Waiting

Wang Chen breathed in Meng Hongchen's sweet scent as he held her slender, willow-like waist, soft as though boneless.

Meng Hongchen's breathing was hurried, her pale, tender fingers tightly clutching Wang Chen's clothes.

After a long while, their lips finally parted.

Meng Hongchen's little lips were coated in a glistening sheen like syrup, making them look exceptionally enticing.

Her pretty face was flushed crimson, and mist swirled in her beautiful sapphire-like eyes. Looking at Wang Chen's perfect face, she felt weak all over, her mouth filled with sweetness.

Thinking of how forward she had been just now, she shyly buried her little head in Wang Chen's chest.

Wang Chen stroked Meng Hongchen's little head and teased, "Weren't you very brave just now? Why did you suddenly become shy?"

Wang Chen stopped after a taste, holding the sweet-smelling Xiao Meng as his mood soared.

Between him and Meng Hongchen, it was only kissing, hugging, and playful lifts. He remembered clearly how good Meng Hongchen had been to him. The final step certainly could not be taken so casually—it had to be grand, passionate, and romantic. Only then would Wang Chen be satisfied.

Hearing Wang Chen's teasing, Meng Hongchen raised her little head and bashfully, irritably pounded his chest with her soft little pink fists.

"Wang Chen Gege, you're awful~ Who told you to smell so good? I just couldn't resist~"

After saying that, Meng Hongchen lay against Wang Chen's chest and took a deep breath.

Meng Hongchen thought, Wang Chen Gege smells so nice. I can't describe that scent, but just breathing it in makes my body seem more energetic. I feel warm all over—so comfortable.

Meng Hongchen's feeling was not an illusion. The reason for it was that Wang Chen had absorbed quite a bit of Life Force from the Gold of Life over the past three years.

Now, after being tempered and cleansed by the Gold of Life, his body contained not a trace of impurity and was extraordinarily pure. Calling it flawless would not be an exaggeration.

Moreover, because his Life Force was so vigorous, not only could he recover quickly from injuries, but his entire body naturally exuded the aura of life, so of course he smelled pleasant.

The two snuggled together. After a while—

Meng Hongchen recalled the recent news that First Prince Xu Tianran had become Crown Prince, and a trace of worry surfaced in her eyes.

She immediately said with concern, "Wang Chen Gege, if you ever run into danger, you must come find me. I—my grandfather—can protect you."

Hearing this, Wang Chen gently combed through her white hair with his fingers and smiled. With his current strength, he naturally did not need anyone's protection, but being cared for and cherished like this truly felt nice.

Wang Chen smiled and went along with her. "Alright."

Hearing Wang Chen Gege's words, Meng Hongchen proudly lifted her head. "Wang Chen Gege, let me tell you, I'm already level forty-five now. In another year or so, I should be able to break through to level fifty and become a Soul King."

After saying that, Meng Hongchen looked at Wang Chen curiously. "Wang Chen Gege, what's your cultivation level now?"

Wang Chen, who had already broken through to Soul Emperor, said, "Me? My cultivation is a little higher than yours."

"How much higher is a little?"

"Guess."

"Forty-six?"

"Nope."

"Forty-seven?"

"Still no."

"..."

Meng Hongchen guessed several times in a row, but every answer Wang Chen gave her was no.

Meng Hongchen immediately puffed up her cheeks. "Wang Chen Gege, you're fooling me. Don't tell me you've already broken through level fifty."

Wang Chen gazed into Meng Hongchen's blue eyes, pinched her delicate little nose, and said, "I'll keep it secret for now. You'll find out after some time. I guarantee it'll be a surprise."

Seeing how mysterious Wang Chen was acting, Meng Hongchen immediately clung to him and acted coquettishly.

The two chatted for a long time more, from cultivation insights to the things they liked. The room was filled with laughter and cheerful voices.

Before they knew it, sunlight streamed through the window and fell upon them, coating the two in a layer of golden radiance.

Once evening fell, Wang Chen bid farewell to Meng Hongchen and returned home.

Wang Chen sat cross-legged in meditation and thought to himself, Everything is ready. All that's left is to wait for Xu Tianran to be assassinated.

Meanwhile, at the Crown Prince Residence.

After Xu Tianran became Crown Prince, every morning, the gates of the Crown Prince Residence were already packed with carriages and horses.

One luxurious carriage after another arrived, while officials and nobles lined up to deliver gifts.

Before the gates of the Crown Prince Residence, a fair-faced, beardless eunuch watched as officials and nobles continuously stuffed small gifts into his hands, smiling until his eyes narrowed into slits.

Ever since Xu Tianran became Crown Prince, even the status of a lowly eunuch like him, responsible for receiving guests at the gate, had risen sharply. Just collecting these small gifts each day earned him several hundred Gold Soul Coins. It was simply blissful.

The eunuch accepted gifts while registering them, then assessed the officials and nobles delivering presents with a particularly sharp eye, dividing them into three ranks.

Those of the highest rank were naturally invited directly into the residence.

Those of middling rank were told to wait, while those of the lowest rank could leave their gifts behind and then go home.

The gates of the Crown Prince Residence were not somewhere just anyone could enter. If everyone were allowed in, wouldn't the entire residence burst at the seams?

In the blink of an eye, night arrived. Under the illumination of Soul Tool lamps, the entire Crown Prince Residence was as bright as day.

Deep within the Crown Prince Residence lay courtyards upon courtyards, with carved beams and painted rafters everywhere, each detail displaying the imperial family's majesty and extravagance.

One grand hall was slightly noisy at the moment, for a banquet was being held within.

This banquet had been hosted by Crown Prince Xu Tianran, naturally with the purpose of stamping his mark as crown prince upon the ministers and nobles attending it.

To attend the crown prince's private banquet—those who understood knew exactly what it meant.

Xu Tianran wore the Eight Claw Fire Dragon Robe exclusive to the crown prince and sat in the seat of honor. He sat upright, his complexion rosy, his eyes gleaming with the satisfaction of one whose ambitions were being fulfilled.

Below him, nobles and ministers sat along both sides of the hall. Each wore luxurious attire, their expressions either excited or respectful, their gazes repeatedly drifting toward the crown prince, as though Xu Tianran possessed an endless radiance that drew them in.

At the center of the hall, the female musicians swayed gracefully as they held their various instruments and played with focused attention. The zither's melody flowed leisurely like a babbling stream;

the flute curled and turned like birdsong in a forest; the drums thundered like ten thousand galloping horses. The instruments intertwined into a moving composition that echoed throughout the hall.

The dancers twirled gracefully to the music. Their garments were exquisitely crafted, their gauzy veils as thin as cicada wings, every gesture brimming with charm and liveliness.

Especially the glimpses of fair skin beneath those garments, which made quite a few lechers steal repeated looks.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, you are wise and mighty, settling great matters with thunderous resolve. This minister admires you beyond measure and wishes only to serve you with all sincerity. This minister offers you a toast!"

A powerhouse over fifty years old, whose cultivation had reached the rank of Soul Sage, raised the wine cup from his table and stood, toasting Xu Tianran with a face full of reverence.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince, your sage judgment is clear and decisive. You perceive the smallest details and see far ahead. You are the fortune of the sun and moon, the blessing of all people..."

Setting aside their ability to accomplish real work, these ministers and nobles had truly reached the pinnacle when it came to flattery.