Chapter 655

Chapter 655: The Whole Family Reunited

“Who dares to be so insolent?” Xuan Ji Chuan idly tapped his fingers on the dragon throne, his tone indifferent.

General Mo suppressed the joy surging in his heart. “It is none other than Princess Sunshine, personally titled by Emperor Xuan Ping.”

“I heard His Majesty even served as her attendant in the past?” he asked cautiously.

Since Xuan Ji Chuan’s return from Northern Zhao, he had never spoken of his past there.

Almost no one knew what had transpired during those years. They only knew that he had suffered humiliation, had been reduced to serving the emperor’s adopted daughter like a mere servant—a fate akin to that of a true slave.

At first, some ministers attempted to speculate on his thoughts, but Xuan Ji Chuan was unpredictable and capricious. Those who served at his side dared not reveal anything.

Of course, there were those who initially risked spreading rumors.

But when he discovered them, he flayed a man alive, kept him hanging by hundred-year-old ginseng to prolong his suffering, and left him to dry at the palace gates. From then on, none dared to make another misstep.

Xuan Ji Chuan’s cold smile stiffened as his eyes widened instinctively.

Who? Who had arrived?

Sunshine?

Chao Chao!

Xuan Ji Chuan suddenly leapt from his seat, startling General Mo so much that his heart nearly stopped.

Taking a deep breath, General Mo confirmed, “Yes, it is Princess Sunshine. Word is that when she ascended as the Empress of the Southern Kingdom, she commanded Your Majesty to bow before her.”

“Though the Southern Kingdom is the mightiest nation under the heavens, such an act was an unbearable humiliation.”

Back then, Lu Chao Chao had taken the throne and, before the entire court, Xuan Ji Chuan had bowed three times and kowtowed nine.

Rumors spread like wildfire. Some claimed that the Empress had forced the King of Eastern Ling to kneel, relying on her past dominance over him.

Others whispered that the Eastern Ling King had vowed to serve her in eternal devotion, never to break free of her grasp.

General Mo had heard such tales, but he had dismissed them with a laugh.

The Eastern Ling King? He knew better than anyone what kind of man Xuan Ji Chuan was.

He was a madman.

A true madman.

Yet Xuan Ji Chuan did not care for General Mo’s thoughts. His face alight with eagerness, he strode out of the hall.

“Summon the entire court. Follow me beyond the palace!”

Xuan Ji Chuan hastened his steps.

The civil and military officials exchanged bewildered glances before turning to General Mo, who trailed closely behind the emperor.

“General Mo, His Majesty has been unstable—sometimes lucid, sometimes violent. He has not left the palace in a long time. What is happening today?”

General Mo raised an eyebrow. “A fine spectacle is about to unfold.”

Rumors? Kneeling? Willing servitude?

All of them were lies.

“Keep up, unless you wish to witness His Majesty’s wrath.” The officials shuddered and hurried after him.

Beyond the grand hall, Xuan Ji Chuan halted in his steps.

Then, before the eyes of the entire court, he solemnly bent his knees and bowed, his forehead touching the ground.

General Mo: ??????

“Your Majesty?!” He could not contain his shock.

The feared and revered King of Eastern Ling did not even turn back. “If she demands that I kowtow with every step, then I shall do so until I have invited her in.”

General Mo felt his blood surge, the scene before him numbing his very soul.

Your Majesty, what are you doing?!

“The entire court shall accompany me in welcoming the Princess.”

The officials looked at one another in disbelief. This was madness.

Yet Xuan Ji Chuan had already begun his procession, bowing with every step. Some wanted to protest, but at the sight of the bloodshot madness in his eyes, they swallowed their words and retreated.

The emperor was slipping into his fits of insanity.

No one knew when he would snap, when he would turn violent. No one dared to provoke him.

Whenever the Eastern Ling King lost his sanity, even hidden masters working together could barely restrain him until he regained himself. He had an elite force of loyal death guards. If he fell into madness, no one could approach.

Damn it!

General Mo had dug his own grave. No, he had shattered his own cauldron.

As he watched the entire court fall to their knees, a minister whispered to him in fear, “General Mo, His Majesty is losing his mind. Do not provoke him further.”

General Mo felt both furious and regretful. He should never have spoken those words about kowtowing every step.

And he had underestimated just how much Lu Chao Chao meant to the emperor.

He numbly joined the kneeling court, his heart riddled with unease.

At the palace gates—

“That General Mo earlier—wasn’t he defeated by Lord Rong?”

“Indeed. He repeatedly led troops to invade Northern Zhao, only to be repelled by General Rong Che. Then, when General Rong returned to the capital, he was crushed by the young General Lu.”

“He must loathe the Princess to his very bones.”

“I suspect he will try to interfere.”

“And the hostage prince of old… Has he changed? Now, he is an emperor.”

Windchaser leaned against the wall, holding his sword, while Xie Yu Zhou muttered beside him.

Just as he spoke, a vast procession emerged from the distance.

Draped in imperial yellow, the king of Eastern Ling led his entire court, bowing with each step as he approached.

Lu Chao Chao was dumbstruck.

“I only said some tough words, asking you to personally invite me. Did you really have to kneel all the way here?! Eastern Ling’s etiquette is far too excessive!”

Xuan Ji Chuan lifted his eyelids slightly at her words.

Before his usual killing intent could even surface, a gentle smile curled his lips. “My little master has arrived—how could Ji Chuan not come to personally welcome you?”

No one understood.

Lu Chao Chao was his salvation.

Had it not been for Chao Chao, he would never have survived long enough to return to Eastern Ling.

Neither he nor his sister, Xuan Yin, would have ever seen their home again.

It was all thanks to Lu Chao Chao. Now, Xuan Yin could even visit Eastern Ling from time to time.

Since Chao Chao had come, he would offer her everything.

For reasons unknown, he felt a deep, unshakable sense of submission toward her.

The officials, seeing the rare smile on their king’s face, trembled in terror and immediately averted their gazes.

This was the first time they had seen him smile like this.

General Mo clenched his teeth, his body rigid.

Lu Chao Chao tilted her head in horror. “Xuan Ji Chuan, why are you so tall now?!”

She had to tilt her head to look at him!

She stomped her feet indignantly.

Am I the only one who stayed round and short?! This is unfair!

Hearing her call the emperor by his full name, the officials gasped. But the king of Eastern Ling showed not a shred of anger. Instead, his expression grew even gentler. “Chao Chao is still young. No rush to grow up.”

Lu Chao Chao yawned and spread her arms. “Carry me.”

The officials’ jaws dropped as they watched their ruthless, fearsome king squat down with a smile, lift the little princess into his arms, and stride into the palace.

Their minds went blank.

General Mo turned ashen.

Suddenly, he realized the rumors…

Were true.

No. It was worse than the rumors.

The Eastern Ling King’s devotion to her was even more terrifying.

Most horrifying of all, Lu Chao Chao had somehow tamed a bloodthirsty ruler into smiling like…

A kind old man.

“They say you have ruled with blood and terror since your ascension?” Lu Chao Chao asked curiously.

The young emperor furrowed his brows, looking aggrieved. “Nonsense. Mere slander. I am the most benevolent and magnanimous ruler. If you don’t believe me, ask my court.”

He swept a glance at his officials.

They trembled violently and nodded.

“Yes! His Majesty is extremely merciful! He never separates us from our families. He ensures we never experience loneliness.”

After all, whenever an official was executed, their entire clan followed.

Not a single member left behind.

His Majesty truly cared for them all.