Translator: AnubisTL
The night was pitch black.
Black-armored guards patrolled the perimeter of the pavilion, their long shadows cast by the night-illuminating pearls embedded in the interior walls.
"Greetings, Crown Princess!"
As the report echoed through the pavilion, the young man seated at a desk inside set down his Jade Slip, a gentle smile gracing his lips.
"Xin'er, what brings you here?"
Hua Qinxin, her smile as warm as ever, approached slowly, carrying a plate of spirit fruits. She pushed aside the scattered Jade Slips and placed the fruit plate on the desk.
"Brother Heng, I brought you some spirit fruits."
The young man was Chu Shaoheng, the eldest son of His Majesty the Emperor and the Eastern Palace Crown Prince.
"Are you saying I've been too busy lately and neglecting you?" Chu Shaoheng shook his head with a wry smile. "Father's health hasn't been good, and as the Crown Prince, I must work harder. Great Wei in the west suffered heavy losses during the Heavenly Pride Battle, and calls for war within the court are growing louder. Great Li to the north is also restless; in a few years, they'll likely make a move."
"The Great Chu Dynasty belongs to all under heaven, not just to you, Shao Heng. Over the past few years, various sects have joined the effort. Even if both nations attack simultaneously, the Great Chu Dynasty might still have a fighting chance!" Hua Qinxin said with a gentle smile, her voice soft and comforting. Looking at the weary man before her, a flicker of tenderness shone in her eyes.
"In my position, I must fulfill my duties, but I don't enjoy this life either. Xin'er, what if one day I were no longer the Crown Prince? Would you like to travel the world with me?" Chu Shaoheng took Hua Qinxin's hand, gently massaging it as he spoke tenderly.
"That sounds wonderful, but what about the Great Chu Dynasty?" Hua Qinxin leaned against Chu Shaoheng's shoulder, asking with a smile.
"Hahaha, then let's hurry and have a child to pass the throne to!" Chu Shaoheng swept the Crown Princess into his arms.
"You... here? No, no, we can't—" Hua Qinxin protested shyly.
"There's no such thing as 'can't' when I'm in charge."
After their intimate moment, Hua Qinxin lay in Chu Shaoheng's arms, a blissful smile on her face.
"Shao Heng, Wenyue is back!"
"I know. She returned with Gu Feng, the one who stole the Immortal Eye."
"She came to see me today."
"That's odd. I don't remember your sister ever visiting the Crown Prince's Palace before," Chu Shaoheng said, slightly surprised.
"Yes, it was a first for her," Hua Qinxin sighed. "She came to ask for my help."
"To steal the Chastity Token from my mother-in-law?" Chu Shaoheng asked with a playful smirk.
"How did you know? Do you have someone spying on me?" Hua Qinxin flipped over, pinning Chu Shaoheng beneath her, and playfully scolded him.
"Impossible! Are you really going to help her steal the Chastity Token?" Chu Shaoheng exclaimed, feigning shock.
Seeing Hua Qinxin nod, Chu Shaoheng flipped them over again, pinning her down. "Your sister is smarter than you. She knows your mother's temper. If only..."
"What? Regretting it now?" Hua Qinxin asked, her nose tilted in a coquettish pout.
"Regret? Not really. I just feel sorry for my poor butt. Your mother really went all out! She beat me half to death! And she wouldn't let me use Spiritual Power, so I had to take it all head-on. I almost died!" Chu Shaoheng shuddered at the memory.
"But it still looks pretty perky, didn't get smashed!"
"Yours is even perkier."
After a moment of playful banter, they fell silent.
"Shao Heng?"
"Hmm?"
"I know you have a history with Gu Feng. Now that Wenyue wants to marry him, you'll be brothers-in-law. Could you please, for my sake, stop causing him trouble?" Hua Qinxin asked cautiously.
"That Gu Feng, he's truly insatiable! He already has Youhuan, yet he still tries to flirt with Wenyue!" Chu Shaoheng shook his head in exasperation. Then, changing the subject, he said, "If I recall correctly, I've only ever sought him out at the Sunset Glow Sect. I haven't actively provoked him anywhere else.
He's a talented individual, and he wouldn't have done it before, nor is he likely to do it in the future.
But my poor Immortal Eye... the timing of the news was just too unfortunate. If I had gone myself... well, it's a good thing I didn't. Otherwise, that Sunset Glow Sect Ancestor would have given me a brutal beating."
"So, you're agreeing?" Hua Qinxin's face lit up with joy.
"Whether I agree or not depends on your performance tonight," Chu Shaoheng said with a wicked smile.
"You scoundrel..."
The night passed without sleep, and dawn arrived.
When Chu Shaoheng finally woke up, Hua Qinxin had already left, leaving only a brief note: "Take advantage of Mother's lack of vigilance to help Wenyue with her matter."
"She's really in a hurry," Chu Shaoheng said with a bitter laugh.
"Crown Prince, are you awake?" A voice called from outside the door, sensing movement in the room.
"Come in!"
A Crown Prince Grand Commandant strode into the room.
"Reporting to the Crown Prince, the Inheritance Hall has been prepared."
Upon hearing this, Chu Shaoheng rubbed his head and let out a bitter laugh. "But I already promised the Crown Princess last night that I wouldn't cause any trouble for Gu Feng. This is a real headache."
"Should we call it off?" the Crown Prince Grand Commandant asked in a low voice, his brow furrowed.
"No, let's just leave it as it is," Chu Shaoheng said, shaking his head. Suddenly, his expression changed, and beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down his forehead.
Seeing this, the Crown Prince Grand Commandant immediately rushed to the door and waved his hand. A dozen Soul Core Realm cultivators quickly approached.
The Array Formation of the pavilion activated in response, its energy lingering for a long time.
---
"Hey—, did you all miss me? Your beloved Sect Master is back!"
A beam of Mystic Light descended at the entrance of the Grand Harmony Academy, and Gu Feng immediately headed for the Rosy Cloud Pavilion.
The grand welcome ceremony he had anticipated never materialized. The entire Rosy Cloud Pavilion was eerily deserted.
Gu Feng's smile froze on his face as he stared in confusion at the scene before him.
Surely everyone had known of his return in advance. Even without a grand ceremony, the entire pavilion wouldn't have vanished.
Thump, thump, thump—
Puzzled, Gu Feng paced back and forth in the Rosy Cloud Pavilion's main hall.
Suddenly, a loud buzz!
A torrent of strange objects rained down from the sky. When Gu Feng finally focused, he was stunned by what he saw.
Rotten eggplants, rotten potatoes, rotten eggs...
Countless rotten things poured down like a torrential downpour.
"Smash this heartless bastard to death!"
A familiar figure, a familiar voice—Chu Youhuan floated in mid-air, surrounded by many Sunset Glow Sect disciples who were furiously hurling projectiles.
"What's going on here?!" Gu Feng raised a Spirit Energy Shield, forcing out a bitter laugh.
"We thought you had perished! Senior Sister Chu's eyes were swollen from crying, and she spent two or three years adrift at sea, enduring wind and sun. Yet not only are you unharmed, but you also have the gall to flirt with women! You have no conscience whatsoever!" a Feminine Cultivator from the Jade Maiden Sect shouted.
Hearing this, Gu Feng froze, his eyes filling with apology.
He retracted his Spirit Energy Shield, allowing the rotten eggs to splatter all over him.
"Alright," Chu Youhuan finally couldn't bear to watch Gu Feng covered head to toe in filth and called a halt to the crowd.
She floated gracefully before him, gently wiping the grime from his face as she chided, "Why didn't you dodge?"
Seeing Gu Feng remain silent, Chu Youhuan's gaze faltered. She tentatively asked, "Are you angry?"
"Yes!" Gu Feng snorted. "I'm furious right now. My temper's through the roof, and I reek like a pigsty."
"What should we do?"
"Give me a bath, or else—" Gu Feng grinned menacingly.
"You think you can run!" Chu Youhuan turned to flee, but before she'd taken a few steps, Gu Feng swept her into his arms.
"You can all leave now. You don't want to watch us take a bath together, do you?"
The crowd dispersed with laughter and teasing.
Splash!
In the inner chamber, Gu Feng tossed Chu Youhuan into the Wooden Bucket, then stripped off his own clothes and joined her.
"Ah—! What are you doing?" Chu Youhuan cried out, struggling to climb out of the tub, but Gu Feng held her firmly down.
"Hehe, judging by that question, you're not very bright. How can you bathe without taking off your clothes?" Gu Feng chuckled and began undressing Chu Youhuan.
Soon, they were both naked.
Gu Feng pinned the woman against the corner of the Wooden Bucket, gently lifted her delicate chin, and kissed her deeply.
Chu Youhuan's body trembled, and after a few struggles, her eyes gradually softened.
Omitted: 10,000 words
(End of the Chapter)
📖Read [FD] ahead on Pa.treon@AnubisTL upto c356. [+2/+5.3k]
🎁All [3] Novels can be accessed for just $6/mo.
🔥Translated [600] Chapters and [1.05M+] Words.
🔔 Become a member before 8 August to enjoy 50% off. Just $3.