The crown prince, Zhongli Chengze, fixed his intense gaze on the dancer's bare belly. "This woman is both charming and pure yet alluring. She's truly a vision of beauty."
"If Your Highness likes her, she can be sent to the Crown Prince's Mansion," Xiao Xueyi offered generously. Zhongli Chengze was overjoyed.
In a good mood, the crown prince asked him an extra question. "You've come to the capital just to visit the Bright Moon Tower?" It turned out that Xiao Xueyi was the real mastermind behind the Bright Moon Tower.
Xiao Xueyi replied indifferently, "Naturally, I'm here to present New - Year gifts to Your Highness."
"We've been cooperating for four years, and now my position is secure. When I ascend the throne in the future, I'll surely appoint you as the grand chancellor," the crown prince promised, though he couldn't fully see the handicapped young man in front of him.
Xiao Xueyi didn't care much about the crown prince's promise. To him, it didn't matter who would be the emperor in the future, as long as the business of the Tingran Pavilion was guaranteed. "I'm only doing this for the Tingran Pavilion."
Xiao Xueyi's support for the crown prince was simply a way of investing in a valuable asset.
"Send Yaoyue to the Crown Prince's Mansion," Xiao Xueyi said, knowing the right moment to present this exotic beauty, which greatly pleased the crown prince.
After the crown prince left, his subordinate, who had been waiting for a long time, reported the news. "My lord, the Prince Yu has been behaving himself ever since he returned to the capital."
"Oh? He's being so well - behaved?"
The subordinate hesitated and then said, "He's only sent people to collect rare trinkets in the capital."
"Him?" Xiao Xueyi let out a laugh, which for a moment dazzled his subordinate.
"The scenery in Liuzhou City is quite nice," he mused. Hmm, was he smitten with someone?
Xiao Xueyi tapped on the gemstones decorating his wheelchair. "The crown prince is determined to win over the forces on Tianmen Mountain."
The gemstones sparkled brightly, setting off his fair and delicate hands. His cold words made his subordinate tremble slightly.
"The leader of the Miao clan will never get involved in court affairs," the subordinate replied.
"I respect the leader of the Miao clan. We don't need to cooperate with the crown prince," Xiao Xueyi said as he drained the tea in his cup. "Let's just watch the show!"
...
"It's the New Year!"
On New Year's Eve, Jin Yu happily ran from one senior brother's courtyard to another, rousing them all.
They went together to their master's bedroom to pay New - Year greetings. Then they accompanied their master to the front - hall meeting hall to receive the greetings from all the disciples on Tianmen Mountain. The elders in the Elder's Courtyard were also smilingly ready with red envelopes.
A dozen or so hall - masters had rushed back early from various medicine stores and clinics across the Great Xia Dynasty. For a moment, Tianmen Mountain was extremely lively. Jin Yu quickly received many red envelopes and was beaming with joy.
She and Niaoniao counted the small silver ingots and gold nuggets.
"The hall - masters are really generous!"
When Miao Yunshen came in, seeing her like a little miser, he laughed. "You must have saved quite a few gold nuggets by now, right?"
"Master, give me mine!" Jin Yu stretched out her little hand, asking for a red envelope from her master.
Miao Yunshen frowned. "Your master doesn't have any silver."
"Master, you're so stingy!"
The master and the disciple were joking around when He Yan came to invite them to keep the New - Year vigil in the ancestral hall.
Jin Yu supported her master and happily went with him.
This was her eighth New Year on Tianmen Mountain.
She made a wish in front of the ancestral tablets in the hall: May every year be as wonderful as this one.
Meanwhile, in the imperial palace in the capital, all the royal relatives were keeping the New - Year vigil.
Zhongli Mingye quietly left the New - Year banquet and walked into the imperial garden.
He looked at the hand that had been stung by poisonous bees while protecting Song Jinyu, filled with longing.
Since that life - and - death experience on the cliff, he knew he never wanted to let go of her hand.
He just wondered if she was happy at this moment and if she missed him as much as he missed her.
Shen Yingyun was also at the palace banquet. Seeing Zhongli Mingye leave his seat, she made an excuse and followed him.
Watching Zhongli Mingye strolling in the garden with his hands behind his back, she stepped forward to pay her respects.
Trying to suppress his annoyance at being disturbed, Zhongli Mingye glanced at Shen Yingyun indifferently.
"Miss Shen."
Seeing that he had responded to her, Shen Yingyun was overjoyed.
"Your Highness, I saw you were alone. Why don't I accompany you for a stroll?" Shen Yingyun didn't want to miss this opportunity.
However, she didn't expect that Zhongli Mingye would be so cold.
"Miss Shen, aren't you afraid of being seen? I can't afford to damage your reputation," his cold words were laced with sarcasm. Shen Yingyun's eyes immediately welled up with tears.
"Your Highness, I..."
Before she could cry, Zhongli Mingye turned around and left.
Shen Yingyun was left in the garden with her maid, silently shedding tears. She couldn't believe that the Prince Yu had no affection for her.
She was the daughter of the grand preceptor in the capital and a well - known talented woman. Her looks, talent, and family background were all top - notch, yet she couldn't catch his eye.
Was it because of that Miss Song?
The emperor was feeling a bit tired and left the palace banquet early for his bedroom. Doctor Li rushed to the emperor's bedroom and presented a box of pills.
The doctor stepped forward, bowed, and offered the jade box in his hand. "Your Majesty, this is the secret medicine sent by the leader of the Miao clan on Tianmen Mountain."
He further explained, "Many of the spiritual roots on the mountain were damaged by the heavy snow this year, so this is all we could get."
The emperor picked up a pill and put it into his mouth.
"Um, it tastes good."
"This medicine helps me live longer. Tianmen Mountain has made great contributions."
Doctor Li said, "The leader of the Miao clan is highly skilled at making medicine, but he refuses to hand over the secret recipe."
"It doesn't matter. I know his character," the emperor said after taking the medicine. He was now full of energy.
"I'm just protecting the safety of Tianmen Mountain."
The emperor was a shrewd old man. He was now old, and his sons were all grown - up. Having sat on the throne for so long, he didn't want to leave it!
"If he didn't have a bit of self - interest, I wouldn't dare to take this medicine," he thought. Thanks to the secret medicine from Tianmen Mountain, his body was still in good condition, and he could continue to rule the country.
"Summon Concubine Ying and Concubine Rong to the palace!" The eunuch's shrill voice echoed through the bedroom.
The emperor was waiting for the young and beautiful concubines.
When the others at the palace banquet heard the news that the emperor was favoring the concubines, the crown prince's face turned terrifyingly gloomy. The queen gave a signal to the palace maid and sent the crown prince back to the Eastern Palace on the pretext that he was drunk. As for herself, she looked disgusted.
Zhongli Mingye was more concerned about the pills his father had been taking. If they were related to Tianmen Mountain, he had to find out the truth.