Birthday Tribute, the General Makes His Move

The Emperor’s birthday celebration was lively and grand. Envoys from the three kingdoms and nine cities all presented tributes—mostly just local specialties from their own lands, nothing truly special. Yet the Emperor received them with great delight.

This was a tribute from all under heaven—how could the Emperor not be pleased?

The princes’ gifts did show some effort, but no matter how thoughtful, they were really just costly trinkets. The Emperor had seen all manner of treasures—these things barely caught his eye. He just glanced at them and ordered them sent to storage.

But it was General Warren Yu’s tribute, sent from a thousand miles away, that truly satisfied the Emperor.

A plain iron box, inscribed with the eight characters: ‘Long live Our Emperor, may the realm be unified.’ The moment this tribute appeared, the faces of Westlyn’s Terrence Valen, Northlyn’s Quentin Feng, Su Wan, and all the nine city envoys turned ugly. But they could only swallow their anger and pretend not to notice.

After all, this was Eastlyn territory, and today was the Eastlyn Emperor’s great day. If they dared show sour faces, it would be seen as bringing bad luck to the Emperor—and with thunder-blast grenades in his hands, at the height of his power, even they had to keep their heads down.

Just seeing those eight words put the Emperor in a great mood. But when he opened the iron box, his shock and joy were beyond words…

“Hahaha, excellent, excellent! General Yu is truly thoughtful. Reward him—give him lavish rewards! General Warren Yu is the cornerstone of the state. Even from a thousand miles away, he still looks out for me.” The Emperor stood up in delight, blurting out high praise for Warren Yu.

Everyone’s expressions were strange. Each secretly wondered what exactly General Warren Yu had sent, to make the Emperor so happy?

The most baffling thing was this: the Emperor said he would reward General Warren Yu heavily, but sent the rewards to Feng Manor instead. Not only that, he ordered Serena Feng’s house arrest lifted.

Although there were only three days left in Serena Feng’s month-long confinement, the Emperor’s sudden announcement made it clear that she had regained his favor. The princes who’d been plotting against her immediately backed off—if you didn’t have the skill to challenge Serena Feng now, you’d best wait and see.

Ninth Royal Uncle Nolan remained silent from start to finish. No one saw the deep mockery and ruthlessness hidden in his eyes.

The gift-giving continued, but the Emperor kept General Warren Yu’s present clutched in his hand, as if afraid someone would snatch it away. This only made everyone more curious—what exactly had Warren Yu sent?

With Warren Yu’s mysterious gift looming over the event, even the most novel tributes that followed failed to interest the Emperor. Only when the eunuch announced that Liam Li had a mysterious birthday present did everyone’s attention shift.

Liam Li was nothing if not clever. He promised the Emperor a surprise, kicked Rosa Zhen out of his workspace, and insisted on making it himself despite his injured wrist.

The Emperor had a hunch it was related to thunder-blast grenades, since the materials Liam Li requested were similar to those used by the Ministry of Works to make them.

Honestly, the Emperor was looking forward to Liam Li’s gift. He hoped for a weapon even more powerful than the thunder-blast grenades.

With Liam Li’s weapons and Warren Yu’s tribute, the Emperor felt he could conquer the world!

Gifts were being given, but the Emperor and the crowd waited and waited—still no sign of Liam Li’s present. The foreign princes’ hearts were in turmoil: on one hand, they wanted Liam Li’s gift to appear quickly; on the other, they feared whatever he brought might leave the three kingdoms and nine cities with no way out.

“What’s going on here?” Normally others waited for the Emperor—not the other way around. After a whole incense stick’s time, he’d already given Liam Li plenty of face.

The eunuch who’d been relaying messages for Liam Li broke out in a cold sweat and dropped to his knees with a thud. Just as he was about to beg for mercy, a loud boom echoed from the horizon.

“Has something happened?” The ministers turned in alarm, only to see sparks flickering beautifully on the distant skyline.

“What is that?” someone asked curiously, but no one knew.

Boom! Another explosion sounded. This time, everyone saw multicolored lights flashing at the horizon—like an umbrella, it shot into the sky and burst apart with a thunderous crash.

“What a beautiful night sky!” someone exclaimed, and the crowd echoed the sentiment.

Ninth Royal Uncle Nolan pressed his lips together and glanced at the Emperor, catching the excitement and barely concealed ambition in his eyes. Nolan alone among the crowd refused to watch the fireworks, instead keeping his gaze steady and inward.

Boom, boom, boom—the explosions kept coming. The lights in the sky, set against the night, shone even brighter. Each one bloomed like a flower, dazzling the eyes. Even the common folk of the Eastlyn Imperial Capital were caught up in the spectacle, watching in awe.

The fireworks sounded ninety-nine times before fading from the sky and returning the night to its earlier calm. Just when everyone thought Liam Li’s gift was over, another spark shot up from the horizon.

Boom—

It exploded in midair—not a blooming flower this time, but a five-clawed imperial dragon.

“Ah! A dragon—a real dragon has appeared!” The ministers couldn’t stay seated. They leapt up, pointing at the sky in shock as the dragon vanished.

One particularly sycophantic minister recovered first, immediately turning to kneel before the Emperor and shouting, “Auspicious omens descend from heaven! Our Emperor is the true dragon incarnate—long live the Emperor!”

The rest of the ministers snapped out of their daze, falling prostrate and echoing the cry: long live the Emperor.

“Hahaha…” The Emperor was beside himself with joy, imagining himself ruling the world.

In stark contrast, Prince Terrence Valen of Lyndaria, Prince Quentin Feng of Northlyn, and the envoys from the three kingdoms and nine cities sat stiffly, their smiles frozen. Compared to the ministers kneeling on the ground, these foreigners looked painfully out of place.

When the Emperor’s gaze swept over them, a glint of coldness flashed in his eyes—and at that same moment, a hint of murderous intent flickered in theirs.

If Liam Li is not eliminated, Eastlyn will soon stand above all other kingdoms.

That monster Liam Li must die!

Ninth Royal Uncle Nolan remained an outsider throughout, coldly watching the open and hidden struggles in the Imperial Garden. Staring at the dim night sky, Nolan silently thought to himself: "It’s time for the heavens to change, too."

Just as the Emperor was lost in his joy, another piece of good news arrived. The eunuch, beaming, announced: “Blessings upon Your Majesty! Heaven favors Eastlyn—the palace doctors have just diagnosed Noble Consort Helena Hsieh as pregnant.”

"Noble Consort Helena is pregnant?"

The eunuch's voice wasn't loud, but it jolted everyone awake—especially Crown Prince Adrian and the other princes. Their smiles froze instantly.

After so many years without conceiving, how did Noble Consort Helena suddenly get pregnant—and how convenient that the imperial physicians diagnosed her today of all days? All the princes thought of one person at once: Serena Feng.

A calamity! The princes wished they could devour Serena Feng alive—this troublemaking, fearless woman.

Countless eyes turned as one toward Lord Hsieh's seat. Lord Hsieh sat calmly, feigning indifference, but the faint curve of his lips betrayed his good mood.

This child arrived at the perfect moment—clearly destined for great fortune.