Future Beast World: Becoming A Pampered Beauty-Chapter 516 - 455: I Know You Don’t Love Me

Prince Yun Hua was the legitimate eldest son of the Royal Family, but he was ranked as the Seventh Prince. The Third Prince, Yun Feng, had long since passed his coming-of-age ceremony. The Emperor had granted him the title of Prince and awarded him a fiefdom.

However, the fiefdom was far from the Capital City and was not prosperous.

How could the Third Prince not know what the old Emperor was thinking?

His mother, Consort Rou, seemed to be the sole recipient of the Emperor’s favor. After the late Empress’s death, she had taken charge of the harem. Yet, the old Emperor had delayed naming a new empress. He was simply wary of the power of Consort Rou’s family and was using this as a false appeasement, a political balancing act.

The old Emperor would never allow the Third Prince to ascend that throne and hand over the empire. With his ravenous ambition, how could the Third Prince be willing to submit to another? Over the years, he had secretly forced the Eldest Prince to his death and bought the loyalty of the Second Prince. The old Emperor saw all of this. Sending him far from the Imperial City to be a titled prince was merely to pave the way for the Crown Prince’s return.

The Third Prince was, of course, furious. A Crown Prince who just left a monastery to return to secular life... what right did he have to compete with him? 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

If the old Emperor was going to be biased, then he would make the Crown Prince disappear from this world for good! The Emperor was old and his health was failing more each day. It would be perfectly normal for him to drop dead one night!

「Nanchen Royal Mansion.」

Third Prince Yun Feng and his advisors secretly plotted a fine spectacle.

They were just waiting for the day of the Crown Prince’s coming-of-age ceremony to present him with a grand "gift."

The subordinates he had previously sent out on a task returned.

Yun Feng summoned them.

"How did it go?"

"Rest assured, Your Highness. We have a hostage, so the woman agreed to help us."

Yun Feng burst into a hearty laugh, repeating the word "Good!" several times. Once the Five Poison Powder was mixed into wine, an ordinary person need only drink half a cup to die, bleeding from all seven orifices! Not even a god could save the Crown Prince then!

He could already imagine ascending the throne, the entire world held in the palm of his hand!

"By the way, Your Highness, there is one more thing..." the tall, sturdy man suddenly lowered his voice.

The man was a loyal guard who had been with the Third Prince for many years. Yun Feng trusted him completely and waved for the other attendants to withdraw.

The man stepped forward. A sharp blade slid from his sleeve and he violently plunged it into Yun Feng’s heart, then brutally ripped it out!

Blood sprayed into the air!

The Third Prince let out a miserable scream and fell into a pool of blood!

The attendants outside burst through the door. The tall, sturdy man then plunged the blade fiercely into his own abdomen and collapsed, lifeless.

Nanchen Royal Mansion was in chaos!

...

News of the sudden turn of events had not yet reached the Imperial City. The Crown Prince’s Mansion was also in a state of anxiety.

Yun Hua received a secret report from his subordinates. The Third Prince’s faction was making its move.

The Crown Prince’s coming-of-age ceremony was a major event for the Royal Family. Princes and Princesses from all territories could return to the Capital City for the banquet. It was a time when various factions would mingle, creating a chaotic mix, and also when the Imperial City’s defenses would be at their most lax. The Third Prince intended to seize this opportunity to stage a rebellion!

Sang Luo entered the main hall carrying tea. Seeing Yun Hua discussing matters with his adjutant, she turned to leave.

When Yun Hua saw her approach, he waved for the adjutant to withdraw.

"What brings you here?" His voice was a little hoarse, and there were dark circles under his eyes. It was clear he hadn’t slept well these past few days.

Sang Luo looked up at him and said considerately, "I haven’t seen Your Highness in several days. I heard you’ve been very busy, so I didn’t dare to disturb you. I happened to make a wine soup I just learned to prepare this afternoon, so I thought I’d bring it to warm Your Highness’s stomach."

Yun Hua showed his first gentle smile in days. "Thank you for your trouble. I truly haven’t had a chance to eat yet."

He raised his hand to take the soup bowl from her, but Sang Luo quickly said, "Be careful, Your Highness, it’s hot!"

The soup was still steaming; she must have rushed over the moment it was ready. Yun Hua wrapped his hands around Sang Luo’s to take the cloth-wrapped bowl. He caught a glimpse of her delicate palm, reddened by the heat, and a wave of tenderness washed over him.

"You can leave this sort of work to others. You don’t need to do it yourself." Yun Hua placed the bowl on the desk, then took a bottle of ointment from a drawer. He lowered his head, took one of her hands, and opened her palm.

His hands were long and warm, easily enveloping hers.

Yun Hua poured out some milky white ointment, applied it to her palm, and gently rubbed it in.

"I just missed Your Highness, and wanted to see you," Sang Luo said, a little aggrieved.

"...You can come see me anytime you want."

"What has Your Highness been busy with lately?"

"Matters concerning the Third Prince." Yun Hua didn’t hide anything from her, telling her everything about the counter-attack he had been planning these past days.

Sang Luo suddenly smiled. "Aren’t you afraid that I’m a spy sent by one of the other Princes?"

Yun Hua looked up, gazing into her eyes, and said earnestly, "I trust you."

Sang Luo chuckled. "For Your Highness to trust a woman you’ve known for less than a month... that’s very dangerous."

"You’re my woman. Naturally, you’re on my side. You’ll receive the greatest reward only when I succeed."

After Yun Hua finished applying the ointment to both of Sang Luo’s hands, he put down the bottle. His long fingers slowly caressed her brow and eyes. His clear, deep voice became gentle. "I also trust these eyes. When they look at me, there is no calculation or deceit, only sincere affection."

Sang Luo’s heart caught in her throat. After a long moment, she lowered her head and said quietly, "Rest assured, Your Highness. Those with ill intentions won’t be able to stir up any trouble. When their plans are exposed, they will reap what they sow."

"Good. I shall take your auspicious words to heart."

Prince Yun Hua walked to the desk and sat down. There was a chair placed next to it, specially prepared for her. Sang Luo often came to the study to help him grind ink.

Today was the same as always. The study was quiet, with only the sound of their breathing and the rustle of brush on paper.

A wild wind swept through the hall, rustling the magnolia tree in the courtyard. Its petals and leaves fluttered down like a heavy snowfall, blanketing the ground, but the tranquil couple within the hall remained undisturbed.

When Prince Yun Hua finished writing the last edict, Sang Luo ladled a bowl of wine soup for him. "Your Highness, don’t overwork yourself and ruin your health. At least eat a little something."

Yun Hua looked at the bowl in her hands but didn’t take it. After a pause, he asked, "Did you make this yourself?"

"Yes, I made this chicken wine soup for Your Highness myself. I even went out this morning to buy the ingredients. I used the best free-range chicken from a local farm. It tastes very fresh. Please, have a taste, Your Highness."

"...Can I not drink it?"

"It’ll get cold if you don’t drink it now. Wine soup should be drunk hot."

She spooned up some of the soup and brought it to his lips.

Yun Hua let out a soft laugh, opened his mouth, and drank.

Then he took the bowl and drained it in one go.

The Five Poison Powder was extremely potent. In less than half an incense stick’s time, dark blood trickled from the corners of the man’s mouth, and he collapsed to the ground, strength failing him.

This poison had no antidote. Once it took effect, there was no cure.

"Is this what you wanted?" he looked at her, his smile tragic and bewildered.

Sang Luo knelt on the floor and rested his head on her lap, her emotions complex. "You knew it was poisoned. Why did you still drink it?"

"I told you, I trust you."

"But, Your Highness... I’ve harmed you."

Yun Hua grabbed one of her hands, his breathing growing weaker and more unstable. He coughed up blood after every few words. "I... just want to know one last thing... You... you are the Goddess from the Hunting Ground that day, right?"

Sang Luo didn’t speak.

He gave a bitter smile. "I know... you don’t love me. Every time you look at me... it’s like... you’re looking at someone else..."

"..."

The person in her arms stopped breathing.

Sang Luo closed his eyes.

"Come back."

An ethereal soul flew out from Prince Yun Hua’s body, taking the form of a small fox. Sang Luo then took out another soul fragment and merged it with the fox, forming the phantom of a Nine-tailed Heavenly Fox.

The phantom slowly shrank, turning into a round bead that landed in her palm. She stored it in her space.

Fei Yuan appeared.

"Luo’er, it’s time for us to go."

"Mm."

Sang Luo took one last look at the man she had held, wiped the blood from his face, and gently laid his head on the floor.

He looked as peaceful as if he were just sleeping.

Fei Yuan stepped forward and took her hand. Chains materialized, and a Space-Time Tunnel tore open in the void.

"Your Highness!"

"The Crown Prince! He has passed!"

Everyone burst through the door. The shocked cries of the palace staff, the weeping of the women... all gradually faded behind them...

...until they vanished completely.