To his "praise," Song Chaoyu felt nothing but disgust.
She sneered, "Mu Hansu, you've always been too arrogant. You haven't even touched the imperial throne yet, and you're already calling yourself this. It's truly disgusting!"
"Song Chaoyu!"
However, Mu Hansu's gaze suddenly turned sharp as he looked at Song Chaoyu. "I've tolerated you for a long time! Don't push your luck!"
He strode forward and grabbed Song Chaoyu's chin. "The reason I've been able to tolerate you is because I find you far superior to your sister. If you dare to maintain this attitude towards me again, then..."
"Ah!"
But before Mu Hansu could finish speaking, he felt a sharp pain in his leg!
He looked down and was shocked to see a hidden projectile shooting out from the side of Mu Changxi's wheelchair!
It was a dart, striking Mu Hansu directly in the leg, causing him to recoil in pain. If not for his armor, the dart might have pierced his leg entirely!
Mu Hansu's eyes turned bloodshot as he glared at Mu Changxi. "Guards! Smash his wheelchair!"
He removed his hand from Song Chaoyu's face and then said viciously to Mu Changxi, "If you weren't still useful, I would have your head chopped off immediately! Mu Changxi, I will make you understand the consequences of opposing me!"
The guards stepped forward, seized Mu Changxi's wheelchair, and let him fall to the ground.
But Mu Changxi's lips curved into a knowing smile, as if he had guessed Mu Hansu's every thought. "Yes, you cannot kill me yet. If you kill me, Father Emperor and the Crown Prince might become anxious. Even a rabbit bites when cornered. You fear they might detonate the firestones and take you down with them, don't you?"
"You... you know?"
Mu Hansu's expression changed. "You know that firestones are buried beneath the Guande Hall?"
Song Chaoyu also knew about the firestones buried beneath the Guande Hall.
They were specifically left there by the late Emperor to resist "external enemies."
He feared that if the palace gates were ever breached, the firestones in the Guande Hall might still be able to kill the enemy, or at least preserve the dignity of the royal family in their final moments if they were disgraced.
But the late Emperor would never have imagined that one day, these firestones in the Guande Hall would be used against their own royal kin!
Seeing Mu Hansu's expression, Song Chaoyu felt a surge of satisfaction!
Whether in her past life or this one, he would never attain that supreme position.
"Your Highness, are you alright!"
A guard, seeing Mu Hansu injured, rushed forward.
"Slap—"
The next moment, Mu Hansu's palm landed on the guard's face. "What did you call me?!"
The guard, startled, immediately knelt. "Your... Your Majesty, are you alright?"
"Hmph, I'm fine."
Mu Hansu's icy gaze did not intend to let the guard off. "Guards, drag him out and execute him! From now on, anyone who dares to address me incorrectly will suffer the same fate!"
"Your Majesty, spare me, Your Majesty, spare me!"
The guard pleaded for mercy, but it was clear Mu Hansu had no intention of letting him go.
Amidst his continuous pleas, he was eventually dragged away.
Perhaps it was this incident that silenced everyone else around Mu Hansu.
Song Chaoyu wondered, with Mu Hansu's temperament, how long could he possibly hold onto the throne even if he were to ascend it?
Such brutality would surely lead to widespread suffering.
After dealing with the guard, Mu Hansu stepped forward and pulled Mu Changxi up from the ground. "Mu Changxi, you must be eager to see Father Emperor and the Crown Prince, right? I'll take you to see them now!"
As he spoke, he waved towards Song Chaoyu. "Guards, take her and lock her up!"
"Wait!"
Neither Mu Changxi nor Song Chaoyu expected Mu Hansu to separate them!
Mu Changxi looked up, his eyes red as he stared at Mu Hansu. "What do you want to do?!"
Mu Hansu let out a cold snort. "You don't need to worry about that!"
With that, he ordered his men to take Song Chaoyu away.
Song Chaoyu could only watch as she and Mu Changxi were separated, her hatred for Mu Hansu growing deeper—
Song Chaoyu had no idea where Mu Hansu was taking her until she was unceremoniously thrown into a palace courtyard that had been uninhabited for years.
However, the courtyard had since been tidied up.
"Bang—" The large door in front of Song Chaoyu slammed shut.
Before she could react, a woman's voice came from behind her. "Princess Chang, it's been a long time!"
The voice was familiar!
Song Chaoyu turned around and saw Ti Le standing behind her.
"Ti Le?"
Song Chaoyu became instantly vigilant, taking two steps back until her back was against the large door.
"Song Chaoyu, how has it been? Did you have a good time traveling with Mu Changxi?"
Ti Le clasped her hands behind her back, her eyes filled with mockery and disdain, and an undisguised hatred for Song Chaoyu.
Song Chaoyu immediately understood that Ti Le had long been colluding with Mu Hansu, and was likely here specifically to deal with her!
Despite her inner panic, Song Chaoyu had to maintain a composed demeanor.
She stared at Ti Le and sneered, "You're actually in league with Mu Hansu! Ti Le, you've truly surprised me!"
"So what if it's Mu Hansu?"
Ti Le's eyes began to redden. "As long as I can get what I want, it doesn't matter who it is."
"Where is Prince Wen?"
Song Chaoyu subtly moved her hands behind her back, feeling for the large door.
"Heh—"
Mention of Prince Wen elicited a cold laugh from Ti Le. "That good-for-nothing! He's probably still cowering in his Prince Wen's mansion. For a dignified prince, he's surprisingly cowardly! He's not worthy of marrying me!"
"Then who is worthy?"
Song Chaoyu curled her lips, equally disdainful. "Is Mu Hansu worthy?"
To her surprise, Ti Le suddenly lowered her head and looked at her abdomen. "Mu Hansu isn't worthy either. However, I'm carrying his child. This child will one day unify the Southern Kingdom and Penglai. Therefore, the current Emperor of Penglai can only be Mu Hansu!"
Is she insane?!
Song Chaoyu frowned and scoffed. "You're carrying Mu Hansu's child!? Ti Le, have you gone mad?"
"I have gone mad!"
Ti Le suddenly looked up, and at the same time, her hands dropped from behind her back.
In her hand was a long whip!
Clearly, Ti Le intended to "greet" Song Chaoyu with this whip.
Song Chaoyu's heart tightened as Ti Le slowly walked towards her. "The day you and yours made Qian Shan abandon me, I went mad! I only wanted to be with Qian Shan forever, why couldn't you fulfill our wish?!"