bayedsolid Chapter 499 The Desperate Thug!
Chapter 499 The Desperate Thug!
After staying at the villa for a few days, the two received news that the Crown Prince had returned from the capital.
After he finished reading the letter, he snorted softly, shook his head, and handed the letter to Mu Xin Nuan.
After reading it, Mu Xin Nuan was slightly taken aback, and then, at his prompting, she burned the letter.
"It seems that the Crown Prince's feelings for the Crown Princess are indeed deep. This time, with His Highness the Grand Prince pleading for her, it was only a half-year's salary penalty, which is really nothing."
"I'm afraid that the Crown Prince's feelings for his sister-in-law are not that deep, but rather that he has been influenced by Duanmu Chen during this period."
"Duanmu Chen?" Mu Xin Nuan was slightly surprised. She didn't believe that the Crown Prince really had such great ability to influence the Crown Prince's decision.
"Don't underestimate him. He's young, but he's ruthless. You probably don't know, but his hands are stained with just as much blood as mine!"
Mu Xin Nuan was truly terrified this time!
It was perfectly normal for Duanmu Chuze to have blood on his hands, since he had spent three years at the border and fought countless battles, large and small, against the enemy. How could his hands be clean? But Duanmu Chen?
Seeing Mu Xin Nuan's expression, Duanmu Chuze sighed softly and continued carefully, "He received extremely strict education from a young age, so it's inevitable that he has blood on his hands. In other words, he was groomed by his father as his successor from childhood. You may think he looks rich and powerful, but he was once imprisoned in the Dark Hall and killed countless wolves, leopards, tigers, and lions before he could come out."
"Aze, as a prince, did you receive similar training from a young age?"
Duanmu Chuze hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Of course! Otherwise, how could Father Emperor possibly bear to send me to the border? However, what Father Emperor doesn't know is that I had my own power base many years ago. He intended to train me to be a great general who would protect the country, teaching me military strategy and tactics to repel the enemy, but he never taught me any of the scheming and power struggles!"
Mu Xin Nuan felt a pang of heartache. Both had undergone rigorous training since childhood, but one was being groomed as an heir, while the other was being raised as the heir's guardian. It was easy to imagine that Duanmu Chu Ze's training was likely far more stringent than Duanmu Chen's!
"Aze!" A soft voice drifted into his ears, and Duanmu Chuze felt a warmth and fullness in his heart. "I'm fine. It's all over."
"Aze, do you sometimes feel unbalanced?"
Duanmu Chuze thought for a moment and smiled, "Perhaps! However, what I feel most deeply is gratitude towards my father. If it weren't for his strict teachings and his ruthlessness, I'm afraid I wouldn't have made it this far! My father originally intended to send me to the battlefield. However, I myself moved it forward by three years. At the time, my father didn't know it was because of you; he only knew that I had taken a liking to you. However, when I insisted on marrying you earlier, I'm afraid he found out."
"Isn't this the same as you outsmarting the Emperor as well?" Mu Xin Nuan teased.
Duanmu Chuze smiled and put his arm around her waist, saying slowly, "Speaking of which, my becoming a great general was originally his expectation. The Great Yong Dynasty also faced a crisis a hundred years ago, and that crisis continued until my father's generation."
"What was originally an external threat turned into an internal conflict by my father's generation! In the end, it was my father who ended it all. However, he had only just ascended the throne when he once again rode off to the border. My father will always be the bravest person in my heart."
"Yes, His Majesty is indeed a hero on horseback! Moreover, his unwavering devotion to His Majesty the Empress over the years has been a celebrated story among the people. You brothers, though different in temperament, are undoubtedly all born of His Majesty the Empress. In fact, His Majesty probably thought simply that you were all brothers from the same mother, so the kind of fratricide that happened to him would not have occurred."
"Yes! It's a pity that Father Emperor valued power too little and blood ties too much."
“Aze, actually, things are pretty good as they are now. If we govern Yan well and make it prosperous, it will be no worse than the capital.”
Duanmu Chuze understood her intention and nodded. "As long as no one threatens my life or has any improper thoughts about you, then I won't covet that position."
After saying that, he sighed heavily, "Anuan, you should understand that sometimes, to protect someone, relying solely on force and wisdom is probably not enough! In this era of supreme imperial power, if I don't have enough strength, I'm afraid I won't be able to protect you."
Mu Xin Nuan suddenly thought of Duanmu Chen!
Could it be that he was also worried that Duanmu Chen hadn't given up on her?
"You're overthinking it! I'm your wife now, the Princess Chang Le of Yan. Who dares to do anything to me?"
Mu Xin Nuan's feigned ease did not bring her any comfort; instead, it only deepened Duanmu Chu Ze's gaze towards her.
“Anuan, you may not understand what kind of person Duanmu Chen is! But I understand him very well. He won't give up until he achieves his goal. His personality is definitely not as gentle as it seems!”
"Your Highness and Your Highness's Consort, Mr. Liu has sent someone over with news from Huayang County. What do you think?"
"Understood. The King and Queen will return now."
Mu Xin Nuan pouted, "Why don't you just go back by yourself? I'll stay here for a few more days. If you're worried, you can bring my cousin's wife over to keep me company."
Duanmu Chuze's face darkened. "How can that be? You are my queen consort. Wherever I am, you must be there too!"
Without saying a word, he picked her up and carried her in his arms. Then he instructed Rongyue behind him, "You go and pack your things. The king and the queen will go ahead first."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Mu Xin Nuan was naturally a little unhappy that he forcibly brought her back to the Prince's Mansion. However, she thought that he did have too many things to do. With her by his side, at least she could keep an eye on him and make him remember the preparation time for the three meals a day, as well as the time for him to go to bed at night.
Mu Xin Nuan never imagined that Duanmu Chu Ze, who seemed so easygoing, would be so tireless when he got busy, a true workaholic!
Upon returning to the manor, Mu Xin Nuan did not rush back to the backyard, but instead went to Chunhui Pavilion with him.