The sky was clear, and Mu Xing, with Cui Er, was loitering around Changxin Palace. He was waiting for that bratty kid to come out. Once he did, he'd make him pay.
Cui Er didn't understand why Mu Xing suddenly became interested in Changxin Palace. He'd been wandering around the area all morning. She'd called out to him several times to leave, but he wouldn't budge. As noon approached, he wasn't tired, but she was.
"Mu Xing, let's go. It's getting late, and we've been wandering for the whole morning. What are you doing?"
"Nothing," Mu Xing's eyes finally caught sight of a small figure emerging from Changxin Palace and walking towards them along the corridor. He quickly went to meet her. Cui Er hadn't noticed the details and kept calling out behind him, "Your Highness, let's go back. This servant is very tired."
Mu Xing suddenly spoke in a cold voice, "That's enough, Cui Er. I have something to do."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Yu Lou Prince walked over, followed by several palace maids.
He walked right up to them. Cui Er, realizing what was happening belatedly, thought, "Does the Crown Prince intend to deal with the Yu Lou Prince? His mother's hair turned white overnight. It would be better to find another time." She reached out to pull Mu Xing.
Mu Xing turned and threw a cold glance, emanating a sense of authority that made Cui Er freeze and withdraw her hand, no longer daring to say anything.
Upon seeing Mu Xing, Yu Lou's eyes blazed with hatred, his small face contorted with animosity. He stood with his hands on his hips, glaring at Mu Xing through gritted teeth. Xiao He, a palace maid behind him, fearing for her young master, quickly reached out to pull his hands down and whispered, "Prince Yu Lou, quickly pay your respects to the Crown Prince."
"Why should I pay him respects? I won't. He's the Crown Prince, I don't believe it."
Yu Lou grew more resentful as he thought about it, shouting loudly. The thought that ever since this child returned to the palace, he and his consort had not had a moment's peace made his entire face turn pale. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes as he coldly glared at Mu Xing and shouted.
"You wait. I won't let you off. When I grow up, I will get revenge."
Mu Xing had initially felt sympathetic towards Yu Lou and was hesitating whether to take action against him. However, this little brat cursed him and acted defiantly as soon as they met. Anger surged within him, and he spoke with a smile.
"Only if you get the chance." After speaking, Mu Xing immediately called into his sleeve, "Little Jin, bite him. Let's see if he dares to be so arrogant!"
The little golden snake, receiving its young master's command, didn't hesitate. In a flash, it shot out. Everyone only had time to see a flash of gold before hearing Prince Yu Lou cry out in pain.
He had already fallen to the ground. Xiao He, who was behind Yu Lou, was startled and didn't know what had happened. She rushed to Prince Yu Lou's side and asked in panic.
"Prince Yu Lou, what's wrong? Prince Yu Lou, what's wrong?"
Xiao He didn't know what was happening, but Cui Er had seen it all clearly.
Mu Xing had actually released the little golden snake to bite Prince Yu Lou. Her face immediately turned extremely grim, her scalp numb. "Oh my heavens, has this boy been provoked again?"
He had caused trouble again. The Empress would surely blame her. How could she always let the Crown Prince cause trouble? Cui Er felt increasingly depressed, her expression exceedingly ugly. She reached out and pulled Mu Xing.
"Mu Xing, you're doing this again. Quickly recall Little Jin. What are we going to do?"
The venom of this little golden snake was extremely potent, and only Zhi Gu could cure it. She didn't know if the eunuchs in the palace could cure it. Seeing that the little maid beside Prince Yu Lou could only cry, Cui Er immediately ordered her.
"Quickly carry Prince Yu Lou back to Changxin Palace. I will report to the Empress. Her Majesty will be here soon."
"Yes," Xiao He obeyed Cui Er's command and immediately picked up Prince Yu Lou and rushed back to Changxin Palace.
Chaos erupted in Changxin Palace. Concubine De was alarmed. Seeing her son curled up in pain on the large bed, his face contorted, she quickly stood up, intending to rush out.
Xiao He, seeing her mistress's actions, knew what she was going to do. She quickly hugged Concubine De's waist and pleaded, "Your Majesty, please don't go. The Empress will be here soon. You should look at Prince Yu Lou."
Concubine De listened to her son's pained cries, her heart aching with reluctance. Her thoughts raced, and she immediately turned to look at her son on the bed, tears welling up in her eyes.
Her hair, white as flowing water, cascaded down, dazzling the eyes. The room was filled with sorrow. The mother and son embraced each other tightly, their pitiable appearance bringing tears to the eyes of all the eunuchs and palace maids in the chambers.
Just then, the urgent voice of a eunuch was heard from outside the main hall: "The Empress has arrived."
Empress Liu, dressed in a peach-red phoenix gown, entered the chambers with Mu Xing, her face full of anger. Behind them followed Cui Er, looking terrified, and a few young eunuchs cautiously following.
Mu Xing showed no fear. In his dark eyes, a hint of pity could be seen, and he gently bit his lower lip, appearing so delicate and lovable.
Lou Sijing looked up and saw the woman who had turned around the screen and entered. She was breathtakingly beautiful and regal. Her heart was filled with an endless, bone-gnawing hatred, wishing she could pounce on this woman and fight her to the death.
Everything she had was ruined by this woman's return to the palace, and her son suffered such undeserved blows at such a young age.
If they, mother and son, had not returned, Yu Lou and she would not have suffered so much pain. Therefore, she hated them but was powerless.
Lou Sijing's heart ached more and more. A surge of emotion rose within her, and a sweet taste filled her mouth. She forced herself to endure, her body remaining still. Still holding her son, she glared at the Empress.
The palace maids and eunuchs in the chambers held their breath. Liu Liu smiled faintly. It seemed this woman was truly heartbroken.
Although she sympathized with her, why didn't she show sympathy to others when she was killing people? A pitiable person must have something detestable about them. However, at this moment, it was still necessary to determine if Yu Lou was truly the Emperor's child.
Liu Liu ignored Lou Sijing's attitude and cast her deep gaze towards the child in Lou Sijing's arms.
The usually arrogant and overbearing Prince Yu Lou now had his eyes tightly shut, his face black, and even his lips were dark blue. He trembled involuntarily and said, "It hurts, it hurts, Mother."
Although Lou Sijing harbored murderous intent in her heart, facing her son's pain at this moment, she was a complete mother. Seeing her son suffer, she thought of the culprit and glared menacingly at the Crown Prince standing beside the Empress.
If looks could kill, she would have killed Mu Xing countless times. She gasped and struggled, the white strands of hair on her head falling to cover half of Yu Lou's body. She held Yu Lou tightly and cried out in pain.
"If my son can't be saved, I will never let you go. I will never let you go."
Mu Xing had never seen such a fierce expression, and he trembled slightly. Cui Er quickly reached out and pulled him behind her. Liu Liu coldly called out, "Immediately send for the imperial physician."
"Yes, Your Majesty," a young eunuch stepped forward in response and walked out. The imperial physician was already waiting outside the gate of Changxin Palace. He walked in behind the young eunuch. This imperial physician who entered was composed and graceful.
He was nothing like the frightened imperial physicians usually seen in the Imperial Medical Office. Instead, he seemed very interested in the furnishings of the chambers, turning to look around. He walked directly in front of Liu Liu and bowed.
"Your humble servant greets the Empress," he said, his facial expression unchanged. Only a sharp glint flickered in his eyes. Liu Liu nodded. This imperial physician was not actually from the Imperial Medical Office; he was Zhi Gu, her subordinate, in disguise.
Due to the disguise, his face was a little stiff, but at a time like this, who would pay attention to whether an imperial physician's expression was stiff? Everyone's attention was focused on Prince Yu Lou.