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

Yang Ling nodded upon hearing this, "Aunt, don't worry, I'll take care of everything."

"Mm." Murong Jin nodded with a smile. She wasn't worried about Nangong Che's attitude because she had already decided to marry Yang Ling.

Murong Jin followed Yang Ling to the entrance of the Imperial Study, where the guards stopped them. "Prince Rui and Princess Rui, please show us the imperial edict."

Yang Ling smiled, revealing her teeth, and said, "Take it." Then she took out an imperial edict from her sleeve and tossed it to the guard.

The guard respectfully accepted the imperial edict with both hands. Upon opening it, his face turned deathly pale. He hurriedly presented it with both hands, saying, "Your Highness, please forgive me. This servant was unaware that Your Highness was to enter the palace to meet the Emperor. Please punish me, Your Highness."

Murong Jin's heart skipped a beat when he saw the guard's reaction. He looked up at Yang Ling, wondering if there was something fishy about the imperial edict.

Yang Ling took the imperial edict and examined it carefully. After confirming it was genuine, he snorted coldly, "I doubt you'd dare impersonate this young master." Then he turned to the guards and said indifferently, "Hurry up and lead the way!"

The guard breathed a sigh of relief as if he had been granted a pardon, and hurriedly led Yang Ling and Murong Jin into the imperial study. "Young Master Rui, Princess Rui, please wait a moment, this servant will inform them immediately."

Yang Ling nodded, "Yes, go and come back quickly."

The guard responded and hurriedly ran into the imperial study. Not long after, he returned and said, "Reporting to Prince Rui, His Majesty summons Prince Rui to an audience."

Upon hearing this, Murong Jin's heart skipped a beat. She had expected Nangong Che to avoid her, but she hadn't expected him to avoid her altogether.

Yang Ling nodded, "Mm." Then she strode towards the Imperial Study.

Murong Jin slowly stood up and followed behind Yang Ling, her heart filled with mixed feelings. Regardless of her past or present life, this was the first time she had stepped into this magnificent palace full of power.

Murong Jin followed Yang Ling into the imperial study, where the majestic emperor sat before her.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects." Murong Jin curtsied.

Nangong Che looked up, his gaze falling on Murong Jin, then shifted his gaze to Yang Ling and said calmly, "Rise."

Murong Jin straightened up, glanced at the mountain of memorials piled on the dragon desk out of the corner of his eye, and frowned.

Nangong Che looked at Yang Ling and asked, "Yang Ling, you just came back from Beiling, why are you back in the palace so soon?"

Yang Ling's lips curled into a mocking smile. "If the Imperial Uncle can imprison and place the Imperial Sister-in-law under house arrest, why can't the Nephew enter the palace to meet the Emperor? What does Your Majesty think?"

Upon hearing this, Nangong Che's expression changed slightly, and his sharp eyes swept over Yang Ling, who was kneeling before the dragon table.

Yang Ling was not afraid of Nangong Che's gaze at all, and a faint smile still appeared on her lips.

Upon hearing this, Murong Jin frowned even more deeply. She never expected Nangong Che to do something so absurd.

Murong Jin recalled the days when he was imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice's jail, where he had to take care of everything himself, from eating and drinking to relieving himself and sleeping. He had to be on high alert even if a fly flew into the cage. It was a truly unpleasant experience.

And now, he wants to put her under house arrest?

Nangong Che was silent for a moment, his tone slightly weary, "I'm just worried about your safety."

"Hehe..." Yang Ling laughed arrogantly twice after hearing this, "Uncle is really considerate of his younger brother. Unfortunately, his younger brother is flattered."

Looking at Yang Ling's unbridled manner, Nangong Che felt a surge of anger. "Yang Ling, I do not wish for you to interfere in my feud with the Crown Prince, nor do I wish to hear any more rumors."

"Rumors? What rumors?" Yang Ling sneered, looking at Nangong Che with mockery. "Uncle, your words are strange. Isn't it a fact that the Crown Prince plotted rebellion, murdered his father, and usurped the throne?"

"Yang Ling, that's enough!" Nangong Che finally couldn't help but roar.

Yang Ling raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "What? Is Imperial Uncle afraid?"

Nangong Che snorted coldly, his eyes flashing with a chilling light. "Yang Ling, don't forget, your surname is Nangong!"

Yang Ling shrugged and spread his hands. "So what? Is Imperial Uncle trying to force his younger brother to bear the infamy of murdering the emperor and seizing the throne?"

"That's not what I meant."

"Oh? Since that's not what you meant, then what exactly are you trying to say?" Yang Ling crossed his arms and looked at Nangong Che with great interest. He wanted to see what tricks he was up to.

"Yang Ling, give up. I promised the late emperor I wouldn't harm you in the slightest." Nangong Che closed his eyes, his voice filled with weariness.

Murong Jin was stunned upon hearing this; Nangong Che was indeed no ordinary person.

Yang Ling was the late emperor's only grandson. Before his death, the late emperor entrusted him with taking good care of Yang Ling. Although Nangong Che agreed on the surface, he would never allow anyone to threaten his position, let alone harm Yang Ling.

"Is Imperial Uncle begging me?" Yang Ling narrowed his phoenix eyes, a playful smile playing on his lips.

"I am advising you." Nangong Che opened his sharp, hawk-like eyes, a bloodthirsty glint in them. "Yang Ling, I have already been very merciful. I will not let the Crown Prince die so painfully."

Yang Ling burst into laughter after hearing this, "Hahaha, the Crown Prince? Imperial Uncle is really delusional! He committed regicide, and he still wants to save his life? That's just wishful thinking!"

Nangong Che pursed his thin lips and looked at Yang Ling, "Yang Ling, you are a smart person, you know that I don't like being threatened."

"Heh, then you should know, Imperial Uncle, that what I hate most is being threatened!" Yang Ling's smile vanished, his eyes turning icy as he stared at Nangong Che. "If you know what's good for you, Imperial Uncle, I might spare your life. Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite!"

Nangong Che's face turned ashen, his fist clenched and then slowly relaxed. "Yang Ling, I am only advising you to think twice because of our uncle-nephew relationship."

Yang Ling scoffed, "Heh, Imperial Uncle, there's no need for pretense. I have no uncle-nephew relationship with you!"

Murong Jin sighed inwardly. So, her uncle was such a proud person.

Upon hearing this, Nangong Che's face turned pale and then red. "Yang Ling, you are truly stubborn!"

Yang Ling scoffed disdainfully, "Uncle, you're wrong. You're not just stubborn, you're utterly stupid!"

Nangong Che gritted his teeth and glared at Yang Ling, "Yang Ling, I'm giving you a chance. If you stop now, I can let bygones be bygones. But if you remain obstinate, don't blame me for turning ruthless!"

As soon as Nangong Che finished speaking, Yang Ling's pupils suddenly contracted, and a chilling aura emanated from his body, as if the surrounding air had frozen.

After a long silence, Yang Ling suddenly chuckled coldly twice, then asked in a chilling voice, "Royal brother, do you think you have the right to utter the words 'heartless and ruthless'?"

Nangong Che's face stiffened, and he remained silent.

Murong Jin was also shocked to hear this, never expecting that Yang Ling would call Nangong Che "brother".

Looking at the flamboyant and unrestrained young man in his red robes, she was reminded of his thin and lonely figure in the Ministry of Justice prison, and a flood of emotions overwhelmed her.

Murong Jin suddenly felt a sense of relief that she had chosen to save him back then; otherwise, she would never have seen Yang Ling again today.

"Uncle, is there anything else you wish to say? If not, please leave!"