273: He has always

The entire venue shone brilliantly due to this person's appearance.

He was rarely seen wearing a black military dress uniform; the polished belt buckle, riding boots, and silver buttons complemented his flamboyant and gorgeous face, making it even more eye-catching.

“Kong Jiamu, when did you get back? Why didn't you tell me?”

Gu Bohan barely maintained his kindly demeanor.

Kong Jiamu's gaze was cold as he curled his lip.

“Under secret orders from Your Majesty, you naturally have no need to know.”

He performed a series of operations on his bracelet, and amidst a play of light and shadow, a figure familiar to everyone was projected into the center of the hall.

“Kong Jiamu, verify the secret key.” The Emperor's expression was solemn.

In the Video Call recording, The Emperor operated his bracelet, and then around him, spiral halos accompanied by continuous numerical symbols surrounded him, finally followed by a mechanical voice—

“This verification has been recorded. Serial Number: Confidential-LK-45923-1”

This meant that Your Majesty had entered the correct secret key on his end, and it had been accurately identified by the System. Kong Jiamu's voice rang out in the Video Call recording.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Verified. Please give your orders.”

“I am about to head to the battlefield.” The Emperor's gaze was distant and profound as he looked toward an unknown direction beyond the screen, his expression grave.

“And I fear there may be turbulence in the Empire's future.”

“My imperial heirs are about to be born, and I may not be able to protect them.”

Kong Jiamu was greatly shocked, even interrupting The Emperor's narration, “Imperial heirs!?”

The Emperor's gaze remained calm, which caused Kong Jiamu to regain his composure.

The Emperor continued to speak at a steady pace.

“Therefore, I order you to take Gu Bohan's place and become the Legion Commander of the First Legion. This order takes effect immediately. Unless I personally activate the secret key upon returning from the battlefield to cancel this order.”

Perhaps because Kong Jiamu's expression on the communication was too shocked, The Emperor smiled slightly to comfort him.

“What, so happy you're speechless?”

“Your Majesty, why such a sudden arrangement? I am only... as you know, a Lieutenant General.”

“You are the most suitable candidate. The Empire needs new blood. And as for my imperial heirs, my Empress...” The Emperor suddenly gave a playful smile, but immediately warned him sternly.

“You must show her absolute respect and treat her orders as my own will.”

“This subject shall certainly do so, but who exactly is she...” He did not give up on prying.

The Emperor ignored him.

“If I do not cancel this order after this war, then immediately take Ryan and secretly infiltrate back to the vicinity of the Capital City to monitor the movements of the First Legion.”

“Once Gu Bohan mobilizes the First Legion for non-combat purposes, act immediately!”

“Your Majesty! What happened? Is it Gu Bohan... or is the situation of this war so severe? Then let me help you!”

Kong Jiamu was frantic with worry.

The Emperor's expression was gratified, but his refusal was very decisive.

“No need, and you needn't worry too much; I am just making a contingency plan. Just treat all this as a father's concern for his Children.”

“The above, did you hear clearly?” The Emperor asked.

Kong Jiamu stood at attention and saluted, “By your command, Your Majesty.”

“Very well,” The Emperor gazed at him for a long time, his expression softening, “I practically raised you myself; you surely won't disappoint me.”

The Video Call ended.

“...”

Many ministers present were left dizzy by these constant twists and turns, yet some secretly shifted their gazes back and forth between Tu Nan and Kong Jiamu.

“Did you hear clearly?” Kong Jiamu drawled, mimicking The Emperor's final question, “Former Legion Commander Gu?”

The muscles on Gu Bohan's face twitched; he could no longer maintain his confident composure. His face darkened until it turned into a hideous grimace.

“Kong Jiamu, don't even think about it! The First Legion is mine!” he roared.

Kong Jiamu picked at his ear with a fingernail, then frowned slightly and asked with feigned concern, “Old Gu, you could be a bit quieter. I'm not like you, getting on in years and hard of hearing.”

Gu Bohan said viciously, “Don't think adding you will change anything. Even with you and that fake emperor combined, you're only two S-ranks, just like our side. The elites of the First Legion have already surrounded the palace! We still have a chance of winning!”

Kong Jiamu put on an infuriating expression of surprise.

“Whatever made you think I came alone? Didn't Your Majesty say to have Ryan cooperate with me? Besides...”

Kong Jiamu looked at him with pity, “I'm quite familiar with the First Legion too. Once they saw Your Majesty's secret order, they immediately expressed that this is how it should be.”

He shook his head, “It seems you should have ‘retired’ long ago.”

Glancing at the S-rank Male Beast over there still trying to struggle out of the Domain, Kong Jiamu gave a disdainful laugh.

“The distance between one S-rank and another is like a vast chasm. If you don't believe it, feel free to try. I just happened to have a Breakthrough to S+, so I might as well test the waters.”

Tu Nan's heart settled slightly.

However, she saw that Gu Bohan had never left the side of The Emperor's Treatment Pod.

She stepped forward, leaving Long Jingyuan's protection.

“Old Legion Commander Gu,” she persuaded softly, “you are also a soldier who has shed blood and sweat for the Empire. Why must you be so stubborn now?”

She was offering him a way out.

“Before, you were merely worried that this person was Your Majesty's clone and lacked legitimate succession rights. But now you have heard Your Majesty's orders. Everything I have said is Your Majesty's will; this person is actually Your Majesty's twin brother.”

“He is merely acting on Your Majesty's request to guard the stability of the Empire. Now that the truth is out, why do you persist in your delusions?”

Tu Nan naturally did not believe him. The forged evidence the Empress Dowager had produced earlier, and the military heavyweight behind the Empress Dowager whom The Emperor had been tracking—everything pointed to this old man with deep roots in the military.

But precisely because of this, Tu Nan had to separate him from the Empress Dowager and deal with them one by one at this moment.

Most importantly, she was afraid he would create a desperate situation where everyone loses, harming The Emperor.

“Impossible! What twin brother! How could I not know... he is clearly just a tyrannical clone!”

The Empress Dowager realized things were not going well, but she couldn't believe any of it.

Clearly, the situation had been excellent before; she could have openly gained power with the support of high-ranking officials, holding a new, healthy imperial heir in her hands.

Tu Nan's character was flawed, and the imperial heir was young. With military support this time, she could definitely become the formal regent.

She had long since decided that this time, she would never let this child escape her control again.

Tu Nan only stared at Gu Bohan.

Outside the main gates, soldiers wearing the uniforms of the Sixth Legion poured into the hall, while those original soldiers of the First Legion laid down their weapons with almost no resistance.

Those opportunistic ministers put on expressions of loyalty and patriotism.

Gu Bohan watched all this, sighed, his expression softening, and looked toward the Empress Dowager in confusion.

“Empress Dowager, you... what on earth is going on here!”

He feigned a look of bewilderment and heartache.

Behind her, Long Jingyuan gave a soft sneer.

She reached back and pinched Long Jingyuan, then gently instructed Kong Jiamu, “What are you standing there for? Why haven't you invited the Old Legion Commander to rest to the side? Didn't you say he used to take quite good care of you?”

Kong Jiamu's eyes widened in surprise, not expecting the first thing Tu Nan said to him would be this.

After hesitating for a moment, he still went to support that Uncle Gu with a fake smile.

Gu Bohan finally moved away from the side of The Emperor's Treatment Pod smoothly.

The weight on Tu Nan's chest finally lifted.

Your Majesty is finally safe!