Mu Run released a wisp of spiritual energy, which flew into the air.
But then, from the direction of the palace, several plumes of thick smoke rose into the sky. Finally, the spiritual energy rushed towards the most powerful plume of smoke…
At this moment, a considerable number of spiritual senses had gathered within the palace to observe the palace coup. Most of them were cultivators from the capital. Mu Run's tiny wisp of spiritual power was submerged among them and went unnoticed.
Fu Lu, dressed in a prince's python robe, arrived at the Empress's Changchun Palace with dozens of imperial guards.
On the open ground in front of the palace, several corpses of imperial guards lay scattered about, their bodies covered in bright red and dark red blood, a testament to the fierce battle that had taken place the previous night.
"They were all iron-blooded soldiers of our Rong Dynasty when they were alive. They were just following orders and had no choice in the matter. Please take good care of them after this." Fu Lu said to the guards behind him.
Immediately, these guards felt a lump in their throats. Among these dead guards were many of their friends from yesterday. And they were merely knives in the hands of those in power, just weapons. Once dead, they were simply replaced with another, discarded like worn-out shoes. Especially those who died for treason, whose bodies were rarely intact, and whose families would be implicated.
But the prince before us spoke with kindness and compassion, giving the soldiers dignity, which was truly rare.
The imperial guards bowed to Fu Lu in unison, and then carried away the bodies of the guards.
Fu Lu ascended the jade steps of the palace and entered Changchun Palace.
A tall, imposing man with graying temples, dressed in a dragon robe, stood in the hall, seemingly waiting for him.
"Did you enter the palace last night?" Emperor Wende's dragon eyes flashed like lightning as he looked at Fu Lu, as if he could see through his soul.
Fu Lu bowed respectfully and replied, "Your subject did not enter the palace."
"Where are you?"
"Your Majesty, I had sex with a maid in the manor. She suits my taste very well, and I intend to make her a concubine." Last night, when he was restoring Mu Run's spiritual root, although she was unconscious, she instinctively cried out in pain, just like a woman who had just experienced her first night of pleasure. There should be many spies in the manor who heard it.
Emperor Wende's gaze softened slightly, which was consistent with the information he had received. "Since she is a woman who suits your taste, bring her into the palace so that I may see her."
Fu Lu replied, "Yes, Father."
"I am also tired, and I have long wanted to abdicate. I never expected that your second brother couldn't even wait a couple of days." Emperor Wende's voice was deep and weathered, revealing a profound regret. It also revealed that his former choice for heir apparent was none other than the second prince.
Fu Lu didn't reply, but looked down at the jade ground, as if there was something on it that attracted him.
"Tomorrow I will officially appoint you as Crown Prince." Emperor Wende looked at him, his dragon eyes slightly closed.
Fu Lu remained unchanged, calmly and composedly performing the deep bowing ceremony, saying, "Your subject obeys." It seemed that all of this was within his expectations.
Seeing that he had no particular reaction, Emperor Wende suddenly laughed. His laughter echoed in the hall, and all the palace servants who heard it knelt on the ground, trembling with fear.
"Well done, Third Prince. I was truly deceived by your facade before," Emperor Wende laughed, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
As an emperor, besides preserving the legacy left by his ancestors, he also had to choose a wise successor. Although he lost three princes overnight, there were also unexpected gains.
Fu Lu looked up at Emperor Wende, his expression devoid of sorrow, joy, grief, or pleasure. "Your subject dares not say that. It is only because of this sudden change that I have grown considerably."
"Very well, go back and make preparations." Emperor Wende waved his hand. As long as he didn't interfere in this palace coup, he didn't care about anything else.
Fu Lu took a few steps, then turned and left Changchun Palace.
Consort Yu paced nervously back and forth at the entrance of Chunfang Palace.
She only breathed a sigh of relief when Fu Lu came into her sight. She strode forward, grabbed his arm, and led him into the palace, scrutinizing him closely from head to toe.
Fu Lu let her watch him nervously, and even rolled up his sleeve to look at his arm.
As she looked at it, Consort Yu's eyes widened in surprise.
Fu Lu has a plum blossom-shaped red birthmark on his right elbow, as red as blood!
Yu Fei's beautiful pupils suddenly contracted, and her hand instinctively pulled down her sleeve to cover the birthmark. Then, she seemed to have been struck by lightning.
Like that, stiff and motionless.
When Consort Yu examined Fu Lu's body, all the palace servants lowered their heads to avoid looking, so no one saw the birthmark on his arm.
Fu Lu said to all the palace servants, "All of you, step down."
Consort Yu remained silent, which meant she tacitly agreed with Fu Lu's meaning. Almost all the palace servants left the palace in silence, and the last servant to leave closed the palace door.
Fu Lu then formed a hand seal, and a spiritual energy barrier enveloped him and Yu Fei.
"There are many eyes and ears in the palace now, so this is safer." Fu Lu invited Consort Yu to sit down. He sat cross-legged on the ground, so that he and Consort Yu were at eye level.
For a moment, Consort Yu was at a loss for words. After a long while, she stammered out three words, "Who are you?"
Fu Lu replied, "Don't you know who I am?"
Yu Fei's fingertips were cold, and her bright red lips had lost their color. Even with rouge, she couldn't hide the paleness beneath.
Where is he?
What do you think?
"Could it be..." Consort Yu was no fool for remaining favored in the palace; on the contrary, she was incredibly shrewd. She instantly understood everything, her beautiful face turning ashen, her eyes filled with shock and pain.
Fu Lu looked into her eyes and pulled a letter from his sleeve. "This is a record of the number of times he's been assassinated over the years, the body doubles who died in his place, and who assassinated him... all the records. If I wanted to replace him, you would never see this birthmark in your lifetime."
With slightly trembling hands, Consort Yu took the thick letter, opened it, and began to read... The more she read, the more horrified she became, a chill running down her spine. Not only Jiang Hongyuan, but she herself had also been poisoned multiple times.
"Since you've protected him in secret so many times, why did you give up in the end?" Yu Fei stared intently at Fu Lu.
Fu Lu remained silent.
From the moment his identity was revealed, she only cared about Jiang Hongyuan and didn't ask him a single question.
The last glimmer of hope deep in my heart was completely extinguished.
"Protecting him is not a responsibility that I, the abandoned one, should bear."
Consort Yu swayed and almost fell off the stool.
Fu Lu did not help her up, and coldly withdrew the barrier, saying, "My mother is a smart woman; she knows what she should do."
After saying that, he turned and left.
As soon as he stepped out of the palace gate, he heard the chaotic sounds of tables and chairs being overturned, followed by an extremely distressed scream!
Fu Lu paused for a moment, then continued walking forward.
Mu Run's spiritual power saw Fu Lu and noticed his somewhat forlorn expression, so it flew over and landed on his shoulder.
When Fu Lu first noticed the spiritual energy flying towards him, he immediately condensed a spiritual blade in his palm. He then realized that it had no killing intent and even carried a sense of familiarity, so he let it approach. After it landed on his shoulder, he confirmed that it was Mu Run's.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
