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

Jian Yue coldly said, "If you kill him, you won't even have a chance to see if I will lose."

Black Wind's heart sank. He tightened his grip on Bai Jianan's neck. Bai Jianan struggled again, and Jian Yue panicked, placing her scimitar directly in front of Black Wind's neck.

Hei Feng sneered: "You think you can kill me? How can someone who can't even protect his own life and needs a woman to save him be worthy of you? Shangguan Jianyue, your future is limitless."

"That was all arranged by you. In your play, my future is not limitless; at best, I am just a whetstone for the other party. So, my master, what is the purpose of your high-sounding words?"

Jian Yue's eyes were bloodshot, and the curved knife in her hand remained motionless. Under Hei Feng's gaze, she coldly said, "Release him, otherwise, we will both be severely injured today. Even if we die, you will not get what you want."

Hei Feng suddenly sneered, and in a fit of anger, threw Bai Jianan to the ground. Jian Yue quickly stepped forward to help her up, but Hei Feng grabbed her with one hand. She struggled, but Hei Feng directly struck her pressure points.

Bai Jianan quickly got up from the ground, rubbing his throat to relieve the stinging pain, and coldly looked at Hei Feng, saying, "Who exactly are you?"

Hei Feng looked at Bai Jianan, suddenly regaining his usual calm and collected demeanor, and mocked, "Who I am is not for you to know, but I do know you, you ant. You'd better get out of here!"

Seeing that Bai Jianan was still undecided, Hei Feng continued, "What? Are you unwilling? But what can you do?"

Bai Jianan looked at Jian Yue, who was glaring angrily at Hei Feng. Noticing Bai Jianan looking at her, Jian Yue turned to him and said, "Let's go, he won't hurt me."

Bai Jianan frowned in disapproval, while Hei Feng sneered, "A man who can only rely on women to save his life, is he still making a last-ditch effort?"

Bai Jianan chuckled softly and looked at Hei Feng, saying, "I admit I can't beat you. No matter how angry or unwilling I am now, in the end, it will still be the same result."

Even if it means death, I, Bai Jianan, will never allow anyone to do whatever they want to my woman.

"Is that so? But now you're nothing more than a mouse to be crushed in my hands. How can you stop me from doing whatever I want to her? You're hopelessly naive."

Black Wind sneered, turning to look at Jian Yue with an undeniable mockery in his eyes. He asked, "What do you think he'll do?"

Jian Yue smiled, and suddenly her eyes filled with a gentle light. Hei Feng frowned and looked back. He saw Bai Jianan also looking at Jian Yue gently. He immediately felt even more uncomfortable. Then he heard Jian Yue say softly, "He will die with me."

Black Wind paused, and Jian Yue looked at him and smiled, "Master, do you feel you have the overall situation under control? Have you ever understood why I can't live without him?"

Jian Yue chuckled softly, her eyes softening with tenderness. Hei Feng felt as if a steel knife had pierced his heart, the pain almost causing him to lose his breath, yet he could still clearly hear Jian Yue's words.

"I like this man, I love this man, not because of his status or his abilities, but because he loves me more than I love him."

His contributions weren't just what I could see; there were also things I couldn't see—everything he did behind the scenes, things I might not agree with or even despise.

But I always soften towards him because of these things. I think, in this world, the only person who could make me go to such lengths is him. For me, he could give up his vast empire, so what can't I give up for him? Perhaps, being a pair of star-crossed lovers isn't so bad.

Black Wind's heart was bleeding and riddled with holes from what he had been told. He closed his eyes in silence, and after a long while, he took a deep breath and said to himself with a self-deprecating smile, "It seems I underestimated you."

Jian Yue smiled and said confidently, "You've been underestimating me from the beginning, haven't you?"

No, from beginning to end, I never underestimated you; otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to give this heart, which had stopped beating, a new lease on life.

But he couldn't bring himself to say those words. Hadn't he already decided to give up from the very beginning? So why was he now unable to bear stepping forward and wanting to kill the man she loved?

He clearly understood that he had no right to interfere with Jian Yue, yet he was unable to control his own body.

Hearing Jian Yue's evaluation of him, his smile was not only self-deprecating but also bitter. Not wanting to look at Jian Yue anymore, he turned to look at Bai Jianan.

Bai Jianan met his gaze and smiled without fear, "What? Senior is going to make a move?"

"What if I take action?"

Hei Feng had regained his composure and looked indifferently at Bai Jianan. Bai Jianan smiled and shook his head, saying, "Actually, I can tell that you, senior, will not hurt Yueyue. You just feel that I am not good enough for Yueyue. In fact, I also feel that I am not good enough for Yueyue."

Black Wind snorted coldly.

"At least they have some self-awareness."

Bai Jianan shrugged and said, "So what? I've fallen for Yueyue, and it was love at first sight. So, I'm clinging to her and I won't let go. I'll follow her even if it kills me."

My senior said I couldn't protect Yueyue, and I admit it. I am indeed no match for him. But how many masters like him are there in this world? I believe that as long as I don't encounter him, I still have the ability.

Upon hearing this, Hei Feng mercilessly retorted, "Did I orchestrate the downfall of the Qilin Pavilion? My abilities? It's like the sheep I've raised for over a decade suddenly turning into wolves?"

Upon hearing this, Bai Jianan suddenly felt a little embarrassed. He touched his nose, glanced at Jian Yue, and seeing that Jian Yue had no emotional change, he said, "I admit that it was my fault for hiring the wrong people, which led to this incident and even implicated Yueyue. But I promise that this will never happen again."

"A guarantee? What's the use? Sometimes, a guarantee is just a form of deception and doesn't count at all."

As Hei Feng spoke, he turned back to look at Jian Yue. He had regained his former indifference. Although looking at Jian Yue still made his heart ache, he no longer had the impulsiveness he had before.

Jian Yue met his gaze and said, "You're right, promises don't count, but I won't listen to those words. I'll see for myself and understand. Master, do you understand me?"

Bai Jianan continued, "Senior, Yueyue respects you as her master, so I will also call you senior. I know you won't hurt Yueyue, and I also know that you protected Yueyue during the time I lost my memory. The reason you oppose us being together is only because of my incompetence."

However, I believe I will not remain in this position forever. I will continue to work hard until you, my senior, feel I am capable. Please give me a chance.

Hei Feng's gaze shifted as he looked at Bai Jianan. The killing intent in his eyes suddenly turned into mockery, and he said with considerable anger, "I didn't expect you to be this kind of person."

Bai Jianan continued to smile, appearing quite innocent, and said, "This junior doesn't understand what you're saying, senior. Isn't what I've done enough to prove my sincerity?"

Hei Feng remained silent, staring intently at Bai Jianan for a long time. During this time, Bai Jianan smiled and looked at him without saying a word, truly like a junior asking a senior to betroth his disciple to him.

Such a deep scheme! Black Wind's fist, hidden behind his back, clenched slightly before relaxing and coldly saying, "Very well, what a senior, what a junior. In that case, I'll watch and see how you can satisfy me."

Upon hearing this, Bai Jianan bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for your kindness, senior."

Hei Feng snorted coldly and waved his sleeve. Jian Yue felt much lighter and moved around. She tried to move and found that she could move. Then she looked at Hei Feng.

Black Wind didn't look at her, but said, "Since this is your choice, I have no right to interfere. However, I hope that you won't act impulsively in the following matters."

After Hei Feng finished speaking, he instantly disappeared into the darkness. Jian Yue watched Hei Feng disappear, then looked at Bai Jianan and frowned, saying, "Why were you so polite to him just now?"

Bai Jianan blinked, looking innocent and puzzled: "You respect him as your master, so shouldn't I show him some respect as well?"

Jian Yue shook her head: "I just find it strange."

Bai Jianan immediately laughed and said, "What's so strange about it? It's about respecting your teacher and valuing the Way. I'm not that kind of ignorant person. Are you alright? Studying the Way and being confined is bad for your health. Are you feeling unwell?"

Jian Yue shook her head and didn't press the matter further, but she still felt that something had happened between the two of them that she didn't know about. However, Bai Jianan said it was nothing, and Hei Feng wouldn't say anything, and she couldn't see anything, so she could only give up and said instead, "It's nothing. You said it yourself, he really wouldn't hurt me. But you have hurt me countless times. Why did you come to me this time to ask me to come to your mansion to be a concubine?"

Upon hearing Jian Yue suddenly bring up this matter, Bai Jianan immediately shook his head, his eyes filled with seriousness, and said, "Yueyue, how could I let you suffer such an injustice? Give me some time, and I will definitely handle this matter properly."

Jian Yue shrugged, seemingly casually saying, "Okay, I'll keep an eye on it."

Bai Jianan knew that Jian Yue was still resentful about him and another woman's wedding ceremony, so he didn't continue talking about it. Instead, he asked about Murong Chuan. Upon hearing this, Jian Yue looked at Bai Jianan and said, "So, Murong Chuan really did get into trouble."

Bai Jianan asked, "You sensed something too?"

Jian Yue nodded and recounted what she had been observing over the past few days. Immediately, Bai Jianan looked at Jian Yue with a strange expression, scrutinizing her from head to toe, which gave Jian Yue goosebumps.

Seeing that Bai Jianan's eyes were starting to flicker, Jian Yue couldn't help but stomp on his toes, causing him to let out a howl.

"My wife, you're murdering your husband!"

Jian Yue raised an eyebrow: "Wait, your dear wife isn't here. She's in your manor, waiting for you to come back and have your way with her. Hurry up and go back, or your newlywed wife will be heartbroken."