Chapter 2

“When did you come?” The middle-aged man instantly became nervous. He pulled out his longsword and pointed it at Zhang Ronghua.

He jumped down from the roof.

Zhang Ronghua stopped opposite them and shrugged. “I’ve been here for a while.”

“In that case, did you hear our conversation just now?”

“Not a word.”

The middle-aged man glared at Old Ghost. If not for this fool not restraining his murderous aura well, how could he have attracted this person?

Old Ghost also realized his mistake and quickly made up for it, “We can’t let him leave here alive.”

The two of them surrounded Zhang Ronghua one after another.

“Kill!” The middle-aged man roared.

The longsword stabbed out and dozens of sword lights shot toward his vital points.

“Netherworld Ghost Claw!” Old Ghost attacked.

He no longer held back his monstrous killing intent. Black gas rolled in his two claws and ruthlessly grabbed out. With an explosive sound, he grabbed at Zhang Ronghua’s face.

“Break!” Zhang Ronghua shouted.

A powerful force erupted from their bodies and struck their bodies, breaking their attacks and heavily injuring them before falling to the ground.

He tapped his feet and arrived in front of them. Two finger forces entered their bodies in a row and subdued them.

He picked them up from the ground one by one and walked towards the East Palace.

At this point.

The general on duty at the main door was called Ma Ping’an. He was a young man. When he saw him coming and holding two people in his hand, he asked in confusion, “This is?”

“On the way back, I saw them hiding in the courtyard and plotting. They wanted to harm His Highness, so I captured them,” Zhang Ronghua explained simply.

Ma Ping’an’s expression changed and he knew the seriousness of this matter. “I’ll report it now!”

They were brought into the East Palace.

The Crown Prince lived in the back hall of the Xuanhe Hall, which was also the place Zhang Ronghua was responsible for guarding.

The two of them stopped outside the hall.

There were two palace maids waiting at the door. They were both the Crown Prince’s trusted subordinates. One was called Qing’er, and the other was called Shuang’er.

Ma Ping’an stepped forward and cupped his fists in greeting. He pointed at the two people in Zhang Ronghua’s hands and introduced, “They want to harm His Highness. Please inform him.”

“Wait!” Qing’er said.

She gently pushed open the door of the hall and walked in.

In a while, the lights lit up and the Crown Prince’s low voice sounded. “Bring them in.”

Ma Ping’an said, “I won’t accompany you in.”

Zhang Ronghua nodded and carried them into the hall. Shuang’er closed the door from the outside.

In the hall.

The Crown Prince sat at the head of the table in a bright yellow four-clawed flood dragon robe. He was dignified without being angry and emitted a tremendous aura. His skin was very white, even whiter than a woman’s, especially his eyes, which were deep, wise, and filled with intelligence.

It was unknown if it was an illusion, but every time he saw the Crown Prince, Zhang Ronghua would smell a fragrance from him.

When he recalled the middle-aged man’s words, a bold guess appeared, “Could it be that the Crown Prince is really a woman?”

He threw this unrealistic thought to the back of his mind. If he was a woman, how could he hide it from those people in the palace?

There was more than one prince in the Great Xia Empire. Although the current Emperor Xia was old, he was still energetic and had many children.

There were many princes staring at the Crown Prince’s position. Once the matter was exposed, a large number of people would die.

Moreover, Emperor Xia was the person with the greatest authority. Who else could have greater power than him and hide it all these years?

He threw them to the ground.

Zhang Ronghua cupped his fists and bowed, “Greetings, Your Highness!”

“It’s so late. What’s the matter?” the Crown Prince asked.

Zhang Ronghua pointed at the middle-aged man and said, “He got Old Ghost to use the power of the Earth Fiend to spread rumors that you were a woman and were captured by me.”

The Crown Prince’s expression did not change but his heart sank and set off huge waves. However, his long period of cultivation made him very stable and he did not panic. “You believe that?”

“I don’t believe it!”

“You did well! I’ll reward you handsomely tomorrow. You can leave!”

Zhang Ronghua left. As for what happened to them, it was none of his business. He was only responsible for capturing them. The Crown Prince did not ask him to interrogate them, so why did he spend so much effort?

When he arrived at the main door, seeing him come out, Ma Ping’an welcomed him and pulled him to the side, “Is it convenient to say?”

“It’s better for you not to know.” Zhang Ronghua shook his head.

Ma Ping’an was tactful and did not ask further.

After being delayed for so long, it was almost midnight when he returned home.

Zheng Rou put on a wool coat and walked over with two maidservants. “You haven’t eaten, right?”

“Mother, you’re still waiting for me?”

“If I don’t see you, I won’t be able to sleep well. On the other hand, your father is sleeping like a dead pig.” Zheng Rou shook her head.

She got the maid to heat up the food left behind.

As they ate, Zhang Ronghua recalled something and took out the jade bottle in his arms before handing it to Zheng Rou, “There’s a Heaven-rank medicinal pill inside. Although it’s used for cultivation, it also has healing effects. Let my father consume it and the hidden injuries left behind in the past will heal.”

“Where did it come from?” Zheng Rou’s expression changed and she nervously held his hand.

He patted the back of his mother’s hand and gave her a reassuring look.

Zhang Ronghua said again, “I captured two thieves and obtained it from them.”

Zheng Rou did not expose him. Heaven-rank medicinal pills were not cabbages. They were very precious and could not be bought with money. Even experts of the Great Grandmaster Realm had to be envious when they saw them. How could they be stolen by thieves?

However, she was very smart. Since her son did not want to say, she did not ask further.

“Rest early!”

After instructing, Zheng Rou left with the maidservant.

When Zhang Ronghua returned to his room, the maidservant had already prepared the bath water and a sweet-looking maidservant waited on him.

He crossed his arms and lazily climbed into the bathtub.

Zhang Ronghua enjoyed it happily…

The next day.

After breakfast, Zhang Ronghua was about to go out to the East Palace when his father, Zhang Qin, rushed over from outside. His lower body was solid, calm, and powerful. His face was rosy, and he looked very energetic. It seemed that the hidden injuries left behind in the past had all healed, and even his cultivation had improved.

He waved his hand and let the servants leave, leaving only the father and son in the hall.

“So serious?” Zhang Ronghua teased.

“What happened?” Zhang Qin stared at him and asked.

“Someone wants to attack the Crown Prince so they found the people of the Earth Fiend Organization to let them spread rumors that the Crown Prince is a woman.”

“How did the Crown Prince react at that time?”

“He said that he would reward me heavily today.”

“Was there anything wrong with him?”

“I know what you mean. If the Crown Prince wants to kill me, it proves that he has a guilty conscience. It’ll backfire on him. Moreover, after living in the East Palace for so many years, he’s not as good at reading people as me.”

“Just in case, we have to make two preparations. If there’s anything abnormal about the Crown Prince, immediately get someone to send me a message. I’ll get your grandfather to pack up. We’ll run away overnight,” Zhang Qin instructed solemnly.

“Is that necessary?”

“You don’t understand! The struggle for imperial power is far crueler than you imagine.”

Zhang Ronghua agreed. When he arrived at the East Palace, he would naturally know if the Crown Prince wanted to get rid of him.