Chapter 116 The Sickly and Tyrannical Crown Prince 14

It's so sour.

No wonder it was used for offerings by the monks in the Imperial Ancestral Temple; it seems they were relying on the fact that the imperial ancestors couldn't speak up.

"Where is the person responsible for arranging the offerings today?" Xie Rong preemptively asked in a cold voice, "The national treasury allocates funds to the Imperial Ancestral Temple every year, yet they dare to put up such sour oranges? Are they trying to bully my great-grandfather because he can't speak up?!"

The words of several veteran officials, which were on the tip of their tongues to criticize him, were swallowed back down.

The monk in charge of the offerings was quickly dragged up.

Xie Rong refused to listen to his explanation, had his mouth gagged, gave him fifty strokes of the cane, and then threw him out of the Imperial Ancestral Temple.

The host, who rushed over, knelt down, sweating profusely, and begged for forgiveness.

"Your Highness, please forgive me. I was unaware and almost neglected our ancestors."

Xie Rong snorted and threw away all the sour oranges on the offering table. "During the ancestral worship period, I will conduct random checks at any time. If anyone dares to use sour oranges as offerings again, I will show no mercy."

The host readily agreed and had fresh oranges brought over.

"Your Highness, rest assured, these are all tribute oranges from the palace, the sweetest and most delicious."

"Alright, all of you, step back," Xie Rong licked his lips and waved his hand.

After everyone had left and the palace doors were closed, only Xie Rong remained inside.

He raised his hand to push aside a row of memorial tablets, sat down in the empty space where the tablets were placed, and picked out the biggest and roundest orange.

After finishing the oranges, he felt sleepy. He slowly moved from the altar to the prayer mat and closed his eyes heavily.

In a half-dream, half-awake state, it seemed as if someone walked in from outside the Fengxian Hall.

The crisp, jingling sound of his steady footsteps was just like the rattling of shackles or chains.

Xie Rong grabbed the newcomer's clothes.

The man hesitated for only a moment before squatting down, looking down at Xie Rong as she slowly climbed onto his broad shoulders and snuggled into his arms, muttering that it wasn't as warm as before.

"Your Highness is cold. If you want to warm yourself with a pure yang body, you've probably chosen the wrong person," the man said coldly.

Xie Rong was fast asleep and didn't hear him at all.

Just then, someone suddenly climbed in through the window of Fengxian Hall, and the sound of the shackles and chains rattling was particularly noticeable.

It is Lu Yuanju.

He seemed to be carrying something in his arms, bulging and full. Turning around, he saw the little prince huddled in the arms of the icy Grand Preceptor.

Just moments ago, she was humiliating this man in the meditation room right in front of him, looking at him with such disgust. But now, in front of their ancestors, she's starting to flirt with him.

Such a boring man, he really doesn't have any taste.

Lu Yuanju ground his back teeth in frustration, walked over and took out the roast chicken from his pocket.

In her dream, Xie Rong smelled the aroma of meat. Following the scent with her nose, she smelled it all the way into Lu Yuanju's arms.

Lu Yuanju curled his lips into a smile, but he immediately suppressed it, tore off a chicken leg, and shoved it viciously into Xie Rong's mouth.

Xie Rong opened her eyes, slapped him across the face with a cold expression, and said in a gloomy voice:

"You lowly slave, how dare you steal the chicken leg from my mouth? Do you want to die?"

Lu Yuanju's cheeks stung, and he said, "Your Highness, there are outsiders here."

Xie Rong turned his head and was surprised to see that damned Imperial Advisor standing right next to him. He became even more displeased. "What are you doing here?"

"Your Majesty, I have come to discuss important matters with you."

Xie Rong took small bites of the chicken leg. "What is it?"

“The Imperial Concubine is seriously ill, and the First Prince is on his way to the Imperial Ancestral Temple under the pretext of praying for his mother,” Wu Miao said calmly.

Although the eldest prince would arrive a few days later than Xie Rong and was not qualified to perform ancestral sacrifices, as long as he shamelessly returned on the same day as Xie Rong, in the eyes of the people, it would appear as if the two brothers went to the ancestral temple together to perform ancestral sacrifices.

Xie Rong quickly grasped the key to it.

“Another one who’s not afraid of death,” he said with a gloomy expression.

This group of people are all eyeing his throne and want to take his things.

Xie Rong glanced at Lu Yuanju, then at Wu Miao.

Neither of them are good people; in the main storyline, they both wish he were dead!

Xie Rong was furious. He grabbed the unfinished orange from the table and smashed it on Wu Miao's head. He then threw the chicken bone in his hand at Lu Yuanju's face.

"What, you came here specifically to talk to me just to see me make a fool of myself?" Xie Rong grabbed the Grand Preceptor's chin, smiled coldly, and there was a hint of madness in his eyes. "Then I'll show you what will happen to those who want to see me make a fool of myself and try to steal my things."

"You have two choices: either cooperate with me obediently, or I will tell Father Emperor about your betrayal," Xie Rong said, his eyes crinkling. "You know which to choose, right?"

Wu Miao's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he nodded.

Three days later.

"Your Highness, the First Prince's carriage has arrived," said Eunuch Gao as he hurried into the Fengxian Hall. Xie Rong was pretending to copy scriptures for the ancestors.

Upon hearing this, he put down his pen, stood up, picked up an ever-burning lamp, and slowly poured it over the memorial tablet of the founding emperor.

Xie Rong smiled excitedly, but his eyes looked completely innocent. "Great Ancestor, blame your eldest brother. He's the one who harmed you. Remember to go and get revenge on him!"

The fire quickly engulfed the memorial tablet in front of Xie Rong.

Xie Rong squinted. "It's so warm."

He's much warmer than that lowly servant Ah Chou; Great-Grandfather loved him more.

Eunuch Gao was already in a panic, dragging him outside, "Your Highness, it's dangerous here, let's get out of here!"

Xie Rong shook him off and muttered, "My ancestors are all here. Would they harm me?"

"It's all because of my eldest brother, who secretly came to the Imperial Ancestral Temple and angered our great-grandfather," Xie Rong couldn't help but laugh out loud. Once he started laughing, he couldn't stop, and the thick smoke filled his lungs, causing him to cough violently.

Grandpa Gao was extremely anxious. Thick smoke was billowing and flames were shooting into the sky. People had already gathered outside to fight the fire.

Just as he was at a loss for what to do, Lu Yuanju ran in, picked up Xie Rong and carried him away without saying a word.

Eunuch Gao stood guard behind Xie Rong until they were safely out of the fire, only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

Lu Yuanju, panting heavily, placed the person on the makeshift armchair and said angrily, "Are you so crazy that you don't care about your life anymore?"

Xie Rong's gaze turned icy, and he shoved his face away, "Who do you think you are, daring to speak to me like that?"

The head maid brought over a basin of water, soaked a handkerchief in it, and gently wiped the ash off Xie Rong's face.

Lu Yuanju stood to the side, his hands clenched into fists, blood still dripping from the burns on his arms.

He's really gone mad. He endured humiliation and served as Xie Rong's slave for a while, and now he's actually worried about his master!

What's the point of saving a wicked, tyrannical, and vicious crown prince of an enemy country?

Lu Yuanju raised his eyes, his dark pupils reflecting the towering flames of the Fengxian Hall, and suddenly clutched his chest.

Something flashed before his eyes.

Fire, palace, desperate screams.

[The protagonist's emotions are abnormal; pain level +30]

No, Xie Rong certainly can't just die like that.

Otherwise, how could he possibly repay the humiliation and torment he suffered?

Xie Rong cannot die.

Xie Rong must be well.

Xie Rong was destined to live to be a hundred years old.

Lu Yuanju convinced himself.

He suppressed his hatred, snatched the handkerchief from the head maid, knelt on one knee beside Xie Rong, lowered his eyes, and gently, bit by bit, wiped the ashes from the face of his target of revenge.

Xie Rong's eyes narrowed, and her expression suddenly changed. She gently touched the handprint on his face and, as if no one else was around, blew on it. "I hurt you just now. Let me blow on it for you."