Chapter 2

Chapter 2

But when I arrived, the Former Crown Prince was sitting across from the Grand Tutor, discussing strategy.

He sat on the floor, his posture upright and his features refined, speaking with effortless eloquence.

I stood by the window and called out, “Are you the Crown Prince? The Emperor wants you to come with me.”

I wasn’t lying; my father was indeed the Emperor now.

The man looked toward me, his eyes shimmering with a subtle light as he asked me to wait a moment.

I waited for an entire hour before I finally managed to haul him away.

Imperial Father complained that I was too slow. I replied with a pout, “He hadn’t finished his lesson yet.”

“We’re staging a rebellion! You’re waiting for him to finish his lesson before seizing him? Why didn’t you just wait for him to pass the imperial examinations and become the Top Scholar?”

“This prince has no need for the examinations.”

The Former Crown Prince remained perfectly composed, his emotional control an exact replica of his father’s.

My father gritted his teeth in fury.

Imperial Father had thought of every possible way to humiliate them, but he couldn’t get the reaction he wanted out of this father-son duo.

Finally, his eyes lit up as a sudden inspiration struck, and he turned his attention to me.

“The Deposed Emperor still retains his charm, and the Former Crown Prince is quite handsome. I’ll bestow them both upon my daughter!”

As soon as those words left his mouth, all three of us fell silent.

The Deposed Emperor, clutching a memorial in his hand, hurled it straight at Imperial Father. “Are you sick in the head?”

Imperial Father blocked it with his arm. “I am the Emperor! Try throwing another one!”

The Deposed Emperor was surprisingly obedient; he immediately threw seven or eight more memorials in a row, aiming right for him.

It was the Former Crown Prince who proved that a wise man submits to fate.

He looked me up and down, appearing to give the matter serious consideration.

“Are you married?” Seeing my stunned expression, he added, “This prince will not be a concubine.”

You… certainly have your principles.

“You’re the Crown Prince, for heaven’s sake. Don’t you feel any shame?”

The Former Crown Prince stroked his chin, lost in thought. “It is a shame for my father, but not for me. It is time I married, anyway.”

“What does your need to get married have to do with me?”

He flicked his sleeves. “Your father has betrothed you to me.”

“Well, he also betrothed me to your father.”

His brow furrowed slightly. He glanced at the Deposed Emperor, then back at me. “Then he can be the concubine. This prince will not.”

Me: “…”

Imperial Father was extremely satisfied with the Former Crown Prince’s submissive attitude.

He was, however, extremely dissatisfied with the Deposed Emperor’s lack of tact.

He said, “I am the Emperor now. Never mind my daughter-even if it were I who took a liking to you, you’d have to wash yourself clean and present yourself to me.”

The Deposed Emperor remained silent for a long while. “Unless I die, that will never happen.”

Imperial Father flew into a rage again. “Who do you think you’re ‘I-ing’ at? I’ll have someone behead you this instant!”

Words weren’t enough to vent his frustration, so Imperial Father started shoving him.

The Deposed Emperor had been pampered since childhood and was no match for my father in a physical scuffle. He was pushed back several steps, his back slamming hard against a bookshelf.

The sound of the impact alone made me wince.

Seeing as it was supposed to be a day of great celebration, I couldn’t understand why they were coming to blows.

I really couldn’t bear to watch any longer, so I quickly knelt down to petition him.

“Imperial Father, why bother bestowing them on me? Just bestow death upon them directly!”