The Prince Is Abolished

Chapter 6

In the Mi kingdom, the Emperor Xi Lang and the Empress Xi Xanda were considered a well-matched couple. Harmony in royal household was prized in the kingdom, hence, only the positive news about the royal family was allowed to go out. In short, they were made into the perfect couple because this illusion kept the royal dignity alive. Xi lang was considered a virtuous emperor who encouraged healthy relations with the neighboring nations and worked hard to ensure peace all around. His vision ostensibly was also shared by his empress but truth be told, in action, only by Lu Xang.

The empress was considered a model of virtue for all the women folk in the kingdom but with failing health she had become irritable and a bit grouchy. Her focus was on her elder son Xi Mang. She wanted him to ascend soon as her husband no longer treated her with respect.

Xi Mang and Xi Jiang, her two sons were of age but neither of them was married. Her idea was to seek marriage alliances with the princesses of the neighboring kingdoms. However, her favorite son was obsessed with political power while another was obsessed with agriculture. Due to constant neglect of her ideas by her husband, she had grown to be violent and a bit too domineering on her maids and ladies of other royal relatives. She expected them to do her bidding, and everyone must bow down to her whims and fancies as she was the empress.

The emperor knew all this but turned a blind eye as the royal family must always present a unified picture to the countrymen. But he understood the pitfalls of alliance-based or status-oriented marriages as he too suffered from this. He found that the empress was a shrew and hence, he did away with most of her family members from the royal court one by one. The empress' power was thus an empty shell but no one wanted to cross the royal family and hence, everyone suffered but with a smile.

For his two sons, the emperor felt that he and his generous friend Lu Xang have created a harmonious Mi kingdom, hence, they could marry anyone irrespective of the statues.

'I only want my son to be happy,' was his only refrain whenever the empress tried to force Xi Mang to accept a princess of a neighboring country.

Xi Mang's marriage would undoubtedly be grander but Xi Jiang would also get a lion's share after his marriage. The emperor even arranged palace banquets for his sons where they could meet the best of the Mi and the neighboring kingdom. But so far, no luck.

He was still gazing from his palace after the royal court had terminated the session thinking about his sons. He always prayed that may his sons get what he couldn't get in his life, a happy marriage.

In his mansion, Xi Mang was struggling to keep himself awake while reviewing with agricultural report on the success and failure of the Lu family-led food and medical security that was made by Song Wus. He always held the Lu family as a potential threat because why would a merchant be so benevolent and take on such a huge responsibility without charging or making demands on the royal court?

How could he believe it were possible?

Impossible!

He shut down the document and compared the sly Lu Xang with Song Wu.

Song Wu, in his opinion, was as real as a merchant could be.

How could a merchant be noble?

Forget it.

He packed up his documents and went out to the river to get drunk on the beauty of the young woman who had mesmerised him.

His horse was bought for him and he rode at the top speed to meet the lady who had his heart racing.

Lu Ran was at the river bank, to see Xi Mang and hoped to figure out his heart. Her mother had been telling her to go out and date, but her heart never settled on anyone. But this man was someone she just wanted to know more about.