Xue Xing: Whoever Benefited Most Was the Prime Suspect

Xue Xing: Whoever Benefited Most Was the Prime Suspect

It was only after entering the kitchen that Su Yuntian realized Da Xue was not cooking today. Instead, it was two chefs who had been transferred from the imperial kitchen some time ago.

What a joke. Da Xue was already the Crown Prince's Mansion's head steward, okay? Unless something unusual happened, why would she personally cook?

Today, Da Xue had not even stepped into the back kitchen. She sat in a chair in one corner of the dining hall, staring blankly at the ceiling out of boredom.

Su Yuntian quietly sidled over, dragged over a chair, and sat beside Da Xue.

"A remarkable guest came today. Want to guess who it was?"

Da Xue rolled her eyes at Su Yuntian and said irritably, "How remarkable could they be? No matter how important the guest is, they can't be more important than His Highness."

"Not necessarily." Su Yuntian put on an exaggerated air. "The visitor today was Ning Fengzhi, the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, who was just appointed Crown Prince's Grand Tutor a few days ago. His Highness may be the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, but the status of a crown prince is still inferior to that of a sect master from the Upper Three Sects, right?"

That was indeed true. Although Xue Qinghe, as the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, possessed an exceedingly noble status, it was not enough before Ning Fengzhi.

After all, this world respected strength above all else. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was the only one among the Upper Three Sects that supported the Heaven Dou Empire. Even Xue Ye treated Ning Fengzhi with utmost respect when they met, let alone Xue Qinghe, who was merely a crown prince without real power.

Su Yuntian had revealed Ning Fengzhi's visit because he thought it would startle Da Xue, but she merely snorted twice. "Ning Fengzhi? So what if it's the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? In my heart, His Highness is the greatest."

Su Yuntian grew confused.

When they first met Ning Rongrong outside the imperial city two years ago, Da Xue had not been afraid of that Little Witch. Now that Ning Fengzhi had come, she did not seem to care much either.

Did she truly know nothing about the world of soul masters, or did she simply think Xue Qinghe's status as Crown Prince was incredibly useful?

Su Yuntian thought it over and over, but he still could not make sense of it. The logic simply did not add up.

Da Xue continued staring blankly at the ceiling, then suddenly sighed softly. "Six years."

Six years?

What six years?

Su Yuntian rose from his chair and stared at Da Xue, his large eyes full of question marks.

But Da Xue seemed to lose interest. "Even if I told you, you wouldn't understand."

"I..." Su Yuntian was unhappy. "How would I understand if you don't tell me?"

"You just wouldn't understand."

"Then tell me. Maybe I'll understand after you do?"

"I don't feel like telling you anymore."

Da Xue slowly narrowed her eyes and waved a hand at Su Yuntian, signaling for him to get lost.

Su Yuntian felt utterly miserable.

Sure enough, there was no reasoning with women!

That evening's dinner was a family banquet held at the Crown Prince's Mansion.

The guests were Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, Ning Fengya, and Ning Rongrong. The host was Xue Qinghe.

As the Crown Prince's study companion, Su Yuntian normally did not qualify to sit at the table. However, Xue Qinghe seemed particularly happy today and had Su Yuntian sit at the very end, pouring wine for everyone.

When Sword Douluo Chen Xin took his seat, he glared at Su Yuntian. The white-haired old man's gaze was exceedingly sharp, but Su Yuntian merely lowered his head and refused to meet his eyes.

Ning Rongrong and Ning Fengya had already changed clothes. Ning Rongrong had wanted Chen Xin to give Su Yuntian a severe beating, but the old man never made a move. This angered her so much that she began pouting again, looking thoroughly displeased.

Ning Fengya, on the other hand, had a rather favorable impression of Su Yuntian and came over to chat with him for a while.

According to Ning Fengya's introduction, he was Ning Fengzhi's third son. He was thirteen this year, the same age as Su Yuntian.

After comparing birthdays, they discovered that Ning Fengya was two months older than Su Yuntian. Su Yuntian had not expected this third young master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to address him as a brother.

When Su Yuntian poured wine for Sword Douluo Chen Xin, that old man, who had no respect for his age, actually asked Su Yuntian to drink with him.

Su Yuntian retorted, "I'm not even eighteen yet. I'm still growing. His Highness said that drinking too much makes you stupid!"

Chen Xin was left speechless.

Xue Qinghe, who was drinking with Ning Fengzhi, immediately became rather awkward.

...Come to think of it, he was only sixteen this year, still two years away from eighteen.

After dragging on for several hours, the dinner finally ended without incident.

Su Yuntian accompanied Xue Qinghe as they saw the four members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect out of the Crown Prince's Mansion. Their carriage had long been waiting outside.

Before leaving, Ning Fengya waved reluctantly at Su Yuntian. "Yuntian, until we meet again."

Although they had not spent much time together, Ning Fengya had developed a very favorable impression of Su Yuntian.

Su Yuntian had not looked down on him because of his mutated Martial Soul. On the contrary, his words had suggested that the mutated Black Tower Martial Soul was very powerful. Ning Fengya, who had always suffered setbacks at home and been looked down upon by the sect, had found a sense of presence. He had found someone who acknowledged and praised him. It felt truly wonderful!

Ning Rongrong, in contrast, had no pleasant expression for Su Yuntian. As the Little Witch climbed into the carriage, she pointed viciously at him and threatened, "Little thief, just you wait! This young lady won't spare you next time!"

Su Yuntian folded his arms across his chest and replied arrogantly, "I'll be waiting anytime."

He was not afraid of the so-called Little Witch at all. Besides, bullying a spoiled young lady like Ning Rongrong gave Su Yuntian an inexplicable sense of satisfaction.

...Well, Ning Rongrong did look rather cute when she wailed and cried.

The Crown Prince's Mansion was tranquil and peaceful at night.

After seeing Ning Fengzhi and the others off, Xue Qinghe headed back with Su Yuntian. The newly appointed imperial Crown Prince began teasing his attendant. "It seems Ning Rongrong is very interested in you."

"I think she's very interested in seeing me suffer."

"Even an ill-fated bond is still a bond. She is the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, after all. So, what do you think? Want to consider developing things with her?"

Su Yuntian recalled the countless Douluo fanfictions in which Ning Rongrong had successively been added to the harems of various protagonists, and he immediately shuddered. "Please spare me, Your Highness. I'm not interested in that kind of woman."

Not knowing what Su Yuntian was thinking, Xue Qinghe merely smiled and asked, "Ning Rongrong is ten this year, three years younger than you. Do you... not like girls younger than you? Could it be... you prefer older women? Like Da Xue?"

Hearing Da Xue's name, Su Yuntian could not help freezing for a moment before immediately shaking his head. "Your Highness, you really like joking around. A rabbit doesn't eat the grass near its own burrow."

Xue Qinghe did not mind. "I understand. After a while, I'll transfer you out of the Crown Prince's Mansion. Then Da Xue won't be grass near your burrow anymore."

"Please don't!"

...Unlike the cheerful Crown Prince's Mansion, the Prince's Mansion near the imperial city was solemn and murderous, its atmosphere oppressive.

This was the residence of Prince Xue Xing, Xue Ye's younger brother.

In a secret chamber deep within the inner courtyard, Prince Xue Xing looked at the freshly completed autopsy report, his arm trembling uncontrollably.

This was the autopsy report for Third Prince Xue Haicang, prepared by three Soul Douluo from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Because it had to be especially detailed and accurate, it had taken longer.

Then Prince Xue Xing personally dug out another autopsy report from two years ago.

It was Second Prince Xue Luochuan's.

Xue Haicang's cause of death—chronic poison.

Xue Luochuan's cause of death—chronic poison!

The two had died from the same poison!

Who had the audacity to poison and kill two princes in succession?

Even as Xue Xing felt furious, the scene from the day the Crown Prince was appointed surfaced uncontrollably in his mind: the ministers surrounding Xue Qinghe and offering their congratulations.

The person who had benefited most from the deaths of the Second Prince and Third Prince was his eldest nephew, Xue Qinghe.

...Could it have been him?!

Note 0: Thanks to reader Blue Ox Went West, Leaving Only Laozi for the reward!

Note 1: Even an ill-fated bond is still a bond. She is the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, after all. So... are there any friends who like Ning Rongrong?

Note 2: Da Xue is pretty good too. Anyone supporting her?