Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Crown Prince Mo Lingwei, the 9th-Life Evil God

Chen Shaobei noticed that from the moment they left the palace, the slight arch of Mo Lingwei’s brows had carried a faint air of contentment.

The two had grown up together, so Chen Shaobei knew this expression meant Mo Lingwei was in a good mood.

"If you do find Miss Shen, Your Highness, how do you plan to repay her?" Chen Shaobei asked curiously.

Mo Lingwei smiled.

"I’ll give her some silver."

Chen Shaobei nodded. The Crown Prince’s answer was quite normal.

Then, Mo Lingwei added, "I’ll also grant her a residence, so she has a place to live."

’Otherwise, living in a cave with a pack of wolves every day must be exhausting.’

Chen Shaobei felt that while the reward was generous, it was still reasonable.

After all, the young girl had saved the Crown Prince’s life.

Mo Lingwei propped his head on one hand, thought for a moment, and added, "She mentioned she was beaten and driven out by her aunt."

"So, I’ll also ask her if she wants her aunt crippled or killed. I’ll take care of the woman for her."

Chen Shaobei shot bolt upright.

’He knew it. The bloodthirsty Crown Prince would never stop at just giving her some silver.’

Chen Shaobei tried to reason with him. "The Emperor disapproves of you killing people, Your Highness."

Mo Lingwei’s lip curled into a slight sneer. "There are far too many things he disapproves of. Why should I care about one more?"

Chen Shaobei frowned slightly.

The father-son relationship between the Emperor and the Crown Prince had been extremely strained ever since the Empress passed away.

The Emperor had already been greatly displeased when the Sixth Prince had the tendons in his hands and feet severed.

Even so, he had only made Mo Lingwei kneel before the Empress’s memorial tablet and reflect on his transgressions.

But by the next day, the Emperor had softened and let him out again.

’At a time like this,’ Chen Shaobei thought, ’Mo Lingwei can’t afford to anger the Emperor again. It would only strain their relationship further.’

Just as Chen Shaobei was about to plead with him,

Mo Lingwei spoke again, his voice flat. "If your aunt beat you black and blue and tricked you into eating nothing but eggshells."

"And not only that, what if she chained the grandmother you depended on to a giant rock, locked her in a pit, and left her to die?"

"An aunt like that—do you think she doesn’t deserve to die?"

Chen Shaobei was taken aback. "Is that what happened to Miss Shen?"

Mo Lingwei gave a cold nod.

Chen Shaobei was silent for a moment before uttering two words: "Deserves death."

Mo Lingwei smiled and patted his friend’s shoulder.

The carriage stopped at the entrance to Xiangyun Village.

But the moment Mo Lingwei stepped out of the carriage, his heart seized and his pupils constricted.

His long fingers instantly gripped the carriage frame to steady himself.

Chen Shaobei cried out in alarm, "Your Highness?!"

A chill filled Mo Lingwei’s eyes as he stared straight ahead, his jaw clenched tight.

Frost was already forming on his eyebrows, his lips had turned pale, and even his fingertips were dusted with a faint layer of frost.

His legs felt as if they were filled with lead.

He couldn’t take a single step.

Finally, he collapsed back into the carriage with a heavy thud.

Before he lost consciousness, the last thing he heard was Chen Shaobei barking orders, "Back to the palace, quickly! Summon the Imperial Physicians! The Crown Prince’s old ailment has returned!"

The guards spurred the horses, and the carriage wheeled around.

Almost as soon as the carriage was gone, Shen Ningning appeared, skipping down the mountain with her pack of wolves and entering Xiangyun Village.

「An hour later.」

Zichen Palace was filled with the most skilled Imperial Physicians, yet no one dared to make a sound.

The Emperor, clad in his Dragon Robe, sat by the bed, gazing at the unconscious Mo Lingwei.

His stern, majestic face was tinged with a father’s worry.

Ever since childhood, Mo Lingwei had suffered from these sporadic attacks.

His ailment was exceedingly strange and rare.

Whenever an attack occurred, his hair and eyebrows would become coated with a thin layer of frost.

His body would grow as cold as ice.

And though after a short while the frost would melt away and Mo Lingwei would slowly awaken, for all these years, the Emperor had tirelessly searched for a miracle cure, all to no avail.

The Imperial Physicians were at their wits’ end.

Some even said that the great drought now plaguing the land was caused by Crown Prince Mo Lingwei’s strange ailment.

The State Preceptor had once prophesied:

Crown Prince Mo Lingwei was the ninth incarnation of an Evil God.

This life was his last.

If his strange ailment was not cured, he would be unable to enter the cycle of reincarnation and would instead be eternally damned to the Evil Ghost Path upon his death.

The State Preceptor had also said that when the drought ended and the people could once again live in peace and prosperity, free from the suffering of natural disasters, then the accumulated sins from the Crown Prince’s past lives would slowly be absolved.

The year the blessed girl from the State Preceptor’s prophecy was born, it rained the entire night.

The Emperor had been ecstatic.

He believed his son would surely be saved.

But alas, in the time since that night, the empire had suffered a great drought for four long years.

The Emperor sat for a while, his brow furrowed with worry. When he saw the frost on Mo Lingwei’s eyebrows gradually melting, he knew the danger had passed and that Mo Lingwei would soon awaken.

The Emperor instructed the attendants to take good care of him, then rose and left, with the Imperial Physicians scrambling to follow.

"Has the Crown Prince been taking his medicine on time every day?" the Emperor asked, standing in the corridor.

To treat Mo Lingwei’s strange frost ailment, the prescriptions from the Imperial Hospital consisted entirely of Yang-extreme herbs.

Though their effectiveness was unknown, the Emperor was unwilling to pass up any opportunity.

The Dean of the Imperial Hospital, Lord Fang, hurried forward. "Your Majesty, the Imperial Hospital was previously short on the medicinal ingredient Aconite. However, after a search by my younger brother, he finally managed to purchase some from a reclusive master."

"There will be no more interruptions in the Crown Prince’s medicine. Please rest assured, Your Majesty."

The Emperor nodded slowly. "You have done well. Go to the Palace Affairs Department to receive a silver reward."

Dean Lord Fang knelt to express his gratitude for the great honor.

The Emperor was about to leave.

Suddenly, he thought of something and turned his head to ask Chen Shaobei, who was standing nearby.

"What has the Crown Prince been busy with lately? I see guards coming and going from Zichen Palace frequently."

Chen Shaobei cupped his fist. "The Crown Prince has been looking for someone, Your Majesty. When His Highness was attacked, he was saved by a young girl. Since returning to the palace, he has been searching for this savior."

The Emperor raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Oh? And has he found her?"

Chen Shaobei hesitated, just as he was about to reply.

But out of the corner of his eye, he saw a graceful figure hurrying toward them.

"Your Majesty, how is Ling Wei’s condition?" It was Consort Li, the Sixth Prince’s mother, who currently held power over the management of the Six Palaces.

She was dressed in fine silks and adorned with jade ornaments, her cloud-like chignon glittering with pearls and jewels.

On her well-preserved face, her slender brows were knitted in an expression of pure concern for Mo Lingwei.

The Emperor took her hand, patting it gently in comfort. "He’ll be fine. It was just his old ailment acting up. He needs to rest."

Consort Li immediately replied, "I will be sure to instruct the Imperial Kitchen to be meticulous with Ling Wei’s meals and prepare some light, nourishing broths for him."

At this, tears began to stream down her face.

"Ling Wei’s sudden relapse must be because Chang Gong angered him so terribly. But they are blood brothers, how could they try to destroy one another? Some wicked person must be stirring up trouble."

"Once Ling Wei has recovered, I will have Chang Gong come and apologize."

Hearing this, the Emperor released Consort Li’s hand.

"Let Ling Wei rest and recover in peace. Chang Gong’s injuries also need time to heal. You shouldn’t have them tormenting each other."

Consort Li’s crying hitched, and she silently lowered her head. "I understand."

The Emperor turned back to Chen Shaobei. "This savior you mentioned..."

Chen Shaobei immediately cupped his fist, subtly cutting the Emperor off. "I will be sure to keep a close eye out on the Crown Prince’s behalf."

Only then did the Emperor nod and depart.

Consort Li gave Chen Shaobei a suspicious look before following the Emperor.

A cold look flashed in Chen Shaobei’s eyes.

’If Consort Li were to find out about this, there’s no telling what kind of trouble she would stir up for Mo Lingwei.’