This resplendent, majestic, and luxurious palace, the royal palace of the Kingdom of Yun respected by everyone, was covered with white cloth everywhere. People always felt a sense of dignity for this place. However, now it was filled with sadness, so were the streets and alleys of Huaiyang City. A prosperous and brightly colorful city now was covered with the color of white overnight, bidding farewell to its king.

The magnificent audience hall in the royal palace was splendid, but now it was covered with overwhelming white. From a distance, it looked like an endless white sea. The hall was filled with incomparably desolate feelings. There was a big word “mourning” in the very center of the audience hall. The word was surrounded by a circle of flowers made of white cloth, and a coffin was right below it. Old King Yun’s body lay motionless in the coffin as if he was just sleeping.

On the two sides of the coffin, the queen, the Noble Consort, and Crown Prince Yun were kneeling at the front. Behind them were the king’s concubines, princes, and princesses. Everyone dressed up in white mourning clothes, facing the gate of the hall and crying. Old King Yun’s brothers, sisters, and officials of the Kingdom of Yun were on the opposite of Old King Yun’s closest family members. The entire hall was full of people in white. Many monks were chanting. Their sound spread from outside to the inside of the hall as everyone was mourning the king’s death.

Crown Prince Yun saw Meng Xi again at the funeral of old King Yun. They were separated only for two days, but now everything had changed as if a century had passed by.

Seeing the girl walking towards him, Crown Prince Yun stood up and greeted her politely. He made no extra moves and ignored her. No one knew how much Crown Prince Yun wanted to hug the girl he loved in front of him. However, he couldn’t, and he wouldn’t allow it. Crown Prince Yun had to keep his demeanor and set an example for the kingdom. He was the man who would be the king of the Kingdom of Yun sooner or later, no longer the simple man who only belonged to her, not to mention that the Mengs were stumbling blocks on his way forward.

Old King Yun passed away last night. Early in the morning, next to the former king’s coffin, some officers had proposed that Crown Prince Yun should ascend the throne. That’s right. This was something that the Prime Minister and his men had arranged. It was just a formality for others. Everyone thought it was a long confirmed matter, and all the officials were about to kneel before their new king.

At this moment, a powerful voice came from outside. The voice was not from a young man. The man was about the same age as Old King Yun, who sounded like having good health and a special temperament.

“Crown Prince Yun’s succession to the throne is not righteous. The throne should be succeeded by the youngest prince, Yun Hai.” This man was Master Meng.

“Master Meng, you and the former king were friends, but this is the Congress. You are a businessman, and you are not qualified to intervene in national affairs, let alone the succession.” The one who spoke was the Prime Minister. He supported Crown Prince Yun with all his power. “What’s more, it’s natural for as Crown Prince to succeed after the former king passed away. How can you say it’s not righteous?”

After the Prime Minister finished speaking, the officers agreed immediately. It was obvious that the Congress was now controlled by the Prime Minister. Even if someone had objections, he dared not speak.

If Prime Minister hadn’t known that Master Meng had the tiger-shaped tally, he would have already kicked Master Meng out. However, now they had the last royal edict of the former king. Even if Master Meng was planning something, he had no way to deal with them unless he rebelled. This was what the Prime Minister and the Noble Consort had been thinking at that time. However, would things go as smoothly as they imagined? They had underestimated the dead old King Yun.

Master Meng took out a royal edict written by old King Yun. It was the one that Crown Prince Yun had seen. No one had known Old King Yun would leave another royal edict to Master Meng. He really intended to set them up.

“I have a royal edict from the former king, and it is written that the youngest prince Yun Hai is the righteous heir.”

Officers might not know what the last royal edict was about, but both Crown Prince Yun and the Prime Minister had known its content, so did the Noble Consort next to the coffin of old King Yun.

But after all, the clever Noble Consort had defeated so many women in the harem. She was crying miserably. Her eyes were filled with sadness, and her voice choked. As a woman who had lost her husband, the Noble Consort was sad, pitiful, but still noble. She reprimanded everyone loudly, “The former king passed away last night, and his remains are scarcely cold yet. However, you are so eager to talk about who should sit on the throne. If you want to argue, wait for the former king to be buried so that he can rest in peace.”

“Your Grace, we can discuss this matter later. The former king loved you so much that he said in the royal edict that you should be buried with him.” Master Meng knew the Noble Consort acted like this on purpose. However, he also had to admit that she was reasonable. It was obvious that Old King Yun’s death had something to do with her. He would never go easy on her.

“Well, I always follow the former king’s order. However, if I have to be buried with him, I want to stay with his body for the last three days before the funeral is finished.” The Noble Consort looked at Crown Prince Yun while she said these words to Master Meng. She was using her action to push her son in silence—she had staked her life on it.

“Okay, I can wait for another three days, and then I will announce the last royal edict.”

Master Meng had known it was a plot to gain time to complete defense. However, the Prime Minister and others had been supporting her strongly. Master Meng couldn’t be more aggressive.

The matter was delayed and would be discussed after the funeral. Master Meng had no idea that today’s incident would help Crown Prince Yun make up his mind. He had been hesitating to hurt the Mengs or not because of Meng Xi. However, now he was no longer softhearted and had made a decision.

Crown Prince Yun peeked at Meng Xi and saw her pity for him in her eyes. He came up with a plan with his eyes closed. Then he opened his eyes and walked to her. He did not look at her but asked her to meet him in the back garden while she was paying homage to old King Yun in a soft voice.

Meng Xi had no idea about the big show that happened this morning. However, she had known that Crown Prince Yun and the Mengs had become hostile. Even so, she loved him and couldn’t bear to lose him. Therefore, she agreed softly in secret.

The Royal Garden of the Kingdom of Yun had been beautiful and colorful. However, now it looked a little dim because of the gloomy situation. Because of the calculation and conspiracy, it seemed to be pretentious.

Meng Xi looked at the flowers in front of her. For some reason, she felt the flowers had lost their color as if something was about to happen. She shook her head, suppressing the unspeakable emotions in her heart. The innocent girl was still so beautiful, but now she was not smiling, and her eyes looked sad. She even didn’t notice Crown Prince Yun was approaching her behind slowly.

Crown Prince Yun hugged Meng Xi from behind. She was his beloved girl. He didn’t want to lie to her, but he had to do it, “Xier, I miss you so much.”

“Well, me too. Are you okay?”

“Xier, I’m not okay.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m afraid this is the last time I hug you.”

At that time, the girl hadn’t suffered any pain, and she was simple and naive. Besides, she was in love at this moment. Meng Xi turned around quickly in his arms. She looked into his eyes and asked, “What’s the matter?”

“My father left a royal edict. He wanted my mother to be buried with him, and he wanted to kill my family.”

“What?!”

“Xier, I won’t be with you in the future. You have to take good care of yourself and live your life well. You should find a good man to marry and forget me.”

“I don’t want to do so. I don’t believe it. Don’t leave me, okay?”

There were tears on Meng Xi’s face. Crown Prince Yun looked at the girl who was crying for him. He felt pitiful. Crown Prince Yun raised his hand to wipe the tears off her face, but she kept crying. He then lowered his head to kiss the tear marks on Meng Xi’s face. He continued to speak no matter how unwilling he felt.

“It’s your father who is going to announce the former king’s last royal edict. If you don’t believe it, you can go home and ask your father.”

“My dad?”

“Xier, I don’t blame your father, and I’m not afraid of death. However, I really don’t want to leave you.”

“I don’t want you to die. Is there anything I can do?”

“Yes.”

“Please tell me.”

“But I don’t want you to do it. It’s too risky.”

“Tell me!”

“Xier.”

“Hurry! Tell me!”

“Xier, I don’t want you to...”

“Please tell me... How can I live without you?” The girl’s face had been covered with tears. The anxiety almost drove her mad, but her beloved man was still hesitating. No matter what, she wanted to do it for him.

The girl kept pulling his sleeve and begging. Crown Prince Yun hugged her. He dared not look into her eyes. There was a trace of maliciousness flashing across Crown Prince Yun’s eyes.

“Xier, we still have the last three days to live. After my father is buried, we will die.”

“Yeah.”

“If we can get the tiger-shaped tally from your father before my father is buried, we can protect ourselves.”

“The tiger-shaped tally?” Meng Xi had a sensation in her mind. She thought of her father, who loved her the most, trying to leave Crown Prince Yun’s arms. However, Crown Prince Yun hugged her so tightly that she failed. She stayed in his arms. Meng Xi then asked slowly, “What will happen if my daddy loses the tiger-shaped tally?”

“Being an ordinary businessman. He will stay away from the Congress.”

“That’s all?”

“Yes, that’s all. Xier, do you think I will lie to you after we have gone through so much together? He is your father, and he will be my father-in-law in the future. After he doesn’t intervene in the Congress affairs, we will bear a child for the Mengs and be filial to him.”

“Okay, I trust you. I will help you steal the tiger-shaped tally.”

After Crown Prince Yun heard what Meng Xi said, he felt so complicated. He felt guilty and sad, but at the same time, the pain made his heart numb and cold.

This was the rule of power. When people want to get it, they have to change for it. Crown Prince Yun suddenly lowered his head and kissed Meng Xi in his arms. This kiss was different from his normal kiss. There was eagerness, ambition, and the impulse to control everything in his kiss. The girl soon couldn’t stand it. She stayed in his arms feebly, letting him kiss her sweet mouth.

The kiss of Crown Prince Yun gradually became more frantic. His left hand was on Meng Xi’s head, and his right hand was holding the girl’s waist tightly. Crown Prince Yun held her more and more tightly. It seemed that he was losing his mind gradually, and he wanted to swallow the girl. While kissing her frantically, he hurt Meng Xi even without noticing.

Meng Xi was a little frightened by Crown Prince Yun. She pushed Crown Prince Yun away with all her strength, her lips red and swollen. What’s worse, her lips were wounded because of his kissing.

“Darling, you looked so scary. What’s wrong with you?”

Crown Prince Yun touched the girl’s injured lips with pity. At that moment, he didn’t know what was going on. It seemed that he had lost his mind.

“Sorry, Xier. I’m so afraid of losing you.”

“It won’t happen. We will be fine.”

“Alright.” Crown Prince Yun hugged Meng Xi again. His worry soon became a fact. This was the last time their hearts were so close to each other.

Meng Xi trusted Crown Prince Yun at that time. She had questions in her mind, but she also recalled all their history. He was willing to give up the position of Crown Prince for her. Therefore, she chose to suppress all her anxiety. The girl even felt it would be a good thing for her father to stay away from the Congress. The Mengs could be the same as before, and the man she loved would not die. This might be the best ending. At that time, she even thought about how to apologize to her father after everything was settled. Even if she had to kneel in the ancestral hall at her home, she would still insist on being his concubine and staying with Crown Prince Yun for the rest of her life.