The Great Prince’s carriage had already arrived at the city gate, and the massive crowd all knelt down on the spot.
Song Ya Lan disdainfully and provocatively glanced at Ji Xinhe and walked up to kneel in the very front of the crowd. It seems that because of her connections with the Great Prince, she felt that she deserved to be in the front. The look she gave Ji Xinhe seemed to mock her for her poor background and weak status. Even if Xinhe was heavily pregnant, she would still only be able to kneel in the back, and maybe the Great Prince wouldn’t pay her an extra glance.
Leng Zhuo got down from the carriage, and, amidst the crowd, accepted everyone’s kneeling tribute. The resounding shout "We greet Your Highness the Great Prince" filled the air, showcasing the enthusiasm of the people of Yu State.
Everyone bowed down in deference, except for Mu Houchu and Ji Xinhe.
The crowd was filled with shock and confusion—had the pair gone silly or what?
This was the prince!
Song Ya Lan noticed the commotion, looked up and her heart leapt with joy. It seemed she had finally caught Ji Xinhe slipping up. She exclaimed without a second thought, "Such audacity! The Great Prince graces Lian’an Town with his presence and you dare not kneel in greeting!"
Her words resonated with rightfulness and echoed out in the silent crowd.
Mu Houchu frowned at Song Ya Lan. Suddenly, he felt that the woman’s very breathing was annoying, making him question her need to live anymore.
The atmosphere became awkward: if these two didn’t kneel, it was their own business. The Great Prince hadn’t spoken out about it, and neither had the county officials. What place did she have, ranting in front of the Great Prince?
The whole place fell silent, the sound of people’s breath almost audible.
Seemingly growing anxious, Song Ya Lan turned to the Great Prince as if seeking approval.
But to her surprise, the Great Prince looked embarrassed. He cleared his throat quietly and walked past her towards Mu Houchu. With an awkward smile, he saluted Mu Houchu, "Uncle Mu has been living in Yu State for some time, I trust everything is well?"
With a calm voice, Mu Houchu replied, "All is well."
"I’ve heard that Uncle Mu has been living a simple life in Yu State for quite some time. The name of Prince Pingyang is hardly mentioned. I thought it was a mere rumor. But it seems..." Nobody knew who he was!
Mu Houchu saluted the prince, "Hearing news of the Great Prince’s visit, I’ve come especially to welcome your esteemed arrival."
The Great Prince quickly supported Mu Houchu’s arm, "Uncle Mu, there’s no need to be so polite."
As the current Prince Pingyang, Mu Houchu didn’t need to kneel to anyone apart from the Emperor. A polite bow to the Great Prince was sufficient.
Even if he was not conferred the title of Prince Pingyang, he still would not need to kneel before the prince. After all, this was an era where power and status took priority. His sweeping influence commanded even the Emperor’s restraint. Could the Great Prince dare to slight him? On the occasional meeting in the palace, the Great Prince would take the initiative to salute him as an inferior.
Mu Houchu and the Emperor were "like brothers," good friends even before the latter ascended to the throne. The Great Prince, having known him since he was a child, always called him Uncle Mu. Given this man’s strong presence, the Great Prince wouldn’t dare to act arrogantly in front of Mu, lowering his own domineering aura. His own respect was simply an uncontrollable and spontaneous result of their interactions.
Xinhe also turned towards the Great Prince and slightly curtsied, "Greetings, Great Prince."
The Great Prince chuckled, "So you must be my aunt. We’ve never had the chance to meet; but seeing you now, I realise that the rumors did not do you justice. Your beauty is unparalleled, just like the beauties that the Le Yuanhou Mansion is known for."
As such, Mu Houchu’s eyes turned colder, "It’s hot outside. Why don’t we go inside the mansion to talk, Your Highness?"
The Great Prince smiled, "Sounds good."
While the atmosphere here was filled with ease and warmth, the situation on the other side was tense.
Song Ya Lan, left hanging by the Great Prince, was on the verge of a meltdown. The way the Great Prince had addressed Mu Houchu as "Uncle Mu," as "Prince Pingyang," had shocked her to her core.
Madam Sun suddenly understood the situation. When she saw how respectful the Great Prince was to Prince Pingyang and his wife, she murmured, "This, this, this man...is Prince Pingyang?"
Looking back at Song Ya Lan, still frozen on the spot, Madam Sun realised that Song had really stirred up trouble for the Sun Family this time!
Madam Sun was instantly enraged, slapping Song Ya Lan in the face. The slap sent Song stumbling to the ground.
"You...you disaster!" Madam Sun gasped for breath, but eventually fainted.
The Sun family was shocked. They hurriedly caught Madam Sun, calling out, "Madam, madam, madam!"
Amidst the commotion, the carriages of Ji Xinhe, Mu Houchu, and the Great Prince slowly retreated from the crowd.
As soon as the Great Prince and Marquis Mu left, the tense and awkward atmosphere eased slightly, causing the crowd to erupt instantly into conversations.
Even the commotion caused by Madam Sun fainting on the spot couldn’t quench people’s gossiping enthusiasm.
"Hey! Did I get it wrong!? That person, the one from earlier...is, is, is Prince Pingyang?"
"The Great Prince called him Uncle! Could you have misheard?! Besides Prince Pingyang, does the Emperor have any other brothers in the Imperial Court?!"
The struggle for the throne was brutal, ending with the Emperor’s ascension. The other princes were either killed or imprisoned; none were left alive.
Apart from Mu Houchu, a sworn brother who helped the Emperor win the empire and who had once held matchless authority as Prime Minister Mu, now Prince Pingyang, who else could be worthy of the Great Prince calling him Uncle?
"Oh, my! No wonder they didn’t kneel! Song Ya Lan from the Sun Family really messed up this time!"
"Of course! Clambering to suck up to the royal family, and look where it’s got her now! She’s provoked the tiger—Prince Pingyang. She and the Sun Family are in for some terrible misfortune!"
"Indeed, how proud the Sun Family was just a couple of days ago when they brought Song Ya Lan home! So conceited! They thought they had found a treasure. Yeah right! If she were such a treasure, would she have been left for them? Now, barely two days after she stepped into the house, she’s stirred up so much trouble. In my opinion, the Sun Family is doomed."
"The Sun family is running out of luck, and with Song Ya Lan stirring up trouble from the inside, they don’t stand a chance. Did you see how terrified Madam Sun was earlier? She fainted right there on the spot. Oh boy, I bet there’s going to be quite a show."
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