The eldest daughter's scheming, the crown prince's exclusive favor to the venomous concubi

"However, the arrival of the Phoenix Star is a double clash of stars, and the celestial phenomena are already in chaos. I can't see any more, and I can't offer you much help. How you proceed from here is entirely up to you."

Bai Jianan nodded: "Alright, you've made up your mind, so I won't stay any longer. Don't worry, nothing will happen to me. However, once you arrive, you must send me a message back about everything you see and hear. If I don't receive any news from you in ten days, I will come over in person."

"I understand. Take care."

After Jia Banwen finished speaking, he left, but stopped halfway and said, "I hope you will pay close attention to my sister's matter."

"I see."

Bai Jianan gave a reply, and Jia Banwen smiled before leaving without any further worries. Bai Jianan pondered for a moment, then turned and entered the dark room of the Qilin Pavilion.

Inside the dark room, Yi Pin Hong, the leader of the Assassin's Pavilion, was waiting.

"Pavilion Master."

"Ah."

"Things are starting to look promising."

"explain."

Yipin Hong said, "Ever since the theft of the Crimson Coral, Murong Chuan has been secretly investigating, but he has spent most of his time searching for the whereabouts of a woman."

"A woman? Who?"

"It is said that this woman's name is Qiu Lingyu. Her appearance is unknown. Murong Chuan once drew a portrait of her and searched for her in secret, but it was a portrait from five years ago. The person in the painting was only about ten years old, and her expression was very similar to that of the lady."

Upon hearing this, Bai Jianan immediately sat up and squinted his eyes.

"Looks just like Jian Yue? Five years ago?"

Poinsettia bowed her head: "Yes."

"So he went to the Scholar's Pavilion because of that woman?"

"Yes."

Five years ago, when Jian Yue fled the Qiu family and secretly opened Lan Yue Lou, Lan Yue Lou was not far from Xian Shi Lou. To get to Lan Yue Lou, one had to pass through Xian Shi Lou. If that was the case, it would be normal for Murong Chuan to meet Jian Yue while traveling incognito at that time and develop feelings for her.

After Jian Yue established Lan Yue Tower, she left the capital and went to the manor. Therefore, Murong Chuan could not find her and searched for her for five years.

Thinking of this, Bai Jianan suddenly stood up, his eyes turning cold, and said, "Spread the news about the Crimson Coral. This time, I'll make sure Murong Chuan loses a claw first."

Upon hearing this, Poinsettia was taken aback, then looked at Bai Jianan and said disapprovingly, "But if that's the case, our losses will be severe. The plan has already been changed quite a bit; if this continues, I'm afraid..."

"It's alright, just do as I say."

Bai Jianan lowered his head and spoke nonchalantly. When Yipin Hong saw this, she bit her lip. After a while, she suddenly stepped forward and looked at Bai Jianan, saying, "Sect Master, I know you are doing this because of Madam, but after all, those who achieve great things do not concern themselves with trifles. Can't we wait until things are accomplished before doing this?"

"Master, how could you lose your composure over a woman? While your wife is beautiful, all the beauties in the world would be at your beck and call once you control the empire, wouldn't they? I also… ah~"

As they were talking, Yipin Hong suddenly felt a strong gust of wind coming towards her, and then she was struck in the chest by Bai Jianan's palm wind, flying backward and crashing into the stone wall before landing on the ground, spitting out blood.

"Pfft! Pavilion Master."

Bai Jianan lowered his hand, his gaze cold: "Who gave you the audacity?"

Yipin Hong supported herself as she knelt on the ground, her eyes lowered, and said, "This subordinate dares not."

"Heh, you say you dare not? Yet you say these things to me? You've followed me for ten years, have you completely forgotten the rules of the Qilin Pavilion?"

"I am not guilty; it is my fault."

Yipin Hong knelt on the ground with her hands and head pressed to the ground, not daring to move an inch. Bai Jianan stared at her coldly for a moment before continuing, "Do as I say. If there are any mistakes, I will not tolerate them."

"Yes."

Yipin Hong stood up, preparing to leave, but was stopped by Bai Jianan after turning around.

Bai Jianan looked at her and said, "I know what you're thinking."

Yipin Hong stiffened, her hands trembling slightly, when she heard Bai Jianan continue, "Over the past ten years, I have spared no effort in cultivating you into my personal attendant, which shows how much I value you."

"But if you continue to be stubborn, I will no longer use you. Think it over; I won't force you."

Yipin Hong felt a sudden, dull ache in her numb heart. She closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again, her voice hoarse as she said, "Sect Master, since I followed you, I have been devoted to you. Why won't you give me a chance?"

From the first moment she saw Bai Jianan, she knew that her heart belonged to him. Even though they were both young at the time, she knew that she would never love anyone else but this man in this lifetime.

However, before she could reveal her true feelings, she suddenly heard that the Qilin Pavilion had a mistress.

How shocked she was at that time! She couldn't wait to come back and see what the so-called Lady of the Pavilion was like, why she suddenly appeared and won Bai Jianan's heart.

However, after she returned, she was entangled in matters and had no chance to see the woman in person. Then, Bai Jianan summoned her to investigate Murong Chuan.

Now she realized that all of Bai Jianan's sudden changes were all about that woman. So she was unwilling to accept that after following the Pavilion Master for so many years, she was not as good as a woman she had only met a few times.

Bai Jianan looked at Yipin Hong, whose voice trembled slightly. She was nervous and afraid, afraid that the unpredictable Bai Jianan would suddenly strike and kill her.

Even so, she did not regret asking that question, a question she had kept hidden for ten years.

Bai Jianan stared at Yipin Hong for a long while, then said, word by word, "What opportunity do you want? The opportunity to serve me was given to you ten years ago. Isn't that enough?"

Upon hearing this, Yipin Hong slowly closed her eyes and lowered her gaze, saying, "This subordinate understands."

With that, she walked out. Bai Jianan watched her leave and disappear into the dark room. He turned around and waved, and Cang Feng appeared in front of him.

"What's the matter?"

Bai Jianan frowned: "There's a lot of activity going on in the capital. I'm afraid it's Yipin Hong who has betrayed us."

Upon hearing this, Zang Feng glanced sideways at Bai Jianan and said, "What does this have to do with me?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Jianan paused, looked at Cang Feng for a long time, then suddenly smiled, shook his head and laughed, "Yes, I forgot that you are not a member of the Qilin Pavilion."

Zang Feng walked over with his sword in hand, sat down on a chair, and said, "What? You have no one else to use? If that's the case, why not take that woman from earlier? I believe that if you take her in, she will tell you everything she knows."

Bai Jianan rubbed his temples wearily and leaned back in his chair, saying, "A subordinate is a subordinate. It has been like this since I opened this Qilin Pavilion. She has feelings for me, but I am ruthless towards her. How can I harm myself and others?"

Zang Feng raised an eyebrow: "You still have this kind of sympathy? Why didn't you use it on me back then?"

Thinking of this, Cang Feng felt a burning hatred. Back then, when he was at the peak of his career, he ran away from home after a quarrel with his father. He then encountered Bai Jianan, a young man who was fearless. When the two of them dueled, he never imagined that he, the number one swordsman in the world, would lose to a mere child. He had no choice but to go into hiding and become Bai Jianan's personal bodyguard.

Bai Jianan rolled his eyes at Zang Feng and asked, "How many years has this happened? Why are you still holding a grudge?"

"How could I not hold a grudge? You took away my days of being a powerful and influential young master, and now I've gotten involved in all this mess. Tell me, am I unlucky or not?"

Zang Feng looked at Bai Jianan for a long while, then asked, "Wasn't that woman your trusted confidante whom you've cultivated for ten years? How could she suddenly betray you?"

"It wasn't a sudden betrayal; it must have been going on for a long time."

Bai Jianan rubbed his temples, stood up, picked up a stack of documents, and handed them to Zang Feng, saying, "Xingzhi's departure is inseparable from her actions. Before this, she had been in charge of Wujiang, but she suddenly left Wujiang a month ago with a valid reason. However, not long after she left, Xingzhi received news that something had happened in Wujiang. The other party is not small, and their methods are extraordinary."

Zang Feng frowned: "If you suspect her, why did you send Yan Xingzhi? Isn't that like sending a lamb to the slaughter?"

“If I had noticed it from the beginning, things wouldn’t have turned out this way. Yipin Hong has been by my side since I was a child. I can’t think of any reason why she would betray me. But today’s events, her words and actions were really too bold, which reminded me of what happened before.”

As he spoke, his gaze suddenly darkened, and he said, "Xingzhi's departure is tantamount to cutting off one of my arms, and Yipinhong's betrayal has severed my connection with the Assassin's Guild."

If the Assassin's Guild were to break away from the Qilin Pavilion, they would undoubtedly launch a surprise attack, catching the Qilin Pavilion completely off guard. Even if they discovered this now, it might not be enough to salvage the situation.

A murderous intent gradually gathered in Bai Jianan's eyes. Seeing this, Cang Feng said, "But you let her go. Why? To lure her?"

Nodding, Bai Jianan continued, "The person behind her is definitely not Murong Chuan. As for who it is, I'm not sure yet. Someone who can control my true identity and make my people betray me is definitely not to be underestimated."

As he spoke, he looked at Zang Feng and said, "I need you to do something for me."

Zang Feng smiled and said nonchalantly, "You always make me do so many things, why are you being so polite this time?"

"Protect Yueyue for me. They will definitely target her."

Zang Feng paused, then looked at Bai Jianan, who said with a bitter smile, "I'm really doomed. Yueyue is my fate."

Zang Feng shook his head and sighed, "Even heroes can't resist the charms of a beautiful woman. I can help you with this, but I have to tell you, my responsibility is yours. Don't think that I'll follow you just because of that bullshit bet. If it weren't for the Princess, no one would follow a bastard like you."

"I know."

Bai Jianan nodded, then looked at Zang Feng and said, "Thank you."

"No need to thank me. In that case, Jia Banwen is likely to meet with bad luck on his way. You should make proper arrangements. Also, be wary of Chu Tianyi! He probably doesn't have good intentions either."