Cultivating Immortality, Starting from Childhood Sweethearts - Chapter 487

The news of the King of Xiliang’s return to the capital spread throughout Wu Capital.

In the imperial court, from the highest-ranking officials to the lowest, everyone received word of his arrival.

Inside the Imperial Study, Emperor Wu sat on his dragon throne, his expression grim, his brows deeply furrowed. He remained silent.

Wei Xun stood by his side, not daring to utter a single word. He even controlled his breathing, fearing that if he made the slightest noise, his head would roll.

Having served the Emperor for many years, Wei Xun could tell—this time, His Majesty was truly furious.

Emperor Wu closed his eyes and took a deep breath before slowly opening them again.

He asked in a low voice, “Wei Xun, what do you think the King of Xiliang’s intentions are in returning to the capital at this time?”

Wei Xun swallowed nervously, his voice trembling. “Your Majesty, perhaps… the King of Xiliang simply misses you too much?”

“Misses me? Hmph! Does the King of Xiliang truly miss me, or does he miss the throne beneath me?”

Emperor Wu let out a cold snort.

Wei Xun was so terrified that he immediately fell to his knees before the Emperor.

“Why are you so nervous? Unless… you are one of the King of Xiliang’s people?”

Emperor Wu shot Wei Xun a sharp glance—a glance filled with real killing intent.

“Your Majesty, I was born your servant, and in death, I will be your ghost! How could I possibly be loyal to the King of Xiliang? Your Majesty, please see the truth!”

Wei Xun kowtowed repeatedly, his forehead smashing against the ground until it bled. Tears and snot streamed down his face—he was utterly terrified.

“I was merely speaking offhandedly. Why are you so frightened? Get up.”

Emperor Wu let out a sigh.

He knew full well that this old servant was loyal to him.

But the rage in his heart had nowhere to go.

The feudal kings—especially the King of Xiliang—had always been a thorn in his side.

Even more so than the remnants of Prince Shan’s faction.

The remnants of Prince Shan’s supporters were, at best, a minor nuisance. Prince Shan was already dead.

Though rumors claimed his direct descendants were still in exile, the truth was they had likely been wiped out.

If they were still alive, after all these years, why had he never been able to find them?

And with so much time having passed, most of Prince Shan’s followers had lost their resolve, failing to form any significant force.

But the King of Xiliang was different.

He held military power at the border.

His soldiers were battle-hardened and fearless.

In past attempts to weaken the feudal lords, the Emperor had dared to suppress others—but never the King of Xiliang.

As a result, the King of Xiliang’s power had only grown stronger, his influence greater.

Emperor Wu knew he had made a mistake.

This “unruly tail” would eventually turn back to bite him.

Yet, until now, he had not found the right opportunity to act.

He was not yet ready.

His decrees could no longer reach Xiliang.

“Make the necessary preparations.” The Emperor’s voice was cold.

“Since my dear great-uncle has returned, I must give him a proper welcome.”

“As Your Majesty commands!”

Wei Xun hurriedly withdrew.

“Mochi! Mochi, something big is happening!”

A handsome and carefree prince strode into Xiao Mochi’s courtyard.

Su Zihong rushed to Xiao Mochi’s side, snatched the book from his hands, and tossed it onto the table.

“Xiao Mochi! How can you still have the leisure to read at a time like this?”

“Hey, you—!”

Xiao Mochi looked at his discarded book with frustration.

“I wasn’t even done reading yet!”

“Forget about reading! My dear brother—

The King of Xiliang has returned! Do you even know?”

Su Zihong was exasperated.

Xiao Mochi chuckled.

“Look at you, getting all worked up. So what if the King of Xiliang has returned?

What’s the big deal? What—

Is he not allowed to come back to the capital?”

Su Zihong rolled his eyes at him.

“It’s not that he can’t return—

It’s that he cannot return without an imperial summons!

And he absolutely shouldn’t have returned now!”

“Are you seriously unaware of everything that’s been happening?”

“These past few months, the remnants of Prince Shan’s faction have been stirring up trouble in Wu Capital.

Then, Liu Feng arrived with that princess from the Chu Kingdom.

And now, the King of Xiliang has returned too!

Something big is about to happen!”

Xiao Mochi smiled at his friend.

“Then tell me—what great event do you think is about to happen?”

“I—”

Su Zihong hesitated, then let out a loud sigh and slumped down beside Xiao Mochi.

“If I actually knew what was going on, do you think I’d be here asking you? I’m just a damn idle prince.”

“In that case, stop worrying about it.”

Xiao Mochi picked up his book, dusted it off, and resumed flipping through the pages.

“Just live your life, find yourself a decent princess consort, and enjoy your days.

Even if Wu Kingdom collapses, you won’t.”

Su Zihong frowned as he studied Xiao Mochi’s profile.

As if realizing something, he grabbed the book from Xiao Mochi’s hands again.

“Don’t tell me—you already knew the King of Xiliang was coming back?”

“Hurry up, tell me what’s going on! I don’t understand any of this! I feel like a monkey losing its mind!”

Xiao Mochi sighed, looking at Su Zihong helplessly.

“Have you ever considered that not knowing anything is the happiest way to live?”

Su Zihong twitched his brows.

“Why do I feel like you’re insulting me?”

“Am I?”

Xiao Mochi chuckled.

“Ugh, stop playing word games with me! You sound like a damn monk! Just tell me already!”

Su Zihong stared at him expectantly.

“Ever since you returned to Wu Kingdom over ten years ago, I’ve had this feeling—

That you’re planning something big.

You always said you just wanted to repay your homeland, but come on, Mochi—

I know you too well! You definitely have something up your sleeve!

Tell me, what exactly are you up to?”

Xiao Mochi simply smiled.

“Zihong, you say being a fool is fine—but a suspicious fool isn’t really a fool at all.”

“Are you going to tell me or not?” Su Zihong was genuinely frustrated now.

“Nope.” Xiao Mochi’s reply was firm.

But in doing so, he also admitted—

That he was planning something.

“You—!” Su Zihong was furious.

“Are we even brothers anymore?”

Xiao Mochi shook his head.

“It’s because we’re brothers that I can’t tell you.”

With that, he picked up his book and began walking away.

His voice drifted back over his shoulder.

“Zihong, the fact that you get to live happily as an idle prince—

That is the reason I’m doing all of this.”

Su Zihong watched him go, trying to make sense of his words.

But just like always, he felt like his brain just wasn’t fast enough.

“Hey! Where are you going? I’m coming with you!”

If thinking didn’t work, then he just wouldn’t think.

Without another word, Su Zihong quickly followed after him.