The Ming Dynasty: The most ruthless imperial grandson, Old Zhu begged me not to kill him.

Chapter 805 A Beautiful Fantasy
In the days that followed, Zhu Xiong Ying became even more diligent, working tirelessly on government affairs, studying military strategy, and training the army. He channeled his longing for Li Niang into motivation, propelling himself forward relentlessly.

He worked diligently to govern the country, implemented new policies, and made the nation increasingly powerful, with the people living in peace and prosperity. He led his army in campaigns in the south and north, continuously expanding the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

He conquered Annam, pacified the southwest, drove the remnants of the Mongol forces to the northern deserts, and even launched an expedition to the Western Regions, spreading the prestige of the Ming Dynasty to even more distant places.

He became a true emperor, a wise and capable ruler with outstanding achievements.

However, no matter how much he achieved, there was always a void in his heart, a void left by Li Niang, which could never be filled.

He dispatched countless people to search for Li Niang's whereabouts, but to no avail.

Ten years have passed, and Zhu Xiong Ying is no longer that naive boy. He has become more mature, more composed, and more ruthless.

He sat on the dragon throne, looking down at the ministers below with deep, unfathomable eyes.

"Your Majesty, the memorial regarding the Western Regions has been drafted. Please take a look," a minister said respectfully.

Zhu Xiong Ying took the memorial, casually flipped through a few pages, and then tossed it aside.

"I understand. You may all leave."

The ministers looked at each other, not daring to say anything, and all withdrew from the hall.

Zhu Xiong Ying sat alone in the empty hall, staring blankly ahead.

"Li Niang, where are you?" he murmured, his voice filled with weariness and helplessness.

Just then, a eunuch rushed in.

"Your Majesty, something is wrong!"

Zhu Xiong Ying frowned. "What's the matter that you're in such a panic?"

"Your Majesty, an urgent report has arrived from the Western Regions, saying..." The eunuch stammered, as if he had something difficult to say.

"Speak!" Zhu Xiong's tone was icy, tinged with impatience.

"They say...they say Consort Li has appeared!"

Zhu Xiong Ying suddenly stood up, his eyes flashing with a sharp light.

"What did you say? Li Niang has appeared? Where is she?"

The eunuch hurriedly said, "News has come from the Western Regions that a woman claims to be Consort Li, and... and she is carrying a child..."

Zhu Xiong Ying was stunned. A child? Could it be...?

He dared not think any further, fearing that this was just a beautiful fantasy that would eventually be shattered.

"Send word to prepare the carriage immediately; I am going to the Western Regions in person!"

His voice was excited and trembling, as if he had returned to the spirited young man he was ten years ago.

He couldn't wait to see Li Niang, to know what she had gone through in the past ten years, and to find out whose child it was...

He strode out of the main hall, his heart filled with anticipation and trepidation.

He's come from the Western Regions!

The emperor personally led the expedition, a grand and imposing force. Zhu Xiong Ying traveled westward, his heart pounding like a drum, filled with both longing for Li Niang and trepidation about the unknown. Ten years is enough to change many things; was Li Niang still the same as he remembered? That child… whose was it? He dared not think too deeply, and could only urge the troops to speed up.

The sandstorms in the Western Regions were far more frigid than those in the capital, cutting like knives against the face. Zhu Xiong Ying stood atop a high sand dune, gazing at the endless, undulating desert in the distance, a strange sense of desolation welling up within him. Ten years of war had traversed the entire territory of the Ming Dynasty, yet he had never found any trace of Li Niang. Now, however, he had obtained a clue in this vast desert—how could he not be excited?
"Your Majesty, we are approaching the Kingdom of Kucha," the accompanying general reported.

Zhu Xiong Ying nodded, took a deep breath, and mounted his horse. "Let's go." The King of Kucha had already received the news and led his civil and military officials out of the city to greet him. Zhu Xiong Ying ignored their flattery and went straight to the point: "I have heard that your country has a woman who claims to be the Great Ming Consort Li?"

The King of Kucha was taken aback, then quickly replied, "It is indeed so. That woman was exceptionally beautiful and possessed a noble air. I originally intended to present her to Your Majesty, but she..."

"But what about her?" Zhu Xiong asked, his tone tinged with impatience.

"But she said she was only waiting for the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty." The King of Kucha carefully observed Zhu Xiong Ying's expression.

Zhu Xiong Ying's heart stirred, a warm feeling welling up inside her. Ten years have passed, Liniang, are you still waiting for me?
Without saying another word, he spurred his horse and galloped towards the palace.

Led by the King of Kucha, Zhu Xiong Ying arrived at an exquisite courtyard. Before even entering, he heard a clear, melodious child's voice.

"Mother, when do you think Father will come?"

"He'll be here soon," a gentle female voice replied.

Zhu Xiong Ying's heart skipped a beat; he knew that voice all too well.

He pushed open the door and saw a woman holding a five- or six-year-old boy, sitting on a stone bench in the courtyard.

The woman was dressed in white, her face unchanged, only now her brows held a hint of maturity and world-weariness. The boy was chubby-cheeked, with large, bright, lively eyes.

"Li Niang!" Zhu Xiong Ying exclaimed excitedly.

The woman looked up and saw Zhu Xiong Ying. She was stunned for a moment, then her eyes reddened and tears welled up in her eyes.

"Heroes..."

She put down the child, ran over, and threw herself into Zhu Xiong Ying's arms.

Zhu Xiong Ying hugged her tightly, feeling her body temperature, her heart filled with the joy of having her back.

"Li Niang, where have you been for the past ten years? I've searched for you so hard..."

With tears in her eyes, Li Niang recounted her experiences over the past ten years. It turned out that she had been framed by a villain and forced to flee to the Western Regions, where she was rescued by the King of Kucha. Later, she discovered she was pregnant with Zhu Xiong Ying's child and settled down peacefully in Kucha.

“Xiongying, this is our child, Zhu Yunwen,” Li Niang said, pointing to the boy.

Looking at the lively and adorable boy before him, Zhu Xiong Ying was filled with mixed emotions. He bent down and picked up Zhu Yun Wen. The father and son looked into each other's eyes, and a feeling of blood connection welled up within them.

"Yunwen, I am your father." Zhu Xiong Ying's voice trembled slightly.

Zhu Yunwen blinked his big eyes, looked at Zhu Xiong Ying curiously, and asked in a childish voice, "What is Father Emperor?"

Zhu Xiong Ying laughed heartily, all the gloom in her heart vanished.

“Father is…” He paused, a sly glint in his eyes, “Father is the most powerful person in the world!”

In the days that followed, Zhu Xiong Ying settled in the Kingdom of Kucha, accompanying Li Niang and Zhu Yunwen. He taught Zhu Yunwen to ride horses, shoot arrows, read, and write, and the father and son got along very well.

However, this period of peace was short-lived. One evening, Zhu Xiong Ying was reviewing memorials when he suddenly heard a commotion outside.

He quickly got up, pushed open the door, and went out. He saw Li Niang standing at the door with a pale face, followed by several palace maids with panicked expressions.

"Xiongying, something terrible has happened! Yunwen is missing!"

Zhu Xiong Ying's expression immediately changed drastically. "What? Yunwen is missing? What happened?"

(End of this chapter)