire's most glorious and honored legion!"

Zichuan Mingyue was deeply puzzled. Why was she suddenly going to command the 300,000 troops of the Southeast Legion?

"Your Highness, what happened?"

With grim expressions, Liu Fengchuan and Zichuan Shengxing told Zichuan Mingyue everything that had just happened.

"What! This is utter nonsense! Are His Highness's merits on the front lines not enough to offset a death sentence?"

"They fear His Highness's strength and achievements at the front, which is why they want to seize this chance to get rid of him early!"

"Your Highness, do you really want to die that badly? You have me and the 300,000 soldiers of the Southeast Legion! We would fight to the death to protect you. At worst, we rebel against this empire!"

Zichuan Mingyue was furious—not only at Lin Junyu's inaction, and at her father and Commander Liu standing by and watching him die.

She also burned with killing intent toward the two princes, hatred for the empire, and resentment and anger that her husband, who had served so faithfully, was being treated with such injustice.

An empire that so cruelly persecuted and killed its meritorious officials—what meaning was there in swearing loyalty to it?

"Mingyue! Watch your tongue! Do you know what impact those words would have on our Zichuan Clan if the emperor heard them?"

Zichuan Mingyue's impulsive words made Zichuan Shengxing's expression change drastically.

He did not dare imagine the consequences if his political enemies heard those words.

She was about to become the supreme commander of 300,000 troops, so why was she still so rash?

If those words spread, whether she could still command troops would be the least of it. Her life would be in danger, and the entire clan could be implicated.

Lin Junyu naturally knew why his woman was so angry, but with others present, it was not convenient to comfort her.

"Commander Shengxing, do not be angry. Could the two of you wait outside the tent? I would like to speak to Commander Mingyue alone."

"Of course, Your Highness!"

The two men left the tent, leaving only the two of them behind.

Zichuan Mingyue threw her arms around Lin Junyu and buried herself in his embrace, sobbing as she mumbled.

"Why are you so foolish? If others tell you to die, you just go die? I don't want you to die!"

Watching Zichuan Mingyue burrow about in his arms, Lin Junyu could not help laughing. She looked just like a little piglet.

Hearing Lin Junyu laugh, Zichuan Mingyue lifted her head from his arms. Her face was streaked with tears, and her eyes were filled with dissatisfaction and anxiety.

"You're still laughing! Do you even know what situation you're in?"

Seeing that her beloved did not seem to care at all about his own life and death, Zichuan Mingyue grew furious and viciously pinched the soft flesh at his waist.

"Hiss! That hurts, that hurts! Mingyue, let go first. I'll explain slowly."

Zichuan Mingyue obediently released him, then meekly rested against Lin Junyu's chest.

Listening to his slow, steady, vigorous heartbeat, she waited for her lover's explanation.

Seeing the beauty in his arms calm down, Lin Junyu secretly slipped his wicked hand toward Zichuan Mingyue's slender waist.

"Mingyue, don't worry. I definitely won't stupidly go throw my life away. You know how strong I am. In this world, there simply is no one who can kill me!"

"Braggart!"

Lin Junyu's arrogant words made Zichuan Mingyue laugh through her tears.

"Then why did you agree to what your two brothers said? You clearly know they want to use the emperor's order to have you executed early and clear away their obstacle."

"If I led all of you in resistance now, or even killed them, what would happen in the end?"

Zichuan Mingyue fell silent. The two princes would certainly not spare Lin Junyu.

Before the emperor received the reports from the front and amended his decree, they would definitely seize the chance to use his earlier order to execute Lin Junyu.

If Lin Junyu resisted, it would become a matter of defying the emperor's decree and gathering people in rebellion, completely confirming the charge.

The empire's glorious legion, which Prince Lin had built through years of fighting on the front lines, would surely be nailed to the pillar of shame in imperial history.

Moreover, if the two sides fought, Lin Junyu could certainly kill the two princes with his strength.

But that would only intensify the empire's internal conflict. The million-strong eastern expedition army that the empire had spent years assembling would then make their rebel force its first target for destruction.

If he killed princes valued by the emperor, then even as an imperial prince of great strength and extraordinary leadership, he would not receive the current emperor's forgiveness.

For the sake of the royal family's dignity and the empire's future, the emperor would only seek to wipe him out with mad fury.

The empire of today was not an empire in its final days.

Under the rule of the eleventh Light Emperor, the nation had instead grown strong and prosperous, its people living and working in peace and contentment. Everyone felt a powerful sense of belonging to the Empire.

Now, from top to bottom, the entire Empire had only one will: the eastern campaign!

If you rebelled at the front lines now, as a prince, you would be even more despised by the people of the Empire. The demon army might even seize the chance to kick you while you were down.

At that point, they would have a powerful, flourishing Empire before them and the watchful Demon God Kingdom behind them.

And without the support of the people, without money, provisions, or troops, it would undoubtedly end in certain defeat.

"I don't want to lead you down a difficult road where you die for nothing."

"My foundation is too weak, and I have no imperial family behind me to support me. I simply can't compare to the years of groundwork laid by my two brothers!"

"So the best option now is for me to fake my death and escape this situation. That way, I won't drag you down."

Hearing Lin Junyu's explanation, Zichuan Mingyue's mind cleared considerably.

If they killed the two princes and rebelled, they would be making a terrible mistake.

Lin Junyu's position would instantly shift from the Empire's war god, revered by all, to an imperial traitor condemned by everyone.

"Then what are you planning to do?"

"That will require my beloved Sister Mingyue to cooperate properly with me!"

"Smooth talker. Hurry up and tell me."

The two of them quietly discussed the detailed plan and what would follow, after all, this concerned Lin Junyu's life and death.

"Where is His Highness? Where is he? I have something to ask him."

Inside Zichuan Mingyue's military camp, Qu Tairan, his beard streaked with gray, came storming over in a rage.

He had just returned from the front after pursuing and killing demons, yet had immediately rushed over to find Lin Junyu. He had learned that the two princes had come bearing the Emperor's decree to make trouble.

But he had never expected Lin Junyu to agree without putting up the slightest resistance. Wasn't that foolish?

This matter had started because of him. If he had taken all the responsibility upon himself back then, none of this would have happened.

"General Qu, His Highness is inside discussing the transfer of military command. We should not go in and disturb them."

When Zichuan Shengxing saw the old general arrive, he immediately stood at attention and explained. Back then, he had served under the old general.

Liu Fengchuan also stood at attention. After all, General Qu's seniority was unmatched among the Empire's officers.

"Zichuan Shengxing! You were there at the time. Why didn't you stop them? Do you know how much we will lose if His Highness is executed?"

Seeing the two rising stars of the Empire standing at the entrance, Qu Tairan showed them no courtesy and launched into a furious scolding.

"General, that was an order from the Emperor. Who would dare stop it?"

"Yes, General. We have to consider our families in Far Capital as well. Isn't that true for you too, General?"

They were all old foxes, and everyone knew what the others were thinking. The two princes wielded enormous influence in Far Capital, and many ministers had already secretly pledged their loyalty to them.

If they did anything now that displeased the two princes, then once they returned to Far Capital, their families would not have an easy time of it either.

"Is that General Qu? Come in. The transfer of military authority has already been completed."

The three entered together. Looking at the two inside the tent, they could not tell whether their eyes were playing tricks on them, but Zichuan Mingyue's eyes seemed somewhat red.

Yet before Lin Junyu, they could not help lowering their heads, not daring to look at him. They were in the wrong, and ashamed.

"Everyone, the transfer of military authority is complete. Next, it is time for me to receive the imperial decree. Come, let us go see my two dear brothers!"

Lin Junyu had Zichuan Mingyue show the legion command token to the three present, letting them know that the transfer of military authority had been completed and they could report back.

The group left the main camp and headed straight for the City Lord's Manor. Meanwhile, Zichuan Mingyue used the legion command token to summon a squad to accompany them.

"Two elder brothers, your younger brother has finished making his arrangements and has come to receive Father Emperor's decree!"

"Oh? So quickly?"

The eldest prince sat in the seat of honor, his gaze sliding toward Zichuan Shengxing and Liu Fengchuan as he watched their reactions.

Under the eldest prince's gaze, Zichuan Shengxing and Liu Fengchuan gave slight nods.

Upon receiving their confirmation, the eldest prince immediately burst into hearty laughter!

"Hahaha! Third Brother, you have made a great decision. Your elder brother admires you. Don't worry, the Empire will not forget you!"

"Someone, bring up the poisoned wine bestowed by Father Emperor. Let our Empire's Third Prince die with dignity!"

Seeing that the matter was settled, the excitement and joy in Lin Mingyu and Lin Huiyu's hearts could no longer be concealed. Yet for the sake of appearances, they still put on faces full of grief.

This was for the people and the soldiers at the front to see. They did not want to grant death to their own third brother; they were suffering too.

But what could they do? It was the Emperor's order, and they were merely carrying it out!

If you wanted to blame someone, blame the man sitting in that position—cold and heartless, willing to kill even his own son for the sake of his grand cause!