The man Wu Long looked at first did not look back, but a smile appeared on his lips as he finally turned his head as their gazes met. His silver eyes looked down at the man groveling beside Wu Long’s feet as a mocking light appeared in them, and then turned up to look at Wu Long again.

‘Impressive’

Seemed to be the word in those eyes, praising Wu Long for finding him as Wu Long’s gaze was completely neutral. After there was no reaction, the emotion in the gaze of the man slightly shifted and when Wu Long turned to walk away, became completely serious as caution took hold in those silver eyes.

Wu Long walked to Wu Mengqi with a light smile and she slightly blushed, having an urge to find a secluded place with him right now.

She would have moved herself, as she was ready to make the man a real eunuch, this time with a hilt of her sword instead of her knee of course, as she remembered Wu Long’s previous words, but he beat her to it.

Song Minfu, in turn, looked at him with both surprise and admiration, as it was not an easy feat to go on a gamble against the Emperor like that and emerge unscathed. Of course, there were larger politics at play in how the events unfolded, but it seemed to the Crown Prince that Wu Long utilized those currents and skillfully navigated them with his every decision.

Song Lingfei, on the other hand, stood in a light daze as she looked at him with shiny eyes. It was the first time someone stood in stark defiance of her Grandfather’s presence in her memory.

‘Must be nice’

She also felt his protectiveness toward Wu Mengqi, and a light tinge of envy appeared in the corner of her mind. Her thoughts wandered to the question of when she would have a man who would do the same for her in such a dashing fashion.

As he came back Wu Mengqi whispered something into his ear to which he simply smiled.

“I am inclined to let Crown Prince Minfu, his daughter and his guests leave to tend to their own matters, does Prince Gengxin wish to object?”

Song Zhihao asked with a sigh as Wu Long’s main accuser was in no state to continue his tirade, and has likely permanently lost his claim to the throne. There were many points of order for the Emperor to consider and spare his attention on, and since this matter seemed to be wrapped up he simply asked for formality.

Song Gengxin did not raise his voice or rather react in any way. He did not even move his gaze from the spot below as he was still kneeling on the floor, though not touching it with his forehead anymore.

He did not even care enough to stand up anymore as the surroundings seemed to fade and all he heard was snickers that amplified into roaring laughter that covered his ears along with the sound of his own heart beating and his vision seemed to blur out everything around. His bloodshot eyes were glassy as they looked down, devoid of emotion or even sentience.

A broken doll, thrown out as it became useless, was what best described his appearance, as well as factual state.

Wu Long nodded to the Emperor, and left with their group under the eyes of the hundreds of the Imperial Family members.

As she saw them exit, Bi Rui sighed with relief, having been anxiously pacing before the doors for the whole time they were inside.

“See, barely an inconvenience”

Wu Long chuckled and Bi Rui smiled not able to refute that it did look that he got out of this seemingly tricky situation very easily.

—

“Who was that?”

Wu Long asked as they walked down the halls.

“Song Guanyu, unlike my brother Gengxin, Guanyu is not from the current ruling branch of the family but descends from a branch removed from us by generations, all the way to the Imperial Ancestor. And while our bloodline has gradually became diluted his bloodline is more or less preserved as it was, since that branch has been producing only one male heir per generation and seeking partners from other branches for him, as well as engaging in various ‘other practices’ to enhance their bloodline”

Song Minfu’s face became serious as he talked about the man.

“He is the current generation’s… Lingfei’s generation’s heir of that branch. And since Lingfei’s bloodline is exceptionally pure…”

Wu Long nodded with understanding even if Song Minfu did not continue.

“But why want her to not be cured?”

Wu Mengqi asked as it seemed counter-productive for people who sought to have Song Lingfei produce offspring to interfere with her being treated.

“There is a different faction that is responsible for attempts on my life. Several of them who are all vying for the throne.

But it does not mean that he and his ancestors are in favor of me being cured either, since they are afraid that my bloodline will decline during the treatment or that I would pass away during it without leaving a descendant. Not to mention that if I were to be cured Father would be in the capacity to inherit the throne and thus in a dominant position they cannot force a marital union from”

Song Lingfei spoke with a hostility showing in her demeanor for the first time, showing how ‘fond’ she was of this idea.

“I see, so he wants you to bear his child… ugh”

Wu Mengqi suddenly became a lot more compassionate to Song Lingfei who was experiencing unwarranted courting that she could not easily dismiss much like she once had.

“Mm, he is also covetous of enhancing his own bloodline with mine, since they are obsessed with bloodline purity of the Azure Eagle race”

Song Lingfei scoffed as she was explaining. It was said that their ancestor, one of the sons of the Imperial Ancestor, was the one who had the purest bloodline of the Azure Eagle among his peers, which was his pride and gradually became his obsession. And when he was passed for the position of the Emperor, swore to keep his bloodline so that his noble blood would inherit the throne one day.

“Hm? How would he enhance his bloodline?”

Wu Mengqi asked as she looked slightly confused and Song Lingfei slightly blushed under the veil, not knowing how to explain.

“By taking her Pure Yin Essence”

Wu Long explained and Wu Mengqi widened her eyes.

“But didn’t you say that special physiques could not be stolen?”

“Yes, that is true for special physiques, but not bloodlines, though even with them it is not exactly stolen but shared”

Wu Long nodded as Wu Mengqi finally understood what ‘other practices’ Song Minfu talked about earlier.

As they reached a place where the way to the exit and the way to the Crown Prince’s detached palace parted the group stopped.

“We will contact you with our decision soon”

Song Minfu said as he was still inclined to persuade his daughter to pick the safer but longer method.

“Actually, I would really appreciate if both of you visited me in the palace to have a chat, if that is not inconvenient”

Song Lingfei added, and her father slightly raised his eyebrow. He then sighed with a rueful smile since it seemed that his daughter found a loophole in her circle of isolation since Wu Long and Wu Mengqi by association were someone she could interact with. After all, Wu Long was the one who would be the one curing her. 𝘪𝑟𝒶.𝘤𝑜𝘮

“Of course, Your Highness”

“Hehe, sure, would love to, Your Highness”

Wu Long and Wu Mengqi smiled and as Song Lingfei happily smiled in response, turned to leave, escorted by Bi Rui.

“How is Fairy Yu Huan?”

“She has been busy with learning the knowledge you gave her, though she has been going to the Alchemy Tower more and more, saying that she was swamped with assignments from her superiors”

Bi Rui said with some worry as her friend looked tired every time they met, though Bi Rui herself was busier after getting her promotion.

“Hmm, I will be visiting her soon, so do not worry too much”

Wu Long said, reassuring the beauty who became cheerful because of this promise.

“I will be visiting you to catch up later as well, Captain Bi Rui”

Wu Long then parted with Bi Rui at the entrance to the palace, but not before whispering to her as she slightly blushed and Wu Mengqi chuckled with an amused light in her eyes.

They arrived at Sui Luxiao’s mansion, expecting to wait for her since it was still early in the evening and the sun was still up in the sky, but were surprised to find her already awaiting them.

“Hehe, it seems someone was impatient”

Wu Mengqi giggled as Sui Luxiao’s cheeks became slightly rosy. Wu Long shook his head with a smile and proceeded to introduce the two to each other, the evening after that starting off with dinner.