First annul the engagement, then sever ties with the empress; the empress reigns supreme.

The Sixth Prince, Mu Lingche, was also inside the carriage.

Mu Lingche pulled Feng Wu's hand and sat her down, asking softly, "How is it?"

Since Feng Wu nearly lost her life on her wedding day and was saved by Gu Junxi, she has changed a lot. Before, she only wanted to use Mu Lingche, but later she genuinely wanted to cultivate their relationship.

Feng Wu was intelligent and talented. After she abandoned her ambitions, her feelings for Mu Lingche indeed grew stronger day by day.

Feng Wu shook her head: "The Crown Princess doesn't look well. It seems like she really miscarried. She and the Crown Prince were so loving before, how could she have become like this in such a short time?"

Mu Lingche took a breath, thinking about some of the information he had gathered. He felt a sense of shared fate: "This is the fate of being born into an imperial family. Either there's no genuine affection and it's all about exploitation, or even if there is genuine affection, you'll eventually be schemed against and lose everything."

"Your Highness, I feel that the situation in the capital is about to change drastically, and it's getting increasingly out of control. Perhaps... you could ask His Majesty for permission to leave the capital." Feng Wu thought it over and over, and finally grasped Mu Lingche's hand hopefully.

Mu Lingche is already married. At his age, if the emperor has no intention of passing the throne to him, he will usually be granted the title of prince and sent back to his fiefdom.

The Emperor has not yet issued an order to confer the title of King. If Mu Lingche were to request the decree, it would mean that he had voluntarily given up the throne.

Mu Lingche's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly looked at Feng Wu: "Are you... willing to accept this?"

He hadn't forgotten that the reason Feng Wu had a relationship with him and got married was because Feng Wu initially wanted to scheme against Mu Lingye.

Feng Wu gave a bitter smile, her gaze fixed on the direction of Qin through the carriage: "Of course I was unwilling at first. But I've already died once, so what's there to be unwilling about?"

"What does it matter whether my mother approves of me or not? She's in the distant Qin Kingdom, and I can't see any of her joys and sorrows. Why punish myself for someone else?"

Feng Wu's deep scheming was also forced upon her. If it weren't for her biased mother who constantly pressured her to take care of her younger sister, she wouldn't have gradually become psychologically twisted.

They all grew up in the inner palace, and none of them had it easy, so they were more likely to empathize with each other.

Mu Lingche sighed with heartache, lowering his eyes in resignation. He valued his life more than the throne: "Alright, I'll write a memorial when we get back, requesting Father Emperor's permission to leave the capital."

From now on, I'll be free to roam the skies, and I only wish to be a wealthy and leisurely person.

The next day, Mu Lingche submitted the memorial, stating that Emperor Sheng had become so unwilling to even attend the morning court sessions, and had directly handed over the affairs of state to Wei Ming, the director of the Eastern Depot.

He spent his days either refining elixirs with Qingyanzi or mingling with the concubines in the harem, demonstrating his ability to rejuvenate.

Mu Lingxuan gradually realized that Qingyanzi and Wei Ming were in cahoots.

He also knew that if things continued this way, the imperial court would perish sooner or later.

But he was bound by both Consort Li and Gu Junxi, so he could only numb himself, thinking things would be better once he became the Crown Prince and ascended the throne. At worst, he could settle scores with Wei Ming and Qingyanzi then.

Little did he know that he was asking a tiger for its skin.

Upon learning that Mu Lingche had requested permission to leave the capital, Mu Lingxuan was slightly surprised and then stopped Mu Lingche and Feng Wu from entering the palace.

"Sixth brother, are you really sure? Once you leave the capital, you can never set foot in again without an imperial edict, which goes against your original intention of marrying your sister-in-law."

No one said it outright, but everyone knew in their hearts that every prince coveted that position.

Now, the only princes remaining in the capital are him and Mu Lingche. With Mu Lingche leaving, it's as if the throne is being handed over to him directly.

Mu Lingye is not included here because he has left the capital. With the Crown Prince not in the capital, Mu Lingye would be unable to intervene should any unforeseen events occur, and he could essentially be removed from the list of heirs to the throne.

"Fourth Brother, do you really think that you can inherit the throne after we're gone?" Mu Lingche looked at Mu Lingxuan with a heartfelt expression for the first time.

Fearing that Mu Lingche might say too much and make a mistake, Feng Wu quietly tugged at his sleeve, signaling him not to say anything more.

In the past, Mu Lingche would never have said such a thing, but since they were about to leave the capital, he had to say a few words for the sake of the Mu family's future.

Mu Lingxuan's eyes darkened, and his face showed struggle.

But if someone is determined to pretend to be asleep, how can they be woken up with just a few words?

Mu Lingxuan quickly chose to continue pretending to be deaf and dumb. He looked up as if he didn't understand and said, "Sixth brother, be careful what you say."

"Fourth brother, I'm saying these things from the perspective of an ordinary family, purely as brothers. You are stronger than me, with many supporters in the court, and you are genuinely favored by Father. If we try to persuade Father, he won't listen."

But you're different. You should try to persuade Father. This Qingyanzi is not a benevolent national advisor who benefits the people at all; he's a wicked Taoist priest who harms our Great Sheng and the court.

If Father continues to favor him like this, our Mu family's empire will be destroyed in his hands sooner or later.

"Is that so? I didn't expect the Sixth Prince to think so highly of me." Mu Lingche spoke with great excitement, when Qingyanzi, dressed in a snow-white Taoist robe and holding a whisk, appeared before him. He had clearly heard the entire conversation.

Thinking of Qingyanzi's increasingly absurd methods recently, Feng Wu tugged at Mu Lingche with apprehension.

Mu Lingche was always astute and shrewd, but he still possessed the arrogance of a prince.

He could admit defeat in front of Emperor Sheng, and he could be subservient to Mu Lingxuan and Mu Lingye, but he couldn't tolerate Qingyanzi, who was harming his subjects and the common people.

Besides, he has already given up vying for the throne and is preparing to leave the capital, so there is even less reason for him to worry.

Even if the Emperor dotes on Qingyanzi, would he really kill his own son for Qingyanzi's sake?

It can only be said that Mu Lingche truly underestimated the incompetence of Emperor Sheng.

Of course, this is just a later story.

Mu Lingche sneered, disregarding Qing Yanzi: "Who are you? Do I have to tell you? You've done too many evil deeds, you'll get your retribution sooner or later. Feng Wu, let's go see Father."

Mu Lingche didn't bother to say anything more to Qingyanzi, and took Fengwu's hand, walking towards the inner hall.

Qingyanzi switched the whisk from his left hand to his right, squinted as he watched Mu Lingche and his wife's retreating figures, and asked Mu Lingxuan, "What is Your Highness's opinion on the Sixth Prince's evaluation of me?"

This is a test.

Mu Lingxuan frowned, disliking Qingyanzi's attitude towards him. But now he was in a bind, and had to swallow whatever was unpalatable.

He thought for a moment and said, "The Imperial Advisor doesn't need to hold a grudge against the Sixth Brother. He's a bit stubborn. Let the Japanese King make him apologize to you."

This statement itself is problematic; there is no reason for a prince to apologize to his subject.

Qingyanzi smiled slightly: "How dare I accept the Sixth Prince's apology? Besides, what use is an apology if there is no need for laws? Disciple, let's go and present today's elixir to His Majesty. If Your Highness Xuan has nothing else to do, you may leave the palace now."

Inside the palace, Emperor Sheng had already agreed to Mu Lingche's request to leave the capital and return to his post.

Emperor Sheng didn't love Mu Lingxuan as much as he loved Mu Lingche, but he still had some genuine feelings for Mu Lingche; otherwise, he wouldn't have kept him in the capital for so long. Nor would he have so easily agreed to Feng Wu marrying him, giving him such a powerful family as a wife.

"I grant your permission. Take good care of yourself after you return to your residence." Emperor Sheng pinched the bridge of his nose. He had deep dark circles under his eyes, and he was visibly thinner than before.

It looks like all that's left is a skeleton supporting the whole body.

"Thank you for your permission, Father." Mu Lingche bowed with Feng Wu, and as he stood up, his gaze fell on the increasingly gaunt face of the Emperor. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "After I leave, I hope that Father will take good care of his health."