Yuqiongyin

"Don't hide it from me, Wei Ke. This matter is of great importance, and I need to know the truth."

Xie Chenning stared at Wei Lu closely, his eyes becoming sharp.

Wei Ke smiled bitterly and shook his head, then slowly reached out and relit the candle on the table.

"Zhizhi, I didn't hide it from you. It's true that my father loves me, but he never told me even a word about the throne. I also never had any improper thoughts."

As the flames jumped, the candlelight began to flicker in the room, casting flickering shadows on his face.

Wei Ke was silent for a moment, and when he spoke again his voice was slightly lowered:

"My father's favor is both a blessing and a curse to me. Since my mother passed away, I may have become my father's only spiritual support in this world. I have never thought of using this favor to fight for anything. In my eyes, the throne is a heavy responsibility."

At this point, Wei Ke raised his head and looked at Xie Chenning, his eyes revealing a trace of helplessness and confusion: "Now, all forces are ready to move, you promised me that you would help me sit on the throne..."

"Of course." Xie Chenning said firmly. She walked forward, raised her chin slightly, and looked at Wei Ke. "Since I have promised, I will stand by you. Now, it's just one step away, isn't it?"

Wei Ke nodded slightly, memories flooding back like a tide.

He recalled the scene when he was a child, sitting on his father's lap. He was innocent at that time and only knew that his father's love was endless warmth.

But as he grew older, he gradually became aware of the complicated gazes in the palace, full of jealousy and calculation.

The departure of his mother made him feel more lonely in the deep palace, and also made him understand the fickleness of the world earlier.

"Zhizhi, do you know? I have pondered countless times late at night what the throne really means. Is it supreme power, or the loneliness of being trapped within these palace walls for life?"

Wei Ke's voice echoed in the empty palace, with a hint of bitterness.

The moonlight filtered through the carved window lattices, shining on his slightly lonely figure. He stood there, dressed in a brocade robe, but seemed to be swallowed up by the darkness of the palace, his eyes full of confusion and bewilderment.

Xie Chenning stepped forward and held Wei Lu's hand. "The throne means responsibility, which means you have to work for the well-being of the people of the world. What the Wei Dynasty needs is a wise ruler."

Wei Ke looked out the window. The palace wall in the distance stood like a giant beast in the night, isolating this world from the outside world.

"Are you willing to be imprisoned in this cage with me?"

"Xie Jia, you ascended the throne to create a free and happy life for the people of Wei. As for the pressure, I will always be by your side and share it with you."

Xie Chenning gently brushed away the dust on Wei Ke's shoulders, as if he wanted to brush away the haze in his heart.

Wei Ke looked at Xie Chenning, with a hint of emotion in his eyes.

"I want you more than the throne..."

He stretched out his hand and gently stroked Xie Chenning's face, feeling the warmth of her skin, as if that was the only warmth he had in this lonely palace.

"So am I. I am always by your side."

Wei Ke held Xie Chenning in his arms, smelling the fragrance of her hair and feeling her heartbeat.

"But I am afraid, afraid of losing you in this battle for the throne. If I am not prepared tonight, you might have..."

When he said this, his voice suddenly became choked up, and his arms involuntarily tightened slightly, as if he wanted to hold Xie Chenning tightly into his body, never to separate again.

Because only in this way can he truly feel her presence and not lose her again.

He had already lost Xie Chenning once, and he must not lose her a second time.

The pain and despair are still deeply engraved in my mind.

Wei Ke lowered his head and gently touched Xie Chenning's forehead with his lips. It was a gentle and pious kiss with a slight warmth.

Xie Chenning patted his back and comforted him, "Okay, now it's time to find the real imperial edict of succession. The fire in Kunning Palace can't be burned in vain."

"Okay." Hearing Xie Chenning's words, Wei Ke nodded slowly and reluctantly let go of Xie Chenning.

Xie Chenning's attention was attracted by a painting next to the desk.

That was the late emperor’s favorite painting, with towering mountains and gurgling water in the painting.

She remembered that the late emperor had said that there was a universe hidden between mountains and rivers. The two of them walked forward together, carefully examining the painting, and found a tiny bulge in the corner of the frame. Xie Chenning raised his hand and gently pressed it.

With a slight sound of a mechanism turning, the wall behind the desk slowly moved away, revealing a narrow passage.

The passage was filled with an old atmosphere, and several luminous pearls were inlaid on the walls, emitting a cold light.

There is another secret room behind the secret room.

Wei Ke and Xie Chenning looked at each other and walked into the passage without hesitation.

A few glowing luminous pearls were inlaid on the wall, barely illuminating the small space.

There were some boxes and scrolls placed in the small secret room. Wei Ke and Xie Chenning began to check these items one by one.

Wei Ke opened a box containing some letters from the previous emperor. He quickly browsed through them, hoping to find clues about the edict of succession.

Xie Chenning, on the other hand, carefully examined the scroll to see if there were any hidden mechanisms or secret codes.

Xie Chenning discovered some strange symbols on the back of a scroll depicting a court banquet.

"Wei Ke, these symbols seem to have a deep meaning."

Wei Ke put down the letter in his hand, walked over and examined it carefully, "This seems to be a code that my father and I played when we were children. Perhaps it is related to the hiding place of the imperial edict."

With a frown on his face, he rearranged the books on the shelf in the secret room according to the symbols he remembered.

When the last book was placed securely in place, there was a sudden slight vibration from the bookshelf.

Although the vibration was not strong, it was particularly abrupt in the silent room and instantly attracted the attention of the two people.

A hidden compartment slowly rose up on the bookshelf, and in the compartment was an exquisite sandalwood box. The surface of the box was as smooth as a mirror, and it was engraved with the national emblem of the Wei Dynasty and intricate patterns of auspicious dragons and phoenixes.

Wei Ke opened the box, and inside was the real decree of succession that they had been looking for.

The imperial edict was spread out on golden silk. The handwriting on it was clearly legible and vigorous, obviously written by the late emperor. The mark of the jade seal was particularly eye-catching in the dim light.

Looking at Wei Ke's name, Xie Chenning opened her red lips and said, "So, this is legitimate."

"Yes." Wei Ke nodded slightly.

…………