Chapter 12 Crown Prince, are you planning to send your little brother Golden Dragon to feed the big tiger?

Sending a prince who is only nine years old to the southwestern lands, where barbarians roam and plagues rage, to perform the task of pacifying the region?

This is not appeasement, this is clearly exile, this is sending them to their deaths!

The courtiers present all bowed their heads, eyes downcast, seemingly frozen in place, even their breathing deliberately subdued. Everyone could discern the Crown Prince's malicious intent in this attempt to "kill with praise," but who dared to stand up at this moment for a ninth prince who was out of favor and lacked any powerful maternal clan?

Wouldn't that be going against the Crown Prince?

Seeing that no one objected, Chu Chongyun was secretly pleased. He straightened his kneeling body, his face showing even more sorrow and concern for the country and its people, and kowtowed again towards the throne.

"Your Majesty is unwell. As the Crown Prince, it is my duty to share your burdens and the well-being of our Great Chu! My Ninth Brother is wise. His journey to the Southwest will not only temper his character but also demonstrate the benevolence of our royal family. This is a wise and efficient plan! Please grant me your permission, Uncle!"

His words were grand and righteous, every sentence revolving around the greater good of the nation and its people, directly putting Prince Chu Heng in a precarious position.

If you refuse, you are disregarding the lives of the people in the southwest, showing favoritism and protecting the innocent, and betraying the Emperor's grace.

King Chu Heng sat upright to the side, his majestic face already as cold as ice. He looked down at his nephew, who was acting so pitifully, his eyes filled with undisguised disgust.

Just as he was about to refute this nonsense, he felt a slight commotion beside him.

It's Mu Fang.

The newly appointed Duke of Protectorate stood like an iron tower at the head of the military generals, his murderous aura still lingering, completely out of place in this magnificent imperial court. At this moment, he was looking down slightly at the restless little girl in his arms.

Mu Yu wiggled her little bottom in her father's arms.

She couldn't understand what the adults were saying about "the country and its people" and "the well-being of all people." All she saw was that the black aura above the crown prince's head had thickened, dripping down like ink, almost turning his whole body black.

In her mind, the glittering golden dragon brother she had seen just yesterday, though not physically present, she could still sense his "golden light." Now, the crown prince was pointing in the direction of the golden dragon brother, speaking ill of him.

"Father," she whispered, in a voice only Mu Fang could hear, "that wicked brother is up to no good again."

Mu Fang stiffened, and tightened his grip on his daughter's arms.

Mu Yu, however, was not having it. She felt that her father hadn't understood her point. The little girl struggled to peek out from her father's arms, her big amber eyes wide open. She pointed at Chu Chongyun in the center of the hall and called out in a childish voice that echoed throughout the entire Golden Palace.

"Crown Prince! Are you trying to lie to us again?"

"You just turned Sister Jia Hui into a bad girl yesterday, and now you're trying to trick Brother Jinlong away?"

The entire court of officials: "!!!"

All eyes immediately turned to the beautiful, innocent-looking little princess.

The grief on Chu Chongyun's face froze instantly, turning ashen. He whirled around, staring intently at Mu Yu, his eyes blazing with murderous intent: "You vixen, what nonsense are you spouting in the Golden Palace!"

Mu Yu shrank back in fright at his fierce gaze, but still hid in her father's arms, muttering defiantly, "I'm not lying! I heard the uncles in the palace say that there are many, many man-eating tigers in the southwest! You sent Brother Jinlong alone, weren't you just trying to feed him to the tigers?"

"You...you..." Chu Chongyun trembled with anger, pointing at Mu Yu, unable to utter a complete sentence for a long time.

A four-and-a-half-year-old toddler actually exposed his carefully crafted "open conspiracy" in the imperial court in the most straightforward and vulgar way: "feeding the tiger"!

This is an absolute disgrace!

"Pfft—"

One of the officials couldn't help but let out a very soft laugh, which he then quickly suppressed, his face turning bright red.

This was like lighting a fuse. The previously deathly silent court began to murmur and whisper. Although the ministers dared not speak openly, the glances they exchanged all carried a hint of anticipation.

A hint of appreciation flashed in King Chu Heng's eyes. He cleared his throat, and his majestic voice suppressed all other noises.

"Your Highness, I think that what the little princess said, though childish, is also naive. Even a four-year-old child can see the flaws in your suggestion. How can I believe that you are genuinely concerned for the country and not... settling personal scores?"

Chu Chongyun's face flushed red and then paled. He knew he was at a disadvantage and could only grit his teeth and argue, "Uncle, please understand! I have no selfish motives! Sending my ninth brother was a last resort! Does Uncle have a better plan?"

"There are solutions, of course."

A weak but majestic voice suddenly came from behind the curtain behind the throne.

It's the emperor!

An old eunuch hurriedly stepped forward and lifted the bright yellow curtain. Emperor Chu Yuan, dressed in ordinary clothes and still pale-faced, was being helped out and slowly walked out, then sat back on the dragon throne.

"Father!"

"His Majesty!"

The crowd knelt down and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"

Chu Yuan waved his hand, signaling everyone to rise. His gaze swept across the entire room, finally landing on Crown Prince Chu Chongyun and Prince Chu Heng, and then lingered for a moment on Mu Fang and Mu Yu in his arms.

"What the Crown Prince said may have been somewhat ill-considered, but his heart... is concerned about the country and its people." Chu Yuan's voice was calm and unhurried. "The chaos in the southwest is indeed a major threat to our Great Chu."

He changed the subject and looked at Prince Lie: "Brother, Chongjin is nine years old this year. My son cannot always be raised in the deep palace, a rich and idle person who knows nothing of the hardships of the world. Letting him go to the southwest to experience some trials, see some blood, and know what it means to rule the country is not easy is a good thing."

Upon hearing this, Prince Chu Heng's expression instantly changed: "Your Majesty! Chong Jin is still young, and the southwest is extremely dangerous. This is absolutely unacceptable!"

Chu Yuan seemed not to hear his dissuasion and said calmly, "It's settled then. I will send an elite guard to protect his safety. Crown Prince, you draft the decree for me."

The emperor actually agreed!

He actually agreed to send his nine-year-old son to a dangerous place where death was a near certainty!

A look of wild joy flashed in Crown Prince Chu Chongyun's eyes. He suppressed the smile on his lips and respectfully accepted the order: "Your subject obeys the decree!"

An eerie silence fell over the main hall once more. This time, it was a deathly silence filled with shock and disbelief. King Lie was so angry that his hands trembled, yet he was helpless. A king's word is law; he held the imperial sword, which could execute treacherous officials, but he could not disobey the emperor's will.

The fate of the Ninth Prince, Chu Chongjin, seemed to be frozen at this moment.

Just as the Crown Prince was riding high, thinking the situation was settled, a calm and steady voice suddenly rang out.

"Your Majesty!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound.

Duke Mu Fang gently placed his daughter on the ground, then stepped forward, lifted the hem of his court robe, knelt on one knee, and spoke in a booming voice.

"Your subject, Duke Mu Fang, the Protector of the Nation, has something to report!"