Section 1

Xiao Qi bowed and said: "I humbly request Your Majesty to grant her to me."

The Flame Emperor said softly: "It has been many years since my royal brother returned to the capital, and I have long been looking forward to our reunion as siblings. How could I not respond to this?"

The trusted attendant beside him said: "Why did Your Majesty agree to let the Southern King stay in the capital for an extended period this time?"

The attendant replied and asked, "Are we going to the side of the Shadow Concubine?"

The Flame Emperor let out a sound of "Oh": "The news travels so fast, you came to see me for this matter?"

Xiao Qi said: "I cannot allow her to remain in the palace"

As the chaos recedes, his eyes suddenly open wide, and the large red double happiness character in the room becomes increasingly glaring and piercing. Since the day he moved back into this master bedroom, his emotions have been far from the usual tranquility. Memories buried deep within his heart for a century have been stirred once again. He knows that it is not merely a matter of resembling someone in appearance; that kind of intuition is difficult to articulate. He has almost reached a conclusion, only needing confirmation.

Is this situation related to her in any way

Liu Yu nestled in his arms and said: "Not tired."

Knowing that he was being insincere, the attendant hurriedly smiled and said: "Just now, I counted the gifts presented by the Southern King, which include ninety-nine rare and precious items, dozens of fine brocades for the Empress and the various ladies, and additionally, twenty beautiful women. Among them, there is one particularly special dancer, said to have been acquired at the banquet in the Duke of Ding's residence yesterday, renowned for her exceptional skills and beauty. The Southern King has specially offered her to Your Majesty."

The person in my arms is as gentle as usual, yet my heart remains restless, desperately avoiding the past, leaving only a trace of panic and a sense of bewilderment.

Liu Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief: "I have been so busy these past few days that I have been confused."

Within the Imperial Garden, the Flame Emperor personally hosted a royal banquet to welcome the returning Southern King. The festivities lasted a full hour before dispersing. As the various princes took their leave, the Southern King also departed the palace with his guards, while the attendants and palace maids hurried back and forth in the corridor, carrying jade green pots, colorful glass cups, and dishes, busily clearing away the remnants of the feast

The crimson robe, cinched with a golden brocade belt, adorned with a crown inlaid with flame stones, bears a resemblance to the Southern King, yet with slightly thicker brows, somewhat smaller eyes, and a slightly older age, is none other than the Flame Emperor, Wen Zhu Chongxiao

The events that took place at the Dingwang Mansion were already known to Emperor Yan through confidential reports. Upon hearing this, he nodded, and a hint of understanding and amusement flickered in his eyes

The Southern King has ulterior motives, as reported. Yesterday, Xiao Qi publicly lost composure over this dancer and even took the opportunity to visit the Southern King at night. These two events coincided perfectly, but it was unexpected that Xiao Qi would actually come to the palace to demand someone.

"You are quite the romantic, aren't you?" Yan Huang chuckled lightly and instructed the attendant, "Bring in the woman named Yan Chu."

Xiao Qidao: "I have heard that His Highness the Southern King has presented a woman named Yan Chu to the palace"

If my wife enters the palace to serve the lord, it will surely bring ridicule upon the world. The Flame Emperor also understood his concerns and nodded, saying: "In the vast realm of the Five Spirits, there are many who bear similar appearances. If it is truly confirmed that she is the princess, it may not necessarily be a good thing for you."

Liu Yu insisted on getting up to assist him in dressing, and also instructed the maid to fetch breakfast

Flame Emperor said: "First, go and see the new beauty that Wang Di has sent."

The Flame Emperor was taken aback upon hearing this and said, "Didn’t the princess die under the arrows of the Mufeng Kingdom?"

The sounds of battle echoed incessantly, the icy currents exuded a chilling atmosphere, and the red maple leaves danced in the firelight, resembling burning flames. The woman stood at the edge of the cliff, gazing at him from afar, her phoenix-like eyes still beautiful, not filled with anger, nor disappointment, but rather an emptiness, a profound stillness, like stagnant water

Having casually finished breakfast, Xiao Qi hurriedly exited the back garden, where the people from the Southern King were already waiting in the hall

He smiled as he held her down: "Just married, I need not attend court."

The Flame Emperor's expression softened slightly: "What do you mean?"

Xiao Qi said: "After all, she is my lawfully wedded wife."

He finally pushed her away: "Although I do not need to attend court today, I have matters to attend to, so I should get up now"

Xiao Qidao: "She indeed fell victim to the Wind Arrow of Punishment, plunging into the icy currents of the extreme north. At that time, I searched in vain and presumed there was no possibility of survival. To stabilize the morale of the Yue army, I announced her death. Over the years, I have secretly dispatched people to search for her remains near the icy currents, but there has been no trace."

You ... ...

The Flame Emperor said with a smile that seemed not to be a smile: "Is a woman worth you being this anxious?"

The Flame Emperor frowned slightly, turned around, and walked outside. Upon exiting the main door, he indeed saw Xiao Qi standing beside the corridor pillar, without any attendants.

A person slowly stepped out of the garden gate and headed towards the rear palace, followed closely by several attendants

After sending the person away, Xiao Qi frowned and said: "Enter the palace"

In fact, when Nan Wang agreed last night, he already knew that things would not be so simple, fully aware that he was being led step by step into a trap, yet he had to delve deeper into it

Xiao Qidao: "She is a woman, raised in seclusion since childhood. The few generals who knew her have long perished in the Battle of the Land Dispute. Currently, General Wu and others have not seen her true appearance, and she claims to have amnesia. The Southern King must also lack evidence to confirm her identity, sending her to the palace is likely a deliberate test."

In the midst of the conversation, a servant came to report: "The Duke of Ding requests an audience and has been waiting outside for some time."

The flames are submerged by the icy flow, and the moment is etched into memory, never to be erased.

Beside her, Liu Yu woke up in a hurry, asking, "Have I missed the time?"

Once friends who shared hardships, now at the pinnacle of power yet wary of their sovereign, a century of trials has brought about profound changes. Upon seeing the Flame Emperor, Xiao Qi took the initiative to step forward and pay his respects, and the Flame Emperor kindly extended a hand to assist him. The gestures between the ruler and his minister were impeccable, exuding a harmony that was truly enviable

The arrow of invisibility, blood surges from the chest

When the elder sister entered the palace, she married the younger sister. Every year, as per tradition, beautiful women were presented, and what one does not care for is actually someone else's treasure. One must say that this card was played well from the very beginning

Her appearance of lacking security made him feel the most pity for her, yet at this moment, he inexplicably lost interest and did not comfort her as he usually did, only smiling slightly and saying: "You should sleep a little longer"

"According to what you said, there is no corpse in the coffin for the burial," Yan Huang understood, his expression gradually becoming serious. He clasped his hands behind his back and paced a few steps, pondering, "The coldness of the Ice Stream has always been feared by my people in the Flame Kingdom. Let alone someone severely injured, even you would find it difficult to survive. Moreover, if she is indeed the princess, her identity would be enough to shake the Yue army. How could the prince easily return her?"

As she saw him flying in to save her, she frowned and stepped back until she lost her footing

Xiao Qi fell silent for a moment and said: "This woman bears a striking resemblance to Xi Luo"

As Flame Emperor walked forward, he instructed, "Select any two items from what has been sent and reward them to Danfei."

This is for the dancer named Yan Chu

He sat up slightly and embraced her, saying, "There are many matters at home, thank you for your hard work"

Currently, there are two major forces in the Yan Kingdom. If one side were to falter, it would undoubtedly disrupt the balance. The Southern King dares to enter the capital not only because he has his people at the four gates of the capital, but also because he is relying on his own concerns. Using the deep sisterly bond between the Southern King's consort and the Dan Consort as an excuse is quite fitting. However, having people under one's nose may not necessarily be a bad thing. For many years, Xiao Qi has dominated the capital, raising suspicions of power manipulation, and it is indeed time to be vigilant.

You mean ... ...

Liu Yu bit her lip and said, "You won't."

Understanding and empathetic, how can such a woman fail to move a man? He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow and tease her: "Aren't you afraid I might be captivated by your beauty?"

Miss Yan Chu was upset about last night's events and insisted on leaving. His Highness, feeling helpless, has already sent her into the palace. Out of concern that Duke Ding might be anxious, His Highness has instructed this servant to convey a message, asking for Duke Ding's understanding

Liu Yu playfully winked at him: "You are nervous for a reason, no need to explain"

The minister's wife, daughter of the general of Yue