"Insolent! What kind of demon are you? I shall execute your entire clan!" he said, supporting himself on his knees, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
Jun Jiuli whipped him again. "If you walk faster, you'll get there sooner. Otherwise, you'll just wait to be torn apart by the wolves in the mountains."
The old emperor shivered all over. "Where are you taking me? I am the Emperor, the Son of Heaven! I cannot abandon my nation and my people. I advise you to be sensible and release me immediately."
"Rest assured, Zhao is prosperous and peaceful. The Fifth Prince has already taken your place. You can enjoy your twilight years here, doting on your grandchildren, and savoring the joys of family."
"Insolent! They are all treacherous officials. How can the Fifth Prince bear such a great responsibility? Hurry and let me go back; it will be too late once he causes a great disaster."
"Don't worry, the Fifth Prince is far more reliable than you. Old man, don't think too highly of yourself. The people don't care who is emperor. Whoever can give them a good life is the good emperor."
"You can't do this! This world is mine."
Jun Jiuli rewarded him with two more lashes. His back robes were already torn, and blood slowly stained them red. The old emperor no longer had the strength to babble.
He knew that talking was useless and decided to conserve his energy, waiting for an opportunity. After walking for a full three hours, the old emperor's legs trembled non-stop.
"We're here, we're here. Go in quickly. Your most beloved and cherished son is inside, and I think he misses you dearly."
Under Jun Jiuli's intimidating gaze, the old emperor tremblingly walked to the wooden house and knocked on the door.
"Bang, bang, bang."
The old emperor, his voice hoarse, called out, "Heng'er, are you in there? It's your Father, your Father is here! Hurry and open the door."
Jiayin had gone out to dig for wild vegetables, leaving Zhao Lingheng alone in the house. In a half-awake state, he heard an incredibly familiar voice and immediately jumped up from the wooden bed, his heart filled with excitement.
He quickly went to the door, slid open the bolt, and seeing his father, his joy and excitement were beyond words. He immediately gave the old emperor a bear hug, laughing heartily for a long time.
"Lingheng, you're too rough! Father can't breathe. Cough, cough, cough."
"Father, are you here to pick me up? That's wonderful, truly wonderful! We'll go down the mountain now, right now, and return to the palace."
He grabbed the old emperor and walked out. Looking up, he saw Jun Jiuli, and his entire face turned ashen, as if he had seen a ghost.
Jun Jiuli pulled out a sinister smile, her mouth stretched to her ears, revealing sharp teeth. Her dark eyes stared intently at Zhao Lingheng.
"Ah! Monster! Don't come any closer!"
With that, he instinctively turned and hid behind the old emperor, tightly gripping his father's arm. He desperately wanted the old emperor to completely shield him, to be his unmoving shield.
The old emperor then noticed his rough, visible-bone hands. His entire body trembled, and he forcefully shook off Zhao Lingheng's grasp.
As they struggled, the old emperor rolled to the ground, his hands pushing backward as he retreated.
"Don't come near me! You are not my son! Where is my Heng'er? You demons and monsters dare to impersonate a royal prince! You will be struck by lightning!"
"Father, it's me! I am Heng'er! Father, you must save me! You can't leave me alone! Father, I'm so scared! This monster is cruel and heartless, wuwuwu~ Father, I can't live like this anymore!"
He grabbed the old emperor's foot with his hand, preventing him from retreating any further. The old emperor, while cursing, struggled to shake him off, and the father and son began an extreme tug-of-war.
"Zhao Lingheng, I have granted your wish and brought your father to accompany you. I hope you will be happy every day from now on. I will visit you from time to time."
Hearing Jun Jiuli's words, the old emperor's pent-up anger finally erupted. The hardships of climbing the mountain, the fright he had just experienced.
Looking at his once most beloved son, he could no longer bear to look at him. He saw his mouth open and close, constantly spewing vulgarities.
Because he hadn't drunk any water, his voice was extremely dry and difficult to hear. However, judging by his lip movements, he knew he was cursing profusely.
Even with ten mouths, Zhao Lingheng couldn't explain. After all, why would a powerful monster lie, just to torment an ordinary person like him? That was laughable, absolutely impossible.
After a while, they realized Jun Jiuli had disappeared. The father and son temporarily ceased their conflict. The old emperor drank half a dipper of water to recover.
"What exactly is going on? What have you been doing these past three years? Tell me everything truthfully."
When the old emperor heard the entire story, he spat and cursed him as a fool. If it weren't for Zhao Lingheng's serious injuries, he would have kicked him a few times.
This fool who acted without thinking, dragging his own father down. If he had known this day would come, that he would endure so much suffering, he would have simply strangled this son to death. All his high expectations and years of teaching were in vain.
Glancing at Zhao Lingheng, who was still kneeling on the ground, he personally helped him up. It wasn't time to punish him yet; they needed to work together to get out first.
"It was Father's haste. I shouldn't have scolded you just now. I was just hurt by your actions. Heng'er, you won't blame your father in your heart, will you?"
"Your son wouldn't dare. It is your son who has implicated Father."
"Between father and son, why be so polite? When father and son are united, their strength can cut through metal. We will definitely overcome difficulties together and escape this man-eating place."
The old emperor looked down and clearly saw the慘狀 below Zhao Lingheng's neck. Suppressing his nausea, he helped him up, not wanting to suffer the same fate himself in the future.
At this moment, Jiayin returned, carrying a basket. She stood protectively in front of Zhao Lingheng, looking at the old emperor with some wariness.
Although Zhao Lingheng was displeased, he knew he would have to rely on Jiayin's strength in the future. The old emperor had also warned him not to act impulsively, so he had to introduce them to each other.
"Jiayin, don't be like that. Let me introduce you. This is my Father, His Majesty the Emperor of Zhao. Hurry and put down your things and pay your respects."
Jiayin felt the awkwardness of meeting her in-laws. She quickly turned and put down the vegetable basket, her front paws moving incessantly, imitating the human gesture of greeting.
Zhao Lingheng felt she was embarrassing him. His wife wasn't even human.
She was a beast who didn't understand etiquette and manners, and couldn't even speak. He angrily kicked Jiayin's front leg.
"It's fine, you don't need to do that. My Father doesn't mind these formalities."
The old emperor, however, smiled kindly and then turned his angry gaze back to Zhao Lingheng, beginning to lecture him.
"Lingheng, how can you treat your wife so rudely? Jiayin, I apologize on behalf of this boy. He doesn't have much experience, and his mother passed away early. There are areas where he falls short, I hope you don't mind."
Jiayin was flattered and quickly shook her head, indicating she didn't mind. She thought happily that Zhao Lingheng's family was willing to accept her.
Moreover, they were on her side, and her father-in-law looked so kind and spoke so gently. There was no shrewish mother-in-law like in the storybooks. Their future days would surely be happy.