Chapter 126: Cangfeng Emperor

In the Imperial City of Cangfeng, within the central imperial palace, Lan Xueruo hurried through multiple layers of guards, heading straight for the Emperor's bedchamber. Along the way, imperial guards bowed to her.

"Princess Cang Yue, you've returned. His Majesty has been mentioning you these past few days." At the entrance of the Emperor's bedchamber, a middle-aged eunuch quickly approached her with a bow. "Shall I announce your arrival?"

"No need," Lan Xueruo replied, shaking her head, and walked directly into the Emperor's bedchamber.

Cang Wanhe, the ninety-ninth Emperor of the Cangfeng Empire, ruled the land and commanded respect across the four seas. He was fifty-six years old, and a life of luxury in the palace should have preserved his youth at this age. However, Cang Wanhe lay silently on his bed, his face sallow and his eyes dim and lifeless, like an old man in his seventies or eighties.

"Your Majesty, Princess Cang Yue has returned!" His personal eunuch quietly entered, his face beaming with joy.

Upon hearing this, a flicker of urgency appeared on Cang Wanhe's lifeless face. He moved his upper body, struggling to sit up. "Quick, quick, let her in."

No sooner had he spoken than Lan Xueruo walked in. Seeing Cang Wanhe's visibly aged face and the yearning in his eyes, her heart tightened. She quickly stepped forward and knelt before him. "Father Emperor, your daughter is unfilial. It has been so long since I last came to visit you."

"It's good you're back, it's good," Cang Wanhe nodded with relief. At this moment, his face held none of the emperor's usual majesty, only the loving tenderness of an ordinary father towards his beloved daughter. "Please get up. It's been over three months since you returned from New Moon City. During this time, I haven't been able to eat or sleep, fearing something might have happened to you. Haha, it's good that you're alright."

"Your daughter encountered a minor issue, which caused some delay and made you worry, Father Emperor." Lan Xueruo rose, looking at her father with a pang of sorrow. "Father Emperor, your illness... why does it seem to have worsened again? With Master Gu personally treating you, how could this be?"

"Cough, cough..." Just as Cang Wanhe was about to speak, he was seized by a violent cough. He gasped for several breaths, his voice hoarse as he said, "Perhaps I am truly old. Although this illness is severe, with Master Gu here, it won't claim my life immediately. But sooner or later, I'll be angered to death by these rebellious sons... Cough, cough, cough, cough..."

After speaking only a few words, Cang Wanhe was again racked by painful coughs. Lan Xueruo quickly stepped forward and gently patted his back.

Just then, the eunuch's voice came from outside the door: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Crown Prince requests an audience."

Cang Wanhe's body stiffened, and Lan Xueruo's expression instantly turned grim. Then, a roar erupted from Cang Wanhe's mouth: "Tell him to get out! I don't want to see him!"

"Oh dear, what has made Father Emperor so angry? You are ill, Father Emperor, so you must take care of your health and avoid getting upset."

As a casual voice sounded, a young man in his thirties, dressed in luxurious golden-patterned robes, walked in with his hands clasped behind his back. The moment he saw Lan Xueruo, he squinted his eyes and smiled. "My dear Imperial Sister, I just heard from a servant that you've returned, so I rushed over. It's been months, and I've missed you dearly."

"You rebellious son, who allowed you in? Get out at once!" Cang Wanhe pointed a trembling finger and roared angrily.

"Father Emperor, please don't get angry; it might harm your health. Your son merely came to visit out of concern for your illness. If you dislike my presence, I'll leave immediately," Crown Prince Cang Lin said with a chuckle, his casual expression showing no trace of fear, respect, or apprehension towards the furious emperor.

"Visit?" Cang Wanhe sneered. "Are you here to see if I've suddenly died in bed? I'm telling you, as long as I draw breath, you will not get this throne! And don't even think I'll issue an edict to pass it on! Get out now!"

"Father Emperor, why be so stubborn?" Crown Prince Cang Lin pursed his lips. "What an extraordinary existence the Xiao Sect is. Now that I have their full support, as soon as I ascend the throne, the Xiao Sect will be at my disposal. Our Cangfeng Imperial Family will only become more prosperous and powerful, ruling over the land..."

"Silence... Cough, cough, cough, cough..." Cang Wanhe's face turned crimson with rage, and his chest heaved violently. "The Xiao Sect has coveted the power of my Cangfeng Imperial Family for a long time, and you, my rebellious sons, dare to invite wolves into the house... If you were to become emperor, the millennium-long foundation of our Cangfeng Imperial Family would become a mere name, a puppet for others! I prided myself on a lifetime of sagacity and martial prowess, yet I raised a group of rebellious sons like you! Get out! Get out at once!"

Lan Xueruo's fists were clenched in anger. Unable to tolerate it any longer, she said furiously, "Didn't you hear Father Emperor? Get out! Father Emperor and I don't want to see you again!"

"Tsk, tsk, why bother?" Cang Lin shook his head, grinning. "Father Emperor, you've been on the throne for many years; it's time you stepped aside. Even if you refuse, it will eventually fall into my hands. And what if my dear Imperial Brother Cang Shuo has allied with the Burning Heaven Sect? In my eyes, he's never been fit to be my opponent... My dear Imperial Sister, I hear you haven't been staying put at the Cangfeng Profound Palace these past two years, but instead have been traveling everywhere. Are you perhaps eager to find a consort? Your Imperial Brother knows quite a few young talents; would you like me to introduce some to you?"

"Get out!" Lan Xueruo gritted her teeth, her anger reaching its peak.

"Hahahaha! Then your son will take his leave." Cang Lin burst into maniacal laughter, then walked out unhurriedly with his hands clasped behind his back.

"These rebellious sons... rebellious sons!!" Cang Wanhe's face was crimson with rage, and his body trembled.

"Father Emperor, they've gone mad. They're not worth getting angry over; your health is what matters." Lan Xueruo patted her father's back, trying to calm the fury in her heart.

After a long silence, Cang Wanhe finally calmed down. He gave a desolate smile and said, "All this time, I thought I had raised seven sons as fierce as tigers and leopards. I never imagined that all seven of my sons... are nothing but a pack of jackals. Fortunately, Heaven has shown me some mercy by granting me a daughter like you. Alas, you are a girl; otherwise, I would directly pass the throne to you... but if I truly did that, it would only cause you suffering. These two rebellious sons, Cang Lin and Cang Shuo, one colluding with the Xiao Sect and the other with the Burning Heaven Sect, hah... No matter which of them ultimately succeeds, our Cangfeng Imperial Family will become mere puppets for others... Heaven is blind, oh, Heaven is blind."

"Father Emperor, please don't worry too much. I will do everything in my power to stop them." Lan Xueruo bit her lip, a faint mist clouding her eyes.

Cang Wanhe smiled and shook his head. "These seven rebellious sons have split into two factions, and they have largely seized control of the court's crucial powers, with covert assistance from the Xiao Sect and the Burning Heaven Sect. What can you possibly do to stop them? My greatest hope is that if that day comes, you will leave this imperial city and hide as far away as possible. I fear these rebellious sons will use you as a pawn for their own gain... and then I truly won't be able to rest in peace."

"No, Father Emperor, with Master Gu here, your illness will surely improve, and you will live a long life." Lan Xueruo forced back her tears, shaking her head vigorously.

"Heh, heh," Cang Wanhe gave a desolate laugh. He knew his own physical condition best, and he even suspected that this sudden, grave illness might have been a hidden plot by Cang Lin or Cang Shuo. He closed his eyes and said with a sense of loss, "I have reigned for nineteen years, only to realize that I have been a complete failure as an emperor. Setting aside raising these rebellious sons, my first wish when I ascended the throne was for my Cangfeng Imperial Family to wash away its disgrace in the 'Cangfeng Ranking Battle.' Yet, nineteen years have passed, and all I've received is endless, uninterrupted humiliation... The imperial family of my esteemed Cangfeng Empire has no one capable of entering the top hundred, becoming a laughingstock to the world time and again, forever unable to hold our heads high before those sects. What a tragedy this is!"

Lan Xueruo's eyes flickered, and the image of Yun Che appeared in her mind. A warm feeling surged within her, bringing a sense of calm to her heart. She said softly, "Father Emperor, your wish will surely come true. For the past two years, your daughter has traveled to various profound palaces, using the Emperor's Heart Art to search for such a person. My efforts have not been in vain; just a month and a half ago, I found this person and have already brought him to the Cangfeng Profound Palace. I will do everything in my power to have him represent our imperial family in the Cangfeng Ranking Battle after the next one... Your daughter believes he will certainly enter the top hundred, fulfill your wish, and cleanse our imperial family's disgrace."

"The battle after the next one...? I fear I won't live to see that day. Cough, cough, cough, cough..." Cang Wanhe was seized by another violent coughing fit, and his breathing grew increasingly rapid.

Lan Xueruo knew that her father's condition meant he shouldn't speak too much. She helped him pull up his covers and said softly, "Father Emperor, please rest well and take care of your health. Your daughter still has some matters to attend to; I will come visit you again tomorrow... Uncle Dongfang, please ensure my Father Emperor's safety."

After Lan Xueruo finished speaking, an old, deep voice resonated from above the bedchamber: "Rest assured, Princess, as long as this old man is here, no one will be allowed to harm a single hair on His Majesty."

Lan Xueruo nodded gratefully and left the Emperor's bedchamber.

No one knew the immense pressure that weighed on the slender shoulders of this only princess, the Cangfeng Emperor's youngest child, nor the depth of uncertainty and burden hidden within her heart.