Chapter 51: Saving the Aloof Crown Prince 02

Xiao Yunye flicked his sleeve and left, no longer wasting words with them.

On the drill field's viewing stand, three Chinese cedar wood soft chairs were placed.

Xiao Yunye took the middle seat first.

The servants and guards attending the viewing stand all froze, looking at each other, unsure how to advise.

For Xiao Su's health, they specially added an extra cushion to the middle chair; how could this eldest prince……

Xiao Zhuoxian and Xiao Su walked over side by side, saw this, immediately frowned, "Elder brother, the middle seat should be the crown prince's."

"I wanted to sit, so I sat."

Xiao Yunye's tone was overbearing, "Third younger brother, any objections?"

Xiao Su curled his lips, "Your elder brother's etiquette is regressing more and more, not at all like a royal."

His phoenix eyes slightly lifted, the meaning in them unclear.

Hearing this, Xiao Yunye's heart jolted, and he hurried to look at Xiao Su's expression.

Seeing that he was merely mocking, he slightly relaxed.

He shouted, "What do you mean? If the father emperor knew, you're slandering his bloodline like this! You'll get no less than a beating!"

"If the father emperor knew, the elder brother doesn't care about ritual propriety, coveting the crown prince's seat like this, he'd likely be even angrier."

Xiao Su's words carried a double meaning.

Anyone with discernment could hear it was a veiled mockery of Xiao Yunye's coveting of the throne.

They all lowered their heads in fear, dreading to incur wrath.

Xiao Yunye slammed the table and stood up, "Xiao Su! What nonsense are you spouting!"

Xiao Zhuoxian: "Enough, elder brother, openly calling the crown prince's name in public, do you really want the father emperor to know this and take his anger out on you!"

The dark guards knelt beneath the viewing stand, unable to raise their heads, yet they heard the princes' quarrel crystal clear.

Jin Chen felt a sigh inside.

In this world, the wives' combat power is really high.

He tingled, rubbing his fingertips, wanting to lift his head to look.

Finally, Xiao Yunye angrily rose and sat on the left side.

Xiao Su took his seat, coughed lightly a few times, then lifted his gaze to look at the kneeling dark guards.

He slightly raised his hand, indicating it could begin.

The military officer in charge of this selection clasped his hands and shouted loudly.

"At ease, take your positions according to strength and specialty."

The lawn was divided into three areas.

They were respectively divided by skill in assassination, protection, and close combat; those with multiple skills stood between the areas.

Only Jin Chen stood still in place.

Even if he claimed low ability, compared to the Dark Moon Pavilion's dark guards, he was still outstanding by far.

Jin Chen raised his eyes, finally seeing Xiao Su's appearance clearly.

Leaning on the soft chair, Xiao Su was noble and aloof, wearing a treasure-blue silk long robe, draped with a white sable cloak, his black hair bound with a jade hairpin, revealing icy skin and jade-like neck.

His features were exquisite, brows and eyes exuding coolness, phoenix eyes half-closed, long dense lashes, skin like clear, cold white jade.

Merely looking slender, even his lips lacked any color.

My wife really looks good this time, I want to hug her.

Jin Chen's fingertips rubbed again a few times, feeling a familiar throb.

【Detected this world's plot villain, currently Blackening Value 90, mission requirement: Blackening Value to zero, change the villain's tragic ending.】

【……How much?】

【90, Host, keep going～】

As if sensing the scorching gaze, Xiao Su lazily lifted his eyes, looking down below.

He happened to meet Jin Chen's gaze.

The dark guards all wore black masks, faces completely covered, only eyes exposed.

Xiao Su paused for a moment.

The dark guards severed emotions; Jin Chen, to fit his identity, had his exposed peach-bright eyes devoid of any luster, wooden and empty, like a puppet.

But when looking at Xiao Su, he unconsciously emitted a glow.

Being looked at like that, Xiao Su felt his heart somewhat strange, his pulse disrupted a bit.

He frowned, wondering how he was affected in mood by a dark guard.

Xiao Yunye was very interested in the unmoving Jin Chen.

He came this time precisely to find an exceptionally skilled expert to become his personal guard, also to facilitate affairs.

"Why aren't you moving?"

Jin Chen's voice was cold and wooden, "Your subordinate has mastered everything, no need to move."

"Hahaha, quite the one who doesn't need to move!"

Xiao Yunye laughed satisfied, "Then I will choose you!"

Jin Chen did not act.

He clasped his fists, "Your subordinate is a dark guard of the Heaven Moon Pavilion, first obeying His Majesty, then obeying the Crown Prince Your Highness."

That means, if the crown prince does not choose, the eldest prince has no right to pick him first.

Xiao Su hearing this, glanced at Jin Chen, seeming somewhat doubtful.

Today, after being repeatedly refuted, Xiao Yunye was already exasperated; now being rebutted by a dark guard, he smashed the tea cup on the spot.

"Impudent! What Heaven Moon Pavilion? This Palace has chosen you; it's giving you face!"

When he said that, the military officer frowned deeply and glanced at Xiao Yunye.

Xiao Zhuoxian took a deep breath, "Elder brother, you must not speak recklessly."

The Dark Guard of Heaven Moon Pavilion obeys the Father Emperor directly; surely the elder brother knows that?

He wondered, "Elder brother, don't you know what the Heaven Moon Pavilion is?"

Xiao Yunye remained silent for a few seconds, finding nothing in the original host's memory, but such an attitude from Xiao Zhuoxian must be related to Emperor Yongshun.

"This Palace is just angry."

Xiao Su scoffed, "Elder brother, you're getting stranger and stranger—wasted on wine and meat, your memory isn't what it used to be."

Xiao Yunye always felt that Xiao Su's words had a hidden meaning.

"Since the Crown Prince must choose first, hurry up and choose—don't waste my time."

Xiao Su looked at Jin Chen again, his tone languid, as if he couldn't muster any energy.

"This face given by the Eldest Prince—do you not want it?"

Jin Chen: "I am a Dark Guard; I don't need face."

Xiao Yunye: "......"

He was so angry he couldn't bear it, and slammed the table hard.

When Xiao Yunye is angry, Xiao Su is happy.

Xiao Su chuckled lightly, "Then it's you—come with me."

He rose lazily; perhaps the wind had picked up, and he coughed a few times.

"Second Prince, take your time choosing; I'll return to the palace first."

Xiao Zhuoxian nodded, "Hurry back; catching a wind-chill is unpleasant."

After Xiao Su descended the viewing platform, Jin Chen immediately followed behind.

Li You waited below, supporting Xiao Su as he went down the stairs, and immediately felt a strange gaze.

He turned his head, looking at Jin Chen, whose eyes showed no ripple,

It must be an illusion.

Xiao Su glanced at Jin Chen and suddenly said, "Come support me."

What a nice surprise!

Jin Chen immediately reached out, supporting his arm, and then slightly frowned, a fine ache welling up.

He's too thin; I'm afraid to use force.

Thinking of the reason for Xiao Su's congenital frailty, Jin Chen felt a greater killing intent toward the stepmother.

At the moment Xiao Su's arm was supported by him, his heartbeat quickened a bit.

Xiao Yunye, who had never felt his heart move before, didn't know why; he inexplicably looked at Jin Chen, himself never easily trusting others.

But this person always makes him feel he can be trusted—truly strange.

He furrowed his brow and withdrew his arm.

"No need to support me; step back."

Xiao Su then placed his hand on Li You's and entered the carriage cabin.

The carriage interior was exquisitely arranged: the seating platform was fully covered with thick gold‑silk soft cushions, small compartments were set into the carriage walls, holding an incense burner and several scrolls.

To the side sat a small table, holding a delicate teacup and kettle.

As soon as Xiao Su sat down, he couldn't hold back a cough.