He felt something was off about this fire.
It looked fierce, but no one seemed to be hurt.
An old man lying on the ground shakily raised his hand.
Everyone turned their heads and were collectively stunned.
You, sir... weren’t you in the fire?
Mr. Zimu was also confused.
He had been sleeping soundly and suddenly awoke frozen, finding himself lying in the bushes.
It was as if something big had happened, as chaos surrounded him, covering his voice.
If the Crown Prince hadn’t asked his question just then, quieting everyone, Mr. Zimu might have shouted himself hoarse without being heard...
Lu Qi quickly walked over and helped Mr. Zimu to sit up: "Mr. Zimu, what happened here?"
Mr. Zimu had fallen asleep.
Meanwhile, when Emperor Liang rushed into the courtyard, he realized the fire wasn’t as fierce as he imagined, and it was burning the woodsheds on either side, along with a few unoccupied rooms.
A loud noise came from Mr. Zimu’s room, like something heavy had fallen to the ground.
Emperor Liang kicked the door open and rushed into the flames.
The tables and cabinets inside were on fire, but since it was open flames, there was not much smoke.
For a moment, Emperor Liang didn’t think about what might be wrong with this fire.
He saw a figure trapped under a fallen beam.
He dashed over and pulled the person out from under the beam.
The person’s face was blackened, indistinguishable.
But when Emperor Liang held the person in his arms, he noticed something was amiss.
This wasn’t Mr. Zimu!
Emperor Liang then looked at his head.
Sure enough, his hair was jet-black, with a hairpin, clearly a young man in his twenties.
Emperor Liang frowned and asked: "Who are you? Where is Mr. Zimu?"
The young man in his arms slowly opened his eyes.
How should one describe those eyes?
Deep, like an endless abyss, yet filled with sorrow and pity.
Emperor Liang was suddenly taken aback.
The young man weakly opened his mouth and asked hoarsely: "Am I dying... I feel like I... saw my dreamlike grandfather..."
Emperor Liang was baffled.
This child, perhaps injured to the point of babbling nonsense.
He hurriedly helped the young man up: "I’ll get you out!"
The young man had just stood up when he collapsed again.
"I... can’t... walk... my legs... won’t... move..."
Emperor Liang was an emperor, all the people of Great Liang were his subjects.
He couldn’t just stand by.
He glanced around and saw a bucket of water nearby, lifted it, and poured it over the young man.
Then, he carried the young man out of the courtyard with a resolute expression.
Eunuch Yu saw Emperor Liang come out unscathed and relaxed, wiping off a cold sweat: "Your Majesty! Mr. Zimu is outside... You... uh... who is this..."
Eunuch Yu saw the young man being carried out by Emperor Liang, "Come here!"
Two Imperial Guards approached, reaching to take the young man from Emperor Liang’s arms.
Unexpectedly, the young man clung tightly to Emperor Liang’s robe.
Emperor Liang was a Military General, burly and not worried about any burden, but he was the Emperor!
Where did this kid come from, daring to act so rudely towards His Majesty?
Eunuch Yu’s body shook!
Who are you calling grandfather?
Is His Majesty someone you can recognize as a grandfather?
The Crown Prince clenched his fingers.
This brat had ulterior motives...
The Crown Prince, usually genteel, cursed internally in anger.
Emperor Liang was about to put the young man down, but Lu Yuan wouldn’t let go.
The Crown Prince had to suppress his urge to hang the brat up and whip him a hundred times, and walked over to Emperor Liang.
At this moment, Lu Qi also recognized Lu Yuan, his eyes flickered: "Why is it him?"
Dou Qingyi asked: "Who is he?"
Lu Qi said: "He is Father’s ’old friend’s son’."
Dou Qingyi was incredulous: "What?"
The Crown Prince said to Lu Yuan: "Let go!"
Emperor Liang frowned: "Why are you so fierce?"
Lu Yuan weakly looked at the Crown Prince, saying feebly: "Father... I just... seemed to see Grandfather... he looked exactly like in my dream..."
Emperor Liang looked at Lu Yuan, then at the Crown Prince: "He calls you Father?"
The Crown Prince hurriedly said: "Father, let me explain."
Emperor Liang was resolute, he wouldn’t listen.
He bowed his head and asked Lu Yuan: "Is he your father?"
Lu Yuan weakly nodded: "But he doesn’t want me."
The Crown Prince: "....!!"