Chapter 1: Chapter 523: A Show of Force [1]

Changle raised her eyes coldly at this moment, looking chillingly at Chu Wuyou, bravely meeting those eyes of his that were so beautiful they seemed unreal. "But can you forget the hatred from before? Even if you can forget, I cannot! Look, what is this?"

After speaking, Changle pulled a yellowed strip of cloth from her sleeve. A faint smile curled at the corners of her lips; her hair was as black as lacquer, cascading like a waterfall, and her fair little face was as pure as ice, her eyes and brows tinged with red.

Though she wore not a trace of rouge or powder, her skin appeared translucent and bright as if stained with rouge and adorned with powder. Truly, her brows were like emerald feathers, her skin like white snow, her waist like a slender willow, and her teeth like woven shells. With just that indifferent smile, she made the lotus sink into contemplation amidst the green clouds, and the flowing water shy away within the willow corridors.

Looking at the cloth in Changle's hand, Chu Wuyou snatched it away. He unfolded it, narrowing his eyes slightly, and instantly saw the handwriting of his own confidant: "Regardless of whether the timing is ripe, the Regent must be dealt with first, and then the Regent's entire family must be executed! With him blocking the path, His Highness will face too many obstacles; the Xu family must be eliminated as early as possible!"

Looking at those vigorous and powerful strokes, Chu Wuyou immediately closed his eyes heavily, feeling as if his heart had been hollowed out.

No wonder Changle's attitude toward him had changed since the beginning of their time in the cave; it turned out she had seen this note.

No wonder she hated him so much. She thought he intended to kill everyone in the Xu residence, including her and her mother, and even her beloved sisters.

"Changle..."

"There is no need to explain! Imperial struggles have always been a matter of either you live or I live; I know a thing or two about stories like the 'Nine Princes' Struggle for the Throne.' You members of the imperial family are all the same—for the sake of the throne, you do not hesitate to turn against your own brothers and fight to the death! I can understand your desire to purge the Xu residence; my father also wanted to assassinate you. I can accept all of this, heh!"

Changle used the word "heh" at the end to convey her sneer.

When two tigers fight, one must be wounded. She had no reason to stop a war fanatic like Chu Wuyou from eliminating dissenters, but with her casual temperament, she also did not want to step between him and her father; she did not want to be that exhausted.

"And what about you? I don't care about others, I only want to know your thoughts. What are you thinking?" Chu Wuyou tightly gripped Changle's waist at this moment, pulling her forcefully into his embrace. Tonight, he did not want to let go.

"Me? What thoughts could I possibly have? If I told you not to kill the people of the Xu residence, would you stop? I believe you wouldn't. You are so arrogant and conceited; just like when I told you not to kill the families of those assassins just now, you didn't listen to me at all and insisted on your own way. I don't want to wait until the day my clan is exterminated to face you, a high and mighty monarch, in a state of lingering breath!"

Changle knew the ruthlessness of a monarch. Even if he felt some attachment to her now, it was only because he could not have her—it was the curiosity of a prince.

That was how men were; the more they could not have, the more they loved. He was merely chasing a momentary novelty.

"It's not like that, Changle. I promise you, I will not execute the innocent members of the Xu residence, but Xu Huangwei must be eliminated. I can also promise you that I will spare his life for the time being and leave him alone for now."

Seeing Changle's cold and detached demeanor, Chu Wuyou held her tightly, his well-defined fingertips gently stroking her silky black hair.

He could spare those people for Changle's sake, and he could also delay the removal of Xu Huangwei; this was the concession he was making for her.

As the Crown Prince, he could never let his guard down. If he spared Xu Huangwei's life today, Xu Huangwei would seize his position tomorrow.