TPATTHU Chapter 90

Chapter 90 It’s him, he’s back

At this moment, a young man walked out from the Northern Barbarian army. His eyebrows and eyes bore a resemblance to the Prince Shen of yesteryear, but his face was filled with sarcasm.

“Worthy of being from the Xiao family.”

Shen Zhejiang felt a faint suspicion in his heart: “You are… Xiao Jing’s child?”

Xiao Chun looked at Shen Zhejiang, flourished his sword, and said with a half-smile, “Yes, so should I respectfully call you ‘Royal Uncle’?”

Sure enough, someone like Xiao Jing, who was prone to dalliances, really left behind quite a few romantic affairs.

But…

“Why are you in the Northern Barbarian army?”

“That’s a long story,” Xiao Chun took a step closer to Shen Zhejiang. Seeing this, Huai Wu immediately stood in front of Shen Zhejiang, warning him with his eyes. Xiao Chun, however, was unmoved and continued to walk and speak, “To a dying man, I don’t want to waste words. Let’s just say, my mother is the Great Princess of the Northern Barbarians.”

So that was the case.

Shen Zhejiang now understood.

In fact, he had once asked Xiao Zhinian to seek out Xiao Jing’s descendants. Although Xiao Zhinian was the ruler of Yan Country, he couldn’t extend his reach to the Northern Barbarians, so he had no choice but to give up.

“You know my father’s nature. My mother initially came to Yan Country incognito to travel, and she met my father, that scoundrel, and was tricked into bed with just a few words. Later, my mother searched for my father everywhere, only to find out that he was from the Xiao family,” Xiao Chun said. “The Northern Barbarians and Yan Country have been eyeing each other warily for generations. My mother knew that there was no possibility for her and my father, so she hid the truth from everyone and gave birth to me. Unfortunately, because half of the Xiao family’s blood flows in my veins, no one liked me except my mother since I was a child.”

Shen Zhejiang pursed his lips: “…”

Xiao Chun stopped and pointed his sword at Shen Zhejiang: “You don’t know what kind of life I lived since I was a child. Fortunately, I was quite competitive and obtained half of the Northern Barbarian’s military power. Although I don’t have any good feelings towards my father, he ultimately gave me a legitimate opportunity to sit on the throne. No matter what, you are my dear Royal Uncle, and I will treat you with some respect, unlike Xiao Zhinian…”

As he spoke, he stopped, and the expression he revealed was undisguised disgust.

Xiao Zhinian?

Shen Zhejiang felt as if his entire heart was clenched tightly: “What about Xiao Zhinian?”

“He, ah…” Xiao Chun deliberately dragged out the tone, “Occupying the magpie’s nest, he is not from the Xiao family at all. No, to be precise, his emperor father is also not.”

Not only Shen Zhejiang, but even Liu Bao and the others were filled with confusion.

What did he mean?

Xiao Chun said: “I also investigated for many years before accidentally learning about this matter. That Grand Empress Dowager Liang gave birth to a stillborn. Her family members were worried about her unstable position, so they found a baby from the common people to replace it. Even she herself is unaware of it, it’s really ridiculous. But Xiao Zhinian can be considered to have some conscience, returning the throne to you.”

Even if Shen Zhejiang was calm, he couldn’t help but feel disbelief at this time, and he staggered a little.

Liu Bao quickly supported him.

…So, he and Xiao Zhinian had no blood relationship at all. This was just a huge misunderstanding.

Xiao Zhinian, can you hear me?

The relationship between us was never ill-fated.

“Alright, the play is over,” Xiao Chun grinned, “Royal Uncle, it’s time to abdicate.”

Shen Zhejiang opened his lips, but before he could say anything, he heard a chaotic shout outside—

“Kill!!”

“Don’t let a single one go!!”

Xiao Chun’s face turned cold, and he turned his head to ask, “What’s going on?”

At the same time, a Northern Barbarian soldier rushed in, his face full of horror: “Enemy troops broke through the defenses with their forces and are attacking this way!! Our people can’t hold them back!!”

Shen Zhejiang’s heart jumped in alarm.

Could it be…

“This subject is guilty, for being late to the rescue.”

The familiar voice entered Shen Zhejiang’s ears at this moment, like a boulder falling into the heart lake, stirring up layers of turbulent waves.

He looked up.

He saw a tall and straight young man standing in front of the palace gate. His thin and handsome face was stained with blood, which made him look even more resolute in the flames of war. His gaze crossed everyone, longing and affectionate, as if crossing time, crossing mountains and rivers, crossing crowds, and falling only on one person.

Xiao Zhinian.

Shen Zhejiang murmured, and a misty vapor blurred his eyes.

It was him, he’s back.

[End of the main text]