Chapter 46: Is the Grass on the Crown Prince's Head Still Green?

"Father, I am wronged! Your son has never sent anyone to the Prince Yu's residence," Dongfang Ao cried out, feeling a mix of shock and unease in his heart. He never expected these matters to reach his father's ears.

Observing Dongfang Ao's shifting expression, Dongfang Zhengong let out an imperceptible sigh and said earnestly, "You would do best to put away these schemes. After you failed to intercept him on his way to the Medicine Underworld Valley last time, you should have realized that you no longer have any opportunities left."

As the helm of the empire, Dongfang Zhengong naturally knew what his sons were plotting. Vying for power and position was never an unforgivable crime, which was why he had not intervened. Who could have expected that they would set their sights on Dongfang Yuyue?

Although that person was temporarily at a disadvantage, his status remained untouchable. No matter how fallen he might be, he was not someone that a small nation like theirs could afford to provoke. Yet, his most valued son had actually dared to target that individual—wasn't that pure courting of death?

However, he had not anticipated that even in such a plight, Dongfang Yuyue would still have the spare strength to deal with these assassination attempts. It seemed the Fourth Elder's concerns were not without reason. The Fourth Elder's original intent was to ensure he never returned alive. But after all, he was a person from the higher realms, and as a mere earthly emperor, he could not afford to go too far. Thus, he had merely tacitly condoned the open and covert conflicts among the princes, neither interfering nor assisting, choosing instead to watch with cold detachment.

Only this time, it had gone a bit too far!

A year ago, Dongfang Yuyue arrived in the Fengyue Kingdom. Over this past year, although he had granted him the status of a prince, no formal ceremony had been held, nor had the rumors regarding his illegitimate birth been cleared up externally. This undoubtedly stemmed from a certain degree of selfish calculation within his own heart. Fortunately, that person had not come to settle scores over this matter, so he had let it rest.

"Yes, your son knows his fault." Dongfang Ao understood the importance of knowing when to stop before the emperor's authority. Since his father had spoken thus, he must have obtained conclusive evidence. If he were to blindly argue his case further, it would only backfire. It was far better to simply and generously confess.

"In any case, exercise restraint from now on. Do not provoke him on ordinary days. He is not someone you can afford to offend." Seeing that Dongfang Ao offered no further defense, Dongfang Zhengong's attitude softened considerably.

"Father, may I ask why Father is so indulgent toward Prince Yu? It even surpasses the treatment given to me!"

Although Dongfang Yuyue was nominally only a prince, he had in reality surpassed ordinary princes, enjoying privileges that even he, the crown prince, did not possess. Dongfang Yuyue could skip the imperial court sessions at will, and he did not even need to bow when meeting the Emperor. In short, within the Fengyue Kingdom, he could walk sideways, treating all rules and regulations as nothing.

As the crown prince, Dongfang Ao found himself restricted by Dongfang Yuyue at every turn, and naturally, he was deeply resentful.

Dongfang Zhengong lowered his eyelids, entirely unmoved by Dongfang Ao's words, and said coldly, "Just consider him an exception. Remember your father's words: do not provoke him without cause, and he will pose no threat to you."

Dongfang Ao was baffled.

No threat? Then why did his father indulge him in every possible way? Could there be some hidden story behind all this?

Yet, try as he might, he had uncovered nothing in the end. Dongfang Ao's heart sank bit by bit until it finally settled into a cold calm. "Your son understands."

Seeing the lingering defiance on Dongfang Ao's face, Dongfang Zhengong sighed inwardly. This son of his simply possessed too much pride; he was bound to suffer a setback sooner or later.

Seemingly recalling something, Dongfang Zhengong's expression shifted. With heavy footsteps, he walked step by step toward Dongfang Ao, a bizarre and gloomy glint in his eyes. He looked at Dongfang Ao and asked, "There seem to be some rumors circulating outside recently. Have you heard them?"

Dongfang Ao paused. Thinking of the recently spread rumors regarding the destined daughter of heaven, his expression instantly tightened. "Is Father referring to the legend of the destined daughter of heaven?"

A few months ago, a rumor had swept across the land with thunderous momentum, causing a sensation throughout the entire kingdom. It was said that in a remote corner to the southwest of the Fengyue Kingdom, there dwelt a maiden endowed with beauty capable of toppling cities and talents able to decide battles from a thousand miles away. Peerless in her grace and matchless in the world, whoever possessed her would gain the empire! She was the destined daughter of heaven!

Dongfang Ao had naturally heard of these rumors and had even sent people to investigate them, but all clues pointed directly toward Leng Qing'er.

***

However, he knew that Leng Qing'er could not possibly be behind this matter, because the Leng family had long since aligned themselves with his faction.

"Have you found anything?"

Putting aside his private thoughts, Dongfang Ao slowly replied, "Not yet. The news spread too quickly, and the investigators I sent returned empty-handed. It appears to be a well-planned scheme, though it remains unknown who this destined daughter of heaven truly is."

In the Fengyue Kingdom today, if one were to speak of the most prominent maiden, the one most likely to contend with the heavens, none surpassed Leng Qing'er of the Leng family. Furthermore, the Leng family happened to be located in the southwestern region of the Fengyue Kingdom.

Within the Fengyue Kingdom, Leng Qing'er existed almost as a divine maiden. Her cultivation talent upon birth had been exceptional among the Leng family; at the age of nine, she was tested and found to possess the talent of an apothecary. Now, she had even become a disciple of Elder Gong from the Southern Medical Academy. Once the palace banquet concluded, she would be able to report to the academy, ensuring that her future path of cultivation would be smooth sailing with boundless prospects.

Dongfang Ao had once considered winning Leng Qing'er over, even dangling the position of Crown Princess as bait, but the other party had clearly looked down upon him, her words filled with cold indifference. Lacking the thick skin to press further, Dongfang Ao had dropped the matter.

Afterward, Leng Qing'er proved not to be lacking in intellect; while rejecting Dongfang Ao, she simultaneously staked the future of the entire Minister's Residence. From that day onward, the entire Leng family pledged their full support to the Crown Prince, and the matter was thus laid to rest.

Yet, what about this destined daughter of heaven?

The Emperor of Fengyue knitted his brows tightly and asked as if casually, "Then who do you think this destined daughter of heaven might be? Is it the Leng family, or the Luo family?"

Leng Qing'er of the Leng family and Luo Yuhuan of the Luo family were both the most renowned aristocratic daughters in the capital, though Leng Qing'er remained somewhat more outstanding than Luo Yuhuan.

With these words dropping, the spearhead pointed directly at Leng Qing'er.

Dongfang Ao was greatly startled. It seemed that his every move was under surveillance. Since ancient times, monarchs had been the most suspicious of all; his father could tolerate anything, but once the imperial throne became involved, that might no longer hold true.

The Luo family openly belonged to his faction, while the Leng family secretly supported him as well. No matter which side it was, it was inextricably linked to Dongfang Ao.

"Your son dares not make random conjectures." Dongfang Ao frowned deeply, his hands hidden in the darkness trembling slightly.

In the midst of his trembling, Dongfang Ao failed to notice a pair of utterly indifferent eyes fixed firmly upon him, the space between their brows suffused with a dense intent to kill. "Then do you wish to possess this destined daughter of heaven?"

Dongfang Ao hurriedly shook his head. "Your son believes that our Fengyue Kingdom is a vast and powerful nation teeming with talented individuals. Why would we ever need a woman to protect us? Such absurd nonsense is something your son utterly refuses to believe."

After a silence of three full seconds, Dongfang Zhengong's hearty laughter rang out.

"Good! Truly a son of the Dongfang clan. You have spirit! Remember this: a gentleman knows what to do and what not to do. However, if such a woman truly exists, and you cannot have her, then destroy her!"

Dongfang Zhengong's meaning was crystal clear: between the Luo family and the Leng family, he would eventually have to discard one.

"Understood."

***

In the study of Prince Yu's residence.

Dongfang Yuyue stood casually in the moonlight. His thin lips possessed just the right warmth, and his phoenix eyes were enchantingly seductive, making him look like a soul-stealing demon.

Guifang stood behind him and reported, "Master, a total of one hundred and eight assassins have broken into the estate during this period. Their methods are ruthless, and every strike is fatal. They must be death-sworn guards."

"If any more assassins break in, do not kill them immediately, nor let them commit suicide. Tie them up, strip them bare, and send them to the bedchamber of the Crown Prince's favorite concubine."

Who could have imagined that such a bewitching man would utter words of such bone-chilling coldness?

Strip them bare, and send them to a bedchamber!

Guifang was struck dumb with silence. When it came to cruelty and cunning, their cold and merciless master truly remained unmatched.

To destroy someone's heart by returning the Crown Prince's men intact—and placing them right in the bed of his own woman—meant the crown upon the Crown Prince's head was likely about to grow so tall it would reach the city gates.

Truly vicious!

Seeing Guifang standing there in a daze, Dongfang Yuyue spoke impatiently, "Get out! What, do you want to go and try it out yourself?"

Guifang vanished in a puff of smoke.

His master's moods were unpredictable as shifting winds; it seemed only the young master of the Medicine Underworld Valley could ever handle him—and now, the Third Miss of the Luo family had been added to the mix.

Guifang suddenly felt that Dongfang Yuyue was somewhat bizarrely terrifying. One moment he liked men, and the next he took an interest in women. Could it be that after years of suppressed restraint, his desires in that area had grown excessively overwhelming?

A wave of panic washed over Guifang, making him feel his life was hanging by a thread.

That very night, the faint sound of clashing blades drifted through Prince Yu's residence, before plunging into an eerie silence shortly afterward.

The next day, at the Crown Prince's residence.

In a lavish and decadent palace stood a massive arched rosewood silk bed large enough to accommodate over a dozen people. At this moment, behind pale purple gauze curtains, several figures were heaving up and down. A woman with exquisite features and a face full of seductive charm lay prostrate below while several robust men exerted themselves in an atmosphere thick with heavy intimacy.

With the face of a flower and eyes brimming with tender affection, she appeared all the more coy amidst the coupling of man and woman. This woman was none of other than the Crown Prince's most favored concubine.

"My beloved consort..." Outside the door, Dongfang Ao's voice sounded, yet it still failed to disturb the deeply engrossed figures within.

Were they not inside?

Dongfang Ao abruptly pushed open the tightly shut doors and burst in.

A pungent wave of heavy fragrance assaulted the tip of his nose, exceptionally cloying.

What met his eyes, however, was a scene of utter degradation. His beloved concubine was lying completely naked on the bed, mounted by several men. Judging by their broad backs, they appeared to be the death-sworn guards he had dispatched to assassinate Dongfang Yuyue the night before.

By their side, an incense burner exuded a potent, highly sensitive aroma that mingled with the decadent atmosphere of the room, heightening the intense ambiguity.

Dongfang Ao stood there coldly, flames of fury burning in his eyes.

Without a second thought, he rushed forward, tore the bulky figures off the woman, and threw them onto the floor. Surveying the chaotic bed and the look of lingering pleasure on the concubine's face, a surge of blazing fire rose within him, and he roared, "Have you no shame left?!"

Startled awake by the commotion and realizing it was Dongfang Ao, the woman paid no heed to her surroundings and hastily stretched out her fair arms, attempting to embrace him. To her surprise, however, the Crown Prince recoiled in absolute disgust, dodging out of her reach.

Only then did she notice the three or four naked men sprawled haphazardly across the floor.

Who were they? Why were they here?

A tempest of confusion swirled in the woman's mind until she found the answer reflected in Dongfang Ao's eyes.

It was a look of utter, extreme revulsion—a gaze she had never seen before. Yet, there it was, vividly and truly present in Dongfang Ao's eyes, directed entirely at her.

Overwhelmed with panic, the woman hurriedly grabbed a cloak from the bed and draped it over herself. Attempting to rise, she found her limbs weak and her bones feeling as though they had fallen apart. She burst into instant tears, her voice carrying the sultry, breathless panting of post-passion as she cried, "Your Highness, it is not me! Your concubine is innocent..."