545: Chapter 545 Take You to Experience the Starry Sky

With a "bang," the objects on the table flew in all directions, landing everywhere...

Everyone was as silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to look at the raging Prince Ding. He was dressed in casual clothes and wasn't even wearing boots on his feet, clearly having rushed out in a hurry. At this moment, his hair stood on end, and his eyes glared at the person kneeling below. Looking closely, this person was none other than Prince Ding's subordinate, Dongfang Lie!

Dongfang Lie trembled all over, kowtowing like a garlic masher, desperately crying out, "Your Highness, spare my life! Spare my life! I was also momentarily confused to have done such a foolish thing..."

"Momentarily confused? You're still trying to deceive this Prince even now! You've been secretly monitoring me for several years, and your secret communications with the Crown Prince and Old Eighteen have been frequent. Is this something that can be done out of a moment of confusion?!" Prince Ding scolded angrily. He was truly exploding with rage over Dongfang Lie's years of secret betrayal. It could be said that he had no secrets to speak of in front of Prince Rui and Prince Gong. It was laughable that he had put on a profound and inscrutable posture when he was with them, not knowing that in their hearts, they were mocking his incompetence and stupidity...

"Ah, Your Highness, I was indeed momentarily confused. It was all because the Crown Prince and the Eighteenth Prince used wealth to blind me. I really had no choice; I have a swarm of wives and concubines at home, each spending money like water, and hundreds of children to raise. Every day I open my eyes, I owe at least a thousand taels of silver. No matter how much I earn, I can't plug this bottomless pit. This pressure is probably very difficult for Your Highness to understand..." Dongfang Lie said with a mournful face.

"A swarm of wives and concubines? Hundreds of children? Very good, very good. How did I not think of this? Zhu Ming, immediately check for me who else among the family generals in this manor is in this situation. Round them all up and interrogate them to see if they've ever betrayed me!" Prince Ding roared loudly.

"Yes! Your Highness!" the family general Zhu Ming hurriedly responded.

"By the way, how many wives and concubines do you have yourself? How many children?" Prince Ding suddenly asked Zhu Ming.

Zhu Ming trembled, his face turning slightly pale, but he still braced himself and responded, "Your Highness, your servant has one wife, thirty... thirty-eight concubines... and... two hundred and eighty-nine children..."

"Deqin, take him down!!!" Prince Ding's face darkened as he let out a furious roar!

Zhu Deqin was stunned and hurriedly said, "Father, Uncle Ming has always followed the rules and has never committed any betrayal..."

"Take him down!!! Didn't you hear me?!!!" Prince Ding was almost driven mad with anger. Thirty-nine wives and concubines, nearly three hundred children—and that was just what he reported verbally. If a careful investigation was conducted, it was likely to double. Such a situation wouldn't be much different from Dongfang Lie's. This 'good son' of his actually wanted to protect him; his head must have been gnawed by a pig!!!

"Yes..." Zhu Deqin responded helplessly.

With a "thud," Zhu Ming knelt on the ground and shouted, "Your Highness, I am loyal and devoted, with no ulterior motives! I just embezzled a little bit of wealth, but I absolutely did not sell out information like Dongfang Lie..."

"I don't care whether you sold out information or not. Go and explain exactly how much you've embezzled over these years and how many things you've done that were detrimental to this manor. If there's any concealment, you will not be shown any mercy!" Prince Ding waved his hand, really not wanting to say any more. Tired! He was tired from the anger!

Zhu Deqin hurried forward to lead Zhu Ming away. As for Dongfang Lie, the evidence was already conclusive and his crime unpardonable; even if he wanted to protect him, he couldn't...

Seeing Zhu Ming also being taken down, Dongfang Lie couldn't help but feel a sense of shared sorrow. It was hard; they were both people in the same boat. Now, he could finally be free. Otherwise, under such terrible pressure of life, no one would not want to be corrupt. As long as they had a little bit of power in their hands, they would find ways to earn a bit more, embezzle a bit more. But even so, this money would soon be consumed by that group of people at home who were like wolves and tigers, forcing themselves to go back out and earn money through corruption...

Prince Ding looked coldly at Dongfang Lie and snorted, "Confess everything you know about the Crown Prince and Eighteen clearly. This Prince might give you a quick death; otherwise, I will surely make you wish you were dead!!!"

After saying that, he turned and left, and someone immediately stepped forward to interrogate Dongfang Lie...

Prince Ding's mind was in turmoil. He walked to the martial arts field, intending to practice his swordplay to vent his frustration. Suddenly, his heart stirred. He turned around and saw two figures appearing in a corner of the training field—it was Prince An and Long Yuan!

"Second Brother?! It's you..." Prince Ding said in shock.

"Indeed, it is I," Prince An said calmly.

"When did you arrive? You didn't even tell me beforehand so I could prepare a welcome feast for you... Oh, and you, you're Long Yuan, right? I've heard of your amazing combat achievements recently and was just thinking of having a good chat with you. I didn't expect you to come to my manor; this is wonderful!!! Hahaha..." Prince Ding laughed loudly.

Prince An said, "Old Five, forget about the welcome feast. Long Yuan and I came here today because we want you to follow us!"

"Oh? Where to?" Prince Ding was startled. He had already felt that something was wrong and was ready to flee at any time, but he also knew that he basically wouldn't have a chance in front of Prince An and Long Yuan, so for a moment, he found it hard to make a decision.

"What do you think of the scenery in the starry sky?" Prince An smiled faintly.

"In the starry sky? You mean... space? How is that possible?! It's said that without the cultivation of a Heavenly God or above, ordinary people cannot break free from the gravitational pull of the Blue Star to go into space!" Prince Ding said in surprise. He hadn't expected Prince An's visit today was to invite him to see the starry sky. What was this about?

Prince An nodded and said, "You're right! Ordinary people indeed cannot go to the starry sky relying on their own cultivation. However, Long Yuan possesses a Starship that can travel there!"

"A Starship? Is that really possible?!" Prince Ding asked, his eyes wide as he looked at Long Yuan.

Long Yuan nodded and said, "It is!"

"Where is the ship?"

"You'll know once you come with us!"

"Okay... let me just give some instructions to the people in the manor before I go..." Prince Ding said, intending to turn and leave...

"There's no need for instructions," Prince An said indifferently.

Prince Ding paused upon hearing this, but he walked even faster, saying, "Second Brother, please wait a moment, I'll be back soon!"

Just as he was about to enter a hidden corner door in a panic, he suddenly felt himself bound by a massive force. His whole body involuntarily moved backward, and in a short while, he was back on the training field!

"Back so soon? Then let's go!" Prince An smiled faintly.

Prince Ding's face was pale, and he said in a trembling voice, "Second Brother, can I choose not to go?"

"No."

With a "thud," Prince Ding threw himself to the ground and shouted, "Second Brother! Long Yuan! Can you spare me? I haven't done anything to wrong the Imperial Family, and I won't do anything out of line against Ninth Brother in the future! I just want to live my life as a Prince peacefully, okay?!"

"You're overthinking it. We just want to take you to the starry sky to appreciate the scenery outside this world..." Long Yuan said indifferently.

"No! You must want to take me away because you're afraid I'm a threat to Ninth Brother, right?! I'm out, I announce my withdrawal, I won't compete for the position of Heir to the Throne anymore!" Prince Ding roared loudly.

"You really are overthinking it..."

...