TPSC 07

Chapter 7

Sleeping at midnight, getting up at 2 a.m., and then sleeping a few more hours afterward.

And I’m supposed to remember your kindness and devote myself to you with absolute loyalty?

Damn it. The Crown Prince is sick—and seriously sick at that. Beyond saving. They should just bury him already.

Chu Moli glanced at Shen Yin with amusement. Shen Yin’s grip on the Guiyin Blade had tightened so hard that the joints of his fingers had turned white.

It was obvious that he was furious.

At that moment, Steward Sun drove the carriage over.

“Your Highness, the carriage is ready.”

Chu Moli nodded.

“Good. You may return.”

Then he lightly tapped Shen Yin with his folding fan.

“You drive.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Yong City was the imperial capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the seat of the Son of Heaven himself.

Naturally, it was prosperous and bustling.

Even Songbai Street, one of the least crowded streets in the city, was filled with streams of people moving shoulder to shoulder.

Fortunately, Great Zhou was a powerful nation and had long since established roads specifically for horse-drawn carriages.

Shen Yin sat outside the carriage, guiding it toward the General’s Manor.

Inside the carriage, Chu Moli lifted a corner of the curtain with his folding fan and said calmly:

“Faster.”

“The second young lady of the General’s Manor is holding her birthday banquet during the Wei Hour. I need to arrive before then.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Hyah!”

Shen Yin snapped the reins.

Now you know how to hurry? Weren’t you insisting on walking just a moment ago?

If you’d spent less time tormenting me, we’d already be sitting comfortably in the General’s Manor by now.

Of course, Chu Moli had no way of knowing Shen Yin’s internal complaints.

The carriage sped along the road and finally arrived at the General’s Manor just before one in the afternoon.

Many carriages were already parked outside.

Even the stone guardian lions at the entrance had been decorated with red silk ribbons.

It was clear how much the General’s family doted on their Second Miss.

Shen Yin guided the carriage to the side and parked it before jumping down.

“Your Highness, we’ve arrived.”

The curtain was lifted by a long, elegant hand with distinct knuckles.

Chu Moli bent slightly and stepped out.

Shen Yin quickly brought over a mounting stool and supported one of the Crown Prince’s arms as he descended.

Once on the ground, Chu Moli released Shen Yin’s hand and snapped open his folding fan with a crisp smack.

“Let’s go.”

The two approached the entrance of the General’s Manor.

It was obvious that Chu Moli was deeply unpopular.

Even the gatekeeper of the General’s Manor dared to show the Crown Prince an unpleasant expression.

Still, perhaps someone had instructed him beforehand, or perhaps the manor did not yet wish to completely tear off all pretenses.

After an awkward pause, the gatekeeper ultimately bowed and allowed them inside.

Though “allowed inside” was perhaps too generous a description.

The moment they passed through the main gate, the gatekeeper simply abandoned them and went back to his own business.

Chu Moli casually waved his folding fan as he led Shen Yin toward what he assumed was the direction of the main hall.

A quarter of an hour later…

Just as Chu Moli was about to turn another corner, Shen Yin finally could not hold back any longer.

“Your Highness, the main hall is that way.”

Chu Moli stopped and turned to look at him.

“You knew?”

“Yes.”

“Then why didn’t you say anything earlier?”

Shen Yin lowered his head.

“This subordinate assumed that Your Highness knew the way.”

“Hmph.”

Chu Moli snorted coldly.

“When we get back, I’ll deal with you.”

“Yes, Your Highness. This subordinate knows his mistake.”

On the surface, Shen Yin respectfully admitted fault.

Inside, however, he was cursing nonstop.

Damn it.

You were the one confidently marching forward like you knew where you were going.

How was I supposed to know you were just blindly wandering around?

You’ve got a living map of Yong City standing right beside you, yet you never think to use him.

Everything somehow becomes my fault.

No wonder you’re a Crown Prince nobody likes.

Even while grumbling internally, Shen Yin maintained his position exactly two meters behind the Crown Prince.

Once they were heading in the correct direction, it didn’t take long before the lively main hall came into view.

Shen Yin was just preparing another round of silent complaints when—

A sudden gust of force shot toward the Crown Prince ahead of him.

Shen Yin’s brows furrowed.

In an instant, he lunged forward.

The Guiyin Blade flashed from its sheath.

Clang!

A stone the size of a fist was split cleanly in half midair.

The blade cut through it as effortlessly as slicing through soft mud.

“His Highness the Crown Prince is present. Who dares act so insolently?”

A burst of applause sounded.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

“Excellent skill.”

A young man dressed in flamboyant crimson robes emerged from a nearby path.

As he walked, he continued applauding.

His face radiated arrogance and disdain.

“Heh.”

“So what if the Crown Prince is here?”

“The person I’m looking to cause trouble for is the Crown Prince.”

As he spoke, he glanced behind him at the five or six guards accompanying him.

His entire posture screamed:

What are you going to do about it?

Chu Moli raised a hand and gently pushed Shen Yin aside.

Then he looked toward the man in red.

“Third Brother.”

“It’s been a long time.”

The moment Shen Yin heard that form of address, his eyes darkened.

There was only one person whom the Crown Prince could call “Third Brother”—

The Third Prince of the empire, Chu Yan.

Although Chu Yan was not favored by the Emperor, he possessed an exceptionally powerful maternal family.

The current Empress was his mother.

And just like the brilliant red clothing he always wore, Chu Yan’s personality was equally flamboyant and overbearing.

He gave face to no one.

Furthermore, Chu Yan had always believed that Crown Prince Chu Moli was the obstacle standing between him and the position of Crown Prince.

As a result, he delighted in creating problems for Chu Moli whenever possible.

Chu Yan strode directly up to Chu Moli.

Yet he didn’t even spare the Crown Prince a glance.

With an impatient wave of his hand, he shoved Chu Moli aside.

“Why is there always someone blocking my way?”

After saying that, he walked straight over to Shen Yin.

Lifting his chin proudly, he looked down at him from a position of superiority.

“What’s your name?”

“You’ve got impressive skills.”

“Come work for this prince.”

“What I can give you is something no one else can.”

The “no one else” he referred to was, of course, Crown Prince Chu Moli.