anwhile, after an afternoon of passionate intimacy, Lu Mingyuan spent the evening enjoying a late-night supper of seafood and abalone, personally prepared by the sisters Zi Yun and Hong Wan.
On the morning of the third day, Lu Mingyuan was still in his large bed. He took the opportunity to enjoy a rare mont of leisure and sleep in.
Eunuch Yan, leading a retinue of eunuchs, had once again stepped through the gates of the Cold Palace.
"An imperial edict has arrived!"
Hearing the commotion at the door, Zi Yun groggily opened her eyes, rubbed them, and nudged Lu Mingyuan.
"Your Highness... the imperial edict is here... Hurry and get up."
Lu Mingyuan remained completely unperturbed. With his eyes still closed, he said, "No rush. Let sleep a little longer."
"Your Highness... Your Highness?"
When Eunuch Yan, waiting outside, received no answer after a long ti, he called out a few more tis.
Yet, there was still only silence.
’This Prince Huai’an... he couldn’t possibly still be in bed, could he?’
His expression gradually darkened, anger brewing within him.
’This is outrageous!!’
’I am the great Imperial Chief Steward, a Twelfth Realm Celestial Martial Artist! Everywhere I go, people respect . Even the Six Ministers have to treat with deference. When have I ever been subjected to such humiliation?’
’To be left waiting outside the gates of the Cold Palace all morning!’
’This Prince Huai’an is going too far!’
But he quickly composed himself.
’Lu Mingyuan is the Holy Emperor’s personally designated choice for Crown Prince.’
’I can’t afford to offend him yet.’
’When the ti cos and the Holy Emperor makes his move, I’ll be there to kick him while he’s down. He’ll get what’s coming to him!’
"General Manager, what should we do now?"
The attendant eunuchs looked at one another, clearly not expecting sothing like this to happen.
’This Prince Huai’an’s way of dealing with people is just too bizarre.’
’This is the imperial edict to na the Crown Prince!’
’Once he accepts it, he’ll beco the Crown Prince of the Dynasty! That’s sothing countless people can only dream of!’
’How can he be so dismissive of it?’
’Refusing the first two tis was one thing, but is he really not going to seize this third chance?’
’As the old saying goes, things shouldn’t happen more than three tis.’
’Is he really trying to achieve the feat of refusing three separate offers?’
"We wait."
Eunuch Yan said, his expression impassive.
"Yes."
The General Manager had spoken, so these junior eunuchs of the Inner Court could say no more. They could only wait in silence.
The group of them waited miserably before the gate.
Two Hours passed, and the ti drew near to noon.
Only then did the gates of the Cold Palace slowly swing open.
The person who appeared was Lu Mingyuan, a handso smile on his face. He stretched lazily and said, "Well now, if it isn’t Eunuch Yan! Visiting the Cold Palace so early in the morning? You should have sent word."
"I am here to deliver the imperial edict, Prince Huai’an. Please accept it." Eunuch Yan forced a smile that looked worse than a grimace. It was incredibly stiff, and the strained expression was deeply unsettling.
Lu Mingyuan slapped his forehead and apologized profusely. "I overslept, my apologies! How rude of , how rude!"
Then, he glanced at the golden imperial edict, thought for a mont, and said, "You may return, Eunuch. I don’t feel I’ve thought things through yet."
"The position of Crown Prince is far too important. He is the heir apparent of the Dynasty. One cannot be careless."
Eunuch Yan ignored Lu Mingyuan’s polite gesture and said flatly, "Your Highness, let remind you, this is the Holy Emperor’s third imperial edict. If you refuse to accept it again, I’m afraid His Majesty will beco angry."
The unspoken aning was clear: aren’t you afraid that the Holy Emperor might suddenly change his mind and retract the edict appointing you as Crown Prince?
’This Prince Huai’an, relying on the Holy Emperor’s favor, treats the imperial edict as if it’s nothing. I truly don’t understand why the Three Religions would all support soone like him.’
A resentful inner thought echoed in Lu Mingyuan’s ears.
It made him smile to himself.
’As expected.’
’My Imperial Father’s rush to appoint a Crown Prince really is tied to the Three Religions, just as I suspected.’
’Wei the Ninth’s words have been confird.’
’My Imperial Father’s goal is to consolidate the Destiny of the Three Religions to secure an unshakable foundation for himself and the Great Yan Dynasty.’
In response to Eunuch Yan’s reminder, Lu Mingyuan said dismissively, "If my Imperial Father gets angry, wouldn’t that just prove I’m truly not suited for the position of Crown Prince? It would an I’ve disappointed him. Please, Eunuch, you may go back."
Upon hearing this, Eunuch Yan spun around and stord off, his anger reaching its absolute peak.
Anyone in his shoes,
having been kept waiting at the Cold Palace gate all morning only to be rejected, would be in a foul mood.
He had been turned away once again.
On the way back, a little eunuch at his side muttered, "That’s Prince Huai’an’s style, alright."
Another eunuch nodded. "Yeah, he’s still the sa spoiled brat he always was. Hasn’t changed a bit."
「Inside Qingzhu Hall.」
Zi Yun and Hong Wan had both washed up and changed into fresh, clean dresses, looking radiant and lovely.
"What reason did you use to refuse this ti, Your Highness?" Hong Wan asked curiously.
"I hadn’t slept enough."
Lu Mingyuan said, half-joking.
Zi Yun said, extrely worried, "The old sayings all warn that things shouldn’t go past a third ti. Will the Holy Emperor even send soone a fourth ti? If he doesn’t, then your chance at being Crown Prince... it’ll be gone, won’t it?"
"She’s right." The sa worry flashed across Hong Wan’s face.
"That man, he’s just got nothing better to do. He loves playing these gas of empty etiquette."
Just then, a familiar, teasing voice rang out from the rear courtyard of the Cold Palace.
"Miss Yun?"
Zi Yun stared, her mouth agape. A beautiful, white-haired figure in a green Daoist Robe had appeared in the Cold Palace at so unknown ti. She clearly hadn’t expected to see her here.
"This is..."
Hong Wan, having arrived more recently, clearly knew very little about this White-haired Daoist Nun.
"Just call Bai He," Yun Qinghe said, introducing herself with her arms crossed. She shot a glance at Lu Mingyuan. "Your Highness and I go way back."
"Bai He... that na sounds so familiar..."
Hong Wan thought back for a mont.
Then, in a sudden flash of insight, she rembered and cried out in shock:
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