Chapter 36

36 You’re not the dragon on the throne. You’re merely a dragon that protects it! Part II

“Remember, Feilong...”

The name uttered from his mother’s lips made his dim heart start pounding again.

“Don’t you dare act on your own without aijia’s order...Remember that you’re not the dragon on the throne. You’re merely the one that protects it!”

Would there be a day that his mother stopped thinking that he would betray his brother...From now...to the death of...Would there be a day?

“Don’t make aijia remind you again of your duty.”

The empty silver-like eyes of a soulless man met with the cold ones. Even her gaze said the same...Leave.

“Yes, mother.”

“Informing Empress Dowager, Qin Wang requests your audience.”

The look in her eyes immediately changed the moment she heard that her favorite grandchild was visiting. She broke into a smile as she gave her permission.

.....

Ouyang Feilong went to stand beside his mother and he watched Ouyang Mingxian greet them.

The atmosphere was polar opposite from moments before.

“Relax, dear grandson.” Empress Dowager Wei went to support him up and took him to sit on the same long chair. His mother’s eyes and mouth were both smiling. “You must be so tired. Why don’t you rest first?”

“I heard that grandmother is sick, so I hurried to come to see you.” Ouyang Mingxian who often had a cold exterior said to his grandmother with respect. Then, his demeanor became much softer. “I did not expect to see uncle here too.”

“Your uncle came to say goodbye to aijia. He’s going back to station at the border.” Empress Dowager Wei interrupted before her son could say anything to his nephew. She showed a kind smile to her beloved son who was returning to the border after staying at the capital for only seven days.

Ouyang Feilong sneered to himself. His mother would only love him when there was a third party present. The embrace that day before he left the capital was as fake as her smile right now.

In the twenty-seven years of the life of the black dragon of Da Yang, the man whose strength and power preceded anyone else was merely a man who was kept alive by his mother’s fake affection all along.

Over ten years that Empress Dowager Wei resided in the imperial palace, she had been secretly scheming and fighting against other concubines behind the Emperor’s back. Wearing a mask was natural for her. And acting like she loved her youngest son was not a hard task at all.

She smiled while in front of others, but out of their sight, she was cold and calculating. Ouyang Feilong hated this kind of woman more than anything!

He hated how his mother would always fake, but at the same time, he had always been yearning for her love. If only she would pretend to love him both in public and private, then he would be willing to do anything for her. But in the end, she treated him without an ounce of compassion.

“Then I wish uncle a safe journey.”

“Thank you. Benwang will have to leave mother in your care now.”

“My dear son, there’s no need for you to worry. Seeing you work hard makes me most happy.”

As long as he stayed away from the capital, his mother would be at ease.

“Mother, please take care of your health. I’ll take my leave.”

Ouyang Feilong stepped out of Empress Dowager Wei’s palace with a heavy heart. Beneath the dragon mask, subtly hidden, were his tears.

——————————

“Blessings to Wangye.”

As soon as the owner of the palace got off from his horse, the sound of greetings was heard from the workers and the beauties that came to welcome him.

Ouyang Feilong did not utter a single word as he waved his hand toward those people. The palace butler walked up to take the fur coat from the commander general. The oppressing atmosphere surrounding the tall figure made everyone in the palace area tense up, not even dared to let out a sound of their own breathing.

The women who were sent by the Emperor bowed in silence, opposite to how they were competing with each other, using their charm to get the general to stay overnight with them multiple days ago. Though they fully knew that Rui Wang had been on the battlefield since young and that he had publicly stated that he did not like women who used wiles and charms, they were still married to him due to the royal decree. Rui Wang palace treated them well, that was true, but they also could not let themselves wither away without being touched by their husband.

“What angered you, Your Highness?” Amidst the silence, a voice sounded from a woman in armor who was among the people coming out to receive him. Her skin was darker than other women in the capital, but it did not diminish her beauty at all. Instead, it enhanced her appearance and gave it a unique charm different from other women in the capital.

Ouyang Feilong glanced at his lieutenant-general, ‘Yue Huiling’, and answered her with silence.

“Your magic aura is hurting the palace flowers, Your Highness,” Yue Huiling who had just arrived at the capital continued. She swept her eyes through the delicate beauties who were now pale and trembling as they were unable to bear the pressure from their ‘husband’.

Hmph! Just women who were only good at being beautiful. Yue Huiling pitied them, of course, otherwise, she would have let them cough blood right here.

“You’re here. Good,” Ouyang Feilong said calmly. The silver aura that was present all the way to the palace dissipated, meaning that the general was finally able to control his emotion.

It was fortunate that he could suppress himself. If not, then Yue Huiling would have to be the one to stop the general from venting his anger through killing, and the one who tried to stop him would then become the brutish Wangye’s next target.

“Lieutenant-general Yue Huiling, hear your royal command!”

“Huiling is here to receive the royal command!” There was no trace of softness in the figure of the armored woman. She kneeled on one knee, waiting for the command from her general.

“Lieutenant-general Yue Huiling will be given the authority to write down the report to the Emperor. Do it well.”

“Huiling accepts the royal command!”

Ouyang Feilong stepped into the palace without sparing a second glance at the group of women who had been waiting to welcome him. After he walked past, Yue Huiling stood up, she looked at the broad back that she had always been following into the battle.

Why does that back look so lonely today?

“Butler Yin”

“Yes, Wangye.”

“Send people to Bai mansion. Notify lieutenant-general Bai He to prepare himself...”

“...”

“Benwang shall return to the border tonight.”