Shangguan Hao, you devious and treacherous scoundrel, just you wait. One day, I will make you crawl at my feet and beg for mercy.
"Shangguan Hao, are you truly my senior brother? If you dared to challenge me openly, I would respect you. But you stoop to despicable and shameless acts like a villain. I despise you."
Mu Rong Liu Zun spoke with chilling coldness. In his narrow, slightly rounded phoenix-like eyes, there was a profound disdain. When such disdain appeared on his face, Shangguan Hao was indeed hit hard.
They had always been loving brothers, but their brotherhood had finally shattered. He had always feared this day, but their identities destined them to be unable to be true brothers, and their master too.
"Do you know what Master said? He said you were the one with great talent and ambition in the world, that you had matured and would undoubtedly become an extraordinary person. Then what about me? Before you joined Mount Tian, Master always praised my talent. But ever since you came up the mountain, he no longer saw me. He believed you would surpass me. I don't believe it! I don't believe you can surpass me."
Shangguan Hao grew furious as he spoke, his voice a low growl like a lion. His eyes were filled with cruel ferocity, and a bloody scent seemed to emanate from the corners of his lips.
"I will not lose to you. You wait and see."
Shangguan Hao flicked his hand, without even glancing at the people in the grand hall. He turned and walked away.
Emperor Xian's face turned grim. With a sudden roar, he shouted, "Guards, apprehend Shangguan Hao."
The captain of the guards, Hua Li Ge, led a group of guards charging in, blocking Shangguan Hao's path. He raised his long saber and spoke with a stern voice, "Stop."
At the entrance of the hall, Shangguan Hao burst into wild laughter. He turned back to look at Emperor Xian on the throne, a sneer curling on his lips:
"Junior Brother, do you think these few men can apprehend me? Don't forget, I am a prince of Wan He Kingdom. By doing this, aren't you formally declaring war on Wan He Kingdom?"
Now was definitely not a good time for war. Mu Rong Liu Zun knew it, Shangguan Hao knew it, and everyone in the grand hall knew it.
If their two nations went to war, it would only benefit other countries. However, Mu Rong Liu Zun did not truly intend to apprehend Shangguan Hao. Instead, he had an account to settle with him.
"Senior Brother, why are you in such a hurry? When it's time for you to leave, I will naturally let you go. However, I have an account to settle with you."
"An account?" Shangguan Hao raised an eyebrow, his cold, clear eyes shooting towards Mu Qingyao. Had this woman complained? But it didn't seem like it; if it were a woman, she wouldn't blurt out such things.
Mu Qingyao was definitely not foolish. Would she publicize such matters? Moreover, she had suffered no loss that night; instead, he had been struck by her needle. Although it wouldn't kill him, it caused him great suffering.
"Although they cannot stop you, I can capture you."
Emperor Xian slowly rose, his imperial yellow dragon robe radiating brilliant light. The aura of dominance around him pressed down like a suffocating tide.
Shangguan Hao believed his words, for he knew just how profound his junior brother's capabilities were. After ninety-nine matches, apart from the initial few, he had never won against him again.
This was also what he resented.
"Alright, speak. What account do you wish to settle with me?"
Shangguan Hao, seeing the situation, turned back into the hall and looked at his senior brother on the throne with a composed demeanor.
If he were Liu Qian Mu, he might be killed by his senior brother, but now his identity was Shangguan Hao, a prince of Wan He Kingdom, and soon to be the Crown Prince of Wan He Kingdom.
Mu Rong Liu Zun said nothing, but turned to look at Mu Qingyao beside him. His tall body leaned down, whispering a few words into her ear.
The Empress's face showed surprise, followed by deep resentment. She turned and whispered a few words to Mo Chou beside her, and Mo Chou received the order and went out.
In the grand hall.
Shangguan Hao and Shangguan Hao looked at each other, their eyes sparring for a moment. Finally, Prince Xiang's lips curved into a smile, and he extended his hand to embrace his brother.
"Hao, so you are not dead! Where have you been hiding all these years? There wasn't a single piece of news. If Emperor Xian hadn't sent someone to invite me, I wouldn't have known I still had a brother alive?"
Shangguan Hao returned the embrace from his brother, Prince Xiang, with a forced smile. He was not oblivious to the hatred in Prince Xiang's eyes.
But he disdained it. Perhaps he was slightly inferior to his junior brother Mu Rong Liu Zun, but that didn't mean he would lose to his brother, Prince Xiang.
"Is my Royal Brother happy, or sad?"
Mu Qingyao and the Emperor watched the two men, who were embracing each other with feigned affection, with cold faces.
They were all contenders for the throne. One mountain could not tolerate two tigers; no, it should be three tigers. Mu Rong Liu Zun's move was truly brilliant – watching the tigers fight from across the mountain. The Emperor of Wan He Kingdom would surely pass the throne to Shangguan Hao.
Then Prince Xiang and Prince Wu would never stand by and watch the throne fall into someone else's hands. They would inevitably fight.
Even if Shangguan Hao obtained the throne in the end, rumors unfavorable to him would likely spread among the populace because Prince Xiang and Prince Wu had lived in the imperial city for so many years, while this Crown Prince had suddenly appeared. People were very sentimental.
If Prince Xiang and Prince Wu met with misfortune, the people would likely not be willing to support Shangguan Hao as Crown Prince. This was a truly brilliant strategy.
It was a dark stratagem, but she liked it. It was about pitting wits against each other, ensuring this insidious and cunning person met a terrible end.
Mu Qingyao coldly swept her gaze over Shangguan Hao.
This man was too sinister. Not only did he plan to ruin her and prevent her from entering the palace, but he also seemed to have done many other things.
For example, the case of the assassination of the Crown Princess, he framed Prince Nan An. The time she went to Biyun Pavilion to see Changsun Zhu, he secretly sent a letter to Prince Nan An, as well as to the Empress Dowager.
And the plot to deal with her three sisters, a plan with three birds killed by one stone, these sinister and despicable tactics were likely all conceived by him, because such scum was truly base.
In the future, if she left the palace, it would be best if she didn't encounter him. Otherwise, every time she saw him, she would beat him. If she couldn't fight him openly, she would fight him secretly, perhaps poison him, or even blow him up with a hand grenade.
Mu Qingyao's eyes shifted unpredictably. Her peripheral vision caught a figure entering from outside the grand hall. She let out a sigh. The person walking in behind Mo Chou was Princess Mu Rong Ru Yin, who entered the grand hall with an angry expression, her gaze fixed on Shangguan Hao.
The moment Shangguan Hao saw the person who appeared, his face turned grim, his pupils deepened, and his entire face changed color. He had never expected Emperor Xian to summon Princess Ru Yin. Could it be this woman?
"Ru Yin pays her respects to Royal Brother and Empress."
Mu Rong Ru Yin bowed slowly. A chilling look flashed across his handsome, imperial face. He said faintly, "Rise."
After Ru Yin stood to the side, Emperor Xian, filled with imposing presence, spoke in a deep, resonant voice:
"Royal Brother asks you one more time today. In a few days, it will be your wedding day. If you acknowledge this marriage to the Han family in the grand hall today, I will act as if I never asked. However, if you do not acknowledge this marriage, then you must tell me who it is that has caused you to be with child."