Liang Yinghao was a bandit by birth, after all, and a curse slipped straight from his mouth. "What the hell is that old bitch trying to do?"
Hu Xiaotian smiled. "Nothing good, at any rate. I saw plenty of duels and bloody clashes on the way here. Countless incidents like that have happened before the husband selection has even begun. Once it officially starts, there are bound to be plenty of disputes. I suspect Long Xuanjiao may be using this affair to stir up conflicts between the various factions and sow hatred."
Zhao Wusheng said, "An ordinary man is innocent, but carrying a precious jade makes him guilty. Whoever becomes the prince consort will end up a target for everyone, won't he?"
All of them looked at Hu Xiaotian at once, worried for him. His purpose in coming was perfectly clear: he was determined to win Princess Yingyue. As for becoming prince consort, he cared little about that.
Hu Xiaotian said, "Something just occurred to me. Suppose people knew who had the best chance of becoming prince consort. What do you think everyone would do before the official result came out?"
None of the three spoke. Hu Xiaotian continued, "They would all attack him together and kill the likeliest candidate before the result was announced."
Everyone understood that the tree rising above the forest would be battered by the wind. The Fragrant Kingdom's selection of a prince consort was nowhere near as romantic and beautiful as it sounded. Beneath it lay bloodshed and cruelty.
After dinner, Zhan Peng accompanied Hu Xiaotian back to his room. Only after closing the door did he say quietly, "My lord, I saw Miss Murong."
Hu Xiaotian's expression instantly grew grave. Murong Feiyan's disappearance had always been an inexplicable mystery to him. He did not