"Your humble servant greets the Prince, may Your Highness live a thousand years!"
Another person, though reluctant, also stepped forward to bow.
Baili Chongyan did not speak. The woman beside him, Zhu Ling, said, "My Prince cannot speak. Two young masters need not be so formal."
To others, her voice sounded no different from that of an ordinary person. But to Du Ruo, it was like a celestial chant from beyond the heavens, warm and all-embracing, capable of encompassing all worldly evils, yet simultaneously purifying all sins, leaving nothing behind.
He subconsciously looked up.
He saw that beside the crippled Prince stood a young woman of striking beauty and extraordinary bearing. She spoke and laughed with a demeanor of grace, possessing a sharp yet gentle warmth.
With just a glance, he understood the root of all the changes.
The original Prince Yan had a life fraught with hardship and misfortune. He possessed the ability to overthrow kingdoms, yet could not become a ruler for the people. He could only stir up turmoil, bringing devastation and suffering.
But now, things were different.
With the help of the person by his side, his future was bright, and he had the appearance of a wise ruler capable of leading a prosperous era.
Guessing all this, Du Ruo became suddenly excited, unable to control himself. He took a step forward, extending his hand.
"I have studied medicine for decades. Today, do I have the honor of examining Prince Yan?"
While asking, he had already reached out and grasped the mask on Baili Chongyan's face, about to remove it.
"Presumptuous!"
The guard cried out, drawing his long sword and charging forward.
Du Shan drew his own sword to block.
The two people who should have stopped him the most remained motionless, allowing Du Ruo to remove the mask from Baili Chongyan's face.
Beneath the mask was a face of unparalleled beauty, flawless and perfect. It was nothing like the rumors of a face so monstrous it could frighten children into crying in their sleep.
Du Ruo stared at the mask for a moment, then shouted to those entangled in combat, "Du Shan, stop!"
The two grappling figures exchanged a look, snorted, and respectively withdrew their swords.
Du Ruo knelt down, "Your humble servant was presumptuous and offended His Highness. I beg His Highness for forgiveness."
Baili Chongyan sneered, "Young Master Du, if you truly felt you were presumptuous, you would not have acted as you did. We have different paths, and therefore cannot associate. I will not pursue this matter today. The two young masters may leave."
Du Ruo's intended words were suddenly choked back.
He looked up at Baili Chongyan, as if about to speak, but then suppressed it.
He bowed deeply to Baili Chongyan, "Your humble servant offended His Highness. I beg Your Highness for punishment."
He lowered his status again, but Baili Chongyan remained unmoved.
He had originally held a good impression of the people from Wang Di Xiang. In many past periods of great upheaval, it was the people of Wang Di Xiang who assisted wise rulers, bringing stability and peace to the common folk.
Even for the Great Sheng Dynasty, the founding emperor's achievements owed a debt to Wang Di Xiang.
However, upon meeting them now, he felt that the people of Wang Di Xiang were far from what he had imagined.
These people were merely a group of self-righteous mediocrities.
His expression was blank, and he said coldly, "Escort them out."
"Your Highness!" Du Ruo became anxious.
"I came to call on you with matters of great importance to discuss. If I have offended or caused any disruption, Your Highness may punish me according to protocol, but please, hear me out."
The guard, who was about to act, hesitated.
Baili Chongyan slightly raised his hand, "Speak."
Du Ruo immediately said, "Your Highness must know that Wang Di Xiang is renowned for its diviners. I am one of them. I divined that the world is about to fall into chaos, which is why I have emerged with my junior disciple, seeking a wise ruler to save the people from suffering. And Your Highness, is the wise ruler I foresaw."
"Nonsense."
Baili Chongyan no longer believed him.
He did not believe he could be a wise ruler. He was still focused on seeking revenge, on killing those who had wronged him.
And those people were his elder brother and father.
Everything he did was to seek justice for himself, to be with the person by his side, not for the sake of the common people.
"I am not speaking nonsense. If Your Highness does not believe me, I can prove it."
Baili Chongyan asked calmly, "How will you prove it?"
Du Ruo quickly seized the opportunity, "Within ten days, His Majesty will agree to Consort Xian's request to build a thousand longevity pavilions for the deceased Second Prince as a form of prayer. The national treasury will be depleted, forcing heavier taxes. Coupled with the descent of a snow disaster, the common people will suffer immensely, and the world will descend into chaos..."