221: Return to Kyoto

White Gaze hesitated for a moment before learning from Uncle Luosang and Manager Ba Te, kneeling on one knee to salute.

"Prince Yi—"

Bai Shengrui glared at him. "Poor hills and evil waters produce treacherous—"

Before he could finish his sentence, he was stopped by the cold gaze of Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi.

Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi personally stepped forward to help White Gaze up. "No need for formalities. I heard you were assassinated last night, so I rushed here overnight to bring you back to the capital!"

White Gaze glanced at the four assassins to the side, bit his lip, and said nothing.

Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi also glanced at them and ordered his men.

"Take them away and watch them carefully. Interrogate them well to see who gave the order!"

He instructed his servants to arrange transportation for White Gaze and the others.

Everyone left, leaving only Bai Shengrui and the confidants of Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi in the room.

"You all leave as well."

After Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi dismissed even his confidants, he walked up to Bai Shengrui and slapped him hard!

"Father, you—"

"As soon as the results of White Gaze's talent came out, I told you to pick him up! Now, you don't even know which one he is, or that he was staying at this hotel? You pretended quite well. Do you think I don't know what you're planning?!"

Bai Shengrui's eyes rolled, and he immediately knelt on the ground.

"Father, please investigate. A small beast tide broke out here yesterday, so picking up Third Brother was delayed. I was originally going to pick him up today, but you said you were coming, so I waited here for you!"

Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi looked down at Bai Shengrui and snorted coldly.

Bai Shengrui had indeed reported the beast tide on the road to Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi, but how could it be such a coincidence that the night he didn't go to find White Gaze, White Gaze encountered an assassination?

His words were half-true and half-false. They sounded reasonable, but they couldn't stand up to scrutiny; thinking about it, they were full of flaws.

Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi didn't believe that Bai Shengrui didn't recognize White Gaze; he was deliberately hiding this to clear himself of the suspicion of hiring someone to assassinate White Gaze.

"Don't think I don't know what you and your mother are planning! Stop those thoughts you shouldn't have early. In terms of talent, you and Rongxuan combined can't compare to White Gaze!"

After reprimanding Bai Shengrui, Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi left the hotel and took White Gaze and the others back to the capital.

He arranged for White Gaze to be by his side, pouring out his longing for him over the past ten-plus years along the way.

Gu Xiaoyue secretly scoffed in her heart. If he really cared, how could he have exiled White Gaze for over a decade, only bringing him back after his talent awakened to the Heaven Tier or higher?

White Gaze was a bit awkward, but he didn't want to lose face for Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi, so he listened earnestly and nodded from time to time.

Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi showed a benevolent father's smile, occasionally glancing at Gu Xiaoyue.

Seeing her calm and composed, he also felt a secret joy of killing two birds with one stone.

White Gaze had outstanding talent, and Gu Xiaoyue's strength was also quite formidable.

The road to the throne seemed a bit smoother!

The residence of Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi in the capital—Yi Wang Mansion, was a manor-like building in the suburbs.

It was said to have integrated architectural designs from several countries and was unique in Damon Country.

Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi lived in the main castle himself, and of course, there were row houses for the primary wife and sons.

He had only married one primary wife, Yan Xinnan, and White Gaze's mother, Zheng Jie, in his life. After Zheng Jie passed away, he did not remarry, focusing more on political affairs.

Therefore, the old emperor of Damon Country still valued him quite a bit.

Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi gave White Gaze a house not too far or too close to his own, with Uncle Luosang and Manager Ba Te serving him personally.

Gu Xiaoyue also continued to live with White Gaze, teaching him beast taming and how to strengthen his physique.

Once everything was settled, Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi walked into the villa where Yan Xinnan lived.

Yan Xinnan was watering flowers. She saw Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi enter from the corner of her eye but didn't even lift her head, ignoring him.

Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi dismissed the servants, sat on the sofa by himself, and stared at Yan Xinnan without blinking.

"What a rare guest. The Prince actually knows how to come here and sit."

Yan Xinnan left Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi hanging. Only when his gaze seemed like it was going to cut her did she speak slowly.

"I came to warn you. Don't do things that harm others and don't benefit yourself."

Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi's tone was icy, carrying the pressure of a superior.

Yan Xinnan's hand holding the watering can paused, her eyes wandering.

"I don't understand what the Prince is talking about."

"Do not make a move against Meng'er again. He is the son of Zheng Jie and me!"

"Heh! So you know!"

Yan Xinnan threw the watering can on the ground, and it instantly shattered, splashing water everywhere.

"I knew it! You would bring him back once he awakened Heaven Tier talent. But why?! He's just a bastard! I just don't want him back! His mother stole my husband, and now you want me to let him come back and fight my children for their father?! I won't allow it!—He is clearly just a bastard!—"

She shouted tragically, but in Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi's eyes, she was a complete shrew!

Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi slapped the coffee table in front of the sofa and stood up, pointing at Yan Xinnan.

"Look at yourself now, where is the dignity and virtue of a Princess consort?! I asked Shengrui to pick up Meng'er, and you planted assassins among his subordinates to take his life! You couldn't tolerate Zheng Jie eighteen years ago, and now you can't tolerate the child she had with me!"

Yan Xinnan sneered, her shoulders trembling uncontrollably with anger.

"Heh, I just can't tolerate them, mother and son! But so what? Isn't that monster being kept by you in a secret room, loving each other every day, singing songs day and night?! I hate that I can't peel her skin and drink her blood, that monster! And that little bastard!—"

"Slap!—"

Her hysterical shouting was ended by a slap from Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi.

"Shrew! Look at what you've become now!"

Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi's chest heaved violently. He took several deep breaths, suppressing his anger.

Yan Xinnan covered her face, crying silently. She looked at Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi, her eyes full of resentment and desolation.

The couple stood in a stalemate for a while before Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi spoke to comfort her.

"Don't you want me to inherit the throne? You know the situation with White Gaze and his mother... She won't be made a consort, and White Gaze cannot inherit the throne. If I can inherit the throne, the Empress can only be you, and the future succession must be left to either Rongxuan or Shengrui. Don't lose the big picture for the sake of small things!"

After speaking, he took Yan Xinnan's hand and pulled her into his arms.

Yan Xinnan struggled twice but couldn't break free from Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi's grip.

The grievance in her heart was even greater—Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi hadn't touched her for years, and now he was hugging her to plead for that bastard!

"Is he the only one who can help you ascend to the throne?"

Since she couldn't break free, Yan Xinnan simply gave up struggling and leaned her head on Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi's chest.

She didn't believe that only White Gaze could help him seize the throne.

Her own family had two mineral veins, which could be considered as wealthy as a nation in Damon Country, and her brothers had extensive connections in the political world. Why did he have to rely on White Gaze?

Seeing Yan Xinnan become more compliant, Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi raised his hand to stroke her long hair.

"Of course it's not all relying on him. It's just an extra, not-so-small help. And that girl by his side is also a formidable woman."

He spoke without intention, but Yan Xinnan heard it with intention.

A formidable girl—could it be another one competing for his favor like Zheng Jie?