Martial Cultivator

Today, without the court session, the Great Liang Emperor had no need to go to the court hall. After leaving the palace, he only took Li Heng to the White Dew Garden to watch the spring rain briefly. Li Heng held up the oiled-paper umbrella to shield the Great Liang Emperor from the wind and rain, but he himself was soaked through.

The Great Liang Emperor glanced over and smiled, "Why do We need you to shield Us from the wind and rain?"

Li Heng smiled in response, "This servant naturally cannot shield Your Majesty from the wind and rain, I only have the ability to hold up an umbrella."

The Great Liang Emperor dismissed it with a smile.

After a moment of silence, Li Heng suddenly said softly, "Earlier, news came that Chen Chao had climbed to third place on the Latent Dragon List. Together with him on the list is that young lady from the Xie Family, in tenth place. These two seem to be quite well-matched."

"That is a pair approved by my empress. Is there a problem?" The Great Liang Emperor said somewhat proudly, "That boy carries the blood of my Chen family, and he hasn't embarrassed Us."

Li Heng could not help but want to remind the Emperor in front of him that Chen Chao was the late Crown Prince's son, not Your Majesty's. But the words stopped at his lips. In the end, Li Heng just smiled and said, "The Princess Consort's judgment is naturally impeccable. That young lady should currently be the most outstanding woman in the Great Liang Dynasty."

Upon hearing the title "princess consort," the Great Liang Emperor became somewhat absentminded.

But soon the Great Liang Emperor regained his composure and said, "That young lady has ambitious aspirations. The last time We saw her, We truly found her somewhat similar to the Empress when she was young."

Although the Great Liang Emperor's words sounded calm, there was still a hint of underlying melancholy in his words that could not be concealed.

Li Heng's emotions also seemed somewhat dimmed in his eyes.

In their eyes, if the Empress were still here, the best woman in the world would undoubtedly be the Empress.

The Great Liang Emperor suddenly asked, "Why don't We issue an edict for their marriage now?"

Li Heng was taken aback, then smiled, "Whatever Your Majesty wishes, naturally will be done. But will the Xie Family agree to it?"

As the highest ruler of the Great Liang Dynasty, theoretically, everything in the world was decided by him. However, in reality, it might not always be the case. If a colossal entity like the Xie Family explicitly voiced opposition. Plus, the academy behind Xie Nandu, if the academy's Dean also disagreed, the Great Liang Emperor's edict might not necessarily be carried out.

"Forget it, let the youngsters handle their own affairs. We can't be bothered to meddle."

The Great Liang Emperor pondered for a moment and said, "Summon Princess Anping to the palace."

Li Heng was taken aback. Although the Emperor had three princes and one princess, he had never taken the initiative to summon them over the years. Even if the princes and princess wanted to see the Emperor, it was uncertain if they could. It could be said that the Emperor might not have much affection for these children.

However, despite his confusion, Li Heng quickly left to summon Princess Anping into the palace.

Half an hour later, Princess Anping met her father in the White Dew Garden.

Just as Princess Anping was about to bow, the Great Liang Emperor waved his hand and interrupted, "There's no need for formalities among family."

Princess Anping replied with a hint of resentment, "Imperial Father still remembers that we are family?"

Before the Great Liang Emperor could respond, Princess Anping looked at the Great Liang Emperor's graying temples and said softly, "Imperial Father has aged."

The Great Liang Emperor only asked, "Do you still blame Us?"

Princess Anping naturally understood what the Great Liang Emperor was referring to.

Shaking her head, Princess Anping said, "At first, I couldn't understand how someone like Imperial Father could fail to accomplish something. But later, I gradually understood. Imperial Father isn't a deity; there are many things you cannot do, so I've come to accept that."

But the Great Liang Emperor said, "We could indeed have stopped that matter back then."

Princess Anping's eyes suddenly dimmed, and she said softly, "Imperial Father, why say such hurtful words?"

"In these recent years, your health has been declining. The imperial physicians couldn't cure you, but We know well that no medicine can heal a troubled heart," the Great Liang Emperor said.

"That year, turmoil ravaged the world, if We had truly stopped that matter for your sake, it would have caused even more trouble. However, you have always been Our daughter. As a father, if We fail to shield my daughter from the wind and rain, it's Our fault no matter how you look at it. If you blame Us, We naturally understand."

Princess Anping calmly said, "Imperial Father, you're not an ordinary father."

The Great Liang Emperor remained silent. Among his children, he would only occasionally show a tender side towards this Princess Anping in front of him.

"You know that he's your younger brother." [1]

The Great Liang Emperor casually said, as if talking about an ordinary matter.

Princess Anping smiled faintly. "Imperial Father seems to care more about him than my other younger brothers. Is it because he resembles Imperial Father the most?"

There were not many people in the world who could truly understand the thoughts of the Great Liang Emperor. However, as a woman with a meticulous mind and they were connected by blood, it was not surprising that Princess Anping could understand a little.

The Great Liang Emperor did not refute this, simply stating, "He's your younger brother, just treat him as such."

Princess Anping scoffed, "Does Imperial Father think that your daughter has ulterior motives towards him?"

The Great Liang Emperor was silent for a long time before looking at Princess Anping and saying, "Has mutual suspicion grown this deep between us father and daughter?"

Princess Anping looked at the Great Liang Emperor and was silent for some time, unsure of what to say.

……

……

Princess Anping's visit to and departure from the palace took less than four hours. The Great Liang Emperor returned to his study from the White Dew Garden, looking at the dossier freshly brought by Li Heng with an expressionless face.

Li Heng whispered, "It's a dossier from the Grand Historian, personally delivered by the Lord Premier."

The Great Liang Emperor casually picked up the dossier but did not open it. Instead, he placed it over a candle to light it, and casually threw it on the ground, uttering two words, "Corrupt scholar."

Li Heng had initially hesitated to speak, but after some thought, he still reminded, "Your Majesty, by doing this, you are indeed putting heat on that child."

The Great Liang Emperor chuckled, "How can one grow up without experiencing storms?"

Li Heng said, "But it seems a bit rushed."

"Is it rushed? We don't have much time left either."

The Great Liang Emperor walked to the doorway, gazing at the spring rain with a calm expression.

Li Heng fell silent.

After a long while, the Great Liang Emperor said, "He's gone."

Li Heng was startled for a moment, then immediately understood, saying softly, "Farewell, Great General."

The Great Liang Emperor was incredibly silent, devoid of any emotion. His circle of friends, confidants, and comrades was shrinking.

It seemed that the day of truly becoming a lone figure was not far away either.