“My tears may be precious, but they’re nothing compared to you!” She hurriedly turned around to face him. “Are you hurt? We need to go back—right now. I’ll find a physician.”
“It’s just a minor injury. Nothing serious.”
“You’ve lost so much blood!”
Only then did Song Wuxia notice that the hand he had used to grip her chin was stained with blood, enough to smear her fair, delicate face. He sighed softly. “I’m sorry. I got Fengguang dirty…”
“Song Wuxia! Is this really the time to be saying that? Come back with me!” She grabbed his hand, but she couldn’t pull him even an inch.
Seeing how earnest she looked, Song Wuxia let out a light, amused laugh. “There’s no need to rush. I still have something to take care of.”
What he meant, of course, was Baili Min—who was still clinging to life.
He pulled Fengguang behind him and stepped closer, calmly observing Baili Min, who was slumped against the tree and breathing unevenly from blood loss. He smiled. “You never expected this, did you? That Fengguang would be standing before me, completely unharmed.”
Fengguang froze. She looked up at Song Wuxia, then at Baili Min sitting against the tree, unable to understand why the conversation had suddenly turned to her.
After a long moment, Baili Min murmured, “So… you already know.”
“Yes. I know everything,” Song Wuxia said. “That so-called ten-year agreement was nothing but a smokescreen. You made me believe that after ten years, I’d have a fair chance to fight you. But in truth, you never intended that at all.”
The look in Baili Min’s clouded eyes shifted. “Wuxia… you are my child as well.”
“Your Majesty must be joking,” Song Wuxia replied with a narrow smile. “The only reason you’re willing to acknowledge me as your son is that you wanted to use me as medicinal material.”
“No… you misunderstand me…”
Song Wuxia chuckled coldly. “Those words came directly from the National Preceptor himself. Who do you think you’re fooling now?”
Ten years ago, the entire Song family had been executed, leaving only Song Wuxia alive. Why? Because Baili Min needed him.
Ten years earlier, Baili Min had made a wager with the young Song Wuxia. He gave him ten years—ten years later, they would face each other in a fair fight, and Song Wuxia would be allowed to avenge his parents.
On the surface, didn’t that make Baili Min sound like a decent emperor?
But that was never the truth.
He needed to ensure that Song Wuxia stayed by his side. Only then could he keep him under control.
Yes—Song Wuxia was the child of Baili Min and Madam Song. Because of this blood connection, Song Wuxia was the perfect ingredient for enhancing Baili Min’s cultivation. But as Song Wuxia grew older, he gradually slipped beyond Baili Min’s control.
More than once, Baili Min had thought that if Song Wuxia hadn’t been stabbed back then—if he had instead become a legitimate imperial prince—he would have been the ideal successor to the throne. In that case, Baili Min might have chosen a different “medicinal material,” perhaps Baili Mo, or Baili Shu.
But there is no medicine for regret.
Song Wuxia had already become a eunuch. He no longer had any right to inherit the throne. And so, he could only ever be a tool.
As Song Wuxia’s influence quietly expanded, Baili Min devised yet another plan. He sought him out and revealed the truth—that he was Song Wuxia’s biological father.
Song Wuxia’s reaction was calm, so calm that Baili Min couldn’t tell what he was thinking.
After that, Baili Min indulged Song Wuxia without restraint. And Song Wuxia continued to test his limits—deliberately framing the Crown Prince, for example. Baili Min’s response was exactly as expected. To secure Song Wuxia’s trust, he was willing to personally throw the child he loved most into prison.
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152