Chapter 90: Kang Prince

"Something seems off," Ruo Xi thought to herself. In her previous life, although she had wandered the world, she had seen many imperial palaces and experienced much.

"Hmph, so what? Is this Kang Prince trying to act his age?" Xiaoyue sneered. "The dynasty has changed; there are no more princes from the old regime. Only the current emperor can grant titles!"

Xiao Yin remained silent, his hand behind his back, his expression cold.

"That’s it, that’s what’s wrong," Ruo Xi stretched lazily. She felt she must have been drowsy to miss such details: "Uncle is already the emperor, and this Kang Prince is just a cousin of the former emperor. Not having razed his nest yet is already merciful. Why is he acting up now?"

In her past life, the great demon lord was solitary and decisive in killing, so she already disliked this old man without even meeting him, marking him down in her book.

"Eh..." The county magistrate paused, then immediately turned and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, Princess, please calm your anger. Although the Kang Prince is still healthy, he is old and has trouble walking, so..."

"So, I should go visit him, is that it?" Xiao Yin turned his head, his eyes coldly fixed on the magistrate’s neck as he reprimanded.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. This humble servant will inform the Kang Prince right away that you have arrived." The magistrate trembled as he knelt on the street, then turned to his subordinates and said, "Go, quickly inform the Kang Prince!"

The surrounding citizens knew this was the emperor and the Princess Royal, so almost everyone on the street knelt down.

Three years ago, this emperor ascended the throne by killing his brother and father, his cruelty spreading fear. When the citizens heard this was the emperor, their legs weakened, and they knelt trembling.

The emperor did not say much but walked toward the county office with the magistrate accompanying him.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!" A voice called out from afar. A sedan chair carried by four strong men approached, with a white-haired old man seated inside.

The old man was very fat, his flesh spilling out of his clothes as if it could not be contained.

"Put me down, put me down! I need to pay my respects to His Majesty!" Hearing the old man’s shouts, the surrounding citizens shifted direction and bowed their heads.

Xiao Yin glanced at little Mo Jingyu, then at the child in his arms, picked her up, and adjusted her swaddling so she could see the blob on the sedan chair.

"Xiao’er, looks like we have another job. Yude County isn’t the magistrate’s or mine; it belongs to this Kang Prince!" Xiao Yin spoke to his niece, hoping she could help identify things after only a month.

Most importantly, Xiao Yin did not find anything wrong with this.

After all, his little niece was too capable!

"Hmm, this person exudes a lot of murderous aura. He must have committed many crimes! Seeing how the citizens are trembling, this old man probably hasn’t done any good deeds!"

"At his age, he should have many ailments, but he looks quite spirited. I wonder how he maintains himself!"

Ruo Xi thought for a moment, stretched lazily, but then her small hand paused.

"Death aura, why does this old man reek of death when he gets closer?"

Hearing Ruo Xi’s thoughts, Xiao Yin looked sharply at the obese old man panting and striding towards him.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, this old minister is late," the obese prince approached the emperor.

Xiao Yin narrowed his eyes, and Baiyu immediately stepped forward to block him.

"Kang Prince, long time no see!" Eunuch Gao stepped forward and bowed.

"Yes... Eunuch Gao!" A flash of disgust crossed the Kang Prince’s eyes, but then he smiled, "Ah, old acquaintances. And where is Lady Jin? You must stay at my Kang Prince’s Mansion when you come to Yude County!"

"Sister!" Xiaoyue whispered.

"Of course, we’ll stay at the Kang Prince’s Mansion. I’ve heard since childhood that the Kang Prince’s residence is grander than the imperial palace. Here, it’s known as half the city!" the emperor said.

"Your Majesty flatters us. It’s just a few old houses maintained by my descendants!" The Kang Prince replied, then gestured, "Your Majesty, Princess, please get into the carriage!"

An opulent carriage quickly arrived, and the driver placed the footrest.

Xiao Yin carried his niece into the carriage, followed by Xiaoyue, then Jingyu.

"Who is this?" The obese Kang Prince looked curiously at the child. "Hmm, is this one of the princes? I remember the third prince being about this age?"

"Replying to the Kang Prince, this is Prince Jingyu of Xiyue!" Eunuch Gao said, lifting Jingyu into the carriage.

The Kang Prince’s brows furrowed slightly, then he said, "Oh, so His Majesty brought a hostage along!"

Lady Jin and Eunuch Gao followed, while Dong Ju pouted and muttered, "Hmph, looking down on people. Even the young prince of Xiyue is beneath him!"

Having lived together for some time, Dong Ju had grown fond of this well-behaved younger brother.

"Enough!" Lady Jin turned and scolded softly, then continued following the carriage.

The Kang Prince remained seated in his sedan chair, surrounded by citizens bowing their heads and hunching their shoulders.

"Brother, look at those citizens, they seem terrified!" Xiaoyue lifted the curtain and said.

"They’re not afraid of me," Xiao Yin chuckled. "They’re afraid of the Kang Prince and the Kang Prince’s Mansion."

"In the early years, it was said that the Kang Prince ruled Yude County. At the time, I didn’t pay much attention. Brother, have there been any reports from Yude County in recent years?" Xiaoyue asked.

Xiao Yin patted his drowsy niece and replied, "Five years ago, the third son of the Kang Prince galloped through the market, trampling one person to death and injuring three others. The case was reported to the capital, but the previous dynasty ignored it. Three years ago, I pursued the matter, and the Kang Prince claimed he had sent the third son to the border to cultivate. But this year, I received another report that this son was causing trouble again in the city!"