Beneath the Imperial Palace.
Within the dungeons, agonized cries echoed from ti to ti.
A woman in a fiery-red pleated skirt, carrying an ornate red food box, arrived before a cell.
"Father Emperor, your son has been wronged!"
Inside sat a man in a purple Python Robe, looking utterly wretched. His lips were chapped, and he clutched his head helplessly, letting out a heart-wrenching scream. This was none other than the Eldest Prince, Lu Changfeng, who had been thrown into the Imperial Prison. In his current state, he resembled an old, abandoned dog, a truly miserable sight.
He looked up and saw the woman, a surprised look on his face. "What are you doing here?"
His expression quickly turned into a weak attempt at ferocity as he roared, "Have you co to laugh at too?!"
Yang Yingchan looked at her husband and shook her head, explaining calmly, "You misunderstand, my lord. The Empress sent with a ssage."
A glimr of hope appeared in Lu Changfeng’s eyes. He rushed to the iron bars of the cell door, his hands gripping them tightly. "What did Mother say?!"
"Confess your guilt honestly, find a scapegoat to take the bla as the main culprit, and the Holy Emperor might show rcy. You might receive the lenient punishnt of exile."
The hope in Lu Changfeng’s eyes was instantly extinguished. He roared, "How is that any different from death! I was frad! Soone conspired against !"
"Hurry, go tell Mother that the Second Prince sent soone to fra !"
He had spent three days and three nights in his cell, pondering why he had suffered such a devastating defeat. At last, he recalled soone—a person he had nearly overlooked.
Gongyang Hu.
If it weren’t for that man, he might not have been in such a rush to discuss the regency ceremony with the Cabinet. Instead, he would have listened to Elder Mr. Qi and waited patiently for the right mont. Perhaps then, everything would have been different.
Who wanted him dead the most?
It had to be the Second Prince!
That man was most likely sent by the Second Prince. Once Lu Changfeng figured this out, he was filled with a burning rage, wishing he could flay Gongyang Hu alive.
Lu Changfeng looked at Yang Yingchan and asked coldly, "I ask you, where is that Cyan-robed Scholar?"
Yang Yingchan replied placidly, "He’s gone."
"He left the night of the coup at Prince Zhao’s Mansion. The Bright Lamp Bureau is looking for him now, but there’s no trace of him yet."
Lu Changfeng was still not ready to give up. "He was once a mber of Xiangnan Academy and the Confucian Temple! He must have left so trail!"
Yang Yingchan opened the food box, carefully arranging the dishes as she answered, "The Empress said she already had soone investigate. There’s no such person at Xiangnan Academy. It was a fake identity."
"Furthermore, the Confucian Temple explained that he was expelled three years ago for heretical thinking, improper conduct, and sabotaging his fellow scholars’ careers. He didn’t leave voluntarily at all."
Lu Changfeng’s fingers clenched into a fist, his knuckles turning white. Hearing one piece of bad news after another, he was seething with rage.
"Fine... Just fine!"
"Gongyang Hu, I hope you die a miserable death!"
"My lord, please eat. I made all of this myself."
Yang Yingchan said softly, offering the food box to him.
Lu Changfeng swatted the box to the ground with a furious roar. "Eat what?! I am Prince Zhao, a man of imnse prestige! How could I possibly be sent to so bitter, cold land to guard a border plagued by Demon Barriers!"
Yang Yingchan stared at the food scattered on the floor, her eyes dimming. She remained silent, taking out a handkerchief from her sleeve and carefully placing the dishes back into the food box.
"I still have a chance to turn this around! Mother’s influence isn’t great enough. If the Immortal Influences backing step forward, Father Emperor will surely be lenient!"
"Hurry, go! Take a ssage to Mother! Tell her to save !"
"I understand."
Yang Yingchan nodded lightly, stood up, and gave a slight bow.
"Take care, my lord."
Then she picked up the food box and left without looking back.
「...」
In the main courtyard of Qingzhu Hall.
Lu Mingyuan had been practicing with his saber in the courtyard, but he still couldn’t grasp the key principles. He stood in place, deep in thought.
’What is the tyranny Zhao Xuanwu spoke of?’
’Am I truly lacking in my state of mind?’
’But the Hidden Dragon trait gives three tis the comprehension.’
’Is this move really that hard to learn?’
After practicing for an Hour, Lu Mingyuan was still clueless. He plopped down on a stone chair in the courtyard, and Zi Yun poured him a cup of tea to quench his thirst.
As she poured, she said, "Your Highness, speaking of which, that middle-aged man from earlier looked a little familiar to ."
"Oh? Zi Yun, you know him?"
Lu Mingyuan asked, surprised.
Zi Yun nodded. "I have an impression of him, from a single encounter. During my training in the palace, he was the one instructing the new recruits for the Imperial Guard. All of the Great Yan’s Generals, whether they were Officers or even the Commanding Captain, treated him with great respect."
Hearing this, Lu Mingyuan found it rather strange.
’How could such a capable person have no reputation?’
’Zhao Xuanwu... I’ve never heard that na on any of the major factions’ expert rankings.’
He mulled it over for a mont, then decided to drop it.
’As long as he can teach the saber, nothing else matters.’
"I’ve been training for days. It’s so stuffy. I’m going for a walk."
Lu Mingyuan stood up and stretched, deciding to take a stroll.
His permitted area of activity had expanded considerably.
He could wander around the gardens and breathe in so fresh air. Constantly practicing in the courtyard was enough to make anyone feel cooped up and sick.
It was early spring, a ti when all of nature was reawakening.
The once-bare branches were gradually beginning to sprout green buds.
Lu Mingyuan took Zi Yun through a grand path to a long, garden-lined corridor that led to the nearby Bihu Garden. The place was vast, featuring pavilions, waterside gazebos, rockeries, and a lake. It housed many Spiritual Birds, and the Spirit Deer kept there had eyes that glead with human-like intelligence, making it a tranquil sanctuary. Emperor Yong’an had originally built the garden on a whim to indulge his passion for hunting. Later, when he no longer had ti for it, the garden was left unused and eventually beca a place of scenic beauty.
Just then, a woman in a fiery-red pleated skirt, flanked by two Palace Maids, happened to pass before Lu Mingyuan, creating a beautiful scene.
He suddenly recalled that this elegant figure was no ordinary person, and he turned his head to stare at her.
Returning from the prison, Yang Yingchan noticed soone on the path looking at her and instinctively glanced over.
The mont their eyes t.
A jolt like an electric current shot up from Yang Yingchan’s heart and rushed to her mind, leaving her with a strange feeling.
She froze for a mont.
anwhile, a line of text appeared before Lu Mingyuan’s eyes.
[Azure Fate Grid - Fated to be Seductive, Refinent Level increased to 35%]
[Unlocked Life Chart Trait - handso man (Basic Level)]
[handso man (Basic Level): Your appearance is deeply favored by won, making you extrely charming. Your looks will not be affected by age.]
’Huh?’
Lu Mingyuan never imagined his Refinent Level could jump by ten percent with just a single glance.
And unlock such a heaven-defying trait, no less.
’What the hell is a handso man?’
’My looks won’t be affected by age? Does that an I don’t have to worry about getting old and can stay youthful forever?’
Lu Mingyuan continued to stare at her, his gaze unwavering.
Yang Yingchan felt embarrassed under his gaze and looked away, lowering her head as a rare blush crept onto her cheeks.
’This person is wearing a Python Robe. He must be a Prince,’ she thought.
"Lu Mingyuan greets you, Sister-in-law."
Lu Mingyuan bowed to Yang Yingchan, not forgetting his manners.
She was his eldest brother’s official wife. Calling her "Sister-in-law" should be fine; addressing her as Princess Consort would be too formal.
"Mm."
Yang Yingchan gave a slight nod in acknowledgnt.
Only then did she realize that he was the Sixth Prince, Lu Mingyuan—the one who had been sent to the Cold Palace.
Her husband often cursed his na, so she had a strong impression of him.
’He’s just as rumored—a lecher. After all, who stares at soone so brazenly the first ti they et?’
Lu Mingyuan’s eyes darted about, and he asked with a smile, "Sister-in-law, what brings you to the Imperial Palace?"
Yang Yingchan seed to want to avoid the topic, but she sighed and said, "It was the Holy Emperor’s will."
"I see."
Lu Mingyuan blinked and looked at the food box in her hand, asking curiously, "Who are you bringing food to, Sister-in-law?"
"It’s..." Yang Yingchan hesitated.
Just then, Lu Mingyuan rudely took the food box from her, opened it, and took a sniff. "Mm, slls delicious. Braised pig trotters, stead sea bass, stewed chicken legs... such ho-style dishes. These are all my favorites."
Lu Mingyuan grinned. "Why is none of it touched? Did soone not want to eat? If they’re not eating, I might as well have it."
Yang Yingchan was slightly taken aback by his words.
"Hey... wait, that’s..."
Yang Yingchan’s expression changed. She tried to stop him, but it was too late.
Lu Mingyuan had already torn off a piece of the chicken leg and taken a bite.
Seeing him eat with such relish,
Yang Yingchan felt a whirlwind of emotions and forced a smile.
"I made it myself. Is it really that good?"
A hint of surprise flashed in Lu Mingyuan’s eyes. "I never knew you could cook, Sister-in-law. Your skills are truly excellent. It tastes so different from the food in the palace."
Yang Yingchan seed to recall an unpleasant mory and shook her head. "I was just bored at ho, so I decided to study it a little."
Lu Mingyuan noticed her strange expression and guessed what might have happened. The corner of his mouth curved into a brilliant smile. "Sister-in-law, you wouldn’t mind if I ca to your place for a free al from ti to ti, would you? If I recall, Qingzhu Hall isn’t too far from your residence."
Looking at his smiling face, Yang Yingchan found it inexplicably pleasant and, as if by so strange compulsion, nodded.
"As you wish. Just don’t bla if my hall is a bit cold and lonely."
"Don’t worry, my Qingzhu Hall is the sa. You say it’s cold and lonely, but really, it’s just lacking people."
Lu Mingyuan said with a grin.
Hearing this, Yang Yingchan nodded lightly.
Her own thoughts remained a mystery.
「...」
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