Why My Domineering Prince Regretted Filing for Divorce?-Chapter 640 - 514: Liangyi Hall, Xuanwu Gate_2

Xuanwu Gate!

Those three ink-dripping characters struck her heart like three heavy punches.

"Ugh!"

Shang Ruyi felt a dull pain in her heart and instinctively let out a slight groan.

Eunuch Cao, keen-eyed and sharp-eared, immediately noticed the pale face of the General’s wife and hurriedly asked, "Madam, what is wrong?"

"..."

Shang Ruyi couldn’t speak, nor could she make a sound, only clutching her chest and breathing heavily.

Xuanwu Gate...

Xuanwu Gate!

Just like before in Ziwei Palace at the Eastern Capital, whenever she saw this palace gate and approached here, it felt as if her body was standing still but her soul was forcibly extracted to endure a nightmare, then thrust back into this body again.

Even without suffering any physical harm, the pain in her soul spread throughout her body.

Moreover, in Daxing Palace, this feeling was much stronger than it had been in Ziwei Palace!

Why was it like this?

Seeing the sweat pouring down her face as if she were afflicted by a sudden illness, Eunuch Cao worriedly said, "Madam, are you unwell? If so, I will immediately call for the Imperial Physician."

Shang Ruyi took a few deep breaths, finally suppressing the inexplicable intense pain in her heart. Realizing she seemed to have no actual injury, she calmed herself and said, "I’m fine. Eunuch, please continue to lead the way."

Cautiously glancing at her again, Eunuch Cao said, "Very well."

Having said that, he continued to guide her forward. Although Shang Ruyi had calmed the soul-penetrating pain, as she passed through the towering gates, she still felt her heartbeat involuntarily disrupted until she advanced past the gate, leaving the shadow of the towering palace walls behind, and finally regained a semblance of calm.

Further ahead was Liangyi Hall, the Emperor’s resting place, as Eunuch Cao had informed them during their last palace visit.

From a distance, Shang Ruyi could already see the grand palace.

As the Emperor’s resting place, its grandeur was naturally different from elsewhere. Shang Ruyi knew that Ziwei Palace was crafted according to Chu Yang’s preferences, and both the Empress’s Eastern Palace and his Warm Dock carried that sophisticated and transcendent aura of Chu Yang, luxurious and beautiful, like a Heavenly Palace; but Daxing Palace was different. Its architect was Emperor Wen, Chu Yin, the true founder of the Da Ye Dynasty, with exceptional talent and military prowess, hence the palace embodied his majestic and awe-inspiring spirit, powerful and commanding respect.

Yet, the closer they drew, the more Shang Ruyi’s brow knitted tightly.

Because she heard a commotion ahead, not the noise of people but the clamorous chirping of birds. As she drew nearer, she saw that outside Liangyi Hall, numerous peacocks, cranes, and even wild ducks and pheasants were kept for amusement!

Furthermore, these birds weren’t just standing there. Some were loudly squawking, some flapping their wings, some chasing each other, and some even perching on the eaves. Beneath them, palace maids and eunuchs were bustling about, chasing them while anxiously shouting—

"What if the Empress Dowager and Grand Chancellor see this?!"

"Don’t worry, the Empress Dowager is in retreat and won’t return for half a month, and the Grand Chancellor won’t enter the palace these days either."

"Even so, we must catch that chicken quickly!"

Watching this chaotic and humiliating scene, which had stripped Liangyi Hall of its solemn dignity, Shang Ruyi’s heart sank further.

This was, after all, the Emperor’s abode!

Knowing well that this was none of her business, something that the ministers enjoying the Emperor’s favor should be concerned with, yet Shang Ruyi couldn’t help but feel uneasy, even displeased. And as she stood staring at the disorderly scene, a somewhat familiar figure entered her view.

She saw him chasing a flapping-winged crane, laughing as he ran, while the maids and eunuchs behind him protected him nervously, sweating profusely and shouting, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, you mustn’t!"

"...?!"

Could that be, His Majesty the Emperor?!

Taking a closer look, it indeed was, that short-statured boy, draped in yellow robes devoid of dignity, was none other than the current Emperor!

The very same mischievous child she had briefly encountered before—Chu Chengfei.

Calling him a child, even now as he occupies the throne, holds true; this boy had just turned ten, grown a little taller than before, though not by much. His once round face had thinned slightly since she saw him in Yanmen County, still youthful, but now tinged with an even more audacious and unruly demeanor. Seeing a little eunuch try to protect him, fearing he might fall, blocking his path chasing the crane, he kicked the eunuch aside, shouting, "Don’t block my way!"

The little eunuch, kicked to the ground, kowtowed repeatedly, yet Chu Chengfei didn’t spare him a glance and continued the chase.

The entire Liangyi Hall had completely transformed into a playground for this child.

Shang Ruyi’s brows furrowed into a tight knot.

At that moment, she couldn’t help but recall Shen Shiyan’s pained words in the Ministry of Justice Prison—could someone who only knew how to jest with eunuchs possibly bear the burden of hearing ’disaster is near’ while seated on the Dragon Chair and burst into tears from fear?!

At first hearing those words, Shang Ruyi had only felt admiration for her uncle. But now, seeing the scene before her eyes, she truly grasped the meaning of those words.

The world cannot be ruled by such a child.

Otherwise, the Da Ye Dynasty, or even the entire nation’s livelihood, would collapse!

Just then, a graceful figure slowly walked out from Liangyi Hall, stood under the eaves, and gently smiled, "Your Majesty, be careful not to fall."