"Your Majesty, I don't think it's appropriate. I haven't fully recovered from my heart ailment, so I'm really not up to this task. However, I can recommend a candidate to Your Majesty," Mu Shengze said as he looked at Mu Yanming, his tone dissatisfied.
Mu Shengze stared at Mu Yanming and scoffed, "Brother Wang, you don't look like someone suffering from a heart ailment. You know, my princess has been troubled by a heart ailment for years. She would gasp for breath even after saying a few more words. But I see that you're full of energy. I wonder which imperial physician diagnosed you with this heart ailment?"
Mu Yanming wasn't angry but rather smiled, "Your words are off the mark, Prince Rui. Even if it's the same illness, I've been on the battlefield for years. Do you think my health is worse than that of a young lady in the boudoir?"
Prince Rui was silenced by Mu Yanming's words. Mu Linyi couldn't stand it anymore. He slammed the imperial desk heavily, looked at Mu Yanming, and said, "This matter is settled. Regent, I'll give you half a month. I hope you can give me an explanation after half a month."
Mu Yanming let out a cold snort, flicked his sleeves, and left the imperial study.
Although Mu Linyi was angry, he didn't say much.
Mu Shengze couldn't hold back his temper when he saw Mu Yanming's attitude. He looked at Mu Linyi, pointed at the back of Mu Yanming who was leaving, and said,
"Father, Mu Yanming is becoming more and more disrespectful to you just because he has some achievements. Look at how arrogant he is! Why do you still tolerate him?"
Mu Linyi was already furious. Hearing what Mu Shengze said, he got even angrier. He picked up a stack of memorials and threw them at Mu Shengze.
"You also say that Mu Yanming is arrogant and disrespectful just because he has some achievements! Humph, why don't you show me some achievements? I won't even ask you to be compared with Mu Yanming. If you could be half as outstanding as him, I'd give you the right to be arrogant!"
Mu Shengze lowered his head and kept silent. Mu Linyi then left the imperial study with the support of Concubine Li.
Mu Shengze walked out of the imperial study and looked up at the sky. He understood that although the imperial jade seal was found in Prince Rui's Mansion, his father had given him great dignity today.
His father chose to turn a blind eye to this matter and let it pass.
He was walking on the long palace path and was about to leave the palace when a maid from the Queen's palace trotted up and stopped him.
"Your servant pays respects to Prince Rui. Her Majesty the Queen requests that Your Highness go to the central palace. She says there's an important matter to discuss."
Prince Rui followed the maid towards the Queen's residence.
When Mu Linyi passed by the imperial study, he suddenly stopped.
"Your Majesty, why do you look so worried?" Mu Linyi turned his head and looked at Concubine Li who was standing beside him. A rare bitter smile appeared on his face.
"Concubine Li, you go back and rest first. I want to be alone for a while."
Concubine Li curtsied and then turned around to leave, leaving only Mu Linyi and Eunuch Shu standing beside the railing in the imperial garden.
Scenes of playing in the imperial garden with his Crown Prince elder brother flashed through Mu Linyi's mind.
He and his elder brother were born in the same year. That year, another concubine also gave birth to a prince, so he was ranked third. But soon, that prince died prematurely.
His elder brother was born of the Queen, while he was born of a maid beside the Queen.
His elder brother was the high - ranking and legitimate eldest prince since birth, but although he was also a prince, their statuses were worlds apart. Because his mother was a maid, he was often laughed at, which made his character extremely inferior and gloomy.
His elder brother was naturally intelligent. Wherever he went, he was the center of attention. He could learn anything quickly and was the pride of heaven in everyone's eyes and the future crown prince of the country.
But at that time, he didn't understand. He didn't know that the originally fraternal relationship would turn out like that in the end.
At that time, their relationship was a simple brotherly affection. His elder brother would take him wherever he went. No matter who dared to insult him, his elder brother would always stand up for him.
At that time, they studied and practiced martial arts together. Most of the things they liked were the same. Although some people said that he deliberately imitated the eldest prince, he didn't care.
He even thought that after his elder brother ascended the throne, he could still be with his elder brother every day and always be his good younger brother, assisting him and sharing his worries.
But everything changed after that woman appeared.
His elder brother no longer took him wherever he went and no longer discussed national affairs with him.
He knew that his elder brother had fallen in love with that woman, but his elder brother didn't know that he also loved that woman.
From the first time he saw her, from the moment she casually tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, he fell in love with every frown and smile of that woman.
But she loved his elder brother. She followed his elder brother all day long.
Just like this, when they reached the age of twenty, his elder brother was named the Crown Prince, and she was naturally betrothed to his elder brother by imperial decree.
The woman he loved when he was in the bloom of youth became his sister - in - law just like this.
He hated his elder brother for taking away the woman he loved. He was jealous that his elder brother could have her completely.
Jealousy drove him crazy. He could feel that his hatred for his elder brother was getting deeper and deeper and was out of control.
Later, in order to compete with his elder brother and to win her back, he schemed to catch the eye of Prime Minister Gu. He made Prime Minister Gu betroth his daughter to him. He joined hands with Prime Minister Gu and secretly planned to seize the Crown Prince's position.
But at this time, she was pregnant with his elder brother's child. His elder brother gradually put aside the affairs of the court and accompanied her all day long. He softened his heart for a moment and decided to wait until she gave birth to the child before taking action, so as not to stimulate her and put her in danger.
Just like this, he kept delaying until Mu Yanming was four years old. He couldn't bear it anymore and killed his elder brother and forced his father.
He personally killed his elder brother who had taught him right from wrong and forced his father to tamper with the succession edict.
Just like this, he successfully ascended the throne. Originally, he had planned to secretly bring her and her son into the palace to support them. No matter what others said, as long as he could see her every day, he would be satisfied.
But unexpectedly, after his elder brother died, she had no will to live. She even ignored her own child and followed his elder brother in death.
That child was Mu Yanming.
Mu Yanming didn't look like his elder brother. His eyebrows and eyes resembled hers.
Especially those eyes. Every time he looked at Mu Yanming, he would be in a daze, thinking that he saw her.
However, Mu Yanming's eyes were cold. Her original eyes were not. They were gentle and bright.
But the look in her eyes when she died in front of him at the end was as cold as Mu Yanming's.
That look had been in his mind for more than a decade, and he still remembered it clearly.
Thinking of this, he suddenly let out a cold laugh. Shu Dezheng beside him bowed even lower.
He had served Mu Linyi for many years. Every year, Mu Linyi would stay in a daze in the imperial garden many times. He also knew the reason.
So, every time this happened, he wished he could disappear or crawl into a crack in the ground.
Because Mu Linyi would always ask him some strange questions, and he had to answer them.
"Shu Dezheng, do you think I asked for this?"