When he was about to die, only Mu Huaichen stayed by his side.
His younger brother Mu Jingyan was far away at the border. Although Mu Di, the illegitimate son of the Mu family, had entered the ancestral hall, he was very resistant and fearful of his brother. He just stood outside the door and did not enter the inner room.
Mu Huaicheng was ordered to guard Jiayuguan. Even if he knew the news of his father's death, he could not come back.
Atua walked into the inner room with the child in his arms, his eyes red. "Father, He'er is here."
The little guy didn't understand the difference between life and death, he just looked at the person lying on the bed with fear, his eyes were red.
"People are about to die...don't scare the children. Princess, take the children...out." Mu Jingche's voice was extremely weak.
Atua's eyes were red and he shook his head. "Father... Huaicheng is not around, so He'er and I are with you."
The imperial doctors came one after another.
There is no way back.
"Your Majesty has arrived!"
Mu Jingche subconsciously wanted to get up, but he had no strength left.
Chaoyang followed Xiao Junze and led Mu Zheyu into the inner room.
There were not many people in the room, including Mu Huaichen, Atua and their children, and the rest, including the maids, had left.
Mu Huaichen stood aside without saying a word, his face not very pretty, sad but sensible.
He knew very well that separation through life and death was human nature.
Everyone has to go through it.
"His Majesty……"
Xiao Junze shook his head at Mu Jingche, indicating that he didn't need to be nervous.
"I... am ashamed of Empress Changsun, and I am ashamed of... the late emperor." Mu Jingche's voice became weaker and weaker.
"You have taken care of the Mu family all your life, dedicated your life, and don't owe anyone." Except for your own son.
Mu Jingche smiled, feeling at ease.
He is the kind of foolish and loyal person who will never change in this life.
The emperor's words are imperial edicts.
Xiao Junze's words seemed to be a pardon for him, allowing him to finally go on the road with peace of mind.
As long as the emperor knew his hard work and the Mu family's loyalty, he would feel at ease.
Obviously, there is an essential difference between Xiao Junze and the late emperor Xiao Yanjin.
The late emperor was suspicious and never really trusted anyone. The former dynasty and the harem were all pawns, checking and balancing each other.
At a time when dynasties were changing and in chaos, there was no doubt that Xiao Yanjin was not wrong either.
Xiao Junze is different. The general trend is now. People inside and outside the court are working together, loyal ministers swear loyalty to the death, and the harem is empty.
There is no doubt that Xiao Junze is lucky.
This luck comes from the sacrifices and dedication of our predecessors.
If the late emperor had not deposed his powerful ministers, divided the power equally, had not killed the chicken to scare the monkeys, and diluted the military power with a glass of wine...
How come Xiao Junze is so happy and unrestrained now?
There is no right or wrong in people, time, stance, and choices are all different.
Xiao Yanjin was in an era when the old emperor was incompetent and the powerful ministers were divided. He was not ruthless and his power was unstable.
And when Xiao Junze is in turmoil in the world, how he makes a choice depends on how the future will go.
As an emperor, the burden on you is too heavy.
All the people in the world, all the people.
It all fell on him alone.
Mu Jingche's eyes finally fell on Mu Huaichen. It seemed that he had too many things to say to his son, but he finally slowly closed his eyes.
Mu Huaichen also slowly closed his eyes, his eyes burning and tears welling up.
In the sad atmosphere, Mu Zheyu looked away, his emotions unclear.
He grew up in the Western Barbarians and was used to seeing life and death, but this kind of life and death between relatives was his first... personal experience.
…
With Mu Jingche gone, the burden of the Mu family fell on Mu Huaichen alone.
On the day of the funeral, Mu Huaichen did not shed a single tear. He walked alone at the front, quiet and silent.
It’s not that I’m not sad, it’s that I can’t express my sadness.
Qi Feng stood behind him, and everyone in the Mu family wore sackcloth and mourned, and walked towards Huangling Mountain.
…
Jufeng Restaurant.
Jing Chen leaned against the window, looking at the funeral procession passing by with white paper money scattered on the street, his eyes glazed over.
Mu Jingche died, and he died at his own fault.
Raising his hand to catch a flying bird, Jingchen turned over and left the restaurant.
It's time for him to leave Fengtian for the time being.
…
Outside the customs, in the hinterland of the border.
Heavy military garrison in the Western Region.
"General, if you receive a letter from the master, you may agree that envoys from various countries can come to discuss matters."
Yu Chizhe glanced at the letter and nodded. "In this case, I agree that envoys from various countries will come to the border areas for negotiations."
This time, the envoys from various countries never came back, and the Western Region officially declared war on all countries.
Who will Fengtian and Dayu send?
"General, before the war begins, kill the envoy. This battle must be fought." Behind him, the lieutenant general said something meaningful.
"This world should have been unified long ago." Yuchi looked into the distance.
"Being a minister and a lieutenant general in the army, I will not hesitate to wrap my body in horse leather." The soldiers of the Western Regions traveled long distances, killing the enemy along the way, not just for temporary enjoyment.
The world is already seriously ill. Even if the Western Regions do not send troops, there is no guarantee that Fengtian and Dayu will not send troops.
The winner is the king and the loser is the enemy, this has been the case since ancient times.
Whoever can unify the world will be able to dominate everything.
Including propriety, justice, integrity, and moral dignity.
Yu Chizhi nodded and caught the flying pigeon that came with the message.
After taking down the secret letter, Yuchi subconsciously held the piece of paper tightly.
The letter came from the Imperial Palace of the Western Regions.
There is still a feminine scent in this letter.
That woman...
Yuchi squinted his eyes.
As an emperor's woman, she seduced him, a general who was on an expedition, at every turn, even teasing him verbally.
He clearly knew that the other party was very dangerous and crazy.
But as a man, his vanity and competitiveness can always defeat everything.
When a general goes to war, he conquers the enemy and the world.
It is the fiercest horse on the battlefield that conquers.
That woman should naturally be the most beautiful woman.
…
Dayu, Imperial Palace.
Yin Cheng sat on the soft couch in the imperial study room, reviewing the memorials.
He raised his hand to catch the secret letter sent by the secret guard and narrowed his eyes. "Who sent the letter?"
"From the Imperial Palace of the Western Regions."
His face darkened, Yin Cheng opened the sealed letter.
On the letterhead, a half-moon-shaped totem was drawn.
His eyes darkened for a moment, and Yin Cheng slowly clenched his fingers.
Worshiping the moon...you are really lucky.
…
Fengtian, Imperial Palace.
"Your Majesty, Xingyi is willing to go to the border areas to negotiate with the Western Regions." Xingyi took the initiative to invite you, and his complexion looked much better.
Xiao Junze nodded and asked Xing Yi to stand up. "Master, can you make some calculations about the luck of your departure?"
Xingyi said in a deep voice, "Big bad luck."
Xiao Junze was stunned for a moment. In fact, this was something everyone knew well.
You don’t need to do any math to know.
The Western Region will not negotiate well with anyone.
He agreed that the purpose of various countries sending envoys was to kill the envoys and cause war.
But since he agreed to negotiate, he had to send people there out of responsibility for the small border counties.
This person is destined to be a victim.
"Why do you still go when you know there is a serious danger?" Xiao Junze asked.
"If you want your minister to die, it will be unfaithful if the minister does not die."
But he won't tell Xiao Junze the real purpose.
He had selfish motives for going this time.
Bei Ning is in the southwest.
Amul, the king of the southwest, sent a memorial to His Majesty, offering the princess in marriage.
His subordinates came to report that the Princess of Southwest was Bei Ning.
He... wanted to see whether Bei Ning would abandon her marriage and come to see him during the time of life and death.