Crown Prince Xue Qinghe

"Imperial Brother! This person dared to strike a member of the royal family; you must seek justice for me!" The moment he saw Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, Xue Beng instantly slipped into his act.

Xue Qinghe flashed forward, inserting himself between the two, and with a gentle flick of his right sleeve, a surge of soul power lifted Xue Beng to his feet.

The gentle, warm smile on his face had long since vanished, replaced by a rare, solemn gravity.

"Shut up! Are you not embarrassed enough already?"

Faced with Xue Qinghe's reprimand, Xue Beng did the unexpected; he dropped his usual submissive facade and spoke with a strange, biting sarcasm:

"My royal brother has always been favored by Father, while I am disliked. Now, even a random stranger dares to bully me. Naturally, I cannot compare to you, who are on such intimate terms with the Pavilion Master and praised and respected by everyone."

"Oh?" Xue Qinghe felt a flicker of surprise, but his expression remained cold as he stared at Xue Beng.

Though he did not release any soul power pressure, the look alone sent a chill through Xue Beng, who knew some of the hidden truths. He hurriedly lowered his head, secretly cursing his own recklessness.

Over the years, he had become aware of his brother Xue Qinghe's ruthlessness. Recently, he had not only begun to deliberately neglect his cultivation but also used every means to project the image of a dissolute, useless wastrel.

He had been blinded by rage, daring to mock him to his face; he could almost see his Third Brother in the underworld beckoning to him.

Seeing that he had cowed the wastrel, Xue Qinghe's expression softened slightly. He looked at Tang Yin, a flash of intrigue crossing his eyes as he thought, What a dashing young man.

He had already learned the cause and effect of the incident from the maidservant. Since this youth was a guest of the Pavilion Master, it would be improper for him to overstep his bounds.

Tang Yuehua stepped forward at this moment. She first nodded slightly to Xue Qinghe, then cast a suspicious glance at Tang Yin.

Upon hearing the maid's report, she had been puzzled as to where this "distinguished guest" had come from, but she had not questioned it then, intending to see for herself first.

However, as the youth's face came into view, a trace of shock and doubt flickered deep in Tang Yuehua's eyes.

Why did the contours of this youth's brows and eyes feel vaguely familiar?

She quickly suppressed this anomaly and turned her attention to Xue Beng.

She could not simply ignore Xue Beng's earlier comment about her and the Crown Prince being "intimate."

In truth, ever since the Moonlight Pavilion was established, various rumors about her and the royal family had been endless, but Xue Beng was the first to say such things to her face.

She had been skeptical of the recent unfavorable rumors circulating among the nobility regarding the Fourth Prince, but now, she believed them.

At this thought, Tang Yuehua's gaze turned cold, her tone filled with distance:

"Your Highness, the Fourth Prince, I am already aware of the cause of this matter. I will certainly punish the maidservant later for her lack of discipline and the resulting neglect toward Your Highness."

Xue Beng, currently anxious over his own rashness, had no heart to argue further.

Seeing Tang Yuehua offer him a way out, he acted as if granted a reprieve and feigned haughtiness: "As long as you know!"

"Imperial Brother, I am feeling unwell, so I shall take my leave."

Xue Beng only wanted to rush back and seek comfort from his uncle, Prince Xue Xing, and left in a hurry without waiting for Xue Qinghe's response.

After all, he was only fifteen or sixteen; he had not yet reached the level of political cunning he would possess in the original story.

Xue Qinghe watched Xue Beng's retreating figure, lost in thought, until he vanished from sight. Only then did he turn back and bow deeply to Tang Yuehua, his face restored to its habitual warmth, though now tinged with sincere apology.

"Pavilion Master, my fourth brother is young and impetuous; his actions were absurd and offended you and your guest. I have failed to discipline him properly and offer my apologies. Upon returning to the palace, I shall report this to the Emperor and ensure he is strictly disciplined."

Tang Yuehua's expression softened, and she shook her head slightly: "Your Highness is too kind. You have a thousand matters to attend to; there is no need to trouble yourself over such trifles."

Hearing this, the look of shame on Xue Qinghe's face lessened, and he smiled gently: "Pavilion Master Tang is truly magnanimous; I am deeply impressed."

He then turned his gaze toward Tang Yin, who had been standing quietly to the side, his eyes filled with a hint of inquiry.

"Regarding the earlier matter, although my fourth brother has already been taught a lesson, I must still apologize to you on his behalf, little brother."

Tang Yin dared not be arrogant and hurriedly cupped his hands: "Your Highness is broad-minded and righteous; Lan Yin is impressed."

"Lan Yin... a good name." Xue Qinghe nodded with a smile, his gaze lingering on Tang Yin's face for a moment before shifting away.

At the same time, Xue Qinghe noticed that when the youth spoke his name, Lan Yin, Tang Yuehua's eyes had flickered with a moment of trance. His heart stirred, and he became curious about the youth's identity.

However, he did not inquire about the origins of the youth named Lan Yin, choosing instead to bid Tang Yuehua farewell.

"Since the Pavilion Master has a distinguished guest, I shall not intrude further."

Tang Yuehua suppressed the agitation in her heart and replied at the right moment: "Your Highness is too modest. The doors of the Moonlight Pavilion are always open to you, though the hour is late, and it would be inconvenient to keep you."

Upon hearing the youth state his name and seeing a face that bore a seventy-percent resemblance to her memories, Tang Yuehua had already formed a guess about Lan Yin's identity. At this moment, she only wanted to send everyone away.

"Then I shall return another day." Xue Qinghe smiled freely, bowed to Tang Yuehua once more, and nodded gently to Tang Yin: "Brother Lan, to be honored as a guest by the Pavilion Master, you must be extraordinary. I look forward to meeting you again."

With that, he turned and walked away with a calm, steady gait.

From beginning to end, his attitude toward Tang Yin remained one of polite, distant appreciation, as if treating any talented stranger—neither overly warm nor deliberately cold, with the measure of his conduct perfectly balanced.

It had to be said that if Tang Yin did not already know his true identity, he would have been swayed by the demeanor displayed by Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.

But the real Crown Prince Xue Qinghe had been assassinated by Qian Daoliu's granddaughter, Qian Renxue, thirteen years ago; the person before him was merely Qian Renxue in disguise.

In Tang Yin's view, Qian Renxue was a truly exasperating person.

Her talent was arguably the greatest in the Douluo world, yet because of some inexplicable whim of Qian Daoliu, she had been forced to infiltrate the enemy's royal family from the age of six, staying for nearly twenty years until Tang San appeared.

The experience of extreme emotional deprivation had left a fatal flaw in Qian Renxue's character. In the end, because of her "love-struck" brain, twenty years of infiltration went to waste, and she and Tang San were mocked by the world as the "God of Tears" and the "God of Gamblers."

At this moment, the others in the hall saw that the Crown Prince had left and realized that the youth was indeed a distinguished guest of the Pavilion Master. They tactfully bid Tang Yuehua farewell, discussing the wisdom of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe with their companions as they departed.

Until every guest had left the Moonlight Pavilion, the front hall fell completely silent.

Tang Yuehua walked slowly toward Tang Yin. The cold, composed demeanor she had displayed moments ago before Xue Beng and the Crown Prince had vanished, replaced by an agitation and uncertainty she was struggling to suppress, yet which still leaked from the corners of her eyes and brows.

She gripped her handkerchief tightly, her fingertips exerting slight pressure, her gaze locked unblinkingly onto Tang Yin's face as if trying to confirm the conjecture that stirred her heart from every detail of his features.

"You..." Her voice carried a faint, subtle tremor; she almost dared not ask the question: "Are you... Hao's son, Tang Yin?"

As she asked this, her eyes remained fixed on Tang Yin, not letting a single flicker of change on his face escape her.

Tang Yin nodded slowly, his voice clear and certain: "Yes, Aunt. I am Tang Yin."

That single word, "Aunt," seemed to shatter all of Tang Yuehua's restraint.

Her figure swayed slightly as she stepped forward, her hands trembling as she grasped Tang Yin's shoulders, her gaze meticulously scanning his face.

"So like... truly so like..." she murmured, her eyes instantly reddening, "You are... practically carved from the same mold as your mother..."

Tang Yin stood quietly, allowing her to look him over.

He could feel the slight trembling in Tang Yuehua's hands and hear the faint, sharp intakes of breath she was struggling to suppress.

After a moment, Tang Yuehua took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.

She released her grip and gently wiped the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief. When she looked up again, her face had returned to its customary composure, though her eyes remained startlingly bright.

"Good child... come inside with me and tell me all about these past years!" Tang Yuehua said, taking Tang Yin by the arm and leading him toward the Moonlight Pavilion Attic.