Evening Primrose

Evening Primrose

Prince Xue Xing had to admit that the mastermind behind the poisoning of the Second Prince and Third Prince had handled things very thoroughly. If the two princes had not died from the same poison, it could almost have been called flawless.

Whenever Prince Xue Xing investigated the poison's source, however, the trail always went cold within the imperial palace, leaving him unable to follow the clues to the person behind it all.

Although he could not identify the ultimate conspirator, Xue Xing was now certain that there was a high chance the other party belonged to the same faction as Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.

The deaths of Xue Luochuan and Xue Haicang were undoubtedly grievous losses for the Heaven Dou Empire and Xue Ye, but for First Prince Xue Qinghe, they were steps that had pushed him toward the position of Crown Prince.

Even if the murderer was not Xue Qinghe, they would be Xue Qinghe's ally.

Having realized this, Prince Xue Xing let out a heavy sigh. He seemed to have aged several years at once as he slumped weakly into his broad chair.

He had no evidence whatsoever that Xue Qinghe had masterminded the poisoning of the two princes.

Therefore, Prince Xue Xing could not report the Crown Prince to the Emperor.

And taking a step back, even if Prince Xue Xing did have evidence, what could he do?

For the Empire's stability and the prosperity of the imperial family, would Xue Ye kill Xue Qinghe to avenge his two sons?

After killing Xue Qinghe, could eight-year-old Xue Beng bear the burden of the Empire's future?

Everything was unknown, but Xue Xing understood the importance of a nation's heir. From the day Xue Qinghe became Crown Prince, it had become impossible for him to be the murderer.

Even if he had truly planned the assassination, he could not be the murderer or the mastermind.

Because he was the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire.

"This matter can only end like this."

After a long while, Prince Xue Xing rose and walked over to the brazier, tossing the two autopsy reports into the coals. They turned to ashes in an instant.

"Though I can't expose the murderer who killed Second and Third... I have to protect Fourth."

The innocent smile of Fourth Prince Xue Beng appeared in Xue Xing's mind.

"The game of power truly is cruel. Fourth, if you are to survive in the future, Uncle can only raise you to become a wastrel."

Early the next morning, Prince Xue Xing entered the imperial palace and found Fourth Prince Xue Beng, who was attending his elementary lessons. Smiling warmly, he said, "Beng Beng, Uncle has a big, fun treasure here. Do you want to come take a look?"

Xue Beng, who had been nodding off, instantly perked up. "I do! I do!"

And so, Prince Xue Xing took Xue Beng out of the palace.

The soul master responsible for teaching Xue Beng dared not voice his anger. After all, Prince Xue Xing was the Emperor's own younger brother and deeply trusted by Xue Ye. His power was not something a mere Soul Elder could shake.

Xue Beng followed Prince Xue Xing around all day before returning to the palace.

It was the same day after day.

Xue Beng had been playing with Xue Xing for an entire month. What thrilled the young boy was that not a single activity had been repeated during that month.

Cricket fighting, cockfighting, dogfighting, bullfighting, soul battles, falcon hunting, deer hunting, horse training, rabbit catching... Uncle Xue Xing always seemed to have some new and exciting treasure for him to play with, always leaving Xue Beng completely satisfied.

A month later, the same rhythm continued.

The several soul masters responsible for Xue Beng's education finally could not endure it any longer. They jointly submitted a memorial directly to the Emperor.

To their surprise, after Xue Ye read the memorial, he merely wrote a single word:

"Noted!"

This left Xue Beng's teachers at a loss.

After Xue Beng heard about the matter from Prince Xue Xing, his last remaining worry vanished, and he played even more happily.

From then on, the many absurd antics of Prince Xue Xing and Fourth Prince Xue Beng, along with their reputations as wastrels, began spreading throughout Heaven Dou City.

Xue Ye began receiving memorials impeaching Prince Xue Xing. Most accused him of leading the Fourth Prince astray, but without exception, Xue Ye ignored every one of them.

Undercurrents stirred within Heaven Dou City. Salas, the Platinum Bishop of the Spirit Hall Main Hall, received confidential reports one after another and learned of Xue Ye's attitude toward the matter.

The master of the Crown Prince's Mansion, "Xue Qinghe," also obtained this intelligence.

On a silent, deserted night, Xue Qinghe read the confidential report alone in her bedroom, then burned it alone, letting out a faint sigh.

"Although there is no direct evidence, I think Xue Xing has begun to suspect me."

"If I hadn't followed the Pope's Palace's orders back then, and had instead won through the righteous path as Xiao Tian said, would things have been better...?"

Her voice was soft and low, audible only to herself.

At this moment, she had shed the disguise of First Prince Xue Qinghe, revealing long golden hair and a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms, like an Evening Primrose quietly blooming in the night.

Unfortunately, no one was here to admire her beauty.

After a long while, Qian Renxue finally blew out the lonely lamp and turned over on the broad, soft bed.

The night was long, and sleep would not come.

On this lonely night, Qian Renxue was not the only person in the Crown Prince's Mansion unable to sleep.

The other sleepless person was Su Yuntian.

Whenever he recalled that night two years ago, countless questions hung in his mind, impossible to dispel.

Who had been the mastermind behind the attack on the Nuoding City Spirit Hall Branch Hall and the murder of Elder Ma Xiunuo?

Who was the long-haired older sister who had appeared at the critical moment and saved both him and his brother?

Was his brother, Su Yuntao, alive or dead? If he was alive, where had he gone?

Su Yuntian could not figure out any of these questions.

He had also suspected "Xue Qinghe," but having read the original Douluo Continent, Su Yuntian knew that Xue Qinghe at this time was Qian Renxue.

In essence, the Nuoding City Spirit Hall Branch Hall was still supposed to obey Qian Renxue, the Spirit Hall Young Mistress. Qian Renxue had no reason to do those things.

Su Yuntian had also wondered whether the golden-haired young lady who saved him that night might have been Qian Renxue.

But he had followed Xue Qinghe for two years now and had never had an opportunity to see her true face.

This question could only be answered in the future.

Unable to sleep no matter how much he tossed and turned, Su Yuntian simply sat up, draped on an outer robe, put on his shoes, and left his room to clear his mind.

In the latter half of the night, Heaven Dou City no longer had the daytime clamor or the lively bustle of the first half of the night. Everything in sight was gray and hazy, with only a bright moon hanging high in the deep blue sky.

Breathing the slightly cool air, Su Yuntian slowly entered the rear garden. The faint rustling of insects reached his ears. The lakeside grasses were lush, but the water was utterly still. There was not a trace of wind. The moon in the lake was large and round, reflecting the one overhead.

He walked toward the pavilion in the middle of the water. Just as he was about to sit down, he saw that someone was already seated across from him.

"Your Highness?"

Su Yuntian could not hide his surprise, because the person opposite him was none other than Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.

Note 0: Thanks to reader Gilquilia for the reward!

Note 1: The protagonist has "read" Douluo Continent, but not closely. In other words, he knows the general direction, but may not remember the details.

Note 2: The protagonist did not immediately suspect that "Xue Qinghe" had planned the attack on the Nuoding City Spirit Hall Branch Hall because his heart was not dark enough yet. For the time being, he could not imagine that Qian Renxue wanted to take control of him as soon as possible.

Note 3: As for the later story of the protagonist and Qian Renxue... of course, it will have plenty of twists and turns.