The selection ceremony for the Princess of the Blue Moon concluded without incident.
Envoys from various nations were accommodated in the guesthouses, each harboring their own thoughts upon meeting the legendary Princess of the Blue Moon.
Murong Ziheng returned to his temporary palace, a lingering question in his heart: why did the Princess of the Blue Moon give him a feeling of both familiarity and strangeness?
“I’ve seen her.” A voice echoed, and Murong Ziheng turned to see Murong Shengrui seated at a table, idly twirling a dagger.
“What exactly do you want to do?”
A devilish smile curved Murong Shengrui’s lips. “What did you feel upon seeing Xiao Man?”
Murong Ziheng frowned, remaining silent for a long while before replying, “It was rather strange. I felt as if I’d seen her somewhere before, yet she was utterly unfamiliar.”
Murong Shengrui chuckled. “It’s natural for her to seem unfamiliar. After all, it’s been so many years. It would be strange if you found her familiar.”
“What do you mean?” Murong Ziheng sensed a hidden meaning in Murong Shengrui’s words, yet he couldn’t decipher them.
Murong Shengrui used the dagger to clean his fingernails. “She is my Empress.”
Murong Ziheng parted his lips. “She disdained even the position of Princess. Do you think she would care about your Empress title?”
Murong Shengrui looked at Murong Ziheng with a sneer. “Do you think she would even spare a glance at the small realm of Blue Moon?”
Murong Ziheng’s confusion deepened. Even as the Princess of the Blue Moon, in his eyes, she was merely a weak woman. A mere weak woman, struggling to govern Blue Moon, would she possibly wish to control the entire world?
“You captured me, yet you don’t kill me. What are you planning?”
“I merely want someone to know that you are nothing but a useless wretch,” Murong Shengrui said softly. “After years of lying low, you’ve accomplished nothing.”
Murong Ziheng’s face turned pale. “Do you think you are so capable? You were merely lucky to be born to the Great Empress. Otherwise, you would have died in the deep palace long ago!”
Murong Shengrui smiled noncommittally. “Being born into the right family is also a skill. Being born to the Great Empress is also my capability.”
Murong Ziheng gritted his teeth. “Relying on women, what kind of capability is that?”
“If not for relying on women, you would have died over ten years ago,” Murong Shengrui said softly. “It is right for you to rely on women, but I rely on women and I am incapable. How shameless a person can be.”
Murong Ziheng scoffed. “I survived because of Dugu Man. But at least I am still human. You, after surviving by her grace, ascended the throne, and as soon as you were stable, you couldn’t wait to kill her. You are worse than pigs and dogs!”
Murong Shengrui moved in an instant, appearing before Murong Ziheng and grabbing his throat. “You are seeking death.”
“Do you think I fear you?” Murong Ziheng gritted out. “Since you dare to kill, are you afraid of others speaking of it?”
Murong Shengrui released his grip. “I don’t argue with the blind.”
“Self-deception.” Murong Ziheng got up from the floor. “The Princess of the Blue Moon has no interest in you!”
Murong Shengrui sat down beside him. “Those who are blind in their eyes and hearts will not understand. Tomorrow, I want you to write to the Empress of Blue Moon, stating that we are willing to form an eternal alliance with Blue Moon. I want Xiao Man.”
“Murong Shengrui, Xiao Man is the Princess of the Blue Moon, the Crown Prince, the only bloodline of Blue Moon. How could she possibly go to Yunqi to be your Empress?”
Murong Shengrui nodded as if suddenly enlightened. “That’s right. Xiao Man cannot be the Empress of Yunqi. Therefore, I brought you here.”
“What do you mean?”
“I intend to marry Xiao Man.”
Murong Ziheng no longer wished to speak with Murong Shengrui. The man had gone mad.
“This… take it.” Murong Shengrui tossed something to Murong Ziheng. Murong Ziheng caught it, and as he saw what he had caught, he was utterly stunned.
“Murong Shengrui, are you crazy?” Murong Ziheng carefully cradled the jade seal in his hands. “This is the Imperial Seal of the Realm! How dare you throw it around so carelessly?”
Murong Shengrui appeared nonchalant. “You like the throne, don’t you? I’m giving it to you now.”
Murong Ziheng stared at Murong Shengrui in shock. “Have you truly gone mad? You killed so many people, did so many wicked deeds for the throne, and now you say you don’t want it?”
Murong Shengrui’s eyes held a deep, somber glow. “What I wanted was never the throne.”
“Liar!” Murong Ziheng retorted. “Years ago, before Dugu Man entered the palace, she asked you if you wanted the throne, and you said yes!”
“If I had answered no, she would not have entered the palace,” Murong Shengrui said softly. “My mother passed away, and I was bullied relentlessly in the harem. The more they bullied me, the happier I was, because whenever I appeared before her in a disheveled state, she would feel great pity. Indeed, she hadn’t changed, always so kind, so gentle. To protect me, she entered the palace resolutely.”
Murong Ziheng’s brows knitted so tightly they could have crushed flies. “You are truly disgusting!”
“Disgusting?” Murong Shengrui gave a cold laugh. “The harem is cold and bleak, devoid of paternal love or familial joy. Siblings scheme against each other. In this vast palace, she was my only warmth. Didn’t you also like to cling to her when you were young?”
Murong Ziheng opened his mouth but could not form a rebuttal. He had indeed liked to play with Dugu Man when he was young. Because Dugu Man was close to his age, she never treated him as a prince and would tell him about interesting things outside the palace. Of course, he enjoyed playing with Dugu Man.
“What’s the point of saying all this? She’s dead, killed by you.”
“The one who killed her was not me. The real murderer, you have met today.”
“The real murderer is you!” Murong Ziheng declared without hesitation. “You massacred the entire Dugu family! You sent people to hunt down Dugu Mingyu, and you burned her to death in Shou Kang Palace! You are the true murderer!”
“With her capabilities, do you think I could have taken down the Dugu family so smoothly, cutting off all her influence?” Murong Shengrui knew his own limitations. He lacked that ability. At the time, he was immersed in his joy and overlooked this matter. But when he discovered that Dugu Man’s influence had gone into hiding, he finally understood. He had become a blade in someone else’s hand, used to harm Dugu Man!
Murong Ziheng thought carefully. “You still don’t have that capability.”
Although this statement angered Murong Shengrui, he had to admit it was correct. After all, given Dugu Man’s strength, it would have taken him at least another ten years to kill her!
“Someone exploited my feelings for her. They took advantage of her weakened state to murder her and frame me,” Murong Shengrui said softly.
“But you killed the Dugu family.”
Murong Shengrui did not deny it.
“And you imprisoned her in Shou Kang Palace.”
“Even if you weren’t the mastermind, you were an accomplice in her death!” Murong Ziheng stated each word precisely. “You are nothing but a despicable and shameless villain!”