"Big brother, thanks to the Thousand-year-old Snow Lotus gifted by Seventh Sister, after taking it, the internal injuries in my body have completely healed," Mu Rufeng said with a smile.
"That’s wonderful, Seventh Sister is indescribably helpful; truly, the affection between siblings runs deep," the Crown Prince said, his face full of excitement.
But inside, he was extremely puzzled, "Wasn’t the Thousand-year-old Snow Lotus something I advised Mu Wuxia to take? According to my plan, shouldn’t he have died instantly upon consuming it?"
"Why, why is he now lively and bouncing around and even recovered from his injuries and cultivation??? Where’s the poison? Where’s the poison?"
However, the Crown Prince soon thought of the fact that Mu Rufeng now had no resources of any kind, even the more than seven million in consolation funds had been stolen, so it didn’t matter that he hadn’t died.
He had already set his sights on the Crown Prince position, and now the most threatening was the Fourth Prince.
"Right, since Ninth Brother has recovered, why not first go pay our respects to Mother? After all, the Thousand Mountain Snow Lotus also came from her."
"Mother should be very pleased to hear of this as well," the Crown Prince said.
Hearing these words, Mu Rufeng sneered inwardly. It seemed this guy was afraid he would go borrow money from the Seventh Princess?
He probably wanted him to first visit the Empress, then find some excuse to call the Seventh Princess away.
If Mu Rufeng were to borrow money, the Seventh Princess would surely lend it. If the Seventh Princess couldn’t lend it, then Mu Rufeng would have to look elsewhere.
Whom to find? Heh, the Crown Prince had already arranged for someone to lend the money to Mu Rufeng.
"Mm, then let’s first go see Mother," Mu Rufeng nodded his head without refusal, because he couldn’t refuse.
Once the Empress was brought into the matter, how could he refuse?
But Mu Rufeng changed the subject and said, "Big brother, do you have any money? My consolation funds were stolen, and I’m still a bit short. Could you lend me some?"
Mu Rufeng put it bluntly, which left the Crown Prince frozen in place.
"The guy isn’t playing by the book?" the Crown Prince thought, full of surprise.
The two of them were only brothers on the surface. They both understood very well, so why come to him for a loan?
"Big brother? Big brother?" Mu Rufeng called out again.
"Ninth Brother, you also know I have an army to Discover more novels on NovelHub - your gateway to endless stories.
"Thank you so much, big brother!" Mu Rufeng immediately expressed his thanks.
Three hundred thousand taels was a significant amount, managing to swindle some from his big brother was an achievement in itself.
"Advisor Wang, did you hear that? Go to the treasury quickly and fetch three hundred thousand taels, then deliver it to Ninth Brother’s residence," the Crown Prince said to Wang Kai at his side.
"Yes, Your Highness," Wang Kai immediately responded.
"Eunuch Wang, I’ll have to trouble you to be as quick as possible. Will you be able to deliver it before dinner today?" Mu Rufeng looked at Wang Kai.
"Did you hear that, Advisor Wang? It needs to be delivered before dinner today."
"Yes, Your Highness," Wang Kai replied, and then, accompanied by several little eunuchs, hurried off.
"It happens that I also need to see Mother, so let’s go together," the Crown Prince said.
"Sure," Mu Rufeng nodded his head.
Afterward, the two set off for the chambers of the Empress.
As they walked, they chatted and laughed heartily, seemingly like truly affectionate brothers.
They soon arrived in front of the chambers.
After being announced by the eunuchs inside, Mu Rufeng and Crown Prince Mu Wuyi entered.
"We pay respects to Mother!"
Mu Rufeng and the Crown Prince bowed in unison.
The act of kneeling did not exist here.
"Dispense with the formalities, arise," came a cool voice from in front.
Mu Rufeng straightened up and saw the Empress seated in the main position.
The Empress was forty-eight years old this year, yet she showed no signs of aging, looking more like a woman in her twenties or thirties.
Moreover, adorned with a phoenix crown and a splendid robe, she exuded noble and majestic aura all around.
Beside her sat a very proper-looking child, who seemed to be around seven years old.
This child was none other than the youngest of the Imperial Palace’s princes, Mu Wulin.
The Royal Family of this generation all shared the ’Wu’ generation name; Mu Rufeng should have been named Mu Wufeng.
But for some reason, the Emperor named him Mu Rufeng when the Ninth Prince was born, without explanation, and so it was.
"Greetings to big brother, greetings to Ninth Brother!" Mu Wulin bowed respectfully to the two of them.
"Older brother, Little Nine, how come you have the time to visit my palace today?"
"Mother, I am here regarding great-grandmother’s birthday banquet. A few of the elders on the invitation list are in closed-door cultivation and cannot come, only sending their juniors in their stead," the Crown Prince explained.
"Mm, I know," the Empress nodded.
She was about to speak when the Crown Prince said with a bow, "Mother, I have urgent matters to attend to and must take my leave."
"Go ahead," the Empress did not stop him.
The Crown Prince left swiftly.
"Little Nine, I heard that you were severely injured. How come you look quite healthy now?" the Empress said calmly.
"It’s all thanks to Mother’s Thousand-year-old Snow Lotus. Without Mother, my injuries would not have healed so easily."
"If you want to be thankful, you should thank Xia’er. It was only after she pleaded with me for several days that I gave it to you," the Empress said, her face bearing a faint smile.
Speaking of which, she had a good impression of Mu Rufeng. It was a pity that he had been eliminated from the competition for the Crown Prince position.