Chapter 54: If The Leader of the Family Sets A Bad Example, It Will Be Followed By His Subordinates

No one paid attention to Chen Shenzhi’s disappearance. The bodyguards and servants in the residence understood that they should turn a blind eye when needed.

Yue Jiefei was only in charge of Chu Yu’s safety. Even if he was aware of the rest of the matters, he would forget about it in the blink of an eye. Even though Huan Yuan was aware of Chu Yu mobilizing money and materials from his side, he chose not to question her any further.

What about Rong Zhi then?

Under the shade of the bamboo forest, onyx and snow-white stones were placed vertically and horizontally across the 19×19 Go board game on the marble platform. Rong Zhi leaned one side of his body to the edge of the marble platform. There was a hint of weariness on his deep brows. A bowl of pitch-black medicinal soup was placed by the side of his hand. Its bitter medicinal odor spread out in the air and weakened the light scent of bamboo leaves.

Rong Zhi said in a carefree manner, “Chen Shenzhi?”

The other person sitting on the other side of the board considered the name before replying simply, “Yes.”

“Don’t bother.” Rong Zhi picked up the medicine bowl and gently blew the contents. His ghastly pale lips parted gently while he lowered his eyes. His long eyelashes covered his deep bottomless eyes akin to a half-closed curtain. “Let it be. It’s a different time now. The princess is cultivating Huan Yuan now, so it’s best for us to stay behind and watch.”

Mo Xiang hesitated for a moment. Then, he could not help feeling injustice for Rong Zhi. “You’ve always been managing the affairs of the Princess’s Imperial Residence over the years, my Prince.”

Rong Zhi took a sip of the medicine with a wry smile on his face. He interrupted Mo Xiang, “However, the palace belongs to the Princess after all.” The taste of the medicinal soup was exceedingly bitter. Mo Xiang had stolen a sip secretly in the past when he sent the medicine to Rong Zhi. It was so bitter that he almost vomited. Nonetheless, at the moment, Rong Zhi’s expression was as calm as water beyond Mo Xiang’s expectation. It seemed as if Rong Zhi had just taken a sip of honey.

Rong Zhi glanced up to meet Mo Xiang’s eyes. He could see through Mo Xiang’s thoughts, so he smiled. “I’m not a person that enjoys blabbering about reasons. I’ve already broken a few rules for you in the past two years. You should understand my motive too. Why are you losing control of yourself like this now?”

Astonished, Mo Xiang lowered his head in embarrassment.

Rong Zhi spoke good-naturedly. “I understand that you’re worried about me. However, there’s no need to do so. I’ll be passing the three final tasks in my hands to Huan Yuan when Hua Xuo has fully recovered. It will provide me with the freedom I coincidentally need.”

“My Prince…” Mo Xiang was about to say something, but he found that he could not speak anymore after meeting Rong Zhi’s eyes that appeared calm yet filled with joyous smiles.

Rong Zhi looked at Mo Xiang before he cracked a smile. “I’m letting go because I don’t care anymore.” Whether he was passing the tasks over to Huan Yuan or somebody else, it only took him an instant to let go of the affairs he had managed for over three years. However, he did not seem to mind that much.

“So, what do you care then?” Mo Xiang could not refrain himself from asking.

Rong Zhi did not speak. His gaze penetrated the crevices between the bamboo leaves and swept past the sky outside the wall. A wisp of gentle radiance flickered swiftly in the depth of his eyes while his lips remained curved in that unfathomable smile.

After a long while, Rong Zhi placed the empty bowl down and exhaled a breath of relief slowly. He folded a piece of delicate fresh bamboo leaf and placed it in his mouth to suck on. “The Princess is in the palace now, isn’t she?”

Chu Yu was in the palace. More accurately, she was by the emperor’s side.

The engagement between the brother and sister remained the same as usual. Liu Ziye lay on Chu Yu’s thighs. The tyrannical energy on his face dissipated slowly while she picked up a remonstrance to read casually.

Chu Yu pinched the bridge of her nose to relieve her fatigue after reading for a while. Her eyes were half-closed as if she was resting her eyes, but her mind was pondering on a problem.

‘How can I transform Liu Ziye?’

Perhaps, Chu Yu could transform this young man in secret by relying on Princess Shanyin’s influence over him. She did not have high hopes that Liu Ziye could become a great emperor who would go down in history and leave behind a worthy legacy for future generations. It would be an extremely huge victory for him as long as he did not turn into the violent emperor resented by the gods and people to the point that he would be overturned and killed by his people due to excessive violence.

How could she achieve that though?

A small reason that caused the young emperor to become a tyrannical person was his headache. Furthermore, his vicious and ruthless behavior was deeply ingrained in him. Chu Yu once attempted to communicate this to him. The young emperor did not attempt to conceal his thirst for blood even in the slightest bit. His elation achieved through his maliciousness disappointed her every single time.

It was truly an impossible mission to transform such a person.

Chu Yu could not help blaming Princess Shanyin’s deceased father who was also the previous emperor. She wondered how he brought his son up such that the latter turned out to be such a perverted human being. At the same time, he allowed his perverted son to inherit his throne.

She contemplated once again and decided that since she had so many siblings, she could assume that her father invested his limited lifetime into the act of procreating unlimitedly. He was utterly too occupied to pay attention to teach his children. It was highly possible that Liu Ziye grew up to be a pervert due to the terrible example set by the leader of their family. Therefore, he carried on the moronic path just like his father.

On the other hand, she was going to pull Liu Ziye back from the path now.

Chu Yu had no idea how tough the process would be, but she made up her mind to give it a try despite knowing that it would not be easy.

Time passed in Liu Ziye’s pleasure and Chu Yu’s repeated planning. Just as she was about to leave, Chu Yu brushed her fingertips along the embroidered seams of her sleeves to unleash a faint scent into the air. She insisted on fuming every piece of garment these few days. She stopped objecting to burning spices and incense in her room when she was sleeping as well. Even though it made the air feel stuffy, it was a sacrifice that she was willing to put forth for the future.

“Sister, when are you coming again?” Chu Yu smoothened the creases on her clothes as she pondered every part of her plan that followed after this. She could not help looking at Liu Ziye upon hearing his question suddenly.

This young man was the embodiment of viciousness, malice, aggression, lust, thrill-seeking, and perversion. Despite his rather pale complexion, he had a hopeful look in his eyes. Dressed in a solemn royal outfit, he leaned on the console table with a skewed body posture and looked straight at Chu Yu. “Sister, we should find some time to head outside to play. Is that okay?”

Sister.

Chu Yu bit her lips.

She was an only child in her past life without any siblings. After traveling through time, she would never have regarded this perverted emperor as her brother naively. After all, every human being had emotions. After her initial fear, she slowly became aware of Liu Ziye’s unguarded emotional attachment to her. Even though she had a tendency to forget the way he addressed her as ‘sister’ frequently, the word would occasionally make its way to her heart and knock on it softly.

‘This pervert doesn’t deserve my pity in the slightest bit.’

Even though she warned herself repeatedly not to pity Liu Ziye, Chu Yu found that she was wavering ever so slightly at this very moment. The young man’s appearance was truly quite similar to the reflection of herself that she had seen in the water.

However, her hesitation only lasted for a moment that was no longer than it took to blink her eyes. She regained her calmness rapidly before leaving the palace with quick strides like normal.

While she was walking out of the courtroom, a young man dressed in purple attire walked directly toward her.

Half a month had passed since Chu Yu encountered the young man in the palace. He was Tian Rujing, the man well-known to the others as a Celestial Master, yet he was nothing but a psychic to her.