Chapter 220

"The Marquis's mansion can afford to keep another young lady!" Chen Liehu laughed.

He stared intently at Chen Mohan, though he knew that Rong Rong could never return to the Marquis of Anding's residence.

He was simply unwilling to accept it. He repeatedly said that the Marquis's mansion could support Rongrong, but it was only because he regretted that they had sent Rongrong away back then.

He longed to go back to the past and keep Rong Rong with him. He wanted to watch Rong Rong grow up and spoil her like the happiest princess. He could spoil Rong Rong for a lifetime!

It's ridiculous that the elder brother still thinks Rongrong is better off in the palace. With Rongrong's talent and beauty, she would be pampered and live a good life anywhere.

Does Rong Rong need to enter the palace to fight for her future and wealth?

That's a joke!

Chen Liehu's laughter grew louder and louder, echoing through the sky, until he couldn't straighten up.

He looked like a madman, but he had been mad ever since Rong Rong disappeared.

Chen Mohan's brows furrowed more and more as Chen Liehu laughed. Finally, Chen Liehu stopped laughing and looked at Chen Mohan with a strange expression.

"Big Brother," Chen Liehu called out, the glint in his eyes making Chen Mohan very uncomfortable, "I remember Rong Rong used to like you, didn't she?"

Chen Mohan's face suddenly darkened, his expression becoming gloomy, his eyes turning extremely cold, as if he no longer felt any brotherly affection for Chen Liehu.

Chen Liehu had touched a nerve with him again; he felt he had been too lenient with his younger brother.

Chen Mohan's aura was intimidating, and the servants and guards around him began to tremble.

However, Chen Liehu seemed to think that wasn't enough. He added, "I know that you also liked Rong Rong, and you were attracted to her, you know that?"

"Ha ha!"

"You're asking for death!" Chen Mohan slapped Chen Liehu in the chest, sending him flying backward and crashing into a tree.

This palm strike used almost all of Chen Mohan's strength. Chen Liehu spat out a mouthful of blood, his ribs were broken, and his whole body was burning with pain.

"Kill me! Kill me!" Chen Liehu roared furiously, glaring at Chen Mohan.

Chen Liehu never said it, but four years ago, he could sense that his elder brother cared about Rong Rong in a special way.

The older brother simply couldn't accept that version of himself; he refused to acknowledge it and was filled with self-reproach.

Over the years, the relationship between the eldest brother and Rong Rong has become a demon in his heart. If he really didn't care, why can't he get over it now?

Chen Liehu laughed, blood streaming from the corner of his mouth, "Kill me! Kill me!"

He kept roaring, and finally, his eyes began to glaze over.

Finally, he looked up at the sky and murmured, "Brother, don't you know what you've missed?"

"I hope you never know, never will know..."

Chen Liehu completely lost consciousness.

Chen Mohan felt as if he had been struck a heavy blow.

He wanted to say that Chen Liehu was unreasonable, but a strong sense of unease suddenly spread through his heart.

Why is this happening?

Chen Mohan didn't know, but the Crown Prince's villa, the blind servants on the villa, and the Crown Prince's excited expression when he returned to the villa all appeared in his mind without warning.

At the same time, the Crown Prince rushed into the Phoenix Palace.

The first thing he saw was his mother, the Empress Dowager, having a meal with Rong Rong.

The Empress Dowager would occasionally put food on Rongrong's plate, and Rongrong would obediently eat it all. She was so sweet and soft that one wished they could hold her in their arms and rub her gently.

In fact, the Empress did almost exactly that. She suddenly put down her chopsticks and pinched Rong Rong's puffed-out cheeks as she chewed.

Instantly, red marks appeared on Rong Rong's fair face, as if water could be squeezed out of it at any moment.

Rong Rong didn't resist at all, but just frowned at the Empress in dissatisfaction. However, she had food in her mouth and couldn't speak, so she looked like a kitten who was annoyed by being disturbed while eating.

The Empress chuckled softly, but Rong Rong ignored her and continued eating. The way the two of them interacted instantly brought tears to the Crown Prince's eyes.

Rong Rong had never been so relaxed in front of him, nor had she ever acted coquettishly towards him; she always had a cold face when facing him.

Like a high and mighty goddess from the heavens, she was stingy and unwilling to spare him even a glance.

"Mother!" The Crown Prince, suppressing his heartache, bowed respectfully. "I am grateful for your care of Rongrong. I will take Rongrong back to the manor now."

When the Crown Prince arrived, he was filled with lingering fear and felt countless times grateful to his mother, the Empress Dowager. Rong Rong had almost been sent away, but thankfully his mother had stopped her from leaving.

After the Crown Prince finished speaking, he remained in the posture of bowing, waiting for his mother to call him to rise. However, his mother, who usually rose quickly, remained silent for a long time this time.

A suffocating silence filled the room; the prince could even hear his own slightly heavy breathing.

Unbeknownst to him, cold sweat appeared on the prince's forehead.

The emperor was unwell and did not have enough energy to handle state affairs. Initially, the emperor's mother had been in charge of the government, but in the last two years, she gradually relinquished her power and handed the government over to him.

However, only half of it was paid.

The crown prince was not particularly afraid of his father, but he was terrified of his mother. His mother often made him feel suffocated. He felt that his mother was more authoritative than his father and made him submit to her from the bottom of his heart, so that he could not muster any desire to rebel.

The crown prince dared not utter a sound, and was even wondering what he had done to displease his mother.

Did he have a mistress?

He knew this was wrong; he shouldn't have acted so recklessly at this crucial moment in the struggle for the throne.

But Rong Rong truly captivated him, and he begged his mother to forgive him this time.

Just as the Crown Prince was about to confess his guilt, the Empress's calm voice rang out first.

"Rongrong will stay by my side from now on. You may leave now and not disturb my meal."

"Mother?" The Crown Prince looked up in surprise, only to see that the Empress did not even glance at him, but instead continued to serve food to Rong Rong.

What does the Empress Dowager mean by this? Does she want Rongrong to stay in the palace to serve her? When has the Empress Dowager ever lacked servants? Why does she want to monopolize Rongrong?

Are they worried he'll become obsessed with women? Or are they worried he'll offend the Li family because of it?

The crown prince was lost in thought, even forgetting to get up, until the empress scolded him to leave, at which point he came back to his senses.

"Mother! Your Majesty, I truly love Rongrong. I beg you to return Rongrong to me," the Crown Prince pleaded, unwilling to give up.

The crown prince's forehead was pressed deeply against the floor, completely invisible. Rong Rong was shaking her head rapidly at the empress; she had no intention of going back with this scumbag.

The Empress smiled silently, then pinched Rong Rong's cheek again before saying coldly, "Step back!"

The crown prince was unwilling to get up, but unfortunately the empress had already ordered people to force him out.

The Crown Prince's face was ashen with disbelief, while the Empress smiled slightly, "Come back when you can surpass me."

In the end, the Crown Prince left with a face full of resentment, his eyes filled with unwillingness and ruthlessness. Sooner or later he would sit on that throne, and then Rong Rong would be his, and the Empress Dowager would have no choice but to rely on him!

Rongrong watched the Crown Prince's disheveled figure with amusement, and the Empress, influenced by Rongrong, felt much happier.

Even the palace servants serving nearby relaxed, and the atmosphere in Fengyi Palace was more relaxed and harmonious than ever before.

Unfortunately, this rare atmosphere was soon broken by someone.

"His Majesty has arrived!"