Chapter 47: The Seventh Prince Feigns Ignorance to Catch His Prey!

Before the woman's hand could touch Dongfang Ao, he slapped her heavily to the ground, her lips still trembling with incoherent sobs:

"Your Highness, it wasn't me... I don't know them... I have no idea how they ended up..."

Unwilling to stay a moment longer, Dongfang Ao strode toward the exit with the speed of a howling wind, completely devoid of warmth.

Yet someone grabbed him by the sleeve. Knowing she was utterly ruined, the woman still wanted to gamble—to wager on whatever genuine affection Dongfang Ao might have had for her.

Ultimately, however, her gamble failed. Within the confines of these towering walls, what place was there for genuine affection? Moreover, Dongfang Ao had never truly cared for her in the first place.

She had originally been a celebrated courtesan in a tavern, possessing exceptional beauty and talent. Discovered by the Crown Prince while he was out on a leisure excursion, she had soared to become his favored consort, basking in endless royal favor for months.

Never did she imagine that the bed she shared would be invaded by these strange men. She clearly remembered the crown prince being with her last night; how had they transformed into these rough ruffians? She refused to believe her entire life was thus destroyed.

Meanwhile, the furious Crown Prince naturally knew who these men were. He had personally seen them off when dispatching them on the assassination mission. Little did he expect...

Little did he expect that within a single day, these very men would be sent straight to his bedchamber in the Crown Prince's residence to perpetrate such an act. Wasn't this a blatant, humiliating mockery?

Yet he also knew these men lacked the sheer audacity for such a stunt; the mastermind had to be Dongfang Yuyue.

Dongfang Yuyue! You have gone too far! Dongfang Ao ground his teeth in rage.

He never imagined Dongfang Yuyue would return the assassins he had dispatched in such a manner, utterly stripping him of his dignity.

Flinging his sleeve, he strode grandly out the door, leaving the woman heavily discarded on the floor. Maidservants walking outside exchanged glances, avoiding the normally bustling entrance like a plague, fleeing as far as they could.

With such a scandal occurring, this favored beauty was finished. Given how arrogant she had usually been, she would undoubtedly suffer endlessly hereafter.

As mere servants, they naturally needed to seek out a new patron to avoid being implicated.

Such was the fickle nature of the world and the coldness of human relationships.

Over at the Manor of Prince Yu, Guifang had not slept a wink all night. Early in the morning, sporting two dark circles under his eyes, he bounded frantically around the eastern wing of the estate, buttonholing anyone he could find to recount the sensational secret he had witnessed last night.

He had single-handedly carried all those dead-set assassins over last night and personally lit the aphrodisiac incense. He had never expected the incense to be so potent; the medical and toxicological prowess of the Underworld Medical Valley truly lived up to its legendary reputation.

Indeed, no sooner had the incense been lit than the occupants of the bed—without requiring any further instigation from him—rolled together, plunging into a fierce battle of passion. The spectacle left him dumbfounded, utterly captivated, and his blood boiling with excitement!

By now, virtually everyone was aware of the scandalous affair that had transpired within Dongfang Ao's residence. His favored consort had gone on a wild rampage through the night, and Dongfang Ao had certainly been adorned with a magnificent green hat.

Guifang could easily picture Dongfang Ao's furious expression right now, a thought that kept him too excited to sleep all night.

After suppressing his frustration for so long, he could finally vent his anger thoroughly. That taught Dongfang Ao to have nothing better to do than dispatch assassins, which had robbed him of a good night's sleep for days.

Yet, despite his master's prolonged forbearance, this counterattack had been remarkably ruthless. For some reason, Guifang suspected his master had struck primarily because of Luo Qianfan. Ah, their relationships were growing increasingly tangled.

Within the Tower of a Thousand Shadows:

"Young Mistress Sister, Baiyu missed you to death!" Luo Qianfan had not expected Luo Mo's speed to be so astonishing. Just two days after mentioning bringing Baiyu over, the girl had arrived today with breathtaking swiftness.

What she did not know was that Baiyu had galloped all the way from the Underworld Medical Valley to the Fengyue Kingdom, riding several fine horses to exhaustion in her fierce haste to get here. The moment they met, she threw her arms tightly around Luo Qianfan.

"Young Mistress Sister, I've heard all about it—so many people have been bullying you. I'm going to settle scores with them and let them taste the wrath of Baiyu!"

As she spoke, the Xuanyi silver cord tied around Baiyu's waist seemed to sense its master's agitated mood, vibrating and twitching as though eager to leap into action.

Observing Baiyu's impetuous temper, Luo Qianfan's eyes crinkled with amusement. "Your Young Mistress Sister is quite capable of avenging herself. Little girl, you haven't been slacking off during these days apart, have you?"

"I certainly haven't been lazy! Nobody in the valley can defeat me anymore. Besides, Baiyu is not little anymore; back in the valley, the Valley Master is even younger than I am now," Baiyu declared proudly.

Could the Youth-Preserving Pill have already taken effect? Luo Qianfan felt a surge of delight. "You mean Old Master Zhuang took the Youth-Preserving Pill? What were the results?"

Only then did Baiyu recount everything that had transpired in the valley. "Ever since the Valley Master took Young Mistress's Youth-Preserving Pill, he has grown decades younger instantly. Now, the Valley Master looks much younger than Baiyu!"

Luo Mo and Luo Yi, standing nearby, were equally pleased for Luo Qianfan. Their Young Mistress was truly a rare peerless woman in this world; if only they could master even half of her skills.

While feeling elated, Luo Mo's eyes flashed with a peculiar gleam as she addressed Luo Qianfan, "Young Mistress, I've kept meaning to ask—should we fan the flames a bit more regarding that rumor?"

Luo Qianfan knew the rumor she referred to was the prophecy of the Destined Maiden. She had painstakingly fabricated that very rumor some time ago, and now the time was ripe for it to play its part.

"No need. The flames burn brightly enough; it's time for them to take effect!"

Hmph, the Destined Maiden?

These people were truly gullible; a baseless rumor was sufficient to throw their world into turmoil. What Destined Maiden? It was merely an excuse for their sloth and desire to reap rewards without sowing.

"By the way, how did the task I assigned you turn out?" Luo Qianfan's gaze settled on Luo Mo, awaiting her reply with serene composure.

"Regarding that Seventh Prince, according to intelligence gathered by the Tower of a Thousand Shadows, he was apparently born to the Emperor of Fengyue and a maidservant. Shortly after his birth, his mother was murdered."

"Ever since his birth, he has frequently been mocked, beaten, and berated by the other princes. With zero connections in the imperial court, he probably doesn't have long to live. Young Mistress, you asked me to investigate him—could it be that you intend to back him?"

When Luo Qianfan had first instructed her to investigate this Seventh Prince, she had been somewhat stunned.

After all, everyone knew that among Fengyue's numerous princes, the Seventh Prince commanded the least favor and was consequently the least threatening, because everyone knew the Emperor would never name him Crown Prince under any circumstances.

Hearing this, Luo Qianfan raised an eyebrow at Luo Mo. "What? You think it's impossible?"

Luo Mo had merely ventured a guess, never expecting to hit the mark. She simply could not fathom why the Young Mistress would wish to support a destitute prince who excelled neither in literature nor martial arts; the discrepancy was simply too vast.

Sensing her underlying apprehension, Luo Qianfan smiled and asked, "Luo Mo, do you think he is innocent?" Luo Mo nodded instinctively; if he weren't innocent, how else could he have fallen to such a pathetic state?

A flash of cold light crossed Luo Qianfan's eyes, her gaze clear and profound. "A person who is truly devoid of desires and ambitions would not leave behind zero flaws over the course of many years."

"Dongfang Wuye's most brilliant tactic is using the most inconspicuous facade to cloud your vision. Since the throne he aims for is the Supreme seat, his destiny is destined to be extraordinary."

"He's trying to lull me into complacency? You mean he's merely acting?" Luo Mo realized with a start.

"Clever!"

Receiving Luo Qianfan's praise, Luo Mo blushed slightly. "Young Mistress, what are my next instructions?"

A cunning glint flashed across Luo Qianfan's eyes, her crimson lips curving slightly as she uttered words of supreme audacity: "Eat, drink, make merry, and simply watch the show!"

Watch the show?

Baiyu stared blankly, having followed the wordplay between the Young Mistress and Luo Mo with only a vague, partial understanding.

"Young Mistress Sister, what show are we watching?"

Luo Qianfan's rosy lips curved upward. "A grand theatrical performance of a century-spanning catfight."

Suddenly recalling something, she turned to Luo Yi and Baiyu. "By the way, Dongfang Yuyue already knows my identity, and he has also seen you and Luo Yi dressed in men's attire. Therefore, you no longer need to exercise restraint around anyone going forward. Do whatever you please, but maintain a sense of proportion, understand?"

"Ah~ Won't that be dreadfully boring, then?" Baiyu had initially been quite thrilled, but upon hearing Luo Qianfan's final caveat, her shoulders slumped instantly as she whimpered cutely in a spoiled tone.

Luo Qianfan ultimately relented, compromising with, "Just make sure you don't get hurt."

"Young Mistress Sister is the best! Baiyu loves Young Mistress Sister the most! Hahaha...!"

***

Inside a subdued and minimalist room, a breathtakingly handsome young man wrapped in a heavy wool-and-marten fur cloak, adorned with a red jade girdle, bore a deathly pale complexion and an expression of profound shock. His naturally thin lips blossomed like a lotus flower, carrying a chilling and intimidating aura.

At this moment, the expansive hall was entirely deserted for dozens of yards around, devoid of any vitality and blanketed in pervasive gloom like the depths of the underworld. This striking young man was the master of this palace.

"Master, Shadow reports that the assassins Dongfang Ao dispatched to assassinate Dongfang Yuyue have all been sent back." An ethereal voice drifted in from outside the doorway.

Dongfang Wuye narrowed his dangerous eyes and questioned the unseen figure, "Sent back? Alive or dead?"

"Alive," the voice replied.

Dongfang Wuye's crescent eyes grew cloudy with confusion as he pressed on, "Didn't Dongfang Yuyue kill them?"

After repeated provocations, he let them go as well?

Since when had the illustrious Prince Yu become so benevolent?

"No, and yet yes." The voice answered.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Dongfang Wuye failed to grasp Dongfang Yuyue's intentions. He captured them yet refused to kill them?

The voice continued, "They were seemingly sent back, but they were delivered straight to the bed of one of the Crown Prince's favored consorts. Word has it the scene was quite wretched."

Dongfang Wuye's burning gaze blazed like torches as a bizarre smile flickered across his face, igniting a fierce fire within his eyes.

"Now that is interesting. Instead of killing them, he sent them straight back to the Crown Prince's residence. Fascinating!"

This was a blatant, open declaration of war against the Crown Prince!

"By the way, has there been any news regarding the rumor of the Destined Maiden?" The striking young man's crescent eyes radiated a seductive allure as his thin lips parted to release fragrant words.

"This..." The voice sounded somewhat hesitant before a chilling tone pierced his ears.

"Just speak your mind." Dongfang Wuye cast a sidelong glance, his tone uncompromising.

"Yes... quite a few people are speculating that the Destined Maiden might be Leng Qing'er of the Leng family."

"It's not her! Keep investigating," Dongfang Wuye stated firmly.

He knew all too well that Leng Qing'er of the Leng family was merely an empty shell of superficial beauty; how could she possibly be the Destined Maiden!