The sky was pitch black, but Taihe Hall was brightly lit. Su Mu sat on the throne in a golden court robe, sharp eyes sweeping across the crowd, and said: “Ministry of Rites, how many scholars came to participate in the examination.”

Hearing Su Mu ask this question again Peng Han stepped forward in a cold sweat and replied: “Your Highness, as of today, there are a total of 752 scholars who have signed up for the examination. Chen has failed to handle the issue well, chen will accept any punishment.”

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The Crown Prince once said that he would cut him down if a thousand people did not sign up for the imperial examination. Even if he used all his relationships and even coerced the scholars to participate in the test, he barely gathered more than 400 people. But unexpectedly, Lin Siyuan led a group of scholars to sign up for the examination, causing Peng Han to almost break out into joyful tears.

What does it mean to send charcoal in snowy weather (TN: provide aid in sb’s hour of need)? This was it! It was just that the number of people was still less than a thousand even with Lin Siyuan’s aid. Fortunately, the Crown Prince had changed a lot recently and he no longer killed at will. Peng Han was betting his life, hoping that the Crown Prince really had changed his temper. If not for the fact that all his family was in the imperial city he would have run away long ago.

Su Mu nodded, this result had actually exceeded his expectations, and so he said: “Rise.”

The morning assembly have already moved on the right track, and Su Mu had gradually gone from somewhat shaky to proficient on handling matters of state.

“Li Gaosheng, how is the construction of the dam in Xijiang?” Su Mu asked.

Li Gaosheng bowed his head respectfully, not daring to show even a hint of negligence, and replied: “Your Highness, the building of the dam has officially started and is expected to be completed in the spring of the next year.”

Su Mu nodded in satisfaction and said: “It must be completed before the flood season, otherwise all officials responsible for this matter will be demoted three consecutive ranks.”

After Li Gaosheng retreated, Liu Yuanhua unexpectedly spoke up.

“Your Highness, chen has something to tell.”

Su Mu was a little surprised. Liu Yuanhua’s official position was only earned by selling his son. He always stood in the background and never said anything. Su Mu raised his eyebrows slightly and said, “Speak.”

Liu Yuanhua lowered his head and said: “Your Highness the court ladies who will enter the palace this year have already been selected. The harem has long been empty and we respectfully ask Your Highness to fill the harem and give birth to a royal heir soon.”

The Emperor had long ignored the governing of the court. Although he still had an Emperor’s name but it was the Crown Prince sitting on the dragon throne, and it was the Crown Prince with the control and power. It was even more certain that the Crown Prince will become the Emperor in the future.

The Crown Prince was almost twenty years old, but because he had been only with men therefore there were no births of an heir so far. This worried the officials very much. If the Crown Prince ascended the throne but had no heirs, it would definitely shake the peace of the country and give those who have bad intentions an opportunity to take advantage.

Originally, because of the Crown Prince’s violent and outrageous behavior, no one dared to mention it. But now the Crown Prince ’s temperament had been greatly improved so the officials dared to speak up. Therefore, none of the officials present disagreed and all asked the Crown Prince to expand the harem and provide heirs for the royal family as soon as possible.

After all, it must be said that the first choice for drafting harem candidates was from the daughters of the officials. This time, many daughters from the officials’ families had entered the palace, waiting for the Emperor and Crown Prince to choose. It was better to be selected by the Crown Prince than by a dying old man like the Emperor. And maybe in the future they could even move up the ranks and become an Empress or Noble Consort.

The officials naturally did not forget that the Crown Prince preferred men, but after all, the Crown Prince was the heir apparent of a country. No matter how much he preferred men, he must still leave an heir for the royal family.

This was indeed an unavoidable problem. As the Crown Prince of a country, he must have heirs, but he indeed did not like women. Su Mu frowned slightly and said: “We will discuss this matter again, court dismissed!”

When the golden figure disappeared from Taihe Hall Liu Yuanhua was immediately surrounded by the other officials. Several officials asked: “Why did Lord Liu think of having the Crown Prince choose concubines today?”

Liu Yuanhua smiled and said: “How can the Crown Prince of a country be without heirs? This old man is only doing his duty as an official.”

Bah! Duty my ass, as if everyone didn’t already know that you sent your daughter into the palace.

Liu Yuanhua shook off the officials who wanted to pry some news with a smile on his face but cold eyes. He thought privately to himself: “Liu Xi, that useless thing, was of not much use anymore. When Yuewei enters the Crown Prince’s Palace, see how I’ll deal with you.”

There was a reason why Liu Yuanhua was so confident. After all, Liu Xi was a favorite for a certain time. Liu Yuewei had half a resemblance to Liu Xi, and had been trained by his legal wife since childhood.

Liu Xi had a position in the Ministry of Rites so the news that Liu Yuanhua wanted to send Liu Yuewei into the harem was immediately known to him. Liu Xi sat on the chair with a calm face, but the tea cup in his hand was crushed into pieces. The few strands of blood stood out quite noticeably on the pale fingers.

Even if he had known Liu Yuanhua to be ruthless and shameless, he did not expect Liu Yuanhua to actually do this. Although Liu Yuewei was not born from his mother, she was still his sister.

Brother and sister serving one husband together! Only a shameless person like Liu Yuanhua could do such a thing.

Liu Xi suppressed the anger that roiled in his chest, and dressed himself calmly. If Liu Yuewei really entered the Crown Prince’s Palace and gained favor, then his mother, his younger brother, and himself will probably be dead.

With a jade crown to tie his hair and a brocade robe dressed on his willowy body, Liu Xi looked at himself in the mirror. Phoenix eyes were like autumn water and red lips like cherry blossoms. He was indeed possessing of a natural charming appearance. But he hated this appearance of his. He had the same fate as his mother; because of this face he had a rough fate since he was a child. But ironically he had to use this face he hated to protect the people he cared about.

Liu Xi closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes, the sadness and hatred on his face disappeared in the blink of an eye, arriving at the Crown Prince’s residence with a bright and sunny face.

Today was the first day of the imperial examination so Su Mu came back earlier. The most important thing in a country was talent no matter whether it was a strong military force or wealth they were all produced by people. So Su Mu attached great importance to this examination. Listening to Han Yang reporting that those candidates performed quite well in the examination room, Su Mu’s mood became much better.

It was autumn but some of the residual heat had not yet receded. Su Mu returned to the Crown Prince’s Palace from the Imperial Study Room with a fine layer of sweat already appearing on his forehead. Liu Xi lightly pressed against Su Mu’s body and said with a smile: “Your Highness, chen will wipe the sweat for you.”

The soft, frgrantly scented cloth was pressed against Su Mu’s forehead, but Su Mu felt a little uncomfortable, saying, “Don’t call yourself chen from now on, just use ‘I’.” Otherwise, every time he would think of those morning assembly officials with their wrinkles and beards.

Liu Xi hesitated and said, “But this is not in compliance to the palace rules.”

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Su Mu looked at Liu Xi and said, “In this palace, I am the rule.”

“Yes.” Liu Xi’s expression flickered slightly, and then he smiled: “Your Highness, the candidates have already left the examination room. Most scholars will gather in Fu’an Pavilion. Your Highness, why don’t we go and have a look together?”

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Su Mu waved away the servants on his left and right and walked into the room lightly. The bright sunlight casted light and shadow through the green leaves. The handsome youth frowned while holding a book, appearing quite troubled. So immersed that he wasn’t even aware of Su Mu arriving behind him.

“Do you like studying medicine?” Su Mu suddenly shocked the youth in front of him.

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Huang Xuan hurriedly turned around and when he saw that it was Su Mu his eyes became full of delight, but he did not forget to greet Su Mu: “Paying respects to Your Highness.”

Su Mu nodded and continued to ask: “Do you like studying medicine?”

Huang Xuan said with some embarrassment: “I, I just took a book to read when I’m bored.”

He obviously liked it very much but didn’t dare to say it, like a puppy sitting obediently and looking at the tasty bones in the bowl. Su Mu smiled and said: “If you like it, then you like it, it’s not like I’ll do anything to you.”

Huang Xuan blushed immediately after hearing Su Mu’s words, “I like studying medicine very much, but my dad doesn’t let me learn it. He wants me to study and become the zhuangyuan (TN: highest rank of the Imperial examination system), but I am always scolded by my teachers.”

Su Mu lay relaxed on the chair, eyes half-lidded and said: “If you like it, then go to the imperial hospital. I will have Doctor Hu teach you.”

Huang Xuan’s eyes lit up, even missing a heartbeat with the joy, and said in surprise, “Is it really possible?”

“I am the Crown Prince, if I say it can be done then it can be done.” Su Mu looked at him and smiled.

Huang Xuan hurriedly gave thanks: “Thank you Your Highness.”

“Rise.” Su Mu lied down for a while with his eyes closed, but found that Huang Xuan was strangely quiet, so he opened his eyes and saw the other conflicted and hesitant to speak.

Su Mu couldn’t bear to see him troubled and said: “What’s the matter? Just say it directly.”

Huang Xuan, who was silent about whether to mention it to the Crown Prince, was shocked when he heard Su Mu suddenly talking. Huang Xuan carefully observed Su Mu’s expression and saw that he was not in a bad mood, so he asked softly: “Your Highness, can I go home and see my father and my mother? I haven’t seen them since I entered the palace.”

Su Mu suddenly felt a little guilty when he heard Huang Xuan’s words. He would just be a teenager in the modern age, and would still be acting spoiled in front of his parents. Huang Xuan was just a 17 to 18-year-old child, but he had no acquaintances in the palace. How could he not miss his parents.

Su Mu nodded and said, “Hnn, I will let the guards know, you can go back anytime.”

“Thank you Your Highness.” The pair of clear eyes became brighter, watching Su Mu full of excitement and adoration.

Then, in order to express his gratitude, Huang Xuan did his best to reward Su Mu into the middle of the night.

Early the next day, Su Mu announced that Yun Feiyu will be reporting to the Ministry of Justice and Huang Xuan was to be admitted to the imperial hospital, so he was opposed very……meekly.

But when Su Mu asked about it on the third day, he was told that Huang Xuan had not come back since he went home. Su Mu was currently changing clothes and when he heard this his eyes instantly frosted over. The palace maids around Su Mu helping him with his robes trembled in response.

“Go find out what’s going on.” Su Mu said coldly. It was as if a black hole suddenly appeared in his heart to swallow all emotions, leaving only suppressed anger. Su Mu repeatedly told himself in his heart that this was not Huang Xuan’s doing, putting up an act to escape. If he wanted to leave, he just had to tell him himself and he would never stop him. But there was another voice in his heart telling him that, with Su Mochi’s criminal history, who would dare to say to his face that they couldn’t stand him and wanted to leave. Instead they would try to find a chance to sneak away.

Su Mu’s face darkened and his whole body exuded a suffocating pressure, not even mosquitoes dared to fly within three feet of him.

Soon after Han Yang stepped into the door, Su Mu instantly raised his head to look at him. His sharp gaze made Han Yang afraid to look directly. Lowering his head he reported: “Your Highness, last night the Huang family fled the city in the middle of the night. There was no sign left when this subordinate led people to chase after them out of the city.”

Su Mu squeezed the corner of the table fiercely, and said with suppressed anger in his tone: “Ferret them out, inform the local government that if they find them send them back to the imperial city immediately, safely and without a hair hurt on their heads.”

“Yes, this subordinate ask to be excused!” Han Yang hurriedly left. When the Crown Prince was angry, it was best to stay away. Even if the Crown Prince did not intend to kill, but that horrible aura was still too frightening.

As soon as Han Yang walked out the door, he heard a “bang” inside the toom, and his heart trembled, walking with even bigger steps.

The expensive and hard corner of the table turned into powder in Su Mu’s hands, and then he stood up and strode out, a chair in the way kicked to pieces.

Su Mu felt a little uncomfortable in his heart. He vented frantically in the martial arts field. Loud noises one after another echoed throughout the palace. All the eunuchs and palace ladies were frightened and thought, the Crown Prince couldn’t be on another crazy rampage again, right?

Liu Xi, who recieved news on Huang Xuan’s disappearance, raised an eyebrow and waved away the servants. He lay on the bed and muttered to himself: “Is the Crown Prince really in love with Huang Xuan, tsk!”

Would that demon also fall in love with others? It was even more impossible than for him to be kind and filial to Liu Yuanhua.

Thinking of the news from the higher ups, Liu Xi immediately prepared himself. Although he did not want to face the Crown Prince, there were some things he had no choice but to do. Putting on a dark red palace robe, a golden crown tying back ink black hair, his expressionless face instantly turned into a smile, the pair of phoenix eyes filled with boundless charm. Liu Xi looked in the mirror and then left for the Crown Prince’s residence.

“Your Highness, Liu Gongzi request to see you.” The little eunuch outside the door whispered.

What was he here for? Su Mu, who was lying on the bed with his eyes closed said, “Let him in.”

As soon as Liu Xi entered the door, he saw the Crown Prince lying on the bed. His handsome face frowned slightly, looking very different from the sinister and gloomy look of the past. Liu Xi settled down the excess ponderings in his eyes, and walked forward with a plate of delicate desserts. He said softly in a gentle but seductive voice: “Your Highness, I heard that you haven’t eaten much this evening. Chen made you some snacks. Your Highness please eat some.”

Su Mu lay on the bed and didn’t even move, his eyes remained close as he replied: “Put it on the table.”

Liu Xi, with an undiminished smile on his face, responded gently: “Yes, Your Highness, please rest well, chen asks to be excused.”

Of course, Liu Xi understood that rushing things would not have any results, so he excused himself very readily. But at the same time he was even more aware of the importance of persistence, so in the next few days Liu Xi appeared smiling every day. With a seductive face, he offered flattery in front of the Crown Prince, but his grasp on the situation was also very good. Seeing that the Crown Prince began to feel a little unhappy, he immediately disappeared in front of Su Mu. Only to then appear in front of Su Mu again at the right time.

Of course, Su Mu knew that Liu Xi had ulterior motives, but he was not ready to make his move yet. It was easy to avoid traps that were put in the open but those that hide in the dark were hard to guard against. He must figure out who the enemy was, and then……Su Mu’s eyes narrowed slightly, appearing unreadable and unpredictable.

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Uproot them all!

After returning to Qionghua Pavilion and having everyone leave, Liu Xi’s smiling face became immediately clouded, and the huge delicate vase in front of him was ruthlessly pushed to the ground, shattering into pieces. His eyes were fierce as he growled: “Liu Yuanhua, you f**king animal, I’m going to kill you.”

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