Eunuch Yingxi's temples were already gray. Squinting his tiny eyes, he said word by word,
"Your Majesty, this servant didn't just notice recently. This servant thought so the very first time he saw the Prince of Yuzhang.
Back then, Your Majesty said you'd adopt the Prince of Yuzhang as your foster son. This servant thought Your Majesty might have had some inkling in your heart."
Yingxi was an old retainer by Murong Min's side. His words carried more weight.
But Dugu Luanyue was a bit surprised. Why would Eunuch Yingxi suddenly lead Murong Min to think in that direction?
Their eyes met briefly, then both glanced away indifferently.
...
Among the crowd, those who were going to rescue the prisoner from the execution ground were already in position.
Some stood on the second floor of the restaurant opposite, responsible for dealing with the executioner and the officials from the Ministry of Justice behind Huo Wei. Some disguised themselves as commoners and rushed onto the execution ground to create chaos. The last group was in charge of rescuing Huo Wei.
Just as the executioner's machete was about to fall on Huo Wei's head, a shout came from the end of the street: "His Majesty's order! Spare the prisoner! His Majesty's order! Spare the prisoner!"
The urgent voice came through the air before the people and horses arrived.
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice.
If the voice had come half a moment later, Huo Wei would have been a headless corpse by now. The executioner turned to look at the official from the Ministry of Justice and put away his machete.
The official from the Ministry of Justice got up from his seat and walked to the front of the execution ground. At this time, the imperial guard who came to deliver the message reined in his horse and dismounted. "Reporting to Lord Wang, His Majesty orders the Prince of Yuzhang to enter the palace immediately!"
The official from the Ministry of Justice took the imperial edict and examined it carefully. The red imperial seal on the seal was unmistakable. He ordered, "Someone, send the criminal... no, the Prince of Yuzhang to the palace."
Those hiding in the crowd and the people responsible for rescuing the prisoner from the execution ground temporarily stopped. They had no idea what Murong Min was up to.
Huo Wei had his fetters and manacles removed and was escorted by the imperial guards towards the palace.
Less than an hour later, Huo Wei was standing in the Zichen Hall.
He saw Dugu Luanyue sitting weakly on the side seat, and on the dragon throne sat Murong Min, looking at him with scrutiny.
Dugu Luanyue glanced at Huo Wei and frowned tightly. She had told Huo Wei that day to be patient and acknowledge the enemy as his father to save his life, but Huo Wei had strongly resisted.
But she could understand him. Acknowledging the man who had massacred his entire clan as his father was a great insult.
But as long as he could survive, what did this temporary insult matter? Death was the greatest defeat.
Huo Wei's black eyes met Murong Min's. There was no longer the former submissiveness in them, but instead a cold and menacing look.
Murong Min looked at him. "Huo Wei, tell me your birth date and time again."
Huo Wei remained silent, saying nothing. His narrow black eyes were slightly lowered, and he never spoke.
Dugu Luanyue leaned on the wide chair and looked up at Murong Min. From his scrutinizing expression, she knew he was thinking and doubting.
The more Huo Wei wanted to die, the more Murong Min doubted and couldn't make up his mind.
If Huo Wei had shown a stronger will to survive, Murong Min would have thought he was the orphan of Jinyang.
In this regard, Huo Wei didn't cooperate according to Dugu Luanyue's wishes, but his actions were even more effective.
Murong Min threw the dagger at Huo Wei. His features became sharp.
"I'm asking you. Since you know Lu Wanyin is your mother and you know your own background, why have you never said anything?"
Huo Wei bent down to pick up the dagger. It was still the same one.
He noticed that the surname engraved on the dagger with a circular lock buckle had been replaced. This lock buckle had a mechanism and could be removed. This was probably done by Shen Guilan, for only he knew about it.
He wiped the dagger with his sleeve again and again. Looking up at Murong Min with a half - smile, he said, "What for? To let the whole world know that my mother had an affair with Your Majesty?"
Murong Min said, "Since you wanted to keep it a secret, why did you enter the court as an official? After I recognized you as my foster son, you never said a word."
Huo Wei sneered. His tall and lean figure was stretched long by the light, looking a bit unsteady and ferocious. His voice was low.
"I entered the court for fame. My past is a lifelong disgrace. Why bring it up?"
Murong Min didn't expect Huo Wei to have such an attitude towards him. He was just like Lu Wanyin back then, who seemed weak but was actually very stubborn and full of backbone.
He was silent for a while, then suddenly smiled. "The way you want to die is just like Lu Wanyin's back then. You like to provoke me very much."
But the more Huo Wei was like this, the more Murong Min thought he was his own son, the son full of hatred.
His son with Lu Wanyin had come back. The baby, the child with his own blood, hadn't died. This was the only connection between him and Lu Wanyin.
"According to your age, you should be my eldest son. Call me Father Emperor one more time, and I'll recognize you."
The more he looked at Huo Wei's face, the more he thought his eyebrows were like Lu Wanyin's. Murong Min's long, somewhat vicissitudinous and turbid eyes softened at this moment.
He had never loved any of his children because they were all born to women he didn't love.
But Lu Wanyin's child was different. This child must be his precious heir.
Dugu Luanyue knew the weight of these words. Murong Min was hinting that as long as Huo Wei was willing to recognize him, the position of the eldest son was of great significance.
The succession to the throne always favored the eldest son born to the queen. Now that there was no legitimate prince, the position of the crown prince would go to the eldest son.
Dugu Luanyue seemed to have a new understanding of Murong Min at this moment. In his life, he had given all his partiality, all his concessions, and all his confusion to a woman named Lu Wanyin.
It turned out that a man as bad and heartless as Murong Min had once deeply loved a woman he couldn't have.
After being hurt to the bone, he left all his heartlessness and cold - bloodedness to the innocent concubines and the imperial heirs who had received little fatherly love.
He was pitiful, sad, but also hateful.
Huo Wei stood alone in the hall, his figure like a steep and solitary peak. "No need. Return my mother's remains, and I'll leave on my own. If you really can't do that, you can kill me."
Dugu Luanyue turned to look at Huo Wei. This man was really tough - minded, but she didn't plan to interfere anymore.
Her wish was for Huo Wei to live. As for the rest of the fame and status, it was up to him.
She knew that Huo Wei hated others making decisions for him the most. Therefore, she chose to remain silent.
Murong Min slowly sat back on the dragon throne. At that moment, he looked old.
"As an imperial heir, you must recognize your ancestors and return to your clan. I'll order the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Observatory to give you a new name.
From now on, you'll be my eldest son.
I'll choose a powerful foster mother for you in the harem. From now on, you'll share my worries for me and for the Northern Yan. I'll train you well."
Huo Wei's cold and fierce black eyes showed little emotion. He didn't even say a word of thanks.
On the way out of the palace, he knew Dugu Luanyue had been following behind him.
Dugu Luanyue quickened her pace and caught up. "Huo Wei, wait for me."
Huo Wei was still wearing the prisoner's clothes, and his hair bun was a bit messy, but it didn't hide his extremely heroic and handsome face.
With his deep and sharp facial features, he stared at her. "Do you think after all this, you can still make me your pawn?"