Remarried to a top-tier playboy, her reborn ex-husband is filled with regret.

Lu Zhao had been waiting to hear those words.

He suddenly waved his hand.

"superior!"

The imperial army pounced on them like hungry tigers.

The knife handle was raised high.

The first blow landed on the wise king's shoulder.

The wise king let out a scream and his head lolled to the side.

Before he could shout again, another knife handle came crashing down on his forehead.

Blood gushed out and streamed down his face.

Several clan elders also suffered.

Someone was struck in the face by the back of a knife, and two teeth mixed with blood were spat out.

Someone tried to run away, but was pulled back by two imperial guards, who kicked him in the back of the knee, sending him sprawling face-first into the dirt.

"Xiao Fang! How dare you!"

"ah--!"

"Stop hitting him! Stop hitting him!"

"We're relatives!"

Nobody listened.

Lu Zhao's men were extremely ruthless.

They had fought their way back from the North, and they all possessed genuine skills and true power.

Before long, the wise king and several clan elders were all beaten until their heads were covered in blood.

They dragged it away from the altar like a dead dog.

The onlookers were so frightened that they backed away repeatedly.

Those who were whispering just moments ago now all kept their mouths shut.

Even the children dare not cry.

This spoiled brat is still the same old him.

They've lost their minds; they actually think it's okay to discuss his actions.

Xiao Fang didn't even glance at the crowd of onlookers; he never cared about what others thought.

He then looked at the blood on the ground.

"Wash the ground."

Several buckets of water were splashed down with a "whoosh".

Blood flowed down the long street, down to lower ground.

Soon, the bluestone floor was clean again.

Xiao Fang walked back to the hearse and supported the coffin.

There was no trace of anger on his face anymore.

All that remained was a terrifyingly heavy silence.

"Lift the coffin."

He spoke, but his voice was not loud.

The hearse started moving again.

The wheels rolled steadily forward, crushing water stains and paper dust.

The streets were covered in white, spread out once again.

Xiao Fang followed beside the coffin, walking forward step by step.

He didn't look at the people being dragged away again.

Only occasionally, I would look up and glance at the road ahead.

The wind picked up again.

Paper money filled the sky.

It was as if they were seeing Long Yuanqi and the Empress off on their final journey.

Long Yuanqi's funeral was held with the utmost solemnity.

From the imperial city to the imperial mausoleum, everything is pure white.

Officials escorted the coffin, and imperial guards cleared the way.

The hearse was carried by thirty-six military officers, each of whom was a meritorious general who had returned from the North.

Xiao Fang walked at the front.

He still did not ride a horse.

His plain clothes billowed in the wind, yet he remained as still as if cast in stone.

The master of ceremonies stood by, chanting with each step.

"The emperor's benevolence extends to all living beings—"

"Although his reign was short, he pacified the northern barbarians, subdued the western Rong, and incorporated the southern Yue, expanding the territory; his achievements surpass those of the ancients!"

"Open trade routes, promote horse administration, pacify the people, and secure the nation—"

"His posthumous title is Emperor Yuanheng."

"To be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and to be worshipped for ten thousand generations—"

The lyrics were sung high and far, blending with the funeral music.

The funeral banners were like clouds, and the paper money was like snow.

At the imperial mausoleum, seventy-two officials knelt in unison to welcome the emperor.

The tomb passage has been opened.

The coffins of Long Yuanqi and the Empress will be buried together in the main mausoleum.

Xiao Fang personally guided the coffin, sending Long Yuanqi's remains into the tomb passage.

The coffin was extremely heavy.

His shoulders slumped slightly under the weight, but he held on firmly.

No one else was asked to do it for me.

The empress's coffin was beside him, and he personally escorted it to the empress's grave.

When the tomb was sealed off, the wind suddenly picked up.

The paper money was rolled up for half a day, circling around the imperial tomb like countless white birds.

Xiao Fang stood in front of the mausoleum.

He stared at the stone door closing slowly, his face devoid of tears.

He just looked like he was being weighed down by something.

Those eyes were dark, deep, and serene.

He didn't say a single word to the coffin from beginning to end.

But no one doubts that the person on the other side of the door, if they could still see, would recognize what he was looking at.

That was sadness.

This person, however, even suppresses their sadness.

After the tomb was sealed, the officials gradually withdrew.

Xiao Fang was the last to leave.

He did not return to the palace, nor to the Censorate.

He mounted his horse and galloped towards the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion.

Dusk was already falling.

The horses' hooves trod across the long street, like stepping on a trail of unburnt ashes.

The wind chased after him from behind, swirling the paper money scattered on the ground high into the air.

Xiao Fang did not turn around.

He just wanted to get back as soon as possible.

Let's go back to the place where Yun Shuyao and her two children are.

When Xiao Fang returned to the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion, it was just past noon.

Yun Shuyao hasn't eaten yet.

She was in the inner room, looking at two sets of clothes that had just been delivered with Chunzhi.

Xiao Fang walked in, still carrying the chill from outside.

"Why aren't you resting yet?"

Yun Shuyao turned around.

"When you come back, I'll take a look and see if these clothes fit."

She asked Chunzhi to present one of the sets to Xiao Fang.

It was a set of tiny baby clothes.

It has a bright yellow satin base, embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon.

The stitches are extremely dense, and the dragon's head is no bigger than a thumb, yet it is embroidered with great spirit.

The blanket next to it was also bright yellow, with dragon and cloud patterns embroidered on all four sides.

"This is for the young prince."

He was just born and couldn't wear a proper dragon robe yet.

I had the embroiderer make this set first. It won't harm his body, and it will also allow people to recognize his identity.

Xiao Fang glanced at it and nodded.

"well done.

"Prepare the things that the palace can't get rid of here first."

Yun Shuyao then pointed to another set.

"This is for you."

Xiao Fang looked over.

It was a bright red official robe.

The robe was embroidered with a four-clawed cloud python in gold thread, and the hem was also embossed with a dark pattern.

The crown was lacquered in black, yet embroidered with exquisite detail.

The entire outfit, unlike the plain attire of ordinary civil officials, had a certain sharpness and majesty of a military general.

"I also had someone make you a set."

Although you no longer need to wear those old court robes, your proper status still requires appropriate attire.

Xiao Fang took off his outer robe and shook out the clothes.

The red robe and gold thread spread out under the lamp, like a scorching flame.

He moved swiftly and quickly got dressed.

Yun Shuyao straightened his headdress.

"It's so beautiful."

She took half a step back and looked him up and down.

"My husband is so handsome."

Xiao Fang looked down at himself.

"Aren't you afraid I'll become too flamboyant?"

"It's better to be eye-catching."

Yun Shuyao said.

"The road ahead may not be easy."

You hold great power and are also holding the crown prince in your arms.

From now on, criticism will only increase.

Xiao Fang smiled.

"I have never cared about their criticisms."

I, Xiao Fang, have always been like this.

Do what you want to do.

If you believe something is right, no one can stop you.

As for them... they should endure it if they can, and if they can't, they'd better keep it to themselves.

Yun Shuyao smiled too.

"Just don't let them affect you, and as long as their words don't cause you any trouble."

"How could that be?"

Xiao Fang opened his arms and pulled Yun Shuyao into his embrace.

"I have a wife in my arms and a daughter in the house."

"Who do those people outside even belong to?"

Yun Shuyao leaned against his chest and stopped talking.

The room was filled with lights, quietly illuminating the person dressed in a red robe and golden armor.

Day two.

As dawn broke, Xiao Fang left the mansion.

He was holding the little prince in his arms.

The child was wrapped tightly in a bright yellow dragon-patterned swaddle, with only half of his face showing, and was fast asleep.

Xiao Fang held him like that, step by step walking into the palace gate, passing through the long steps of the former court, and entering the golden hall.

The officials in the hall were already lined up.

The entire hall was astonished to see Xiao Fang carrying the crown prince in.

No one dared to speak.

Xiao Fang did not speak.

He carried the child, walked to the top, lifted his robe, and sat down.

He sat on the dragon throne so openly and blatantly.

The officials below gasped in unison.