Chapter 172: The Preserved Imperial Edict

Upon seeing Baili Xian’s true face, Hu Bugui was struck dumb with astonishment on the spot. Then, jolted back to his senses, he dropped heavily to his knees and shouted, "This humble subject pays his respects to Your Third Highness! May Your Highness live for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years!"

Huli’s mouth fell open, the words he intended to speak stuck squarely in his throat—neither coming out nor going back down. How could the person who arrived together with Liu Ling'er be the Third Highness whom his father mentioned so frequently? Yet, upon second thought, that didn't make sense either! He had indeed looked at the portrait of the Third Highness before. Although the Third Highness had still looked somewhat youthful in the painting, he was nevertheless a peerless, handsome man!

However, the person he had intercepted was clearly a man of grotesque ugliness. Even if his eyes were uncultivated, he should still be able to tell the difference. Could it be that in the span of just a few short years, the Third Highness had suffered a drastic facial distortion, or were his own eyes failing him? This simply had to be an illusion.

While his mind was wandering, a loud shout exploded beside his ear: "You rebellious brat! Now that you see the Third Highness, why haven't you come over yet? Or do you expect me to invite you over to pay your respects?"

Daring not to let his mind stray any further, Huli hurried over to Baili Xian’s sedan chair. As he looked at Baili Xian sitting inside, his jaw dropped wide open in utter shock. Had his eyes truly deceived him? The person carried back earlier had clearly been an ugly wretch; how had he now transformed into the handsome Third Highness? If not for the fact that the clothes remained unchanged, he would have suspected that someone had swapped the person along the way.

Noticing his father’s expression growing increasingly grim, Huli hastily dropped to his knees. "This commoner Huli pays homage to Your Highness! May Your Highness live for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years!"

Hearing these two exclamations of "Your Highness," Baili Xian felt a slight ripple stir within his heart. Just like Hu Bugui, who hadn't heard anyone address him as the Great General of 平国 (Ping Kingdom) for years, he too hadn't heard the title of "Your Highness" in several years. Sighing softly, he said, "General Hu, Young General Hu, please rise quickly! I am currently the Virtuous Prince of the Eastern Chu Kingdom; I am no longer the Third Highness of a few years ago."

Huli scrambled up nimbly. "Ah, who would have thought you are actually the Virtuous Prince of the Eastern Chu Kingdom? We truly are friends brought together by a clash. Please don't take to heart my recklessness and the offense I caused earlier. Besides, I am merely a commoner; surely the Virtuous Prince won't hold it against me."

"You flatter me, Young General," Baili Xian replied, his tone carrying an unmistakable note of appreciation. The Great General of Ping Kingdom was indeed still exceptionally capable; even when reduced to becoming mountain bandits, they remained extraordinary.

Hu Bugui nodded. "The Virtuous Prince is too generous with his praise. It was also due to this brat's mischievousness that Your Highness is currently unable to move. Perhaps I should first have someone arrange for Your Highness to go and rest. Once your strength is restored, we can have a proper talk. I wonder what relationship my niece Liu Ling'er shares with the Virtuous Prince?"

"She is my Princess Consort. General Hu, just arrange for the two of us to stay in the same room!" Baili Xian paused before finally making this request.

"What? Ling'er is already married to you? It seems I have no hope left!" Huli stared wide-eyed, waves of disappointment washing over him.

Hu Bugui scolded sharply, "Good-for-nothing! You only know how to cower here in Wutuo Mountain. No, tomorrow you will accompany the Virtuous Prince. Whatever he tells you to do, you will do. If you fail to achieve any notable accomplishments, I will no longer acknowledge you as my son!"

Liu Ling'er and Baili Xian were escorted by Hu Bugui's servants into a spacious room. For convenience, the servant carried the Virtuous Prince straight to the bed. Who knows what was going through the mind of the little maidservant attending to Liu Ling'er, but she actually helped Liu Ling'er onto Baili Xian's bed as well, before turning around with a shy flush and walking away.

How could she leave so fast?! Watching the little maidservant's disappearing figure while remaining unable to move, Liu Ling'er could only stare blankly. Once it dawned upon her that she seemed to be lying in the same bed as Baili Xian, a wave of awkwardness washed over her.

Turning her head, she caught sight of Baili Xian's handsome dark eyes staring straight at her. For no apparent reason, a blush crept onto her face. She buried her face into the quilt, her voice muffled like the buzzing of a mosquito, "What are you looking at? Go to sleep!"

Waking up from a sound sleep, she discovered that Baili Xian was already sitting by the bedside, looking at her with a half-smile. Liu Ling'er lowered her head and checked—her clothes were properly on, and nothing was exposed!

She whispered, "Virtuous Prince, what are you looking at? You're making my whole body feel uncomfortable." It seemed Baili Xian had been staring at her face the entire time. She touched her cheek; there was nothing on it! Yet even as she spoke, Baili Xian continued to gaze at her.

A trace of panic stirred in Liu Ling'er's heart. Could it be that this man hadn't tasted meat in many days and could no longer hold back? Oh dear, if that were truly the case, wouldn't she be in grave misfortune?

Unconsciously, she tightened the quilt around herself, terrified that Baili Xian might suddenly pounce. What on earth should she do then? As her mind ran wild with anxious thoughts, Baili Xian pointed at the pillow beneath Liu Ling'er's head. "My beloved wife, what delicious food were you dreaming of? You painted such a map with your drool that I'm too embarrassed to even look at it. I truly don't know what to say when I meet General Hu. People kindly lent us a bed to sleep in, yet you drool all over their pillow. What should we do? It's genuinely troubling!"

A fiery red flush instantly spread across Liu Ling'er's face, burning to the extreme. She hadn't made such a blunder in a long time; how utterly humiliating!

Flipping the pillow over, Liu Ling'er spoke in a coaxing, subdued tone, "Virtuous Prince, let's drop such a trivial matter. Just watch me find an opportunity to wash it clean, alright?"

"Is that so? Then what's in it for me?" Baili Xian wore the expression of someone thinking, *It's not impossible to help you, but what do I stand to gain?* Liu Ling'er felt a slight urge to spit blood in exasperation. You aren't even a merchant, why must you view everything through the lens of profit? Can we please not be so superficial?

Right at that moment, a servant knocked on the door. "Virtuous Prince, Princess Consort, have you awakened? Our General requests your presence!"

Liu Ling'er immediately scrambled up to put on her shoes, calling out toward the door, "Understood, we are coming right now." She tugged at Baili Xian. "Let's go! Making people wait too long is impolite."

Although he knew Liu Ling'er was merely changing the subject, Baili Xian only smiled. He had merely wanted to witness her flustered expression anyway.

Upon arriving at the main hall, they saw that a ceremonial table had been set up in the center of the room, with incense burning. In the middle of the table rested a bright yellow object. At a glance, Liu Ling'er recognized it—wasn't that an imperial decree? Where on earth had an imperial decree come from?

Seeing Baili Xian and Liu Ling'er arrive, Hu Bugui hurriedly stood up to welcome them. Walking over to the center of the room, Hu Bugui picked up the imperial decree and said to Baili Xian, "Baili Xian, receive the decree!"

Baili Xian and Liu Ling'er were both startled. Although they had no idea where the decree came from, since they were being called upon to receive it, they had no choice but to comply; otherwise, it would be considered the crime of defying an imperial edict!

They immediately knelt before the incense table. "This subject receives the decree!"

They heard Hu Bugui read aloud: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Recently, My health has been worsening day by day, and I know my time to leave this world is not far off. The position of Crown Prince is hereby passed to the Third Imperial Son, Xian, that he may ascend the grand succession. My loyal subject, General Hu, shall serve as my trusted minister to assist the Crown Prince in his ascension. Should I pass away, this shall serve as my final testament. Let this be known!"

With those words, Hu Bugui handed the imperial decree to Baili Xian, tears streaming down his weathered face. "It is this subject's incompetence; I lacked the ability to proclaim this imperial decree to the entire world, which caused the Virtuous Prince to lose the throne. This subject is guilty! Now, I return this preserved imperial decree to the Virtuous Prince, and this subject awaits your every command."