Not many people have seen Mu Qing's face.

Firstly, Mu Qing has always kept a low profile. Secondly, Mu Qing's appearance has always been disguised with wood energy, and the appearance he shows to people is only one-tenth of his true appearance. Although this one-tenth is already amazing, it is not enough to reach the level of unparalleled beauty.

The head eunuch hesitated, "This..."

The head eunuch said, "Your Highness, the Emperor has decreed that if you fail to find the Holy Son..."

The Imperial Observatory official stepped forward and said, "Third Prince, since you haven't found the person, according to the Emperor's decree, you will be escorted to the execution ground to be punished. Perhaps you should reconsider..."

Murong Yu: "We haven't found anyone, and we don't have any suspects."

Imperial Astronomical Bureau: "Your Excellency, please proclaim the Emperor's decree."

The head eunuch looked troubled: "This..."

He sighed and said, "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees that the Third Prince Murong Yu was ordered by the Emperor to find the Holy Son and present him to the Emperor within three months. Now that the three-month deadline has passed and the Emperor has not fulfilled his mission, the Imperial Observatory is hereby ordered to escort him to the execution ground to be punished. So be it."

The chief eunuch said, "Your Highness, this... well, please accept the imperial decree and express your gratitude."

Murong Yu: "Your subject receives the decree."

Imperial Observatory: "Guards, escort the Third Prince to the execution ground."

Accompanying the Imperial Observatory were the Royal Guards, directly under the Emperor's command. Two of them stepped forward and walked to Murong Yu's left and right sides. The guard on the right said, "Your Highness, please."

Murong Yu stood up and calmly followed them to the execution ground.

execution ground

The execution grounds in the capital had always been used to deal with the most heinous criminals. There had never been a high-ranking official being punished there in public, let alone a prince. This was the first time in history that such an execution had been carried out there.

The Imperial Observatory announced: "The Third Prince, Murong Yu, has failed His Majesty's trust. He shall be publicly punished at noon as a warning to others..."

He spoke of punishment, but the Imperial Observatory was in no hurry to issue any. He was waiting, waiting for the news to spread, waiting for the person who was meant to show themselves to walk right into the trap.

News of the Third Prince's impending execution quickly spread throughout the capital. The area around the execution ground was packed with onlookers.

Beijing Fumanlou

Top floor private room

Prime Minister Mu knelt down and bowed, saying, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."

The Emperor said, "My dear minister, you may dispense with the formalities."

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Mu stood up and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

The Emperor said, “Please sit down. I just wanted to talk to someone. There’s no need to be so formal.”

Prime Minister Mu: "Yes."

The personal eunuch stepped forward and served tea and refreshments to the Emperor and Prime Minister Mu respectively, then bowed and stepped aside.

The Emperor asked, "Prime Minister Mu, what is your opinion on the matter of the Holy Son?"

Mu Xiang said, "It is said that the Holy Son is a person with great merit and great fortune. If the Holy Son can serve the current dynasty, he should be able to create an earth-shattering prosperity."

Your Majesty: "What is Mu Xiang's opinion on the matter of the Holy Son's marriage?"

Prime Minister Mu: "This... Your Majesty, I dare not speak presumptuously."

The Emperor glanced at Prime Minister Mu but asked no further questions. He got up, walked to the window, and looked down at the execution ground.

The Emperor said, "Prime Minister Mu, the previous Imperial Astronomical Bureau predicted that the Holy Son and Murong Yu were destined to be together. Do you think the Holy Son will appear?"

Prime Minister Mu: "Your Majesty, please forgive me, this humble subject was unaware."

The Emperor said, "It's alright, come and watch with me."

Prime Minister Mu: "Yes."

Meanwhile, in an elegant private room on the second floor of Fumanlou Restaurant...

Murong Zhi has recovered greatly after taking the medicine given to him by Mu Qing.

An Yi: "Your Highness..."

Murong Zhi: "Don't be impatient."

An Er: "Your Highness, should we stop them?"

Murong Zhi: "Don't be impulsive. Father only wants to find the Holy Son through Murong Yu. He won't really take his life. However... if he does, he will inevitably lose face."

An Er: "Your Majesty is foolish. How can you humiliate the Prince like this?"

An Yi: "Be careful what you say."