"The code left by Brother Mushnikov?" Akinfeev exclaimed excitedly. [ ~]
"Yes, I initially thought he had also perished in that palace upheaval. After all, the entire Queen's palace was razed to the ground, countless people were killed or wounded, and so many bodies were indistinguishable. Even Julie's remains couldn't be found. However, on the third night under the moonlight, when I went to the collapsed palace to pay my respects to the dead, I unexpectedly discovered a coded message left by Mushnikov... I didn't alert anyone else and followed the code, discovering with great joy that Mushnikov had actually rescued the three emperors and escaped the palace with the child. I imagine the situation must have been incredibly brutal. The enemy that appeared that day was terrifyingly powerful; Mushnikov was unable to retaliate and was relentlessly pursued. Before leaving, he didn't have time to notify anyone else and could only leave behind the code..."
As Emperor Yassin recalled his past circumstances, his face had long since shed the haughty demeanor of an emperor, revealing instead a deep longing for his former wife, love, and brothers.
He paused for a moment before continuing.
" Mushnikov was indeed the strongest and most astute of the eight of you. Although he was no match for the pursuing enemies, he managed to evade capture by constantly dodging them. He feared they had other plans in the capital and worried about ambushes on my return journey. Therefore, he couldn't stay in the capital, nor could he take the child to find me. He could only head north, constantly evading the enemy's pursuit. He fled for over twenty days, encountering danger multiple times and sustaining serious injuries. He finally reached Chambord City, settled the three emperors, and then succumbed to his wounds... Of course, I only learned all this later by following the clues he left behind. [~]"
"Brother Mushnikov has always been the strongest and most trustworthy person."
Akinfeev was already in tears upon hearing this. In the tragedy that occurred twenty years ago, he should have protected everything, but he failed in his duty and could not avert the tragedy. Although the enemy was too powerful, he could never forgive himself. Now, hearing about Mushnikov's heroic deeds, he felt even more grief-stricken and felt sorry for his good brother.
"Alright, Igor, don't blame yourself anymore."
Emperor Yassin understood the young man before him. Akinfeev was the youngest of the eight companions he had once studied with, and everyone loved him like a little brother. Twenty years ago, during the palace upheaval, he had fought until he was seriously injured and fell into a coma, almost dying. He had not failed to do his best, so there was no need for him to blame himself.
Akinfeev nodded, then suddenly realized something and exclaimed in surprise, "Brother Mushnikov, you ended up in Chambord City? So, the Three Emperors are in Chambord City?"
"That's right. I followed Mushnikov's code back then and eventually found his body, as well as my and Julie's child. [~]"
Emperor Yassin nodded, clearly recalling the moment he finally saw his beloved father. A gentle smile involuntarily appeared on his lips. At this moment, he was no longer the ruthless and cold-blooded king who Zongheng the world, but simply an ordinary, loving father.
"Then why doesn't Your Majesty bring the Third Prince back to the capital? If you were to raise and educate him personally, he would certainly be no less than King of Chambord Alexander, and would undoubtedly be an emperor of unparalleled grace and talent. You must know that when the Third Prince was born, there were extraordinary celestial phenomena..."
Akinfeev found it extremely strange that the Three Emperors had never appeared in the capital.
Clearly, Emperor Yassin did not bring him back back then.
"Do you also remember the strange phenomenon when the third prince was born, when divine phantoms appeared in the sky and divine War Song filled the air?" Emperor Yassin's gentle smile remained, and he said with boundless pride, "Although I didn't return in time to witness these phenomena, since millions of people in the capital saw them, they must be real. Hehe, Yassin child with Julie is naturally extraordinary and destined to be an earth-shattering figure."
"That's right. On the day the Three Emperors were born, the heavens were suddenly filled with the Holy Spirit War Song, crimson clouds blotted out the sun, and countless divine phantoms flickered. Inside and outside the palace, everyone was saying that the Three Emperors were the reincarnations of a noble God King, and that they would surely inherit His Majesty's lofty ambitions and unify the Azeroth Continent."
Although twenty years have passed, Akinfeev still couldn't help but show a look of shock when he recalled the extraordinary sight.
"Indeed, a reincarnation of God King... This is the reason for that palace upheaval. How could those people allow a God King to be reincarnated and come to the mortal realm? That's why, while plotting against me, they went to great lengths to hunt down a child who was only three days old." Emperor Yassin sighed slightly. "This is also why I didn't bring the child back to the capital back then, and I didn't even dare to show myself to acknowledge this little guy. Because once those people knew that the child was still alive, they would definitely come back with a vengeance, and even I wouldn't be able to protect him."
"Ah? I see? So, His Majesty hasn't recognized the Three Emperors for the past twenty years?"
Akinfeev suddenly realized and understood Emperor Yassin's good intentions. He never expected that the strange phenomenon that appeared that day would become a harbinger of misfortune, not only killing the [ Empress of Light ], but also almost killing the child.
The enemy is simply too powerful.
Even the mighty Emperor Yassin dared not acknowledge the child.
"Yes, although I sometimes secretly go to see him from afar, I have never acknowledged him." Emperor Yassin nodded. "At first, I thought that was a kind of luck for the child. At least he wouldn't be involved in his parents' grudges or face that unshakeable terrorist organization. And, more unfortunately, when the child was four or five years old, I discovered that he had a problem. He must have been injured during his escape in his early years, damaging his brain. He became stupid and dull, not even as good as a normal person, and he had no talent for martial arts... I tried countless methods and secretly tried to treat him countless times, but all to no avail. Alas, I really hate it!"
"How could this be? The Third Emperor...!" Akinfeev was stunned.
Why did this happen?
Whether for Emperor Yassin, the deceased Empress of Light, or the Third Emperor who faced danger from birth, this was far too cruel. They should have been the pride of heaven, enjoying everything, but that disaster turned them into fools. How cruel fate could be.
"This discovery made me finally abandon my plan to secretly raise him. Although I deeply love this child, and would not hesitate to die for him, I cannot let him become the king of Zenit for my own selfish desires. I am a father and a king, and I must be responsible for the subjects who are loyal to me and the people who love and support me. At that time, I thought that perhaps for this child who has suffered so much, living an ordinary life, free from worries about food and clothing, and living a peaceful life is the best ending."