Xue Beng's Acting Skills, Qian Renxue's Test

The two princes raised their cups in toast, and Ye Mu gave them some face.

He took a light sip.

Then he focused on the food, seemingly unwilling to pay the two any attention.

He had never been interested in royal power struggles.

Although he knew Xue Qinghe's true identity,

he had no intention of exposing it.

He simply did not want to involve himself too deeply in this world's affairs.

Unless someone provoked him, or he happened to run into it,

why should he interfere?

As for the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, he only showed consideration for Xue Ke's sake.

After all, she had followed him for several years and called him Master Ye for years.

He could give her a little face.

She could be considered half his own person.

But asking him to solve the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's problems?

Absolutely impossible!

At least for now, he could not be bothered with it.

Every empire and every dynasty would have its times of prosperity and decline.

Over the long years, he had watched countless empires rise and fall.

If he intervened in every single one, there probably would be no Heaven Dou Empire or Star Luo Empire left today.

Having seen such things too often, his temperament had naturally become indifferent.

When Xue Beng saw that Ye Mu was ignoring him, his eyes shifted.

Should he cause some trouble to attract Ye Mu's attention?

Suddenly, he noticed that something was off about the way Xue Qinghe was looking at him.

That discovery made every hair on his body stand on end.

Could his eldest brother be planning to make a move against him?

Was it because he had tried to curry favor with Ye Mu?

The thought filled him with panic.

The second and third princes had both died under mysterious circumstances.

He had long suspected that Xue Qinghe was behind it.

But he had found no evidence.

So, in order to survive, he could only disguise himself.

He disguised himself as an idle playboy with no ambition.

That way, he could numb Xue Qinghe's vigilance.

The facts proved that a useless Xue Beng was indeed not worth Xue Qinghe's effort.

That was why he had survived until now.

But if he tried to win over Ye Mu, it would very likely arouse Xue Qinghe's suspicion.

All his previous efforts would have been wasted!

His thoughts raced, and he had already come up with an idea.

His face suddenly flushed red.

There seemed to be anger flickering in his eyes.

"Master Ye, I am the fourth prince of the empire. I toasted you, yet you only took a sip. Isn't that rather unreasonable?"

That single sentence abruptly rang out.

The entire banquet hall suddenly fell silent.

Even Ye Mu was somewhat stunned.

Well, well. This kid was interesting.

After a moment, Xue Ye seemed to come to his senses, and his face turned pale with fright.

"Insolence! Xue Beng, what nonsense are you spouting?"

Yet those words did not make Xue Beng stop.

Instead, he turned around, his face filled with displeasure.

"Father, I am the fourth prince, no matter what. Even if he is a Title Douluo, even if he saved you, shouldn't he recognize his place?"

"The dignified fourth prince of the empire toasted him, yet he refuses to give me even the slightest face?"

Xue Ye's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

What was going on with this thing? Had he been remade in a furnace or something?

Dugu Bo and Prince Xue Xing were dumbfounded as well.

Had the fourth prince lost his mind?

How could he speak to a senior like that?

Although Prince Xue Xing did not know Ye Mu's cultivation,

Dugu Bo's attitude alone told him that Ye Mu's cultivation was far above Dugu Bo's.

So how did Xue Beng dare offend him?

Dugu Bo, meanwhile, felt like crying.

This was a genuine God Level powerhouse!

If the fourth prince angered Ye Mu with this stunt,

the entire Heaven Dou Imperial Family would be wiped out.

"Bastard! You, kneel!"

Xue Ye gritted his teeth.

With a thud, Xue Beng knelt on the floor, still muttering under his breath.

"That was the truth. Where am I supposed to put the fourth prince's dignity?"

"Bastard! Bastard, get out! Kneel outside!"

Xue Ye truly had the urge to draw his blade now.

He had been trying his utmost to win over this powerful expert, yet his son had made such a mess of things. How was he supposed to proceed afterward?

Xue Beng quickly ran outside, though he still looked thoroughly unconvinced.

"Master Ye, this... this... My foolish son is ignorant and has offended you. Please forgive him."

Xue Ye hurriedly rose to apologize.

Ye Mu waved his hand. "It is nothing. Haven't you already punished him?"

Though he said that, he was rather impressed by Xue Beng.

That kid's acting was genuinely good.

And his improvisation had been excellent.

But would keeping up this disguise really work?

On Qian Renxue's side,

after seeing Xue Beng's outrageous performance, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed she had overthought things.

She had thought Xue Beng possessed some hidden scheming, but he was still just an idle playboy.

He had even offended such a powerful expert!

Since he was merely a playboy, there was no need to pay him so much attention.

Otherwise, if she acted against him and aroused suspicion instead, it would not be worth it.

Keeping Xue Beng alive was still somewhat necessary for her.

If all the other princes died

and only she remained, people would certainly grow suspicious.

If someone investigated deeply, she would likely face serious trouble.

Everything she had done before might be uncovered.

She vaguely sensed that someone was already watching her.

She could not make any major moves during this period!

Still, she remained curious about Master Ye.

Where exactly had he come from?

"Master Ye, Xue Beng is young and offended you. I apologize to you on his behalf."

As Qian Renxue spoke, she poured herself another cup of wine and drained it in one gulp.

That attitude made Xue Ye nod to himself.

This was what an outstanding heir should be.

She did not flaunt her status, was courteous and refined, and even knew how to win powerful experts over for the imperial family.

If Xue Beng were even half as outstanding as her, how wonderful would that be?

"You are too polite."

Ye Mu took another sip and continued focusing on the feast.

After drinking, Qian Renxue considered it for a moment, then sat down beside Ye Mu.

"I had never heard of Master Ye before. May I ask where Master Ye came from?"

The question seemed somewhat presumptuous.

But it was also what Xue Ye and the others wanted to know.

Ye Mu's origins were extremely mysterious.

They had investigated, yet found no clues at all.

"You are asking about my origins so directly?"

Ye Mu raised an eyebrow.

Qian Renxue really was bold.

Qian Renxue gently shook her head. "Everyone is curious about Master Ye's origins, and everyone knows that Master Ye's methods are profound."

"If Qinghe were to beat around the bush, Master Ye would likely see through it as well. That would only make Master Ye unhappy for nothing!"

"So Qinghe asked directly. If Master Ye does not wish to answer, I will not ask again."

Xue Ye nodded to himself.

Qinghe truly was highly capable.

No one could find fault with what she had said.

Ye Mu, however, knew that Qian Renxue was still testing him.

Or rather, she was testing his temperament.

No matter how one looked at it, she had nothing to lose by probing him directly.

If he became enraged, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family would be the ones out of luck.

And if he revealed his origins, she would gain a clearer understanding of him.

From every angle, her question served her interests.

"Xue Ke, after all these years, do you know where I came from?"

"Ah? I don't know."

Xue Ke was suddenly called out and was a little bewildered.

"See? Even Xue Ke does not know. Why should you be allowed to know?"

Qian Renxue froze for a moment.

Then she quickly reacted.

Within the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, Xue Ke was naturally the closest to Ye Mu.

But if even Xue Ke did not know, what right did anyone else have to know?

"Qinghe was presumptuous. I shall punish myself with a cup."