Chapter 317: Chapter 220: The Four Great Maids of the Eastern Palace Mansion, Cyan Shadow Joins the Ranks, the Empress Personally Leads an Expedition

Not even a bone was left.

Some speculated that he might have been captured by the Demon Race.

But most people denied this possibility.

His Divine Soul was completely destroyed. Not even the Demon Race would do such a thing.

The Demon Race’s favorite pastime was torturing Human Race Cultivators. For a Prince of the dynasty like Prince Jin, they would never have simply taken his life.

He must have been conspired against.

At first, no one could figure out who the true culprit was.

It wasn’t until the Sixth Prince rose to power, basking in the spotlight, that the many Staff Officers of Prince Jin’s Mansion realized the biggest beneficiary was, shockingly, Lu Mingyuan—the man who had previously opposed their prince.

The first Inquiry of the Heart Prince Jin ever lost was at the hands of Lu Mingyuan.

But alas, once his Momentum was established, it was too late. With Prince Jin dead, Prince Jin’s Mansion naturally collapsed. They faced annihilation by the Three Academy Cultivators, suffering one defeat after another.

At this thought, a cold sweat prickled Luo Ying’s skin. A possibility surfaced in her mind.

’Could it be that Prince Jin was really taken down by Prince Huai’an’s scheme?

And that’s how the Sixth Prince became the Crown Prince?

To be able to plot against Prince Jin to such a degree...

This new Crown Prince... he’s probably far from simple...’

"Dragon and Tiger True Monarch, Zhao Gongming."

"Great Virtuous Master, Zhang Jiao."

Before she even reached the main hall, Luo Ying had already seen quite a few Tributors of the Eastern Palace Mansion.

Their Cultivation was unfathomably deep; they all seemed extremely powerful.

A sense of awe for the former Sixth Prince had already begun to form in Luo Ying’s heart.

In fact, it wasn’t just her.

As the Chief of Internal Affairs, Su Youhuai also had his own speculations about these Tributors. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

He had no idea how the Crown Prince had managed to invite so many Tributors in such a short time.

And every single one of them was remarkably powerful.

The Eastern Palace Mansion was now far stronger than when it was first established.

It had recruited many Cultivators from various major factions.

There were those from the Lower Seven Realms and the Middle Fifth Grade.

Including Luo Ying, there were now five individuals whose strength had reached Above the Tenth Realm.

Having so many masters holding down the fort so soon after the mansion’s establishment was undoubtedly a great reassurance.

This undoubtedly allowed Su Youhuai to breathe a sigh of relief.

He had originally worried that the Crown Prince would be affected by the court’s affairs, causing various Immortal Influences to hesitate and not dare to pledge their allegiance for fear of repercussions.

Now, that concern was dispelled.

Su Youhuai didn’t ask too many questions about the origins of these Cultivators.

The Crown Prince had given the order personally, so all he had to do was make the arrangements.

As the saying goes, don’t doubt those you employ, and don’t employ those you doubt.

Su Youhuai knew what he should and shouldn’t ask, so he didn’t pry.

The Eastern Palace Mansion was indeed vast. The two of them walked for a long time before reaching the main hall.

Armored Warriors lined the entrance to the main hall, standing erect on both sides with spears in hand. Their icy expressions warned all to keep their distance.

Only after Su Youhuai presented the Crown Prince’s Decree did the Armored Warriors let them pass, bowing their heads in salute:

"Greetings, Lord Chief Steward!"

Luo Ying took a deep breath. After a long moment of mental preparation, she entered the main hall with an uneasy heart.

She was worried that this "cooperation" was just a pretense to eliminate the remnants of Prince Jin’s faction.

However, she had no choice. She could only take the gamble.

What greeted her eyes was a palatial hall, antique and magnificent, glittering with gold.

Stepping inside was like entering the Imperial Palace itself.

A fair-skinned man in a golden, patterned Python Robe sat before a large desk, his hair bound by a dragon crown. He was reading the Great Yan Mansion Report, one hand holding it flat while two slender fingers of the other propped up his chin. His profile was chiseled and strikingly handsome.

His eyes were bright and full of spirit. His entire being radiated an aura of jade-like grace and extraordinary nobility.

Next to him, a Gilded Crouching Beast Incense Burner billowed with smoke, adding to his air of dignified grandeur.

Most notably, three Maids of stunning beauty stood by the man in the Python Robe, ready to attend to him at a moment’s notice.

The first, dressed in purple, had almond eyes and willow-leaf brows. Lightly powdered, with shoulders as if sculpted, her gaze was so delicate and pitiful that it inspired a feeling of protectiveness.

The second wore a red dress, her peach-blossom eyes and alluring beauty mark utterly captivating. She carried the scholarly air of a wealthy young lady, possessing the grace of a well-bred woman.

The third, a picturesque figure in a cyan dress, had a melon-seed-shaped face, slender willow-leaf brows, and her hair in a high chignon. With her robes fluttering, she possessed an untainted, otherworldly aura. Her gaze was placid, like a Fairy descended to the mortal realm.

Among the three women—one elegant and unadorned, one with finely painted brows, one a nation-toppling beauty—all were stunning, each a one-in-ten-thousand talent.

Seeing this, Luo Ying was a little surprised. She didn’t understand why the Crown Prince’s Maids were all so exceptionally beautiful.

’Is this some kind of fetish?’

Luo Ying thought about how she might end up just like them.

A knot of discomfort formed in her heart.

All three women turned to look at Luo Ying.

They seemed to regard the newcomer with a hint of wariness.

"Luo Ying of the Endless Pavilion, greets the Crown Prince."

Luo Ying spoke, clasping her hands in a slight bow, showing him proper courtesy.

"So you’re Luo Ying."

Lu Mingyuan, who had been reading the report, slowly lifted his eyes. His gaze shifted to Luo Ying, and he smiled to himself.

His face, however, remained perfectly serious.

’This is the first time I’m meeting her in my true body. I’ve always used a clone before.’

"I am."

As the man turned his head, Luo Ying finally saw the Crown Prince’s face clearly.

He was indeed incomparably handsome.

It could be said that among all the men she had ever seen, not a single one could compare to this Crown Prince.

Not even Prince Jin.

’It’s just...’

’What is this strange feeling?’

As Luo Ying looked at the face of the man in the Python Robe, for the first time in over sixty years, ripples disturbed the calm waters of her heart.