Martial King's Retired Life

The news that Orange Prince forfeited his life the night before and the case with his head in it was promptly delivered to the imperial palace following his demise. It was not and should not have been censored news. At the same time Ming Feizhen was supposed to disappear off the radar, he had to bear the brunt of Orange Prince’s death, a scheme that Feng Jiutian devised to sow discord between Mount Daluo and the imperial court using Orange Prince as a scapegoat. If the news of his son’s death never reached him, Emperor Yuansheng would not have waged war on Mount Daluo. Since Ming Feizhen never went missing, though, the imperial court and Mount Daluo never came to blows. Instead, Ming Feizhen had plenty of witnesses he was gorging on food and guzzling alcohol at the time of Orange Prince’s execution.

Emperor Yuansheng, wearing a long face, ordered a eunuch to bring up a golden chest that Wang Tushui personally delivered to the table solemnly before hesitantly opening it up. The person who packed and delivered the chest managed to delay the decaying process of the head and kept Orange Prince’s appearance intact, except his eyes would never open again.

The monarch who seemingly aged decades when he received the chest could not bring it up with his wife. If a mother who lost her appetite over hearing her son had to compromise on basic necessities were to see her son’s lifeless head, the imperial family likely would have had to hold an extra funeral. He could not pour his heart out to anyone else, either, due to Orange Prince’s prior deeds and identity. If he showed mercy, then he might as well have just promoted rebellions as healthy. The mercy he granted his son was already excessive. He had to react to his son’s death as if it was just a passing breeze. No matter whose perspective it was from, Orange Prince was undeserving of any pity considering the circumstances that led to his end. From the moment of his exile, he was just a peasant eking out an ignoble existence.

His Majesty suddenly realised that all of Orange Prince’s deeds throughout his lifetime made it hard for him to feel better. Honestly, he considered executing Orange Prince after the latter’s insurrection, and he would have considered the death penalty if he was to go back in time, as well. He only felt better when he put it down to Orange Prince being one of the criminals who was lucky enough to get away. As a monarch, he could be as emotionless as a rock, but as a father, he forgave his son for all his wrongs when he saw the head. None of the bad deeds his son committed ever happened when he saw his son’s head. All His Majesty remembered when he saw his son’s severed head was his son’s stubborn attitude that matched his own, refusing to shed a tear or let anyone help him to his feet if he tripped, always wearing the aura of royalty, and sitting primly when the maids held him. Unfortunately, the adorableness was swapped for arrogance at some point in time.

The only thing His Majesty consumed after he isolated himself were the memories and misery until he was informed of Ming Feizhen sheltering Demon Sect’s holy maiden, which gave him someone to vent on. Even so, he went through plenty of deliberation before he chose to summon Ming Feizhen.

Truth be told, His Majesty did not know what he wanted to do once Ming Feizhen, nor did he have a reason to question Ming Feizhen’s actions. The fatigue and sorrow just incited a desire to ruthlessly destroy a life, to make someone taste his regret and pain despite knowing none of it meant anything to Ming Feizhen. Rather than call him a vengeful father, His Majesty was nothing more than a man who wanted to vent on a wall even if it was not a pragmatic solution to his problems.

“When… did you find out?”

The stiff expression was an indication that Emperor Yuansheng was not expecting anything from whatever Ming Feizhen’s answer would be as it no longer mattered. The silence, however, galvanised him to break it. In the scenario that Ming Feizhen spoke too frankly and hurt his feelings, then he would have had dismissed Ming Feizhen.

“Likely sooner than you.”

It was a throw away question until His Majesty felt there was more to what was being conveyed on the surface. Due to the severity of the matter, his Emperor’s Entourage’s agents used their special privilege to enter the imperial palace at night and inform him of the matter. Otherwise, he would not have found out until daylight.

“What are you implying? Are you saying… you?”

It was a thought that not even Emperor Yuansheng believed, but he ended up asking the question in the end. He was stuck in his own mire of grief from the moment he received the chest until now, let alone be in any state of mind to identify the perpetrator. Perhaps avenging his son was a way to reduce his anguish; however, he could not control his thoughts once he started thinking of revenge. Thankfully, Ming Feizhen shook his head. Otherwise, not even his contribution to stopping Feng Jiutian would have saved him from the sovereign’s fury.

“You are overthinking it, Your Majesty. Your subject has been at an inn these days; he has not had the luxury of time to go and do something as lame as beheading someone.”

It looked as if His Majesty could smell blood from the chest. “You should know well enough to mind your choice of words in the presence of a monarch!”

Ming Feizhen had never seen this side of Emperor Yuansheng. “Your subject apologies. What he was trying to convey is that it has nothing to do with him.”

“Enough with the drivel, and get to the point.”

“Your subject dares not mention it.”

His Majesty slammed his table. “Ming Feizhen, you think this is the time and place for your mystery games?! How insolent must a subject of mine be to shelter Demon Sect?! Do you have any boundaries?!”

Despite his anger, His Majesty was still only livid over Ming Feizhen’s work performance, demonstrating his ability to separate personal and work affairs.

“It is not that your subject is unwilling to talk about but that he does not dare to. One wrong word could cost him dearly. His life is worthless, but causing you agony would be a crime his death would not be able to make up for.”

It was obvious to Emperor Yuansheng that Ming Feizhen was trying to guarantee he would be pardoned before saying whatever he planned to say. After all, before him, there was Ming Huayu and Prime Minister Li. Emperor Yuansheng hugged a breath and responded, “You want to be smart with me, do you? Fine, I’ll entertain you. I shall pardon you in spite of whatever you say. Speak freely.”

Ming Feizhen cracked a smile, then took two steps back and bowed. “Your subject wanted to remind you that it is easy to make unwanted enemies while you are mad. The mastermind could not ask for anything more than for you to let your rage blind you. You must take caution.”

Though the reminder did not erase his grief, it did appease His Majesty to a degree. Following a sigh, he said, “Easier said than done. Go ahead. Speak your mind. I will not hold you accountable.”

Lowering his head, Ming Feizhen expressed, “Your Majesty, this all started because you went overboard.”

Had he not recalled his promise a moment ago in time, Emperor Yuansheng would have given Ming Feizhen an earful.

“Nobody could have singlehandedly created the tragedy. Your subject has always been curious. He has been in the capital for a long time, but he has had very limited contact with the Princes, yet he and the Princes have constantly been mentioned in the same sentence. He assumes that it was you who spread the bait.” Once he checked to confirm that Emperor Yuansheng was not going to respond, Ming Feizhen continued, “Your permission for Orange Prince to roam free was a big mistake. What sort of character is he? It has always perplexed your subject as to why he was never placed under any surveillance. The only explanation is that you granted him freedom, particularly during this window your subject has been in the capital. As soon as he was given freedom, he started causing trouble, yet you chose to persist and gamble. The result of your gamble is what you see today.”

“… You’re saying I…”

“On the surface, you wanted your subject to mentor Lord Zi and implied you wanted him to take Lord Zi on as a disciple. Your subject chose to refuse, but he needed to find someone to make it up to you. Among the Princes, whom could be taken on as a disciple without causing a stir and not ride atop their mentor’s head? The answer is self-explanatory. While Orange Prince may not come to mind for the majority, your subject is a disciple of Mount Daluo. You know your subject well enough to know he likes to flout jobs. The stripped Prince seemed to fit the bill.”

Every extra word Ming Feizhen enunciated roused more regret in Emperor Yuansheng.

“You told your subject that the chosen Prince did not need to inaugurated as a Mount Daluo disciple as you valued your subject’s abilities, not Mount Daluo. It was a baffling statement. While your subject has contributed on several occasions, he does not possess anything special besides being smart with his mouth, having a vast network, skin thick enough to take a beating and the ability to negotiate. In terms of martial arts competence, he pales in comparison to Vice-captain Long. In terms of intellect, he cannot measure up to your other vassals. If not even Mount Daluo is valuable, then what does he have going for him that you would entrust a Prince to him? What if it was a Prince who could never succeed you? What if the Prince was no model Prince and, to the contrary, urgently needed to be corrected. He would be the sort of candidate who you would justify entrusting to your subject. Is this conjecture correct?”

Regret rolled down His Majesty’s cheeks notwithstanding his firm gaze.

“I remember when he used to cling to my leg and pester me to take him horse riding. I kept telling him I was too busy until I forgot about my promise to take him eventually. Kids grow up so quickly. By the time I offered to take him, he was no longer willing to accompany me…”

His Majesty shut his eyes.

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