Xiuyuan Realm, the capital. The Official Residence of the Chief Minister.
In the rear courtyard, over a dozen courtesans sang with voices as seductive as canaries, joined by more than twenty scantily clad dancers swaying their bodies to the music.
Ordinarily, the Chief Minister would never dare host such a display, as he greatly valued his reputation. But today was different. This entire spectacle was for a single, esteemed guest.
Though this was the Chief Minister’s home, the elderly man, now in his seventies, was relegated to a secondary seat. The main seat was occupied by a handsome man in his twenties, dressed in a black Xuan Dragon Robe of the finest craftsmanship.
Based on looks alone, this man was a dragon among men, exceptionally talented and handsome. To women who prized appearance above all else, he was a rare catch—a good man. Of course, judging by his character, this young master was utterly despicable. But most women didn’t mind that. As long as a man was handsome, rich, and skilled at seduction, he was considered a good man.
Right now, this so-called good man sipped his wine, his gaze sweeping over the dancers with a wicked charm. He wore a look of appreciation, yet he still shook his head slightly. These dancers are still wearing too much, he thought with annoyance. The parts I want to see are completely hidden.
He was the Tianlong Crown Prince. King Qian Zhong had repeatedly warned him not to provoke Wu Tian, but the Crown Prince was determined to defy him. Could Wu Tian actually kill me? he scoffed inwardly. After all, my backing isn’t limited to Qian Zhong Country.
At that moment, a man in black approached, knelt, and spoke respectfully, "Your Highness, A-Da, A-Er, and A-San have brought the person."
Hearing this, the Tianlong Crown Prince immediately set down his wine cup. With a slight cough, he dismissed the singers and dancers before turning to the Chief Minister of Xiuyuan Country. "What do you think of my bearing?" he asked.
The Chief Minister dared not hesitate. "Your Highness is exceptionally distinguished, a true gentleman in this troubled age. No man in this world can compare to you."
"Mm," the Tianlong Crown Prince nodded, then turned to his subordinate in black. "And you? What do you think of my attire today?"
The man in black glanced at him. "Your Highness, since we have come to the Xiuyuan Realm, we should be traveling incognito. For you to wear a Xuan Dragon Robe... I believe it is highly inappropriate. Perhaps I should find you a set of plain clothes."
"My Xuan Dragon Robe is inappropriate?" The Tianlong Crown Prince smiled faintly. To any woman who judged a man by his appearance, that smile would have seemed as warm and bright as the sun—the smile of a perfect gentleman.
But then, the Crown Prince moved a finger. A thrown dagger flashed out like lightning, striking the man in black before he could react. The blade lodged itself in his throat. The subordinate’s eyes went wide with disbelief. He couldn’t understand why the Tianlong Crown Prince had killed him. Dying with his eyes wide open, he collapsed.
"Idiot." Still not satisfied, the Tianlong Crown Prince spat on the corpse. "My Xuan Dragon Robe is inappropriate?" he sneered. "Do you think I’m unworthy of it? You even offered to find me plain clothes! What is my status? How could I dress like a commoner? It’s clear that in your heart, you believe I’m unfit to be the Crown Prince."
The Chief Minister of the Xiuyuan Realm secretly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Thank goodness my flattery skills are so exceptional, he thought. As the saying goes, ’Honest advice is hard to swallow.’ But how many people in this world can actually listen to it?
The Chief Minister ordered his men to drag the body away and bury it.
"No, feed it to the dogs," the Tianlong Crown Prince interjected suddenly. "He started serving me when he was seven, always with utmost dedication. Let him perform one last service for me. Feed his flesh to my new dogs. I imagine he would be overjoyed to know, even in the underworld, that he could serve me one final time."
"Yes," the Chief Minister nodded in terror.
The Tianlong Crown Prince then had A-Da, A-Er, A-San, and Qin Yuhan summoned. When they arrived, the Crown Prince’s attention was fixed entirely on Qin Yuhan. As for A-Da, A-Er, and A-San? To him, they were no different from dogs. He couldn’t care less if they were tired. He treated them as he would dogs, tossing them bone-like rewards from time to time. That was all.
The Tianlong Crown Prince gazed at Qin Yuhan, utterly captivated. Dressed in green robes, she was strikingly beautiful. Her starry eyes shimmered with a hint of frost, and her entire being radiated a cold indifference that kept everyone at a great distance. Such a woman practically begged to be conquered.
Qin Yuhan looked coldly at the Tianlong Crown Prince. "Why have you summoned me?" she asked, her voice indifferent.
"Why? Rest assured, I won’t do anything to you," the Tianlong Crown Prince said warmly as he stepped forward. "I simply wish to be your friend."
"But I have no wish to be your friend," Qin Yuhan replied, her brow furrowing in disgust. "Threatening me with the lives of innocent people to bring me here... I disdain the thought of being friends with someone like you." Her beautiful eyes showed clear revulsion.
In Qin Yuhan’s view, this so-called Tianlong Crown Prince was completely unworthy of his title. To treat the lives of common people like a game was a disgrace to the title of "Crown Prince."
"What? The lives of innocent people?" The Crown Prince looked shocked. He turned and roared at A-Da, A-Er, and A-San, "How could you do such a thing? What have I always taught you? Have you forgotten that the people are the water that can either carry the boat or capsize it? That the people are paramount and the sovereign is secondary? Where have you thrown those words?"
A-Da, A-Er, and A-San remained expressionless. Threatening Qin Yuhan with commoners had been the Crown Prince’s idea. What were commoners to him? Nothing more than slaves. But they knew they had to play along.
They immediately dropped to their knees, which hit the ground with a heavy THUD.
"You will remain kneeling and reflect on this! Treating the people like ants... your viewpoint is utterly wrong! Do not rise until you have corrected it!" the Tianlong Crown Prince barked.
His expression shifted in the blink of an eye, as if he’d donned a new mask. He turned back to Qin Yuhan, his voice once again gentle. "Yuhan, I am humble and treat others with respect. Truly, a suitor like me only comes along once in a millennium. Why don’t you..."
"Shut up. I already have a husband," Qin Yuhan cut him off, showing the Crown Prince no deference at all.
"Is that a refusal?" The Tianlong Crown Prince’s face darkened instantly.
"Yes," Qin Yuhan nodded.
"Do you know who you are refusing?" the Tianlong Crown Prince sneered. "An emperor’s wrath can leave a million corpses. That isn’t just an empty threat."
"You aren’t the emperor yet," Qin Yuhan scoffed.
"Heh," the Tianlong Crown Prince said with chilling conviction. "I can become the emperor whenever I please! If I want my royal father to die, he must die."
"You would even kill your own father?" Qin Yuhan’s brow furrowed.
"Yes. When I get ruthless, even I scare myself. So, you had better not refuse me," the Tianlong Crown Prince sneered. "The weak should submit to the strong. My very existence is something you cannot even begin to fathom."