Great! I'm surrounded by villains!
Chapter 168 - 88: Closing the Eyes

Chapter 168: Chapter 88: Closing the Eyes

The grand banquet had once again ended perfectly, and the nobles of the Imperial Court were still immersed in its lingering charm, full of praise for the exceptional sword dance that had captivated the world.

Thus, there were no longer any objections to the candidates for the Prime Monarch’s succession.

The words Qing Hua had said at the banquet represented the will of heaven and officially declared that there would be no more uncertainties in the struggle for the throne.

The guests from afar were slightly tipsy and, guided by maids and servants, made their way to their respective accommodations.

"What a pity."

The Third Prince stood up, looking at the guests gradually leaving the hall and glanced at Ning Ruyue, "If you had listened to Falang’s advice and performed a piece in this great hall, perhaps it could have brought some change."

The will of heaven, the support of the nobles of the Imperial Court, and the most sympathetic title for the young Prime Monarch.

In contrast, the Elder Princess stood alone in the vast Imperial Court.

Having left the Imperial Court for so many years, when she returned, even the maids and servants from before had become distant.

The Elder Princess had left, but they still had to live on in the Imperial Court.

"Elder Princess, it’s getting late. I’ll take you back to your room to rest first."

Cai Die approached and said.

Although she missed the Elder Princess, she didn’t really want her to return to the Imperial Court, especially after learning about certain matters from the Third Prince.

"Congratulations."

Once there were only himself and the Second Prince left at the table, the Third Prince spoke up. Seeing that the guests at the table across had also mostly left, the Third Prince went up to greet them, and Falang intentionally stayed behind waiting for him.

A suave middle-aged man, it was hard to associate him with his hobby of collecting princesses from different planets.

Seeing the Third Prince approach, he commended, "Well done, this banquet was nicely organized, the superintendent is very satisfied."

"It’s just a pity that the Elder Princess is too stubborn and did not appreciate your thoughtful planning."

"It’s fine, it’s good for young people to have their own judgment."

Unlike those who liked to seize by force, Falang always appeared magnanimous. The Third Prince had also been deceived by this seemingly upright demeanor the first time they met.

After dealing with Falang for a while, he understood that this magnanimity was based on his control over the bigger picture.

In the end, Falang always got what he wanted.

Just like now, he believed that the Elder Princess would eventually don that evening gown and present herself before him, so he was in no rush.

"Chief Falang, I’ve recently come across a fine bottle of wine. It’s still early; if you don’t mind, I would like to invite you to my residence."

The Third Prince extended the invitation.

Falang glanced at the time and then replied, "That sounds good. We haven’t seen each other in a long time, let’s go to your residence and catch up. I still have some arrangements to make here, I’ll be there afterward."

The Third Prince smiled obligingly and nodded.

Such conversations had happened too often.

The reason he could stand firm in the Imperial Court, gather people around him, and expand his industries to their current state, was due to the advice and help from Falang.

By both feelings and reason, he should be grateful to the person before him.

And in the vast Imperial Court, the only one who could attract Falang’s attention was the Elder Princess alone.

When he stepped out of the hall, it was already deep into the night, and the vast moonlight shone upon the ground.

The Third Prince opened his eyes and looked up at the night sky, suddenly feeling that the moonlight was a bit glaring.

Upon reflection, in his many years living in the Imperial Court, he had never looked up to admire the moon as he did now; regretfully, tonight was not full, missing a piece.

When he returned to the hall, Cai Die had already settled the Elder Princess and was waiting at the entrance.

"Do you need me for something?"

The Third Prince concealed his fatigue and stepped forward, displaying his usual carefree demeanor.

"Could Your Highness escort the Elder Princess out of the city?"

This time, Cai Die looked at him directly.

With the Second Prince’s victory all but assured, the only one left who could send the Elder Princess out of the Imperial Court was the Third Prince alone.

The Elder Princess had left once before, for over a decade; perhaps this time, she could once again be fortunate.

"You must have seen it just now, right? The look of admiration Falang has when he looks at the Elder Princess. The colder she is to him, the more he wants to possess her."

"That’s why we need to send her away from the Imperial Court as soon as possible."

"Oh? That’s going to offend someone. What’s in it for me?"

The Third Prince spoke flippantly, observing the disgust Cai Die struggled to hide in her eyes. He seemed to understand a bit of the pleasure Falang found in this.

Taking a deep breath as if she had made up her mind, Cai Die bit out, "As long as Your Highness is willing to send the Elder Princess out of the city, I’ll do whatever you ask of me."

"Really anything?"

The Third Prince appraised Cai Die with a blatant gaze, taking pleasure in how she clearly did not want to agree, yet still forced herself to nod.

This was the pleasure of power.

Suddenly he understood why Falang was keen on collecting princesses from different planets; what he enjoyed wasn’t the princesses’ status, but the process of conquest. Watching princesses who stood high above on their planets bowing and scraping to him, fawning over him like pets, made him feel that his power had peaked.

"Not worth it."

The Third Prince suddenly said, "To offend Heaven’s envoy over a mere maid is far too foolish. Not designing to present the Elder Princess to Falang already shows restraint on my part, out of consideration for the past."

"You—!"

"Don’t you understand yet? The fact that the Elder Princess could leave the Imperial Court and, with one foot in the grave, flee to the Yunhai Academy, was Heaven’s will. That she entered the Qin Institute, learned superb qin skills and returned to the Imperial Court, was also Heaven’s arrangement. To try to break these chains of fate, a maid’s pleas and tears are far from enough."

And he had already told Cai Die the future foretold by Yi Wuyang before the feast.

The Prime Monarch would fall, the Second Prince would ascend, and the Elder Princess would return to the flagship with Falang. That was Heaven’s will.

Of course, he had only told Cai Die a small part of this future.

"After all these years, you’re still so rash. When the Elder Princess left the Imperial Court, you reluctantly came to my residence and even attempted to assassinate me with Yu Quan."

Cai Die fell silent, no longer speaking.

To attempt to assassinate a prince of the Imperial Court was a crime that would not only cost her her head but would also bring questioning and punishment upon anyone suspected to have been involved.

But the Third Prince had spared her. His only condition was that she stayed by his side until now.

"And now, you’re rashly trying to defy Heaven. If this news reaches Falang’s ears, even I won’t be able to protect you."

The Third Prince lifted his hand and extended it toward Cai Die.

Cai Die instinctively closed her eyes, her vision obscured.

"There are too many injustices in this world; how can everything go as one wishes? Even I, as the Third Prince, can’t make it so, let alone you."

The tone of the Third Prince was very different from his usual frivolity, now a solemn warning, "What you should do is close your eyes and stop looking at those injustices."

The Third Prince stared at his hand extended toward Cai Die. His index finger moved slightly forward but was interrupted by a call from afar, "Ying Tian, you’re still here?"

Falang beckoned to him from a distance. Calling him informally as if visiting a friend, he ascended the steps of the grand hall with ease and comfort.

"What is this?"

"Oh, I was just about to have Cai Die fetch some fine wine I’ve cherished for a long time."

The Third Prince had returned to his usual manner of speaking, yet that recent speech gave Cai Die an ominous premonition.

The Third Prince today seemed somewhat different from usual.

"I’ve stored the wine at Old Master Yi’s place. Go help me retrieve it, say the Third Prince sent you."

This was a lie.

As a personal maid to the Third Prince, Cai Die immediately saw through his lie.

The Third Prince had never stored any wine at Yi Wuyang’s, nor would he ever. He was sending her to retrieve something from Yi Wuyang that never existed.

It was a lie that would be exposed almost immediately, yet the Third Prince still said it in front of Falang.

A terrible thought crossed her mind.

The Third Prince, right from the start, never intended to entertain Falang with fine wine!

"But, Your Highness."

"If I tell you to go, go quickly."

The Third Prince’s face hardened, and he scolded, "Don’t ruin our mood."