Chapter 190: The Scapegoat Prince

In Mingxing Cheng, the giant bell in the clock tower roared, and the heavy tolling echoed over the city.

This tall tower, which was silent on ordinary days, only rang on the night of the Holy Light Festival every year or when major events occurred in the city.

And today, the bell toll once again pierced the sky, causing pedestrians on the street to stop in their tracks one after another, looking up toward the direction of the clock tower.

Soon, the news spread in the city like a wildfire. The bulletin board was crowded with people, and the patrolling guards were also surrounded by citizens, asking about the truth behind the bell.

"Her Majesty the Queen has been assassinated!" A guard announced loudly, his voice carrying a trace of trembling, seemingly not understanding what kind of person would do such a thing: "The assassin disguised as a guard of Her Royal Highness Baixue, and after the assassination failed, they actually kidnapped the Princess and are now fleeing in the city! The bell is to notify the closing of the city gates to prevent them from escaping!"

This news was like a heavy bomb, instantly exploding in the crowd.

The residents of Mingxing Cheng looked at each other, their faces full of shock and disbelief. Her Majesty the Queen had been assassinated, and Her Royal Highness the kind and benevolent Baixue had also been involved, and even kidnapped! Everything sounded like the freshest gossip king of the year.

However, apart from the official news, two pieces of gossip also spread rapidly through the streets and alleys, surging in the crowd like an undercurrent.

The first rumor claimed that Baixue had come of age and was ambitious, wanting to kill the King and Queen to inherit the throne of the Lain Kingdom and become the new Queen. This version of the story portrayed Baixue as a cold-blooded conspirator, completely contrary to her usual gentle image.

To tell the truth, Auntie Fatty at the end of Sesame Street said she absolutely didn't believe the kind Princess was an ambitious person, and strongly told the neighbors around her about the scene when she met Baixue in the city.

The second rumor was even more dramatic: The Queen was jealous of Baixue's beauty and self-directed this assassination in order to frame the Princess and completely eradicate this threat to her status. In this version of the story, the Queen was portrayed as a deep-hearted, vicious woman, while Baixue became the innocent victim.

Hmm! Auntie Fatty and the shoemaker's family looked at each other, and the eyes of the two had already rehearsed a palace drama!

Regardless of which version it was, it made the residents of Mingxing Cheng talk about it with relish. The internal struggle of the royal family had always been a topic for people after tea and dinner, but this time the plot was clearly more exciting than any previous one.

In the streets and alleys, taverns and teahouses, women were discussing this storm enthusiastically, guessing what the truth was.

However, besides gossip, men couldn't help but feel worried.

The Lain Kingdom was facing the covetousness of the Gaodi Kingdom; with internal and external troubles, the turmoil of the royal family would undoubtedly make the situation even more tense. Some people began to worry whether this storm would trigger greater turmoil, or even give the Gaodi Kingdom an opportunity.

And in fact, Aidehua Wangzi and the Earl of Somerset of the Gaodi Kingdom, who hadn't had time to return yet, were also surprised when they heard the news that the Queen of the Lain Kingdom had been assassinated and the Princess kidnapped.

Aidehua Wangzi and the Earl of Somerset asked each other almost at the same time.

"Earl, you didn't arrange for people to do it, did you?"

"Your Highness, you didn't give the order, did you?"

Afterward, the two were speechless again; after a long while, the Earl of Somerset sighed: "This is trouble! Those golden tongues will definitely suspect that we were the ones who did it."

Just like the people of the Lain Kingdom called the people of the Gaodi Kingdom savages and barbarians, the people of the Gaodi Kingdom had always looked down on the subjects of the southern kingdoms who were only good at being smooth-tongued and sowing discord; golden tongues was their praise for the people of the Lain Kingdom.

Aidehua Wangzi's face also looked ugly; originally, Baixue not agreeing to his marriage proposal had made him lose face and be very unwilling, and now that an assassination incident had occurred, his suspicion naturally couldn't be small; speaking of which, the knight who defeated their Gaodi Kingdom warriors in one blow seemed to be a guard of the Queen.

"Suspect? Do they dare to frame us? Are they not afraid that our most powerful North Wind Legion will trample this so-called Mingxing Cheng?"

The Earl of Somerset smiled awkwardly, echoing: "Your Highness, the North Wind Legion is naturally the most powerful legion, but they need to guard the Frost Roar Fortress to defend against barbarians! Now that we are in another country, it is better not to easily cause misunderstandings."

Sure enough, as soon as the Earl of Somerset finished speaking, his guards came to report that the Mingxing Cheng city guards had surrounded the inn where they were staying, but they didn't take further action, just restricting everyone from entering and leaving.

Aidehua Wangzi looked at the Earl of Somerset in confusion, but the Earl actually laughed.

"Your Highness, don't worry, it's fine! Aotuo Guowang is telling us not to meddle; this matter has nothing to do with us, don't get involved!"

Aidehua Wangzi was also a smart person, and he understood it after just a little thought.

If Aotuo Guowang really suspected their party, he wouldn't just order the soldiers to surround the inn; even a simple search would be a necessary procedure.

It was just that when the Prince, who had let go of his heart, returned to his room, he was stunned.

Aidehua Wangzi pushed open the door, and his originally relaxed mood instantly solidified. His gaze fell on the center of the room—the beauty with skin like snow and bright eyes and white teeth, who was exactly the Baixue who rejected his marriage proposal in the palace hall yesterday.

At this moment, she was sitting on the edge of his bed, her face full of confusion and helplessness.

The Prince stood frozen in place, countless questions flashing through his mind: How did she get here? Who brought her here? Could this be Aotuo Guowang's test, or the Queen's conspiracy?

No, none of it is possible! The Lain Kingdom couldn't do such a thing; they didn't dare to go to war with us.

Baixue was also shocked.

She was originally taken out of the palace by that mysterious maid and traveled all the way to this inn.

But just as she was catching her breath, the maid suddenly disappeared, leaving her alone to face this strange environment. Fortunately, the three Traveler guards who had defected to her appeared in time, which made her panicked heart settle down slightly.

The two looked at each other, and the air in the room seemed to freeze.

Baixue took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down.

"Your Highness, thank you very much for your love for me! But it is wrong for you to do such a thing; the warriors of your Gaodi Kingdom were defeated openly and honestly by Lord Aoruilian in the arena; you cannot vent your anger on the Queen!"

"And it's useless for you to send someone to trick me here; His Majesty the King has ordered all city gates to be closed, and you can't get out!"

Clearly, Baixue thought that all the things were caused by this Aidehua Wangzi of the Gaodi Kingdom in front of her.

Even the Traveler Luka and the three looked at him with serious eyes; they extremely suspected that Vito and Salvatore had been captured by the people of the Gaodi Kingdom, and then impersonated the two to attack the Queen. ===== CHAPTER 191 =====