Chapter 23

C23 – Is the Third Prince a Dog?

Positioned across from each other, Teng Yu and Mo Hanshan engaged in a dialogue, exchanging questions and recounting their respective journeys of the past years.

At the tender age of ten, Teng Yu faced the demise of Empress Liu, still a mere child at the time. Compounded by his upbringing alongside the Emperor, his formative years were deeply influenced.

Were it not for the events that transpired at the age of ten, his trajectory might have veered irretrievably towards failure.

Swiftly coming to his senses, he spent the subsequent five years—nearly two thousand days and nights—introspecting, utilizing his animosity as a whip, and exploiting the vulnerabilities left by Empress Liu to clandestinely amass power.

Teng Yu’s lips curled into a scornful smile, “Following the Queen Mother’s passing, the true nature of the Emperor was laid bare. Not only did he harbor deep affection for Imperial Consort Yun and Teng Yi, but he also wrested military authority from her lineage. Were it not for the vigilance of her ancestors and their lack of flaws, the Liu Family would have faced utter destruction.”

In hindsight, his past belief in the man’s benevolence seemed tragically misguided.

“Hmph!” Mo Hanshan snorted contemptuously, “The so-called Emperor ingratiated himself with his foster father and Ru’er to secure his throne. Once their utility waned, he cast them aside, severing all ties. I regret not being able to avenge Ru’er by ending that despicable Emperor’s life!” With a forceful palm, he shattered the stone table before him.New novel chapters are published on

Recounting these events, Teng Yu brimmed with resentment. Had he not witnessed it firsthand, he could never have fathomed that the father who once showered him with affection would swiftly transform into his mother’s assailant.

Furthermore, the irony lay in the facade of indulgence. All those years of pampering were but a facade to incapacitate him and hone his lethal skills.

Who could have foreseen that the highly regarded direct descendant of the Third Prince was, in truth, the Emperor’s forsaken son? Equally astonishing was the revelation that the First Prince, so harshly treated by the Emperor, held a special place in his heart.

Yin Xu silently cursed, convinced that the Third Prince had deceived the world. Trusting his keen judgment of character, Yin Xu believed this man surpassed even the Great Prince residing at the mountain’s base.

“No wonder you’re concealing yourself so tightly, avoiding all encounters,” Yin Xu leaned in closer, their proximity allowing him to scrutinize the man’s pores.

“Not bad,” Yin Xu mused subconsciously, drawing comparisons to the First Prince, noting a resemblance in their outer appearance. Was it pity he felt for the First Prince, or for himself?

“Who’s there?” Teng Yu’s demeanor shifted abruptly, his right hand poised forward, his senses heightened.

Caught off guard by Teng Yu’s vigilance, Yin Xu swiftly retreated, pressing against the wall. He silently acknowledged his close call, relieved he hadn’t been discovered.

Is this Third Prince a watchdog?

......

Yin Xu: “Are you acting like a watchdog?”

Teng Yu: “Get lost!”

Yin Xu: “Then how did you sense someone’s presence here?”

Teng Yu: “No comment!”