You Hit My Heart by Kylie Stanford

Chapter 2078: Burning the Imperial Edict on the Spot 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. 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."

so," Reuben sneered. "You don't have the imperial seal. The major families have their own agendas; commanding them won't be

eyes grew cold. He smiled slightly.

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

the imperial seal. Reuben's unexpected

as Reuben frowned slightly; Clint was

fit to be emperor. "I don't want to be emperor," he said

years of fighting me,

replied calmly having dyed his hair back

ever wanted was to save my

your supporters feel the same," Clint scoffed, thinking of Reuben's loyal guard Grizela who tirelessly pushed him towards

here now." Reuben paused

sharply at the sight of

edict with

His father hadn't seen him before dying

overwhelming urge to kill Reuben right