Imperial Kitchen.
In the empty room, two tall men stood facing each other, seeing the same hostility in each other's eyes.
Like two enormous lions locked in a bloody battle, no one dared to show the slightest fear during their breaks.
After all, everyone knows that the other party is not a kind person, and if the other party finds a weakness, they will be torn to pieces.
Sheng Jin's powerful aura remained completely unrestrained, making it impossible for the Crown Prince, who had just nearly died, to withstand it.
The feeling of being on the verge of death was so real that, under these circumstances, he even had a strange illusion—
Could it be that I am already dead, and all my current sensations are just an illusion?
When he could no longer hold on and his body was about to collapse, a thought gradually came to mind.
"Father, you wouldn't do that."
Before kneeling down, Sheng Changfeng broke out in a cold sweat and uttered those words first.
"What did you say?"
Sheng Jin's aura grew increasingly terrifying, his gaze fixed on the Crown Prince as if he were looking at a dead man, unusually cold.
Even though he had just almost killed the crown prince, he was still deeply jealous.
Only he himself probably knows how despicable he is. The Crown Prince is clearly Xi'er's rightful husband, yet he is being jealous here.
He wouldn't even allow the crown prince to utter a single word, not even four words, as that was seen as a provocation or a boast.
"Your Highness, do you know what you're saying?"
Did you know?
Of course I know!
He even wanted to loudly mock the emperor's incompetence, saying that he could only act like a treacherous villain, racking his brains to spy on other people's happiness.
Xi'er loves him and already has his imperial offspring, something the Emperor could never do, even in his death!
The crown prince wanted to continue resisting, but he was fully aware of the consequences of doing so.
Death, or rebellion!
He is unable to do so for the time being.
Therefore, the crown prince's eyes darkened, his once gentle features vanished, replaced by a gloomy expression.
He chose to lie low!
"Father sent everyone away because he wanted to discuss this matter with me. Apart from giving up the Crown Princess, I agree to all conditions, everything."
The crown prince slowly knelt down, like a tamed wolf, devoid of any wildness, as docile as a submissive dog.
In reality, deep resentment was hidden in his eyes, and a sense of powerlessness swept over his entire body.
How tragic!
Even if someone covets his wife, he must still grovel and thank them for sparing his life.
Because that person was a high and mighty emperor, for the incompetent man, there was only one path to take.
That is profound surrender!
Resentment, anger, and discontent transformed into something called ambition, which took deep root in his heart.
Only power, only a position above all others, a pinnacle of authority, can protect the one you deeply love!
He used to think that the position of crown prince was a constraint, but now he realized how incredibly stupid he had been; he should have been climbing the ladder to a higher position.
How can a crown prince become the emperor?
Of course, it was because his father passed away that he was able to smoothly ascend the throne.
Ambition grew wildly in his heart, sprouting lush branches and gradually taking root.
Sheng Changfeng slammed his head against the ground, concealing the ever-changing expression in his eyes and the ambition that was about to burst forth.
Looking at his son, who had bowed down to him and whom he had watched grow up, Sheng Jin felt a rare pang of guilt.
Although the guilt faded too quickly, it still left a mark on his heart.
He almost killed the Crown Prince with his own hands just now, is he really going to take away the Crown Princess now?
Xi'er...
If he were in good health, he would never have let Xi'er go, even if it meant facing the scorn of the whole world!
But he couldn't do it; he couldn't even do the most basic thing: procreation...
A sharp pain flashed in Sheng Jin's eyes. He closed his eyes briefly, took a deep breath, and then opened them to address the person kneeling below.
"Your Highness, you know I can't do anything to her. Even if I were to snatch her from you, I wouldn't be able to harm her at all. But—"
"I want you all to stay within my sight at all times. I only want to see her. You may all move to the side hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation."
!
Sheng Changfeng, kneeling on the ground, was shocked. He understood all too well what those words meant.
They moved it to the Hall of Mental Cultivation...
This means that from now on, he and the Crown Princess will live under the Emperor's surveillance and will have no chance to develop their own power.
He clearly had many things left to do: win over court officials, establish a secret guard, and cultivate his own people within the court...
The crown prince gave a bitter smile. Did he have the right to refuse?
He never had a choice; all he ever had was the right to submit and live a life of subservience.
But the Crown Princess, being so timid, simply couldn't withstand such pressure.
She was afraid of the Emperor, very, very afraid of the Emperor!
Living under the emperor's nose, they had to be extremely careful every day. What if they couldn't take good care of the pregnancy and something unexpected happened?
Thinking about it more deeply, if he were to accidentally miscarry and suffer severe bleeding, resulting in the death of both mother and child, it would be too late for him to regret it!
Thinking of this, the crown prince raised his head, his gaze earnest, a genuine plea—
"Father, the Crown Princess is very timid and is pregnant. Can we postpone the matter of moving the Yangxin Palace?"
"That's precisely why we should move here. Don't worry, I'll send a few imperial physicians to attend to you. Besides... isn't the Hall of Mental Cultivation safer?"
Sheng Jin firmly rejected the Crown Prince's request; he could no longer tolerate it.
If I don't see her for a day, I miss her terribly.
He hadn't seen Xi'er for a month, and he had already drawn hundreds of portraits of her, his mind filled with her voice, appearance, and smile.
If he doesn't see her again, Sheng Jin doesn't know when he will explode. In a moment of impulse, he might really kill the Crown Prince and take back the Crown Princess!
He can only pray that this overwhelming affection can be alleviated by seeing each other more often.
otherwise--
He had no idea what reckless things he might do!
"I am not discussing this with you, Your Highness, you should understand."
Sheng Jin's domineering nature remained unchanged, directly driving Crown Prince Sheng Changfeng to despair.
The Crown Prince knew that the Emperor's words were not just a warning, but an ultimatum.
He didn't want to bow his head, nor did he want to give in, but what could he do? It wouldn't change anything...
Sheng Changfeng lowered his head and knelt down in an extremely humiliating posture, his fists clenching and unclenching, but in the end he still accepted the decree.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey your command."
"Have a meal with me."
Upon hearing the Crown Prince's reply, Sheng Jin nodded in satisfaction and then ordered someone to serve the meal again.
The palace servants dared not listen or look too much, each silently going about their tasks.
It didn't take long for the dishes to be served again, but when they sat down in their familiar dining seats, it felt like a lifetime had passed.
The long-lost peace between father and son took place under such circumstances.
They could no longer speak while eating or sleeping; they could no longer be as open and intimate as before.
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