The following two days brought Su Fan a rare period of peace. In reality, the Wizard Alliance and the Assassin Alliance were behaving themselves and hadn't caused any trouble. The same applied to the game; there was still no news from Xiao Yan, nor from the Zhao family regarding him.
However, Su Fan hadn't been entirely idle during these two days.
Su Fan had been inquiring about the major events scheduled to occur in the coming days.
The Emperor had tasked Su Fan with finding Xiao Yan within a week, and Xiao Yan himself had promised to visit in two days.
This led Su Fan to suspect that something significant was about to happen after a week, which was why both the Emperor and the Crown Prince were focusing their attention on these few days.
After some investigation, Su Fan's hunch proved correct.
In two days, on the very last day of the deadline set by the Emperor for Su Fan, it was the day of the Imperial Ancestral Worship.
The ceremony would involve a procession from the Imperial Palace to the Imperial Mausoleum, where they would pay respects to the imperial ancestors.
At such a time, if the Crown Prince were to be absent, it would undoubtedly raise significant suspicion.
This was precisely why the Emperor was so anxious to find Xiao Yan.
As for Xiao Yan's own plans, Su Fan still had no clue.
The guy usually appeared unreliable, and Su Fan hadn't even considered he was the Crown Prince. Apart from frequenting brothels and charming virtuous women, Su Fan couldn't think of anything else Xiao Yan was particularly skilled at.
Today, Su Fan had been waiting in the courtyard, not venturing out, to avoid missing Xiao Yan.
You Jing was also still alive.
Su Fan wondered what Xiao Zhihong was up to, that he hadn't made a move against You Jing for so long.
Long Die sat nearby, munching on sunflower seeds, watching Su Fan lost in thought in the pavilion.
Ever since Qi Ling had left, Long Die had found things much more boring here.
Su Fan was too busy and was rarely around.
"Hey, Su Fan, what are you waiting for?"
Long Die couldn't help but ask Su Fan.
"Waiting for Xiao Yan."
Su Fan had no reason to hide anything from Long Die.
"Xiao Yan? He's coming back?"
Long Die asked, puzzled.
She hadn't seen Xiao Yan in a long time and had assumed he had returned to his sect.
"Yes, he said he would be back today."
Su Fan nodded.
As they were speaking, the gate was pushed open, and Xiao Yan walked in.
"You guys are… waiting for me?"
Xiao Yan still had that infuriating demeanor. Seeing the three people in the courtyard intently watching the entrance, he was momentarily stunned.
"Who is this?"
Xiao Yan looked at You Jing behind Su Fan with some confusion.
He didn't recognize You Jing.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
You Jing, as a guard for the Second Prince, had seen Xiao Yan before. Recognizing him immediately as the Crown Prince, he knelt down to pay his respects.
Xiao Yan frowned, his smile instantly vanishing.
"You all know."
Xiao Yan said indifferently.
"We do. Shall we talk inside?"
Su Fan nodded and said to Xiao Yan.
"Mhm."
Xiao Yan nodded slightly, agreeing to Su Fan's suggestion.
Su Fan and Xiao Yan walked into the house, while Long Die was somewhat bewildered.
Su Fan hadn't told her about Xiao Yan being the Crown Prince, so this situation left Long Die completely clueless.
You Jing's eyes flickered. He glanced at the closed door, then immediately turned and left the courtyard, heading towards the Second Prince's mansion.
He intended to deliver this news to the Second Prince and take the opportunity to assassinate the Crown Prince while he had few guards around him. Ideally, he would frame Su Fan for the crime, ensuring a flawless plan.
"A subject does not serve two masters. Your actions are beneath contempt."
A figure blocked You Jing's path.
"Who are you?"
You Jing asked warily.
If Su Fan were present, he would have immediately recognized the person before him as Chen Fang, the champion of the previous martial arts tournament.
"Chen Fang, ordered to take your dog's life."
Chen Fang said calmly.
Without a word, You Jing drew his sword and charged at Chen Fang.
He understood that the other party was either someone from the Crown Prince's faction or the Third Prince's faction. Regardless, they were his enemy.
Chen Fang let out a cold laugh and shook his head, disdainful of You Jing's actions.
As You Jing thrust his sword towards Chen Fang, Chen Fang suddenly vanished. The next moment, he appeared behind You Jing.
"Die!"
Chen Fang struck You Jing on the back of the head with a palm. Immediately, You Jing bled from all seven orifices and fell silent.
Meanwhile, the Third Prince's men were waiting outside the alley, but You Jing never emerged.
They had received intel from a spy that the Crown Prince had appeared, and You Jing had just left Su Fan's courtyard to deliver news to the Second Prince. Their mission was to intercept him again.
The reason they hadn't acted sooner to kill You Jing was to avoid alerting the Second Prince. By killing You Jing now, the Second Prince would remain unaware, and he wouldn't receive news of the Crown Prince's return any faster.
"Could he have taken a detour?"
One of them guessed worriedly.
"Let's go check!"
Another person also felt it was likely. The two immediately walked into the alley and, halfway through, discovered You Jing's body.
"Take his body and go claim your reward,"
Chen Fang, standing on the wall, said to the two men below.
The two men were startled. They hadn't noticed anyone nearby just moments ago!
"Who might you be?"
One of them asked Chen Fang warily.
"Not an enemy."
After saying this, Chen Fang flipped off the wall and disappeared from their sight.
The two exchanged glances. Their mission was to intercept You Jing. Now that You Jing was dead, as the other party had said, they could go claim their reward.
It felt strange to claim their reward money without having exerted any effort.
The two men quickly took You Jing's body from the ground and also cleaned up any traces of the fight, though there were hardly any, just a few drops of blood.
...
In the room, Su Fan and Xiao Yan sat facing each other.
"When did you find out about my identity?"
Xiao Yan asked Su Fan.
"Just two days ago. You were quite good at hiding it,"
Su Fan said, exasperated.
"Ah, if I hadn't kept it from you, I was afraid you, like others, would be hesitant to befriend me because of my status,"
Xiao Yan said with a smile.
He saw from Su Fan's reaction that he wasn't distancing himself because he was the Crown Prince, and that was enough for him.
"I'm not that shallow. By the way, how did you know I would go to Nangong Temple?"
Su Fan asked Xiao Yan, puzzled.
"I didn't know. But I was sure someone would go to Nangong Temple to find me. Even if it wasn't you, it would be someone else. No matter who it was, I would have them pass the message to you. I just didn't expect you to already know my identity."
Xiao Yan explained.
"Was it you who caused the Zhao family's search?"
Xiao Yan asked Su Fan with a displeased expression.
"Yes. Don't worry, I didn't touch your beloved. I had someone protect Zhao Ling'er and also ensured that the Second Prince's people wouldn't know about your relationship with them."
Su Fan explained to Xiao Yan.
"Speaking of which, what exactly did you want to tell me?"
Su Fan asked Xiao Yan, confused.
Xiao Yan had gone to such lengths to see him; it couldn't just be for a reunion. He must have needed his help with something.