Chapter 4: Chapter 001: Flame Command

In the fourteenth year of the Xiliang Dynasty, the seventh month, the imperial capital of Jingdu was prosperous and flourishing. Today was the day when the ninth son of the dragon, Prince Jin Ye Yu, would marry Murong Tong, the legitimate daughter of General Murong.

Today, the Murong Estate was adorned with red silks and red carpets; everything was decorated in red, yet it was difficult to see even a trace of a smile on the faces of Murong Zhentian and his companions.

"Father, what should we do when Sister returns? Brother and Prince Jin are also about to return to the capital," Murong Jinghong whispered, standing beside Murong Zhentian. We calculated everything, yet we never expected that the Murong Tong present at this moment would actually be a fake. But we have no choice; Sister's whereabouts are unknown, and she might just be in her hands.

"Observe the situation and wait for changes. Your brother has already returned ahead of schedule; someone will naturally resolve this matter," Murong Zhentian patted Jinghong's hand, looking at the building opposite them and nodding slightly.

Murong Jinghong's eyes lit up, and he nodded. Just then, the auspicious hour arrived, and the bridal sedan reached the entrance. The matchmaker helped the bride walk out and was sent directly into the sedan. This action could not help but arouse suspicion; looking at Murong Zhentian, curiosity grew even deeper, yet no one dared to ask.

Ye Yu exchanged a few pleasantries with Murong Zhentian before leading the wedding procession back to the estate. The reason he did this was that he feared unexpected changes midway; after all, the bride held something he desired—something that no brother would fail to covet.

Murong Tong walked out from a nearby alley. Watching the wedding procession, she gave a cold smile, her phoenix eyes flashing with a dazzling light. She turned back to look at her father and brother standing before the estate, a flash of guilt crossing her face. Surely, losing his daughter had caused him great pain. His wife had followed him in the army, and his pregnant wife had died in his arms, leaving him with Jinghong. It had broken his heart and exhausted his strength, yet he lived on for the sake of his three children...

Murong Tong reached out to wipe a tear from the corner of her eye. She felt what paternal love and kinship were. Ever since she had transmigrated three years ago, she had only known the care hidden within her master's cold words. She turned to walk toward the Prince Jin Estate, but her heart murmured: "Even if I am not your true daughter, I will protect this family—the family I long for. Even if you do not know your daughter is already dead, I have become her, and thus, I am your daughter."

Her white robes fluttered in the wind, her cold, exquisite beauty leaving people intoxicated and sighing. When Murong Tong arrived before the Prince Jin Estate, she saw the scene where the wedding ceremony had just concluded and the bride was about to be sent to the bridal chamber. The corners of her mouth curled up as she said, "The bride herself doesn't even know she is getting married today. I wonder which young lady is beneath that veil?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the assembly fell into an uproar, everyone turning to look at the stunning woman walking through the door. She was cold and elegant, like a lotus emerging from water, yet even more beautiful than a lotus; her cold, glamorous aura was like a rare snow lotus on a snowy mountain. When the people in the hall heard her voice, their expressions changed instantly, and they clenched their fists tightly.

Ye Yu composed his expression and ordered someone to take the bride back to her room first, but he was stopped by Murong Tong. Holding a strand of long hair in her left hand, she said, "Ye Yu, why do you not dare let the bride show her face? Are you afraid of breaking custom, or are you afraid of being exposed?"

"This lady, this Prince has not offended you. Why must you target me?" Ye Yu's face was grim and displeased. Hadn't she already died? How could she appear here?

"Hehe! Since old friends are meeting, there is no need for a veil." Murong Tong sneered. Before Ye Yu could react, she lifted the veil, revealing the bride's face to everyone.

Instantly, everyone's eyes widened, and they began to whisper incessantly. The person before them was clearly the same person, the only difference being their temperament and expression: one was noble and holy, while the other wore a look of panic, with a hint of enchantment between her brows.

The sudden change left Bai Yanxi somewhat panicked and lost. She had not expected the person she thought should have died three days ago to still be alive, and standing right before her.

At that moment, the people present looked at Bai Yanxi in shock, unable to speak. Because at this very moment, Bai Yanxi's face was slowly changing in the wind. First, wrinkles appeared, then cracks. Only after a tiny sound rang out did her face fully reveal itself to the crowd, causing everyone to gasp.

Ye Yu regained his senses and stepped behind Bai Yanxi, glaring furiously at Murong Tong. At this time, Bai Yanxi also sensed something was wrong; she reached out to touch her face and turned pale with shock. How could this be happening?

"How can the bride be Chancellor Bai's daughter?"

"What is going on?"

"What exactly do you want?" Ye Yu said through gritted teeth, his voice audible only to the three of them.

"Hand over the Flame Command, and I will act as if nothing happened," Murong Tong said indifferently. Her initial move had been for this Flame Command. The late Emperor had given three tokens to three mysterious individuals; the Murong family was one of them. The reason they knew about it was because they had overheard it while the original owner was incapacitated.

"And if I say no!" Ye Yu looked at Murong Tong with a sinister gaze, his eyes narrowing. After three years of not seeing her, she had changed a lot.

"As far as I know, impersonating someone to hire assassins is a capital offense, let alone when you are a Prince." Murong Tong curled her lips, her phoenix eyes narrowing slightly as she turned her gaze toward the chaotic crowd before pulling it back.

The two people hiding in the crowd raised their eyebrows, looking at Murong Tong and scrutinizing her closely.

Ye Yu narrowed his eyes. She actually dared to threaten him. Looking around, as long as he grasped their weakness, no one would dare speak out.

"Aren't you all curious why Miss Bai is impersonating me? I shall tell you. Emperor Jing once handed a token to the Murong family, stating it was the Flame Command to be used to summon the Shadow Guards to save the nation when the Ye clan faces destruction and the safety of the people is threatened. I believe there is no need for me, Murong Tong, to say anything more." Murong Tong blinked. If she wanted to take action, it would depend on whether you had the ability. The original owner's memories dated back to the fourth generation of the Ye Dynasty, when the Murong family began serving. Before the death of the Emperor at that time, Emperor Ye Jing, he gave three tokens to three mysterious families...

Instantly, the assembly erupted in an uproar. Suspicious gazes shot toward the two people. Ye Yu and Bai Yanxi turned pale; they had not expected her to say it.

The two people sitting in the crowd had livid faces, especially one man who was fuming with rage. Just as he was about to stand up, he was pressed back down by another man.

"Nonsense! I have never heard of this Flame Command," Ye Yu countered with a cold face. No one knew of the existence of the Flame Command in this world; who would believe you?

"I can prove it. Must I say it aloud or produce evidence regarding the deeds of Prince Jin and Miss Bai?" Murong Zhentian walked in from outside, upright and righteous, his face full of anger. But when he saw Murong Tong, a flash of affection crossed his eyes. Just now, when he heard someone say Tong'er had returned and was alive, he hadn't believed it at all, but now he did.

When Murong Tong heard this, her eyes flickered slightly. He had rushed here in a hurry for fear that she was being wronged; he came with a defensive mindset, yet one could see how much he loved the original owner.

"Father-in-law..."

"The Prince is mistaken. Your father-in-law is Bai Sen, not this General. My daughter is standing right here. As everyone knows, you married Bai Yanxi, not my Tong'er. The reason she married out of my Murong Estate is because the Flame Command must be taken from my Murong Estate. I ask the Prince to return the Flame Command, and this General will act as if this matter never happened." Murong Zhentian looked at the two of them coldly.

Bai Yanxi, who had not spoken from beginning to end, could no longer restrain herself. With a face full of sorrow, she stepped forward and said, "Has Sister Tong forgotten what I told her?"