Under the night sky, the city of Heaven Dou was aglow with lights.
A duke's manor was bustling with activity.
A magnificent crystal chandelier sparkled with golden light, illuminating the opulence of the occasion.
A long table, spanning dozens of meters, was adorned with silverware and crystal glasses.
Luxurious decorations and an array of exquisite delicacies dazzled the eyes.
As glasses clinked, guests savored fine wines and delicacies from across the continent, their laughter and chatter filling the grand banquet hall.
Xue Qinghe, dressed in a splendid formal attire and wearing a laurel crown, held a half-filled glass of red wine.
His every movement exuded nobility and confidence.
The moment he appeared, he became the center of attention.
Nobles approached one after another, offering warm greetings.
Xue Beng raised his glass in a toast to Xue Qinghe before happily chatting with the female companions brought by the dukes and princes.
Xue Qinghe responded with a gentle smile, though inwardly, he felt nothing but disdain.
This younger brother of mine is so transparent with his ambitions, a natural-born playboy. He poses no threat to me whatsoever.
Xue Beng flirted with the beauty beside him, a hint of gloom flashing imperceptibly in his eyes.
Xue Xing, with his broad stature and steady gait, approached Xue Qinghe.
"Uncle."
"Hmm, Your Highness. In public, it's better to address me properly."
Xue Qinghe nodded:
"Thank you for the guidance, Uncle. Greetings, Prince Xue Xing."
"Hmm~"
Xue Xing's eyes showed satisfaction, as if pleased with Xue Qinghe's respect.
Before Xue Qinghe began his ruthless purge, Xue Xing didn't mind staying close to him.
With a professional smile plastered on his face, Xue Qinghe went through the motions.
It was just a birthday banquet for a duke's daughter—no need to delve into serious topics.
Xue Qinghe sat back, watching with amusement as the nobles flattered each other and forged alliances.
He swirled the wine in his glass and smirked.
As expected, they're all just a bunch of gluttons and fools. The crown prince's position and the throne are within my grasp.
The Heaven Dou Empire will flourish under my rule!
"Your Highness, the Shadow Guards have urgent news to report."
A guard approached from behind and whispered into Xue Qinghe's ear.
"Let's go."
This scene had played out countless times before, so it didn't attract any attention from the guests in the hall.
Xue Qinghe felt a bit helpless. Over the years, whenever the Shadow Guards had news to report, it was usually about conflicts and power struggles among the nobles.
The problem was, these reports were indeed important. Before securing the throne, it was crucial to win over a group of supporters.
Three guards led Xue Qinghe to a quiet room in the duke's manor.
"Speak. What is it this time?"
Xue Qinghe crossed his legs and yawned.
"Your Highness, we request that you die."
"Huh?"
For a moment, Xue Qinghe thought he had misheard. He stood up in anger.
"What did you say?!"
"We request that you die!"
"Outrageous! Seize them!"
The three guards:
"Yes!"
Heads rolled, and blood splattered.
Until his dying breath, Xue Qinghe never imagined that the three most loyal guards who had accompanied him for years would be the ones to betray him.
The scene was quickly cleaned up.
"Xue Qinghe" emerged from the shadows, his face identical to the original, but his eyes colder and more detached:
"Let's go."
The banquet continued as usual, and Qian Renxue quickly slipped into her role.
Unlike before, a hint of regret stirred in her heart.
Only after truly stepping into Xue Qinghe's life and interacting with these unfamiliar nobles did she realize how dull this life was.
A strange feeling welled up inside her. Spending hours every day on such trivial matters was utterly meaningless.
I still have Little Feng. No, I must hurry and train a successor.
I'll have Grandpa select someone capable of bearing this responsibility and nurture them slowly.
Once they can take over my mission, I can step back into the shadows.
By then, the mission won't be a failure, and I won't lose face in front of that woman.
Wait, no!
Qian Renxue frowned. Why should I care so much about gaining her approval?
I have Xiao Feng and Sister Ling Yuan now. Why should I waste years here in hiding just for her recognition?
As the young master of the Spirit Hall, as long as the mission is accomplished, does it really matter if I'm not the one personally carrying it out?
As long as I oversee the mission, that's enough to command respect!
Qian Renxue's eyes lit up. Xiao Feng is right. There's no reason for me to personally carry out this mission.
I'll inform Grandpa as soon as I return and have him send a candidate.
The plan has been in motion for a long time. If there weren't other candidates prepared, that would be the real issue.
...
The Crown Prince's residence.
The atmosphere was the same as usual, with the same people.
The only difference was the excitement in the eyes of the guards and maids.
After enduring for so long, they had finally welcomed their true master.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
"Hmm, this prince is in a good mood today. All of you will be generously rewarded. You may leave now and find Elder She later."
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
The "disguised" servants couldn't hide their joy and quickly dispersed, eager to see just how generous their rewards would be after all these years of service.
Qian Renxue entered the study, her expression solemn as she pressed a hidden mechanism on the bookshelf.
Click.
A barely audible sound followed, and a secret door revealed itself behind the bookshelf.
Entering the hidden passage, Qian Renxue let out a long sigh of relief.
She locked the mechanism behind her and began walking through the dimly lit corridor.
For some reason, in this environment, the thought of reaching the end of the secret passage—where Xiao Feng, Ling Yuan, and her bedroom awaited—filled her with a strange emotion.
"A golden house to hide a beauty?"
Qian Renxue's lips moved slightly as she unconsciously uttered these words.
Her heart raced, and her cheeks flushed for a moment before she continued walking.
After a few dozen steps, the passage opened up into a brightly lit space illuminated by soul-powered lights. The decor here was no different from the outside world, if not more comfortable due to the meticulous arrangement.
"You're back?"
Lin Feng, enjoying a massage from Ling Yuan, held a book in one hand and waved at Qian Renxue with the other:
"How was it? As boring as I said it would be?"
Qian Renxue pouted, kicked off her shoes, and placed her slender legs on Lin Feng's lap.
"It was indeed boring, Xiao Feng. I regret it a bit now."
Lin Feng paused his massage on Qian Renxue's legs, which were clad in white silk.
"Oh? What are you planning to do now? Return to Spirit City immediately?"
"No, that would be too abrupt. I've already asked Grandpa Ju to inform Grandpa and have him send another candidate.
We'll personally train them until they can fully replace me. Once that's done, I'll be free."
Lin Feng nodded. It wasn't too late for Qian Renxue to come to this realization. This experience in Heaven Dou would likely help her let go of some of her emotional attachment to Bibi Dong, which wasn't a bad thing for her.
Qian Renxue lay back on the bedding, closing her eyes to rest, while Lin Feng continued to massage her.
Her legs were long and slender, like jade pillars, delicate yet strong.
The muscles of her calves were firm, with smooth lines, while her thighs were slightly fuller, with graceful curves.
Massaging them was truly a pleasure.
Ling Yuan, noticing the sparkle in Lin Feng's eyes, chuckled softly and increased the pressure of her massage on his shoulders.