Rebirth: The Yandere Regent Prince Is Clingy Every Day - Chapter 2

The vast palace was lavish and extravagant, yet it radiated an icy chill.

A man sat upon the dragon throne atop the steps, dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe embroidered with golden threads, his features handsome.

He bore not a single trace of resemblance to Mu Chengyan. His entire demeanor radiated shrewdness and calculation, completely devoid of warmth.

With a slender and delicate figure, Mu Chengyan offered a slight bow, his attitude exceptionally respectful. “Father…”

“Crown Prince Gege certainly puts on quite the airs. Father has been waiting here for so long, and only now do you arrive?”

The one speaking was none other than the Second Prince, Mu Chengde. He was the most heavily favored by the Emperor and the son Mu Yuting cherished above all others.

Yet for some unknown reason, Mu Yuting had not elevated him to the position of Crown Prince, choosing instead to bestow the title upon a sickly invalid.

When Mu Yuting made the proclamation to the entire realm, everyone had been utterly shocked!

How could Mu Chengyan, a frail and sickly weakling whose days were practically numbered, possibly ascend to the position of Crown Prince?

No matter how dissatisfied the other imperial princes felt, they dared not defy their father’s decree.

Mu Chengyan lowered his head slightly, his voice exceptionally soft. “I’ve been experiencing dizzy spells and fatigue lately, which is why I’m late. Father… please forgive me…”

Mu Yuting wore a look of deep paternal affection. “Ah-Yan, Father does not blame you. Father simply wanted to discuss a matter with you.”

Mu Chengyan replied, “Please speak, Father.”

“The Song nation has been growing restless. I wish to send someone to gather intelligence, but there are no suitable candidates. The only person Father truly trusts is you.”

“Ah-Yan, are you willing to go? If you are unwilling, then never mind Father will find someone else.”

“I am willing, Father… cough, cough…”

In his past life, the Yuanqi nation had suffered a devastating defeat, its capital city breached. Although he had not witnessed it with his own eyes, he knew that the people had been displaced and the entire country reduced to ruins.

Mu Yuting nodded with satisfaction. “Good. As expected of the Crown Prince chosen by朕 (Zhen) myself. Go pack your things, and set out tomorrow.”

Mu Chengde wore a radiant, smug smile. “Then I wish Crown Prince Gege a triumphant return as soon as possible.”

It would be best if you simply died in the Song nation, so I can rightfully inherit the position of Crown Prince. But then again, this sickly invalid wouldn’t have lived much longer anyway.

A cool, detached smile tugged at the corner of Mu Chengyan’s lips. “Thank you, Second Brother.”

Having relived this lifetime, how could he possibly be unaware of Mu Chengde’s true intentions? It was just that many things could not be spoken aloud.

His only desire was to protect the Yuanqi nation.

“Crown Prince Gege, I want to go with you.”

A youth’s cool, crisp voice rang out from the very last row. It was none other than the Seventh Prince, Mu Chengyu.

Clad in a black robe embroidered with faint golden thread patterns, his features were aloof and noble, yet tinged with a trace of youthful immaturity.

“Chengyu, do not throw a tantrum.”

Mu Yuting furrowed his brows in displeasure, delivering a stern reprimand.

Mu Chengyu lowered his gaze, blinking back his disappointment. He simply wanted to follow Crown Prince Gege…

Mu Chengyan stepped forward two paces and gently ruffled the youth’s hair. “Be a good boy, Ah-Yu. Crown Prince Gege will be back in less than two months. Stay well here in the imperial palace, and Gege will bring back delicious treats for you.”

Mu Chengyu was merely a young boy of twelve or thirteen. Hearing about delicious food, a spark of light ignited in his eyes.

“Crown Prince Gege, I’ll be good and wait for you to come back.”

Crown Prince Gege was the kindest brother to him; the other brothers couldn’t be bothered with him, and only Crown Prince Gege patiently taught him his studies.

“Come back? Can he even come back? With that frail, sickly body of his, he’ll probably drop dead in the Song nation.”

“Mu Chenyun!”

A voice charged with pressure cut through the air, silencing everyone instantly.

As everyone knew, the son their Emperor favored the most was this sickly invalid.

No one understood what was so great about Mu Chengyan. He looked nothing like them; instead, he resembled a seductive femme fatale who brought disaster to nations, possessing not an ounce of manly vigor.

Delicate and weak, unable to shoulder a burden or lift a weapon if he truly ascended the throne as ruler, their Yuanqi nation would undoubtedly become the laughingstock of the other eight powers.

Mu Chengyan lowered his gaze. “Father need not be angry. Third Brother is merely accustomed to speaking without thinking.”

“Ah-Yan, with Father here, no one shall bully you.”

Mu Yuting’s face was painted with heartache, making him look truly like a loving, devoted father.

“Thank you, Father…”

Giving a low cough, Mu Chengyan turned and walked out of the grand hall.

His white robes fluttered like snow, his solitary figure carrying a deep sense of loneliness. For over twenty years, it seemed he had always walked alone.

Watching that retreating figure, Mu Chengyu couldn’t help himself from chasing after him.

“Crown Prince Gege, wait for me!”

When he grew up, he would definitely protect Crown Prince Gege well.

No one would ever be allowed to bully his Crown Prince Gege.

The other imperial princes dispersed one by one, leaving only Mu Chengde behind.

“Father, sending him to the Song nation isn’t that practically sending him to his death?”

The Song nation was composed of fierce wolves and aggressive tigers, standing as one of the three great powers of the Jiuzhou Continent. Mu Chengyan was merely a Crown Prince in name only, possessing zero self-defense capabilities…

A false smile played across Mu Yuting’s face. “He was already someone with one foot in the grave anyway. Why not put him to good use?”

Otherwise, wouldn’t his years holding the position of Crown Prince have been completely wasted?

Furthermore, he had already reached an agreement with the Song nation long ago…

“De’er, rest assured. You will be the next Crown Prince. Everything Father promised you will come to pass.”

Mu Chengde froze, a chill slowly creeping into his heart as he nodded blankly.

“Thank you, Father…”

After all these years, he had never truly been able to read this man his own biological father.

Not far away, a black figure and a white figure slowly strolled along a narrow path within the imperial palace.

All kinds of flowers and plants were cultivated around them, filling the air with a faint fragrance.

Mu Chengyu clutched Mu Chengyan’s hand. Although he was much younger than Mu Chengyan, his height was already nearly the same.

“Crown Prince Gege, how long will you be gone? Ah-Yu will miss you.”

A gentle, affectionate smile touched Mu Chengyan’s eyes. “I’ll be back in two or three months. Be a good boy, Ah-Yu don’t cause trouble, and stop provoking Father’s anger.”

Mu Chengyu awkwardly rubbed the back of his head. “I understand. Crown Prince Gege, without you in the palace, there won’t be anyone left to play with me.”

“Ah-Yu must study hard…”

His soft voice drifted past like a passing feather, growing fainter and fainter until it vanished into the palace grounds.

Beneath a tree not far away stood a woman. Watching Mu Chengyan’s retreating back, a vicious light flickered across her face as her hands clenched tightly into the withered wood.

The next day, at the gates of the imperial palace, only a sparse handful of people had come to see him off.

Mu Yuting did not come in person, choosing instead to dispatch a single imperial guard.

Clad in a black robe, the guard’s cold eyes carried zero emotion, making him look more like a machine than a man.

Mu Chengyan felt no excessive disappointment. If he left, his mother would surely be overjoyed…

His mother must truly detest him; otherwise… she wouldn’t have poisoned her own biological son into such a wretched, sickly state.

Mu Chengyan let out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh. He… perhaps shouldn’t have been born into this world at all…

“Will he even be able to come back if he goes to the Song nation?”

“How pitiful. He finally managed to become Crown Prince, and now he’s being sent off to die.”

The guards at the main gate shook their heads and sighed. The Crown Prince was actually a fine master benevolent to the people and well-versed in literature yet he was doomed to be a short-lived ghost.

And now that he had been dispatched to the Song nation, there was an eighty percent chance he wouldn’t make it back alive.

Mu Chengyu buried his face in Mu Chengyan’s chest, his eyes swimming with tears.

“Crown Prince Gege, you must come back soon. Ah-Yu will miss you.”

Mu Chengyan wiped the tears from the young boy’s face. In the entire Yuanqi nation, this younger brother was the only person he truly found it difficult to leave behind.

“Ah-Yu, Gege is leaving. You must be a good boy and listen to instructions.”

Mu Chengyu cried even harder, as if weeping away all the tears he would ever shed in his lifetime.

With only a sparse few individuals seeing him off, Mu Chengyan mounted a horse dressed in white robes as the gentle breeze swept by, fluttering the hem of his garments.

Atop the city gate tower stood two figures.

Mu Chengde crossed his arms over his chest, watching the figure below gradually recede from his field of vision.

“Do you think… that sickly invalid will still come back?”

Mu Chenyun chuckled lightly. “That’s hard to say. Didn’t Father send him to the Song nation precisely to clear the way for you to take his place?”

“What? Could it be that Second Brother is feeling reluctant?”

Mu Chengde turned around and descended the tower stairs.

Wasn’t he just a sickly invalid?

If he died, he died.

It paved the way for him to take the throne, which was exactly what he wished for.