“Hm?”
The undisguised intimacy and excitement in that voice made Chu Feng instinctively turn toward it.
Not far away, a young man in luxurious brocade robes was striding over, surrounded by a group of guards. His face was handsome, his demeanor refined, and a gentle smile rested on his lips. His gaze, however, was fixed entirely on Xiao Nihuang, filled with undisguised admiration.
“Nihuang, you’ve finally returned. You must have had a hard journey.”
The newcomer was none other than the Third Prince of the Great Qian Empire, Lu Feng.
From the moment he spoke, he completely ignored Chu Feng standing beside her, as if no one else existed.
Hearing this, Xiao Nihuang’s brows furrowed ever so slightly. She looked at Lu Feng calmly, her tone distant yet polite. “Third Prince, it would be better to address me by my name, to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.”
With a single sentence, she cleanly drew a boundary between them.
Lu Feng’s smile stiffened for a brief moment, but he quickly recovered, his tone full of concern. “I heard you were ambushed on your way back to the capital. Were you injured? Have the attackers been captured? Don’t worry, I will personally investigate this matter and give you an explanation!”
His attentive concern would make anyone think they shared a deep relationship.
“Hey.”
A lazy voice suddenly cut in, shattering the overly tender atmosphere.
Chu Feng dug at his ear, stepping forward casually. He positioned himself squarely between Lu Feng and Xiao Nihuang, tilting his head as he looked at him. “Third Prince, showing this much concern for my fiancée right in front of me, her actual fiancé… isn’t that a bit inappropriate?”
In an instant, Lu Feng finally turned his gaze toward Chu Feng. His eyes were filled with naked disdain and contempt, with a trace of hidden malice lurking beneath.
“Heir Apparent Chu, I am concerned for Nihuang. What does that have to do with you?” Lu Feng’s voice turned cold, carrying the arrogance of royalty. “Ask yourself—are you worthy of her?”
“If you have even a shred of self-awareness, you should immediately ask the Northern Suppression King to cancel this engagement.”
“Only I am worthy of Nihuang. You… are not!”
As his words fell, the surrounding air seemed to grow colder.
Chu Feng couldn’t help but laugh. It was his first time seeing someone try to steal another man’s fiancée with such righteous confidence, as if he were a clay statue with no temper.
Before Chu Feng could respond, Xiao Nihuang’s icy voice rang out.
Her cold gaze rested on Lu Feng as she spoke, each word clear and firm. “Whether he is worthy or not is a matter between me and the Northern Suppression King’s Manor. It has nothing to do with the Third Prince. Our engagement is not something outsiders may interfere with. I thank the Third Prince for your concern, but please conduct yourself with dignity.”
Lu Feng’s expression darkened instantly.
“You heard her?” Chu Feng stepped forward with a grin, patting Lu Feng’s shoulder like an older brother. “Third Prince, stop being a simp. If you keep this up, you’ll end up with nothing.”
“You!” Lu Feng’s face turned livid, his body trembling with rage. As a royal prince, he had never suffered such humiliation.
Xiao Nihuang, however, simply mounted her horse and ordered, “Return to the manor!”
“Move!”
With that command, her group departed swiftly.
Chu Feng shrugged at Lu Feng, whistled lightly, and followed behind.
Left alone, Lu Feng clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms. The gentle warmth in his eyes had long vanished, replaced by a dark, venomous hatred.
“Chu… Feng…” The name slipped through his teeth, filled with chilling killing intent.
Northern Suppression King’s Manor.
The moment Chu Feng stepped inside, Uncle Fu brought him to the study.
Chu Tianyuan was seated in a grand chair, resting with his eyes closed. Hearing the footsteps, he slowly opened them. There seemed to be more vitality in those clouded eyes than before.
“You met that girl from the Xiao family?”
“I did.” Chu Feng nodded, sitting down without ceremony and pouring himself a cup of tea. “Grandfather, I heard she was ambushed on her way back.”
Chu Tianyuan paused slightly while holding his teacup, yet showed no surprise.
“There are many in the capital who do not wish to see your marriage happen,” he said slowly, taking a sip of tea. His voice was hoarse, but every word carried weight. “The Northern Suppression King’s Manor and the Xiao Ducal Manor… when those two names are tied together, it’s enough to keep certain people awake at night.”
Chu Feng remained silent. He understood.
A marriage between two great military families was a massive threat, whether to the royal court or to ambitious princes.
“Focus on preparing for your wedding.” Chu Tianyuan set down his teacup. His tone was calm, yet carried unquestionable authority. “Leave the rest to me. As long as I’m here, the sky will not fall.”
Chu Feng nodded and didn’t ask further.
After he left, Uncle Fu spoke in a low voice. “Your Highness, I’ve received intelligence that many unfamiliar faces have appeared in the capital recently. I fear that on the day of the young master’s wedding, the city will not be peaceful.”
Chu Tianyuan slowly rose and walked to the window, clasping his hands behind his back as he gazed at the yellowing leaves outside.
After a long silence, he finally spoke. His voice carried the iron-blooded resolve of a seasoned war veteran. “Send word. Let those old forces in the northern frontier that haven’t completely died out start moving.”
“Anyone who dares interfere with my grandson’s wedding—no matter who they are—must pay a price they will never forget for the rest of their lives!”
Uncle Fu’s heart trembled. “Yes, Your Highness!”
…
At the same time, Xiao Ducal Manor.
The study was brightly lit.
The white-haired Duke looked at his valiant granddaughter with both pride and concern, which ultimately turned into a long sigh. “Nihuang, you’ve been wronged.”
“If not for that old fox Chu Tianyuan forcing this marriage with a life-saving favor back then, I would never have agreed to it! If you truly don’t wish it, I’ll cast aside my pride and go cancel the engagement!”
Xiao Nihuang stood upright, still wearing her armor. She shook her head. “Grandfather, you have lived your life with integrity. How could I let you bear the name of ingratitude?”
“Without the Northern Suppression King, there would be no Xiao Ducal Manor… and no me.”
“This debt must be repaid.”
“But that Chu Feng…” the Duke hesitated.
“What he was before is irrelevant.” Xiao Nihuang’s expression remained calm, but her eyes shone sharply. “After marriage, he will be my man. I will not allow him to bring disgrace to our family again.”
“Moreover, our two families now stand in similar positions. If one falls, the other follows. This marriage is the only path forward for both of us.”
…
At Shen Ducal Manor.
“Useless! A bunch of useless trash!”
Smash!
An expensive porcelain vase shattered violently against the floor. The source of this chapter is g.com.
Shen Yujiao’s face was livid, her chest rising and falling as fury burned in her eyes.
The assassination at Snow Moon Tower had failed completely! Not only had Chu Feng been unharmed, but they had even lost a carefully trained death soldier!
“This shouldn’t have happened. With that useless brat’s ability, how could he have avoided it? That expert wasn’t even by his side at the time!” Shen Yufeng muttered, unable to understand.
Suddenly, he seemed to realize something and looked at Shen Yujiao. “Elder Sister, could it be… that he’s been hiding his strength?”
“Hah!” Shen Yujiao sneered, her face full of disdain. “Him? A worthless fool—what strength could he possibly hide? Just pretending to be mysterious.”
“Most likely that old fox Chu Tianyuan sent another hidden guard to protect him. But it doesn’t matter. He won’t be jumping around for much longer.”
“The Northern Suppression King’s Manor will soon cease to exist. Without that backing, Chu Feng will be nothing more than an ant, trampled at will!”
…
The next day.
Chu Feng ended his cultivation. After a full night of practice, his strength had improved significantly. He was already halfway into the Grandmaster Realm.
Knock, knock, knock.
A knock sounded at the door.
He got up and opened it, only to see two young girls standing outside, dressed in light green dresses.
One had a delicate oval face with bright eyes and rosy cheeks, the other had a soft, gentle appearance. Both were around sixteen or seventeen, at the peak of youthful beauty.
Seeing Chu Feng, they quickly bowed, their voices clear and slightly nervous. “This servant Xiao Tao greets Heir Apparent Chu.”
“This servant Xiao Yu greets Heir Apparent Chu.”
Chu Feng raised an eyebrow. “And you are?”
Xiao Tao replied timidly, “Uncle Fu… Uncle Fu asked us to serve you, Heir Apparent Chu, and assist you with dressing.”
Before Chu Feng could process this, Uncle Fu arrived with a cheerful smile. “Heir Apparent Chu, you’re awake?”
“Uncle Fu, what’s going on?” Chu Feng pointed at the two blushing girls.
“Hehe,” Uncle Fu chuckled. “These are the personal maids His Highness specially selected for you. From now on, they’ll be responsible for your daily needs.”
He paused, then lowered his voice meaningfully. “His Highness said that as a man, having certain needs is normal. There’s no need to keep going to places like Snow Moon Tower—it’s not good for your reputation or General Xiao’s. If you need anything… you can look to these two.”
Hearing this, Chu Feng laughed.
The old man was surprisingly open-minded.
He looked the two shy girls over with interest, a playful smile appearing on his lips.
Their faces flushed red under his gaze, their heads nearly lowered to their chests, making them all the more alluring.
Especially in the early morning, when his energy was at its peak, Chu Feng nearly lost control.
But in the end, he restrained himself. Broad daylight wasn’t the right time.
Soon, Xiao Tao and Xiao Yu helped him wash and dress. Their attentive service made him feel as though he were living like an emperor.
After everything was done, Chu Feng stepped out and headed straight for the Eastern Palace.