In fact, Mingde did not feel too much pain. Zhuo Yu had already shown mercy, if he really wanted to, taking his life would have been a matter of a single move.

His main injuries were from carrying Rong Shiba while climbing the cliff. If he had to do it again, he might not have the courage to jump; after all, falling from a hundred-foot cliff, any protruding branch along the way could have taken his life.

Mingde slept in a daze for three days in the Qingzhen Palace. When he woke up, the spring rain outside had been drizzling for an entire day.

Hu Zhicheng's face looked haggard. He suddenly sat down on a chair and muttered, "As long as you're alive, that's good, as long as you're alive."

Mingde scrambled up, immediately feeling piercing pain in his elbows, joints, and bones, but he hardly noticed. He grabbed Hu Zhicheng and asked sternly, "Where's Rong Shiba?"

Hu Zhicheng said, "If I were you, I would lie down properly now..."

"Where's Rong Shiba!"

Hu Zhicheng glanced at the hand clutching his neck and said, "...In the side hall."

Blood was still seeping from the bandaged knuckles of that hand. Clutching the neck at such close range, it was as if wanting to dig deep into the muscle and blood vessels. Every member of the secret guards had personally handled corpses and rotting flesh. Even someone like Mingde, who enjoyed the greatest protection, could not be considered a kind person.

Hu Zhicheng slumped in the chair, drenched in cold sweat. Mingde stumbled out of bed and staggered out.

The bluestone path was slippery in the fine rain, the muddy earth emitting the scent of grass just breaking through the soil. Mingde pushed open the heavy door of the side hall. A sliver of light shone in from the opening angle of the door, casting a long strip of light. Rong Shiba lay on the couch in the southeast corner. Lu Jiuchen had just finished treating his wounds with his inner energy and was slowly standing up.

Mingde suddenly felt as if all the strength had been drained from his body. He glanced at Rong Shiba, who was obviously still alive, his gaze immediately returning to its usual docile and calm appearance. He took a brief, expressionless look and then turned to leave.

Lu Jiuchen said in a low voice, "...Consider yourself lucky. Zhuo Yu usually leaves no survivors, yet this time he only broke your legs."

Mingde stopped abruptly, "What did you say?"

Hearing his voice, Rong Shiba immediately tried to turn his head and waved at him with a smile. His movements were strained. With a little attention, one could see that his legs were completely immobile.

Perhaps seeing Mingde's look of disbelief, Rong Shiba tried to smile as casually as possible, "It's nothing, actually it's not Zhuo Yu's fault, he was quite merciful... I fell and broke them myself. Although I won't be able to stand up again, it's still better than losing my life, right Mingde..."

Lu Jiuchen sighed, turned around, and walked out the hall door step by step. He was still wearing that gray robe, vast and silent, like a still mountain. This person's appearance was very ordinary, his way of walking very steady and plain, but for some reason, he gave off a sense of... oppressive majesty and composure.

All excess ornamentation had been washed away by the years, leaving only a simple and solid inner quality. Mingde suddenly thought of a person. It was said that many years ago, there was a chief steward in the palace of Xiwan, extremely skilled in the five elements of eavesdropping and layered secret techniques. Many said he was a blade without an edge, his silent prestige enough to make the top masters of the entire Celestial Dynasty step back in awe.

However, after Zhuo Yu took control of the court, there was no more news of that person. Some said he was imprisoned, some said his martial arts were enough for him to step out of any predicament at any time, even State Preceptor Zhuo Yu could not use armies and prisons to confine him. Others said he was just watching in silence, and one day he would intervene, and with one move, he could immediately take Zhuo Yu's life.

It was all just legend. Lu Jiuchen walked out quietly, almost soundlessly dropping a sentence, "...He's crippled."

Rong Shiba was crippled.

...A secret guard who couldn't stand... even if he turned to the light, he would only receive enough gold and silver to make a living, living under the surveillance of the capital's secret guards for the rest of his life...

If one day those in power deemed that he might leak an important secret, he would be cleanly and efficiently dealt with...

Mingde stood still. The spring rain had stopped at some point, Rong Shiba's face slightly lonely in the twilight.

"I probably won't be able to go to Yunnan to throw my weight around," he turned his face, as if listening intently to the dripping water outside the eaves, his tone also trying to sound nonchalant, "...I might stay in the capital, but at least we brothers can still see each other often, have a few drinks and such... I've saved up some money over the years, enough to get by..."

He looked back at Mingde and laughed, "Why do you look so grim? I'm the one who's crippled, not you. Speaking of which, State Preceptor Zhuo Yu really showed mercy, otherwise I'd have ascended by now... It's rare for him to consider that bit of fellowship from back then. You know, he was raised by wolves, killed his master the day he left the sect. His hand is so ruthless, tsk tsk, killing gods when he meets gods, killing demons when he meets demons. In all these years, apart from Lu Jiuchen, you and I are probably the only ones who have survived his hands? It's really quite fortunate, luckily you came down to find me, didn't expect you to be quite loyal..."

Mingde opened his mouth, his voice a little dazed, "...You really can't stand up?"

Rong Shiba seemed to choke up suddenly, then his eyes slowly reddened. He wiped them with his hand to cover it up, then ordered, "Mingde, get out!"

Mingde stood up, almost pouncing forward, "But didn't you say you wanted to go to Yunnan, didn't you say you wanted to build a big house in the Miao area where peach blossoms bloom everywhere, you also said you wanted to marry and have children..."

"Get out!"

"How can you not stand up anymore? Weren't you living just fine!"

Rong Shiba's voice was nearly hysterical, hoarse with a choked sob: "Get out! Don't make me say it again!"

Mingde stared at him, suddenly feeling that everything was so distant. Those misty dreams of the Jiangnan water towns and peach blossom-shrouded mountains seemed to have been severed in this infinite darkness, forever isolated outside the deep, nine-layered palace in the misty rain.

He abruptly turned around and ran out of the hall. Zhang Kuo was standing at the courtyard entrance at some point, as if quietly waiting for something. Seeing him come out, Zhang Kuo smiled slightly and even bowed.

Mingde grabbed him and asked urgently: "Where's Li Ji? Where is Li Ji?"

"The Emperor is in Zhengtai Palace..." Zhang Kuo said softly, "The Emperor is waiting for you... in Zhengtai Palace..."

Mingde could barely feel the stabbing pain from his feet. He ran barefoot on the slippery path after the rain, wearing only a thin robe. The slightly cool evening air gradually seeped in from his skin, as if penetrating deep into his bones.

The official road was empty. Everyone had been cleared out in advance, and no one slightly obstructed his steps into the imperial study on the path leading to Zhengtai Palace. Even when he abruptly pushed open the door to the imperial study, the ink attendant who would normally be guarding the door had disappeared without a trace.

The Qianwan Emperor sat high on the dragon throne, looking down at him from above.

Mingde stood at the doorway, dazedly looking up at the man shrouded in imperial yellow. His hair was loose, hanging damply over his forehead as he panted heavily, his chest heaving up and down. He was wearing only a pitifully thin robe, the hem splattered with mud. His bare feet dangling in the air appeared porcelain white in contrast to the filth, like fine celadon, devoid of any human aura.

The Qianwan Emperor really wanted to stand up, rush down, and fiercely clutch this little thing to his chest. But he didn't move, his expression indifferent, even though his fingernails dug deeply into his palms, nearly piercing the flesh.

"What did you come for?"

Mingde raised a hand to wipe away the water droplets trickling from the corner of his eye. This action made him look as if he was wiping away tears. The Qianwan Emperor almost instantly wanted to stand up and kneel down.

As Mingde wiped away the water, he said in a low voice: "This subject came to beg... to beg Your Majesty for an imperial decree..."

The Qianwan Emperor looked at him without a word.

"This subject begs Your Majesty to decree Rong Shiba the position of Yunnan Zhennan General, bestow a large residence, guarantee food and clothing for life, and to never inquire about political affairs..."

Just a few days ago, he had begged for something else.

The Qianwan Emperor spoke, his voice stiff as if frozen: "...Mingde."

"Yes."

"You can only beg for one thing."

Mingde raised his face to look at him, his eyes holding a hint of fragile pleading. The Qianwan Emperor forced himself to stare at him, slowly enunciating each word: "You being sent away or Rong Shiba being sent away, you can only choose one..."

"Suhang or Yunnan, you can only choose one..."

"Who leaves, who stays, you can only make one choice..."

Mingde looked at him like a small beast that had fallen into a trap, watching helplessly as the hunter approached step by step with a knife in hand.

There was resentment, but not just resentment. More than that, there was terror and pain.

The Qianwan Emperor closed his eyes. After a long while, he heard the sound of knees kneeling on the carpet. That little thing that should have been pampered and indulged by the supreme ruler, the one he cherished and treasured the most, spoke in such a weak and trembling voice, full of sobs as if about to cry, as if anyone could bully and hurt him without regard.

"Begging Your Majesty... to bestow upon Rong Shiba... the position of Yunnan Zhennan General..."

The Qianwan Emperor abruptly stood up, rushed down in one step, and knelt in front of Mingde, tightly pressing him to his chest.

He clearly heard the muffled, kitten-like crying in his arms, the sobbing sounds suppressed and tiny, trying to hide as much as possible, afraid of being discovered. Tears inevitably fell onto the emperor's imperial yellow dragon robe, like clusters of small flames burning, scorching to the bone.

"If we go on a southern tour in the future, I will definitely take you to Jiangnan..." the Qianwan Emperor tremblingly kissed Mingde's damp, fine hair, murmuring, "...I will definitely take you, take you to West Lake. Wherever you want to go, you can. The entire world is yours, all of it is yours..."

But it's not the same, a small, desperate voice in Mingde's heart stubbornly said.

It's not the same... It's... two completely different things...

The twilight pressed down heavily, the last bit of sunset glow outside the window also scattered. Weary birds returned to their nests, cooing softly.

The wind rose in the treetops, the rustling sounds drowning out that faint and desperate crying, gradually fading until it could no longer be heard at all.

The next day, the Emperor decreed that the former secret guard captain Rong Shiba had rendered meritorious service in guarding the imperial carriage. He was granted the first-rank title of Zhennan General, given authority over the salt and iron administration. He could depart for Yunnan to take office that very day.

The court was shocked, everyone greatly astonished. Rong Shiba was already crippled in both legs, and his origins were unknown. How could he be worthy of this dignified first-rank official position, a frontier governor?

The Zhennan General was equivalent to being the local emperor of Yunnan, governing a region, collecting all the taxes. Not to mention one lifetime, even several generations could live extravagantly without worry. A few old officials tearfully begged the Emperor to reconsider repeatedly, but once an imperial decree was issued, there was no taking it back. The Qianwan Emperor's attitude was unusually resolute, blocking everyone outside the imperial study.

Half a month later, Rong Shiba's injuries had improved slightly. He set off immediately.

Looking into the distance outside the city gates, a procession of carriages and horses faded in and out of view, gradually disappearing over the horizon. The wind grew stronger and stronger. Mingde shrank into his thick cloak. The Qianwan Emperor held him and asked softly, "Are you cold?"

Mingde blinked, tears rolling down, instantly soaking into the hem of his robe.

The Qianwan Emperor picked him up and started walking back. Just at this moment, a man on horseback came galloping from afar. As he approached, he pulled the reins, and a guard tumbled off, crawling and shouting, "Your Majesty! It's terrible!"

The Qianwan Emperor looked at him sharply. The guard was almost incoherent with a distorted expression, "Your Majesty! Xiwan... Xiwan has crowned a new king! State Preceptor Zhuo Yu personally led an army of 300,000! They are launching a massive invasion of the border! Your Majesty, the enemy troops have already pressed up against our entire front line!"