Isolated town in northern border region

The next day, at Chengtian Hall.

The court assembly proceeded as usual, with officials lined up in their respective positions.

Xiao Yu stood first on the right, with a white silk scar wrapped around her neck, covering the faint sword mark.

His face was as gloomy as the sky before a storm, and his eyes were filled with murderous intent.

"Your Majesty, I have something to report."

He stepped forward, his voice ringing out.

"Crown Prince Xiao Lie, as the heir apparent, has neglected military preparedness and state affairs for seven years, causing the northern border's military to fall into disrepair. Taking advantage of this weakness, the northern barbarians have seized three prefectures in succession! This is a dereliction of duty, an unforgivable crime!"

"Your Majesty, I beg you to depose Crown Prince Xiao Lie to appease the people!"

As soon as he finished speaking, several ministers stepped forward to second his opinion.

On the dragon throne, Emperor Xiao Mu of Chu tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest, without saying a word.

Just then...

Footsteps could be heard outside the hall.

The footsteps were not hurried, but rather steady.

Step by step, unhurriedly, as if stepping on everyone's heart.

Everyone turned their heads away.

Xiao Lie has arrived.

He was dressed in white mourning clothes, but there was no mourning attire like that of a woman in mourning clothes; only clean white.

He had the late emperor's sword hanging at his waist and held the late emperor's memorial tablet in his hands. His face was pale and his eyes were sunken, but his gaze was as calm as a deep pool of water.

When he entered the main hall, everyone smelled a bloody stench.

It was the blood seeping from his chest that stained his mourning clothes red!

He walked to the center of the hall, neither crying nor kneeling, but simply raising the memorial tablet high.

"Your Majesty, I have come to beg for forgiveness."

The main hall was silent.

Xiao Yu frowned.

Why isn't this good-for-nothing crying today?

In the past, whenever she couldn't bear the injustice, she would cry and complain in front of all the civil and military officials, just like a bullied widow!

Why is this good-for-nothing so tough today?

Xiao Lie turned around and faced the assembled civil and military officials. His voice was not loud, but it was clear and distinct.

"The northern barbarians have seized three prefectures in succession. As the crown prince, I cannot escape the blame."

"I have come today not to defend myself, but to plead for my life."

He put down the memorial tablet and knelt on one knee.

"Your Majesty, please grant me permission to travel to the northern border."

The entire hall erupted in uproar.

"The North? What's he going to the North for?"

"Are we going to our deaths?"

Xiao Lie ignored the whispers, raised his head, and looked directly at Emperor Chu on the dragon throne.

"Imperial Uncle, the Northern Barbarians have conquered three prefectures, and no one in Great Chu dares to go. I will go!"

His voice was calm as still water, but beneath that calm lay immense power.

"The late emperor passed away in the northern border, so I will go there! If I die there, it will be a farewell between father and son. If I do not die..."

He paused.

"I will, on behalf of Great Chu, reclaim the three lost provinces!"

The hall was deathly silent.

Prime Minister Yue Yanqing turned his head away, his eyes red-rimmed. Marquis Wuwei Lu Wanfeng clenched his fists, his tiger-like eyes gleaming. Several senior officials lowered their heads, their shoulders trembling slightly.

Xiao Yu's face turned ashen.

He had thought that Xiao Lie would come crying, begging for mercy, and holding the late emperor's memorial tablet to complain about his grievances!

That way he could justifiably trample him into the mud.

But Xiao Lie didn't.

He knelt there, without shedding a single tear or uttering a single word of complaint.

He just said—

I go!

I'm going to my death!

I'm going to guard the nation's borders!

I'm going to take back the lost territory!

Xiao Yu suddenly realized that he didn't know how to respond.

The Chu Emperor remained silent for a long time.

"The northern border is bitterly cold, and the barbarians are ferocious. If you leave, how can I explain this to the late Emperor?"

Xiao Lie raised his head.

"The Imperial Uncle doesn't need to explain himself to anyone."

"As the only son of the late emperor, my nephew has been muddle-headed and has no demeanor of a ruler all these years. He has truly brought shame to the previous emperors of the Great Chu."

"But I still possess a heart willing to die! A burning desire to serve my country! And the blood of the royal family!"

"Your Majesty, I humbly beg you to allow me to go to the northern frontier to face my death!"

"If my nephew manages to kill one or two of those northern barbarians this time, he will not have failed the late emperor's illustrious name!"

Xiao Lie spoke earnestly, and in the end he stopped referring to himself as "your subject" and instead called himself "your nephew."

In the eyes of Emperor Xiao Mu of Chu, this was simply a royal descendant who had suddenly realized his mistake and was willing to sacrifice himself for his country.

Just as the Chu Emperor was feeling sentimental, the eldest prince, Xiao Yu, stepped forward with his hands clasped.

"Father! My brother's heartfelt words truly demonstrate his worthy lineage as a descendant of the Xiao family! His willingness to sacrifice his life for his country is a model for the entire Chu royal family!"

"In my opinion, although Your Majesty lacks military and political talent, as well as strategies for pacifying the people, he is certainly not fit to go north alone as a commoner!"

"How about we appoint Xiao Lie as the Pacification Commissioner of the Northern Border, so that he can use his royal status to pacify the soldiers and civilians of the Northern Border?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Lie felt an urge to stab the eldest prince, Xiao Yu, to death on the spot!

He's not trying to gain recognition for himself; he's practically throwing himself into a fire pit!

Originally, Xiao Lie only wanted to get rid of the position of crown prince, escape the death knell of the promise to pass on the throne, and gain freedom.

But if he becomes the Northern Border Pacification Commissioner, he will have neither soldiers nor food. If trouble breaks out in the Northern Border again, it will inevitably be blamed on Xiao Lie!

What a vicious thought!

Xiao Lie cursed inwardly for a moment, and then the Chu Emperor made his decision.

"Effective immediately, Xiao Lie is hereby stripped of his title as Crown Prince, but retains the title of Prince of Ning. He is hereby appointed as the Pacification Commissioner of the Northern Border and sent to the northern border to pacify the army and the people and resist the northern barbarians."

He paused.

"As for the Crown Prince... we'll discuss that later."

The court session ended.

The officials filed out.

Xiao Yu, her face ashen, strode out.

"Eldest brother."

A calm voice came from behind me.

Xiao Yu paused, then slowly turned around.

Xiao Lie stood at the palace gate, dressed in snow-white robes, a long sword hanging at his waist. His face showed no trace of tears, no anger, only something indescribable.

It was as if he had been relieved of a great burden, or as if he was calm before leaving.

"Are you satisfied with this explanation?"

Xiao Lie said.

"The position of Crown Prince—one step further and you'll be the Emperor, but if even the Great Chu Dynasty falls, you're nothing more than a pack of wild dogs fighting over food!"

He smiled.

"I don't want the position of Crown Prince! I'll give it to you."

"Oh, right, it might not even be yours yet, hahaha!"

Xiao Yu's face turned a deep purplish-red, and her fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

"You think you can survive if you go to the North?"

Xiao Lie did not answer, but turned and walked towards the palace gate, leaving only one sentence:

"Whether I live or die is my fate!"

"Whether or not to defend is never a question that our Great Chu royal family should consider!"

"The foundation laid by our great Chu emperors through arduous struggle is not meant to be seized by others!"

noon.

The King of the North's carriage left the capital.

There were no ceremonial guards, no attendants, only a broken-down carriage, a coachman, and Bisu.

With red eyes, Bisu helped Xiao Lie bandage his wounds.

The arrow wound in his chest hadn't healed yet, and it just tore open again in the court, staining his mourning clothes red with blood.

"Your Highness, are you really... giving up the position of Crown Prince?"

Xiao Lie leaned against the car wall with his eyes closed.

"That position was never mine."

The carriage traveled for less than half an hour.

The sound of rapid hoofbeats came from behind.

The palace eunuchs caught up with them.

"Prince Ning! It's His Majesty's decree!"

The carriage stopped. The eunuch, panting, handed over the imperial edict.

Xiao Lie unfolded.

"The Northern Barbarian army has once again seized Lizhou, and the northern border is in grave danger... Prince Ning, Xiao Lie, having requested the responsibility of defending the territory, should immediately assume his post and take full command of the defense. The court is currently unable to send troops, and we hope that you will prioritize the nation and do your utmost."

Bisu's face turned pale.

"Your Highness, of the five northern states, only one remains!"

"The imperial court hasn't sent troops yet! This...this is going to happen..."

Xiao Lie folded the imperial edict and stuffed it into his bosom.

"Go to your death."

After he finished speaking for Bisu, he shrugged helplessly.

"That's what everyone thinks."

He mounted his horse and looked north.

"Let's go."

Bisu got anxious.

"Your Highness, aren't you angry?"

Xiao Lie glanced back in the direction of the capital.

"What's there to be angry about? The more eager they are to kill me, the more they fear my survival."

He raised his whip.

"The sea is wide enough for fish to leap, and the sky is high enough for birds to fly!"

"Reaching the North is where the real journey begins!"