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

General Liu slowly stood up, then secretly glanced at Murong Jin.

Xiao Yan looked at General Liu and said, "What happened today is something we should both know, but we must not tell a fourth person."

General Liu was taken aback upon hearing this, then realized who Xiao Yan was referring to, and hurriedly replied, "This subordinate understands."

Xiao Yan nodded, then picked up his chopsticks and placed a piece of braised pork into Murong Jin's bowl. "Try this braised pork."

Murong Jin nodded, picked up his chopsticks, elegantly picked up a piece of meat, put it in his mouth, and chewed slowly.

Seeing Murong Jin enjoying his meal, Xiao Yan smiled gently.

Murong Jin suddenly remembered something, "Your Highness, I just heard from Xiao Ling that General Liu is coming to see you today."

“Hmm,” Xiao Yan replied casually.

Murong Jin frowned. "What does he want with you?" Murong Jin knew that Xiao Yan had a good impression of General Liu, and the two worked together quite well, but General Liu's visit to Xiao Yan today was definitely not for anything good.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan raised his eyes, then looked at Murong Jin, and the two smiled at each other.

Meanwhile, Yang Ling, who had been in the military camp, had been frowning ever since he entered.

"Brother Ling'er, what's wrong?" Yang Ling's personal maid, Xiao Ling, asked worriedly upon seeing this.

Yang Ling shook her head, indicating that she shouldn't worry.

"Brother Ling'er, you're not angry because of that woman yesterday, are you?" Xiao Ling was even more worried when she saw Yang Ling acting so strangely.

Mentioning that woman made Yang Ling grit his teeth in hatred. It turned out that Yang Ling's mother had passed away many years ago, so he had no mother to care for him and was raised by his grandmother. He was his grandmother's only son, so from the time he was old enough to understand, he had lived a life of dependence on others.

And now, he was being threatened by a woman! Although it felt strange, he did feel it.

Yang Ling took a few deep breaths to suppress her anger, then calmly said, "It's nothing."

"Really? Brother Ling'er, you're not lying to me, are you?" Xiao Ling still seemed a little uneasy, because Yang Ling usually appeared calm and composed, but today...

Yang Ling nodded. "It's really nothing."

After comforting Xiaoling, Yang Ling returned to her room.

Yang Ling's room was quite far from his brothers' rooms because it was a room specially designed for him.

The decor here is very simple, yet it exudes a sense of understated luxury. Even the paintings hanging on the walls are rare, unique pieces from ancient times.

Yang Ling walked to the table and sat down, resting her hands on her forehead and closing her eyes to relax.

After a while, he opened his eyes and looked towards the door.

A dark figure flashed by and landed beside the table, bowing respectfully: "Greetings, Your Highness."

"What is it?" Yang Ling asked coldly.

Upon hearing this, the man in black hesitated for a moment before saying, "Your Highness, I have investigated and found out that the woman who saved you at the inn that day is the second daughter of the Prime Minister's family, Murong Jin."

Upon hearing the words "Prime Minister's Residence," Yang Ling immediately narrowed her eyes. "Prime Minister's Residence? You mean her name is Murong Jin?"

Upon hearing this, the man in black immediately replied, "That's right. She and the second young master of the Prime Minister's mansion, Murong Jin, are half-brothers, but they are of different legal and illegitimate status."

After listening to the man in black, Yang Ling fell into deep thought.

"Your Highness, what should we do next? Should we send someone to the Prime Minister's residence to gather information?" the man in black asked.

Yang Ling waved her hand upon hearing this, "Not for now."

"Yes!" After saying that, the man in black quietly slipped out.

Yang Ling stared blankly at the table. The Prime Minister's residence, Murong Jin…

Murong Jin! A delicate face flashed into Yang Ling's mind. It was her he had seen at the inn that day. Her gaze at that time was so complex that he couldn't bear to think about it any longer.

“Murong Jin…” Yang Ling murmured to herself.

"Your Highness, I have already ascertained the situation. Today, His Majesty summoned the Prime Minister and his wife, as well as the eldest son, to the palace for a meeting. I'm afraid..."

"What are you afraid of?" Yang Ling turned to look at the man in black.

The man in black knelt down and replied, "It is rumored that the Emperor intends for Murong Jin to move into the Eastern Palace."

“Murong Jin, the Crown Prince…” Yang Ling murmured these two words, and images flashed through her mind, fragmented memories surfacing, “So you are Murong Jin…”

……

As night fell, the Prime Minister's residence was brightly lit.

Murong Jin sat in front of the dressing table, her reflection in the mirror showing her graceful figure in a long purple dress.

Murong Jin looked at himself in the mirror and frowned slightly.

Murong Jin, are you really willing to become Xiao Yan's woman?

Murong Jin recalled what Xiao Yan had said to her last night: "Ah Jin, when I ascend the throne, we will get married and be together forever."

This sentence lingered in her mind like a spell.

Murong Jin closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She didn't want to be an imperial concubine, much less anyone's woman. But she had no choice but to become Xiao Yan's woman!

Murong Jin saw through Xiao Yan's ambition clearly.

Murong Jin knew that Xiao Yan would seize the throne sooner or later, but she would never allow herself to fall to such a state! She would never willingly become a stepping stone for someone else!

Moreover, she didn't want to lose the person she loved most so soon!

Thinking of this, Murong Jin reached out and touched her belly; she hadn't given birth to the child yet!

Murong Jin secretly vowed in her heart: no matter what, she would protect her child. If one day Xiao Yan truly seized the throne, she would definitely protect their child.

Thinking this, Murong Jin seemed to see Xiao Yan and the child appear before her, waving their chubby little hands and sweetly calling her "Mother"...

Murong Jin snapped back to reality. She couldn't let herself be blinded by her dream! She had to regain her strength as soon as possible, or her child would be in danger!

Murong Jin composed himself, changed into smart men's clothing, and prepared to leave.

"Squeak~" The door was pushed open, and a man walked in. "Miss, are you going out?"

Murong Jin glanced at the man; he was Yang Ling's attendant, named Xiao Ling. Murong Jin nodded to him and then replied, "Yes, you stay and guard Xiao Ling."

"Don't worry, Miss."

Murong Jin nodded, then turned and left the room.

Yang Ling was already resting in bed.

Murong Jin arrived at the door and knocked.

"Come in," came Yang Ling's languid voice from inside.

"Xiao Ling, pour me a cup of tea," Murong Jin instructed Xiao Ling.

Xiao Ling responded and went to make tea.

Yang Ling woke up after Murong Jin came in, since there were other people in the courtyard besides him and Xiao Ling.

Murong Jin sat down next to Yang Ling. Yang Ling looked at Murong Jin, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes.

He didn't like Murong Jin, but Murong Jin was the only woman who dared to approach him after he fell asleep, and she wasn't afraid of his personality, which made him interested in Murong Jin.

"Yang Ling, I have something I'd like to ask you." Murong Jin took a sip of tea and spoke slowly.