Chapter 1612: Chapter 62: The Beicang King Appears!

Imperial Palace.

Yangxin Hall.

Changning Emperor’s gaze slowly swept over the Shouyang Ginseng presented by Ji Mingyuan.

He then extended his hands, the frail arms trembling slightly, an obvious sign that his hands were devoid of any strength.

Yet the outstretched hands remained steady.

He took the Thousand-year-old Shouyang Ginseng handed by Ji Mingyuan and took a bite, slowly chewing it.

Afterward, a faint flush appeared on the Changning Emperor’s face, and his demeanor immediately improved.

He looked at Jiang Ning, then at Ji Mingyue, and finally at Ji Mingyuan.

"Yuanyuan, stand guard outside. Without my orders, no one is to enter."

Ji Mingyuan paused, glanced at Jiang Ning and the Changning Emperor, and then nodded in response.

"Yes, father!"

With these words, he glanced at Jiang Ning and Ji Mingyue once again, turned, and quietly closed the room door as he exited.

"Shiqi, where is Chief Manager Hai?" asked the Changning Emperor. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"I don’t know!" Ji Mingyue shook his head. "Today, Dongling Marquis and I just returned to the city. We came directly from the Imperial Palace to Yangxin Hall without seeing Chief Manager Hai. It was Chief Fu guarding outside Yangxin Hall. Chief Fu tried to stop Dongling Marquis and me from visiting you, Father."

The Changning Emperor nodded, continuing to slowly chew the Shouyang Ginseng in his mouth, his Adam’s apple moving with difficulty as a touch of abnormal redness appeared on his pallid face, and his eyes became a bit clearer.

"Chief Manager Hai is absent, with Chief Fu guarding the door, ha ha——" the Changning Emperor let out a dry laugh.

"Dongling Marquis, in my current state, how long can I hold on?" he asked Jiang Ning.

"Approximately one day and one night," Jiang Ning replied.

"One day and one night, hmm?" murmured the Changning Emperor. "Not bad, a gift from heaven."

He turned to look at Ji Mingyue.

"Shiqi, you really shouldn’t have returned."

"Father, this is the last chance to see you. I don’t want to regret it for the rest of my life," Ji Mingyue said earnestly.

"You have a thoughtful heart," sighed the Changning Emperor, with a tinge of comfort on his face, his expression also somewhat bitterly smiling as he looked outside. "It’s better to have daughters, for sons only think about power and benefits during these times. Is the throne really that captivating?"

As he spoke, he steadily sat up straight.

Seeing this, Ji Mingyue stepped forward, intending to help.

"No need," the Changning Emperor slowly shook his head at Ji Mingyue, with firm eyes.

Detecting the Changning Emperor’s attitude, Ji Mingyue immediately halted.

The Changning Emperor then showed a gratified smile and gradually adjusted his sitting posture to make his back straighter.

"Dongling Marquis, do you think what I just said was correct?"

Jiang Ning smiled, choosing not to elaborate, nor engaging with the Changning Emperor’s remarks.

The so-called reflections are uttered only by those who’ve gained the position, like the Changning Emperor.

If he hadn’t ascended to the throne and all his offspring were daughters, he would have gone mad ages ago.

Through recent interactions, Jiang Ning had roughly grasped what kind of person the Changning Emperor was.

"Dongling Marquis, after my passing, among the princes, who do you think is most qualified and capable to take my current place?"

Noticing Jiang Ning’s reluctance to answer the previous question, the Changning Emperor spoke again.

"This is a family matter of the Holy Emperor’s house. Who is suitable or not, the Holy Emperor has his own judgments," Jiang Ning replied.

The Changning Emperor sat upright, slowly shaking his head.

"If I had a best choice in mind, I would have established the position of Crown Prince long ago."

"Father!" At this moment, Ji Mingyue couldn’t help but speak up. "Father, leaving the Crown Prince’s position undecided now will surely cause the brothers to kill each other, staining the Imperial Palace with blood."

"I know!" the Changning Emperor nodded, then resolutely said, "They were born in the royal family; this is their destiny! Now that the Great Xia is turbulent, I am also unable to select who is suitable to inherit this position. Since that’s the case, let them compete, let them fight, survival of the fittest; the one who emerges victorious will surely not lack ability."

As he spoke, the Changning Emperor looked out the window.

The dappled sunlight streamed through the lattice, illuminating the room.

"This vast empire is already terminally ill. If handed to a mediocre person, it will only hasten its collapse."

He took a deep breath, as if suppressing the pain within himself: "During these years on the throne, I have been diligent, never slackening. Yet, the course of events is hard to change, and the will of heaven cannot be reversed."

"The chaos of the Yellow Heaven Sect, the power divisions of sects and families, continuous court rivalries..."

"All of this requires a successor strong and sober enough to rectify."

At this moment.

Listening to these words of the Changning Emperor, Ji Mingyue’s lips trembled slightly.

"Father, your approach is too cruel!"

The Changning Emperor said indifferently: "It’s their fate! Sitting on this throne is destined to be lonely, destined to be estranged from family ties."

Subsequently, the Changning Emperor’s gaze fell on Jiang Ning again, eyes showing a hint of complexity.

"Dongling Marquis, today you extended my life with a Secret Technique. I owe you for this favor. Whatever you need, just say it, and I’ll try to meet it as best as I can."

"I need treasures that can aid my cultivation," Jiang Ning replied.

"Alright, I’ll make arrangements shortly," the Changning Emperor nodded, reaching under the pillow to draw out a dark golden Token, engraved with coiled dragon patterns on one side and an ancient "Ji" character on the reverse.

"This is the Dragon Soaring Order. Holding this Token is like my presence. With it, you can command three-tenths of the Forbidden Army in the palace, and mobilize a hundred-member Shadow Guard team of the Imperial Family." The Changning Emperor handed the Token to Jiang Ning: "I’m giving you the Dragon Soaring Order not to involve you in the struggle for the throne, but to protect Shiqi for me."

Hearing this, Ji Mingyue, standing aside, had tears welling up in her eyes: "Father, Dongling Marquis is already cursed; he cannot partake in more battles and conflicts."