"Thank you for the praise, Your Highness!" Lu Fan smiled faintly. "However, I have no intention of getting involved. I hope all Your Highnesses can understand!"
"Second Brother, are you here to cause trouble as well?" Prince Yun Hai asked directly, his expression growing even more indifferent. He didn't seem to take Beichen seriously.
"Look at what you're saying. How could I be here to cause trouble? I came specifically to watch you all!"
Beichen stated directly, "You all don't know how comical it is to watch you fight over one person from outside the Heavenly Road!"
Prince Yun Hai's face turned ashen. Beichen's words were clearly taunting them, which displeased him greatly.
"Second Brother, I didn't mean it that way!" Bai Long shrugged. "If it weren't for Fifth Brother, this joke wouldn't have happened."
"Look at what you're saying, blaming everything on me!" Prince Yun Hai said directly. "What you truly think in your heart, you probably know best yourself!"
"As your Second Brother, why don't I help you handle this matter!" Prince Beichen smiled. "Stop fighting, and let this person belong to me, how about that?"
"Second Brother, you're here to snatch him too?" Bai Long smiled faintly, a cold glint in his eyes. Beichen's words were quite blatant.
"You're right, I am here to snatch him!"
Prince Beichen smiled. "However, I'm not looking for him as a strategist. I think he's quite good and want to befriend him. There shouldn't be any problem with that, right?"
"I'm afraid it's not that simple!" Bai Long frowned.
"I am honored by Your Second Highness's regard and willingness to befriend me!"
Lu Fan clasped his fists, seizing the opportunity to leave. It was only at this moment that he could find a chance to depart. Otherwise, these princes would likely not let him go.
"I'm hosting a Hundred Flowers Banquet at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion. Would you like to join me?" Beichen smiled. "But don't worry, I have no interest in imperial power. Besides, that's Eldest Brother's affair, and it's not for us to worry about."
Facing these words, Lu Fan nodded slightly. "Since Your Second Highness personally invites me, how can I refuse? With Your Second Highness's words, I will certainly accompany you!"
"You brat, you're going to die today, and you still want to leave?" Prince Yun Hai said coldly, his sword drawn. Lu Fan had shown him no respect, so how could he let him off easily?
"Second Brother, don't be too impulsive. If I'm not mistaken, there are quite a few people watching within the royal family! If you dare to kill him, I'm afraid the royal family won't agree!" Beichen stated directly. "So you should understand, this is not a game!"
"Second Brother doesn't need to threaten me. Even if I don't kill him today, I will surely take his life in the future!"
Prince Yun Hai said coldly, then turned and left directly, seemingly holding a great deal of resentment towards Lu Fan.
Lu Fan stood aside, looking somewhat innocent. He hadn't expected his trip to the Heavenly Road to cause such a stir.
"Brother Lu, since you don't wish to be my strategist, I also want to be your friend!" Prince Bai Long smiled. "I hope you don't mind what I said earlier. I wasn't trying to make you scheme for me!"
"Thank you, Prince Bai Long. I naturally understand that!"
Lu Fan nodded slightly, a smile appearing on his face, but his eyes held a serious expression.
"Let's go, we're going for drinks!"
Prince Beichen smiled and pulled Lu Fan away, appearing utterly unrestrained, like a prodigal son.
Ling'er and Liu Ruyan shook their heads at the sight. Lu Fan being pulled away by this person might lead him astray. Prince Beichen clearly wasn't a good person.
"Brother Bai Long, thank you so much today. If you hadn't intervened, he would have been in danger!" Princess Bei Mei said.
"It was just a small effort, no need for thanks!" Bai Long waved his hand. "Besides, he is your friend, so how could I let anything happen to him!"
"Brother Bai Long understands me the best!" Princess Bei Mei quickly nodded, a smile on her face.
However, Bai Long's expression was not very good, and his demeanor was solemn. He knew very well that this matter was no trivial affair. Any slight misstep could cause a major incident.
After everyone had left, Bai Long stood by the Heavenly Road, gazing at it silently, his heart filled with shock. Lu Fan's ability to enter the fifth level of the Heavenly Road meant he was no ordinary person, and his future growth would undoubtedly be extraordinary.
"Your Highness, since he cannot be used by you, he must not be kept alive!"
An old man beside him said hoarsely, "Otherwise, he will inevitably obstruct Your Highness's great undertaking!"
"He is a friend of Bei Mei. If anything happens to him, it will be difficult for me to explain!" Bai Long shook his head, his brow furrowed.
With these words, the white-haired old man shook his head. "Then has Your Highness considered that this person is friendly with Prince Beichen? In the future, fighting against Prince Beichen will be extremely disadvantageous to you!"
"Second Brother has no interest in imperial power. He just eats and drinks every day and can't achieve anything!" Bai Long waved his hand, his expression indifferent.
"Just as others say about Your Highness, that you have no interest in imperial power, but is Your Highness truly like that?"
The white-haired old man narrowed his eyes and spoke again, his gaze fixed on Bai Long, his words carrying a solemn tone.
Bai Long froze, seemingly understanding the implication.
"Prince Yun Hai was so confident earlier about killing him. Even if he died, it wouldn't be traced back to Your Highness!" the white-haired old man's voice rang out again, without any hesitation.
"You speak the truth!" Bai Long nodded. "In that case, I will leave this matter to you, Old Ghost. Make sure it's done cleanly and without a trace. If possible, framing the fifth prince wouldn't be a bad idea either!"
Old Ghost nodded slightly, a smile appearing on his face. Bai Long's words coincided with his own thoughts.
Meanwhile, within the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, Prince Beichen was embracing a woman, drinking and enjoying himself. He looked incredibly carefree, more like a spendthrift than a prince.
"This is my territory. You can pick whatever you like!" Prince Beichen smiled. "I saw that you weren't even afraid of princes, which is why I took notice of you and wanted to befriend you. Don't disappoint me!"
"Prince Beichen is joking!" Lu Fan said softly. "If I'm not mistaken, Prince Beichen bringing me here was intentional, with the purpose of saving me!" Su Dan Novel Network
"You're not wrong, you're incredibly narcissistic! No one can compete with you!" Prince Beichen burst into laughter. "I was just curious that someone could pass the fifth step of the Heavenly Road. I thought it was a shame for you to die, so I lent a hand!"
"Even so, I'm afraid those in the shadows won't let me go!" Lu Fan shrugged slightly, his expression solemn.