He was possessed while still in his mother's womb, so his own soul was gravely damaged—leaving him mentally impaired.
Jean Qiao has already been executed. The First Prince brought Xiao Yin to the First Heir-Consort, hoping she would care for him.
But the once-virtuous First Heir-Consort refused and left the Celestial Palace, returning to her maiden home.
The First Prince stood in the empty palace, with only the dazed Xiao Yin coiled nearby, feeling utterly bleak.
Even now, he still couldn't understand what he had done wrong.
Why wasn't he chosen as Crown Prince?
Why was his mother confined?
Why was his brother exiled?
Why did his child become mentally impaired?
Why had even his ever-virtuous wife left him now?
What exactly did he do wrong?
"Big Brother." Lily Bai came over to find him.
Brandon Xiao lifted his eyes to look at her but said nothing.
"Big Brother, I heard Sister-in-law went back to her family?" Lily Bai asked. "What happened?"
Brandon didn’t reply, nor did he move.
"Big Brother?" Lily glanced at Xiao Yin. "Do you need any help? Should I send a couple of people over to look after Yin’er?"
Brandon shook his head, then suddenly asked, "Sister-in-law, I’ve heard Rune Masters can read Heaven’s will?"
Lily Bai said, "Not even close to ‘reading Heaven’s will.’ At best, we can glimpse a hint of opportunity."
"Then can you tell me, what exactly did I do wrong?" Brandon asked. "Why... did the Heavenly Dao choose my fifth brother instead of me?"
Lily Bai looked at him and asked, "So all those years of seclusion, Big Brother—you were thinking about this?"
"That's right. I’ve always prided myself on being diligent, disciplined, fair, and just—working hard to embody every quality of a Celestial Emperor," Brandon said. "But my fifth brother is stubborn and willful. If he doesn’t want to talk, he ignores everyone. He falls for a woman and fights the whole world for her! Sister-in-law, I just can’t figure it out. Please enlighten me."
Lily Bai thought for a moment and said, "Maybe... it’s love."
"Love?"
Lily Bai nodded. "It’s the most beautiful thing Heaven gives us! I think maybe the Heavenly Dao values that. Only someone who understands both ‘small love’ and ‘great love’ can become Celestial Emperor."
Brandon Xiao fell into deep thought.
"Big Brother, if you need anything, come find me," Lily Bai said. "I’ll head back now!"
Brandon nodded.
After Lily Bai left, Brandon looked around the grand hall, feeling a bit lost.
Love?
Could it really be those feelings he’d always ignored?
Was that what he could never understand?
Suddenly, someone tugged at his sleeve.
Brandon turned and saw Xiao Yin, rubbing his head against Brandon’s sleeve.
"What is it?" Brandon asked.
"Sleepy," Xiao Yin mumbled in dragon tongue, eyes heavy with sleep.
"Go to sleep, then."
"Want a hug."
Brandon picked him up and settled him on his lap.
Xiao Yin pressed his head close and fell asleep, utterly content.
A bit of drool escaped, but it didn’t spoil the look of pure happiness on his face.
So when all that’s left is instinct, what he really needs is a warm embrace...
Brandon suddenly realized that since the boy was born, he’d never held him like this before.
Maybe... he ought to try living a different way...
...
A thousand years later, His Majesty the Celestial Emperor returned in glory, bringing Sean’s mother with him.
Deposed Celestial Empress Liz Li formally crowned Sean’s mother as Empress.
Years later, Sean ascended the throne and named Lily Bai his Empress...
More years passed...
Supreme Clarity awoke again, staring blankly at the vast, deep ceiling.
Another lifetime.
She’d spent another whole life with him.
Again and again, and this time, she didn’t even feel angry.
Just tired.
A little heartsore.
She’d once desperately wanted to break their contract, but every time she entered the Lotus Realm, she ended up living a lifetime of deep love with him.