Chapter 601

The hardwood had branches, and there were still a few green leaves on it.

The servants in the hall knelt down in unison before it, because a green snake was coiled on this hardwood! Its body was as thick as He Lingchuan's fist, with a green back and white belly, and every scale was as smooth as jade, without the icy coldness of ordinary snakes.

Moreover, its head didn't look like a snake's head; instead, its brow bone was high, its eye sockets were deep, its high nose bridge rose like an ox's, and there was a bit of soft hair on the tip of its tail.

"Where is Fu Shanyue?"

It spoke in a milky voice, which sounded like a little boy when heard with eyes closed. In reality, as soon as it opened its mouth, it revealed a mouthful of fangs, jagged like crocodile teeth.

The servants were trembling: "Our, our Highness is out!"

"Where did he go?"

"I, I don't know!" Did Crown Prince Yue need to report to them when he went out?

Besides, Crown Prince Yue had been going out frequently lately, leaving early and returning late, and most of the servants had no chance to see him.

"And where is the Crown Prince's special envoy?" In the milky tone, more disgust was revealed, "Find him!"

"Lord He is, is also not here!" Everyone was complaining bitterly in their hearts.

"Where did he go? You don't know that either?"

The upper body of Crown Prince Lingxu suddenly stood up like a snake, and a strong wind blew into the main hall, causing the hanging paintings on the walls and the silver pots on the tables to sway wildly.

Everyone touched their heads to the ground: "Your Highness, spare us, we really don't know!"

Another person said: "I heard, I heard the special envoy went out today to tour the main city."

The main city was so big, and He Xiao had legs, who knew where he had run off to now! Crown Prince Lingxu said coldly: "Is that so? Then this palace will wait here!"

It wanted to wait, who dared to disagree? The servants hurriedly served tea, snacks, and fruits to the guards.

As for Crown Prince Lingxu, no one knew its tastes, and when they wanted to inquire, the guards ignored them.

This wait lasted for an hour.

In the meantime, Crown Prince Lingxu urged them several times and sent several servants from the Pan Shan Residence out to look for people.

But both those who went to look and those who were being looked for were nowhere to be found.

As time passed, Crown Prince Lingxu became increasingly irritable, swimming down from the brocade cushion and circling the hall several times, its scales slightly opening and closing.

The atmosphere became increasingly heavy.

With a "slap" sound, the Crown Prince flicked its tail and smashed a chair to pieces.

Although snake tails are long, it is difficult for them to have such power.

A guard said: "Your Highness, why not go for a walk in the garden?"

"Such a broken garden, small and ugly, you want this palace to go for a walk?"

Everyone held their breath, feeling that time was dragging on like years.

Not only the main hall of the Pan Shan Residence, but even the two nearby buildings were affected by the Crown Prince's anger. It was a bit tired from coming itself, so it ordered: "Smash it all for me!"

The guards under its command didn't say a word, and there was a clattering sound. Doors, windows, furniture, antiques, the rockeries and gardens in the courtyard... everything that could be seen was smashed to pieces.

There were also guards in the Pan Shan Residence, but no one dared to stop them. The chaotic sounds coming from outside struck everyone's heart.

By the time the sun was about to set, neither Fu Shanyue nor He Xiao had returned.

A guard approached the Crown Prince and whispered: "Your Highness has been out for too long, if we don't head back..."

The Crown Prince snorted: "I'm not going back!"

It's very troublesome to return late; the journey from here to the royal palace on Lingxiao Peak of Tianxin Island is quite long.

But its anger had not yet been vented.

Not only was it not vented, but it was even more furious after holding it in all afternoon!

"These few slaves are annoying just to look at!" It said to the dozen or so servants kneeling in a row against the wall, "Kill them, leave none alive!"

The servants were shocked; some collapsed in fear, crying for mercy, while others could no longer care about anything else and scrambled to escape through the door.

Several guards rushed out, raising their blades to hack.

There were screams and cries everywhere.

Two young servants had good legs and outran their companions, rushing all the way to the main gate.

A guard caught up and slashed at the back of one servant, but the latter stumbled and avoided the vital spot, only to be chopped on the left shoulder by the long blade, screaming more miserably than a slaughtered pig.

"Running away?" The guard kicked him down, stepped on his back, and swung the blade again.

This time it landed accurately in the heart, and he even twisted it.

Dead in one breath.

The screaming stopped abruptly.

Another giant ape rushed past him, caught up with the other servant, and punched him in the forehead.

This person was already unconscious when he hit the ground.

The giant ape walked over, smashed him into meat paste with a series of bangs.

Mission accomplished.

The guard spat at the corpse before returning to the main hall to report.

At the main gate of the Pan Shan Residence, two people lay dead, with blood and mud everywhere.

When the palace guards were killing people, the onlookers scattered like birds and beasts, fearing they would be implicated.

When the blood flowed down the steps, they gathered again to watch the excitement, pointing and gesturing.

This was the station of the Chi Yan State, the residence of Crown Prince Yue. Yet Crown Prince Lingxu rushed here to kill people; oh my, this is terrible! The causal entanglements behind this made the crowd's imaginations run wild.

Another hour passed, it was already dark, and the main person still hadn't appeared.

"Fu Shanyue offended Xiao Xing, I can't let him be comfortable." Crown Prince Lingxu was extremely restless, "Burn down his residence!"

Before long, the residence caught fire.

In late autumn, the wind was dry and the objects were parched, and the guards used some oil, so the fire became uncontrollable with the wind.

Crown Prince Lingxu's mount set off again, rumbling out of the gate of the Pan Shan Residence, heading all the way to the Chiqian Peak in the middle of the lower city. The node of the Jinghong Ferry was set there, and after entering, one could reach the Tianxin Island in the sky directly.

Civilians along the way were all panic-stricken and avoided them.

The entrance to the Pan Shan Residence was packed with people, watching the excitement and gossiping, all kinds of people were there.

In today's Lingxu City, this was probably the liveliest place.

There were also many spies in the crowd, who took in the scene that had just happened and quickly went back to report to their masters.

Two more street corners away, and they would reach the Pan Shan Residence.

He Lingchuan held the Chi Yan Envoy's order, so he could ride the big-horned rock sheep at any time, walking slowly toward home.

The perfume shops in Lingxu City were more luxurious than elsewhere—these were bathhouses, not places selling perfume—the places were big, and the technicians' techniques were good. He Lingchuan had been tense these days, and after soaking in the hot springs for half a day, his bones were relaxed, and his whole body felt refreshed, as if he had been reborn.

The prophecy of the Wood Spirit Venerable, "Meet Huan Li Ju," didn't seem to have come true. He had been out for a whole day and hadn't encountered anything new.

As for the Pan Shan Residence where he lived, he didn't feel that anything could go wrong there at all.

Nowadays, the Chi Yan people were very popular in Lingxu City, who would dare to risk the world's condemnation to come to the Pan Shan Residence to make trouble?

Could it be that the word "Huan" didn't refer to the White Huan Bird? He let the rock sheep walk on its own, when suddenly there was the sound of flapping wings above.

He Lingchuan looked up and happened to see a goshawk swooping down, landing on the big horns of the rock sheep. Before it could even fold its wings, it said urgently: "Stop, don't go any further!"

He was startled and said in a deep voice: "What's the matter?"

"Turn back quickly, go to Lanshan Residence, I'll tell you on the way."

He Lingchuan patted the rock sheep's head, and the latter immediately turned its head and trotted in small steps.

Lanshan Residence was ten miles away from here, and with the goshawk leading the way, there was no fear of getting lost.

Standing on these big horns was much more comfortable than standing on a tree branch. The goshawk shook its feathers and said:

"His Highness specially sent me to circle above the Pan Shan Residence to stop you from going home. Crown Prince Lingxu is currently in the Pan Shan Residence!"

He Lingchuan thought he had misheard: "Who?"

"The Crown Prince of Beijia, the only son of the Emperor!"

"Why isn't he staying in his palace, and running to my residence for what?" It really was like wind and horse not matching... wait, no, it seemed there was still some reason.

Cen Boqing, whose guilt he had confirmed, had a virtuous helper, Yao Xingning.

What did Fu Shanyue and Bai Ziqi tell him?

Yao Xingning was a childhood playmate of the Beijia Crown Prince! It could be said that the little Crown Prince's life was saved by Yao Xingning, so the bond between the two was as deep as siblings.

"Hiss..." What good could come from the Beijia Crown Prince coming to the door at this time? It was most likely to cause trouble.

The goshawk didn't dare to criticize the Beijia Crown Prince behind his back, only saying: "His Highness was going to go back early, but received this news halfway, so he went straight to Lanshan Residence."

Even Fu Shanyue avoided his sharp edge, and He Lingchuan had no intention of getting involved either.

If the Beijia Crown Prince beat him to death, he would probably just get scolded by his father.

If he beat the Beijia Crown Prince to death, Lingxu City would definitely tear him to pieces.

Either way, he was the one who suffered.

The rock sheep trotted along with the traffic, and soon arrived at Lanshan Residence on the hillside.

This was an elegant pavilion in a bamboo forest, with mountains at the back and a stream in front. In late autumn, there were still roses and balsams in full bloom, with bees and butterflies flying around, all for the sake of quietness in the bustling city.

This place was for people to drink tea, play chess, and negotiate business. Of course, one could also eat here. It was a good place for business meetings and entertaining distinguished guests. It's just that the price was a bit more expensive than outside, and even more expensive; a plate of crispy small dried fish as an appetizer cost half a tael of silver.

Outside, this price could buy more than ten jin of small dried fish.

Fu Shanyue occupied a small pavilion alone. Seeing He Lingchuan walking over, he hurriedly waved: "Come, eat. My treat tonight!"

The fierce tiger Jiao Yu was lying on the side. Seeing He Lingchuan, it immediately stood up and made a purring sound to greet him.

He Lingchuan squinted at Fu Shanyue: "So kind?"

This guy had been eating, living, and drinking for free at his place for the past few days, and hadn't spent a single cent.

"Courtesy demands reciprocity." Fu Shanyue laughed, "Where's the wine?"

Someone immediately came over to pour wine.

Delicacies were served like flowing water.

Before the dishes were fully set, Fu Shanyue dismissed all the servants, and the goshawk flapped its wings and flew out of the window again.

It still had a mission to fly back to the Pan Shan Residence and scout from high altitude.

He Lingchuan stroked the fierce tiger's big head: "Because of Yao Xingning?"

The question was asked without a beginning or end, but Fu Shanyue understood: "Should be."

"When can we go back?"

"After it leaves." Fu Shanyue raised his glass and sipped, "The Emperor has only this one heir, whom he treats as a treasure. I don't want to touch his reverse scale."

"What if it comes again tomorrow?" He Lingchuan picked up a dried fish, hmm, very fragrant, "Can you guarantee you can avoid it every time?"

"Tomorrow's business, we'll talk about it tomorrow." Fu Shanyue was not a person with a good temper either. Although he was grinning, there was no smile in his eyes at all, "After it goes back, the news will probably reach the Emperor's ears."

"Relying entirely on the Emperor's restraint?"

"Otherwise?" Fu Shanyue glanced at him gloomily, "Looking at Lingxu City, who dares to add a finger to its body?"

It wasn't just him who was cowardly.

(End of Chapter)