The Steward Demonic Emperor

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"He not once looked at me."

Watching Zhuo Fan's back, Lian'er's mood fell. She started off feeling despair, then hope, then shock, then despair again. But she ended the cycle with anger.

Tuoba Liufeng sighed, "Lian'er, cut me loose and remove the seal on me."

"Uh, right."

Lian'er now recalled her brother's predicament and rushed to release his Yuan Qi.

Tuoba Liufeng finally got his freedom back.

Looking around, seeing the old man lost in his own world, Tuoba Liufeng said, "Lian'er, this time it's grave. We best rush to father. We have to try and flee with him. With the Crown Prince's manor ruined, the consequences are dire. Zhuo Fan is an uncaring monster, stirring things up and making us suffer for it. We have no choice but to flee our home."

"Brother, how can you say that?"

Glaring at him in dissatisfaction, Lian'er pouted, "If not for him, we both would've suffered at Crown Prince's hand. I can't even think about what he'd have done."

Tuoba Liufeng nodded, "Yeah, while the punk ruined everything, he did help us. We should be grateful for it. But we first have to flee from here and not get dragged into this any further!"

Lian'er nodded and the two flew away, leaving the elder behind, still too horrified to react.

"High Venerable…"

Footsteps were heard as a guard looked around to see only the shellshocked elder.

The elder still didn't react.

Sighing, the guard shouted in his ear, "High Venerable, the monster is gone!"

Shaking, the elder finally came out of his stupor. Seeing Zhuo Fan was nowhere around, he sighed and got up. But then he felt chilly below. Looking down, there was a wet patch.

Pff!

The guard chuckled and the old man went red. His glare wiped the smirk off the guard's face.

"Ahem, did that guy leave?"

"Long ago."

"How long?"

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"Fifteen minutes." The guard bowed.

Squinting, the elder nodded, "Why did you only wake me up now?"

"Because the Touba siblings…"

Bam!

The guard's words were cut short by the old man's palm, slapping him dead.

Glancing over, the elder's eyes grew hard, "Damn fool, you think you'll still get to live after seeing all that? Humph!"

The elder's eyes darted around. Assured no one else was around, he took out a fresh pair of pants from his ring and changed. He then rushed to the crown prince's side, "Your Highness, what's wrong? Here, take this healing pill!"

"No!"

The crown prince's eyes glinted with hatred, slurring his words through nonexistent teeth, "Take me to Elder Hu, I want them to take revenge!"

The elder bowed, "Understood."

He grabbed the prince and left…

There was a wide courtyard in the capital, one that had a large lion statue with the words honor and loyalty engraved on it. Above the gate were the words Touba Manor written.

Unlike the imposing gate, the wind that blew was a cold and bitter one, carrying with it a bleak tone along with the dust of the capital.

Inside the manor, two men sat upright in the middle of the room, the former commander of Quanrong and the Imperial Tutor, Han Tiemo.

Frowning, Tuoba Tieshan hesitated before finally jumping to his feet in revulsion, "Guards, summon the Eight Wolf Wardens. I'm going to Crown Prince manor myself!"

"Wait, brother Touba! You can't let it devolve any further!" Han Tiemo urged.

Shaking his head, Tuoba Tieshan was vexed, "Brother, Liufeng is my only son, now trapped in Crown Prince manor. How am I supposed to calm down when His Highness is capable of anything?!"

"No matter how restless you are, you can't just go with the city guards!"

Han Tiemo shook his head, "The minute you resort to using the guards, and against the Crown Prince too, that would be the moment you'll be taken as a traitor. Then no one can save you. Let's say you get to mobilize all the men, what then? You're now the captain of the guards, not Commander Touba, leader of millions. Commander Touba manor is packed with experts, nine venerables of immense power. Even if you go, it won't make a difference, so what's the point?"

Bam!

Slamming the table, Tuoba Tieshan glared, "Even so, as a father, the least I can do is try!"

"Calm down, brother Touba."

Han Tiemo sighed, "Why don't we assemble the court's officials and plead to His Majesty, to be lenient on account of your past?"

Tuoba Tieshan shook his head, "No use, His Majesty issued an unbreakable decree this time, leaving Crown Prince in charge of this. Any that interferes will be executed. Who in the court would be willing to meddle in this?"

Han Tiemo sighed, "His Majesty is too easy on the Crown Prince, yet cruel to his ministers. People's opinion of him will sour."

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"Master!"

A cry came as a servant rushed before Tuoba Tieshan, "Y-young miss, she…"

"What about her?" Tuoba Tieshan cried.

The servant girl jerked, "Young miss knocked me out and ran away. She must be going to Crown Prince manor to save young master!"

"Damn that girl! Is she trying to anger me to death?" Tuoba Tieshan was panicking, shouting, "Have the Eight Wolf Wardens assemble the men, surround Crown Prince manor!"

"Brother Touba, you must calm down! "

"No, not this time. At the very least, I'll have the two children flee while I shoulder the blame!" Tuoba Tieshan's mind was made up.

Sighing, Han Tiemo shouted after him, "Tuoba Tieshan, do you really plan on throwing away all you accomplished? Are you going to become a criminal to Quanrong?"

Tuoba Tieshan shook, but his eyes were firm, "As the Commander of Quanrong, I have fought for my country all my life, and shall never betray it. No matter how much His Majesty forsakes me, I will not complain. But I am also a father! How can I just sit by and watch my children bear unjust crimes?!"

"Han Tiemo, today I may be convicted of crimes and my head will hang high above the city gates. I will have no regrets knowing I did all I could for the future of my children."

Tuoba Tieshan was soon gone. Han Tiemo sighed and got up to follow.

"Commander, the men are here. We await your orders!"

Outside the manor, the Eight Wolf Wardens were gathered. Tuoba Tieshan eyed them and shouted, "We march!"

"Yes, sir!"

The Eight Wolf Wardens bowed, glee dancing in their eyes. The last eight years had been spent in unrest, hardly ever fighting and always held back. Now they were going to let loose, against the crown prince no less. Yet they were still joyful.

It was their honor to serve under the commander.

"Wait, Tuoba Tieshan!"

Han Tiemo caught up. Tuoba Tieshan didn't even look back, "My mind is set!"

"I'm not trying to sway you. I want to come with you, old friend. It would be great if I can convince His Highness to let them go. If not, I'll be most willing to be labeled a traitor alongside you."

Shaking, Tuoba Tieshan laughed, "Good, ha-ha-ha…"

The army marched, their spirits uplifted, their drive ignited. Yet after two steps, a staggering figure entered their vision, an imperial palace guard.

[Did His Majesty find out already? Did he come to stop us?]

Tuoba Tieshan and the rest were tense. If this was the emperor's decree, then before them had to be a huge army to block their path.

But the imperial guard actually went and panicked at their sight, "Commander Touba, you truly are the empire's God of War, of such brilliant mind as to foresee the imperial palace is in peril and send the men to aid it."

"The imperial palace is in danger?" Tuoba Tieshan and the rest were stunned.

Panting, the imperial guard showed fear, "Yes, the sixth prince brought a youth as he barged into the imperial palace. He's unstoppable, he's almost at His Majesty's chambers…"