I like Chapter 77.
Yun Kui twirled the thickness of the house deed, her fingertips trembling. "I'm not used to this kind of thing. Your Highness, could you tell me roughly how much this is worth?"
The Crown Prince chuckled, “Land at the foot of the capital is incredibly valuable. These are the most prosperous shops along the entire Imperial Street, with prices ranging from a hundred to a thousand taels per shop. Once the rent for the second half of the year comes in, I’ll conservatively estimate it to be around a thousand taels.”
Yun Kui's eyes widened, stunned by the sudden surprise. "That means... it's worth tens of thousands? And there's a monthly and yearly return?"
Crown Prince: "Hmm."
Yun Kui's eyes sparkled with excitement, "Then wouldn't I be the richest young lady in the entire capital!"
The Crown Prince's lips curled up, and he gazed at her with deep eyes: "The Empress's allowance is two thousand taels of silver, and the Crown Princess's allowance is one thousand taels of silver. With these, she should be considered the richest."
Yun Kui's smile froze. Her heart pounded under his gaze. She lowered her head and continued counting her house deeds. "What is Your Highness saying?"
The crown prince pulled her close. "What, you don't want her?"
"Or," he said, his gaze sharpening, "do you just like my money, and not me as a person?"
He was so close that every word he spoke carried a burning heat, sending a tingling sensation through her ears.
"I like them all, but..."
She seems to have a fear of social status, afraid that her lowly status makes her unworthy of her position and a laughing stock in the eyes of others, so she always subconsciously avoids these topics.
The crown prince frowned, his expression turning serious: "The person I've chosen is worthy of me. Do you really want me to favor other women in the future?"
Yun Kui quickly replied, "Of course not."
Although she knew it was impossible, the thought that in the future Her Highness would also have a harem of beauties like the current Emperor, and that her favorite person would be entangled with someone else, and that her chest muscles would be touched by others, still made her feel a little sad.
The Crown Prince gritted his teeth and said, "Since you don't want to be the Crown Princess, my chest and abs will be touched by others in the future, and the gold and silver that should belong to you will be broken into countless pieces and distributed among the harem. You can forget about becoming the richest lady in the entire capital. Return these house deeds to me first, so that there won't be enough to go around in the future..."
Yun Kui then clutched the brocade box tightly in her hands like a protective mother, "How could Your Highness go back on your word!"
The crown prince glanced at her coldly: "It was you who refused."
Yun Kui exclaimed "Oh dear!" and said in a muffled voice, "I just don't dare to have any wishful thinking. You know, I'm just a nobody. I haven't read the classics, and I've never seen the world. How could I possibly be the empress?"
The Crown Prince said, “You don’t need to do anything. Just stand by my side and receive unparalleled favor and the worship of ten thousand people.”
Yun Kui: "But I..."
The Crown Prince frowned deeply: "You still want to defy the imperial decree?"
Yun Kui hesitated for a long time before holding up two fingers: "I have two last questions."
Crown Prince: "You speak."
Yun Kui hesitated before tentatively asking, "How much silver do concubines and high-ranking ladies receive per year?"
The Crown Prince laughed in anger, "There are no concubines or ladies-in-waiting. If you really want to be one, fine, but I won't give you a single copper coin."
Yun Kui: "..."
"That's really unfair."
"Then I have one last question."
Yun Kui raised her eyes and looked at him earnestly: "Your Highness... will you regret it?"
The crown prince's face was grim.
Yun Kui knew he didn't want to hear it, but there were some things she had to say: "My mother and I have never met many good men in our lives. If Your Highness were to meet a lady from a distinguished family in the future, who is dignified, elegant, and of noble birth, and who is more suitable to be your wife than me, could Your Highness guarantee that you would not fall in love with someone else? Your Highness is the supreme ruler of the world, and I am but a lowly person with no influence over your thoughts."
The Crown Prince sneered, "In your eyes, am I just a fickle, easily bored person? Even if you fall in love with someone else, I won't. Don't forget, for the past twenty years, I've only had you. On the contrary, you've been casting a wide net, leaving your mark everywhere. You're only interested in me because of my looks, and you're full of lust. I haven't even bothered with you yet, and you're already crying wolf?"
Yun Kui then chuckled awkwardly and kissed him on the lips, saying, "Your Highness is the most handsome and the most important person in the world. I would never fall for someone else."
The prince stared intently at her. "If one day I am no longer beautiful and grow old, will you fall for a young and handsome man?"
Yun Kui pretended to think for a moment, but before she could even finish her thought, her waist was pulled sharply towards her.
The man's hot, thin lips pressed down heavily on hers, forcefully prying open her pearly teeth, instantly stealing all her breath.
Her legs went weak and her body trembled from the kisses, leaving her completely powerless to resist. Sitting on his lap, she could already feel the extraordinary ferocity of his member.
Afraid he might do something reckless in the car, but unable to beg for mercy verbally, she could only plead silently in her heart.
"I was wrong! I only love Your Highness in this life! Please put me down, waah! We're almost at Prajna Temple. How will I face anyone after I get off the carriage? Your Highness also needs to go to the altar to pray for blessings. Please don't offend the gods..."
"Your Highness, Your Ancestor, Crown Prince, Husband, Husband..."
Upon hearing this sound, the man bit her lip hard before slowly releasing her.
Yun Kui was finally freed from her restraints and could breathe deeply. Her eyes were red, and she looked like she had been badly bullied.
She clung to his shoulder, trembling, and after a long while, she whispered, "With Your Highness's bravery, I'm afraid you'll still be as vigorous as ever even when you're seventy or eighty, surpassing ordinary men. However, Your Highness shouldn't overindulge; you should use it sparingly so that you can last longer."
The Crown Prince said calmly, "I know what I'm doing, and I don't need you to remind me."
Yun Kui secretly grumbled to herself.
"What kind of sense of propriety is that? Five times a night and you call that propriety?"
He gave her a cold look, and she quickly shrank back, got off him, and silently counted her house deeds.
But thinking about it, I couldn't help but feel secretly delighted, and I couldn't suppress the smile on my face. "When I was little, my aunt had someone tell my fortune and said that I was destined for great wealth and honor. Now it seems that she was right. I am so lucky!"
As the prince looked at her bright and radiant smile, his gaze gradually softened.
As they drew closer to Prajna Temple, Yun Kui's joy and excitement were quickly replaced by panic when she thought about the purpose of her trip.
Seeing her peeking out from behind the carriage curtain again, the Crown Prince couldn't help but say, "He's not with my personal guards; you won't see him now."
Yun Kui tightened her grip on the curtain, looked away, and forced herself to remain calm: "I wasn't looking at him, I just... got some fresh air."
The Crown Prince pondered for a moment and said, "He is now serving as the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, a third-rank official. Today, he is accompanying the King. When we arrive at the Prajna Temple, you will wait outside the altar and the execution ground. You don't need to stay by my side. I will send Huaiqing and Huaizhu to protect you closely. You will see him then."
"So it's still the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Flying fish robes and embroidered spring knives, they should be easy to recognize."
Yun Kui paused for a moment, then suddenly remembered something and couldn't help but ask, "Will Your Highness be in danger?"
The prince squeezed her fingers. "Everything will be alright, don't worry."
At such a grand Buddhist event as the Buddha's Birthday, the imperial family and high-ranking officials of the fifth rank and above would be present, so Emperor Chunming would definitely take some action.
Qin Ge also discovered that Lu Qi had been concealing his whereabouts these days and had actually been staying at the Prajna Temple. It was still unknown what kind of ambush he had set up.
The Crown Prince had considered not taking her out of the palace, but the thought of leaving her alone in the palace made him realize that someone might try to take advantage of her, kidnap her to blackmail her, or throw a poison pill or force-feed her poisoned soup. It was impossible to guard against such a thing.
It's safest to keep it with you at all times.
No gunpowder or ambushes have been found near the Prajna Temple. There is no need to worry about ordinary assassins, as he has brought enough personal guards and bodyguards to protect her safety.
The prince's carriage slowly came to a stop at the foot of the mountain.
He dismounted first, followed closely by Yun Kui, who pretended to be nonchalant as she glanced around. She saw the emperor's carriage with its canopy like clouds, prayer flags fluttering, and the imperial guards and their entourage stretching as far as the eye could see.
Nevertheless, she still managed to spot a group of brightly dressed Imperial Guards amidst the dense ranks of the Imperial Guards.
The leader, in particular, stood out among the group of Imperial Guards in their bright red brocade robes with gold floral patterns, which accentuated his handsome face and upright posture.
Looking at his features, he had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and a nose like a jade peak. Although his handsome face showed the marks of time, it added to his elegant and refined demeanor, like a jade tree in a secluded forest.
The commander wearing the bronze mask doesn't seem to be here today. The highest-ranking officer in the Embroidered Uniform Guard is the Deputy Commander. Standing at the front of the line, his clothes are different from the others. It must be him, right?
But her father was at least over forty years old, and she had even imagined him to be a decrepit old man. How could he be so young and handsome!
Yun Kui glanced over and noticed that the person was looking over as well. Their eyes met, and her heart pounded like a drum. She immediately lowered her eyelids.
My intuition told me it was him, but I didn't dare look at him too much, afraid he would think I was too curious or too eager to recognize him.
As soon as Sheng Yu stepped off the Crown Prince's carriage, his gaze immediately locked onto the maid in the pink and green embroidered ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) behind him.
Apart from two female bodyguards, the Crown Prince only had this one palace maid with him, making it hard to miss.
Especially when he saw her face, Sheng Yu's already unsettled heart trembled even more.
The girl was in her teens, with rosy cheeks, bright eyes and white teeth, and a pair of doe eyes as clear as amber. Her skirt swayed gently in the wind, like a willow branch just sprouting in spring, graceful and elegant.
I have to admit, she does look a lot like him.
Sheng Yu had never seen her mother, Qi Ying's, appearance; all her impressions came from her movements and voice. She was gentle and considerate, yet also bright and bold, like a flower blooming in the wilderness, possessing the shyness of a young girl and brimming with vibrant life force.
The moment Sheng Yu saw the girl, he was almost certain that this was Qi Ying and his child.
Moreover, she was not as thin and frail as I had imagined. Perhaps the Crown Prince had discovered her relationship with him and given her special care. The girl looked bright and had a rosy complexion.
Perhaps the Crown Prince had given prior notice, for the young lady knew she was present today. She glanced at him once, then immediately lowered her eyes, her lips slightly pursed, showing a hint of unease.
The Crown Prince, of course, also noticed Sheng Yu.
Meanwhile, Cao Yuanlu's inner thoughts were also racing.
"Lord Sheng is so clever! He usually dresses in drab, lifeless clothes, but today, as if afraid the young lady wouldn't see him, he deliberately wore a red brocade robe, truly resembling the dashing scholar he once was! Who could resist such a handsome and dashing father!"
The crown prince couldn't help but frown.
Sheng Yu's outfit was indeed eye-catching and flamboyant. His already extremely handsome appearance was further enhanced by the flying fish robe, making him look exceptionally elegant. You would never guess that he was over forty; he looked to be around thirty.
Even Emperor Chunming couldn't help but take a few more glances, and the concubines in the harem also frequently turned their heads when they heard that this was the martial arts champion from the previous emperor's time.
Sheng Yu didn't care about other people's opinions; all he wanted was to meet his daughter, talk to her, explain what happened back then, and give her the birthday gift he had prepared.
Regardless of whether she is willing to acknowledge him as her father, Sheng Yu will make up for it with the best of everything.
Everything is ready for the Buddha bathing ceremony at Prajna Temple.
The prince stepped onto the stone steps and turned to Yun Kui, saying, "Don't wander off while waiting for me here."
Yun Kui had some questions she wanted to ask, but hesitated and finally only said, "Your Highness, please be careful," before obediently waiting outside the execution ground.
She casually glanced around as the group of Imperial Guards followed Emperor Chunming's entourage into the execution ground. The figure in the crimson flying fish robe slowly disappeared from sight, and she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
As soon as the prince entered the execution ground, the strong scent of incense filled the air, and he couldn't help but frown.
His headaches made him extremely sensitive to spices, and even this calming Buddhist incense made him feel slightly uncomfortable.
Cao Yuanlu noticed his displeasure and promptly said, "Why don't we let the young lady come in and serve you?"
The crown prince pressed his temples. "No need."
The execution ground wouldn't be so peaceful today; why put her in danger?
At the center of the altar stood a huge golden Buddha statue, with a group of high monks in robes standing below the altar, followed closely by members of the royal family and officials, lined up in neat rows according to their rank.
With the sound of bells and drums and the chanting of Buddhist hymns, eight monks carried a gilded incense basin and placed it in front of the Buddha statue. Warrior monks carried the basin and poured incense into it.
Fragrant mist swirled around the surface of the soup basin, petals floated on it, and the rich and profound Buddhist fragrance permeated the entire altar.
Emperor Chunming, dressed in a bright yellow imperial robe, ascended the altar surrounded by guards. He scooped up a spoonful of fragrant soup and slowly poured it onto the golden Buddha statue, a gesture meant to purify the mind and eliminate karmic obstacles. The monks chanted scriptures in unison, and for a moment, the air was filled with the fragrance of incense and the sound of Buddhist chants.
The empress then stepped onto the altar and, following the same rituals, bathed the Buddha statue and prayed for the people.
Then a monk presented the golden spoon to the prince.
The prince was enveloped in mist, and he felt an indescribable frenzy rising in his heart, with a dense, pricking sensation in his skull.
At the same time, amidst the lingering chanting in the execution ground, Emperor Chunming's abrupt inner voice suddenly rang in their ears.
"Xiao Qi'an, today is your death day!"
"This fragrant soup is harmless to ordinary people, but it's the most effective stimulant for the Gu worms in your brain. You probably won't even know until you die that the headaches that have plagued you for years are actually caused by these Gu worms, right?"
"I have tolerated you for twenty years, it's time for everything to end."
So it was... a Gu worm.
The prince's eyes were bloodshot, and he clenched his fists tightly.
Emperor Chunming stood below the altar, staring intently at his expression.
Lu Qi, hidden in the shadows, was also on edge, waiting for the Crown Prince to get close to the fragrant soup. Once the poison had fully invaded his body and the Gu worms in his skull were activated, even if the Crown Prince's meridians were not severed by the Gu worms and he did not explode and die, Lu Qi could use the pretext of protecting the Crown Prince to kill the crazed Crown Prince on the altar.
Emperor Chunming clearly saw that the Crown Prince's face was pale and his eyes were bloodshot, but he did not go up to the altar. The incense smoke in the sky did not cause him great pain or make him lose control and go crazy.
Emperor Chunming quickly ran out of patience and even urged the Crown Prince himself, "Why doesn't the Crown Prince hurry up to the platform to pray for blessings, lest he miss the auspicious time!"
The prince closed his eyes tightly.
After a long silence, he spoke in a deep voice: "Your Majesty harbors treacherous intentions, and no amount of prayer or supplication will be of any use. I suggest that today's Buddha Bathing Ceremony be called off."
His voice wasn't loud, but it was loud enough for the high monks below the altar and the important officials and relatives nearby to hear clearly.
The crowd exchanged bewildered glances. Emperor Chunming's eyes widened in shock, and his facial muscles twitched uncontrollably.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
