The whole family of villains listens to my heart, the Regent Prince treats me dearly.

The next morning, in the palace.

"Have all the items been sent?" Helian Kuangmo asked the palace servant lazily, twirling a dagger in his hand.

The eunuch immediately replied, "We have sent them all as His Majesty instructed."

"His Majesty is so kind to that Miss Zhai. These are some of the things that even Princess Tanyao doesn't have."

His Majesty issued an edict early this morning, bestowing many gifts upon Zhai Rongyu.

It seems that those who can live in Chenxing Palace are no ordinary people...

Helian Kuangmo chuckled meaningfully, "An object of appreciation?"

"That's quite right."

To raise birds, one must first coax and entice them. Once their wings are broken, they can be tormented at will.

He raised the dagger to his feet, its cold light reflecting his icy, cruel smile. Suddenly, he narrowed his eyes and thrust it at the eunuch!

"Ouch!" The eunuch was so frightened that his legs went weak and he fell to the ground.

A strand of hair drifted down from the air.

The eunuch's face turned deathly pale. He finally regained his composure, staring at his severed hair on the ground, his lips trembling as he said, "Your Majesty, you've terrified this servant to death..."

Helian Kuangmo seemed pleased to see his miserable state.

He twirled the dagger and laughed, "Not bad, it's sharper than I imagined."

This dagger would be perfect for taking out her eyes.

As for other places...

A hint of bloodthirsty coldness crept onto his handsome and unruly face as he ordered the eunuch, "Go find another dagger, a blunt one."

The bastard child can't die too easily.

The eunuch knelt down, trembling, and said, "Yes..." He was about to crawl out when Helian Kuangmo called him back.

"Wait, how are Wu Muhong's preparations going?"

The eunuch replied, "Your Majesty, the head of the family went to the altar early this morning to prepare. Now everything is ready, and the sacrificial ceremony can begin as soon as the hour of You (5-7 PM) arrives."

Helian Kuangmo nodded. "Go."

The eunuch hurriedly took his leave, but bumped into Helian Tanyao at the door, saying, "Greetings, Princess."

Helian Kuangmo looked up at the sound, his brows furrowing. "Why are you here? Didn't I tell you to stay in the palace and reflect on your actions?"

"Father..." Helian Tanyao entered the room with a somewhat aggrieved expression, "Yao'er knows she was wrong, Father, please don't punish me..."

"I won't bother her anymore..."

Helian Kuangmo's expression softened slightly, and he didn't hold her crime of leaving the palace without permission against her.

"What do you want from me?"

He tossed the dagger onto the table and casually rubbed his wrist.

Helian Tanyao immediately went to massage his arm. "Yao'er wants to... Father Emperor, you must also let Zhai Rongyu attend the sacrificial ceremony at 5 pm today."

"Why?" Helian Kuangmo raised his eyebrows to look at her.

Helian Tanyao paused her work. "The Wu family's sacrifice is a major event, a perfect time to display the majesty of the royal family! I think that if Zhai Rong is to stay in the palace in the future, we must first extinguish her desire to escape back to Longyan."

“Escape back to Longyan…” Helian Kuangmo thought of Jiang Jiusheng, his knuckles curling up.

"That's right! Father, you must be careful."

"The same thing must not happen a second time..."

She sized up Helian Kuangmo, and seeing that his expression was indeed frozen, she continued:

"Furthermore, Zhai Rong is quite capable. During the sacrifice, the array's core was unstable. If Father doesn't keep her by his side, what if she finds an opportunity to tamper with the array's core and threaten the safety of the entire royal family? What then would we do!"

Helian Kuangmo lowered his eyes in thought.

She's right.

Within the Wu family's protective barrier, Zhai Rongyu was like a cat that had retracted its claws.

But if the restrictions loosen, there's no guarantee she won't reveal her true colors.

He glanced at Helian Tanyao, saying, "Yao'er is now thinking about the royal family."

Helian Tanyao gave a dry laugh, "Yao'er has grown up, and naturally she should shoulder the responsibilities of a princess and share the burdens of her father."

"It's good that you have the intention." Helian Kuangmo closed his eyes, gesturing for her to continue the massage.

Helian Tanyao slowly curled the corners of her lips.

Zhai Rong and...

Today, on this altar, will be your death day!

……

Soon it was the hour of You (5-7 PM).

Helian Kuangmo led Zhai Rongyu to the altar.

Zhai Rongyu tugged at her elaborate palace attire. Helian Kuangmo's eyes darkened, and he smiled, "It's inevitable to be solemn at a grand ceremony. I specially made this dress for you. Do you like it?"

"This was your mother's favorite design."

Zhai Rong chuckled and ignored him.

[You bastard, do you really think I don't know what you're up to?]

[They're even using their mother's name.]

Does he really think he's so deeply affectionate?

Others might not be able to tell, but this charlatan knew immediately that the dress had a seal on it, comparable to an invisible chain.

On the surface, it's to maintain his public image and keep her from being tied down, but secretly he still made this kind of skirt to keep her out of trouble.

If you told his deep affection to a pig, even the pig would laugh.

However, she wouldn't have paid any attention to him if he hadn't said he would bring her to the ceremony if she wore this dress.

Zhai Rongyu secretly rolled her eyes.

"You shall sit beside me." Helian Kuangmo walked to the main seat and sat down, pointing to the seat next to him.

Zhai Rong was about to walk over when Helian Tanyao stopped her.

“Father, this woman is of lowly status, how can she sit next to you?” She pointed to the seat next to Wu Muli. “At this grand ceremony, we should abide by etiquette and let her sit next to Brother Li.”

Helian Kuangmo glanced at her, dismissing her as a child, and didn't take it to heart.

He glanced at Zhai Rongyu's dress. With this seal, she shouldn't be able to cause any trouble even if she didn't sit next to him.

"Very well, let's do as Yao'er says."

Helian Tanyao glanced smugly at Zhai Rongyu.

Zhai Rongyu shrugged and sat down next to Wu Muli with an indifferent expression.

She glanced at Wu Muli, a strange feeling creeping into her heart.

Even someone as intolerant as Helian Tanyao, upon seeing that handkerchief, didn't whip him.

Do you really not care?

The more she looked at him, the more she felt that Wu Muli was being a truly pathetic sycophant.

After returning to Longyan, I need to give my second brother a good talking-to.

I'd rather die than let him be a lapdog.

[That's so unfair!]

Wu Muli caught her gaze and snorted coldly, "Don't bother looking. My lowly attendant is not qualified to participate in this kind of occasion."

Zhai Rongyu: ?

She straightened her skirt and pursed her lips to hide her smile.

So he thought he was looking for Ah Xu?

I naturally know Ah Xu's whereabouts better than you, you simp.

Do I need you to tell me that?

【(ˉ▽￣～)Cut~~】

On the altar, the eunuch announced loudly, "The hour of You (5-7 PM) has arrived; the sacrificial ceremony officially begins—"

Helian Kuangmo looked at Wu Muhong on the altar, who nodded to him and opened his arms to activate the magic array.

"Activate the Wu Family's restrictions!"

In an instant, the world changed color.

On the high platform, Wu Muhong's black robes fluttered. As his arms gradually rose, a huge vortex slowly rose behind him, as if it were formed from a storm and could devour everything in the world!