Chapter 18 You’re not the dragon on the throne. You’re merely a dragon that protects it!

    Ouyang Feilong was summoned to the palace the moment he stepped out of the Bai mansion. His birth mother, or the current Empress Dowager, gave a sudden order that she wished to see her son, despite him having been staying in the capital for seven days already.

    The tall figure calmly walked into Empress Dowager Wei’s palace. Even with the half-mask that concealed his expression, his gladness could be clearly felt from the atmosphere around him that became more relaxed.

    Today his mother wanted to see him after refusing to do so for over three years. Up until now, Ouyang Feilong could only pay his respect in front of the palace without any opportunity to enter. The royal maid would tell him that his mother was sick every time he came back to the capital…that his mother wanted to rest more than to see her youngest son who had been stationed at the border for so long.

    “Blessings to mother.”

    The tall figure kneeled and bowed to the highest degree of respect to his mother who he had not seen for many years. A voice from the elderly woman gave him permission to stand up. The great general was no longer prostrating, but he still kneeled at the same spot because his mother had yet to give him a place to sit or allow him to sit beside her.

    He still held a faint hope that this time he would be able to be closer to his mother. But everything was still the same like every time they were together. Cold and distant. Even since he was born and up until now.

“I mi—“

“You should hurry and leave the capital.”

“…”

    I miss you so much, mother.

    “Aijia sent you to the border since you’re young so that you can support your brother to the throne. Now that the throne is secured, you should not remain at the capital and threaten the Emperor’s power!”

    Ouyang Feilong gripped his hands so hard that bulging veins could be seen on the back of his hands. Words that he had been wishing to say to his mother were swallowed back, tinged with bitterness. He knew that his power was a double-edged sword. His authority over the military was enough to support the throne, but at the same time, it was enough to create a coup and caused him to be distrusted by the Emperor…no, by the Empress Dowager.

    His mother was afraid that he would take his brother’s throne. But such a thought was never in Ouyang Feilong’s mind at all. He loved his mother and older brother more than his own life, and he knew the danger of his own power, which was why he was willing to stay at the border to keep everyone’s mind at peace.

    Empress Dowager Wei, when she was Empress, she gave birth to a son amidst the joy of those around her. ‘Ouyang Hongxian’ was the heir apparent. Even with opposition and obstruction from some groups, his mother was always there to defend his rights.

    Ouyang Feilong was born on the seventeenth winter of Ouyang Hongxian’s life. He and his brother were far apart in age, so the little prince was brought up by the royal maids and his brother who always found time to play with him, all without a shadow of his own mother. He had seen his father’s and brother’s faces more than his mother’s, even.

    When he was five, Ouyang Feilong was sent to commander-general Yue. His mother told the Emperor that she wanted him to study and train in preparation to be of help in protecting the nation.

    The little dragon at the age of five gave a tearful farewell to his brother. He did not want to go far away at all, but when his mother hugged him that one time in front of the palace gate, the young Feilong made up his mind to dedicate himself to training so that he could make his mother proud.

    For commander-general Yue, there was no exception in training, not even for the youngest prince. Ouyang Feilong endured the training and started joining the battlefield when he was twelve. It was seven grueling years where he was not able to return to the capital even once.

    Many times Ouyang Hongxian used an excuse of Taizi’s royal mission to travel to the border and visit his brother. His action consoled Ouyang Feilong that he was not suffering alone.

    The brotherly love…Ouyang Feilong acknowledged it, and it had been the balm to his heart all along.

    When Ouyang Feilong was sixteen, shortly after being titled Rui Wang, there was a riot in the capital. His mother sent a rider to ask for his help, and he, with his worry for his brother, immediately mobilized his troop to suppress the riot himself, then gladly supported his brother to ascend the throne.

    At that time, Ouyang Feilong received a smile from his mother for the first time in eleven years.

    Rui Wang knew full well that his mother did not love him as he had thought. For many years he grew up on the battlefield, and there was not a single letter sent from her. Even when he fought and gained various favors at a young age, there was only a royal decree that gave him the title Rui Qin Wang. No letter to summon him back to the capital.

    His father was old, and there were duties and wars that he had to take care of. If the Emperor who had numerous sons and daughters forgot him, it would not be too upsetting.

    But his own mother who gave birth to him and sent him to the faraway border…did she forget her youngest son already?

    “General commander are you listening to aijia?!”

    Even his name, mother might have forgotten it too.

    “Yes, mother.” Ouyang Feilong loosened his fists, then lifted his eyes to gaze coldly at his mother. That kind of hopeless wish, he should throw it away already.

    The black dragon had been waiting for his mother’s love for twenty-seven years, but no matter what he did, she would never care!

    “There’s an important mission so I hurried to the capital. Moreover, the matter regarding the epidemic required me to stay here a while longer.”

    “About that disease, aijia sent Ming-er to take care of it in your place. Is that important mission already done?”

    “It’s almost done.”

    Actually, the secret mission was accomplished because that little fool had been a great help. But he lied because he wanted to know what his mother would say about him next.

    “How?! You’ve returned from the village for so many days, and you’ve yet to complete it?”

    “It’s because I was injured, so I’m not as agile as I usually am.”

    “I hope it’s not because you want to stay here longer…” The former mother of the nation eyed her youngest son suspiciously. “…Or were you intending to steal the favor for what Ming-er, your nephew, has done at the village?"

    His mother…did not even think to ask about his injury.

    The reason that Ouyang Feilong had to hurry away and leave the villagers to face the disease also came from his mother’s order. All along, apart from his older brother was his nephew who Empress Dowager Wei would do anything for. But at the same time…she never cared about hurting him at all.

Ouyang Feilong closed his eyes, trying to repress the feeling of hurt caused by his own mother.

    “You shouldn’t leave the border for too long. Even with your lieutenant there, your soldiers still need you as the pillar of Da Yang’s army to raise morale.”

“Yes, mother.”

“Remember, Feilong…”

    The name uttered from his mother’s lips made his dim heart start pounding again.

    “Don’t you dare act on your own without aijia’s order…Remember that you’re not the dragon on the throne. You’re merely the one that protects it!”

    Would there be a day that his mother stopped thinking that he would betray his brother…From now…to the death of…Would there be a day?

    “Don’t make aijia remind you again of your duty.”

    The empty silver-like eyes of a soulless man met with the cold ones. Even her gaze said the same…Leave.

“Yes, mother.”

“Informing Empress Dowager, Qin Wang requests your audience.”

    The look in her eyes immediately changed the moment she heard that her favorite grandchild was visiting. She broke into a smile as she gave her permission.

    Ouyang Feilong went to stand beside his mother and he watched Ouyang Mingxian greet them.

    The atmosphere was polar opposite from moments before.

    “Relax, dear grandson.” Empress Dowager Wei went to support him up and took him to sit on the same long chair. His mother’s eyes and mouth were both smiling. “You must be so tired. Why don’t you rest first?”

    “I heard that grandmother is sick, so I hurried to come to see you.” Ouyang Mingxian who often had a cold exterior said to his grandmother with respect. Then, his demeanor became much softer. “I did not expect to see uncle here too.”

    “Your uncle came to say goodbye to aijia. He’s going back to station at the border.” Empress Dowager Wei interrupted before her son could say anything to his nephew. She showed a kind smile to her beloved son who was returning to the border after staying at the capital for only seven days.

    Ouyang Feilong sneered to himself. His mother would only love him when there was a third party present. The embrace that day before he left the capital was as fake as her smile right now.

    In the twenty-seven years of the life of the black dragon of Da Yang, the man whose strength and power preceded anyone else was merely a man who was kept alive by his mother’s fake affection all along.

    Over ten years that Empress Dowager Wei resided in the imperial palace, she had been secretly scheming and fighting against other concubines behind the Emperor’s back. Wearing a mask was natural for her. And acting like she loved her youngest son was not a hard task at all.

    She smiled while in front of others, but out of their sight, she was cold and calculating. Ouyang Feilong hated this kind of woman more than anything!

    He hated how his mother would always fake, but at the same time, he had always been yearning for her love. If only she would pretend to love him both in public and private, then he would be willing to do anything for her. But in the end, she treated him without an ounce of compassion.

“Then I wish uncle a safe journey.”

    “Thank you. Benwang will have to leave mother in your care now.”

“My dear son, there’s no need for you to worry. Seeing you work hard makes me most happy.”

As long as he stayed away from the capital, his mother would be at ease.

“Mother, please take care of your health. I’ll take my leave.”

    Ouyang Feilong stepped out of Empress Dowager Wei’s palace with a heavy heart. Beneath the dragon mask, subtly hidden, were his tears.

------------------------------

    “Blessings to Wangye.”

    As soon as the owner of the palace got off from his horse, the sound of greetings was heard from the workers and the beauties that came to welcome him.

    Ouyang Feilong did not utter a single word as he waved his hand toward those people. The palace butler walked up to take the fur coat from the commander general. The oppressing atmosphere surrounding the tall figure made everyone in the palace area tense up, not even dared to let out a sound of their own breathing.

    The women who were sent by the Emperor bowed in silence, opposite to how they were competing with each other, using their charm to get the general to stay overnight with them multiple days ago. Though they fully knew that Rui Wang had been on the battlefield since young and that he had publicly stated that he did not like women who used wiles and charms, they were still married to him due to the royal decree. Rui Wang palace treated them well, that was true, but they also could not let themselves wither away without being touched by their husband.

    “What angered you, Your Highness?” Amidst the silence, a voice sounded from a woman in armor who was among the people coming out to receive him. Her skin was darker than other women in the capital, but it did not diminish her beauty at all. Instead, it enhanced her appearance and gave it a unique charm different from other women in the capital.

    Ouyang Feilong glanced at his lieutenant-general, ‘Yue Huiling’, and answered her with silence.

    “Your magic aura is hurting the palace flowers, Your Highness,” Yue Huiling who had just arrived at the capital continued. She swept her eyes through the delicate beauties who were now pale and trembling as they were unable to bear the pressure from their ‘husband’.

    Hmph! Just women who were only good at being beautiful. Yue Huiling pitied them, of course, otherwise, she would have let them cough blood right here.

    “You’re here. Good,” Ouyang Feilong said calmly. The silver aura that was present all the way to the palace dissipated, meaning that the general was finally able to control his emotion.

    It was fortunate that he could suppress himself. If not, then Yue Huiling would have to be the one to stop the general from venting his anger through killing, and the one who tried to stop him would then become the brutish Wangye’s next target.

    “Lieutenant-general Yue Huiling, hear your royal command!”

    “Huiling is here to receive the royal command!” There was no trace of softness in the figure of the armored woman. She kneeled on one knee, waiting for the command from her general.

    “Lieutenant-general Yue Huiling will be given the authority to write down the report to the Emperor. Do it well.”

    “Huiling accepts the royal command!”

    Ouyang Feilong stepped into the palace without sparing a second glance at the group of women who had been waiting to welcome him. After he walked past, Yue Huiling stood up, she looked at the broad back that she had always been following into the battle.

    Why does that back look so lonely today?

“Butler Yin”

    “Yes, Wangye.”

    “Send people to Bai mansion. Notify lieutenant-general Bai He to prepare himself…”

    “…”

    “Benwang shall return to the border tonight.”