361: Chapter 361 Stupidity!

Feng Ming turned and walked toward a secluded spot in the Inn's backyard. He opened Gan Lei's letter, and as his eyes scanned the handwriting, his expression suddenly shifted, and the Aura around him abruptly grew heavy.

Not daring to delay, he immediately took out a communication stone and sent a four-word message to Xun Luoyuan: "Meet at North Tower."

After finishing the transmission, his figure flickered and vanished into the night.

A moment later, at the northern city tower of the Imperial Capital.

The night wind howled, whipping the banners on the tower into a frantic flutter. Xun Luoyuan arrived in a hurry, her hair slightly disheveled, her cheeks flushed with an unnatural crimson, and a faint scent of alcohol lingering about her.

"Why have you called me here so late? Has something happened?" She looked at Feng Ming, her eyes filled with confusion.

Feng Ming raised an eyebrow, his gaze landing on her flushed cheeks. "Drinking alone in frustration?"

Xun Luoyuan gave a light laugh, her tone carrying a sense of liberation. "A celebratory drink! To celebrate finally breaking free from the shackles of an arranged marriage and no longer being at anyone's mercy."

"You escaped the Second Prince, only to be tied to me. What is there to celebrate?" Feng Ming spoke indifferently.

Xun Luoyuan looked up, a hint of cunning flashing in her eyes. "It's naturally different. With you, there's still room for a divorce, but with the Second Prince, it would have been a bottomless abyss with no hope of ever seeing the light of day."

"In that case, I shall await your letter of divorce," Feng Ming said calmly.

Xun Luoyuan was taken aback and quickly changed the subject. "Let's not talk about that. Why did you call me here in the middle of the night?"

Feng Ming stopped smiling and asked solemnly, "Has Your Majesty's punishment for Yang Chenyu been issued?"

"It was just delivered to the Prince's Mansion half an hour ago." Xun Luoyuan nodded, her tone cold. "Banished from the capital, but his life was spared."

"Yang Chenyu is an eighth-rank powerhouse. Your father, King Xibei, followed Your Majesty all his life and achieved great military feats, yet now he ends up like this. Such a resolution is bound to chill the hearts of loyal subjects! You were drinking late at night, likely out of indignation for this matter as well, weren't you?"

Feng Ming looked out at the deep night beyond the city and spoke slowly.

Xun Luoyuan's eyes dimmed, and she gave a bitter smile. "No one knows me better than you. Yang Chenyu was once an old subordinate of Prince Zhenwei. Although Prince Zhenwei is elderly, he is still healthy; whereas my father has long since exhausted his life force and has little time left."

"It was expected that Your Majesty would abandon my Xun family to appease Prince Zhenwei."

Feng Ming did not respond, only raising his hand to point outside the northern city wall.

Xun Luoyuan looked in the direction he pointed and saw a dark figure taking advantage of the night to swiftly dash out of the North Gate. The figure was agile—who else could it be but Yang Chenyu?

"You called me here just to watch him leave the capital?" Xun Luoyuan frowned, not understanding his intent.

"No," Feng Ming shook his head. "It was merely to witness it with my own eyes and confirm a suspicion in my heart."

"What suspicion?"

Feng Ming did not answer directly. Instead, he handed her a slip of paper recording personnel changes in the Imperial City and said in a low voice, "Before Your Majesty dealt with Yang Chenyu, the Imperial Guard, the attendants, and even the Commander of the Imperial Guard were replaced on a large scale. Don't you find such actions too suspicious?"

Xun Luoyuan gripped the paper, her brow furrowed. "I am not as meticulous as you. No need to beat around the bush, just say it. In this matter... I trust you."

Feng Ming looked at her, each word clear and powerful. "Your Majesty never truly cared for you. Last night's scheme was orchestrated by him from beginning to end."

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace of the Imperial Capital, at King Haoyue's courtyard.

King Haoyue sat at a stone table, holding a book. The moonlight draped over him, adding a touch of majesty. Grand Tutor Grand Tutor approached quickly and bowed. "Your Majesty, Yang Chenyu has successfully left the city."

"Mhm," King Haoyue responded faintly, his eyes never leaving the book.

Grand Tutor hesitated for a moment before whispering, "I just saw Feng Ming and Xun Luoyuan at the northern city tower. They... seem to have noticed something."

King Haoyue finally put down the book and chuckled. "This scheme had many flaws to begin with. That child Feng Ming is exceptionally clever; it's not surprising he could spot something. However, the situation is already set. There's no need to worry about the rest."

"Your Majesty is absolutely right. This was the safest plan with the smallest cost." Grand Tutor paused, then added, "When I came, I ran into the Crown Prince; he is likely on his way here."

King Haoyue nodded slightly, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness. "The Crown Prince is my biological son after all, but his Heart-Nature is immature. I shall guide him personally."

Grand Tutor bowed and took his leave.

Just as he left, Crown Prince rushed in impetuously, his expression anxious and his tone filled with dissatisfaction. "Father! Why did you bestow Xun Luoyuan to Feng Ming in marriage? She is the woman I have been enamored with for years!"

"Presumptuous!"

King Haoyue's face darkened, and his sharp reprimand carried a daunting Aura. Crown Prince's heart jolted, and he quickly knelt, not daring to say another word.

"Father, I... I truly cannot understand." He lowered his head, his tone aggrieved.

"Foolish!" King Haoyue scolded harshly, his tone reflecting his disappointment. "If I remember correctly, you have been pursuing Xun Luoyuan for three years now. In these three years, has she shown you even a shred of affection?"

"The civil and military officials all see your character. To expect to marry the Xun Luoyuan with how you are? It's nothing but a pipe dream!"

"But you are the Sovereign! With one Imperial Edict, you could have forced the marriage!" Crown Prince argued defiantly.

"Even if I forced it, all you would get is an empty shell, never her heart!" King Haoyue interrupted him. "Is what you want merely the person of the Xun Luoyuan, and not the power of the Xun family behind her?"

Crown Prince was stunned, left speechless.

"As the Crown Prince, your status is noble, but Xun Luoyuan is the daughter of King Xibei. She has been accustomed to power plays since childhood. Why would she fall for you just because of your position?" King Haoyue's tone softened slightly.

"Since you couldn't win her yourself, I have paved the way for you by marrying her to Feng Ming. Feng Ming has already been appointed Prefect of Qianzhou, which is your territory. You only need to bring Feng Ming into your fold. With his marriage to the Xun Luoyuan, the strength of the Xun family will naturally be at your disposal."

Crown Prince's eyes lit up with sudden realization, and he nodded repeatedly. "So that's it! I was foolish; I didn't even think of that!"

Then, he looked worried again. "But the Third Prince is also doing his best to recruit Feng Ming. Feng Ming has never stated his side. If the Third Prince beats me to it..."

"Stupid!" King Haoyue scolded again. "This is the Imperial Capital. As an external official, how would Feng Ming dare to openly take a side? If he were to explicitly support one party, he would bring a death sentence upon himself by tomorrow."

"Anyone in his position would only remain neutral right now. Look at the Third Prince—as soon as something happened to Feng Ming, he was busy distancing himself to prove his innocence. That is the art of power!"

Sweat broke out on Crown Prince's forehead as he kowtowed repeatedly. "Please enlighten me, Father. What should I do?"

"What you must do now is show a posture of being thirsty for talent and being magnanimous," King Haoyue said solemnly. "Even if Feng Ming marries the Xun Luoyuan, you should still treat him with courtesy and closeness. He and the Xun Luoyuan will naturally be grateful for your kindness."

"In three days, when Feng Ming and the Xun Luoyuan leave the capital, you will go in person to see them off and take the opportunity to win them over. Qian Prefecture is your territory. If you let the Third Prince snatch them away right under your nose, then you don't need to be the Crown Prince anymore!"

"I understand! Thank you for your guidance, Father!" Overjoyed, Crown Prince kowtowed once more and stood up to leave excitedly.

Watching the Crown Prince's hurried departure, King Haoyue shook his head helplessly and sighed softly, "How could I have fathered such a foolish son..."