The new emperor's first decree upon ascending the throne was to forcibly take his cousin as his

Ruan Xianrong felt as if each day was an eternity.

Xie Chengyan sat at the table, clearly determined not to leave.

He also took a book from her bookshelf, a storybook she reads in her spare time.

If you're going to read it, fine, but you have to read it aloud.

"The summer night is sweltering, yet my chambers are cold and desolate; my husband has not returned for a long time... I am unbearably lonely..."

Ruan Xianrong wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground. Why did she have to choose this one when there are so many other books to read?

She felt this was her retribution; the way the book framed the female protagonist was the only way to prevent her from dying, but instead to make her socially ruined.

"So my cousin likes this kind of book."

"No, not at all..."

"If my cousin likes them, I'll send you some more. There are still quite a few left in the Eastern Palace."

Although it's unnecessary, there are quite a few of these books hidden in the Eastern Palace... You're the one who really loves reading them.

No matter how she tried to get rid of him, she couldn't. So she simply lay down on the bed, closed her eyes, and went to sleep.

The male lead's thoughts are indeed hard to guess; who knows what mischief he's up to again.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. "Your Highness, Miss Miaoyin has arrived."

Xie Chengyan paused in his book-turning, glanced at the person on the bed, and got up to leave.

Ruan Xianrong opened one eye, overjoyed; it had to be the female lead.

God help her, she wants to get a good night's sleep, please don't come again.

A short while later, the palace door opened with a soft creak, and someone entered.

She was dressed as a maid, but her gaze was hostile.

"You are Ruan Xianrong?"

Ruan Xianrong was taken aback. "You know me?"

"Of course I know her." The woman crossed her arms, her tone disdainful. "She's nothing special."

Ruan Xianrong: ......

She rolled her eyes; they were all sick.

But she roughly guessed who she was. "What do you want with me?"

"I've come today to tell you: stay away from the Crown Prince, he's mine."

Tsk, this little prince really thinks he's some kind of hot commodity?

Who cares?

"oh."

Jiang Wantang frowned. "What kind of attitude is this? You don't respect me at all?"

"How could that be? I heard you've moved into the East Palace, so naturally you're the Crown Prince's darling," Ruan Xianrong said with a smile.

"Hmph, you know that much."

The prince is really lucky.

Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he looked at Jiang Wantang, "You want me to leave the Crown Prince?"

"good."

"Then at least we should get him out of the Ruan family first, right?"

"As you can see, he's determined not to leave, and there's nothing I can do about it."

Jiang Wantang thought about it carefully and agreed that it made sense.

But how can we get the Crown Prince back to the palace?

Ruan Xianrong gave her some advice: "I heard that you have a good relationship with Miaoyin. Have her tell the Ruan family to go directly to His Majesty."

No matter how capable Xie Chengyan is, he is still just a crown prince, and there is still an emperor above him.

Can Your Majesty tolerate him staying in your home every day like this?

Jiang Wantang's expression brightened. That's right, how come she didn't think of that before?

Her gaze towards Ruan Xianrong changed. As expected of a scheming, manipulative young lady, she was indeed cunning. She had to tell Miaoyin to stay away from her.

*

"You mean, my second brother has been confined to his quarters?" Xie Chengyan asked Cao Shen, frowning.

"Indeed, His Majesty was furious. When the Second Prince came out, there was blood on his forehead."

Xie Chengyan snorted coldly. Xie Chengming had no one to rely on, so he was indeed a good scapegoat.

Cao Shen said worriedly, "His Highness handled this matter personally. Now that the Second Prince has been punished, there will probably be rumors circulating in the court."

"It's alright, since I'm already seated, I don't mind."

If they have the guts, they can fight him; in the end, they will all be his ladder to heaven.

"Have you investigated the group of people you encountered when leaving Hanzhou?"

"Your Highness, we have already sent people to investigate, but there has been no news yet."

He glanced at the willow tree in the courtyard and changed the subject, "Keep an eye on Xie Chengli."

Cao Shen was startled. "Does Your Highness suspect the Third Prince?"

"But the Third Prince has rarely participated in court affairs in recent years. Even Consort Jia couldn't persuade him to stay. This time, His Majesty had to rush him to the Southern Border."

Xie Chengyan scoffed, "The emperor's son has supreme power. The art of rulership and the power struggles within the palace will not produce a good-for-nothing."

Xie Cheng'an tapped the stone table lightly with his fingertips. "What about the person who assassinated Nian Nian at Huguo Temple?"

"We only found the Zhao family mansion; the others seem to have been deliberately erased. The trail went cold with Zhao Xuelan."

The man paused, then said, "Send men to keep an eye on those grandsons of the Duke of Zhao, find some charges against them, and imprison them."

"Yes."

Before Cao Shen could even leave the house, the palace eunuchs arrived.

Ruan Boheng smiled, finally able to send this big Buddha away, and his whole family was relieved.

Only Emperor Chengxuan was in the council hall, his face long and drawn.

"Does Father have something to discuss with me?"

Emperor Chengxuan glared at him. "You unfilial son, kneel down before me!"

Xie Chengyan looked up, but didn't move. Instead, he asked, "Is someone talking nonsense around you again?"

"How dare you say that?" Emperor Chengxuan glared, puffing out his beard.

"I ask you, did you abduct that young girl from the Ruan family?"

Xie Chengyan remained noncommittal.

"Are you trying to drive me crazy?" Emperor Chengxuan slammed his hand on the imperial desk.

"Do you know what you're doing? Today, Prime Minister Ruan came crying and complained that his daughter was unconscious and that you broke into her house and took her away, and wouldn't let anyone see her. Madam Ruan is almost at her wit's end!"

Xie Chengyan remained calm, "Niannian is not the biological daughter of the Ruan family."

"That's someone else's child, not the Ruan family's biological child. Are you suggesting they're your own?"

"Send him back today!"

Xie Chengyan's eyes darkened. "Why should my Crown Princess be sent back?"

"What did you say?" Emperor Chengxuan was taken aback.

"Niannian is my Crown Princess. Since she has no relation to the Ruan family, she should stay by my side."

Emperor Chengxuan's face turned pale with anger. "You unfilial son, you are a complete unfilial son!"

"If it were before, she might have been worthy of you. But now, what is her status? Are you insane?"

"Whether the son has gone mad or not, the Emperor should know best."

"you!"

"You can no longer tolerate the Ruan family, is that it?"

Emperor Chengxuan grabbed the teacup beside him and threw it down. Xie Chengyan slightly dodged to the side, and the teacup shattered.

"You've got some nerve, daring to speak to me like that."

"I've always spoken like this since I was a child, Father, haven't you gotten used to it yet?"

Emperor Chengxuan's forehead throbbed with anger. "I've already arranged your Crown Princess. Marrying Ruan Xianrong? Impossible!"

Xie Chengyan met his gaze directly. "Your subject will not marry anyone but Nian Nian. You should give up on that idea."

Before Emperor Chengxuan could lose his temper again, Xie Chengyan cupped his hands and said, "If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."

"Halt!" Emperor Chengxuan said in a deep voice, "Without my permission, you are not allowed to leave the Hall of State Affairs today. Stand here and wait for me."

Xie Chengyan frowned. "Father, it's best if you don't interfere in my affairs."

Emperor Chengxuan looked at his son, who appeared gentle and virtuous, but was actually more stubborn than anyone else at heart.

"How could your mother, such a gentle person, have given birth to such a stubborn child like you?"

Xie Chengyan smiled. "My mother is gentle, but I have this kind of personality. Who do I take after?"

Emperor Chengxuan almost slapped him across the face, but he couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.

"Forget about Ruan Xianrong. If you really want to marry her, I might consider Miaoyin from the Ruan family."

"But I only want to keep thinking about it."

"What if I don't agree?"

Xie Chengyan's lips curled up, and a crazed light flashed in his eyes. "Then, Your Majesty, I can only ask that Your Majesty take your final resting place."