Long Live the Emperor, Minus Me (Completed Main Story) - Side Story 3

This is the story of before the Jin Kingdom became the Jin Empire—back when it was still a confederation of seven small states.

There was a boy. The place where he stood was before a house that resembled a palace.

Walls stretched endlessly on either side of the grand gate, and beyond the massive gate loomed an even taller roof.

Yet, upon closer inspection, it was clear that the walls and doorknobs had not been properly maintained and showed signs of slight aging.

Was this the fading glory of the past? The boy muttered softly to himself, then took a deep breath into his lungs.

“Is anyone home!”

No response came from within. Swallowing a sigh inwardly, the boy grasped the door knocker and pounded loudly on the gate. Dust puffed out in clouds, suggesting few visitors came by.

“Is anyone home!”

After raising his voice once more and waiting a moment, the door slowly creaked open from inside.

Creeeak.

The hinges screeched unpleasantly, as if never oiled, and a girl emerged from within—likely around the boy’s age.

The boy was certain this girl was Lee Baekryeon, the current head of the Lee family.

“What brings you here?”

Her flat tone sounded less like a question and more like confirmation—as if she already knew exactly who the boy was. The boy lightly licked his lips once and spoke as calmly as he could.

“I am Zi Qingling, second son of the Zi Council. Today, on my elder brother’s request, I’ve come to see whether the Lee family requires anything. Might I trouble you to let me inside?”

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