Tonight will be the last night the Eldest Prince spends with his family. Once he enters the Imperial Mausoleum, he will be separated from them forever.
To meet again, only significant events will suffice.
For instance, when a new emperor ascends the throne and is proclaimed as emperor, the Imperial Mausoleum is opened for the ancestral worship; only then, they may meet once more.
For example, when an old emperor passes away, the mausoleum is opened and the emperor is buried within it.
Figures such as the Empress Dowager and the Empress, however, are not buried in the Imperial Mausoleum but rather in another tomb adjacent to it.
Mu Rufeng returned to his own residence.
In the residence, everyone’s face was brimming with joy, one could say the atmosphere was jubilant.
Why? Because their master has been appointed as the Crown Prince.
This matter was not deliberately kept secret, so basically, everyone who should know the news already does.
"Your Highness." Liu Ming approached with a face full of smiles.
"Chief Eunuch, why are you smiling so happily, is there something good?" Since he was severely injured, it has been rare to see Liu Ming smile.
"Your Highness, you are to be appointed as the Crown Prince, of course, this pleases the servant." Liu Ming responded.
"Indeed, the Crown Prince’s position, alas, my soldiers, my confidants, and the other chief eunuchs are no longer here to see this." Mu Rufeng sighed deeply.
Mu Rufeng doesn’t have just one chief eunuch; he has four in total, who accompanied him growing up.
Liu Ming was sent to Liang City by him to oversee military provisions and thus escaped disaster.
The other three chief eunuchs, however, perished protecting Mu Rufeng.
"Your Highness, do not be sorrowful, if they knew, they would be happy for Your Highness." Liu Ming said quietly.
Among the dead, there was also one who was his close friend.
"Yes, they would be happy for me." Mu Rufeng nodded with a smile.
"By the way, Your Majesty, the Fourth Prince sent someone, currently waiting in the reception hall, also there are invitations from numerous ministers." Liu Ming said.
"Decline all invitations, however, there are a few juniors from the Empress’s family who will come to seek allegiance, you are in charge of selecting them." Mu Rufeng instructed.
"Yes, Your Highness." Liu Ming nodded.
"Let’s go, to meet the person sent by my fourth brother." Mu Rufeng strode toward the main hall.
Not long after, Mu Rufeng arrived at the reception hall.
The person sent was also a eunuch.
He appeared to be about the same age as the Fourth Prince, indicating he was likely his primary attendant.
"Servant greets the Ninth Prince." The eunuch hastily rose from his chair upon seeing Mu Rufeng enter, then bowed respectfully.
Mu Rufeng ignored him, walked forward slowly, reached the main seat, and then sat down.
"Why didn’t my fourth brother come in person, but sent you instead?" Mu Rufeng asked coldly.
"Replying to the Ninth Prince, the Fourth Prince has been confined by His Majesty for one month and must remain in Cold Wind Valley, please forgive his absence!" The eunuch hurriedly explained.
Cold Wind Valley, located within the Imperial City, is a perilous spot specifically created by the royal family to punish members who have committed wrongdoings.
"Cold Wind Valley? Haha, looks like my fourth brother is indeed receiving his punishment. Why are you here?" Mu Rufeng inquired.
The eunuch didn’t answer immediately but knelt directly on the ground, holding out two storage rings in his hands:
"Replying to Your Highness, the 7.2 million taels of compensation funds stolen by the Fourth Prince are all within this storage ring."
"Within the other storage ring are eight million taels of compensation and some cultivation resources, sent as reparation by the Fourth Prince, please accept them."
Mu Rufeng did not respond immediately, instead, he looked with interest at the eunuch.
Beside him, Liu Ming was astounded; the thief who had stolen the compensation funds had appeared.
He never imagined it was the Fourth Prince who had stolen it, even more surprising was that the envoys of the Fourth Prince personally returned the money, along with an additional eight million taels and cultivation resources.
More importantly, he had always assumed it was the work of the Eldest Prince, so why did the Fourth Prince confess?
This was truly astonishing.
Truthfully, Mu Rufeng thought the same.
He also believed the silver theft to be the work of the Eldest Prince, after all, the person behind the Qing Gang was Li Ren’s third son.
Li Ren had secretly been Read the latest chapters on NovelHub - completely free!
It seems likely the Eldest Prince wanted to steal the silver, but the Fourth Prince beat him to it, perhaps the Eldest Prince later guessed it was the work of the Fourth Prince.
Upon discovering this, the Eldest Prince didn’t say much, as long as he could remove this Old Ninth.
Mu Rufeng gently waved his hand, and the two storage rings flew into his hands.
After checking, the sums were accurate, and there was also a substantial amount of cultivation resources, a considerable fortune.
"Begone." Mu Rufeng ordered.
"Yes, Your Highness, the servant takes leave." The eunuch quickly stood up, bowed his head, and hurriedly left the residence.
"Your Highness, I never expected the thief of the compensation funds to be from the Fourth Prince, and to come here on their own to beg for forgiveness." Liu Ming was quite pleased.
With an income of 15 million taels of silver, the funds are abundant, and they can continue recruiting and maintaining troops.
"Indeed, I didn’t expect it either. Our people could find no clues for such a long time yet His Majesty solved it immediately." Mu Rufeng shook his head.
"Your Highness, now that you are the esteemed Crown Prince, everything is in the past." Liu Ming said.
"Yes, everything is in the past. By the way, has Li Feng’s head been brought back?" Mu Rufeng asked.
"No updates yet, but it was promised within seven days, it should be soon." Liu Ming replied.