Wrong Marriage and Sweet Love

Ropponsho Shrine.

Situated at the peak of Yunshan, on the outskirts of the Eastern Capital, this shrine was built on a steep cliff and served as the ancestral temple of the Yuchuan royal family. It housed the memorial tablets of generations of Tanaka emperors. The cold, regal atmosphere was palpable. The night sky was pitch black, devoid of stars and moon, with only scattered candle flames flickering.

A night breeze blew through the lattice windows, causing the sparks to crackle. Reuben chose this location because it was difficult for others to enter. He bowed before the memorial tablets and lit an incense stick.

His father had passed away, and no funeral had been held yet. The coffin was placed in an ice casket due to disputes over succession. Armies from both sides were in a standoff, with civil war imminent.

When Clint entered, he saw Reuben paying his respects and sneered. “Coming here alone? Are you courting death?”

Reuben inserted the incense into a bronze basin. “If I feared death, I wouldn’t have come.”

He turned to face Clint. The brothers had little interaction growing up; there was hardly any bond between them, and they had exchanged few words. Their encounters were mostly at formal royal occasions where attendance was required.

In truth, Reuben didn’t know Clint well. Later, their respective supporters pushed them into opposition, creating a rift as vast as mountains and ice between them. Meetings like today’s were almost nonexistent.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Clint sat on a nearby sandalwood bench. “You do realize that my men surround this place? Do you think I’ll let you leave alive?” He leisurely took out a handgun and placed it on the side table. “Killing you requires just one bullet. You won’t see tomorrow’s sun.”

“Before killing me, don’t you want to hear why I’m here?” Reuben calmly rolled up his sleeves. He knew he was in danger but had already prepared for the worst.

“Does it matter?” Clint asked nonchalantly. “Once you’re dead, the throne is mine without question.”

“But not rightfully so,” Reuben sneered. “You don’t have the imperial seal. The major families have their own agendas; commanding them won’t be easy.”

Clint’s eyes grew cold. He smiled slightly. “Tell me your purpose.”

Before coming here, he received news that Dawnblade had been stolen and that Joyce and Darrin had escaped again. Last night, he left for some matters, leaving Eastern Capital in a stalemate; he needed to personally oversee things. Unexpectedly, trouble arose at his residence right after he left-a suspiciously timed event. Joyce was uncontrollable but capable of such feats.

Now, Clint had neither Dawnblade nor the imperial seal. Reuben’s unexpected visit intrigued him.

Clint crossed his legs elegantly as Reuben frowned slightly; Clint was always unfathomable, never showing panic even in adverse situations.

Reuben knew he couldn’t match Clint’s cunning and wasn’t fit to be emperor. “I don’t want to be emperor,” he said bluntly.

Clint laughed suddenly. “After all these years of fighting me, now you say you don’t want to be emperor?”

“I never fought you; it was always you fighting me,” Reuben replied calmly, having dyed his hair back to its natural color and shed his carefree facade long ago. “All I ever wanted was to save my mother.”

“Not wanting it doesn’t mean your supporters feel the same,” Clint scoffed, thinking of Reuben’s loyal guard Grizela who tirelessly pushed him towards power.

“It doesn’t matter if you believe me; what matters is that I’m here now.” Reuben paused and slowly drew out an imperial edict from his sleeve.

Clint’s eyes narrowed sharply at the sight of it.

Reuben dared to bring the edict with him? This surprised Clint greatly.

His lips tightened as his eyes turned red with anger and coldness seeped into his gaze. His father hadn’t seen him before dying and left the throne to Reuben instead-an utter disregard for him despite his efforts to gain recognition.

Clint felt an overwhelming urge to kill Reuben right then and there.

Reuben unfurled the edict before Clint’s eyes: yellow background with clear black characters.

“You dare bring the edict? Aren’t you afraid I’ll destroy it? Your father’s promise is nothing but waste paper to me; without it, you have no proof,” Clint said darkly.

Reuben smiled faintly. “I’m not afraid because I have conditions you must meet. If you agree, I’ll hand over the imperial seal.”

“As a gesture of my sincerity,” Reuben paused again before moving the edict towards a candle flame near the memorial tablet.

The fine fabric caught fire instantly due to its lightness and dryness.

As flames engulfed the edict rapidly, Reuben dropped it on the ground where wind fanned the fire further until it turned into ashes within moments.

Clint stood abruptly in disbelief as Reuben burned their father’s edict right before him-nullifying any claim left by their father.

Reuben truly didn’t want the throne after all-leaving Clint utterly shocked.