"He naturally intends to act; these issues have long been considered!"
Lu Fan chuckled, "Your Highness the Eighth Prince, am I correct?"
"If you weren't at odds with the Eighth Prince's manor, I truly wouldn't bear to kill you!"
The Eighth Prince sneered, "So intelligent, no wonder you could turn the tide!"
"Your Highness the Eighth Prince flatters me!"
Lu Fan smiled slightly, "However, with my intelligence, Your Highness dares to charge so recklessly. Aren't you afraid?"
"Afraid?"
The Eighth Prince sneered, "The surroundings are all array formations and barriers. You cannot leave, and naturally, no one will discover. Why should I be afraid?"
"Actually, I knew long ago that the White Tiger would frame me!"
Lu Fan stated directly, "So I specially requested a master from the Dragon Emperor!"
"Impossible!"
The Eighth Prince stood up abruptly, looking even more surprised. If Lu Fan's words were true, wouldn't he be in danger today?
"In terms of reason and sentiment, it is entirely possible!"
Lu Fan chuckled, "Steward Li, isn't it time for you to appear!"
As soon as Lu Fan finished speaking, the void trembled, and a figure instantly broke through the barrier, arriving in the courtyard.
"Steward Li!"
The Eighth Prince was slightly startled, his expression turning 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 ordered to protect the驸马 (Imperial Son-in-Law), and Your Highness is walking into a trap, isn't he?"
"This brat killed my son. Today, he will surely die!"
The Eighth Prince spoke coldly, "Even if I have to face my imperial brother, I will still kill him!"
"Your Highness the Eighth Prince, no matter what the 驸马 has done, you should report it to the Master."
Steward Li narrowed his eyes, "Now that you have acted rashly, you can only come with me!"
"Since my imperial brother ordered you to protect the 驸马, I naturally won't fight 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 your crimes!"
Steward Li said coldly, "I advise Your Highness the Eighth Prince not to act foolishly. This is, after all, the Imperial City. No one can escape if the Master wishes to see them!"
"Your words are quite amusing!"
The Eighth Prince chuckled, "With Steward Li here, how can I escape! Moreover, there are thousands of 驸马, but brothers are unique. Would my imperial brother blame me for him!"
"That is 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 eyes. Whether the Master will let Your Highness the Eighth Prince off this time is another matter!"
The Eighth Prince trembled violently. How could he not understand the hidden meaning in Steward Li's words?
Sensing the unfavorable situation, the Eighth Prince moved, and in a flash, he was beside Lu Fan. Lu Fan intended to resist, but the Eighth Prince grabbed his vital points.
"If you dare to act, I will kill him with one palm!"
The Eighth Prince said coldly, "If you don't believe me, feel free to try!"
Lu Fan tried to struggle, but the Eighth Prince's power far surpassed his. He had no ability to resist at all.
"Your Highness the Eighth Prince, why the need for this!"
Steward Li chuckled, "Why not give yourself a way out and go plead with the Master? Perhaps out of brotherhood, he might spare your life!"
"The key to survival is in one's own hands, and that is the most important thing!"
The Eighth Prince sneered, "When I leave the Imperial City, I will release him. But if you dare to act rashly, I cannot guarantee his life!"
"You are going back this time to raise an army in rebellion!"
Steward Li sneered, "You are colluding with the Nine Heavens Dynasty and secretly recruiting soldiers. All this evidence is already before the Master!"
"So you already knew!"
The Eighth Prince's face turned ashen. "Since that is the case, why didn't you act sooner? Why wait until now!"
"The Master has been giving you opportunities, but you have missed them time and again!" Steward Li said coldly, "Release the 驸马 and come with me to confess your crimes, otherwise, Your Highness the Eighth Prince will likely perish here today!"
"Ridiculous, with just you?"
The Eighth Prince said coldly. He knew Steward Li's strength was extraordinary, but he was no ordinary person. If they were to truly confront each other, who would live and who would die was yet to be known.
The Eighth Prince, holding Lu Fan, headed 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 驸马's life will be in danger?" the Eighth Prince threatened.
"Raising an army in rebellion is a grave offense. Even if the 驸马 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, then do not blame me for being ruthless!"
The Eighth Prince snorted coldly. Just as he was about to strike Lu Fan, he felt a burning sensation all over 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 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 momentum fierce and sharp.
"驸马!"
Princess Linglong arrived, looking quite panicked, "Are you alright?"
"Of course, I'm fine!"
Lu Fan smiled, "One palm strike won't kill me!"
As soon as Lu Fan finished speaking, the Eighth Prince and Steward Li vanished from the courtyard, one pursuing the other 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 enough!" Lu Fan chuckled.
Linglong, however, frowned. She knew imperial family disputes best. Once interests were involved, no one cared if you were the 驸马.
Meanwhile, within the Imperial City, people gazed towards the sky, looking surprised, unsure of what was happening.
Above the sky, an old eunuch was pursuing a prince. This had never happened within the Imperial City.
"I heard the Eighth Prince intended to deal with the 驸马, so he was apprehended by the imperial family. I never expected it to be true!"
"How is that possible? To apprehend the Eighth Prince for a 驸马? He is the Emperor's own brother!"
"This matter is absolutely true. The 驸马 is no longer an ordinary person. He is cherished by the Emperor, and no one can touch him!"
On the streets, people conversed without restraint. Even though it was dark, they could still clearly see the two figures.
Boom...
Steward Li unleashed his attack with a resounding crash, 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 would not 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. If you obediently return with me, perhaps the Master can still spare your life!"
"Ridiculous. As royal blood, why should I need him to spare me!"
The Eighth Prince sneered, "I see Steward Li's strength is extraordinary, and it is too much of a waste for him to be a servant by your side. Why not come with me to the Royal City? I will surely appoint you as the National Teacher in the future!"