Father and Son's Night Talk

Night had fallen in the blink of an eye.

Inside the Prince's mansion, carved beams and painted rafters lay hidden in the darkness, with only a few lanterns casting faint, flickering light in the wind, throwing mottled shadows that added a touch of gloom to the imposing residence.

Mu Rongyi sat alone in the study, his expression grave.

On the desk lay a confidential letter, its wax seal already broken.

He had just returned to the mansion when he received word of a secret report delivered to him.

So he had immediately entered the study and opened the report, which read plainly: His Majesty's dragon body was critically ill, and to clear the path for the Crown Prince's ascension, he planned to move against the various princes, with the primary target being Prince Pingxi, who commanded a large private army!

Mu Rongyi reached out and gently stroked the letter, his brow furrowed into a deep crease.

Though he was known as a carefree prince who kept his distance from court strife, the private forces under his command were nothing to scoff at either.

After all, princes and lords like them had always been a thorn in His Majesty's side.

Now that His Majesty's days were numbered, it was only expected that he would strike against the princes to ensure the Crown Prince's smooth succession.

"Someone!" Mu Rongyi suddenly spoke, his voice low but carrying authority.

A moment later, a man in black robes slipped silently into the study and knelt on one knee: "What are your orders, Prince?"

"Keep a close watch on court movements. Report to me the moment anything happens."

"Also, notify Deputy General Lin to step up training and vigilance among the soldiers. No slack allowed." Mu Rongyi's gaze was sharp as he issued orders methodically.

"As you command!" The black-clad man acknowledged, then vanished into the night with a flicker of movement.

After a long pause, Mu Rongyi took out another slip of paper, scribbled a few lines, tied it to a carrier pigeon, and watched it fly off into the darkness.

Meanwhile, a commotion broke the calm within the mansion.

"Big brother! How dare you steal my beef!" Mu Tang's face flushed red with anger as he slammed his chopsticks hard on the table.

Mu Bai wiped his mouth, looking utterly unashamed, and said with a thick face: "Third brother, two years ago, I guided you in martial arts training."

"Without me, would you have the skills you have today?"

"Eating a piece of your beef is just your way of repaying me."

Mu Tang trembled with rage. That bastard Mu Bai had used this same excuse to snatch away many of his favorite foods.

He never expected that two years later, the excuse was still the same!

He pointed at Mu Bai, his voice rising: "You've already used that excuse to steal so much from me! And your guidance was completely off the mark! Last time I practiced my fist techniques, you gave me nonsense advice and made me fall flat on my face several times!"

But Mu Bai didn't care at all. Grinning cheekily, he reached out again to grab the beef on the plate, muttering, "Ah, it's nothing, nothing. Don't be so stingy..." Seeing this, Mu Tang moved to block him, and the brothers' chopsticks clashed in midair.

Just then, a soft cough sounded.

Mu Bai turned his head and saw it was his father, Mu Rongyi. He quickly set down his chopsticks and stood to bow: "Father, why have you come?"

Mu Rongyi looked at Mu Bai with displeasure and said, "Shouting and causing a ruckus in the mansion—what kind of behavior is that! Are you bullying your younger brother again?"

Mu Bai quickly shook his head with a smile: "I was just joking around with Third Brother."

Mu Rongyi shook his head, then fixed his gaze on Mu Bai, as if pondering something.

After a moment's hesitation, he said, "Mu Bai, come with me to the study."

Mu Tang immediately chimed in: "I want to come too! I want to come too!"

Seeing the look on Mu Rongyi's face, Mu Bai knew something serious had happened. He quickly stopped Mu Tang and said, "You, keep eating. If it's not finished by the time I get back, I'll eat it all myself."

Hearing this, Mu Tang said nothing more about following and hurriedly lowered his head to devour the meat.

Only then did Mu Bai follow Mu Rongyi to the study.

Inside the study, Mu Rongyi handed the confidential letter to Mu Bai.

Mu Bai read it, his expression shifting slightly: "Father, is this information reliable?"

Mu Rongyi nodded without answering.

Mu Bai was silent for a long moment before speaking: "Then why tell me about this? I can't be of much help either."

Mu Rongyi gave him a deep look and said, "If His Majesty truly moves against us, your second brother, third brother, and I will likely not escape disaster. But given your reputation, you might actually be the one most likely to survive."

Mu Rongyi paced back and forth in the study, then after a moment's thought said, "Mu Bai, if anything happens to the mansion, I want you to leave Xiaoyao City immediately and preserve our family's bloodline."

Mu Bai's eyes flickered slightly as he said, "Father, though I'm usually unreliable, when it comes to the mansion's safety, I am willing to share your burden."

Mu Rongyi said solemnly, "Preserving the bloodline of this Carefree Prince is the greatest thing you can do for me."

Seeing that Mu Bai wanted to speak again, Mu Rongyi waved his hand and declared, "Enough, it's decided. You may go. I want to be alone for a while."

Mu Bai had no choice but to turn and leave.

Under the lamplight, the white hairs on Mu Rongyi's head stood out starkly.

The next morning, in the Great Yan Kingdom's capital, Yanjing.

Sunlight spilled across the glazed tiles, reflecting a dazzling brilliance.

Mu Yu, clad in resplendent brocade robes, led several guards toward the residence of the Minister of Rites.

The Minister of Rites and the Carefree Prince's Estate generally belonged to the faction of regional princes and marquises, for his daughter had married the heir of Prince Yubei, binding the two sides in alliance.

Within the minister's mansion, Lord Zhou warmly received Mu Yu.

After a round of pleasantries, Mu Yu probed, "Lord Zhou, has there been any new movement at court lately?"

"My father has always been concerned with state affairs, so he sent me specifically to seek your guidance."

At these words, Lord Zhou's expression shifted slightly. He instinctively glanced around and lowered his voice. "I didn't expect even the Carefree Prince has caught wind of it. Lord Mu, you may not know, but His Majesty's dragon body is ailing, and the entire court is in a state of anxiety."

"Recently, His Majesty seems to be plotting something; many officials have been summoned for secret audiences."

Mu Yu's heart tightened. He pressed further, "Lord Zhou, do you know what matter His Majesty is summoning the officials for?"

Lord Zhou shook his head. "I'm not clear on the specifics either. I've only heard it concerns the various princes."

"Lord Mu, when you return, please inform the Carefree Prince to be extra cautious."

As he spoke, his tone grew heavy. After all, if the regional princes and marquises were to be purged, he too would inevitably be implicated.

Leaving the minister's mansion, Mu Yu's heart was laden with gloom.

It seemed his father's suspicions were correct—His Majesty was indeed about to move against the princes.

But as for the specific plan, there was still no clue.

Back at his residence, Mu Yu wrote a detailed letter recounting his conversation with Lord Zhou and sent it to Mu Rongyi.

He had done all he could; the rest would have to be decided by his father.