"He naturally intended to make a move; these issues were all considered beforehand!"
Lu Fan chuckled, "Your Highness the Eighth Prince, am I not correct?"
"If you weren't at odds with the Eighth Prince's mansion, I truly wouldn't have the heart to kill you!"
The Eighth Prince sneered, "Being so astute, it's no wonder you could turn the tide!"
"Your Highness the Eighth Prince flatters me!"
Lu Fan smiled slightly, "However, with my astuteness, Your Highness the Eighth Prince dares to charge in so recklessly. Aren't you afraid?"
"Afraid?"
The Eighth Prince sneered, "The surroundings are all array formations and barriers. You can't get out, and naturally, no one will discover it. Why should I be afraid?"
"In fact, I knew long ago that the White Tiger would frame me!"
Lu Fan stated directly, "So I specifically requested a master from the Dragon Emperor!"
"Impossible!"
The Eighth Prince shot up, even more astonished. If Lu Fan's words were true, then he was in danger today.
"Both in reason and in sentiment, it is possible!"
Lu Fan chuckled, "Steward Li, isn't it time for you to show yourself!"
As Lu Fan's words fell, the void trembled, and a figure instantly pierced through the barrier, arriving in the courtyard.
"Steward Li!"
The Eighth Prince was slightly startled, his expression growing panicked. If Lu Fan's words were true, then the courtyard today was a trap.
"Your Highness the Eighth Prince, I trust you are well!"
Steward Li chuckled, "This old servant is under orders to protect the驸马 (Fuma - Imperial Son-in-Law), is Your Highness the Eighth Prince throwing yourself into a net?"
"This child killed my son, and today he will surely die!"
The Eighth Prince said coldly, "Even if I have to face my Imperial Brother, I will still kill him!"
"Your Highness the Eighth Prince, regardless of what the Fuma has done, you should report it to the Sovereign."
Steward Li narrowed his eyes, "Now that you have acted rashly, you will have to accompany me!"
"Since it is my Imperial Brother who ordered you to protect the Fuma, I naturally will not engage with you!"
The Eighth Prince said coldly, "However, I need to return to the palace to prepare something!"
"Your Highness the Eighth Prince, I suspect you intend to flee from punishment!"
Steward Li said coldly, "I advise Your Highness the Eighth Prince not to act rashly. This is the Imperial City, after all. No one can escape from those the Sovereign wishes to see!"
"Look at what you're saying!"
The Eighth Prince chuckled, "With Steward Li present, how could I escape! Besides, there are countless Fuma, but brothers are unique. Would my Imperial Brother still blame me for him?"
"That's hard to say!"
Steward Li sneered, "What Your Highness the Eighth Prince has been doing in recent years is all under this old servant's nose. Whether the Sovereign will let Your Highness the Eighth Prince off this time is another matter entirely!"
The Eighth Prince trembled violently. How could he not understand the hidden meaning in Steward Li's words?
Seeing the situation turning unfavorable, the Eighth Prince moved, and in an instant, he was beside Lu Fan. Lu Fan intended to resist, but the Eighth Prince grabbed his vital points.
"If you dare to make a move, I will kill him with a single palm!"
The Eighth Prince said coldly, "If you don't believe me, feel free to try!"
Lu Fan wanted to struggle, but the Eighth Prince's strength far surpassed his, and he had no power to resist.
"Your Highness the Eighth Prince, why is this necessary!"
Steward Li chuckled, "Why not give yourself a way out? Go and plead with the Sovereign. Perhaps, out of brotherly affection, he will spare your life!"
"The most important thing is to have your life in your own hands!"
The Eighth Prince sneered, "Once I leave the Imperial City, I will release him. But if you dare to make a move rashly, I cannot guarantee his life!"
"You intend to raise an army to rebel upon your return!"
Steward Li sneered, "You have colluded with the Nine Heavens Dynasty and are recruiting troops. All this evidence is already before the Sovereign!"
"So you knew all along!"
The Eighth Prince's face turned ashen, "Since that is the case, why didn't you act sooner? Why wait until now!"
"The Sovereign has been giving you opportunities, but you have missed them one after another!" Steward Li said coldly, "Release the Fuma and come with me to confess your crimes, otherwise, Your Highness the Eighth Prince may perish here today!"
"Ridiculous, just you?"
The Eighth Prince said coldly. He knew Steward Li's strength was extraordinary, but he was no ordinary person either. If they were to truly clash, who would live and who would die was still unknown.
The Eighth Prince held Lu Fan and moved towards the outside of the courtyard, but Steward Li blocked him, "You will not leave the Imperial Palace today!"
"What, aren't you afraid that the Fuma's life will be in danger?" the Eighth Prince threatened.
"Raising an army to rebel is a grave crime. Even if the Fuma is injured, I cannot let you leave!"
Steward Li said coldly, "I hope Your Highness the Eighth Prince will reconsider!"
"Hmph, since that is the case, do not blame me for being ruthless!"
The Eighth Prince snorted and was about to attack Lu Fan when he felt a burning sensation on his body, and flames ignited on his palm.
"Sacred Fire!"
The Eighth Prince shouted, and with a palm strike, he sent Lu Fan flying. Lu Fan had the Sacred Fire on him, and all of this was naturally Lu Fan's doing.
*Pfft...*
Lu Fan spat out a mouthful of blood. Steward Li did not delay and instantly moved to apprehend the Eighth Prince, his aura fierce and sharp.
"Fuma!"
Princess Linglong rushed over, looking quite panicked, "Are you alright?"
"Of course, I'm fine!"
Lu Fan smiled, "A single palm strike can't kill me!"
As Lu Fan's words fell, the Eighth Prince and Steward Li vanished from the courtyard, one pursuing and the other fleeing at extreme speed.
"Why didn't you tell me!" Linglong chided, "Then I could have sent people to protect you!"
"With Steward Li personally protecting me, it is more than enough!" Lu Fan chuckled.
Linglong, however, frowned. She was well aware of the conflicts within the royal family. Once interests were involved, no one would care if it was the Fuma.
Meanwhile, within the Imperial City, everyone looked up at the sky, somewhat astonished, not knowing what was happening.
In the sky, an old eunuch was pursuing a feudal prince. Such a thing had never happened within the Imperial City.
"I heard the Eighth Prince intended to deal with the Fuma, so he was apprehended by the royal family. I never thought it was true!"
"How is that possible? To apprehend an Eighth Prince for a Fuma? He is the Emperor's own brother!"
"This matter is absolutely true. The Fuma is no longer ordinary. He is cherished by the Emperor, and no one can touch him!"
People on the street conversed without any restraint. Even though the sky was dark, they could still clearly see the two figures.
*Boom...*
Steward Li made a decisive move, and a loud noise echoed, shattering a section of the city wall. The Eighth Prince narrowly dodged it, feeling fortunate.
If he had been hit by that palm strike just now, he would likely have been seriously injured.
Although both were Venerables, Steward Li was by no means an ordinary Venerable, otherwise, he wouldn't possess such an aura.
"Your Highness the Eighth Prince, I will remind you one last time!"
Steward Li stood on the city wall, "You cannot escape the Imperial City. Come back with me obediently, and perhaps the Sovereign will spare your life!"
"Ridiculous, being of royal blood, why should I need him to spare me!"
The Eighth Prince sneered, "I see that Steward Li's strength is extraordinary. It's too much of a waste for you to be a servant by his side. Why don't you come with me to the Royal City? I will surely enfeoff you as the National Preceptor in the future!"