Did the Seventh Prince attend court today?

The court officials discussed it endlessly.

The Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works stepped forward first: "I believe that the national treasury should be opened."

Emperor Wulong: "..."

Hanlin Academy Academician: "I believe that allocating grain will suffice."

Emperor Wulong: "...Get out."

The Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel said, "I believe that donations from the people should be raised."

Emperor Wulong: "Get out! Get out of my sight!"

As it turned out, Emperor Wulong's good temper could not be maintained for more than a few minutes in front of his court officials.

While Emperor Wulong was busy debating with his ministers, Youlu Xiaobu moved closer to the eldest prince and quietly asked, "Elder brother, is this always Father's style when he holds court?"

The eldest prince whispered in his ear, "You'll get used to it."

"Whispering is forbidden in the imperial court." A deep, cold voice suddenly rang out.

The eldest prince stood up straight instantly.

You Lu then noticed that there was another person standing in front of the eldest prince. The person turned around, dressed in black with dark hair, exuding a heroic aura, like a sword drawn from its sheath, its sharpness fully revealed.

It was Cang Shuyue, whom he had seen in the Imperial Garden yesterday.

He immediately smiled and waved: "Good morning, kind brother."

The eldest prince's pupils dilated in shock. He grabbed his hand and reminded him, "Seventh brother, this is the Duke of Zhenguo, who is also the emperor's brother-in-law. According to etiquette, you should address him as 'uncle'."

Youlu glanced at the eldest prince and then at the young Cang Shuyue, and readily changed her address: "Greetings, Imperial Uncle Brother."

The eldest prince felt a little short of breath.

Cang Shuyue gave him a deep look, then turned her head away and ignored him.

Once again ignored, even the slow-witted Lu could tell that Cang Shuyue didn't like him anymore, but why? They clearly had no connection.

Adjusting the tassels on the jade pendant at her waist, Youlu thought to herself, "He's so rude. What a waste of such a handsome face."

The Pixiu said, "[The Duke of Zhenguo dislikes Emperor Wulong, so he doesn't treat Emperor Wulong's children well either. Of all the princes and princesses, only his own nephew, the eldest prince, and the sixth prince can exchange a few words with him and get a smile from him.]"

[It feels like the Sixth Prince is playing the role of the most beloved character.] Youlu smacked her lips.

He had never met the Sixth Prince, but he had seen glimpses of him in the past and future of others. His sixth brother was only a dozen days older than him, gentle and kind-hearted, very understanding, and had an innocent and harmless face. Everyone who met him, regardless of their temperament, liked him very much.

The Sixth Prince was indeed very popular. Although he held no real power, he was highly regarded by officials of the court and concubines of the harem. Pixiu also found this strange.

[That's not the point.] Youlu glanced at the Third Prince. [In the later stages of the succession struggle, the Third Prince considered killing his father and brothers, but he never thought of taking the Sixth Prince's life. Do you think that's normal?]

[Could it be that the Sixth Prince has an aura of irresistible charm?] Pixiu racked his brains and could only think of this possibility.

"Perhaps," a deer murmured.

First, Emperor Wulong's fate was concealed, then the future of the Prime Minister's daughter was unpredictable, and now there's the charming Sixth Prince. He felt something was off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

He originally thought he could see into the past and predict the future, and that changing Dayong's fate was a piece of cake, but now it seems he was thinking too simply.

There seems to be a layer of mist obscuring most of the future.

Shaking his head, Youlu put aside the doubts that he couldn't resolve for the time being and decided to first see the Duke of Zhenguo.

He focused his gaze, leaning forward to stare intently at Cang Shuyue's profile.

Noticing the gaze behind him, Cang Shuyue was speechless.

The child looked at him again.

You Lu's pupils turned slightly white as she read through Cang Shuyue's past and future in one go, and after reading it, she showed an expression that was hard to describe.

Seeing this, the Pixiu eagerly asked, "How is he? Is he a good person or a bad person?"

"He is a pitiful man." Youlu withdrew his supernatural powers and sighed.

brave troops:【??】

Emperor Wulong, who was arguing with his courtiers while eavesdropping: ?

Prime Minister Su and Xu Zheng, who were silently watching the show: ?

The Duke of Zhenguo wasn't exactly a good person, but he was a good younger brother and a good uncle, willing to do anything for his older sister and nephew. He led troops into battle at the age of sixteen, possessing both literary and military prowess, and unparalleled wisdom. It's just a pity that after a lifetime of military service and making great contributions to Dayong, he died before the age of thirty, all because of a useless ally.

And this terrible teammate is none other than my eldest brother.

Youlu sighed, unable to resist casting a sympathetic glance at Cang Shuyue, and then looking at the eldest prince with disappointment.

Although the Third Prince was powerful, Cang Shuyue single-handedly helped his eldest brother secure the position of Crown Prince. Unfortunately, the eldest brother was easily swayed and ignored his advice, letting the Third Prince go. As a result, the Third Prince turned around and, in league with the Fourth Prince, set a trap to capture the eldest brother. Cang Shuyue lost both legs while saving his brother and could no longer fight on the battlefield.

Later, when the Khitan invaded, Dayong had no one to command, and the Empress was forced to don her armor and go to battle again, only to die tragically on the border. Upon learning of his elder sister's death, Cang Shuyue, despite his own physical disability, endured countless hardships to personally go to the border to collect the Empress's body, and finally committed suicide before the ancestral tablets.

With the Empress and Cang Shuyue dead, the eldest prince lost his support and was soon killed by the fourth prince's scheme. The emperor's personality changed drastically as a result; he would rather kill a hundred innocent people than let one guilty person go free if anything might endanger Dayong. The third prince knew this and framed Xu Zheng.

In the future of the Duke of Zhenguo, a deer pieced together a complete timeline.

[Oh no! Another good person met a tragic end!] The Pixiu cried out in despair, clutching its head. [The Emperor, Shen Yuyao, Xu Zheng, the Empress, and the Duke of Zhenguo—these five people combined have no more than twenty years left to live. Is Dayong some kind of manufacturer of short-lived ghosts?]

Youlu, belatedly realizing the truth, slammed his fist on his hand and exclaimed, "It really is! Could it be that the Great Yong Dynasty perished because good people all died too young?"

Those who heard the heartfelt words fell silent.

Prime Minister Su and Xu Zheng shook their heads and sighed. What kind of situation is this? Could it be that the feng shui of Shengjing is really bad?

Emperor Wulong's face was ashen, his jaw clenched tightly.

When he heard that the Empress would die on the frontier, his heart almost stopped, his mind was buzzing, and when he came to his senses, his back was covered in cold sweat.

If he hadn't been in court, he would have already sprang into action and strangled the eldest and third princes to death, one by one. He didn't care who died, but the empress was the only one who couldn't die!

The ministers continued their incessant chatter, but Emperor Wulong had completely lost his patience and roared, "Shut up, all of you!"

He wanted to walk away without a care, but he met Prime Minister Su's admonishing gaze.

Taking a deep breath, Emperor Wulong calmed down slightly, but he was still on pins and needles.

Xu Zheng stepped forward at the opportune moment and said, "Your Majesty, I believe that fundraising is feasible, but the target of fundraising should not be the common people, but rather the noble families and officials who are supported by the common people."

"That's utter nonsense!"

Immediately, someone stood up to refute this, angrily retorting, "We are mandated by Heaven and His Majesty; how can we claim to be supported by the people!"

The Minister of War, holding his jade tablet, glanced back calmly, and more people stepped forward.

"Lord Xu speaks so lightly; I'm afraid he can't even come up with a hundred taels."

Some responded with sarcasm and ridicule.

"We are paid by the emperor and serve him; what does this have to do with the common people?"

"Exactly. Even if it's taken from the people and used for the people, it should be part of the national treasury. What does it have to do with us?"

Some people reasoned with the situation.

Everyone condemned Xu Zheng for his audacious and reckless remarks, and Xu Zheng quickly became the target of public criticism.

Looking at these harsh and stern ministers, Emperor Wulong felt a deep sadness. No wonder Dayong had perished. Look at their selfish and self-serving faces; they were simply naive and laughable.