The Emperor’s face was full of inscrutability, his smooth forehead furrowed as he recalled something. Princess Ru Yin seemed unusually strange today. He hadn't even spoken to ask whom to betroth her to, and she had already defied his decree and refused marriage. He remembered her eyes always glancing to one side.
The Emperor made a gesture with his hand, a line indicated by his finger. The direction pointed to his senior martial brother, Liu Qianmu. Could the Empress have meant that the person by his side was him?
Mu Rong Liu Zun’s expression suddenly turned dark and grim, his deep, sharp eyes swirling with a turbulent light as he cast a sinister gaze at Ah Jiu beside him.
"Is there still no news from Duan Hun?"
Just as Ah Jiu was about to reply, someone entered the great hall. It was the Commander of the Guards, Hua Li Ge, holding a letter. He spoke respectfully, "Reporting to Your Majesty, Duan Hun’s letter has arrived."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ah Jiu stepped forward, took the letter, and handed it to the Emperor.
Indeed, it was a letter from Duan Hun. The letter explained that the Wan He Kingdom had once had a deceased prince named Shang Guan Hao, who was devoured by a fierce tiger during a royal hunt in his early years.
The current Wan He Kingdom had two princes, respectively enfeoffed as Prince Xiang and Prince Wu. The position of Crown Prince remained vacant.
After reading Duan Hun’s letter, Mu Rong Liu Zun guessed, almost without thinking, that his senior martial brother, Liu Qianmu, was precisely the missing Prince Shang Guan Hao of the Wan He Kingdom.
It turned out that he had not been devoured by the tiger back then. Instead, he had been sent by the Emperor of Wan He Kingdom to Mount Tian to apprentice under Elder Chi Xia, diligently practicing various martial arts.
The fact that the Crown Prince position in the Wan He Kingdom remained vacant to this day indicated that the old Emperor’s intended choice for Crown Prince was undoubtedly Liu Qianmu, no, Shang Guan Hao.
He hadn't expected to misjudge things. No, he hadn't misjudged. All along, he had known his senior martial brother’s background was extraordinary. However, he couldn't investigate his origins, and moreover, he firmly believed that his senior martial brother carried an unfathomable pain, just like himself.
They were both proud individuals. Some pains were buried very deep, unwilling to be touched by others. As his junior martial brother, he respected his actions. Therefore, although he had suspicions over the years, he had also sent people to investigate, but had not done so meticulously.
In the end, he discovered that his senior martial brother was actually the greatest conspirator…
Senior martial brother, you came to the Xian Yue Kingdom without making a sound, undoubtedly intending to destabilize my Xian Yue and create a breakthrough point for the seven kingdoms. However, you underestimated me.
A bloodthirsty killing intent shrouded Mu Rong Liu Zun’s sharply defined features. The eunuch Ah Jiu had never seen such an Emperor before. Although the Emperor was always strong and overbearing, he had never exuded such intense killing intent. The immense, powerful killing aura he released at this moment…
Guang Yang Palace.
The Empress Dowager was resting in her chambers. As one aged, their energy waned. Participating in a half-day flower appreciation banquet had exhausted her to the point where she didn't want to manage anything else, only wanting to catch her breath.
Princess Mu Rong Ru Yin, with murderous intent blazing in her eyes, stormed into Guang Yang Palace. Any eunuch inside or outside Guang Yang Palace who dared to block her would likely be killed without mercy. Those eunuchs and palace maids were only concerned with saving their own lives and thus retreated.
Only Eunuch Li, guarding the entrance to the chambers, cautiously tried to stop her.
"Princess, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is asleep. Please wait a moment, Princess."
Eunuch Li’s old face was etched with terror, his forehead creased like a riverbed.
This was truly dire. This princess had just suffered a grievance and now she had run into him. It seemed he was destined to die.
Eunuch Li’s face turned ashen. Unfortunately, Mu Rong Ru Yin acted as if she hadn’t seen his deathly pale expression. She raised her hand and slapped Eunuch Li.
"You wretched slave, don’t you have eyes? Can you block me, this princess? Get lost, or I’ll kill you."
After delivering the slap, the Princess casually grabbed Eunuch Li by his collar. Her beautiful face pressed close to Eunuch Li, making him dizzy. He struggled to maintain himself.
"Princess, Princess, I did not do this intentionally. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is asleep."
"The fire is at our eyebrows, yet Mother is still asleep!" Ru Yin cursed, then raised her hand to strike again. At that opportune moment, a stern voice sounded from within the chambers: "Come in."
The Empress Dowager was always a light sleeper. She had been woken by the commotion outside and could no longer sleep.
Ru Yin's face, initially filled with anger, was now somewhat contorted. Hearing the Empress Dowager’s harsh voice, she belatedly felt a touch of fear. She adjusted her breathing, her expression cold, and walked in.
Rounding the large glazed screen at the entrance to the chambers, she saw the Empress Dowager sitting on the bed, looking at her with a stern expression.
"What madness is this again? Haven't you had enough of this tantrum at the flower appreciation banquet today?"
The Empress Dowager, recalling the scene at the flower appreciation banquet, felt that her daughter was not living up to expectations. From ancient times to the present, marriages were arranged by parents and mediated by matchmakers. The Emperor had arranged a marriage for her, and she had actually dared to defy his decree.
If the Emperor hadn't shown her some respect, she might have been punished. She wouldn't be able to enjoy such freedom.
"Mother, I don't want to get married."
Seeing the Empress Dowager’s displeased expression, Mu Rong Ru Yin dared not approach her casually. She stood by the screen, protesting unhappily, muttering. Her beautiful face clearly displayed her unwillingness to marry.
The Empress Dowager sighed, looking at her daughter. She suppressed her own anger and spoke gently, advising her.
"Ru Yin, has the son of Scholar Han, Han Qing Yu, wronged you? He is handsome and well-bred, from a scholarly family. I dare not say he is exceptionally talented, but he is a man of deep thought. If anyone has been wronged, it is he, is it not?"
The Empress Dowager stated facts and offered reasons. She had observed Han Qing Yu and was very satisfied. He had an extraordinary demeanor and elegant manners, truly befitting a scholarly family. He was well-educated and not someone who acted impulsively.
If Ru Yin married him, she would never suffer a loss.
Although the Emperor had adopted a suppressive approach regarding Liu Mo’s marriage, she was satisfied with Ru Yin’s marriage. She didn't understand why Ru Yin was causing such a fuss.
"What does it matter to me if he is good or not? I don't want to get married right now, Mother. I just want to accompany you."
As Ru Yin spoke, her voice lacked conviction. Was she the type of person to accompany her mother?
The Empress Dowager raised an eyebrow, looking at Ru Yin with suspicion. She spoke coldly, "Tell me, is there something you are hiding from me? If I find out you have done anything you shouldn't have, I will never forgive you."
Recalling Ru Yin's recent unusual behavior, the Empress Dowager's eyes were filled with deep suspicion.
First, she helped her think of an idea, which was not bad. Then, she refused to marry. These actions, considering Ru Yin’s past, should have made her very happy. She had always favored scholars and men of letters, yet now she didn't want to get married.
The Empress Dowager couldn’t understand this matter. Her dark eyes flashed a chilling light. Ru Yin seemed intimidated, momentarily lost in thought, then quickly shook her head.
"What are you saying, Mother? I truly don’t want to marry. Two people who don't know each other are being forced to be together. Isn't that very strange?"
The Empress Dowager said nothing in response to Ru Yin’s stubborn refusal, only raising her eyebrows and stating faintly: