Night fell in the blink of an eye.
Inside the Carefree Prince's Estate, carved beams and painted pillars were hidden in the darkness, with only a few lanterns emitting a faint glow, swaying in the wind and casting mottled shadows that added a hint of gloom to the stately estate.
Mu Rongyi sat alone in the study with a solemn expression.
On the desk, a secret letter lay quietly, its wax seal already broken.
He had just returned to the estate and received news that someone had delivered a clandestine report.
Thus, he walked into the study at the first moment and opened the clandestine report, which read alarmingly: His Majesty's imperial dragon constitution is failing, and to clear obstacles for the Crown Prince's ascension, he plans to make a move against the various princes, with the primary target being Prince Pingxi, who commands a vast private army!
Mu Rongyi reached out and gently rubbed the secret letter, his brows knitted into a "chuan" character.
Although he usually claimed to be an idle prince aloof from court disputes, the private army under his command was likewise of a scale that could not be underestimated.
One had to know that these regional feudal lords had always been a thorn in His Majesty's side.
Now that His Majesty's days were numbered, it was entirely expected that he would strike at the various feudal lords to secure the Crown Prince's smooth ascension.
"Someone come!" Mu Rongyi suddenly spoke, his voice low yet carrying authority.
A moment later, a man dressed in black walked into the study soundlessly, kneeling on one knee: "What are Your Highness's orders?"
"Closely monitor the movements of the court, and report the moment there is any news."
"In addition, notify Deputy General Lin and have him step up the soldiers' training and guard, without a single moment of slack." Mu Rongyi's gaze was like a torch, making arrangements in an orderly fashion.
"Obey!" After receiving the order, the man in black flashed and vanished into the night.
After a long while, Mu Rongyi took out another slip of paper, and after a few sparse strokes, tied it to a carrier pigeon before watching it fly off into the night.
Meanwhile, a commotion inside the estate broke the peace.
"Eldest Brother! Why are you snatching my beef!" Mu Tang's little face flushed with anger as the chopsticks in his hand slapped heavily onto the table.
Mu Bai wiped his mouth, wearing a matter-of-course expression and saying shamelessly: "Third Brother, two years ago, I instructed you in martial arts cultivation."
"Without me, could you have this level of kung fu today?"
"Eating a piece of your beef will just be considered you repaying me."
Mu Tang was trembling all over with anger; this bastard Mu Bai had already used this excuse to snatch many of the things he loved to eat.
He hadn't expected that after two years, it would still be this very excuse!
Pointing at Mu Bai, he raised his voice: "You've already used this excuse to snatch many things from me! Moreover, your instruction was completely nonsensical! The last time I was practicing fist techniques, your random pointers made me tumble down several times!"
Mu Bai, however, didn't care at all, grinning and reaching out once more to pick up the beef in the dish while muttering: "Aiyah, small matters, small matters, don't be so petty..." Seeing this, Mu Tang reached out to block him, and the brothers' chopsticks remained deadlocked in the air.
At that moment, the sound of a soft cough drifted over.
Mu Bai turned his head and saw that it was his father, Mu Rongyi. He hurriedly put down his chopsticks, stood up, and saluted, saying: "Father, why have you come?"
Mu Rongyi looked at Mu Bai with displeasure and said: "What kind of decorum is it to shout and yell in the estate! Have you been bullying your younger brother again?"
Mu Bai hurriedly smiled and shook his head: "I was just joking with Third Brother here."
Mu Rongyi shook his head, then looked straight at Mu Bai as if pondering something.
After hesitating for a moment, he said: "Mu Bai, come with me to the study."
Mu Tang quickly said: "I want to go too! I want to go too!"
Seeing that Mu Rongyi's expression was wrong and knowing that some major event must have occurred, Mu Bai hurriedly stopped Mu Tang and said: "You brat, hurry up and keep eating. When I get back, if you haven't finished eating, I'll eat it all."
Hearing this, Mu Tang no longer spoke of wanting to tag along, and hastily lowered his head to eat his meat.
Only then did Mu Bai follow Mu Rongyi toward the study.
Inside the study, Mu Rongyi handed the secret letter to Mu Bai.
Mu Bai lowered his head to read it through, his expression changing slightly: "Father, is this news reliable?"
Mu Rongyi nodded without answering.
Mu Bai was silent for a long time before speaking: "Then why tell your child about this matter? Your child cannot be of much help either."
Mu Rongyi gave him a deep look and spoke: "If His Majesty truly means to move against us, your Second Brother, Third Brother, and I will likely not escape this disaster, but given your reputation, you are perhaps the most likely to survive."
Pacing back and forth within the study, Mu Rongyi pondered for a moment before saying: "Mu Bai, if some mishap truly befalls the estate, I want you to leave Xiaoyao City at the very first moment and preserve the bloodline of our lineage."
Mu Bai's eyes flashed slightly, and he said: "Father, although your child is usually a bit unruly, when it concerns the safety of the estate, your child is also willing to share your burdens."
Mu Rongyi said in a deep voice: "Preserving the Carefree Prince's bloodline is doing the greatest thing for me."
Seeing that Mu Bai still wanted to speak, Mu Rongyi waved his large hand and declared: "Alright, it is decided thus. You may step down; I wish to be quiet by myself for a while."
Mu Bai had no choice but to turn and leave.
Under the lamplight, the white hair on Mu Rongyi's head became extra conspicuous.
The next morning, Yanjing, capital of the Great Yan Kingdom.
Sunlight spilled over the glazed tiles, reflecting a dazzling radiance.
Mu Yu, dressed in a magnificent embroidered robe and accompanied by several guards, headed toward the Minister of Rites' Estate.
The Minister of Rites belonged to the regional feudal lord faction just like the Carefree Prince's Estate. Because his daughter was married to the Young Master of Prince Yubei as his wife, the two sides could be said to have already formed an alliance.
Inside the Minister's Estate, Lord Zhou warmly received Mu Yu.
After some pleasantries, Mu Yu tentatively asked: "Lord Zhou, has there been any new movement in the court recently?"
"My father has always cared for state affairs, and specifically sent me to seek instruction from Your Lordship."
Hearing this, Lord Zhou's expression changed slightly. Subconsciously glancing around, he lowered his voice and said: "I did not expect even the Carefree Prince to have received the news. Lord Mu may not know, but His Majesty's imperial dragon constitution is in poor health, and the court is in a state of panic."
"Recently, His Majesty seems to be plotting something, and many officials have been summoned in secret."
Mu Yu's heart tightened, and he pursued the question: "Does Lord Zhou know what His Majesty summoned the officials for?"
Lord Zhou shook his head: "I am not clear on the specific circumstances; I only heard that it concerns the various princes."
"Lord Mu, when you return, also pass a word to the Carefree Prince to let him be more cautious."
As he spoke, his tone also grew heavy. After all, once the regional feudal lords were purged, he would inevitably not be spared.
Coming out from the Minister's Estate, Mu Yu's mood was heavy.
It seemed his father's conjecture was correct; His Majesty truly was going to make a move against the princes.
Yet as for what the specific plan was, he still hadn't the slightest clue.
After returning to his residence, Mu Yu wrote the contents of his conversation with Lord Zhou into a letter and detailed it to Mu Rongyi.
He had done everything he could; other matters could only be left for his father to decide.
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