Douluo Continent: Little Huo Niang Taken Away by Di Tian

Deep within the Sun and Moon Palace, spring is in full bloom in the warm pavilion of the Imperial Garden.

The glazed tiles gleamed with a cool golden light in the afternoon sun, and exotic flowers and plants were carefully trimmed into auspicious shapes. The air was filled with the rich aroma of incense and flowers.

This was a seemingly ordinary small family dinner, but due to the subtle arrangement of seating, there was an invisible tension.

In the open-air pavilion, Xu Mu sat in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over the guests.

On the left are Crown Prince Xu Tianran and his fiancée Ju Zi, while on the right is the seat that should have been occupied by the Third Prince Xu Tianming. However, the little princess Xu Tianzhen willfully moved the chair between the father and son, while the Second Prince had already died in that palace coup.

"I want to sit next to Father. Third Brother loves me the most. Please let me sit next to him." She blinked her seemingly innocent eyes.

Xu Mu shook his head helplessly, but a hint of doting affection flashed in his eyes as he said, "You little rascal."

At his command, the waiters filed in, and the table was laden with delicacies and fine wines, creating a seemingly relaxed and harmonious atmosphere.

During the meal, Xu Tianzhen secretly tried to switch the juice in front of her with her third brother's wine, but Xu Yuan caught her red-handed.

"Tianzhen, you're only seventeen. You absolutely mustn't touch alcohol," Xu Mu said with a smile, tapping the rim of her bowl.

Xu Tianzhen pursed her lips, then turned to look at Ju Zi and teased, "Sister-in-law, you're so beautiful."

Xu Tianming interjected, "When Tianzhen goes to Shrek Academy, she might bring back a prince consort."

Xu Tianran spoke up at the right moment, his words gentle, but there was no smile in his eyes: "Don't worry, little sister, no matter what, your big brother will always be there for you."

The topic somehow shifted to oranges.

Today, she took off her thick-rimmed glasses and shed the dowdy white lab coat from the laboratory. A gorgeous dress made her radiant—the result of her meticulous dressing up that she had spent the entire morning at the Crown Prince's residence.

"This is the Crown Princess?" Xu Mu examined Ju Zi, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger. "To be born a commoner yet receive such favor from Tian Ran is truly extraordinary. I find your personality quite agreeable; how about adopting you as my goddaughter? Tian Zhen has also been saying she wants an older sister."

Upon hearing this, Orange felt a cold sweat break out on her back and quickly stood up to bow, saying, "Your Majesty's kindness is overwhelming, I am truly humbled..."

"Sit down." Xu Mu waved his hand, interrupting her with a smile.

Xu Tianran gripped Ju Zi's hand tightly under the table, so tightly that her knuckles ached.

During the meal, apart from Xu Mu and Xu Tianzhen who were still chatting and laughing, the others found the food tasteless and unappetizing.

The Third Prince, Xu Tianming, drank one cup of wine after another in silence until the banquet ended, at which point he hastily took his leave.

The garden path was cool in the evening breeze.

"Tianran, let's help Father Emperor digest his food." Xu Mu stood up and personally pushed Xu Tianran's wheelchair.

Xu Tianran wore a grateful expression on his face, but in his heart he had already cursed his father to the bone.

The wheelchair moved slowly forward, and Xu Mu's voice came from behind, gentle yet imposing: "Look how beautifully these flowers are blooming. You should go out more often."

"Your subject also wishes..." Xu Tianran sighed, bowing his head.

"You are my son, and you share the same blood as me." Xu Yuan's voice suddenly turned sinister, and the hand pushing the wheelchair seemed to travel through time and space, pressing down on the bloody storm of many years ago.

That was an open secret within the Sun and Moon Empire—a rebellion that took place at his little niece's 100-day celebration.

Xu Yuan seemed to see that night again, when he strangled the infant in his swaddling clothes and beheaded his nieces one sword after another.

Those beautiful heads, entwined with long hair, were carried in his hands as he walked step by step toward his elder brother, who possessed the Sun Martial Soul, just like his name, Xu Li.

Blood dripped down his head, splattering all over Xu Li's face.

Xu Li didn't beg for mercy, but just looked at him contemptuously: "Xu Mu, a fake is still a fake, you will never become the sun."

"Shut up!" Xu Mu suddenly plunged his longsword into Xu Li's abdomen and stirred it around, then pressed the cold skull against his face.

"I wish you well, you will die at the hands of your sons!" Xu Li cursed with a loud laugh.

At that moment, Xu Li beheaded his brother, held the head high above his head, and let the warm blood wash over his body.

He finally seized the throne, and he finally devoured the sun!

So what if I bear eternal infamy? Even if I'm destined to be burned to ashes!

He won everything!!!

On the real path, Xu Mu gripped Xu Tianran's shoulder tightly with astonishing force.

"Natural, you've grown up." You've grown up, and your wings have hardened.

Xu Tianran was in so much pain that he almost broke his teeth, but he still smiled and said, "No matter how old I am, I will always be Father's child."

"Yes, your health has deteriorated since that 'accident'." Xu Mu patted his shoulder, her words sharp as knives. "Take good care of yourself; Father is waiting to hold his grandson."

Xu Tianran's smile froze, and a surge of malice welled up inside him: Why isn't this old Deng dead yet!

"After Ju Zi graduates, I will marry her. Father will surely bless us, won't he?" he said tentatively, each word as if dancing on the edge of a knife.

On the other hand, the scene inside the princess's residence was quite different.

Xu Tianzhen, like a child, pulled Ju Zi along and pushed a large plate of strawberry raspberry tarts in front of her.

"Sister-in-law, you didn't eat much at Father's place. Try it, it's so sweet!"

"Sister Orange," the little princess leaned closer to her, her eyes clear and bright, with a hint of coquetry, "just agree to Father's request, and if you become a princess, I can rightfully call you sister."

"It's settled then. From now on, I'll call you 'older sister' in private!" The little princess's smile was innocent and radiant, just like the glow of her Sun Martial Soul.

Princess Xu Tianzhen, the only princess of the royal family, Xu Yuan's youngest child, and the only child who did not participate in the palace coup.

As night deepened, Ju Zi returned to the Crown Prince's residence from the Princess's residence.

The brief moment of relief I felt with Xu Tianzhen vanished the instant I stepped into the study.

Xu Tianran sat in the shadows, his face ashen.

Orange quickly stepped forward and knelt down without hesitation, feeling the cool marble against her knees.

She gently rested her head on Xu Tianran's knees, her posture humble and devout.

"Your Highness, the oranges will always be yours, and everything about the oranges is a gift from you."

Xu Tianran stroked her hair, his fingertips tracing the delicate, porcelain-like skin of her neck, but his heart was filled with icy coldness.

Such a beautiful woman, yet because of my physical disability, I don't even have the right to completely possess her.

And that girl with the divine eyes...

"Get up," Xu Tianran said in a hoarse voice.

Orange looked up, her eyes red, tears welling up but not yet falling.

Xu Tianran grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him, his eyes as dark as an abyss: "Tell me, what did you and my dear sister talk about today?"