Does the Crown Prince Need to Worry?

"Your Highness, please, do not hold a grudge against the Imperial Concubine."

"That's right, Your Highness. Could you really bring yourself to bully such a delicate woman?"

Many people stepped in to dissuade Qian Renxue, urging her to remain rational.

Ye Yunxi chuckled inwardly, her face beaming with a sweet smile. She retracted her spirit power and struck a languid pose, allowing the gaze of the entire room to settle upon her, completely ignoring the murderous look in Qian Renxue's eyes.

"Everyone, please rest assured. The Imperial Concubine is only joking with you all. This Prince is not the type to resort to violence."

Qian Renxue swallowed her rage and offered a stiff explanation, then grabbed Ye Yunxi by the wrist, forcibly dragging her away from the Moonlight Pavilion.

The ball was already over; there was no reason to stay any longer.

A fuming Qian Renxue pulled Ye Yunxi into the carriage.

"The Imperial Concubine certainly knows how to win people over. Don't forget, you are mine. You are an Imperial Concubine, not some woman out there flirting with others. Letting those men stare at you like that—did you not consider my feelings?"

Qian Renxue gritted her teeth, looking at the smug Ye Yunxi with intense frustration.

"Your Highness, everything that happened tonight is because of you! I didn't want to come to the ball, but you dragged me here. I didn't want to speak, but you made me speak. I didn't want to dance, but you made me dance. Who else is there to blame?"

Ye Yunxi poured out everything on her mind, feigning a look of helplessness.

"How did I never notice you were so good at talking back?"

Qian Renxue clenched her fists, ultimately forced to swallow her resentment in silence.

"There are many things about me that Your Highness has yet to discover. You had best let me go, or you will live to regret it."

Ye Yunxi gave a sly, fox-like wink and smiled to herself.

Qian Renxue ignored her; letting her go was out of the question.

Once I finish off the other princes and Emperor Xue Ye, and ascend the throne of Heaven Dou, let's see how you run then.

The carriage pulled away from the Moonlight Pavilion.

At this moment, the group from Shrek Academy also walked out of the pavilion. Watching the carriage disappear, each of them harbored their own thoughts.

Dai Mubai felt somewhat perplexed. As someone born into nobility, why had he been so coldly brushed aside by the Crown Prince?

Yet, the Prince had taken a clear liking to Tang San.

Ma Hongjun and Oscar were lost in their own separate musings.

Only Xiao Wu was truly incensed. She was his childhood sweetheart, yet he had shown such deep affection for an Imperial Concubine. Even if he explained it later, it still made her incredibly angry.

Not to mention, that woman was already spoken for.

Could it be that Tang San actually wanted to cuckold someone else?

Yu Xiaogang watched the departing carriage and thought to himself, This woman is even more stunning than Bibi Dong, yet I, the Grandmaster, have not even received a word of praise from her.

"Everyone, you should head back first. I need to discuss some matters with my father, and I will return to Shrek Academy shortly."

Ning Rongrong said this and did not follow them back to Shrek Academy, instead heading toward Ning Fengzhi.

Following Ning Rongrong's departure, the remaining six returned to Shrek Academy.

At the Crown Prince's Mansion, Qian Renxue returned and immediately pinned Ye Yunxi against the wall.

"Imperial Concubine, be sensible and behave yourself from now on. If you want to go out and play in the future, I won't stop you. But what you did tonight displeased me greatly."

"Your Highness, if you feel that I am in the wrong, then I have nothing more to say. Do with me as you please."

Ye Yunxi closed her eyes, maintaining an air of indifference.

The more she acted this way, the more furious Qian Renxue became.

What did she want? She wanted an explanation, an admission of fault.

Yet Ye Yunxi was the exception; she simply refused to bow her head or apologize.

"Fine, you win."

Qian Renxue released her grip and sat weakly on the edge of the bed. She truly had no way to deal with Ye Yunxi.

Seeing that Qian Renxue had given up, Ye Yunxi smiled. She stepped onto the bed and moved behind Qian Renxue, wrapping her arms around her.

"What is troubling Your Highness? Why not tell me about it?"

"What would a little vixen like you understand?"

"If you tell me, won't I understand?"

Ye Yunxi smiled.

"I am preparing for my ascension to the throne. There are potential threats everywhere. Once I ascend the throne, won't you become the Empress? Is that not what you want?"

Qian Renxue took the initiative, pulling Ye Yunxi into her arms and wrapping an arm around her waist, gazing at her captivating beauty.

"Your Highness, I don't have much feeling for such things. But regarding you eliminating all the other princes—do you not feel that something is still amiss?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Qian Renxue's body stiffened. She looked at the Ye Yunxi before her in disbelief, stunned that she knew so much.

Was she guessing? No, she definitely knew something.

Looking at Ye Yunxi before her, whose expression was calm, flawless, and naturally enchanting.

Judging by the time they had spent together, she dared not treat this woman as an ordinary girl; perhaps she really did know something about the matter?

"Since Imperial Concubine knows these things, then tell me, how should the others be dealt with?"

"Why should I say anything without a reward?" Ye Yunxi pouted.

"As long as what you say is reasonable, I will grant you a week off, how about that? But only within the vicinity of Tiandou City."

Qian Renxue smiled and pinched her cheek.

"Fine, since Crown Prince says so, then I shall speak."

This was the moment she had been waiting for.

"You seem to have dealt with the other princes, but you left out only Xue Beng."

"Xue Beng? He is merely a playboy prince; what threat could he possibly pose?"

A trace of doubt appeared on Qian Renxue's face; Xue Beng was just a wastrel, and there was nothing about him that could threaten her.

"Crown Prince, one cannot judge matters solely by their surface. Sometimes, being a playboy is just a way to protect oneself."

Ye Yunxi continued:

"Xue Beng is not actually a playboy prince, and he has colluded with Prince Xue. Think about it: so many princes have died in the imperial palace; how could Xue Beng not put on a display of being a wastrel?"

"Crown Prince, do you not understand a simple principle? It is better to kill a thousand by mistake than to let a single one escape."

The moment these words fell, Qian Renxue seemed to realize something.

What Ye Yunxi said was not without reason.

Xue Beng used his arrogant, domineering, and playboy facade to protect himself, making everyone believe he was a good-for-nothing.

Xue Beng was also certain that she would not take action against a wastrel.

Just like the little princess Xue Ke; since women could not inherit the throne, she would never take action against Xue Ke either.

Ye Yunxi watched as Qian Renxue figured it out.

"Crown Prince should have understood by now, right?"

"The problem lies exactly there. Moreover, Prince Xue and Xue Beng have joined forces, and they are also a potential threat; after all, there must be experts by their side."

At this mention, Qian Renxue immediately thought of him: Dugu Bo.

"That's right, he has Dugu Bo by his side."

"You can just go ahead and take action; Dugu Bo and his granddaughter Dugu Yan are no longer a threat."

"What do you mean?" Qian Renxue did not quite understand Ye Yunxi's words.

She knew exactly what kind of person Dugu Bo was; how could he not be a potential threat?

Back then, he had even refused the recruitment of Martial Soul Hall.

"Crown Prince can just take action; I say it's fine, so it's fine. I don't worry as much as you do."