The carefree sixth prince, my father respectfully invites me to ascend the throne.

“I’ll go with you.” Yang Ling put down her brush, stood up and said to Murong Jin, “I’m worried that Nangong Che will do something desperate, so you need someone to protect you when you enter the palace.”

Murong Jin raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. How come this man wasn't afraid at all what Nangong Che might do to him?

"Don't worry, I will have Mo Dong and Mo Xi come to the palace with me."

Yang Ling nodded in agreement.

After having breakfast, the two set off. Mo Dong and Mo Xi were already waiting outside the inn on their horses.

Yang Ling led the horse and followed Murong Jin into the palace without any hindrance.

"Greetings, Prince Rui and Princess Rui." As soon as Murong Jin and Yang Ling stepped into the Imperial Study, a eunuch respectfully greeted them.

Nangong Che raised his eyes, his gaze sharp. "Rise."

Murong Jin followed behind Yang Ling with her head down, silently watching Nangong Che's profile.

Nangong Che wore a magnificent black brocade robe, his jet-black hair flowing like a waterfall was tied up only with a jade crown, his handsome features were cold and aloof, with sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, a straight nose, and slightly upturned, thin red lips, showing a touch of devilish charm.

This was the man she once loved, but now she hated him to the core.

Nangong Che seemed to sense Murong Jin's presence and slowly shifted his gaze to Murong Jin.

Their eyes met, each with their own thoughts.

Murong Jin lowered her eyes to avoid Nangong Che's gaze.

When Nangong Che saw Murong Jin's actions, his pupils contracted, and his whole body was instantly filled with a fierce aura.

Murong Jin seemed oblivious to Nangong Che's unusual behavior and walked straight to the emperor standing before the imperial desk, saying, "Your Majesty, I pay my respects."

When Nangong Lin saw Murong Jin arrive, he waved with a smile and said, "No need for formalities, please sit down." After saying that, he turned to the eunuch next to him and ordered him to serve breakfast.

After expressing their gratitude, Murong Jin and Yang Ling sat down to the right of Nangong Lin.

"I discussed this with my elder brother yesterday. He said that if you need anything, just ask, and I will not hesitate to ask," Nangong Lin said slowly as he poured tea for Murong Jin.

Murong Jin paused, holding the cup. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Nangong Lin smiled and said, "No need to be so polite. You are my only sister-in-law, and I should cherish you." He then glanced at Yang Ling and said, "A-Ling is a very intelligent child. You should enjoy your time with him."

Murong Jin almost choked on his tea when he heard this. Why did Nangong Lin keep bringing Yang Ling up with him?

After Nangong Lin finished speaking, he noticed that Murong Jin's expression was not good and asked in confusion, "Does Your Majesty have something difficult to say?"

Murong Jin coughed a few times to cover his embarrassment, "It's nothing."

Seeing her unpleasant expression, Nangong Lin assumed that something he had said had upset her, so he immediately explained, "You are my only sister-in-law, and I will treat you even better in the future."

Yang Ling looked at Murong Jin and frowned, saying, "Uncle, Jin'er is not ungrateful. She doesn't need your special treatment."

When Nangong Lin heard Yang Ling defend Murong Jin, his expression immediately turned displeased, but he dared not show his anger because Murong Jin was present.

Murong Jin couldn't help but twitch his lips as he listened to the father and son's back-and-forth banter.

She suddenly felt fortunate that, at least Yang Ling, although he liked her, wasn't the kind of person who would pester her relentlessly.

Murong Jin composed herself and said to Nangong Lin, "Your Majesty, please rest assured, I will not let you down."

Upon hearing this, Nangong Lin breathed a sigh of relief, patted Yang Ling's arm, and instructed, "A-Ling, protect your sister-in-law well and don't let anyone hurt her."

Yang Ling nodded solemnly.

Murong Jin secretly breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Nangong Lin and Yang Ling were no longer pursuing the matter of his unauthorized annulment of his engagement with Nangong Yao.

"In that case, I will arrange for you to enter the palace."

Upon hearing this, Yang Ling looked at Nangong Lin in surprise, "Uncle Emperor?" They were clearly there to cause trouble for Nangong Che, so why did they suddenly want Murong Jin to enter the palace?

"Your Imperial Uncle has his own arrangements, so you don't need to worry." Nangong Lin smiled mysteriously, indicating that he didn't need to ask any more questions.

Seeing Nangong Lin's smile, Yang Ling gave up.

Three days later, Murong Jin and Yang Ling entered the palace.

Murong Jin followed Yang Ling to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, only to find it completely empty.

Just then, a young eunuch ran out, knelt down and gave a deep bow to Murong Jin and Yang Ling, saying, "This servant greets Princess Rui and Prince Rui."

Murong Jin nodded slightly. "Rise, there's no need for formalities."

Upon hearing this, the young eunuch slowly got up.

"Where is your master?" Yang Ling glanced at the eunuch and asked.

The young eunuch lowered his head and answered tremblingly, "Your Highness, this servant does not know."

Yang Ling frowned. "Your master isn't here?" Didn't he issue an imperial decree summoning Murong Jin to the palace? Was he just playing with him?

The young eunuch replied in a trembling voice, "Your Highness, this servant does not know."

Upon hearing this, Yang Ling's face darkened. "Hmph! Do you think I'm stupid? I don't even know where your master is?"

The young eunuch was so frightened that he knelt down and kowtowed, begging for mercy, "This servant dares not deceive Prince Rui, His Majesty is indeed not in the palace."

Upon hearing this, Yang Ling became even angrier. "Your master isn't here, so why did you send me to deliver the imperial decree?!" She then kicked the eunuch.

The young eunuch was kicked and cried out in pain, "Ouch! Prince Rui, please don't hit me!"

"Shut up, you're so noisy!" Yang Ling shouted impatiently.

The young man pouted, feeling wronged, and dared not utter another word.

"Young Master Rui, this young eunuch was only following orders, please calm down!" Murong Jin said, trying to persuade Yang Ling when he saw how angry Yang Ling was.

Upon hearing Murong Jin's words, Yang Ling stopped what she was doing, glared at the eunuch, and said, "Get out!" The eunuch quickly took two steps back, afraid of being beaten, and said, "Young Master Rui, this servant will take his leave now."

"Hmm." Yang Ling waved her hand impatiently.

After the young eunuch left, Yang Ling looked at Murong Jin and asked, "Aunt, do you really think he's lying to us?"

Murong Jin nodded. "Not bad."

Yang Ling was taken aback by his words. "What do you mean?"

Murong Jin took a sip of hot tea to moisten his throat. "The Emperor doesn't want the Emperor to know that we've come to the capital, and he doesn't really want me to enter the palace either. So, I guess he deliberately sent the eunuch away and then hid."

Yang Ling suddenly realized what was going on.

Murong Jin looked around and saw no one else but the palace maids and eunuchs. “The Emperor must have a deeper meaning in doing this.”

"Deeper meaning?" Yang Ling raised an eyebrow and asked, "What deeper meaning?"

Murong Jin shook his head. "I can't think of anything specific right now." Murong Jin thought for a long time but couldn't come up with a solution, so he simply gave up.

"Forget it, we'll deal with whatever comes our way." Anyway, Nangong Chenyi has already sent people to investigate, so there will be results eventually.

After hearing this, Yang Ling sighed and said, "Uncle, you've gone a bit too far this time..."

"Let's hurry up and go find the Emperor," Murong Jin interrupted Yang Ling.