A group of people waited at the border between Star Luo and Heaven Dou.
The Zhu Family elders looked especially troubled.
One elder's voice was icy. "Now that Zhu Zhuqing and Zhu Zhuyun are both in the hands of that commoner Dai, how are we supposed to answer to His Highness the Third Prince?"
His words struck a chord with the other elders.
The whole group lowered their heads, not knowing what to say.
They now referred to Dai Yunzhao simply as "that commoner Dai"!
They no longer acknowledged Dai Yunzhao's status as a prince.
This was both a way to lick the boots of the current Star Luo Emperor and a chance to make a good impression on the future crown prince.
They had heard that the royal carriage would reach the border today, so even in the pouring rain, they had donned their official robes and come out to welcome it.
What did it mean to be a loyal subject?
This was what it meant to be a loyal subject!
Through the curtain of rain, a party of riders appeared in the distance.
When they saw the Star Luo banner, everyone hurriedly straightened their dripping ceremonial robes and crowns.
One man could hardly wait. He hurried forward and dropped to his knees in the mud with a splash.
"Your servant pays his respects to the Crown Prince!"
The others could only curse themselves for not kneeling fast enough.
They also resented that fellow for dashing across the mud to kneel first!
But they were seasoned schemers.
Once he had taken the lead and knelt, they all fell to their knees, crying out the Crown Prince's title!
The leading general in the army glanced sidelong at the officials on the ground, his lips curling in disdain.
"Well, well! The princes and ministers who usually wear purple and red robes are all kneeling at my feet today."
"What? Didn't you all call me, Xiong Ao, a rebel? You sure were quick to kneel—each one faster than the last!"
The man kneeling on the ground quickly raised his head. Xiong Ao's burly figure came into view.
He dropped back onto his bottom.
"Xiong Ao! How could it be you?"
Xiong Ao pointed to the troops behind him.
"Are you blind? Can't you tell this is our Blood Character Battalion?"
Beyond the Star Luo banner, a Blood Character Flag fluttered in the wind.
That flag was the very banner Xiong Ao had fought to win for his battalion!
So the one in the army couldn't be...
As soon as they realized the truth, everyone raised their heads!
But they didn't see Dai Yunzhao right away.
Xiong Ao's voice rang out. "You useless fools! Don't you know the Third Prince was ambushed on the way here?"
"If it weren't for me, how could the Third Prince have made it back?"
"I've brought the Third Prince back. Hurry up and welcome him!"
Dai Mubai had been ambushed?
Who would dare do such a thing?!
Could it have been Dai Yunzhao? That madman was certainly capable of it.
But at least Dai Mubai had returned.
As long as he'd made it back, that was what mattered!
One minister got to his feet and gave Xiong Ao a thumbs-up.
"General Xiong Ao, I must report to His Majesty and ask him to reward you and the Blood Character Battalion!"
The others chimed in as well.
Xiong Ao had seen the error of his ways and even brought Dai Mubai back of his own accord.
Since ancient times, no achievement had surpassed rescuing the emperor. Xiong Ao had struck it rich this time.
From now on, he could well become the foremost military general at court!
A cold smile tugged at Xiong Ao's lips.
You dogs—if Dai Yunzhao hadn't warned me beforehand, I'd have charged over and chopped you into pieces!
Xiong Ao gave a cold laugh and waved his hand. "Brothers, they want to see the Third Prince. Hurry up and bring him out!"
He put heavy emphasis on the word "bring."
At that moment, the rain finally stopped.
Everyone's vision gradually cleared.
A bloodstained white cloth came into view before the assembled officials!
The soldiers of the Blood Character Battalion carried someone out.
No!
They were carrying a corpse!
Xiong Ao waved his hand, and the soldiers set the stretcher on the ground.
The wind lifted the white cloth covering the body.
Dai Mubai lay there in silence, drenched in blood and utterly lifeless.
Everyone froze.
Fear and confusion showed in their eyes!
Dai Mubai... was dead?
Dai Yunzhao had actually dared to kill Dai Mubai!
But according to reliable reports, although most of the frontier troops supported Dai Yunzhao, the number of soldiers he could truly command amounted to no more than eight hundred!
Eight hundred... the Blood Character Battalion!
At last, everyone understood. Dai Yunzhao had taken the eight hundred soldiers of the Blood Character Battalion to intercept and kill Dai Mubai.
Dai Mubai had perished, while all eight hundred soldiers of the Blood Character Battalion had returned!
If this news spread across the Star Luo court, it would surely send shockwaves through the empire.
Who wouldn't want a prince like that?
Everyone in the Star Luo Empire valued martial prowess. They could only rest easy if someone like him became the next ruler.
Dai Weisi had stained the palace walls with blood, and Dai Mubai had died on the road home.
Dai Yunzhao himself had been perfectly fine from beginning to end.
Xiong Ao's voice rose slowly. "My lord said that since His Majesty wanted the Third Prince brought back, he, as the Third Prince's younger brother, would go and fetch him in His Majesty's place!"
"Everyone, remember to pass my lord's words along."
"My lord said he'll return to the palace in person to pay His Majesty a visit. He told His Majesty to wait with peace of mind."
After saying this, Xiong Ao urged his horse forward.
The full force of his Soul Emperor cultivation was on display.
He had already been formidable, a valiant general.
Now he had actually advanced further!
"Xiong Ao has reached level sixty-five!"
Xiong Ao had been stuck at a bottleneck for years.
At first, he had only been a Soul King.
But after his first meeting with Dai Yunzhao, he had broken through to Soul Sage.
Then he had become stuck at level sixty-one, unable to advance for many years.
Now, after meeting Dai Yunzhao again, he had broken through once more!
Xiong Ao's voice suddenly boomed.
"Everyone, the frontier armies have already answered my lord's call. If you have nothing else to do, then get back to Star Luo City!"
The people kneeling on the ground shuddered.
The frontier armies had answered Dai Yunzhao's call?
That was right!
Now that Dai Mubai was truly dead, those who followed Dai Yunzhao had a bright enough future to keep them awake at night.
Who would give up such a windfall?
They took Dai Mubai's corpse and retreated in a daze.
A few Zhu Family elders refused to give up. They raised their heads and asked, "May we ask how Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing are doing?"
Xiong Ao glanced behind him.
A woman wearing armor that didn't quite fit her stepped forward.
Zhu Zhuyun!
The elders' eyes lit up.
"Zhuyun, are you hurt?"
Zhu Zhuyun shook her head.
The elders came forward. One of them began, "Zhuyun, come back with us. We'll discuss things with His Majesty..."
Before he could finish, Zhu Zhuyun raised her hand to stop him.
"I'm not going back. Elders, tell the family when you return... I support the Fourth Prince!"
Zhu Zhuyun's words struck the elders like a bolt of lightning.
They swayed, nearly fainting on the spot.
Zhu Zhuqing had followed Dai Yunzhao long ago, and now Zhu Zhuyun had defected too?
The two most important people in the Zhu Family now supported Dai Yunzhao. What were the rest of them supposed to do?
If they stayed in Star Luo City, wouldn't their lives be in danger?
Zhu Zhuyun's voice was calm. "We were all wrong about His Highness the Fourth Prince. From now on, I'll support only him!"
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