Emperor Yassin was heartbroken at the time and never mentioned Empress Julie for many years. No one else dared to utter those four words, fearing it would evoke unpleasant memories for His Majesty and upset him. Everything about the once virtuous and beautiful Empress and the missing third prince became a taboo subject in the palace, and everyone tried to avoid discussing it. (Visit and download txt novels (www))
But everyone knows that Emperor Yassin never forgot.
The position of Empress in Zenit Palace has remained vacant ever since.
Although the other concubines bore Emperor Yassin the eldest and fourth princes, and a mysterious queen who had never entered the palace gave birth to the second prince, all three princes were favored by Emperor Yassin. However, only a few confidants, such as Akinfeev, knew that this genius emperor Zongheng the Northern Region missed and loved the third prince the most in his life, a prince who had disappeared without ever having met him.
Back then, Emperor Yassin, full of vigor and ambition, went to do that with his trusted generals, including Doumbia, before giving birth. However, they were betrayed and killed. Doumbia and six others perished, and Emperor Yassin was severely wounded, nearly dying. When he returned, he was met with a gruesome death, and his three-day-old third prince had disappeared...
All of this was undoubtedly the biggest blow to Emperor Yassin, who was at the peak of his life at the time.
If that third prince were still alive, he would be twenty years old this year.
Given Emperor Yassin's fondness for the third prince, if that third prince were still alive, he would probably be the rightful heir to the throne, a son that the second and first princes could never win against, no matter how much they competed.
"Your Majesty, please do not be sad. The Third Prince has only gone missing. Perhaps he will return one day." In the entire empire, only Akinfeev dared to say such words to Emperor Yassin's face.
"Hehe, haha." Emperor Yassin suddenly seemed to remember something, a rare gentleness appearing on his face. He laughed heartily and said, " Igor, I've said before that only you can make me completely trust you. So today, I'll tell you a huge secret. This secret has been bottled up in my heart for twenty years, and now it seems the time has finally come to reveal it."
Akinfeev's expression shifted in shock.
The fact that Emperor Yassin kept it a closely guarded secret for twenty years must mean it was something extraordinary. Could it be... related to that unparalleled conspiracy twenty years ago?
"Do you still remember Mushnikov?" Emperor Yassin sat down opposite the Grand Knight Commander, his expression filled with reminiscence, and asked slowly.
"Of course I remember. Back then, the eight of us were His Majesty's study companions. Brother Mushnikov was steady, meticulous, and highly capable, and was deeply trusted by His Majesty. However, in that incident twenty years ago, Brother Mushnikov went to that place with His Majesty, but unfortunately died in battle..." Speaking of this name, Akinfeev's sharp eyes revealed a sorrowful expression.
Emperor Yassin suddenly smiled, looked at the Grand Knight Commander, and abruptly interrupted, "What would you think if I told you that twenty years ago, Mushnikov didn't go to that place with me, but stayed in Saint Petersburg?"
"What?!" Akinfeev exclaimed in surprise, "This... how could this be?"
"Back then, before going to that place, I entrusted you with overseeing and managing matters within the district. As I just mentioned, of the eight of us, you are most like me—brave and decisive, but also somewhat reckless and impulsive. So, before setting off, I changed my mind and secretly left Mushnikov behind to help you. Little did I know that this decision would inadvertently make up for a lifelong regret..."
"Your Majesty means..." Akinfeev never expected that such a thing had happened back then. He was also an extremely intelligent man, and with just a slight hint from Emperor Yassin, he realized something.
"Indeed, twenty years ago, the palace was attacked. Those thieves harmed Julie and even tried to kill my third prince. You were misled by their diversionary tactic, but fortunately, Mushnikov was aware of everything and saved the child at the crucial moment." Recalling the enemy's viciousness and ruthlessness, a sharp hatred involuntarily surfaced on Emperor Yaxin's face.
"What? Could it be that... the Third Prince survived? That's wonderful... This... is true?"
Even though Akinfeev has cultivated his composure and calmness much better than he used to be in recent years, he still couldn't help but jump up upon hearing this good news. His face was full of excitement and disbelief, and his eyes were full of questions as he looked at Emperor Yassin.
No wonder he was so agitated.
Back then, Emperor Yassin and his eight companions were like brothers, forming a deep friendship. However, they all fell in love with Julie, a woman of unparalleled beauty. Although Emperor Yassin eventually won her heart, the other eight still offered their blessings in a very gentlemanly manner, treating her with the utmost respect, as if she were a younger sister.
The other seven, who had become companions to renowned generals of the empire, died in battle. Akinfeev remained in Didu but failed to protect Julie, nor Emperor Yassin and Julie's child, a fact he held dear. Although Emperor Yassin did not blame him upon his return, Akinfeev himself was constantly filled with self-reproach, which became a deep-seated sorrow. Whenever he thought of it, he felt ashamed of failing his seven brothers in the embrace of the stars.
Upon suddenly hearing that the former third prince had not died young, and that these words came from Emperor Yassin himself, one can only imagine the joy and excitement in Akinfeev's heart.
"Yes, of course it's true." Emperor Yassin was also deeply moved when he saw the Grand Knight Commander almost in tears.
Over the years, only the eight brothers I made in my childhood have been able to share my joy and sorrow so selflessly, without regard for personal gain.
"That's wonderful, wonderful!" Akinfeev said, tears streaming down his face. The gloom that had shrouded his heart for so many years had finally vanished. He felt a sense of relief and almost jumped for joy. After a long pause, he suddenly realized something and calmed down, asking, "Then... the Third Prince, where is he now... Your Majesty... where has he been for the past twenty years...? Why haven't you..."
"You want to ask why I didn't bring him back to Saint Petersburg, is that it?" Emperor Yassin asked with a smile.
Akinfeev nodded.
"It's a long story... At first, I also thought that I would lose my bloodline with Julie forever, but who knew that things would take a turn for the better. On the fourth day after I returned to Didu, I suddenly discovered the code that Mushnikov left in the palace..." Emperor Yassin began to recall the past.
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