Seeing Mu Yanming had coaxed Atuke well, Mu Shengze stepped forward and gave him a thumbs - up in admiration.
"Brother Wang, you're really good at dealing with them!"
Mu Yanming shot him a sidelong glance. "I stayed in Beirong for three years. Atuke is the military advisor of the general on the front line. We've known each other for three years."
Only then did Mu Shengze suddenly realize. "No wonder I always felt that you two got along so well. It turns out you've had such a long - standing connection."
Just as they were talking, a galloping horse suddenly rushed over.
Hearing the sound, the two of them looked over. Mu Shengze was so frightened that he hid behind Mu Yanming. "Oh no, it's Eunuch Shu. Does Father know about this?"
Mu Yanming moved away in disgust, keeping a distance from him.
"It shouldn't be that fast. Don't be so panicked. You're making it seem like you have something to hide."
Realizing his overreaction, Mu Shengze coughed twice and straightened up.
Eunuch Shu's horse had already reached them.
He jumped off the horse and looked at Mu Shengze with a strange expression.
Bowing slightly and speaking in a shrill voice, he said, "Your Highness, the Prince of Rui, this old servant is ordered by the Emperor to summon you and the Regent to enter the palace to pay homage to His Majesty."
Mu Shengze stepped forward and asked with a smile, "Eunuch Shu, do you know what Father wants to talk to me about?"
Eunuch Shu gave an embarrassed smile.
— Oh, Your Highness, don't you know what it's about yourself!!!
Not getting an answer, Mu Shengze's heart was pounding like a drum, about to jump out of his throat.
"Let's go, Your Highnesses."
...
Bai Ke led the Regent's carriage over. Mu Shengze then followed the Regent's carriage into the palace.
Along the way, he was so restless that he didn't know whether to stand or sit comfortably.
Mu Yanming finally couldn't bear it anymore. He scolded in a low voice, "Look at you. Is this how a future crown prince should behave?"
Stung by his words, Mu Shengze sat still like a statue.
When they arrived at the palace, the two walked towards the imperial study.
Mu Shengze started to panic again.
"Brother Wang, you have to help me smooth things over later!"
Mu Yanming was really annoyed by his chatter and quickened his pace forward.
The faster Mu Yanming walked, the faster Mu Shengze's heart beat.
He cursed secretly in his heart: Damn it, this barbarian from Beirong. If he had known this, he wouldn't have fought. He didn't know what to say when he saw the Emperor later!
When they reached the imperial study, Bao Lai, Eunuch Shu's little apprentice, blocked Mu Shengze outside the door.
"Your Highness, the Prince of Rui, please wait a moment. The Emperor said that the Regent should go in first."
Mu Yanming walked in.
Mu Linyi was sitting on the upper seat, with Concubine Li reclining beside him.
When Concubine Li saw Mu Yanming come in, she raised her eyebrows at him.
He lowered his eyes and pretended not to see.
"Tell me, what exactly happened today?" The Emperor's face turned alternately blue and purple. It was extremely colorful.
But upon hearing the Emperor's words, Mu Yanming didn't know where to start.
"Your Majesty, this subject was not present when the Prince of Rui fought with the envoy, so I don't know what happened..."
The Emperor was so angry that he swept all the memorials in front of him onto the ground, and even the ginseng tea brought by Concubine Li was spilled.
"My love, are you okay? Did you get burned?"
He held Concubine Li's hand and blew on it gently.
"Your Majesty, this concubine is fine. Your Majesty, don't be angry with the Prince of Rui anymore. Children need to be taught patiently."
Hearing her words, Mu Linyi liked her even more. After experiencing so much harassment from the Queen, she could still speak up for the Queen's son.
She was truly a rare and good woman.
Mu Yanming coughed slightly, pulling Mu Linyi's attention back.
Hearing Mu Yanming's voice, Mu Linyi turned to look at him, and then ordered the little eunuch beside him, "Summon that useless thing to me."
The Prince of Rui had been waiting anxiously outside the door for a long time.
Hearing the eunuch's summons, he quickly rushed in.
"Your son pays homage to Father."
Before he could finish the salute, a memorial was thrown at his head by Mu Linyi.
"You useless thing! I told you to receive envoys from other countries, but what did you do? You even fought with the envoy. You're really something!"
Mu Shengze covered his head and didn't dare to breathe loudly.
"Father, please listen to your son's explanation. It's not what you think. That envoy was really too much. Do you know?"
The Emperor sneered and pointed at Mu Shengze. "Come on, I'll listen to your explanation. I'd like to see what excuses you can come up with!"
Mu Shengze exaggeratedly told the whole story, and almost made the Emperor faint with anger.
Concubine Li rubbed the Emperor's chest and shouted in panic, "Your Majesty, are you okay?"
Mu Shengze was startled. He crawled on all fours towards the Emperor. "Father, are you okay?"
Mu Linyi raised his hand to support his forehead. Seeing Mu Shengze come to him, he kicked him. Mu Shengze wasn't prepared and was kicked to the ground, hitting the antique shelf beside him.
He hurt his lower back and grimaced in pain.
Mu Linyi was even more angry when he saw his sorry state.
He felt as if fire was about to burst out of his forehead.
Looking at Mu Yanming again, he was standing there upright, with a cold expression and an air of arrogance. Although he was different from his kind - hearted father, they each had their own charisma.
Unlike his sons, who were all like good - for - nothings. Nothing could be done well when handed over to them.
Well, Mu Yanming had received envoys for three years, and he had done an excellent job every year.
This year, finally, he had a heart disease, and Mu Linyi could gradually deprive him of his power. But this useless son, just two days after taking over.
On the first day, he was kidnapped. On the second day, he beat up the envoy.
It was simply driving him crazy.
Thinking of this, the anger in his chest became even more suffocating. He picked up a stack of memorials and threw them at Mu Shengze.
Mu Shengze knew he was in the wrong and didn't dare to dodge at all. He just stood there motionless, allowing the Emperor to vent his anger.
But seeing him silent and motionless, Mu Linyi became even more angry.
He shouted loudly, "You useless thing! Why are you so useless now? Weren't you quite capable when you were fighting with the envoy? Shout! Fight with me! Come on, fight with me. Come here."
Mu Shengze knew that he had really angered the Emperor this time. He knelt on the ground with a thud. The sound made it seem painful.
"Your Majesty, the people of Beirong are always like this. They speak directly without beating around the bush, so they may have offended the Prince of Rui, which is why the fight broke out. But before this subject came, the envoy had already been appeased. So, Your Majesty, don't be too angry. You might hurt your body."
After hearing what Mu Yanming said, Mu Linyi's complexion improved a bit.
Mu Shengze finally breathed a sigh of relief, but then he got even angrier!
— If Mu Yanming had said earlier that he had appeased the envoy, would Father have beaten him so severely? He must have done it on purpose!