We have fought to the Arctic Circle, and you want me to inherit the throne?

The light in the hall was getting dimmer and the sun was about to set.

The last ray of afterglow squeezed in through the gap in the window frame, but dissipated in the air, just like the emperor's afterglow that was about to disappear.

Huang Jin hunched over, holding a silver candlestick, and lit the copper lamps at the four corners of the hall one by one.

The dancing flames dispelled some of the twilight, but also added a sense of loneliness to the hall.

"Cough cough... cough cough cough..."

A burst of suppressed violent coughing suddenly broke the silence.

Emperor Qing leaned forward, his body shaking with painful spasms.

His face, which had just regained some color, instantly turned as pale as paper again, and fine cold sweat oozed from his forehead.

Li Lin's heart tightened, and he subconsciously stepped forward to support.

Emperor Qing raised a hand to stop him.

The old emperor breathed hard, his cloudy eyes fixed on Li Che.

His eyes were filled with an emperor's desire for a grand cause, a father's deep expectations for his son, and even a hint of almost humble prayer.

Huang Jin, who was standing by, felt a pang of pain in his nose when he saw His Majesty in such a state.

He hurriedly lowered his head and forced back the tears that were about to burst out.

After an unknown amount of time, Li Che's gaze finally slowly shifted away from the map of Daqing.

He raised his eyes and looked at the old emperor who was dying on the dragon throne:

"Are you so sure that I can escape from the imperial capital and return safely to Fengguo?"

"Has it never occurred to you that I might die here, and all your plans would be in vain?"

Emperor Qing met his gaze, and with an effort, a smile appeared on the corners of his pale, cracked mouth.

"I... believe you."

"I believe that General Tiance of Daqing, my son Qilin, can't be stopped by those chickens and dogs outside."

"And..." He panted slightly, "Since I forced you to return, how could I be so unprepared as to put my most outstanding son...to death?"

Li Che looked at Emperor Qing's frail appearance, feeling mixed emotions.

In the end, the complex emotions in his heart turned into a long sigh: "You...you are really getting more willful as you get older."

This almost rebellious complaint not only failed to draw a rebuke from Emperor Qing, but instead caused a startling glint to burst out from his eyes:

"So... you've agreed to my request?!"

Li Che slowly straightened his spine and his expression became extremely serious.

He looked at Emperor Qing and said word by word, "Even if you don't tell me all this today, I won't let the people from the aristocratic family go!"

"The land outside the Great Wall is the inseparable territory of Daqing! I, Li Che...will never be the eternal sinner who splits the country!"

"Good! Good! Good!"

Emperor Qing was very excited. He slapped his skinny hands on the arm of the chair and said "OK" three times in a row.

This made his breathing even more disordered, triggering another round of even more violent coughing.

“Cough cough cough…cough cough!”

This time, the coughing stopped abruptly.

After a muffled groan, dark red blood spurted out from Emperor Qing's mouth, splattering on the front of his dragon robe in star-like spots, which was shocking!

"Father! How are you?! How is your body..."

Li Lin was so frightened that his soul was about to leave his body and his face turned pale instantly.

Huang Jin couldn't hold it in any longer and rushed forward with tears in her eyes:

"Your Highness, you may not know that His Majesty has been awake for less and less time each day and sleeping for longer and longer periods of time over the past two weeks."

"In recent days, I've only been awake for one or two hours a day!"

"Today, after learning that the two princes had entered the city, His Majesty has shown some improvement. He has been holding on until now, but..."

"Huang Jin! Shut up... for me!"

Emperor Qing let out a hoarse roar, interrupting Huang Jin's words.

But what followed was more intense wheezing and coughing.

Huang Jin was stopped and dared not say anything more. He could only kneel aside, his shoulders shaking violently.

However, based on Huang Jin's few short words just now, Li Che's face changed drastically, and he already had a guess in his mind.

Emperor Qing's symptoms don't seem to be getting better at all. Instead, they seem like what the old people often say... a last gasp of life.

"Ahem... I'm fine."

Emperor Qing raised his hand with difficulty and weakly patted Li Che and Li Lin who were supporting him on his left and right, trying to calm his breathing.

"Lin'er?"

"My son is here."

"Just now... you must remember what I said to the Sixth Brother. In the future, you must wholeheartedly assist your Sixth Brother. With your talent and character, you will surely become a wise king and leave your name in history."

"You absolutely must not give rise to thoughts that shouldn't exist..."

Li Lin's eyes were already red, and his voice was trembling and choked with sobs: "Father's words are engraved in my heart and I will never forget them!"

Emperor Qing's gaze became somewhat distracted, and he continued to instruct, "Your princess is virtuous and sensible, and your eldest son, Xian'er, is also very intelligent."

"In the future, please listen to your princess's advice on all matters of the family, big or small. Your title and inheritance must be passed on smoothly to Xian'er, ensuring a prosperous and healthy family..."

After hearing this explanation, Li Lin had a premonition in his heart.

Tears fell like beads from a broken string, unable to be restrained any longer.

He nodded heavily, sobbing uncontrollably: "Your son understands... Your son understands!"

Emperor Qing seemed to have exhausted all his strength. He slowly let go of Li Lin's hand and said weakly:

"You and Huang Jin should leave first. I have something to say to Lao Liu alone."

Li Lin was extremely reluctant and was even more worried about Emperor Qing's health.

But under Emperor Qing's almost pleading gaze, he could only grit his teeth, stand up and wipe the tears from his face.

Following Huang Jin who was silently shedding tears, he slowly exited the main hall, looking back every few steps.

The palace door was gently closed with a muffled sound.

In the hall, only Emperor Qing and Li Che were left.

Li Che was puzzled.

It has come to this point. What important things does Emperor Qing have to say to me alone?

Perhaps it was about arrangements with other brothers, to plead for the King of Qin and the King of Jin?

There is no need to do so. Li Che has no intention of killing his brothers.

Emperor Qing didn't speak for a while, he could only stand there quietly.

Time passed little by little, and after about half an incense stick of time, Emperor Qing's breathing seemed to have calmed down a little and was no longer so rapid.

He slowly turned his head, his cloudy eyes fixed on Li Che's face.

It was as if she was using up her last bit of strength to carve his appearance into her final memory.

"Che'er..."

A murmur almost as a breath sounded.

Li Che felt a pang in his heart, and he quickly leaned over and said, "Your son is here."

"Che'er...Che'er..." Emperor Qing's voice was erratic, as if he was mumbling in his sleep, "I know, the one I feel most sorry for is you."

Li Che said softly: "Father, there is no need to talk about what happened before."

Emperor Qing shook his head: "I also know... In fact, you are no longer the one I love..."

"Now that things have come to this, are you willing to tell me... who... you are?"

"Is it a god, a ghost, or a demon that has taken over my child's body?!"

Hearing these words, Li Che's pupils suddenly contracted to the extreme.

All the blood in my body seemed to freeze at this moment.