Murong li looked at his father's lifeless body, he closed the king's eyes with his fingers and got out of the carriage.

General Qing walked up to him.

"Your highness....."

"Let's go back home....once we arrive announce the death of the king"

General Qing bowed.

"As you wish"

Murong li sighed and walked towards the dirt road.

"Your highness where are you going?" General Qing asked in panic.

"I need time for myself, go ahead home i will meet you there"

General Qing sighed in defeat, the prince was walking away without bodyguards, his appearance also makes him look like a young woman, what if...

Smack.

"Stop thinking like this" he scolded himself and got inside the carriage.

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Zhao Zhing and his assistant went inside the throne room, they kneeled down infront of Liu Wei.

"Your highness, we come baring grieve news"

"Oh? What is it?" Liu Wei asked, the shock and sadness evident in his prime minister's face made him very uneasy.

"Your highness....Yaoguang just announced that King Murong Chon has died"

A chill ran up his spine, he closed his eyes and took in a shaky breath.

"What caused his death?"

"The Wu Yue sect....apparently Murong Chon was there as a spy so he got caught....he fought with Queen Li Na and Wei Young finished him"

He chuckled.

"So after receiving 50 strikes, the women of Wu Yue sect were still standing strong? No worries, pass my order"

Liu Wei slapped a piece of paper on his wooden desk, he wrote on it and stamped it with the Jingnan sect symbol.

"Deploy 10 000 soldiers to Yaoguang, Murong li is alone right now, if Wu Yue succeeds during this war, Yaoguang will fall"

Zhao Zhing frowned, why was the king meddling in something that doesn't concern him?

"Your highness...."

"Zhao Zhing...do as I say"

It was a statement that left no chance for discussion. Zhao Zhing sighed, he bowed and left, his assistant following behind in silence.

Once they had left, Liu Wei sighed, Murong Chon is dead, what will become of Murong li?

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In the evening, Yaoguang sect was mourning, Murong li eventually returned which appeased General Qing's soul.

Currently, Murong li was playing his flute, the melody of tranquility was different this time, the soft melody it used to bring calmness to the mind is now filled with sorrow and pain.

"Your highness..."

Murong li turned to see who it was, General Qing.

"General, anything I can help you with?"

"Your father's corpse has arrived at his room"

There was a moment of silence between the two, Murong li's now tied up hair flowing with wind.

"Have the monk start the ceremony, i will be there to burn paper"

"As you wish"

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Wei young was in her room, the reality that her mother had died had not set in yet.

Would she suffer the same fate as her mother if she squares off with Murong li? She hopes not.

"Your majesty, the Queen's body has arrived, will you be present during the burning of paper?"

"Yes....I will be there in a minute"

Wei young stood up and fixed her robe, her eyes cold.

"No matter what Murong li....I will avenge my mother and take away your kingdom, then take Zhi Ming away from you also, we shall see if this beautiful man can endure the pain of a common life"

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Wang Yong sighed sadly after he had told Zhi Ming about the losses suffered by Yaoguang and Wu Yue sect.

Zhi Ming was sad, his friend had lost his father and has to also rule a whole sect?
He needs to see Murong li, to see if he's alright.

"And where do you think you're going?" Wang Yong asked, Zhi Ming paused and looked at his father.

"I'm going to Yaoguang, what if Murong li needs help"

"Will you stop it!" Wang Yong erupted in anger, why was his son changing into such a cutsleeve?

"Father i have no time for this i have to-".

"If you even think if stepping out the palace with those long legs of yours i will disown and ban you from my sect"

"Father...if it were Queen Li Na, would you still threaten me?"

The question took him aback, this boy would be the death of him.

"Zhi Ming, what will the people of our kingdom say if they hear that you shared a room with Murong li, another man?"

"Murong li and I know that nothing happened between us in that room and if people gossip let them"

Wang Yong sighed, it seems the prince had made up his mind.

"Zhi Ming...travel safely"

A smile formed on the prince's face.

"Thank you father"

✧══════•❁❀❁•══════✧

A white carriage stopped infront of the Yaoguang palace, Liu Wei got out and he could immediately sense the sadness in the air, the Yaoguang sect was mourning.

"Your highness, why are we here again?" Zhao Zhing asked.

Before sending off his army, Liu Wei saw it fit to come in person to offer Murong li his condolences, it was the least he could do at this time.

"I am here to see Murong li, i know the pain of losing a father, i could help him feel better"

Zhao Zhing sighed, this king was something else.

"As you wish sir"

The doors opened and three men came out of the palace, they were wearing the Yaoguang army uniform. The man in the middle had a different uniform though, his long black cape swaying as he walked, his hair in a tight bun secured by a dazzling gold pin, his facial features made Liu Wei tremble, it was General Qing.

"King of Jingnan, what brings you here?" General Qing asked in surprise.

"Forgive me for coming announced but i wanted to offer Prince Murong li my condolences"

General Qing nodded with a grim face, however he was pleased to see that Murong li atleast had allies in other kingdoms.

"Very well, please follow me"

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The sound of a bamboo flute could be heard in the palace gardens, Murong li was lost in thought he didn't even see Liu Wei approach him.

"Murong li..."

The melody stopped, Murong li blinked a few times and saw Liu Wei infornt of him.

"King Liu Wei...what brings you here?" He asked, although he knows the answer himself.

"I come offering my condolences....shall we burn some incense?"

"Mn...let's head inside"

✧══════•❁❀❁•══════✧

Zhi Ming frowned seeing a royal Jingnan sect carriage in Yaoguang, was the king of Jingnan close with Ah li?

"Maybe they came to offer their condolences, it is expected during these times" he said to himself.

He walked towards the palace and saw Murong li heading inside followed by Liu Wei.

Zhi Ming started to feel something in his chest, it ached and made his mouth bitter, he furrowed his eyebrows as he wondered what was this strange feeling.

"Prince Zhi Ming?" General Qing asked in shock. He was about to go on night patrol when he saw the prince of Yang Wu standing there in a daze.

"Huh? Ah, general, who is that man?" He asked eventhough he knew the answer to his question, he just wants to know why he came here.

"Oh that is king Liu Wei of Jingnan, he came to offer his condolences to Murong li...i think they're about to burn incense for the late king"

"I see...."

He suddenly felt angry, why was the thought of Murong li being with another man making him angry.

General Qing almost chuckled seeing the Prince's expression, it was obvious that he was jealous.

"You can join them" he offered.

"Mn...i will"

And with that Zhi Ming went inside followed by the gaurds of Yaoguang palace.

✧══════•❁❀❁•══════✧

Murong li handed Liu Wei a stick of incense, the two kneeled down infront of Murong Chon's large royal potrait.

They bowed three times and stood back up.

"Murong li...i know it seems difficult but you will get through this, it's time to step up and be the king you were born to be" Liu Wei said.

Murong li nodded.

"Thank you...shall I offer you something to drink? You have come a long way"

"No no, it is alright, i was just stopping by, i will take my leave now"

"Mn...very well then"

Murong li slid the door open and there stood Zhi Ming, his face in a deep scowl.

"Zhi Ming?"