10 Emperor Shang Summons

Shang Wuxin stepped down from the carriage and surveyed the palace that everyone revered. It was indeed a magnificent structure, the palace seemingly piercing through the clouds. Every brick and stone carried an ancient feel. Standing there were rows of guards, along with eunuchs and palace maids constantly bowing their heads. Shang Wuxin disliked it at first glance because the palace offered no freedom, but unfortunately, it was a place of power.

The guards greeted Shang Wuxin reluctantly. Wu Wei looked at these perfunctory guards, anger flashing in her eyes. However, she knew that since the Crown Prince said nothing, it meant he didn’t care. Moreover, now that they were in the palace, her actions could only bring trouble to the Crown Prince, so she had to restrain herself.

Shang Wuxin had no particular thoughts about these people’s contempt. If she were in the Crown Prince’s residence, she might have killed that person, but this was not the Crown Prince’s residence. Although she was domineering, she never intended to make everyone fear her. As long as she was not made unhappy, she would not do anything.

But just as Shang Wuxin was about to enter the palace and head into the Imperial Study, Wu Wei was stopped by the guards outside the study.

“No unauthorized persons are allowed to enter the Imperial Study!” The guards all drew their long swords. The Imperial Study did not allow unauthorized persons, meaning even ordinary ministers were not permitted entry without summons, let alone a lowly maid with an ugly face.

Wu Wei stood still because if she moved, those long swords would stab at her. More importantly, these people might accidentally injure the Crown Prince. She had not seen the Crown Prince use martial arts these days. She thought the Crown Prince should know martial arts since he had so many martial arts manuals, but she did not know how skilled he was. Even if she died here today, she would not make a move without the Crown Prince’s order.

“How dare you block my people?” A chilling aura burst forth from Shang Wuxin, his expression colder than the icy wilderness. The frost on his face was more biting than the snow and ice, and the coldness and fury in his black eyes sent shivers down the spines of the surrounding guards. Even Wuwei was somewhat surprised by the prince’s imposing presence; such a prince inspired a strong urge to submit.

The guards were somewhat afraid of this prince. His aura was colder than even His Majesty’s now. But their duty forbade them from allowing a maid into the heavily guarded Imperial Study. If they did, even if the prince said nothing, His Majesty would surely have their heads.

“Wuwei!” Shang Wuxin looked at Wuwei, who stood motionless, only watching him. A smile flickered in his eyes. This silly girl was still so loyal, and he liked that very much.

Wuwei noticed the faint smile in the prince’s eyes and felt a stir in her heart. Suddenly, she attacked the guards who were swinging their swords at her. Wuwei’s martial skills were not particularly high—at least, not comparable to the guards of the Imperial Study—but she truly lived up to her name, Wuwei. Even if injured, she would not let her enemies off easily. In a short while, many wounds appeared on Wuwei’s body. The guards were not much better off. Skilled enemies were not frightening, but enemies who did not fear death were truly terrifying. Only then did the guards take this delicate-looking maid seriously.

Watching Wu Wei injured and on the verge of losing his life, Shang Wuxin showed no expression at all, just standing there without even looking. This behavior made many people start to reassess this incompetent crown prince. Is such a ruthless crown prince really incompetent?

“Why is there such a commotion outside?” Suddenly, a middle-aged man wearing a bright yellow dragon robe walked out of the imperial study. The guards knelt down and shouted in unison, “Your Majesty!”

A smile flickered in Shang Wuxin’s eyes; it was indeed somewhat difficult to draw out this emperor. Shang Wuxin looked straightforwardly at the emperor standing there, who was also his father. Emperor Shang wore a dazzling bright yellow dragon robe, his jet-black long hair flowing in the wind, making it hard to tell that he was already in his forties—he looked more like a man in his thirties. His bronze skin shimmered under the sunlight, radiating a gentle glow. Shang Wuxin was certain that Emperor Shang was skilled in martial arts and had not neglected his training even after ascending the throne. Emperor Shang’s thick eyebrows were resolute, like brushstrokes, and beneath his sharply arched brows, a pair of fierce tiger eyes concealed a wild dominance alongside a well-hidden tenderness.

At this moment, Shang Wuxin finally understood why his body was so beautiful. It was said that Empress Qiu was once the most beautiful woman under heaven, and although Emperor Shang was already in his forties, the handsome aura in his brows had not diminished. Both of them had exceptionally outstanding appearances, so it was no wonder that Shang Wuxin grew up to be so beautiful.

The Mourning Emperor looked at Shang Wuxin. Under the Emperor’s sharp gaze, Shang Wuxin remained calm and unruffled. It seemed like the Emperor was just casually observing, but it instilled fear in those around because his eyes were too piercing. Outside the imperial study, only Crown Prince Shang Wuxin and the Crown Prince’s maid Wuwei did not kneel. Shang Wuxin felt that no one was worthy of his kneeling, while Wuwei believed that she needed to kneel to no one but the Crown Prince, even if that person was the Crown Prince’s father, the current Emperor.

Emperor Shang stared at Shang Wuxin for a very long time, so long that the guards kneeling on the ground had numb legs, so long that the eunuchs were drenched in cold sweat, so long that Wuwei was watching everyone warily. Yet, neither Emperor Shang nor Shang Wuxin showed any change.

Emperor Shang withdrew his gaze and said to Shang Wuxin, “Come in!” There was no reproach for Shang Wuxin’s rudeness and impudence, nor any words of favor, leaving many puzzled—did the emperor truly favor the crown prince, or did he still despise him?

Shang Wuxin gave Wuwei a glance, then walked into the imperial study. The door slowly closed, blocking out the intentional and unintentional gazes of the crowd..