"Bang!"
Inside the luxurious sleeping chamber, a young man with dark, sunken eyes and a somber expression slammed his right fist into a pillar. The immense force released into the pillar caused the entire chamber to shake, sending dust raining down.
A prolonged silence spread throughout the chamber.
The young man, who had just thrown the punch, stood with his fists clenched before the pillar, which bore a clear imprint of his blow. His fist dripped with crimson blood, which fell onto the chamber's pristine white carpet, appearing particularly stark and jarring.
"Damn it."
"Damn it!"
Despite his bleeding hand, the youth stood before the pillar as if deafened, roaring incessantly. His eyes were filled with an indescribable rage.
"Creak!"
The chamber door slowly swung open, revealing a beautiful woman draped in sheer gauze, her figure graceful, carrying a bowl of warm soup. Upon entering and witnessing the scene, her face contorted in alarm. She quickly placed the soup on a table, then hurried forward with hasty steps, her eyes filled with concern.
"Your Highness, your... your hand is bleeding."
"Get out!" To her surprise, the woman's well-intentioned concern was met not with understanding, but with a sudden sweep of his arm that sent her to the ground. He then fixed his gaze upon her with a chilling indifference. "You have the audacity to show yourself to me?"
"Your Highness, I... what have I done wrong?"
The woman in sheer gauze, lying on the ground, was filled with terror. Before she could even react, a large hand seized her fair, delicate chin.
"Then go ask your father what he has done."
"My father?" The woman's eyes were clouded with profound confusion. The youth narrowed his eyes, observing her. "You should know why I married you. I married you to secure the support of your father, the Chief Financial Officer. Otherwise, do you think you have any right to stand before me?"
"I... I know."
The woman in sheer gauze nodded pitifully. However, the youth, still gripping her chin, instantly erupted in fury, flinging her to the ground with a slap across her face.
"Since you know, then tell me, what exactly is your father doing?"
"Your Highness, I don't know anything." Tears welled up in the woman's eyes as she clutched her cheek. Her fair, delicate skin was almost entirely red and swollen from the slap. Trembling, she slowly raised her head to look at the youth before her, consumed by violence, and bit her lip. "Since I entered this palace, I have obeyed your word, not interacting with anyone and remaining ignorant of outside affairs. I..."
"Liya, what are your Chief Financial Officer's clan's true intentions?"
His eyes filled with wrath and hatred, the youth cupped the woman's chin, his gaze like that of a venomous snake fixed on her eyes.
"Was marrying me also part of your family's scheme? Am I just a pawn?"
"Your Highness, I truly don't know what my father has done to make you so furious. I... I really don't know anything." Liya shook her head repeatedly, her fear bordering on absolute terror.
"You don't know."
The youth pursed his lips and smiled, releasing Liya's oval face and nodding.
"Then let me tell you what your father has done. He just vetoed my request for financial expenditure in the council. And pay attention, it was a veto. Instead, he approved the eldest's request. Listen... he wouldn't even allow me to spend fifty million, but he accepted the eldest's request for two hundred million. Tell me, what does your father mean by this, huh?!"
In an instant, the youth's delicate face contorted into a look of sheer ferocity.
Liya, her eyes wide with terror, bit her lip.
"Impossible."
"What? Do you think I need to invent a lie to strike you?" The youth narrowed his eyes. "How many princes has your clan contacted? I know the Chief Financial Officer wants his family to prosper, but this kind of fence-sitting won't win you any favor. You share the same blood, can you explain it to me?"
"I..."
"Knock, knock, knock—"
Just then, a crisp knocking sound echoed from outside the chamber. The sound caused the youth to frown and glance towards the door.
"Your Highness, it's me."
The visitor did not announce their name, but the youth in the chamber recognized them nonetheless.
"Get out!" The youth said coldly to Liya, who was still on the floor. "I'll deal with you after I'm done with this. And I warn you, don't you dare utter a word of today's events, or you'll face dire consequences."
The woman in sheer gauze, covering her face, lowered her head and fled the chamber. As she pushed open the door, an old man stood outside, accompanied by a scholarly-looking young man. The old man looked straight ahead, feigning ignorance. However, the young man glanced sideways, noticing the redness and swelling on Liya's cheek. "Teacher, the Chief Financial Officer's daughter has been hit."
"Hush!"
The old man cast a stern glance at the young man. At that moment, the youth from inside the chamber emerged.
"National Preceptor, please!"
...
...
...
"Young Master Liya, what you're doing is against the rules." Within the inner city of the palace, an old man, dressed in black cloth and showing signs of age, followed Liya, who was chewing on a blade of grass, his voice filled with pleading. "For an outsider to enter the inner city to visit relatives requires an authorization document. You have no such paperwork..."
"I can't even go see my sister?"
Perhaps truly annoyed by the nagging, Liya, still chewing on the grass, turned back with a bewildered expression.
"I'm not going to the inner city to do anything. It's my sister's birthday today, and I'm just bringing her a gift, talking to her, and then I'll leave. Why are you following me around like this?" Liya sighed, his face creased with frustration. Then, several cans appeared in his hand. "Look, I'm really here to bring my sister some food."
"I know that Young Master Liya is here to see Miss Liya, but the problem is..."
"Old man, you watched my sister and me grow up, didn't you?" Liya frowned and said, "My sister and I ran around this inner city everywhere since we were little. You know this. You also know my temper. I'm not raising my voice with you because you've looked after my sister and me since we were children. If it were anyone else, they would have been sent flying by now."
"This old servant understands. That's why they sent me to persuade you."
"That's enough. Here, have one." Liya glanced around and discreetly placed a can into the old man's hand. "This is a high-grade canned 'Flame Fruit.' It's a rare commodity on the market, selling for 100,000 gold coins. I heard your precious grandson is a fire mage; this canned food can significantly boost elemental strength."
"Young Master Liya, you are putting this old servant in a difficult position."
"We both know the situation in the inner city, sir. I promise you, I won't cause any trouble in this inner city. I just want to see my sister, nothing more." Liya pressed on the old man's shoulder, but the old man continued to look troubled. "Young Master Liya..."
"Hiss, why are you blocking me like this?"
Abruptly, Liya frowned, his expression darkening.
"Could it be that my sister is being... bullied in this inner city?"