Upon hearing the two words “Royal Palace,” Xue He was completely dumbfounded!

In his entire life, he had never been to such a “no trespassing for outsiders” place. What exactly was this Third Prince up to?

“Your Highness, you… why are you taking me to the Royal Palace?”

“To broaden your horizons!”

“Your High—”

“If you speak again, this Prince will stuff your mouth with the sole of his shoe.” Na Tuo threatened.

Immediately, Xue He shut his mouth. Sitting on the cold carriage floor, trembling violently, he stared wide-eyed at the man before him whose lips curved in an eerily sinister smile.

He thought to himself: could it be that he’s dragging me to the palace to kneel on stone slabs?

At this thought, his back went numb!

He deeply felt his days were numbered.

But no matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t understand when he had offended the Third Prince, or how he had caught his attention.

While the carriage rushed toward the Royal Palace, the people Na Tuo had dispatched had also reached the Second Prince.

Because of this incident, Na Yan’s heart felt as if countless torches had been lit inside, burning over and over in his chest, almost scorching him completely.

That feeling was nearly nauseating in its intensity.

What he hadn’t expected was that just shortly after returning from the Ministry of Justice, when the tea by his hand had barely cooled, someone was shouting outside.

“Your Highness, someone from the Third Prince’s manor has arrived.”

Someone from the Third Prince’s manor?

Na Yan could barely remember how long it had been since anyone from the Third Prince’s manor had crossed the threshold of his Second Prince’s manor!

The last time was probably seventeen years ago!

Back then, he and Na Tuo were each not yet adults, but both had already been granted their own manors.

However, because Na Tuo was born of the Queen, he was deeply favored. Even though he had a manor outside the palace, he still lived within the palace.

He remembered clearly—King Huyi had obtained a treasure, an extremely translucent luminous pearl! Na Tuo had merely said it was beautiful, and King Huyi had bestowed it upon him.

Seventeen years ago, the relationship between Na Tuo and Na Yan wasn’t as tense as it was now; they addressed each other as brothers. The first person Na Tuo wanted to tell about receiving the luminous pearl was Na Yan, so he hurriedly left the palace and showed off in front of Na Yan, repeatedly saying “Father King bestowed it.” This made Na Yan extremely displeased deep down. He was of common birth, his position unstable. Watching the legitimate prince flaunt like this before him, he truly wished he could draw a fifteen-meter-long saber and hack at him, then stomp that luminous pearl into smithereens, but he had restrained himself.

He had only said one sentence: “What’s so precious about it? In the near future, countless people will line up to present gifts to me!”

Youth—truly the words of youth!

It was precisely this sentence that made Na Tuo firmly believe this brother he spent day and night with actually wanted to compete with him for the throne. How could that be acceptable?

He immediately put away the luminous pearl, slammed the door and left. Before leaving, he said in burning fury: “Whoever dares to present gifts, I’ll have their head.”

It was also at that time that the two completely fell out.

Na Tuo even issued an order that the two manors were not to have any contact, much less deep conversations.

After seventeen years, today, someone from the Third Prince’s manor was actually visiting?

Na Yan felt puzzled, but also had an ominous premonition.

“Let them in.” He said to those outside.

Shortly after, the person from the Third Prince’s manor was brought in.

“Greetings to the Second Prince.”

“What is it?”

“My master asked me to deliver a letter to Your Highness the Second Prince.”

“What?”

The visitor presented the letter.

Na Yan took it and read it. When he finished reading the last character, his eyes suddenly widened.

His face filled with fury.

“Bang!”

He slammed his palm on the table!

Then he stood up, raised his foot and kicked at the low table.

The low table was overturned!

The teapot and teacups on it shattered with clattering sounds.

The guards outside were frightened: “Your Highness?”

“Prepare the carriage immediately! This Prince is entering the palace!”

…

Na Tuo’s carriage arrived unhurriedly at the palace gates.

Outside, heavy snow fell in flurries.

He descended from the carriage, and his guards quickly held an umbrella over his head.

Meanwhile, Xue He, who was trussed up like a dumpling, was thrown down from the carriage.

His entire body fell into the snow.

Dense snowflakes rolled wildly over his body.

He lay on the ground, unable to get up, looking in extreme wretchedness at Na Tuo standing high above him.

“Your Highness, please spare me.” He pleaded.

Na Tuo sneered coldly: “Spare you? Do you know what you’ve done? Are you feeling guilty?”

“I…”

“Never mind, this Prince doesn’t want to hear what you have to say. Once we enter the palace, just kneel properly.”

“…”

Na Tuo waved his hand: “Drag him up.”

Two figures immediately approached, roughly dragging him up from the ground, then followed Na Tuo into the palace.

They went all the way to King Huyi’s sleeping quarters!

It was Xue He’s first time entering the palace. While fearful and anxious, he couldn’t help but glance around.

Admiring the scenery within the Royal Palace!

He had fantasized countless times, hoping that one day he would achieve the top position in the imperial examinations, be able to enter government service, and enter this Royal Palace that represented power.

He never imagined it would be in this manner!

It wasn’t until he was pressed down to kneel in the snow that he was pulled back to reality.

Cold penetrated from his knees throughout his entire body!

His whole body shook incessantly!

He didn’t dare shout loudly, nor did he dare struggle. A pair of terrified eyes stared straight at the magnificent palace before him. Even though he had never entered the palace, he knew that whoever lived inside was no ordinary person. When he saw Na Tuo standing at the entrance speaking a few words with a eunuch outside, and then the eunuch went in to make an announcement, someone who could make Na Tuo stand outside the door waiting…

It was undoubtedly King Huyi!

But why had he brought him to see King Huyi?

Besides anxiety, there was also confusion in his heart.

Shortly after, the eunuch came out, and coming out with him was Li Cheng’s elder brother, Li Qiao.

He bowed to Na Tuo: “Third Prince.”

Na Tuo looked inside several times: “Does Father King know I wish to see him?”

“Naturally he knows, which is why he summons you inside.”

“Mm.” He prepared to enter.

But was stopped by Li Qiao.

“Why are you stopping this Prince?”

Li Qiao pulled him aside, then glanced at Xue He kneeling in the heavy snow: “Your Highness surely doesn’t truly intend to lodge an imperial complaint?”

“You already know about this?”

“Yes!”

“You accompany Father King daily, staying in the palace without going out, yet you’ve received news so quickly of what only happened this morning. Your information network is quite efficient.” Na Tuo smiled slightly.

Li Qiao had no heart to discuss these matters with him. With a serious and solemn expression, he said: “Your Highness, if you truly do this, then between you and the Second Prince, it will officially mark the beginning of your rivalry. You must think this through carefully.”

“This Prince came because he has already thought it through! Otherwise, I wouldn’t have brought Xue He into the palace.”

“But the Second Prince is no easy opponent. After this confrontation, there will certainly be much trouble in the future. Your Highness, please listen to my advice.”

Hehe!

Li Cheng looked him up and down: “When did Lord Li become so cautious and hesitant?”

“I’m merely being thoroughly considerate!”