"As a proud member of the Star Luo Imperial Family, I, Dai Mubai, cannot just sit back and watch my home suffer!"
Dai Mubai stood before the citizens of the capital, speaking with a passion that reached every ear. He did not hold back. With sharp words and clear evidence, he listed the many failures and cruel acts of his older brother, Dai Weisi. His speech worked instantly. Throughout the streets, the common people began to whisper and nod, their frustration with the current state of the empire finally finding a voice.
Without wasting a single moment, Dai Mubai made his move. Accompanied by several respected Elders who had chosen to stand by his side, he walked toward the Imperial Palace. He wasn't hiding anymore. He was openly requesting an audience with the Star Luo Emperor himself.
When the news reached Dai Weisi, he couldn't believe his ears. His shock quickly turned into a blinding rage so intense that he felt like he might actually cough up blood.
"How dare he do this? How dare he show his face here!"
Dai Weisi was trapped. By ringing the Imperial Bell and gathering the public's attention, Dai Mubai had turned the secret kill order into a total joke. There was no way Dai Weisi could kill his own brother now—not in front of their father, the court, and the entire city.
"Get the carriage ready! We are going to the Imperial Palace right now!" Dai Weisi shouted, his face turning pale with anger. He marched toward the palace, his heart pounding with a mix of fury and a tiny, hidden seed of panic that he refused to acknowledge.
The Hall of Proclamations
Inside the Hall of Proclamations, the air felt heavy enough to suffocate a person. The Star Luo Emperor sat high upon his dragon throne. His face was a mask of cold majesty, and his deep eyes showed absolutely no emotion, making him look more like a statue than a man. Below him, the civil and military officials were split into two rows, whispering urgently to one another.
Every eye in the room was fixed on the tall man standing in the center of the hall: Dai Mubai.
He looked different than the boy who had fled years ago. Gone was the hesitation and the immaturity. In their place was a man who looked like he had seen the world and survived its hardships. A steady, unyielding flame burned in his unique, double-pupiled evil eyes. He stood tall, showing respect but no fear.
"Your son, Dai Mubai, greets Imperial Father!"
His voice was clear and loud, echoing off the high stone walls. The Emperor remained silent for a long time before he finally spoke. His voice carried the weight of a ruler.
"Mubai, do you realize the crimes you have committed by leaving?"
Dai Mubai looked up, meeting his father's cold gaze directly. "Your son knows of no crime. When I left back then, it wasn't because I was afraid to fight. I left because I didn't want to see brothers killing each other. I didn't want our family's struggle to destroy the foundation of the Empire!"
He took a step forward, his voice growing stronger. "I have returned now because I cannot watch my older brother be led astray by villains. His actions are becoming too extreme, and he is hurting the reputation of our family. I am here to help my brother fix his behavior and make our nation strong again!"
His words were clever. He made himself sound like a hero trying to save the empire while quietly pointing out that Dai Weisi was failing as a leader.
Just then, Dai Weisi burst into the hall. He had heard the last part of the speech and was shaking with pure rage. He pointed a finger at his younger brother and roared, "Dai Mubai! Stop acting like a saint! You are a traitor who worked with outsiders to plot against me! You spread lies to confuse the people! You deserve to die for what you've done!"
The mask was off. The two brothers stood in the middle of the palace, screaming at each other in front of the entire court. One accused the other of being a tyrant, while the other claimed his brother was a rebel. The officials watched with racing hearts, none of them daring to jump into the middle of such a dangerous fight.
The Star Luo Emperor watched his sons. For a split second, a look of tiredness and sadness flashed in his eyes. He knew the rules of the Imperial Family were cruel—he had lived them himself. He looked at Dai Mubai and saw a reflection of his younger self.
The Emperor knew about the fighting between his sons; in fact, the Star Luo rules encouraged it to ensure only the strongest would lead. However, Dai Weisi had been disappointing him lately. The embarrassing loss at the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament and the scandals that followed had stained the family name. Seeing Dai Mubai return with such strength and confidence made the Emperor realize there was now a better choice.
"Enough!" the Emperor commanded.
He didn't shout, but the room went silent instantly.
"Family matters are also matters of the state," the Emperor said, looking between the two. "Since you both believe you are right, we will settle this the way our family always has. Seven days from now, you will meet at the Royal Training Grounds for a public duel."
He leaned forward, his eyes cold. "The winner will take everything. The loser will deal with the consequences."
A Shift in Power
This was the signal the court had been waiting for. The political winds in the empire began to change immediately. Ministers who had once been neutral or tired of Dai Weisi's temper started to move toward Dai Mubai.
But the biggest shock was yet to come. The Zhu Family, who had been tied to the Imperial Family for generations, made a public announcement. They were now supporting the Second Prince, Dai Mubai.
The person who stood up to make this claim was none other than the eldest daughter of the Zhu Family, Zhu Zhuyun.
During a meeting with the family Elders, she didn't defend Dai Weisi like she usually did. Instead, she spoke calmly. "Dai Weisi has a violent nature that has turned the people against him. He has made too many enemies. If we keep supporting him, he might drag the entire Zhu Family down with him when he falls."
She looked at the Elders and continued, "On the other hand, Dai Mubai is now very powerful. He has strong allies and great potential. Most importantly, my sister, Zhu Zhuqing, is by his side. If we support Dai Mubai, our family wins no matter which sister becomes the next Empress. We will be safe either way."
It was a cold, hard analysis of power. Some of the older family members felt bad about breaking tradition, but they couldn't deny that she was right. It was the smartest move for their survival. Eventually, the Zhu Family leaders agreed to secretly support Dai Mubai while they watched how things played out.
When Dai Weisi heard this, he was in his room smashing furniture to vent his anger. He froze mid-swing, feeling as if a bolt of lightning had hit him.
"No... that's impossible! Zhuyun would never do that! How could the Zhu Family betray me?"
He couldn't accept it. Zhu Zhuyun was his fiancée. The Zhu Family was supposed to be his strongest shield. "Get my carriage! I'm going to the Zhu Family estate! I need to hear the truth from her myself!"
The Final Confrontation
Dai Weisi charged into the Zhu Family home like a madman. He pushed past the servants and found Zhu Zhuyun in her private courtyard. He ordered everyone else to leave and stared at the woman he was supposed to marry. She was as beautiful as ever, but she felt like a complete stranger.
"Why?" he asked, his voice sounding dry and broken. His eyes were red with fury. "Zhu Zhuyun! Explain this to me! Why is your family backing that bastard brother of mine?"
Zhu Zhuyun looked at the man standing before her. He was disheveled, angry, and acting like a child. Any doubt she had left simply disappeared. She took a deep breath and spoke with a cold, distant voice.
"Your Highness, please control yourself. The family made this decision for the good of our future. We have to ensure the Zhu Family continues to thrive."
"The good of the family?" Dai Weisi stepped forward and grabbed her shoulders tightly. "Don't forget that you are my fiancée! We are supposed to be one! When I become the Emperor, you will be the Empress! Your family will have more glory than they ever dreamed of!"
Zhu Zhuyun winced as his fingers dug into her skin. She frowned and used her strength to push him away. She took a few steps back, her eyes turning icy.
"Empress? Your Highness, look at yourself. Do you honestly think you still have a chance to win?"
She began to list his failures. "Your secret Shadow Stream forces were wiped out. The city is full of rumors about your failures. The ministers don't trust you anymore, and even the Emperor is starting to favor Dai Mubai. Do you really think you can just walk onto the throne now? The Zhu Family will not die with you."
Dai Weisi stared at her, his face twisting with hate. "You... you backstabbing woman!"
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