4497

Chapter 4497: 5.0249 Scared Witless

She had previously sent someone to investigate the identity of the woman in the painting. It was truly amusing. Who would have thought that His Majesty, the supreme ruler of Cangzhou, was completely infatuated with the Crown Princess of Divine State? The little white ferret was held in the Crown Princess's arms, which meant... this little white ferret must be the Crown Princess's beloved pet.

That reckless hussy, Rong Shanshan, nearly harmed the little white ferret. With His Majesty's level of affection for that person, how could he tolerate her remaining in the palace, being an eyesore? What's more... His Majesty's aversion to Rong Li and his sister had long been evident. Now that the Liu family was scattered and the Empress Dowager Liu was scared witless and dared not intervene, heh, only an idiot like Rong Shanshan couldn't see the current situation.

At Pingshan Town, why the little white ferret was with His Majesty was something Rong Yuhu couldn't figure out. But what did it matter? Those questions no longer seemed so important. Anyway, Rong Shanshan, that thorn in her side, she had long wanted to remove. She brought this upon herself; no one else was to blame.

Greenwood Villa

The Second Prince sat restlessly on a stone stool, as if something was poking his rear. He shifted left and right, tottering, unable to sit still.

"His Majesty arrives!"

The eunuch's high-pitched cry immediately made the already startled Second Prince jump up. He timidly turned his head and saw a tall, elegant figure, like a slender bamboo, slowly entering the pavilion built by the water. Outside the pavilion, willows swayed delicately, and the scent of lotus blossoms permeated the air, a truly beautiful scene.

However, the Second Prince was drenched in a mix of cold and hot sweat, his entire head damp, not daring to even lift it.

"Your, Your... Your Majesty," the Second Prince immediately fell to the ground, crying out tearfully, "Your, Your subject deserves death. I deeply regret listening to the Hou family's wicked advice and committing such despicable acts. Your Majesty, spare my life, Your Majesty, spare my life."

"Second Imperial Brother, why are you so nervous?" Duan Yue said with a smile, reaching out to help him up and gently pressing him onto the stone stool.

The Second Prince's entire body was stiff, unable to speak. He only felt that the hand supporting his shoulder was icy cold, as if it had emerged from hell, a chilling, skeletal ghost hand. The Second Prince trembled like a sieve.

Duan Yue chuckled and patted him. "Why are you so afraid, Second Imperial Brother?"

The Second Prince wished he could just collapse onto the ground, but he barely managed to support himself and met Duan Yue's gaze. He felt that the young man's peach-blossom-like eyes were filled with coldness and indifference. He thought, this young man from the lower star domain, his transformation in this short period has been immense. The person he once knew would not have been able to instill such a chilling sensation just by sitting opposite him.

Can a person truly change so much?

"Have some tea, Second Imperial Brother," Duan Yue said with a faint smile, pushing a steaming cup of tea toward the Second Prince.

The Second Prince stared at the tea, then dropped to his knees with a thud, repeatedly kowtowing and begging for mercy. "Your, Your Majesty, Your Majesty! Your subject, Your subject deserves death, but please, for the sake of the late Emperor, spare, spare me this one time."

"Second Imperial Brother, why are you panicking? Do you think I've poisoned your tea?" Duan Yue smiled casually, then looked up at the person being led into the waterside pavilion from outside. "Second Imperial Brother, look, quickly look who has arrived."