After entering the book, the cold prince begs for favor

Chapter 393 The Origin of a Twisted Fate

"Mother, I want Liang Yuhua!" Murong Jun's tone softened, and he suddenly knelt down at Lady Zhaohua's feet, his eyes pleading, looking like a cat begging for food.

He recalled how, a while ago, he had deliberately gone looking for that girl, and Liang Yuhua's panicked appearance. His heart felt like it had been lightly brushed by a feather, making him unbearably itchy.

Seeing her son's infatuated expression, Madam Zhaohua felt a sudden alarm bell ring in her heart.

She knew this child, who had always gotten whatever she wanted since childhood, all too well—the glint in his eyes was a clear determination to succeed.

“Jun’er,” she said, suppressing her anger, her fingertips digging into her palms, “what is the state of the Liang family now? Consort Liang and her son are still imprisoned in the Imperial Prison! How can I, as their mother, possibly ask your father for help?”

If it were an ordinary family's daughter, she would have already made arrangements to bring her into the household.

This is the first time my son has ever been so attentive to a girl since he became an adult.

But she happens to be the daughter of the Liang family—that's a hot potato!

"Even now, your mother still hasn't figured out what exactly Consort Liang and her son did to offend your father. We can't act rashly..."

The Emperor handled this matter swiftly and decisively, without letting a word of it leak out.

Lady Zhaohua had to be cautious.

Murong Jun suddenly stood up, the hem of his brocade robe sweeping over the teacups on the table, spilling the brewed tea onto the luxurious carpet, leaving a dark stain.

"I don't care!" He paced back and forth in the hall like a caged beast, the jade pendant at his waist swaying violently with each movement. "I want Liang Yuhua! If Mother won't help, I'll go beg Father myself!"

Lady Zhaohua was so angry that her vision blurred, and she had to hold onto the chaise longue to avoid falling over.

This evil!

She's built up her business over so many years, is she really going to ruin it all because of a little girl?

"Stop right there!" she shouted sharply, her voice almost cracking.

But Murong Jun had already turned and left, slamming the palace doors shut with a deafening roar.

The palace maids serving under the eaves were so frightened that they knelt on the ground. They could hear the Fifth Prince's footsteps growing fainter and fainter until they disappeared at the end of the palace road.

-

Speaking of this ill-fated relationship, it truly was a cruel twist of fate.

That day, Consort Liang and Lady Zhaohua secretly conspired to frame the Third Prince.

Upon receiving the news, the Fifth Prince Murong Jun excitedly invited his cousin Chen Zhengquan to a teahouse opposite the Third Prince's residence. They booked a private room facing the street, eager to witness a good show.

Murong Jun leaned lazily against the carved window frame, toying with a wine cup between his fingers.

The bustling street below was filled with the shouts of vendors, but he stared intently at the vermilion gate of the Third Prince's residence across the street, as if afraid of missing any good show.

Chen Zhengquan sat to the side, his face so gloomy it could drip water.

He still feels a burning hatred when he thinks about the child abduction case from last year.

Although the steward Chen San was eventually chosen to take the blame, his father Chen Ben still sent him out of the capital overnight and forbade him to return even for the New Year holidays.

Those days of wandering were worse than death for him.

“Don’t worry, cousin,” Murong Jun narrowed his eyes, his gaze chillingly cold, “this time I’ll make sure Murong Ji suffers a crushing defeat and give you a good venting of your anger!”

Upon hearing this, Chen Zhengquan's expression softened slightly, and he raised his wine glass to clink heavily with his cousin's.

He gritted his teeth and said, "He deserved to be punished for harming me!"

Recalling the humiliation of being taken away in front of everyone at the Fifth Prince's wedding banquet, the veins on his hand holding the wine glass bulged, as if he wanted to crush the teacup.

To this day, they still believe that the child trafficking case was deliberately brought up by the Third Prince to deal with the Chen family, and they have no idea that Lu Jiangnian was behind it.

Murong Jun affectionately put his arm around Chen Zhengquan's shoulder and whispered in his ear, "He dared to touch my cousin, I'll make him pay tenfold!"

He and Chen Zhengquan were inseparable since childhood. During the time his cousin was not in the capital, he even found riding horses boring.

No matter how beautiful the wives and concubines in the mansion are, they can't compare to the joy of riding horses and drinking and having fun with my cousin.

What does it mean to be a woman?

-

Murong Jun and Chen Zhengquan were exchanging toasts when Murong Jun suddenly glanced downstairs.

The sunlight gently shone on the long street, and a young girl in a pale yellow gauze dress was talking to her maid.

She was about fifteen or sixteen years old, with skin as white as snow, almond-shaped eyes and peach-like cheeks. When she smiled, the corners of her eyes drooped slightly, giving her a charming and innocent look.

A gentle breeze blew by, lifting a few strands of her hair. The young woman raised her hand and tucked the hair behind her ear, revealing a section of her fair and jade-like wrist.

"That is..." Murong Jun's wine cup suddenly tilted, and he didn't even notice the wine spilling onto his brocade robe.

His gaze was as if drawn by a magnet, unable to look away even a fraction.

Chen Zhengquan followed his cousin's gaze, a playful smile playing on his lips: "Liang Yuhua, the maid from the second branch of the Liang family."

He squinted, licking his lips as if savoring a delicious treat. "She's certainly beautiful. I teased her before; the little girl blushed so much her ears turned red, and she couldn't utter a single word, all shy and bashful."

Seeing Murong Jun still staring blankly at the street corner, Chen Zhengquan suddenly leaned closer, his breath, reeking of alcohol, brushing against the Fifth Prince's ear: "What? Has Your Highness also taken a fancy to this beautiful flower?"

He swirled his glass smugly, "Looks like we brothers have the same taste."

Murong Jun acted as if he hadn't heard.

Murong Jun's soul seemed to be captured by that pale yellow figure, and he froze by the window, even his breathing became cautious.

He gazed intently at the charming figure—the young girl was receiving a crystal-clear candied hawthorn from the old man's hand. As her fingertips touched the sugar coating, she smiled, her eyes crinkling with a smile brighter than the peach blossoms of spring.

The honey-colored sugar coating of the candied hawthorn shimmered like amber in the sunlight. When the girl took a small bite, some sugar stains accidentally got on the corners of her cherry lips.

She extended her pink tongue and gently flicked it like a kitten licking its mother's breast, the sweetness disappearing between her lips and teeth.

Murong Jun unconsciously swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.

Even after that bright spot was completely swallowed up by the crowds in the market, the Fifth Prince remained leaning forward, oblivious to the wine stains on his sleeves.

His soul seemed to drift away with that pale yellow figure, leaving only an empty shell standing by the window.

"I see……"

Murong Jun muttered to himself, his right hand unconsciously pressing against his left chest.

A strange, throbbing sensation was coming from there; my heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was about to burst through the ribcage.

He finally understood what "love at first sight" felt like, as described in those storybooks—like being doused with a jug of strong liquor, leaving him numb from head to toe.

"cousin……"

His voice was terribly hoarse, as if it hadn't been wet in a long time, dry and parched. "So, I like women too."

He slowly turned around, his eyes gleaming with a deep obsession, "I want her."

Chen Zhengquan was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter.

He patted Murong Jun on the shoulder with such force that it almost shoved him into the ground: "My silly prince! Of course you like women!"

He winked and lowered his voice, "Could it be... you've always thought you liked men?"

Chen Zhengquan leaned close to Murong Jun's ear, his breath, still smelling of alcohol, brushing against his skin: "This matter can't be rushed. Having your aunt handle it is the safest course of action."

A hint of apprehension flashed in his eyes. "That girl has an older brother who, though not very capable, is fiercely protective of his own. Your Highness mustn't act recklessly and upset the Emperor."

At that time, Murong Jun was full of plans, wanting to take this opportunity to make his mother understand that he looked down on all the ordinary women in the mansion.

He was just waiting for the right time to ask his mother for help in bringing Liang Yuhua into the household.

Who would have thought that just as this game of chess was reaching its middle stage, the Liang family would suddenly be embroiled in a major treason case.

Fate has played such a cruel trick on people that even the usually willful and reckless Fifth Prince was taken aback.