Even emperors have it tough, so don't be too picky about the entries.

......

Helian Xiong rode at the head of the army, ten miles from the capital, and raised his arm to signal the entire army to stop.

The five thousand Northern Barbarian soldiers obeyed orders without question, their horses' hooves forming an almost continuous line.

This is a safe distance.

This distance is sufficient for them to handle any unexpected situation.

Chen Yuan sat in the carriage, lifting the curtain and staring longingly at the familiar city gate.

They waited from sunrise until the sun was blazing, but the city gate remained unmoved.

Chen Yuan couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. What if that rebellious son really didn't come to greet him?

He truly didn't want to stay in the Northern Wilderness camp anymore; he couldn't bear to relive the humiliation of leading sheep.

It's better to live a wretched life than to die a good death.

As long as I can get to Beijing, I'm willing to be under house arrest or have my sex life restricted.

Human desires change in real time depending on the environment.

At this moment, Chen Yuan's biggest wish was to return to the capital, even if it meant eating coarse food and wild vegetables.

But when the sun was directly overhead, the city gates suddenly burst open.

Chen Yuan sat up straight instantly, his mind already conjuring up images of ruling the world once again.

"That little bastard still has some conscience," he cursed inwardly.

A white horseman leaped out first.

The man on horseback wore a black dragon robe, with an emperor's sword hanging at his waist, and a string of teacups on his saddle.

It was Chen Shao.

Behind him were the civil and military officials of the Great Yan Dynasty, surrounded by cavalry.

"Look, who said His Majesty's son is unfilial? Look, he's brought the entire court to welcome you."

Wu Xingyun smiled faintly and snapped his fingers.

Two Northern Mang soldiers immediately drove the carriage forward.

"Your Majesty, the well-being of the people, the peace of the Great Yan, and the coexistence of our two nations—all depend on you!"

Chen Yuan leaned out of the car window and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect towards her:

"As long as I am alive, the two nations will forever be free from war!"

Only when the carriage had gone far away did Helian Xiong finally mutter something under his breath.

"What a load of bull! Does he even have the final say on whether or not we fight? Is Chen Yuan out of his mind?"

Wu Xingyun shook his head: "He is much smarter than you. In order to regain the throne, he can endure such humiliation and pretend to be stupid."

"If this person returns, the Great Yan will surely be thrown into chaos."

"As long as Your Majesty resolves the issues in the rear, you can march south again to capture the dragon at any time."

"Helian Xiong, take five thousand cavalrymen and hide in the mountains, awaiting orders at any time."

Upon hearing that there was another mission, Helian Xiong was overjoyed: "Yes!"

"And you, Mr. Wu?"

"I?"

Wu Xingyun chuckled.

"Naturally, I'm going to the capital to stir up trouble."

"Love in the clouds?" Helian Xiong scratched his head.

...This is like casting pearls before swine, Wu Xingyun said without further explanation.

Helian Xiong, however, persisted in pressing the matter:

"Sir, you're not going to defect to the enemy, are you? That Chen Shao kid is so delicate and fair-skinned, I heard he's most popular with cultured people like you."

Wu Xingyun, unable to bear it any longer, angrily said:

"Helian Xiong, with such filthy thoughts, aren't you afraid your son won't have a male heir in the future?"

Helian Xiong scratched his head:

"That's not very fun..."

"Get lost! You bearded bastard!"

......

Chen Yuan rode in the carriage and stopped a few hundred meters away from Chen Shao and the others.

We walked forward step by step.

This distance is not long.

Being sent back in such a humiliating manner is not something to be proud of, much less something a monarch should be able to do.

He cares about his reputation.

Each step felt like traversing a long lifetime.

Chen Yuan was born as the crown prince, learned to read at the age of three, and could compose poetry at the age of six.

He became regent at the age of fifteen and held absolute power at the age of twenty-five.

To call them outstanding individuals is no exaggeration.

His life was too smooth sailing, which shaped his proud personality.

He felt that he was the god of the Great Yan Dynasty. He wanted to launch a northern expedition, he wanted to become the emperor of all time, and he wanted to perform the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai under the spotlight!

He...he was captured alive by the Northern Barbarians.

He originally thought he could be fearless of death, and that dying in the Northern Barbarian camp would be considered as being buried on the battlefield, thus earning him posthumous fame.

But then he felt a chill on his neck.

Everything collapsed.

He wants to live.

He had originally thought that the ordinary life of having three palaces and six courtyards, living a life of luxury and having thousands of people bowing to him would suddenly become a luxury he could only dream of.

The more you lose, the more you want to have.

His will to survive was stronger than ever before.

He endured humiliation and hardship in the Northern Wilderness, even going so far as to perform the sheep-leading ceremony, all in order to survive and return to those days of extravagance and debauchery.

As for the Northern Expedition... only a dog would launch a Northern Expedition.

I'm not afraid of that kind of humiliation, so why would I, Chen Yuan, be afraid of losing face like this?

As he walked forward, he straightened his back more and more.

Soon, Chen Yuan saw his son, whom he had kicked away that day.

Chen Shaozheng was on horseback, looking down at him.

No one spoke, and the courtiers dared not step forward.

This made Chen Yuan so embarrassed he wanted to die.

That unfilial son of mine is deliberately trying to embarrass me!

What is he going to do!

The entire court of officials watched the father and son with trepidation.

This is a historic moment.

Even Han Cao was curious whether something might happen.

It wasn't until Chen Yuan felt his legs go weak and a chill run down his spine that he felt this way.

Chen Shao finally dismounted cleanly and swiftly.

He stepped forward two steps and clasped his hands together in a fist salute.

"Your subject respectfully welcomes Your Majesty back to the capital. Your Majesty is trapped in the enemy camp, and all the civil and military officials and the people of the Great Yan are filled with tears of sorrow and longing."

"Now that Father Emperor has returned safely, it is truly a blessing for Northern Mang, bah, bah, it is truly a blessing for Great Yan, a blessing for all its people!"

Having been given a rude awakening by Chen Shao on horseback, Chen Yuan was now somewhat bewildered.

They couldn't understand what Chen Shao was saying at all.

Chen Shao kicked Yuwen Gu in the butt.

"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and help the Emperor Emeritus!"

Yuwen Huagu instinctively wanted to glare at him, but the scene made him only able to meekly agree.

"Yes, yes, Your Majesty."

Once Chen Yuan had steadied himself, Chen Shao stared straight at him.

He said in a loud voice:

"Now that Father Emperor has returned, I, your son, shall naturally abdicate and relinquish the throne to a worthy successor, returning the great treasure to you."

"I beg Your Majesty to ascend the throne again. Your son wishes to remain a prince and serve Your Majesty."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yu Qi'an stepped forward with his hand on his sword, his tiger-like eyes fixed on Chen Yuan.

He had come to terms with it; Chen Yuan was a menace, and with him around, the Great Yan Dynasty would be doomed sooner or later.

Rather than that, he might as well risk his life and become the villain for His Majesty.

Although Chen Shao was young, he had already shown great promise, acting both humbly and boldly.

It shows signs of a wise ruler.

Bai Bingbing pressed her hand on the hilt of the embroidered spring knife. Although the knife was not yet drawn, its murderous aura was already emanating from the sheath.

Shen Qingci stood next to Chen Shao, glaring at Chen Yuan with her eyes as fierce as possible.

If Chen Yuan dares to agree, she is willing to sacrifice her life for righteousness.

The entire court was filled with fear and unease.

Everyone could imagine that Chen Yuan's return would inevitably lead him to seek a way to restore the monarchy.

But no one expected that Chen Shao would come outside the city and make three refusal attempts.

Would Chen Shao dare to directly murder the emperor?

The answer is yes.

When officials reported illness, he dared to blame it on the plague; during the battle to defend the city, he dared to refuse to open the city gates.

What does regicide count for?

History books say the retired emperor died of a cold, or even of cold in the palace; wasn't it up to him to decide?

Unbeknownst to him, he now commands an army of 30,000 and the Imperial Guards.

It's no longer a puppet that even the eldest prince dares to roar at.

Chen Yuan heard it clearly this time.

Even though the sun was blazing, making his scalp tingle, he felt a sudden chill rise in his body as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.