It took Murong Yuan a long time to find Xie Xun and Jiang Xiaoxiao at the inn.
Jiang Xiaoxiao's transformation period had passed.
Outside, the snow was heavy, and Murong Yuan held an umbrella, wearing a precious sable fur coat.
"Third brother."
He looked at Xie Xun, his smile warm and gentle, "Today is the day of your investiture as a prince. How about coming with me to the palace?"
Xie Xun didn't look at him, busy adjusting Jiang Xiaoxiao's cloak.
Although Jiang Xiaoxiao kept saying she wasn't afraid of the cold, Xie Xun still bought her a beautiful, snow-white cloak.
Xie Xun had originally planned to visit his mother's separate courtyard today, but he didn't expect Murong Yuan to suddenly show up.
Investiture as a prince?
That was rightfully his.
"Lead the way!"
Holding Jiang Xiaoxiao's hand, Xie Xun walked toward the carriage, his tone indifferent.
Xie Xun's cold attitude made Murong Yuan's expression darken slightly.
Considering that tonight was a full moon, he would tolerate it for a few more hours.
Suppressing his hatred, Murong Yuan put on a smile again and instructed his subordinates to turn the carriage around after getting in.
In Yan Country, the investiture ceremony for princes was presided over by the Ministry of Rites, but the location was the Imperial Deity Temple.
During the investiture, each prince had to kneel before the statue of the founding emperor at the Imperial Deity Temple to receive his witness and be bathed in divine light.
Of course, apart from the Crown Prince Murong Yuan, no one else could see the divine light of the founding emperor, and as for being bathed in divine light, that was even more implausible.
For an ordinary prince, it was just a formality.
Murong Yuan didn't delay and changed to a sedan chair outside the palace gates, taking Xie Xun and Jiang Xiaoxiao directly toward the Imperial Deity Temple.
The Imperial Deity Temple was a sacred place for the royal family, and Jiang Xiaoxiao was not allowed inside, so she had to wait outside.
Before entering the temple, Xie Xun's steps faltered, and he looked up.
The overall structure of the Imperial Deity Temple was much taller than the Jianzhang Palace where the emperor resided, and the construction materials were also of the highest quality.
Its grandeur and magnificence were incomparable to the Jianzhang Palace.
It was evident that the emperor who built the Imperial Deity Temple had put a lot of thought into it.
Crossing the threshold, ahead was a long and high flight of ninety-nine jade steps, covered with a red carpet.
At the top of the jade steps, the colossal statue of the founding emperor, Lang Jin, stood majestically.
Xie Xun had been here as a child, but at that time, he was mischievous, and being young, he had never paid much attention to the statue of the founding emperor.
He only remembered that it was a strange person wearing a mask.
Now, fourteen years later, the statue of the founding emperor still wore a mask and held a heavy spear engraved with a snow wolf pattern.
Lang Jin, the founding emperor of Yan Country, was said to be a deity.
When he was little, Xie Xun had asked his teacher, Dean Gu, why the founding emperor's surname was Lang (wolf).
Dean Gu had answered that there were very few records about this emperor in historical books, as if his life's deeds had been deliberately erased.
Dean Gu had to read through many miscellaneous records to gather a little information.
The records said that this emperor was raised by a wolf pack and always wore a mask, his true face unseen by anyone.
After ascending the throne, he never married and adopted a son to inherit the throne, until his final battle when he sacrificed himself.
The statue in the Imperial Deity Temple was built by his adopted son's order.
After climbing the ninety-nine jade steps, Xie Xun looked up again, his gaze falling on the mysterious mask of the colossal statue.
For some inexplicable reason, he felt a strange, long-lost familiarity.
"Ah, the founding emperor has manifested!"
The voice of a surprised official from the Ministry of Rites rang out.
Xie Xun snapped out of his reverie to see Murong Yuan standing beside him, and the previously serene statue was now engulfed in a brilliant divine light.
The Minister of Rites, overcome with emotion, knelt down with the people behind him, facing Murong Yuan.
"This divine light is even brighter than before!"
"Your Highness the Crown Prince is truly the chosen one of the deity, wise and valiant, may you bless our Yan Country with a prosperous and everlasting reign—"
The group was flattering Murong Yuan enthusiastically.
Only Xie Xun noticed that something was amiss with Murong Yuan's expression.
He seemed to be in pain, but he was holding it back, with beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.
Who doesn't love being flattered?
In the past, Murong Yuan would have responded with a few humble words.
But now, he was in pain from head to toe, as if something was trying to separate from his body.
He could feel the Dragon Aura that had never fully merged with him acting up.
But he didn't dare move, for fear that one wrong move would cause the Dragon Aura to forcibly leave his body.
"You were called here to invest the third prince, so why are you just standing there!"
Unable to bear the pain any longer, Murong Yuan glared and snapped at them.
The officials from the Ministry of Rites immediately rose and came over to perform the investiture ceremony for Xie Xun.
Xie Xun slightly raised his eyebrows.
Jiang Xiaoxiao had said that his seal had been lifted, and if he got too close to Murong Yuan, it would stimulate the regeneration of the Dragon Aura.
If he wasn't mistaken, Murong Yuan had been affected earlier.
Xie Xun let out a light laugh and asked, "Is Your Highness the Crown Prince alright?"
Murong Yuan glared at him, his ten fingers tightly clenched.
Just a little longer, half a day more, and once Teacher had completely sealed Xie Xun, he would have no more worries.
Thinking of this, Murong Yuan took a deep breath, trying to appear calm and composed, "Third brother, the auspicious time is approaching, let's proceed with the ceremony!"
The investiture ceremony was not as elaborate as the one for the Crown Prince, and the proceedings didn't take long. Xie Xun received his court robes and a jade crown.
In addition, he was also given a Prince's Mansion and twenty palace guards.
Murong Yuan had been waiting on the side, occasionally glancing up at the statue.
After the entire ceremony was completed, he accompanied Xie Xun out.
"Third brother, your mansion may need some cleaning and preparation, so I'll send someone over right away. For the next couple of days, you can stay at the Palace of the Crown Prince. If you need anything, I'll be there to assist you."
Murong Yuan had thought that he might need to put in some effort to convince Xie Xun to agree.
After all, this fellow had a terrible temper and was often reckless, not even showing respect to the emperor.
But to his surprise, Xie Xun readily agreed.
"Alright."
Murong Yuan was taken aback, "You mean you agree to stay at the Palace of the Crown Prince with that girl for now?"
Xie Xun raised his eyebrows, "Didn't the Crown Prince say he would take care of me? The conditions at the Palace of the Crown Prince are decent. Why not?"
"Oh...yes, yes, yes, there are many servants at the Palace of the Crown Prince. Feel free to order them around as you please, no need to be polite with me."
"Thank you." Xie Xun nodded, "Arrange a quiet courtyard for me, and don't let anyone disturb me for the next two or three days."
Upon hearing this, Murong Yuan's heart swelled with joy.
Indeed, Teacher was right—that girl had a fatal weakness.
Not allowing anyone to serve them, eh?
That would be even better. When I secretly control that girl, sealing you would be as easy as squashing an ant.
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