Chapter 158: New Favorite

The Crown Prince heard the news of Lin Chan breaking off the engagement two days later than the news outside the palace.

The person who brought it up to him was a minor eunuch, someone who was usually unremarkable in the Eastern Palace.

This news undoubtedly delighted the Crown Prince.

Overjoyed, he clapped his hands and laughed, his laughter growing louder with every passing moment.

What a sudden turn of events! A complete reversal of fortune! Truly unexpected!

He had exerted so much effort just to get the eldest Miss Lin to break the engagement, only for it to have been all for naught; he never imagined the General's Manor would take the initiative to call it off.

They took the initiative to call it off!

Did this not prove that even Heaven was helping him?

His Imperial Father was the Son of Heaven, and he was the Son of the Son of Heaven; it was only natural for Heaven to assist him.

At this moment, the Crown Prince was brimming with confidence, and the gloom that had clouded his heart for days was swept away.

"Where is Wang Gui?"

When people are feeling triumphant, they cannot help but share it with those they trust, and for the Crown Prince, that person was Wang Gui.

"It seems Eunuch Wang has not been seen for a while," the minor eunuch said respectfully.

The Crown Prince was somewhat dissatisfied. "This Wang Gui... he hasn't shown his face since early this morning. He's becoming more and more unruly!"

He glanced at the minor eunuch and asked casually, "What is your name?"

"This servant is called Wang Fu."

"Wang Fu?" Being in a good mood, the Crown Prince couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing it. "What is your relationship to Wang Gui? Are you perhaps brothers?"

Wang Fu hurriedly replied, "How could this servant have such good fortune? However, this servant and Eunuch Wang are from the same hometown."

"From the same hometown, eh—" The Crown Prince smiled. "It seems your place produces quite a lot of talent."

Wang Fu's mouth twitched.

His fellow townsfolk would likely not be pleased to hear such "praise."

"Wang Fu, accompany me for a stroll in the garden." The Crown Prince felt like taking a walk.

Wang Fu followed closely behind the Crown Prince to the garden.

Though the garden of the Eastern Palace was not large, it was elegant and exquisite; especially during this season, flowers were in full bloom everywhere.

There were several palace servants working in the garden; seeing the Crown Prince approaching from afar, they hurriedly moved to the roadside, lowering their eyes and heads.

Naturally, the Crown Prince had no eyes for these lowliest of servants. Accompanied by Wang Fu, he wandered aimlessly through the garden, his mood growing even better.

In a while, once Imperial Father had forgotten the matter of the eldest Miss Lin being kidnapped, he would be able to plan properly.

As he pondered these things, the Crown Prince thought of Wang Gui again.

Where the hell had that dog Wang Gui run off to!

Frustrated, he kicked a tree.

The leaves of the large tree shook, and a shadow flickered past.

The Crown Prince's expression changed instantly. He lunged back two steps and shouted, "An assassin!"

Palace servants from nearby rushed over, but the shadow had vanished.

The Crown Prince stared at the thick trunk, his face full of suspicion.

"Wang Fu, go take a look."

"Yes." Wang Fu hurriedly complied, cautiously circling to the other side of the tree, only to recoil in terror, retreating step after step.

"What is it?" the Crown Prince asked.

Wang Fu pointed at the tree, trembling violently.

As if possessed, the Crown Prince took a step forward and caught a vague glimpse of a hanging black shadow.

Cold sweat instantly broke out on his skin.

Just then, several palace servants ran up to them.

"Protect His Highness!"

"Your Highness, where is the assassin?"

The Crown Prince pointed at the tree, his face looking somewhat grim.

That didn't look like an assassin, but rather a person hanging from the tree.

As several servants slowly circled behind the tree, they gasped in horror.

Someone had hanged themselves!

At that exact moment, the hanging figure turned halfway, facing them.

"It's Eunuch Wang!" one servant screamed.

The servants were both terrified and shocked. "It really is Eunuch Wang!"

"Which Eunuch Wang?" The Crown Prince's heart tightened inexplicably as he asked Wang Fu.

Wang Fu said through sobs, "Reporting to Your Highness... it is, it is Eunuch Wang Gui."

The Crown Prince's pupils constricted. He instinctively took a few steps forward and finally saw the true face of the hanging man.

It was a face he knew all too well; it was undoubtedly Wang Gui!

"This... what is the meaning of this?" the Crown Prince asked, his face pale.

Wang Fu stood in front of the Crown Prince, advising, "Your Highness, you should not look."

The Crown Prince nodded and moved further away, but his heart was thumping uncontrollably.

Wang Gui had actually hanged himself to death!

In that instant, a distorted face flashed through the Crown Prince's mind.

The Crown Prince shook his head violently to cast that terrifying face away, his breathing becoming heavy.

The Crown Princess... the Crown Princess was also hung from a tree after her death!

His gaze slowly drifted toward the tree.

Wang Gui had already been untied and placed on the ground. A man who was usually so clever and witty now looked like a dead fish washed up on shore—stiff and nothing but nauseating.

The Crown Prince turned his eyes away and said fiercely, "Call people to investigate! Wang Gui must have been murdered!"

***

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Emperor Taian put down his brush and turned to ask Liu Chuan, "That Wang Gui, is he dealt with?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, he has been dealt with."

"What was the Crown Prince's reaction?"

"The Crown Prince is convinced Wang Gui was murdered and has demanded a thorough investigation."

Emperor Taian's eyes showed disappointment.

Given the words spoken that day, combined with Wang Gui's death, he thought the Crown Prince would reflect and restrain himself, but he hadn't expected him to remain exactly as he was.

"Go to the Eastern Palace."

"Yes."

Liu Chuan went to the Eastern Palace and met the Crown Prince, who was in a foul mood due to Wang Gui's death.

"Eunuch Liu, you've come at the right time. Quickly, help me find out who murdered Wang Gui!"

Liu Chuan took a step forward, his voice low. "This servant knows Your Highness held deep affection for Wang Gui and is too heartbroken to accept his death. But Your Highness, think about it—this is the Imperial Palace, guarded by the True Dragon. How could such a culprit exist? Wang Gui's death... is the will of Heaven."

"What will of Heaven—" Meeting Liu Chuan's meaningful gaze, the Crown Prince froze.

The will of Heaven, the will of Heaven—his eyes suddenly widened, filled with shock.

Did he mean what he thought he meant? Was Wang Gui killed by Imperial Father?

Cold sweat instantly covered his entire body. Even after Liu Chuan left, the Crown Prince remained as still as a clay statue.

After a long while, the Crown Prince began to smash things like a madman.

Precious teacups and vases shattered all over the floor, the thudding sounds making one's heart tighten in sync.

"Your Highness, be careful not to get cut." Wang Fu blocked the splashing porcelain shards.

"Get lost!" With bloodshot eyes, the Crown Prince kicked Wang Fu away.

Wang Fu crawled back, looking worried. "Your Highness, please do not hurt yourself!"

"Get out!" The Crown Prince kicked him again.

Wang Fu silently crawled back once more.

One kicking mercilessly, the other persistently crawling back—this absurd scene seemed perfectly natural within the Eastern Palace.

Finally, the Crown Prince grew tired of kicking. He stared at the small eunuch prostrate at his feet and asked, "What was your name again?"

"This servant is Wang Fu. Fu as in fortune."

"Wang Fu." The Crown Prince sat on the couch as if exhausted, unconsciously repeating the name.

The palace servants standing in the corner, not daring to breathe loudly, stole a glance at the lowly, dog-like little eunuch, unsure whether to feel envious or contemplative.

This Wang Fu had truly been remembered by His Highness; in the future, he would likely be the one to replace Wang Gui.

These servants guessed correctly. After realizing Emperor Taian's warning, the Crown Prince's mood became extremely foul, and the clever, submissive Wang Fu quickly became an indispensable person to him.

Just then, a piece of news suddenly began to circulate among the officials and nobles.

(End of Chapter)