Fan Wanbai's eyes flickered upon hearing this. She suddenly raised her head and asked, "Then can His Highness enfeoff me as a secondary consort?"
Prince Nanping paused, his gaze as deep as a vast abyss, but he soon sneered, "Have you made up your mind?"
"Yes, this concubine's only reward is this. I ask His Highness to fulfill it," Fan Wanbai said, lowering her head.
"Alright. If things go well, I will enfeoff you as a secondary consort," Prince Nanping said.
"This concubine thanks His Highness." But the moment she turned away, a mocking smile flickered across her lips.
"Your Highness, Wanbai..." Before Fan Yan could finish speaking, Prince Nanping's gaze gradually turned cold. "If I didn't say this, I'm afraid she wouldn't necessarily work wholeheartedly for me. Therefore, sometimes these external things must be sacrificed; there is gain in sacrifice."
Xue Xingyue had been staying honestly in Prince Nanping's mansion for several days, merely listening to the news that Wu Hen gathered from various places.
She was waiting for someone's appearance. Only when that person appeared could everything become perfect.
Suddenly, one day, the imperial guards surrounding the palace were withdrawn, and everything outside became quiet.
Xue Xingyue stood up and said, "Let's go take a look! The mystery is about to be solved."
Wu Hen nodded and followed her. The two of them walked out of the palace, and Emperor Qi stood outside the palace gates.
If the imprisoned Prince Nanping looked somewhat haggard, Emperor Qi looked even more aged.
"Your subject pays respects to His Majesty!" Prince Nanping said.
"Where is the Third Prince?"
Emperor Qi asked.
Prince Nanping said, "Your Majesty, if you don't know where your prince is, how would this subject know?"
"How could that be? They saw it was your men who abducted him," Emperor Qi said.
Prince Nanping sneered upon hearing this, "Your Majesty, without proof, do not speak carelessly." Da Feng Novel Network
Emperor Qi glanced at Prince Nanping and said, "Prince Nanping, as long as you release the Third Prince, I will let you go."
"Emperor Qi, I will not believe your words," Prince Nanping said coldly.
Emperor Qi's gaze was icy upon hearing this, "Then what do you want?"
"It's actually very simple: release Ze'er," Prince Nanping raised his head and said to Emperor Qi word by word.
Xue Xingyue, who had just emerged, heard Prince Nanping's words.
At this moment, she raised her head, her feelings indescribable.
"Prince Nanping, you are currently in my hands," Emperor Qi said angrily.
Prince Nanping raised his head and looked at Emperor Qi, saying word by word, "But your Third Prince is in my hands."
"Prince Nanping, you are truly despicable. The Third Prince is an imperial prince, and you dare..." Emperor Qi was so angry he was gasping for breath.
"Speaking of despicable, this subject is no match for Your Majesty!" Prince Nanping retorted, not backing down.
"Emperor Qi, you can consider it carefully. Come find this subject to talk when you've thought it through. This subject is not very willing to talk right now."
With that, Prince Nanping turned to leave.
"Stop. I agree," Emperor Qi suddenly said.
"But this subject cannot trust you," Prince Nanping said.
"Today, I said this in front of so many people present. I will not go back on my word," Emperor Qi said.
"In that case, to show your sincerity, have the imperial guards outside this mansion withdrawn," Prince Nanping suddenly said, his dark, deep eyes flashing with sharp light.
"You..." Emperor Qi trembled with anger. Just then, a guard rushed to Emperor Qi. The eunuch beside Emperor Qi went to the guard and whispered something to him a moment later.
Emperor Qi's eyes widened, "You... you actually..."
"It is Your Majesty who broke the agreement first. This subject is merely protecting himself. Now Emperor Qi can carefully consider this matter."
Emperor Qi's expression was grim. Seeing this, Xue Xingyue felt a bit of sympathy for Emperor Qi. She really hadn't expected Prince Nanping to summon the hundred thousand troops who had previously garrisoned Mingxia Pass. It must not have been done while he was imprisoned, meaning he had foreseen such an event long ago?
Thinking of this, she raised her head to look at Prince Nanping, recalling that she had once thought Prince Pingnan wouldn't go to such lengths. Now it seemed Prince Nanping hadn't intended to leave without a single soldier.
After a long while, Emperor Qi's voice slowly opened, "Prince Nanping, why is this necessary? Previously, because of an assassin in the palace, I sent imperial guards to protect Prince Nanping's safety. Now the protection is lifted." As Emperor Qi said this, he clenched his fists tightly. Although he was reluctant to announce this, the hundred thousand troops outside the imperial city gave him no room to maneuver.
"Is Prince Nanping satisfied?" Emperor Qi asked Prince Nanping word by word.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your meticulous protection these past few days. This subject is deeply moved."
"Prince Nanping, the person? Can they be released now?" Emperor Qi asked coldly.
Prince Nanping signaled Fan Yan with a look. Fan Yan's gaze shifted slightly. He leaned in and whispered a few words into Prince Nanping's ear. Xue Xingyue saw the expression on Prince Nanping's face change slightly.
"Your Majesty, I am truly ashamed. The Third Prince has already been abducted," Prince Nanping said.
"You..." Emperor Qi was so enraged he nearly fainted. Later, with the help of others, he boarded the imperial carriage and was carried away.
As night fell, outside the Qi Kingdom's imperial palace, in a courtyard, a man in black stood gazing at the bright moon in the night sky, his expression rather somber.
Suddenly, he heard a faint sound. He turned around and saw two people in black. He suddenly drew a dagger from his sleeve and lunged at them.
One of the two men removed his veil and smiled enchantingly, "Young Marquis Zhao, I am here!"
The dagger clattered to the ground. Zhao Yanluo's eyes were filled with tears, and he looked especially cold under the moonlight, "Your Majesty, if you don't come soon, I will feel abandoned."