Killing the Chicken to Scare the Monkey

Dan Tai Huang was also stunned for a long time. She hadn't expected Huang Fu Ling Xuan to be so daring in her love and hate—if she said they were friends, they were friends; if she liked someone, she liked them without any concealment! This kind of spirit was something few could achieve even in modern times!

Jun Jing Lan looked at Huang Fu Ling Xuan and gave a light smile, saying indifferently, "Prince Chu is truly fortunate!"

"Is the Bei Ming Crown Prince very envious?" Dan Tai Huang asked reflexively, tilting her head.

"Naturally. If one day the Princess says such words to this Prince, I would die without regrets!" His tone was casual, making it impossible to tell if he was serious.

Dan Tai Huang rolled her eyes at him and said with a half-smile, "Then you can just keep living with your regrets!"

"Ha ha ha..." He laughed loudly, a laugh that could make everything in the world pale in comparison. When the laughter stopped, he crossed his arms and said lazily, "It seems the Princess can't bear to let this Prince die!"

This time, Dan Tai Huang didn't even bother looking at him. For someone so shameless, she felt communication was impossible because his way of thinking was beyond that of normal people!

Dan Tai Ji shot a cold, warning glance at Dan Tai Huang! Then, he spoke to explain her action of kicking someone into the water: "My sister was disrespectful today; please forgive her, Dong Ling Emperor! But this Prince believes she is not someone who acts without reason!" Although it was an explanation, he wasn't weak. He was being polite before firm, making it clear that while she was disrespectful, it wasn't entirely their fault. Thus, if Huang Fu Xuan wanted to use this as an excuse to discipline his sister, it was a pipe dream!

Huang Fu Xuan naturally understood his meaning. Royal family ties were inherently thin, so he really couldn't understand what was so good about Dan Tai Huang that made Dan Tai Ji protect her to this extent! Despite his lack of understanding, he curled his lips and said with a half-smile, "They are just children. Since Ling Xuan and Princess Qing Huang don't mind, why would I say more!"

"Then I must thank the Dong Ling Emperor for his generosity!" Dan Tai Ji said with a smile.

As soon as he finished, a eunuch was seen leading a group of maids from the southern palace. Judging by their attire, they weren't from the Dong Ling palace. They walked quickly and bowed: "This servant greets the Dong Ling Emperor, the Bei Ming Crown Prince, the Mo Bei First Prince, and the Third Princess!"

"Rise. Who are you?" Huang Fu Xuan asked with a frown. If he remembered correctly, the leader was one of Mu Rong Fu's people.

"Reporting to the Dong Ling Emperor, this servant is an inner attendant to the Xi Wu Empress. I have been ordered by Her Majesty to invite the Bei Ming Crown Prince!" the eunuch said in a high-pitched voice.

Thus, in Dan Tai Huang's mind, the image of an old woman quickly formed. An Empress—in this era of male dominance, it certainly wasn't easy to become an Empress. Therefore, this Empress was likely eighty percent like Wu Zetian! Now she was inviting the monster...

Soon, she began to imagine Jun Jing Lan being forced to submit to an old woman for the sake of his country. She sighed inwardly, and a wicked smile gradually appeared on her lips, almost as if she were gloating...

However, she had clearly overthought it.

Jun Jing Lan frowned. First, he glanced at a certain woman's wicked smile, then he casually looked at the little eunuch and said, "I accept the Xi Wu Empress's kind invitation. It's just that today is unfortunate; this Prince must stroll through the Imperial Garden and have no time!"

"This..." The eunuch was stunned. Clearly, after serving for so many years, he had never met anyone who dared to disrespect the Empress like this. Even if they didn't go, they would find a more professional excuse, such as being busy with state affairs, having important business, or being unwell. Yet... he had to stroll through the garden, so he had no time?

Huang Fu Xuan and Dan Tai Ji knew very well that Jun Jing Lan's wolf had offended many people last night while drunk, and the Xi Wu Empress was the most offended! In the end, Jun Jing Lan sent apology gifts everywhere, except to Mu Rong Fu's place, as if he completely ignored her. Mu Rong Fu sending someone to invite him was certainly not with good intentions; this action was entirely expected!

If Jun Jing Lan went now, he would have a chance to resolve the conflict. But if he didn't, he was completely setting himself against Xi Wu!

Seeing the eunuch hesitate, Jun Jing Lan shot a cold glance, his murderous intent showing: "What? Have I not made myself clear enough?"

The eunuch was also a stubborn person. Seeing Jun Jing Lan so arrogant, he suddenly grew angry, raised his head, and said, "Bei Ming Crown Prince, your pet did such a thing last night; shouldn't you give the Empress an explanation? Her Majesty personally sent someone to invite you, yet you show no respect. This is..."

Before he could finish, the murderous aura in Jun Jing Lan's eyes appeared, and he flicked his sleeve!

The long robe fluttered, and a gust of wind as sharp as an arrow shot out!

After that flick, the eunuch who was just full of life and talkative was suddenly like a kite with a broken string, flying off the ground! He flew through the air for more than ten meters, then *thud!* He drew an arc and hit the ground, a mouthful of blood spraying out! He could no longer utter a single word!

It was currently late spring in the third month, with a gentle spring breeze and a bright sun high above. The imperial palace was also a place of green grass, blooming flowers, and chirping birds. Such a beautiful scene symbolized vibrant life, and anyone seeing it would be happy. Yet, in such a beautiful setting, a person had died, just for saying one word too many...

The palace servants were all trembling with fear! How could they have forgotten that the Bei Ming Crown Prince's temperament was such that he never showed respect to anyone? He might not act, but once he did... Today, a single strike that killed was already considered merciful!

But the person who offended him was dead; what should they, the innocent ones, do! While they were terrified, they heard Jun Jing Lan's voice, which was three parts gentle and seven parts cold: "A mere inner attendant dares to raise his voice at this Prince! Is it because I've seemed too easy to talk to lately?"

"This servant... this servant knows his mistake. Please calm your anger, Bei Ming Crown Prince!" Everyone hurriedly knelt, their teeth chattering and their bodies shaking like falling leaves.

Seeing this, Dan Tai Huang instinctively swallowed. Only now did she realize how much the monster had tolerated her! Thinking back to how she always yelled at him, mocked him, and even threw shoes at him several times, yet was still living a carefree life—it was truly a miracle!

As the host, Huang Fu Xuan saw that Jun Jing Lan was not showing respect to Xi Wu and that a conflict was about to erupt. He felt a surge of joy in his heart but still stepped in to mediate: "They are just a few servants; why should the Crown Prince be angry! What are you all still doing here? Get lost!"

The servants, hearing this, felt as if they had been granted a great amnesty and hurriedly fled.

"The Crown Prince doing this, I fear the Xi Wu Empress..." Dan Tai Ji spoke hesitantly, as Jun Jing Lan had helped them a few times after all.

The murderous aura in Jun Jing Lan's eyes faded, and the bright red cinnabar mark also gradually dimmed. He casually glanced at the bushes and said indifferently, "Royal Brother need not worry. Mu Rong Fu almost roasted this Prince's pet; naturally, I must let her know the weight of things!"

If he had been a bit slower last night, Xiao Xing would likely be gone. Moreover, compared to Huang Fu Xuan, how could Mu Rong Fu have the strength to oppose him?

As Jun Jing Lan finished speaking, Xiao Xing, who was hiding in the bushes peeking, had a green light flash in its eyes. Its mouth curled up into a happy grin... *As expected, Master Xing is the one the master loves most!* Thinking this, it glared fiercely at Dan Tai Huang. *That lowly woman dared to poison me. Doesn't she know I'm handsome, elegant, and a rare animal that needs special protection? Not only did she not protect me, she even...* Thinking of this, it shed a tear of sorrow...

To the side, Huang Fu Xuan's face was filled with embarrassment. Last night, he had also ordered the Imperial Guards to shoot that wolf. Jun Jing Lan's words were clearly a veiled insult! As the host, wanting to kill a guest's pet was, in any case, unreasonable, so he remained silent.

Dan Tai Huang also instinctively swallowed, suddenly beginning to worry for her own life. The culprit who made Xiao Xing go crazy was her.

At that moment, Jun Jing Lan suddenly took a few steps toward her and said with a light smile, "Could the Princess tell this Prince what you were thinking just now when that eunuch came to deliver the message, that your face showed such a smile?"