Ning Shu was stunned. When facing the emperor in ancient times, one indeed couldn’t cover their face.
He hesitated for a moment, then reached out to take it down.
But it was cut off halfway by a hand. With a light smile, the prince said in a neither cold nor warm tone, “Ning’er has recently caught a cold. If he takes it off, wouldn’t he pass the illness to his father? I ask you not to mind.”
Liu Gonggong, surely you know that this young master appears perfectly fine. Where could he have caught a cold? If he truly had caught a cold, he wouldn’t be standing here.
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And Ning Shu was also seeing this Xia Tang’s emperor for the first time.
The Emperor was forty years old, his face still handsome. But he was aging after all; there were wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, and his hair was streaked with white.
There are also signs of weight gain on her body.
The Emperor cast him a quick glance, but said nothing. Instead, he spoke to the Crown Prince in a tender tone: “I’ve been feeling unwell this year, so I won’t be joining you…”
“Let’s hunt! The prince wants me to broaden my horizons, bring back a good prize for me to see.”
The other princes looked rather displeased.
And those around also felt a chill. Although other princes might have their flaws, the eldest, second, and sixth princes were all accomplished in both martial arts and scholarship—each of them more suitable to be Crown Prince than Loneliness Xuan Ce.
The Sage seemed to be blindfolded.
To turn a blind eye to the prince’s actions.
The Emperor finished his conversation with the Crown Prince before turning his attention to the other princes and speaking.
All those with eyes can see that the Emperor’s heart is biased.
The county princess of the Duke’s manor looked resplendent today. Among all present, she alone was a vibrant flower amongst blossoms. Her beauty was both delicate and lively, truly eye-catching. The Emperor favoured beauties, so he spoke to her for several moments more.
While the noble lady from the Duke’s manor frequently looked towards the Crown Prince, it was clear to anyone watching.
Of course, the emperor saw it too, but he pretended not to.
The princess had no choice but to reluctantly say, “Your Majesty, hasn’t the Crown Prince chosen a wife yet?”
In terms of imperial family seniority, the Crown Prince was two years older than her and held a higher status. She could marry the Crown Prince, it wasn’t impossible.
Upon hearing this, the emperor said with a hint of affection, “Your elder brother, the crown prince, is going to choose his own crown princess. A’er, you shouldn’t meddle in this. Don’t you remember when you were little, you even said that you didn’t like your elder brother, the crown prince?”
The county princess blushed, how could she remember things from her childhood now? All she saw was the prince’s handsome face, like a fairy.
She couldn’t help but glance at the prince.
But the Crown Prince had not even glanced at her, his attention was entirely focused on the young man.
The county princess was a bit angry that he didn’t come. She had deliberately made herself up just now. It was all to get the prince to notice her. She still had confidence in her own appearance.
Although she couldn’t compare to the renowned beauty of Lady Tang, who served by the Emperor’s side, she was still considered one of the most beautiful women in the capital.
The princess watched as the crown prince held the young man’s hand and leaned in to speak to him. A surge of anger welled up within her, and she suddenly addressed the emperor coldly: “Your Majesty, who is that person by Crown Prince’s side? He dares to hide his true identity in your presence! He’s utterly disregarding our imperial authority!”
The Emperor followed his gaze. He didn’t have much of an impression of Ning Shu. He only knew that she was a small trinket by the Crown Prince’s side. The Crown Prince played with her, and that was it. Anyway, in a short while, there wouldn’t be any enjoyment for him.
He thought of this, the smile on his lips deepened further, and he said to the county princess: “The prince said that he was infected with wind-cold and could not face the emperor, so I agreed.”
However, the county princess grew to dislike the young man even more. She couldn’t see what his face looked like. But she vaguely remembered the scene from the carriage just now.
The prince carried the person down from the carriage like a precious treasure.
Out in broad daylight! What a disgrace!
The princess had always been domineering and arrogant. She was incredibly jealous, so she found the young man increasingly irritating. Immediately, with a delicate voice filled with anger, she said, “Bold! Your Majesty, look at him. He’s perfectly healthy and energetic. How could he possibly have caught a cold?”
“Let the county princess take it off for me. I really want to see what’s so terrible about his face!”
After the princess finished speaking, she stormed away angrily.
Although young, she was incredibly jealous. She wouldn’t allow the maids around her to possess beauty even remotely comparable to hers, not even half as much.
And now the prince, for this male favorite, is unwilling to look at her even once.
She thought of having this young man make a mistake in front of the Emperor, preferably losing his life. If she were to become the Crown Princess in the future, how could she tolerate such a person by the Crown Prince’s side?
The prince held his hand and spoke to him.
So when someone came over, although he sensed it, he didn’t defend himself in time. Not to mention that the county princess lifted his curtain and caught him completely off guard on the spot.
That scene is about to be unveiled.
The young man’s face appeared, with a head of blue silk flowing loose. That radiant and stunningly beautiful countenance was also revealed to everyone’s gaze.
Many people were stunned speechless on the spot.
The imperial concubine Tang, who was by the emperor’s side, was once renowned for her breathtaking beauty, so she was favored by the emperor for many years. She is still stunningly beautiful today, and everyone who sees her is amazed.
They just dared not look at them, for they were merely the Emperor’s concubines.
But even so, when Tang Fei appeared today. Not to mention the young masters present, even those outstanding scholars who were fortunate enough to be granted an audience couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.
But now, when compared to this young master, Tang Fei’s beauty seemed to pale in comparison?
And the County Princess also saw the young man’s appearance. She was naturally jealous. Last year, a maid grew quite beautiful, and she felt resentment in her heart, so she had her disfigured and sold to a brothel.
Now I see such a beautiful face.
The princess was consumed with jealousy, and it was directed at a man.
No wonder the Crown Prince was bewitched into going, she bit her lip. But then she sensed a murderous gaze fixed upon her. The county princess looked up and saw that the Crown Prince’s peach blossom eyes were staring at her.
Inside, there is endless coldness and malice.
Her face instantly paled, and she took a few steps back, stammering, “Your Majesty, look, he’s deceiving you! He isn’t sick with the wind-cold at all, yet he refuses to show his true face.”
The princess immediately pointed at the person and said, “Such treasonous act deserves to be beheaded!”
The emperor remained silent.
But the imperial concubine Tang, standing beside him, clearly saw the emperor’s expression.
Her hand, which was clutching a handkerchief, tightened involuntarily.
When she first entered the palace, the emperor had seen a similar expression on her face. The only difference was that this young man was even more beautiful than her.
Tang Fei touched her own face. No matter how beautiful she was, she was getting a little older now and couldn’t compare to the young and beautiful.
And those present couldn’t help but feel pity for her, such a beauty, the crime of deceiving the monarch wasn’t something that could be so easily glossed over.
The princess didn’t hear the emperor’s reply, and she couldn’t help but feel uneasy.
For a while, the emperor spoke, “It’s alright, come here, let me take a look.”
Ning Shu was startled and immediately felt uneasy. If he was punished, it wouldn’t be a big deal, but if the Crown Prince was implicated, that would be terrible.
Then he took a step forward, knelt down and said: “The servant greets your Majesty.”
The emperor said, “Lift your face up and let me have a look.”
Although Ning Shu was a bit puzzled, he still lifted his head. The Emperor looked at his face and said, “You are the prince’s tutor?”
He hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
“Does your family have anyone in official positions?”
Ning Shu honestly answered, telling him everything about his father’s name, what official position he held, and where he lived.
When the emperor wanted to say something more.
The Crown Prince stepped forward and helped the person up, his tone light: “Father Emperor, Ning’er is weak in body. I didn’t want to bring him before, but Ning’er insisted on following me.”
Hearing this, the Emperor didn’t get angry. He simply said, “I know. I’ve never seen the Crown Prince treat someone this preciously before. Even if it’s a male consort, for the sake of the Crown Prince, I wouldn’t do anything to him.”
He was speaking, but his eyes never left Ning Shu’s face, not for a moment.
The prince held the person’s hand and said calmly, “I’ll take him down first.”
Once the prince and the young man had walked away.
Those present couldn’t help but frown. The prince was truly arrogant, not giving the emperor any face at all. And the emperor’s attitude was strange, he didn’t even seem angry.
Thinking of the rumors before, they couldn’t help but shake their heads. Could it be that this Crown Prince really had put a curse on the Emperor?
The emperor watched the departing figure.
Until Tang Fei called his name, he came back to his senses.
And those present couldn’t help but reminisce about the young man’s appearance just now, shaking their heads. It’s a pity that he was a man. If he were a woman, he would truly be a calamity for both the rivers and mountains, as well as the world.
And several talented young men, however, had never truly seen the world. They were brought to the palace and had never felt any inclination towards men.
It was just that the young man was too handsome, they couldn’t take their eyes off him for a moment.
Taste carefully the scene I just saw.
Then I thought of this young man, supposedly the prince’s male consort. For a moment, I couldn’t help but let my imagination run wild.
……
Ning Shu was being led by the hand by the prince. He could sense something unusual about the prince.
Reached a place to rest.
The crown prince lifted the curtain and led him inside.
Ning Shu’s hands were tightly held. The Crown Prince picked her up: “I dislike the way they look at you.”
His eyes were cold, concealing a vast expanse of coldness and killing intent beneath the surface.
And there’s also malice.
But Ning Shu couldn’t see the expression in the prince’s eyes. He only noticed the warmth of the prince’s breath coming closer to him.
His chin was suddenly pinched.