After rebirth, I joined forces with my mortal enemy to seek revenge.

The moon sank and the sun rose, the light from outside trickling down into Lizheng Hall. The sound of drums from the tower drifted into his ears. The Wei Emperor, resting on his bed, had already opened his eyes and was being helped to his feet by Yuan Zhengze. While being helped by eunuchs to dress and wash, he gazed blankly into the bronze mirror, his pale face reflecting back.

The Emperor of Wei closed his eyes and sighed. His aches and pains had kept him awake at night. Even though the attendants in the palace had slowed down their pace, the slightest noise would wake him. He could no longer fall asleep, tossing and turning until dawn.

After the Emperor of Wei was dressed in all his clothes, Yuan Zhengze ordered someone to bring in the meal.

Soon, Sun Shaofeng, dressed in red, led a group of palace maids in to serve the meal.

Ever since the Wei Emperor rarely summoned Yuan Zhengze, Sun Shaofeng had become a favorite around him. Besides being responsible for the imperial court's writing and calligraphy, she was also responsible for all of the Emperor's meals, medicine, and drinks.

Seeing Sun Shaofeng enter, a flicker of impatience crossed Yuan Zhengze's face. He had secretly sent someone to investigate Sun Shaofeng's background. She was from Jiangnan and had been working in the Shanggong Bureau since entering the palace the previous year, highly regarded by Concubine Zhang. Now, the Emperor of Wei had taken a liking to her, keeping her by his side and promoting her to the position of Chief of the Records Department.

After thinking for a moment, Yuan Zhengze said, "Since Sun Siji is here to serve Your Majesty, I will go wait outside."

Perhaps because he felt that today's breakfast was quite to his liking, the Emperor of Wei simply waved his hand, signaling Yuan Zhengze to leave.

Leaving Lizheng Hall, Yuan Zhengze spat with disdain. Previously, the Wei Emperor had favored and relied on him, allowing him to dispose of those he had left behind, even secretly encouraging him to emulate Zhang Rang and seize power in the Southern Court. But now, he had been tricked by Pei Jiaoran, with nowhere to appeal, and the Wei Emperor had become suspicious and alienated, even willing to replace him.

Realizing the cold-hearted nature of the Emperor of Wei, Yuan Zhengze became even more determined to support the King of Wu and was determined to cooperate with Jia Gonglu.

Yuan Zhengze's eyes lit up with sarcasm at the thought. Since the Emperor of Wei was so heartless and unfaithful, he shouldn't blame him for being ruthless. Instructing the eunuchs to continue waiting at the palace gate, he turned and walked in another direction.

Although the breakfast was delicious, he was too ill to eat much. After taking only a few bites, the Emperor of Wei waved his hand to signal Sun Shaofeng to have the meal removed.

The desk and breakfast were removed, and the Emperor of Wei curled up on the low couch by the window and picked up the book beside him and began to flip through it.

Sun Shaofeng returned to the hall and stood beside the couch, looking at the Emperor of Wei with gentle eyes.

"Do you want to leave the palace?" Emperor Wei suddenly asked.

"After my father died, my mother and I were left homeless." Sun Shaofeng lowered her head. "My father taught me, and I've read a few books and learned a few words, so I thought about entering the palace to find a job. If Your Majesty lets me leave, I really don't know how I'm going to support my mother."

Upon hearing this, the Emperor of Wei looked up at her and said in a deep voice, "There are girls' schools in both the common people and the imperial court. Why don't you become a teacher in one of them and educate people?"

"There are so many knowledgeable people in the women's school. And it is not shameful to enter the palace to be a female official. I think it is a good thing to be a female official." Sun Shaofeng said.

"How about this? I will give you a special decree. How about allowing you to teach at the girls' school?" The Emperor of Wei asked with a smile.

Just as they finished speaking, they heard the loud sound of a door opening. As the two of them were stunned, a figure stumbled in.

Seeing this, Sun Shaofeng moved and subconsciously stood in front of Emperor Wei.

At the same time, the stumbling figure raised his head and looked at the two of them, revealing the face of the King of Wu.

"Your servant pays homage to His Majesty the King of Wu." Remembering Pei Jiaoran's instructions, Sun Shaofeng took the initiative and took the opportunity to inform the Emperor of Wei of the identity of the visitor.

Upon hearing the King of Wu's words, the Emperor of Wei pushed Sun Shaofeng aside and struggled to his feet, looking towards the King of Wu, who was kneeling not far away. His lips trembled slightly, and a sob escaped his throat. It had only been a month since they last met, and the King of Wu looked much more haggard than he remembered. His futou was askew, and his face was dusty and worn.

Sun Shaofeng, who was pushed aside by the Emperor of Wei, glanced at the Emperor of Wei out of the corner of his eye and pursed his lips slightly.

"How did you come back?" asked the Emperor of Wei.

Even though he missed the child so much, he never thought of asking the King of Wu to come back. After all, he was a king first, and a father second.

Looking up at the Emperor of Wei, the King of Wu, tears in his eyes, kowtowed and said, "I heard that Father was seriously ill, so I came back to visit you. I know that entering the palace without being summoned is a serious crime. But I miss Father so much."

The Emperor of Wei's body stiffened, and his eyes, which had been dull due to long-term illness, suddenly became sharp and stared at the King of Wu who was kneeling on the ground.

The hall fell into a suffocating silence. The only sounds were the King of Wu's suppressed, heavy breathing caused by the long journey, and the Emperor of Wei's own increasingly loud and rapid heartbeat, beating in his ears like drums.

Looking at his son kneeling before him, his face dusty and tears streaming, the Emperor of Wei's heart, tormented by illness and suspicion, suddenly clenched. A wave of pure paternal sorrow and love washed over him, nearly bringing him to tears. He instinctively leaned forward, reaching out his hand as if to touch the King of Wu's head, his voice choking with a subtle sob.

"My son... get up quickly and come to Aye." His tone was gentle, filled with the warmth of a long-awaited reunion. "Let Aye take a good look at you. You've become thinner and more haggard... You must have suffered a lot."

Upon hearing this, the King of Wu knelt a few steps, moving closer to the low couch. Tears streamed even more fiercely. He tightly grasped the withered hand that the Emperor of Wei had extended, resting his cheek against it, sobbing, "Father...how could you be so ill? I'm not distressed to be able to share your worries. It's just that I miss your holy face day and night. Hearing that you're not well, my heart aches, and I can't sleep or eat. That's why...that's why I've dared to return to the capital, just to see you well with my own eyes."

Sun Shaofeng stood quietly by the side, with his eyes lowered, as if he was a gorgeous statue in the hall, but in fact he took in every subtle expression of the Emperor of Wei.

The Emperor of Wei's fingers trembled, almost touching the King of Wu's shoulder, and the mask of a kind father was almost flawless.

However, just as his fingertips were about to touch the King's cheek, his hand paused in mid-air and slowly withdrew, curling into a fist and hiding it in his sleeve. The warmth on his face remained, but a frost clouded his eyes. He raised his hand nonchalantly, motioning the King to rise. The palace was so imprisoned; how could the King, already a vassal, return to it?

The king's suspicion instantly overwhelmed the father's love.

"Foolish child..." The Emperor of Wei sighed, his voice still gentle, but less sincere. "Your filial piety is known to you, Father. However, you are already on your way to your fiefdom, and returning to Chang'an without permission is a serious crime that cannot be tolerated by the law. If the court officials knew, I'm afraid there would be an uproar, which would put Father... and me in a difficult position."

He naturally switched from "Aye" to "I", and although his tone was light, it was as heavy as a thousand pounds.

The King of Wu froze and kowtowed, saying, "I acknowledge my guilt! I am willing to accept any punishment! I only ask that you take care of yourself!"