Too much killing could bring ill omens - so did it mean that a fallen country, every place everywhere engulfed in the flame and smokes of war, the people straying, bodies of the dead floating for miles — could be seen as peace and prosperity?

If Marshal Gu and the Black Iron Camp were as sentimental as his distant cousin here, then for the innocent civilians of this grand nation, who must they rely on to defend their territories?

Are we going to use the Imperial Court's scholars to 'conquer people with morality'?

Truth to be told, not only did Gu Yun want to battle, he also wanted to give them a battle to remember once and for all. It was best to completely wipe out the Western Regions, marching through the doorsteps of the Western foreigners who spent their days craving for the territories of Central Plains, let them be frightened and never dare to look at other people's beautiful nations again.

When the situation of the rebellion in the Western Regions had settled, Gu Yun once brought forth his request for exactly this. But perhaps the Emperor thought that he had already turned insane, because he thoroughly dismissed this request; not only did he refuse, he also used the strange task of 'searching for the Fourth Prince' to send him off to the Northern Frontier.

Of course, the Emperor had not foreseen; while he held Gu Yun restricted at the Northern Frontier, Gu Yun captured a barbarian prince to bring back for him.

For some people, the Star of Carnage shone directly on their head, and if they were not loyal generals who helped expand the territory, they were bound to return to bring disasters upon their own country and people.

The sentimental Emperor and the cold-hearted young General — one sitting, one lying — on the narrow bedside, dug deep into their hearts one last time, but in the end, neither of them could convince the other.

Emperor Yuan He looked at his ice-cold eyes and suddenly felt immense sorrow.

The old Emperor thought, if he wasn't greedy for imperial powers, then wouldn't he just be a leisurely prince who walked the dog?

Then he wouldn't have met the woman whose fate was already decided. Perhaps he would have given his lifetime of affection to someone else, and he wouldn't have to spend years and years of his life separated from his wife and child.

This kind of throne full of thorns and dried bones, perhaps only the people who were determined to kill and were resolute like the Marquis of Order were qualified to sit on it?

Emperor Yuan He whispered: "Zi Xi...Zi Xi ah..."

Gu Yun's expression that was cast in iron suddenly wavered, his eyelids slightly drooping down, and his straight shoulders became slightly softer, no longer so inhumanly stiff.

Emperor Yuan He asked: "Do you despise me?"

Gu Yun: "Your subject does not dare to."