Chapter 62

Chapter 62

However, upon returning to the capital, Murong Jie did not enter the palace immediately but quietly slipped into the Nine Thousand Years Mansion.

He knelt in front of Lu Tong without a word.

Lu Tong sat there, also silent, but the infant in his arms would not stop crying—a temperament that was just like Lu Yunqi's, who'd cry at the drop of a hat.

Lu Tong finally couldn't sit still any longer. He got up and handed the child to Murong Jie, saying coldly, "This child is yours and Yunqi's. I'm not trying to keep him from you. Now what's with that hurt look? Who are you trying to fool?"

As if he sensed his dad's presence, the child immediately stopped crying and even let out a happy little coo.

Lu Tong was furious, thinking, what an ungrateful little brat—I've been taking care of him day and night without a break, yet the second he sees his real dad, he doesn't want me anymore!

Murong Jie, however, said, "You've got it wrong. I'm not here to take Feiluan away. I just want to ask you to keep taking care of him. I... might have to settle things with Murong Feng once and for all."

Lu Yunqi's death was all Murong Feng's fault. If he didn't tear Murong Feng to pieces, Murong Jie couldn't let this rage go.

But there was one thing that had been bugging Murong Jie—what did the Medical Immortal mean by saying Lu Yunqi's body had no soul?

But for now, he couldn't afford to think about that. He couldn't rest until Murong Feng was dealt with.

Murong Feng was the one who caused Yunqi's untimely death, who made Yunqi go into early labor, who ripped them apart, one alive and one dead. Only after he settled this could he focus on anything else.

Lu Tong snorted coldly at that and said, "A fight to the death? Ha! Murong Feng? He's not even worthy! If you really want to avenge Yunqi, then listen to me. I can not only help you get your revenge, but also secure a future for you... and for my grandson. That way, I won't have let down my son who risked his life to have this child."

Murong Jie looked up at Lu Tong upon hearing this and asked, "What's your plan, old general?"

Lu Tong leaned down, pinched Lu Feiluan's now chubby little cheeks, and whispered something in Murong Jie's ear.

Murong Jie furrowed his brow and asked, "You're thinking of..."

Lu Tong made a shushing motion: "My Nine Thousand Years Mansion has been infiltrated like a sieve. Just remember that! You've come back with great merit this time, and the old emperor will definitely reward you. Whatever he gives you, just take it. Just keep this in your heart—don't wrong my son, don't wrong my grandson, and the Lu family will back you up."

The tears Murong Jie had held in for over ten days suddenly streamed down his face. This was the first time Lu Tong had seen Murong Jie cry. His impression of this Sixth Prince had always been one of forbearance.

And not just ordinary forbearance—he could endure to an extreme degree. Back then, when Yunqi tormented him so badly, he never said a word of complaint, and the two still managed to fall for each other, which surprised Lu Tong too.

Murong Jie stepped forward and suddenly clung to Lu Tong's legs, his voice choked with suppressed sobs: "You don't blame me? I'm the one who caused his death."

Lu Tong squeezed his eyes shut tightly and said, "Blame you? If I blame you, would my son come back? He died protecting you. If I blamed you, then what would everything he did mean? What would the grandson he left me mean? The fact that he would give his life to protect you shows that in his heart, you already ranked above me, his own father. I spoiled him his entire life—I can't stop spoiling him just because he's gone."

Xiaoyi had said that all he needed to do was love him well, because... he had his own mission.

She had also said not to grieve over his departure, because there would be a surprise.

Lu Tong glanced at the infant in his arms and wondered—could the surprise she spoke of be that he would leave behind a grandson?

But he would rather give up the grandson than lose Yunqi.

Whether Lu Feiluan sensed his grandfather's thoughts or not, he suddenly burst into tears again.

Startled, Lu Tong quickly took him back from Murong Jie's arms and coaxed him patiently: "Don't cry, my precious grandson. Grandfather loves your father, but he loves you even more. There, there, Feiluan, don't cry. Grandfather knows he was wrong. You're the apple of grandfather's eye, alright?"

Indeed, an old man's mouth is the hardest thing—this was clearly a case of loving the grandchild even more than the child.

Murong Jie rose and said in a low voice, "He should call you grandfather."

Lu Tong was slightly taken aback and asked, "Isn't he of the Murong bloodline?"

Murong Jie sneered: "The Murong family is unworthy."

Lu Tong knew that Murong Jie hated his father—the man who had caused him half a lifetime of suffering and had killed his mother. "So, that's why you've given Feiluan the surname Lu?"

Murong Jie shook his head and replied, "I gave him the surname Lu because that's what he should bear. He was born from Yunqi's desperate struggle. No one can take away his sacrifice."

Lu Tong suddenly felt that this son-in-law was not so bad after all.

It was just a pity that his son was no longer here. If his son were still alive, he would have wanted to hold them a grand wedding that would shake the entire capital, letting everyone know his son had married.

What a pity. What a pity...

After Murong Jie left, he went straight to the palace. The next day, word spread that Murong Jie had been titled Prince Peer, and the old emperor had even held his hand and performed half a day of father-son affection.

He said to him: "That Lu boy wasn't sincere either. He already had you, yet he went and fathered a child outside. You needn't grieve too deeply over his death. In the end, we father and son are the ones bound by blood."

Murong Jie said nothing, simply accepting all the rewards the old emperor bestowed upon him.

Yet his title of Prince Peer seemed to place him in opposition to Lu Tong, forcibly severing their alliance.

In contrast, the eldest prince had been drawing closer and closer to Lu Tong lately.

Of course, only in private, because the old emperor didn't want Murong Jie to be close to Lu Tong, nor did he want the eldest prince to be close to Lu Tong.

When a general with immense power grows close to any prince, it makes the emperor suspicious.

He was already a paranoid man—how could he tolerate others sleeping soundly beside his bed?

Moreover, the eldest prince's recent actions were becoming increasingly blatant—courting court officials, forming factions, clearly harboring ambitions of his own.

That was the way of emperors: I may give, but you must not take, and you must not snatch. If treacherous thoughts arise, that is rebellion, and rebellion warrants extermination.

The old emperor saw all this and deliberately granted Murong Jie many special privileges—allowing him to participate in court affairs, giving him the power to execute first and report later, and bestowing upon him a ceremonial sword to act as he saw fit.

All of this finally pushed the eldest prince past his limit. He smashed another set of jade teacups and cursed: "That bastard! Why didn't I crush him back then? At the very least, I should have trampled him into the mud so he could never rise again!"

The strategist, who had been gently waving his feather fan, let out a soft chuckle and said, "Your Highness, you're being impatient again. However, this humble one believes that your moment has nearly arrived."