Crown Prince's Eastern Palace, Hidden Golden Eyes

Crown Prince's Eastern Palace, Hidden Golden Eyes

The clamor of Heaven Dou City was like an endless tide, carrying every kind of desire and calculation in its wake. Ling Feng boarded his Horned Scale Horse at a reputable stable by the city gates, paid the full caretaking fee, then blended into the veins of this vast imperial capital like a drop of water entering the sea.

He did not immediately report to Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Instead, guided by an instinctive intuition, he headed toward the city's most central and most exalted district—the imperial city.

After passing through the bustling central avenue and crossing the heavily guarded archway into the noble district, a magnificent palace complex rose before him. Glazed tiles flowed with a golden sheen beneath the sunlight, enormous white jade steps led up to imposing palace gates, and royal guards in gleaming silver armor stood like statues, radiating an inviolable aura. This was the heart of power in the Heaven Dou Empire—the Heaven Dou Imperial City.

Ling Feng's destination was the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace, an independent palace complex on the eastern side of the imperial city, more elegant yet equally grand in style.

After presenting Spirit Hall's token, which represented his dual identity as the son of the Adjudicator Elder and the Pope's adopted son—though it was not a core elder's token, merely a symbolic identity token—and undergoing layer upon layer of reporting and strict inspection, Ling Feng was finally led by a poised middle-aged eunuch in cyan court robes through winding corridors and into the heart of the Eastern Palace—the Crown Prince's study.

Unlike the resplendent palace he had imagined, the Crown Prince's study was furnished with exceptional elegance. Rosewood bookshelves covered an entire wall, filled with all manner of classics and dossiers. A massive desk had been carved from warm, lustrous jade, its surface neatly arranged with the four treasures of the study and a stack of memorials. Several landscape paintings of profound artistic conception hung upon the walls, while a faint scent of ink filled the air and calmed the mind.

Someone sat behind the desk.

He wore a fitted robe of bright yellow, noble yet gentle. His long black hair was tied with a simple jade hairpin, revealing a smooth, full forehead. His face was handsome, with swordlike brows and starry eyes, while a gentle smile that made others feel as though they stood in a spring breeze rested on his lips. He held a brush and was reviewing memorials, his expression focused and steady. An understated, refined air that inspired trust emanated from him.

The Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe!

Ling Feng's gaze fell upon "his" face, yet slight ripples rose in his heart. Perfect! An utterly flawless disguise! Whether it was the temperament, demeanor, or that gentle smile, all of it perfectly suited the persona of "Xue Qinghe." Had he not already known the truth, and personally experienced the cold arrogance of those Molten Gold Eyes, he would never have connected this jade-like Crown Prince to Spirit Hall's proud and aloof Young Master.

"Ling Feng? The son of Adjudicator Elder Ling Zhan?" Xue Qinghe put down his brush and raised his head, his gentle gaze settling on Ling Feng with precisely the right amount of surprise and a trace of appreciation. "I have long heard of your name. His Eminence the Pope mentioned in his letter that Young Master Ling was a gifted youth who wished to enter Heaven Dou Royal Academy for further study. I was most delighted to hear it. I did not expect you to visit personally. I failed to welcome you properly; I hope you will forgive me." His voice was clear and pleasant, carrying a comfortable magnetism, entirely different from Qian Renxue's cold voice.

"Your Highness flatters me." Ling Feng bowed slightly, respectful and courteous, with a hint of the restraint expected of someone new to the city and just the right amount of admiration on his face. "I have only just arrived in Heaven Dou and am unfamiliar with the place. Recommended by His Eminence the Pope, I came specifically to pay my respects to Your Highness and receive your guidance. At the academy in the future, I will need much of Your Highness's care."

His gaze seemed lowered, but in truth, it was like the most precise scanner, silently observing every subtle expression and movement Xue Qinghe made. At the same time, he quietly activated Gaze of Destiny, struggling to catch fragments of the other party's emotional fluctuations amid the interference and noise.

"Young Master Ling is too courteous." Xue Qinghe rose, walked around the desk, and personally made a gesture as if to help Ling Feng up, his smile warm and sincere. "Your father, Elder Ling Zhan, contributed greatly to the cooperation between the empire and Spirit Hall in those years. His illustrious name still endures. As his bloodline, and with such high regard from His Eminence the Pope, your future is surely boundless. For Heaven Dou Royal Academy to receive a talent such as yourself is truly a blessing."

He led Ling Feng to sit at a nearby tea table and personally poured him a cup of fragrant pre-rain Longjing tea. "You have only just arrived, so I imagine you are still unfamiliar with Heaven Dou City. If you need anything, do not hesitate to ask. The doors of the Eastern Palace will always be open to you." Every word displayed the manner of a crown prince who valued talent and treated others with humility.

Ling Feng accepted the teacup with both hands and thanked him. The two began chatting like an ordinary young noble and a future monarch. Xue Qinghe was an extraordinary conversationalist, widely learned, and could speak effortlessly of Heaven Dou Empire's customs, history, and even amusing tales from the world of soul masters. His words were filled with affinity and wisdom, making people unable to help but feel favorably toward him.

Ling Feng, meanwhile, played the role of a young nobleman fresh to the world, with a trace of youthful vigor and hopes for the future. From time to time, he raised questions that seemed innocent but secretly carried probes, such as Xue Qinghe's views on the major powers in Heaven Dou City and his expectations for the Soul Master Tournament. Xue Qinghe's answers were impeccable. They revealed the bearing of a crown prince while deftly avoiding sensitive matters at the core.

Throughout the entire exchange, the atmosphere remained harmonious and cordial. Xue Qinghe's—Qian Renxue's—disguise was flawless. Whether it was her eyes, tone, or body language, there was not the slightest crack to be found. Yet relying on his understanding of Qian Renxue's true nature, as well as the hazy glimpse granted by Gaze of Destiny, Ling Feng still caught an exceedingly subtle scrutiny and aloofness, perfectly concealed beneath that gentle exterior.

Especially when he mentioned that "His Eminence the Pope has praised Your Highness highly," an almost imperceptible... cold ripple flashed deep within Xue Qinghe's eyes. It vanished in an instant, but Ling Feng still caught it precisely.

It seems this Young Master does not much appreciate His Eminence the Pope's 'praise.' Ling Feng sneered inwardly.

About half an hour later, Ling Feng rose at the appropriate moment to take his leave. "Thank you for Your Highness's hospitality and guidance. Ling Feng has benefited greatly. I dare not disturb Your Highness's handling of state affairs any longer, so I shall take my leave first. Once I have settled down, I will return to receive Your Highness's teachings."

Xue Qinghe rose as well and smiled warmly. "Very well. Young Master Ling has only just arrived, so you surely have matters to settle. I will have an attendant escort you out of the palace. If you have leisure, you may come to the Eastern Palace anytime."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Ling Feng bowed once more.

Led by the eunuch in blue, Ling Feng left the elegant, tranquil study and passed through the Eastern Palace corridors. Just as he was about to step out through the palace gates, he turned his head slightly as if on a whim, his gaze casually sweeping toward the study.

The study window was half open.

Behind it, the figure in bright yellow still stood there.

Only, that spring-breeze smile had already vanished.

In its place was a gaze that crossed layer after layer of courtyards and pierced through the distance of space—cold and sharp as molten gold, filled with probing and a trace of concealed hostility!

That gaze was like an icy blade, stabbing precisely into Ling Feng's back!

It was Qian Renxue! The disguise of Xue Qinghe had fallen away, and the cold, proud, unquestionable nature of Spirit Hall's Young Master was fully exposed in that single glance!

Ling Feng did not pause, as though he had noticed nothing, and calmly walked out through the Eastern Palace gates. Yet a cold curve rose at the corner of his lips.

"Xue Qinghe? Heh, the game between us... has only just begun."