Ouyang Yue stared coldly at Ning Xihe, her expression tense, and anyone could tell that Ouyang Yue was extremely angry.
Ning Xihe was suddenly startled and speechless with fright. Just then, Chief Steward Changshun walked over and said with a smile, "Princess Mingyue, the Crown Prince and Consort Mu know that you suffered from heatstroke. They have asked me to prepare some cooling food for you. Please come with me, Princess Mingyue. I have also found the imperial physician to go to Princess Mingyue's place. In a while, the imperial physician will take Princess Mingyue's pulse to see if there are any aftereffects. Afterwards, according to the Crown Prince's wishes, a letter will also be sent to the Princess's residence regarding what happened to Princess Mingyue at the Crown Prince's residence."
Ouyang Yue's expression was grim. She stared at Chang Shun without speaking. Although Chang Shun was smiling on the surface, he was actually quite nervous inside. Ning Xihe had just said that someone had kidnapped Ouyang Yue at the Crown Prince's residence, and that Ning Xihe had been with the Crown Prince in the Crown Princess's room. If she had been following him, what did that mean? That the Crown Prince wanted to ruin her reputation. Even putting all that aside, even if Ouyang Yue intended to become the Crown Princess, if this kind of thing got out, it would severely damage her reputation. Even the Crown Prince himself would lose his reputation. How could he use such despicable means to possess Ouyang Yue? Did he even deserve to be the Crown Prince, the heir apparent?
Ouyang Yue turned to look at Ning Xihe, her voice sharp and cold: "Miss Ning, was what you just said true?"
Ning Xihe suddenly realized her words were impulsive. It was all because of these people; they had gone too far. She had acted rashly in a fit of anger and was immediately too frightened to speak. At that moment, Chang Shun raised his head, his expression icy as he looked at Ning Xihe, sending a chill down Ning Xihe's spine. Chang Shun's sudden appearance must have been at the Crown Prince's behest, or perhaps he feared the matter would escalate. Ning Xihe gritted her teeth, forcing a smile, and knelt on the ground with a thud: "This humble woman is guilty. I was under too much pressure before and suddenly lost my mind, talking nonsense. Please, Princess Mingyue, forgive my ramblings this time." This meant that everything before was false. But she had spoken so confidently, and many young ladies had heard her. Even if she admitted her mistake, they didn't believe it was truly a moment of confusion as Ning Xihe claimed. Could it be true?
Their eyes held a mixture of doubt and curiosity.
Ouyang Yue squinted at Ning Xihe, who was kneeling on the ground, only showing her the back of her dark head. Her voice grew colder: "You've really confused me. I have no memory of anything before I woke up on the grass. If you say you followed me, can you explain why I was outside and you were inside? And who took me away, and what was their purpose? If you explain clearly, I won't hold it against you."
Ning Xihe stiffened. Ouyang Yue was Princess Mingyue; how could they possibly try to cover it up with a few words and then dismiss it with a simple "I was confused"? That would only damage Ouyang Yue's reputation. Since it had happened, Ouyang Yue wouldn't let it go so easily: "This... I was truly confused for a moment, actually I... I..."
"What?!" Ouyang Yue suddenly shouted, startling Ning Xihe.
"It's because I really love the Crown Princess's courtyard. I was bored at the lotus pond, so I secretly went to the former Crown Princess's courtyard. I just didn't expect that I would fall asleep and... I would..." Ning Xihe wished she could bite off her tongue. She couldn't tell any more lies. She would have to use countless lies to cover up the previous one, and no matter what she did, she couldn't cover it up. Today, it was impossible for Ning Xihe to clear her name with her own explanation.
She and Baili Cheng were caught red-handed. Even with a hundred or a thousand mouths, she couldn't explain herself clearly. Now, Ouyang Yue was involved, making it even more difficult for her to explain. If she didn't incur the Crown Prince's wrath and Ouyang Yue's relentless pursuit, she would have to take full responsibility. In other words, she would have to admit that she had initiated the affair, leading to today's events. This was a last resort. Given Ning Xihe's arrogance, this would have been absolutely impossible before. However, with Ouyang Yue relentlessly pressing her and Chang Shun coldly watching her, she felt constantly threatened, forcing her to humble herself. She knew that offending both of them would mean she wouldn't even know how she died!
"Hmm? Didn't you just say you were following this princess?" Ouyang Yue frowned as she looked at Ning Xihe.
The latter gritted her teeth: "At first, I was following the princess, but later she wanted to take a different path for a walk. I don't know where she went, and it wasn't the same path I took afterward, so... so..."
"So you deliberately caused a misunderstanding to frame me, the princess?" Ouyang Yue suddenly shouted, her face cold.
Ning Xihe wished she could bite off her tongue, but did she have a better plan? She knew she was bound to offend one of Ouyang Yue or Baili Cheng today. From her observation, Ouyang Yue didn't get along well with the divorced Ning Shi, but she might be on good terms with Old Ning Shi. The relationship between the Ning family and Ouyang Yue was also very complicated. Yesterday, when she tried to befriend Ouyang Yue, she didn't give her much face. So she knew that if she followed the elders' wishes, it would be too difficult for her to gain Ouyang Yue's forgiveness or befriend her in the next five days. Now, it was just adding another layer of hostility, which didn't really matter much. But Baili Cheng was different. Today's events would eventually spread. With her status, she was destined to enter the Crown Prince's residence. In the future, the Crown Prince would be her everything. She couldn't afford to offend this future man. If she had to choose, it would be Ouyang Yue. She had to save face for Baili Cheng.
"Well done, truly well done." Ouyang Yue laughed angrily, glaring at Ning Xihe with gritted teeth. The other young ladies were also startled, their expressions turning amused as they looked at Ning Xihe. Some might have believed Ning Xihe's words, but others didn't. They all looked at her actions with amusement. Offending the princess of the court was truly unwise, especially since this princess was different from other princesses. Before she left home, her family had repeatedly warned her not to be enemies with Ouyang Yue, at least not outwardly. Yet Ning Xihe had put herself in this predicament; she was utterly foolish.
As for whether Ning Xihe shamelessly seduced the Crown Prince and then felt too ashamed to admit it, thus dragging Ouyang Yue along, or whether she genuinely followed Ouyang Yue, now that the parties involved have said so, they can't get any more information out of her. But they know Ning Xihe is in trouble.
Compared to Ouyang Yue, they now despise Ning Xihe, who caught them in bed with another man, even more. They had a hard time becoming the Crown Princess, but they had a chance as the Crown Prince's concubine. Now, they had lost both of their chances, so naturally they hated her!
Ouyang Yue smiled coldly, looking at Ning Xihe's pale face: "This princess didn't know Miss Ning was so bold, disregarding all scruples. Very well, this princess admires your courage. Your actions would have been enough to warrant execution!" Ning Xihe's face turned deathly pale upon hearing this, but Ouyang Yue coldly continued, "However, because of your courage, this princess will spare you this time. Steward Changshun, have someone keep an eye on Miss Ning. From now on, make her kneel outside this princess's door. No matter if she's sick, faints, or it's windy or rainy, she's not allowed to leave until the selection process is over. Miss Ning, are you willing to accept this lenient punishment?" Though it was said to be a question, it didn't really give Ning Xihe any choice whatsoever.
Ning Xihe quickly replied, "Thank you, Princess, for sparing my life. Thank you for your forgiveness. Thank you, Princess Mingyue. I am willing."
Ouyang Yue glanced at her, then at the ladies present, her expression suddenly changing to a serious and cold one: "This princess hopes that today is the first and last time. If it happens again, it will be considered disrespectful, disrespectful, or even maliciously framing the princess, and will be punished without mercy!"
Upon hearing this, the young ladies were too frightened to speak. Ning Xihe still had a complicated relationship with Ouyang Yue, and they could be considered cousins. This was a mercy shown to her. If they had fallen into Ouyang Yue's hands, they would have had no chance of survival.
"Hmph! How shameless! She's dragged us down with her." The young ladies were furious with Ning Xihe.
Ning Xihe knelt on the ground, but felt an unusual chill on her back, as if she had just come out of the water and was now completely wet.
Just then, two servants from the Crown Prince's residence came over and immediately dragged Ning Xihe away with Ouyang Yue. As soon as Ouyang Yue and Li Rushuang returned to the courtyard and entered the house, Ning Xihe was slammed to the ground and forced to kneel down. Ning Xihe immediately cried out in pain, her face unusually pale. It hurt, it hurt so much! These people actually used such force! She was a delicate young lady! They didn't even hold back! It really hurts!
"It's absolutely outrageous! What's wrong with Ning Xihe? She's even a cousin of yours, yet she dares to do such a despicable thing! I never would have guessed that this seemingly gentle and refined young lady could be so shameless and lowly in private. I'm so angry! I'm so angry!" Li Rushuang paced back and forth in anger, constantly cursing. Although Ning Shi had been driven out of the family, there was still the old Ning Shi; it was impossible to completely sever the marriage alliance.
Ouyang Yue's relationship with the General's Mansion was indeed good. Before her identity was exposed, many people witnessed how kind Ouyang Zhide was to her. Although she wasn't his biological daughter, Ouyang Yue still felt a responsibility to the General's Mansion and couldn't forget her roots. But what had the Ning family done? Ning Xihe, in particular, had gone too far.
Ouyang Yue simply smiled and let Li Rushuang vent her anger, but a cold glint flashed in her eyes. She took out a bronze mirror and examined the spot on her face where she had been stabbed by the hairpin. It was barely noticeable unless you looked closely, but there was still a small indentation. A couple more applications of medicine should heal it, but this only fueled Ouyang Yue's rage. She had never felt any particular liking or dislike for Ning Xihe, treating her normally without any intention of forming a special bond, but neither had she considered making enemies. There was no enmity between them, yet Ning Xihe had dared to try and disfigure her. Ning Xihe was far more vicious than she appeared; how could she not teach such a person a lesson?
Even if she falls out with Ning Xihe this time, it doesn't matter. She's not afraid of trouble. If Ning Xihe dares to provoke her, she'll have to bear the consequences!
Outside the Imperial Study, a man hurried in, but two palace servants immediately blocked his way: "Seventh Prince, please wait. His Majesty is inside reviewing memorials and has ordered that no one is allowed to enter or leave unless there is something else. This is not over yet."
Today, Baili Chen was dressed in an exquisite white prince's robe, with a dragon soaring and exhaling clouds on his body, making him appear even more flamboyant, sharp, and exceptionally noble. Baili Chen usually did not like to wear the prince's robes, and the two palace servants were puzzled when they saw this, but they dared not disobey Emperor Mingxian's order.
Baili Chen called out directly, "Father, I have important matters to discuss with you. I request to see you." Since he couldn't get in, he might as well call out.
The two palace servants exchanged a glance, their faces turning bitter as they said, "Seventh Prince, please be quiet and don't make things difficult for us."
"Father, it is your son." Baili Chen ignored them and continued to call out. Although the two palace servants were somewhat annoyed, they did not dare to forcibly stop Baili Chen. Baili Chen was the emperor's most favored prince. The emperor might not really do anything to Baili Chen, but if they offended Baili Chen, they would be in trouble in the future.
"father……"
"Squeak!" Baili Chen was about to call out again when the door to the Imperial Study opened, and Fu Shun, the most trusted eunuch of Emperor Mingxian, came out with a smile and said, "Seventh Prince, His Majesty invites you in."
Baili Chen immediately nodded and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Fushun."
"Not at all, not at all," Fu Shun replied with a smile. The two palace servants breathed a sigh of relief. Fu Shun turned to look at them and said, "Keep guarding. Don't let anyone in, and don't let anyone make a sound."
The two palace servants immediately bowed their heads in response, feeling a sense of relief. They had indeed done the right thing; the Seventh Prince was indeed greatly favored by the Emperor. The Imperial Study was a place where no noise was allowed. Emperor Mingxian was very serious when he was working. Once, a minister had something to report and insisted on seeing Emperor Mingxian in the Imperial Study. In the end, the Emperor Mingxian had him flogged and demoted him. Since then, no one had dared to barge in like that. Indeed, there was a big difference between being favored and not being favored.
Baili Chen strode into the Imperial Study. The Imperial Study was very large, with display cabinets all around displaying various precious jade artifacts. In front were rows of bookshelves, filled with various policy and historical books, as well as military strategy books. Emperor Mingxian's golden desk was directly opposite the door. At this moment, Emperor Mingxian, dressed in a bright yellow casual robe, was reviewing memorials with his head down. On the left and right sides of the desk were also memorials with comments and those without comments.
Emperor Mingxian was engrossed in reading a memorial, seemingly oblivious to what it was looking at, but he didn't write anything. Baili Chen entered, intending to speak, but then fell silent. Those who had survived in the palace knew exactly what to say and when to speak; he shouldn't disturb Emperor Mingxian now.
At this moment, Eunuch Fu Shun also came over and stood beside Emperor Mingxian, his head lowered. For a moment, only the soft breathing of the three people could be heard in the imperial study, and no one spoke for a long time.
Emperor Mingxian frowned, then relaxed, picked up a vermilion brush and wrote something before closing the memorial and putting it away. He then looked up at Baili Chen. Baili Chen disliked wearing court robes and always avoided attending court sessions, so even Emperor Mingxian rarely saw him in formal attire. Now, dressed in formal attire, Baili Chen appeared even more handsome and noble, with an upright posture. Emperor Mingxian looked at Baili Chen's face, his eyes seeming to momentarily lose focus, before he coldly snorted and said, "What's all this commotion outside? Have you forgotten the rules I've taught you over the years? It's simply outrageous! You're not young anymore; don't you know how to be more composed? Why don't you learn from your third brother? He's the best example!"
As he spoke, Emperor Mingxian's expression darkened. Baili Chen looked up at Emperor Mingxian for a long time without speaking. Emperor Mingxian then asked, "Speak, why did you insist on seeing me now?"
Baili Chen knelt down heavily with a "plop" and kowtowed three times earnestly to Emperor Mingxian. Then he raised his head and looked at Emperor Mingxian seriously, saying, "Father, your son loves Xuanyuan Yue. Please grant me a marriage with Princess Mingyue!"
☆、193 Fire at the Imperial Ancestral Temple (Monthly Pass~)
The hall was unusually quiet. After Baili Chen finished speaking, he knelt down on the ground without saying a word. Emperor Mingxian, who was in front of the imperial desk, stiffened slightly for a moment, then resumed his expressionless look at Baili Chen. He stared at Baili Chen for a long time without speaking. Baili Chen seemed to have expected Emperor Mingxian's reaction. He just knelt there quietly, as if he would kneel there forever if Emperor Mingxian did not speak.
Emperor Mingxian squinted at Baili Chen and said, "You are going to marry Xuanyuan Yue."
Baili Chen immediately nodded: "Yes, Father, I wish to marry Xuanyuan Yue."
Emperor Mingxian's voice was deep as he asked, "Do you know what Xuanyuan Yue represents right now?"
Baili Chen nodded and said, "Yes, Father, I understand. But all of that has nothing to do with me. I only want to marry Xuanyuan Yue, nothing more. I have no other thoughts."
“I have no other thoughts.” Emperor Mingxian looked at Baili Chen’s expression, but his eyes deepened as he said, “If you have no other thoughts, why can’t it be someone else?”
Baili Chen raised his head and looked at Emperor Mingxian frankly: "Then why was Mother Empress back then, Father? It couldn't have been anyone else."
"How dare you! What do you mean by this!" Emperor Mingxian's face darkened, and a cold killing intent flashed in his eyes.
Baili Chen's heart tightened, but a cold and mocking smile appeared on his lips: "Father, there is no power or benefit between Xuanyuan Yue and me. She is just Xuanyuan Yue, or even just Ouyang Yue. There are no complicated things between me and her. I just like her very much."
"Like? Do you even know what liking is? It's just a momentary impulse, just that you find her novel. I know your nature; you're the type to tire of the old and crave the new. And how long do you know this liking will last? Let me tell you, I have my own decision about Xuanyuan Yue. I won't agree to anyone's marriage proposal. You may leave." Emperor Mingxian looked coldly at Baili Chen, showing no sign of backing down.
Baili Chen remained kneeling on the ground: "Father, I will definitely marry Xuanyuan Yue, no matter who tries to stop me."
"Oh, so you're threatening me, Baili Chen? Don't think that just because I don't usually care about you, you can act with impunity. You have no right to refuse my orders. Get out of here, and don't mention this matter again!" Emperor Mingxian said coldly, looking at Baili Chen's lack of tact.
Baili Chen's face also showed a hint of coldness as he said, "Father, I have never asked you for anything since I was a child. But this time, I am asking you for a favor." Baili Chen lowered his head, his back straight, but his attitude was much more respectful than before.
Emperor Mingxian's lips curled slightly: "I have already made my decision regarding Xuanyuan Yue's matter. You do not need to say anything more. You may leave."
Baili Chen stiffened, then suddenly raised his head, a hint of hurt flashing in his eyes before he quickly concealed it: "Father, Xuanyuan Yue once saved my life. She has been kind to me, and I will definitely marry her to repay her kindness."
Emperor Mingxian nodded: "The third prince has already mentioned this matter, and I understand. If there is nothing else, you may leave."
Baili Chen carefully observed Emperor Mingxian's expression, only to find the latter completely unmoved. His heart turned cold instantly. He had always believed that if his third brother pleaded for him, and he then proposed marriage, there would be a 90% chance of success. Why was his father so insistent? Even the Xuanyuan family's military power couldn't be rejected so coldly. Baili Chen knelt stiffly on the ground, his head slightly lowered, seemingly intending to remain in this stalemate with Emperor Mingxian until the emperor agreed.
Emperor Mingxian's expression grew even colder: "Get out!"
"Father!" Baili Chen cried out unwillingly.
"Get out! If you dare say another word, I'll lock you up for six months and see what you can do then!" Emperor Mingxian waved his hand, and Eunuch Fushun came over and whispered, "Seventh Prince, His Majesty is in a bad mood right now. You should leave first. If you speak or act now, it will only backfire."
Baili Chen looked at Emperor Mingxian, his eyes gradually narrowing, and said only, "Father, I will only ask you for this one thing in my life." After saying that, he stood up and left without looking back.
"Smash!" Emperor Mingxian slammed the inkstone on the table to the ground. Eunuch Fushun hung his head and dared not utter a word. Emperor Mingxian sneered, "He's really spoiled. He's increasingly disregarding me. He's forgotten who he got to where he is today!" Emperor Mingxian was somewhat angry and resentful, but after cursing twice, he fell silent and said, "Come out."
Then, a man slowly walked out from the right screen room of the Imperial Study. He was dressed in a brown robe and walked steadily. He whispered to Emperor Mingxian, "Father."
Emperor Mingxian looked at the man and said, "You've seen it too, this seventh prince is becoming more and more unruly."
The man paused for a moment, then said, "Father, Seventh Brother is a man of great loyalty and righteousness, which is truly rare. Ouyang Yue saved his life twice, so how could Seventh Brother not be moved? It is only natural that Seventh Brother would do such a thing."
"So what? Born into the royal family, there are many things that are not up to her to decide. She is just a woman, yet she dares to defy me like this. The fact that I am not punishing the seventh prince is already showing him leniency." Emperor Mingxian's voice grew increasingly cold.
The man looked at Emperor Mingxian, not continuing the topic, and slowly said, "Father, there is something else I haven't mentioned before?"
"What?"
"Does Father Emperor still remember when Mother bestowed a pair of gold bracelets upon Seventh Brother before her death?"
Emperor Mingxian was taken aback and remained silent for a long time. The man continued, "Father, the gold bracelet was given to Xuanyuan Yue by my seventh brother a long time ago. The two of them are indeed destined for each other. My seventh brother did not do it out of impulse or any other intention."
Emperor Mingxian looked at the man, narrowed his eyes, and then said, "But you must also be clear that the Xuanyuan family currently holds one-third of the military power in the Great Zhou Dynasty. I have never thought about taking back the military power, but I cannot. Do you know that if the seventh prince marries Xuanyuan Yue, he will become a stumbling block on your path and your greatest threat?"
The man kept his head down, and Emperor Mingxian couldn't see his expression. He only heard the man say, "Father, Seventh Brother is my own brother." After the man finished speaking, he looked up at Emperor Mingxian, who only coldly said to him, "Third Brother, you should also know that in the struggle for imperial power throughout history, how many brothers have turned against each other? In recent years, Seventh Brother's temperament has become increasingly strange. Can you guarantee that you fully understand him? With the help of the Xuanyuan Mansion, will he still help his older brother without any ambition?"
The Third Prince, Baili Zhi, looked at Emperor Mingxian as if he had a lot to say, but in the end he could only advise, "Father, I owe my seventh brother a great deal. I know him well, and I know that he is truly sincere this time. Please grant my request, Father."
Emperor Mingxian's expression suddenly turned cold: "How dare you! I am thinking of you, yet you are so stubborn. You should know that on the road ahead, if there is even the slightest thing that might hinder your path, you should do everything you can to eliminate it, instead of being so soft-hearted!"
Baili Zhi replied, “Father, if I cannot even trust my seventh brother, I really don’t know who else I can trust. My seventh brother was someone Mother repeatedly told me to take good care of before she died. I have never forgotten the pleading look in Mother’s eyes before she died, and I cannot fail her trust. My seventh brother has been doing his best for me all these years, and as his older brother, I am willing to do anything for him. My seventh brother has only ever asked me for one thing since he was a child, and I do not want to disappoint him.”
"You're really confused!" Emperor Mingxian said with a cold face, but his eyes flickered slightly.
"Please grant my request, Father. I understand your intentions, but if I trust the wrong person or am defeated in the future, it will be because my plans were inferior, and I will have no one to blame but myself. Since ancient times, the victor is king and the loser is villain; it is always the capable who prevail. If I do not have that ability, no matter how much help I receive, I will not be able to hold my position," Baili Zhi said in a low voice.
"You two are so close brothers, which makes me seem cold and heartless."
Baili Zhi immediately replied, "Your subject has absolutely no such intention."
"You may leave now." Emperor Mingxian waved his hand, dismissing Baili Zhi. Baili Zhi was taken aback, wanting to ask the emperor's intentions, but seeing the emperor's expression, he dared not say anything more. He knew Emperor Mingxian well; he was currently very agitated, so he immediately stepped back without daring to say anything more. If he said anything more at this time, it might only provoke Emperor Mingxian's annoyance and make things difficult for him. In any case, he had said what he needed to say, and for the time being, he had nothing more to say.
The door to the imperial study was tightly closed, but Emperor Mingxian sneered: "Fushun, you see? I've done so much, but in the end it seems like I've ruined their brotherly relationship. Isn't that ridiculous?"
Fu Shun immediately bowed his head and replied, "Your Majesty, it's just that the Third Prince and the Seventh Prince are temporarily confused. In time, they will understand that you are truly doing what's best for them."
Emperor Mingxian's eyes were very deep: "Originally, I intended to betroth Xuanyuan Yue to the third prince." Fu Shun was startled, looking at Emperor Mingxian as if he were talking to himself, but immediately lowered his head, not daring to interrupt. If Ouyang Yue was not qualified to marry a prince before, now that her reputation has spread throughout the continent and she has the backing of the Xuanyuan family, she is qualified. Moreover, this great help is something that even Emperor Mingxian values highly. "Hmph, that was my original thought, but now my thought has changed. Isn't the Crown Prince determined to have Xuanyuan Yue? I'm afraid the fifth prince can't stand it anymore. I want to see who can win in the end, and then I will bestow the marriage upon them."
Eunuch Fu Shun's heart skipped a beat. He secretly observed Emperor Mingxian's cold expression, utterly bewildered by the emperor's thoughts. As Emperor Mingxian's closest confidant, Fu Shun believed he understood the emperor better than most. Initially, he thought Emperor Mingxian favored the Seventh Prince, Baili Chen, but was that truly the case? And his words clearly indicated an intention to disrupt the selection process. What was his purpose? Eunuch Fu Shun dared not say that he understood Emperor Mingxian perfectly. He had witnessed firsthand the immense difficulties under which this emperor seized the throne, and thus, he naturally understood the depth of this emperor's cunning.
Baili Chen returned to Chenyu Palace with a gloomy expression, but he couldn't sit still. After a while, he straightened up and went to the Third Prince's Chengzhi Palace. No one stopped him. At this moment, Baili Chen was in no mood to announce his arrival. He rushed into the palace in three steps. Baili Zhi was sitting in the main hall looking at him. Baili Chen immediately said, "Third brother, Father..." As he spoke, Baili Chen also looked depressed.
Baili Zhi nodded and said, "I understand about this matter. Don't worry. Even if Ouyang Yue is chosen as the Crown Princess, there is still room for maneuver. You can't lose your composure now."
Baili Chen frowned and said, "Third brother, do you know why Father is so insistent this time?"
Baili Zhi was taken aback, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "Seventh Brother, don't worry. Your brother has promised you this matter, and he will do his best to help you."
Baili Chen stared at Baili Zhi for a long time before suddenly saying, "As expected, Father Emperor hates me very much."
Baili Zhi was taken aback, and immediately said, "Seventh Brother, don't talk nonsense. If this kind of talk gets out, it will cause you a lot of trouble."
Baili Chen's face was full of sarcasm: "Third brother, I know very well that the more Father Emperor dotes on me on the surface, the more he actually hates me. He will never agree to anything I want. But this is the only hope and demand I have left in this world. If even this cannot be achieved, Third brother, I really don't know what I will do."
Baili Zhi's expression turned serious: "You must not act rashly. Things haven't come to that point yet. Xuanyuan Yue isn't stupid. Even if she knew, she would never want you to act impulsively. You are still young and have a bright future ahead of you. Things haven't come to that point yet. Listen to your elder brother and never act rashly."