Standing Up to the Third Prince

"Have us sleep on the streets? Why don't you go instead?" Wei Lin shouted with his neck stiffened, his face full of indignation.

"I have the deed to the property."

Those lightly spoken words landed like a resounding slap, reddening Wei Lin's face.

"You..." Wei Lin trembled with rage, yet could not force out a complete sentence for a long while.

"Pack your things and get the hell out." Jun Wushang thrust his Ink Blade forward, its tip aimed directly at Wei Zheng and his family of three. "Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite."

Just then

A languid voice came from behind them. "Could you let this conflict pass for the sake of this prince?"

The moment Wei Zheng and the other two saw who it was, they were overjoyed and hurriedly bowed. "This humble official greets Your Highness the Third Prince!"

"This humble woman/commoner greets Your Highness the Third Prince!"

Wei Qing looked calmly at the newcomer, understanding at once—the Third Prince Zhou Yan's appearance perfectly confirmed that Wei Zheng's family had thrown in their lot with him.

"This humble official greets Your Highness the Third Prince."

"This commoner greets Your Highness the Third Prince."

Zhou Yan's gaze lingered on Wei Qing, a smile playing on his lips. "Wei Qing, lately, I've heard your name so often my ears are growing calluses."

"Slaying demons and monsters, pacifying Qingcheng—you truly deserve to be the Heavenly Realm Division's youngest Earth-rank Warden."

"An Earth-rank Warden?!"

Wei Zheng's pupils shrank sharply as he stared at Wei Qing in disbelief.

He remembered that Wei Qing had gone to take the formal Guardian Envoy examination. How had he returned as an Earth-rank Warden?

But how could the Third Prince's words possibly be false?

A wave of regret immediately surged through Wei Zheng's heart.

If he had not listened to Liu Ru's instigation back then, with Wei Qing's current rate of advancement, he would surely become a core figure in the Heavenly Realm Division in the future. Wei Zheng himself could have risen high with him.

Greed glimmered in Liu Ru's eyes as she stared fixedly at Wei Qing.

In her view, Wei Qing must have obtained some heaven-defying opportunity. If that opportunity could be given to her son...

Wei Lin, meanwhile, was completely dumbfounded, standing there like a wooden chicken.

"It is only a trifling matter. How could I dare trouble Your Highness into remembering it?" Wei Qing replied calmly.

A cold glint flashed through Zhou Yan's eyes before vanishing, but his face still bore a gentle, jade-like smile. "Lord Wei, why not let today's matter rest here? This palace is willing to act as a peacemaker."

Jun Wushang and Li Wen exchanged a glance, then both looked toward Wei Qing.

In their eyes, prince or no prince, the emperor was still in the prime of life. Who would ultimately inherit the throne remained uncertain.

They recognized only Wei Qing as their brother, and in all matters, they followed his wishes.

Just then

Yun Tianheng's voice suddenly rang out in Wei Qing's mind. "Find an opportunity and kill him!"

"Brother Tian, what did you discover?" Wei Qing asked inwardly.

"That brat carries the aura of the demon and monster race. He has concealed it well, but he cannot hide it from my senses."

After fighting the demon and monster race for so many years,

their aura had long since been branded into his instincts.

"Understood."

Wei Qing's brief daze fell into Liu Ru's eyes, and a smug smile quietly curled across her lips.

So what if he was powerful? Before a member of the imperial family, didn't he still have to bow his head?

Yet Wei Qing's next words made her eyes fly open in an instant.

Wei Qing's gaze was like a blade as he looked straight at the Third Prince. "I appreciate Your Highness's goodwill, but I must decline. This is a matter within the Wei household, so there is no need to trouble Your Highness."

"Impudent! Wei Qing, you refuse even to heed the Third Prince's words? Are you trying to rebel?" the eunuch beside the Third Prince shrieked.

"What are you?" Wei Qing raised his eyes, cold light suddenly flashing within them. The killing intent forced the eunuch back half a step. "The Third Prince himself has said nothing. Is it your place, a person with incomplete limbs, to overstep your bounds and speak in his stead?"

"I serve under the Heavenly Realm Division, and the Heavenly Realm Division is loyal only to His Majesty. You filthy creature have neither official rank nor imperial summons, yet you dare babble about rebellion."

"In this official's view, the one plotting treason is you, you eunuch dog."

Incomplete.

Filthy.

"You."

The eunuch trembled with fury, veins bulging at his collar. His most secret shame had been torn open alive, and his withered fingers clenched tightly around his horsetail whisk.

Yet when he met Wei Qing's icy, grim eyes, he could not curse out even half a word. He stood frozen in place, unable to move.

"Trash."

Hearing Wei Qing curse the locust tree while pointing at the mulberry, Zhou Yan shot the eunuch beside him a vicious glare.

Then he turned to Wei Qing, his tone softening. "Since Lord Wei insists on handling this fairly and according to the law... then let it be handled according to the law."

"Your Highness the Third Prince..." Liu Ru immediately panicked.

If they truly followed the law, her family would really be driven out.

But when she met Zhou Yan's icy gaze, the rest of her words instantly lodged in her throat.

They relied entirely on the Third Prince for support now. How could they dare defy his wishes?

"This prince still has matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave first." Zhou Yan flicked the hem of his dragon-patterned robe, his face dark as he headed for the gate.

Before leaving, he gave Wei Qing a deep look, the gloominess in his eyes nearly spilling over.

"Enough." Wei Qing withdrew his gaze and looked at Wei Zheng's family of three. "You can move now, yes?"

"Or do you want us to help pack your things?"

Wei Zheng rebuked him in heartbroken fury. "Qing'er, are you truly going to be this ruthless? If your father returns and learns how you treated me, he definitely will not spare you!"

Then,

his tone shifted, carrying a hint of coaxing. "If you hand over the opportunity you obtained in Qingcheng, we can put in a good word for you before the Third Prince. Presumably, he will no longer hold today's matter against you."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Liu Ru hurriedly echoed. "Your younger brother can now work under the Third Prince. With him speaking up at his side, the Third Prince certainly will not continue to resent your offense."

Wei Lin's eyes shone brightly as he began imagining his strength soaring after obtaining the opportunity, with countless beauties throwing themselves into his arms.

"You really are shameless beyond belief." Jun Wushang looked at the family of three with utter contempt. "Now you want to set your sights on Qingzi's opportunity? Why don't you weigh yourselves and see whether you deserve it?"

"Get out now! Otherwise, don't blame the blade in my hand for not recognizing people!"

"This is a matter of our Wei family. What right does an outsider like you have..." Wei Zheng still tried to put up a stiff front.

"Get out!"

Wei Qing's furious shout forcefully cut him off, his gaze ice-cold.

Startled by that gaze, Wei Zheng felt as though he had fallen into an ice cellar and instantly fell silent.

Next, Wei Zheng and the others unwillingly packed their belongings. Jun Wushang watched them the entire time and said coldly, "Do not touch so much as a needle belonging to Uncle Yuan and Qingzi."

"Otherwise, I'll chop off your dog paws!"

"Hmph, you will regret this!"

Wei Zheng threw down one last threat, then led his wife and son onto the carriage in disgrace and slunk away from the Wei residence.

"Are we really just letting them leave?" Li Wen asked, somewhat puzzled.

Wei Qing gave a mysterious smile. "The good show has only just begun!"