The next morning, Hua Qingcheng and Mu Lige had breakfast and then waited in the inn for the envoy from the palace to arrive.
"Third Prince, Your Highness the Crown Princess, the Emperor has sent me to invite you two into the palace." At four o'clock in the morning, Qu Chengde, the chief eunuch of the Zhaoyang Palace, came to the inn and said respectfully.
Hua Qingcheng and Mu Lige nodded slightly, and then, led by Qu Chengde, they got on the carriage to the palace. They only brought twelve guards from the Laifeng Kingdom with them.
Along the way, Mu Lige maintained his usual cynical demeanor, but a surge of emotion had already begun to stir within him. After all, this was the first time in seven years that Mu Lige was about to meet his sworn enemy, Su Mu Tianjun, again.
For a moment, Mu Lige's thoughts surged like a tidal wave, recalling the night of the East Palace fire. Everything seemed to be still vivid in his mind. Every detail was deeply etched in his heart, becoming an indelible pain. Now, Mu Lige finally had to face the culprit. How could he remain calm?
However, Mu Lige also knew that this was not the time to break up with Su Mutianjun. He couldn't let his emotions dictate his actions. He had to remain calm and face his enemy at his best. Despite the turbulent waves in his heart, Mu Lige tried hard to suppress all emotions and not let them affect his performance.
Meanwhile, Hua Qingcheng remained calm and composed. As if sensing Mu Lige's emotional turmoil, she gently held his hand and whispered, "Don't worry, Brother Li, I'm here for you."
Hua Qingcheng's words were like gentle rain, nourishing Mu Lige's heart. He looked at Hua Qingcheng with gratitude, knowing that this woman would always be by his side, supporting him through this difficult time. With her around, Mu Lige felt incredibly at ease.
Soon after, the carriage slowly stopped, and they finally arrived at the gates of the Zhaoyang Kingdom's Imperial Palace. This magnificent building exuded a solemn and awe-inspiring aura. Led by the eunuch chief, Qu Chengde, Hua Qingcheng and Mu Lige entered the palace with graceful steps.
After seven years, when Mu Lige returned to this familiar land, an indescribable melancholy welled up in his heart. This was once the place of unbearable pain for him, and every inch of it carried his sorrow and resentment. Yet, at this moment, he had to feign indifference, masking his inner turmoil with a smile.
Mu Lige walked quietly through the Zhaoyang Imperial Palace, his gaze sweeping across the familiar yet unfamiliar palaces, a flood of emotion filling his heart. These palaces had witnessed his past and his growth. Now, returning here again, his emotions were particularly complicated.
Especially when passing the Eastern Palace, Mu Lige couldn't help but pause, his gaze fixed on the tightly closed palace gate. Childhood memories kept flooding back. Back then, he was still the Crown Prince, and this was where he grew up, filled with laughter and warm memories of him, his father, and his mother.
However, the East Palace now looks so unfamiliar, as if time has left deep traces here.
Mu Lige narrowed his eyes, trying to use his heart to feel the memories this land brought him. He recalled the scenes of his childhood running and playing in the courtyard of the East Palace, and the laughter of those years seemed to still echo in his ears. Back then, he was innocent and full of longing and hope for the future. But now, when he opened his eyes, he saw only silence and emptiness, and no trace of his father and mother.
Mu Lige couldn't help but lament the passage of time and the fickleness of fate, a sense of inexplicable melancholy welling up in his heart. Although he knew that this journey would inevitably force him to confront his past, Mu Lige's deep-seated belief in revenge supported him in facing it all.
Hua Qingcheng, sensing Mu Lige's emotional fluctuations, silently held the man's hand, wordlessly giving him support, soothing the sadness and helplessness deep in his heart, and serving as his strongest backing.
The two looked at each other tacitly, their eyes meeting, as if at this moment, their hearts were closer. Although there was no verbal communication, the thousands of words in each other's eyes had already been conveyed to each other.
Mu Lige smiled slightly, a flicker of gratitude in his eyes. He firmly shook Hua Qingcheng's hand, expressing his gratitude and affectionate love.
Seeing Hua Qingcheng and Mu Lige walking slowly, the chief eunuch Qu Chengde couldn't help but speak up at the right time, "Third Prince, Your Highness, the palace banquet has just begun at noon, and the Emperor is currently in the Imperial Noble Consort's bedroom. He has instructed that if you two enter the palace, you might as well go to the Imperial Noble Consort's bedroom first. Firstly, this will ease the Emperor and the Imperial Noble Consort's longing for the Third Prince; secondly, it will give you three a chance to spend some quality time together as a family."
Mu Lige chuckled inwardly upon hearing this, but he didn't show it on his face, maintaining a calm and composed demeanor. He nodded, then said nonchalantly, "Lead the way!"
"Yes, Third Prince," Qu Chengde replied respectfully. He quickly led Hua Qingcheng and Mu Lige to the backyard of the imperial palace, and to the bedroom of Shangguan Yuechan, the current Imperial Noble Consort of Zhaoyang Kingdom.
"Your Majesty, the Third Prince and the Crown Princess of Laifeng Kingdom have arrived!" Qu Chengde entered the bedroom first and reported to Su Mutianjun.
Then, Hua Qingcheng and Mu Lige, who were standing at the door, heard a majestic voice with a hint of surprise coming from inside - "The third brother and his wife are here? Quick! Go and invite them in!"
Hearing this all-too-familiar voice, Mu Lige's brows knitted slightly, and his fists clenched tightly beneath his wide sleeves. It took a tremendous amount of willpower to suppress the urge to charge in and kill Su Mu Tianjun immediately.
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