Chapter 2830: The Stand-in Was Forcibly Taken by the Mountain Bandit's Wife 36

The Main Gate of Drunken Immortal Pavilion was tightly shut, four sword-wielding guards stood at the entrance, each with solemn expression and vigilant eyes.

When Jin Chen arrived at the entrance, the guards immediately stepped forward to block him, 'Halt! Today Drunken Immortal Pavilion is not receiving guests!'

Jin Chen said nothing, only took out that Jade Pendant from his sleeve and handed it over.

The guards received the Jade Pendant, examined it closely, their faces slightly changed, then looked up at Jin Chen.

Jin Chen wore a veil, only his eyes showing; those eyes were calm and indifferent, his demeanor icy, at a glance he was no ordinary person.

"Who are you...?" the guard asked tentatively.

Jin Chen raised his hand and gently removed the veil.

Although the guard had never seen Ruan Sutong, everyone in the Third Prince's manor had heard of it: the Third Prince had a beloved, surnamed Ruan, who was pure and unworldly.

"But... Young Master Ruan?" the guard's tone grew much more respectful.

Jin Chen nodded, his voice icy: 'I have an appointment with the Third Prince.'

"Please enter!" the guard hurriedly stepped aside, 'Your Highness has been waiting for a while, please come in quickly! Shopkeeper, take Young Master Ruan to the top floor, Heavenly Character Number One room!'

Jin Chen put the veil back on and strode into the tavern.

The tavern was indeed empty, only a few attendants bustling about.

The shopkeeper personally came forward, leading Jin Chen upstairs.

In the room, the window facing the street was open, allowing a view of the lively scene outside.

After the shopkeeper retreated, Gu Fanghe closed the door, turned to look at Jin Chen, about to speak, but Jin Chen raised his hand, making a silencing gesture.

Footsteps sounded outside the door.

Immediately after, the door was pushed open.

A young man in a brocade robe walked in.

He was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, with handsome brows and eyes, an aristocratic bearing, though a hint of gloomy calculation lingered between his brows; two guards followed behind him, hands on their sword hilts, eyes sharp.

This was the Third Prince, Wu Zhengchu.

He still wore an air of superiority when he entered, but upon seeing Jin Chen, a genuine smile appeared on his face, 'Sutong! You've finally come! I've been waiting!'

Jin Chen rose, gave him a slight nod, his voice icy: 'Your Highness.'

Wu Zhengchu stepped forward quickly, wanting to take his hand, but Jin Chen lightly raised his hand, blocking the move.

Wu Zhengchu's motion paused, but he wasn't angry; instead, he smiled.

He looked at Jin Chen, his eyes full of infatuation and admiration; Sutong always like this, cold and self-possessed, not letting him touch him easily.

But this elusive feeling only made his heart yearn all the more.

However, after not seeing each other for a while, Sutong seemed… more alluring.

Before, though also cold, he always kept a deliberate distance, but now Sutong's rejection of his gestures is so natural, so… seductive.

Wu Zhengchu felt an unbearable itch in his heart, withdrew his hand and sat opposite Jin Chen, his gaze never leaving his face, 'Sutong… you're becoming ever more captivating; I miss you dearly, every time I recall our days sipping tea and discussing poetry at the suburban villa, playing chess under the moon, I feel time stretching and my longing deepening.'

Jin Chen lowered his eyes, lifted the tea cup and took a sip, saying nothing in reply.

How disgusting.

【Some princes say they like someone, yet can't even recognize their own beloved.】 Ling Gun Gun sighed.

Wu Zhengchu didn't mind either, cleared his throat and got down to business: 'Sutong, I heard you went to the Black Mountain Stronghold again—how's the situation? Did you, as I instructed, relay the court's situation to Gu Fanghe?'

Jin Chen set down his tea cup, looked up at him, his voice calm:

'Naturally, things are proceeding smoothly; Gu Fanghe hates the Crown Prince to the bone, and upon hearing the news he was indeed furious.'

'Furthermore, the Crown Prince's faction this time has been squeezing the border garrison's provisions and suppressing the old troops of the He Feng Army—each and every matter is enough to make his hatred for the court, especially the Eastern Palace, grow even stronger…'

Wu Zhengchu suddenly let out a surprised 'eh', his brows slightly raised, feeling somewhat astonished: 'Strange, you used to say you didn't want to get involved in these court struggles—how did you suddenly become so knowledgeable about these matters?'

Gu Fanghe, standing behind Jin Chen, felt his heart jolt, his spine tensed; Liu Mianfeng couldn't help but secretly break into a sweat.

Jin Chen's expression unchanged, he lifted his eyes to meet his gaze, 'Isn't all of this for you?'

To kill you, ah.

Jin Chen didn't finish his words, yet that alone was enough to set imaginations running wild.

Wu Zhengchu was dazed by those words, his heart fluttering, a smile instantly blooming on his face; he reached out to take Jin Chen's hand again, but Jin Chen had already lifted his tea cup first, evading the move.

Wu Zhengchu felt as if honey had been poured into his heart, secretly thinking that Sutong truly had him in his heart, willing to partake in these dirty schemes for his sake.

What could be more fulfilling, more intoxicating, than letting a person as cold and clear as Ru Yue, lofty and unattainable, fall into the mortal world for oneself?

'As for Gu Fanghe's side, you hold him steady; when the time is ripe, I'll send people into the mountains to take him and his followers…'

He made a throat-slitting gesture.

Jin Chen lowered his eyes, said nothing, only gave a slight nod.

Gu Fanghe: '……'

His hand hanging at his side gradually tightened.

Liu Mianfeng stood beside him, frightened, and quickly used his eyes to signal him to stay calm.

Gu Fanghe stepped forward, lowering his voice: 'Young Master, the tea has gone cold; I'll get you a fresh cup.'

Saying so, he picked up the teapot on the table, first filling Wu Zhengchu's empty cup to seven-tenths full, though the water was somewhat hot.

Wu Zhengchu's heart swayed, he didn't mind, casually picked up the teacup, blew on it, preparing to take a sip to calm his excited mood.

Jin Chen glanced sideways at Gu Fanghe; behind the human-skin mask, that face was very unfamiliar, yet his eyes churned with jealousy and dissatisfaction.

Jin Chen's lips curled slightly, he suddenly tilted his head and lightly kissed the corner of Gu Fanghe's mouth.

Because Gu Fanghe was pouring tea for him, his shoulder blocked the angle, and Wu Zhengchu couldn't see.

But Gu Fanghe froze, the tea nearly spilling; he hadn't expected Jin Chen to do that, and the jealousy surging in his heart was soothed—he lowered his eyes, finished pouring the tea, then retreated back behind Jin Chen, like a qualified attendant.