Chapter 471: You Want to Kill Him?
Enduring and restraining himself, the Crown Prince was actually mesmerized by Yu Luo’s stunning beauty the moment he first laid eyes on her.
However, as someone of high status, he was not so shallow.
Before business matters were settled, how could he dare to indulge in such romantic distractions?
But now, since Yu Luo had taken the initiative to step forward, he decided to give Yu Haojie one last chance.
He hoped Yu Haojie wouldn’t fail to appreciate his kindness!
“Oh my, Your Highness, you are indeed generous. Unfortunately, this humble woman already has someone in her heart, so I’m afraid I do not have the fortune to accept your favor.
From my perspective, Your Highness should not waste time on someone as mediocre as my father. Instead, you should focus on winning over more court officials.”
“You—!”
The Crown Prince had assumed Yu Luo was just as shallow as the noble ladies of the capital, but once again, he had miscalculated!
Never before had he felt such a sense of defeat. He even regretted coming to this desolate land in person!
“Fine, very well! Yu Haojie, let me tell you the truth—your city, Luo City, won’t be able to hold out much longer. Don’t think that just because you forced Feng City out of the wilderness, Luo City can stand firm here for centuries like Feng City did!”
Upon hearing this, Yu Luo smiled slyly.
“Father, you’ve grown bold! Even if this Crown Prince is not the Emperor’s favorite, aren’t you afraid that such actions might enrage the Emperor? If that happens, the Lan Yue Dynasty might send troops to wipe out Luo City!”
With that, the Crown Prince abruptly stood up from his chair, stormed out of the hall in anger, and left with his men.
Yu Haojie let out a cold snort of laughter, but the lightheartedness in his eyes had disappeared, replaced by deep concern.
Heh, you’re just dreaming.
Looking at Yu Luo’s face full of amusement, Yu Haojie chuckled.
Behind him, Yu Luo couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter!
“Father, are you disappointed that you didn’t manage to infuriate him to death?”
“Hah, the fact that I let him walk out of Luo City alive is already a mercy.”
“Your Highness, it’s already dark. Since you’ve traveled such a long way, why not stay in Luo City for the night?”
“Wasn’t this bound to happen sooner or later?”
“I don’t care much for it. If I accept the Lan Yue Dynasty’s favor, you know the consequences. Besides, if other nations are also involved, what does it matter if I have one more opponent? If worst comes to worst, I’ll establish my own empire, expand my territory, and turn this entire wilderness into the Luo Empire!”
“The coal mines you secretly opened have already caught the attention of several nations. Today, I came to recruit you in person, yet you are so ungrateful. Just wait—soon, several nations will besiege your Luo City!”
“So, you’re saying that our coal mining operations have already been discovered? I suspect that the Lan Yue Dynasty might not even move against us. Instead, they might end up siding with us against the other nations.”
Hearing this, Yu Luo pondered for a moment, her expression turning increasingly serious.
Yu Haojie watched the furious Crown Prince leave and couldn’t help but shout after him.
Listening to her father’s grand ambitions, Yu Luo held back her laughter and gave him a big thumbs-up!
“Father, you truly have great aspirations. But honestly, I don’t want to let the Crown Prince off so easily.”
At her words, Yu Haojie was taken aback.
“Xiao Luo, you’re quite bold! Do you want to kill him?”
Yu Luo smirked coldly.
“When Mother and I were returning from the capital, several waves of assassins pursued us. Chi Jinchen discovered that some were sent by the Empress, while others were hired by Yu Qiuyun.
I never told you about this, Father. Even when assassins from Feng City came after me, it was because they accepted orders from the Empress and Yu Qiuyun.
Back then, I didn’t think it was necessary to go all the way to the capital to settle the score, since Luo City still needed me to hold the fort. I figured there was plenty of time in the future.
But now, since the Crown Prince has delivered himself to our doorstep, I truly want to keep him here—and extort a hefty ransom from the Empress!”
“Ah, I thought you meant to kill him! As long as you don’t kill him, capturing him and extorting a ransom from the Empress is a good plan. After all, killing the Crown Prince wouldn’t benefit us at all. It would only give the Empress an excuse to rally the court officials against Luo City.
I’m not afraid of that, but sometimes, avoiding unnecessary trouble is best.
Honestly, I don’t want much—I just want to live peacefully in Luo City with you and your mother.
But alas, from the moment we took this path, such peace was never meant to be.”
Meanwhile, as the Crown Prince stepped out of the reception hall, the sky had long since darkened.
Large snowflakes swirled down, and the biting wind lashed against his face like icy blades.
Even though he and his men possessed inner strength, they could only withstand normal cold temperatures.
But now, in the harshest season of the wilderness, their exposed faces were so frozen that they hardly felt like their own.
“Your Highness, perhaps we should stay in Luo City for the night? There are plenty of inns here, and we’ve been traveling for days without proper rest.”
The moment he stepped out of the hall, the Crown Prince already regretted his decision.
Especially when the cold wind slapped his face, the pain made him wish he could turn back.
However, as the dignified Crown Prince, how could he allow himself to lose face by wrapping a scarf around his head?
Besides, he had already stormed out. Staying in an inn—owned by Yu Haojie, no less—was out of the question!
“If you want to die, then stay!”
The Crown Prince’s eyes turned icy cold, and his voice was even sharper than the frost. He nearly froze his subordinate into an ice sculpture on the spot!
With that, the Crown Prince used his lightness skill and dashed toward Luo City’s gates, his subordinates scrambling to follow.
The moment they exited the city, without the walls to shield them, the wind howled even more violently.
Now, the Crown Prince regretted it even more!
But since he had already left, there was no turning back.
“Move! We return to the capital at once!”
At this moment, the Crown Prince had only one thought—to return and immediately rally the court officials to launch an attack on Luo City!
His unfortunate subordinates, shivering with hunger and exhaustion, could only grit their teeth and trudge toward the capital, enduring the merciless snowstorm.
Using their lightness skill, they moved swiftly—though not as fast as in fair weather, it was still quicker than riding a carriage or horse.
As they reached the foot of Jiuzhong Mountain, suddenly, they plummeted from midair!
“Protect His Highness! Beware of an ambush!”
The leading guard, feeling the sharp pain of stones striking his body, quickly realized the danger and shouted to his fellow guards.
Meanwhile, the Crown Prince, having fallen disgracefully into the snow, scrambled to his feet, drew his sword, and braced himself for battle!
(End of Chapter 471)
