Empty-Nest Old Wei

(Previously: Bai Ye slapped the deck, and Rhodes Island exploded.)

Wei Yenwu was working at his desk in his office.

He was from Yan and had the custom of staying up to see in the New Year, so he simply went without sleep for the entire night.

After all, he was the only one here.

Madam Fumizuki had originally been able to return to Lungmen yesterday—the eve of the New Year, as it was called during Yan's festival.

Unfortunately, due to a Catastrophe striking a region along the way, Fumizuki's arrival in Lungmen had been delayed by several days.

On Terra, this was commonplace, so no one found it unusual.

Poor Old Wei could only stay up alone to welcome the new year.

Empty-nest Old Wei!

Fortunately, Old Wei was not some impetuous young man. Staying up all night was nothing to him, so he worked his way through the night.

His workload was growing heavier and heavier. He not only had Lungmen's affairs to handle, but other matters as well.

Back then, he had been the eldest legitimate son of Yan's imperial family. Under Great Yan's patriarchal succession laws, he should have been the heir to the throne.

However, his younger brother had been jealous and coveted his position. Wei Yenwu had not wanted to turn against his own brother, so he had voluntarily relinquished the throne and left Yan with his younger sister for Lungmen.

Why had he brought his sister along? Again, because of his younger brother. He had feared that if she remained in Yan, his brother would oppress her—or even harm her.

He had simply never expected that his forbearance would become the root of a series of future tragedies.

With a soft sigh, Wei Yenwu pulled himself from his thoughts, rolled his slightly stiff