AUBTN -Chapter 126 The Third Prince Is Assassinated

He put away his smile, his gaze turning sharp as he looked the two of them up and down. Seeing their posture, a mocking curve slowly appeared at the corner of his lips.

“Lord Lu, as far as this prince knows, you and Miss Yu are not yet married, are you?”

Lu Yan frowned. “So what if we aren’t?”

“If you are not married, then embracing each other so openly in public is tantamount to ruining a young lady’s reputation.”

Tuoba Yun shook his head with a look of deep regret.

“Doesn’t Great Wei place great emphasis on propriety, virtue, and strict boundaries between men and women? Yet Lord Lu, as the Commander of the Imperial Guard, knowingly breaks the law. Behavior like this damages Miss Yu’s reputation. If word spreads, how will Miss Yu face the world in the future?”

Lu Yan was momentarily speechless.

Anger surged through him, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Just as his hand pressed against the hilt of his blade—

Shen Jue suddenly forced it back down.

“Lord Lu, no need to be so hot-tempered.”

Shen Jue spoke lazily, then turned to Tuoba Yun. In his narrow phoenix eyes lingered three parts amusement and seven parts icy indifference.

“Your Highness the Third Prince is mistaken.”

He idly toyed with the jade thumb ring on his finger, his tone relaxed.

“Although Great Wei values propriety, under our wise emperor, freedom in marriage is even more respected. As long as two people truly love each other, even if they privately pledge themselves first, as long as the proper betrothal rites are completed afterward, it can still become a celebrated match.”

As he spoke, he cast a faintly teasing glance at Lu Yan and Yu Qing.

“So how has it become ‘ruining her reputation’ in Your Highness’s words? The Third Prince has lived in Xifan for too long—perhaps your knowledge is somewhat limited.”

Lu Yan shot Shen Jue a surprised look.

Has this damned eunuch changed his nature? He’s actually speaking up for me?

Tuoba Yun’s expression stiffened slightly.

But he reacted quickly. His gaze swept over Shen Jue and then the silent Su Hewan standing nearby, and suddenly he smiled.

Yet the smile did not reach his eyes.

“I see. It seems this prince’s knowledge is shallow.”

Tuoba Yun cupped his hands politely. Then his tone abruptly shifted, his gaze piercing straight toward Shen Jue.

“But speaking of mutual affection… it seems that Lord Shen and Miss Su are also quite close?”

The smile at the corner of Shen Jue’s lips froze.

“What a pity,” Tuoba Yun sighed, his voice filled with regret.

“Miss Su is a talented woman of our age, learned in both past and present. She deserves a strong and upright man—someone whole—so she may bear children and enjoy the happiness of family life.”

Lu Yan nearly burst out laughing but was instantly silenced by a glare from Shen Jue.

Ignoring Shen Jue’s suddenly darkened expression, Tuoba Yun continued gently,

“Lord Shen, since your body is incomplete, you should have some self-awareness. If you truly care for Miss Su, you should let her go and allow her to fly freely—to seek the complete happiness that belongs to her, rather than trapping her in this deep palace compound to spend her life with a… eunuch.”

Shen Jue had not expected the boomerang to come back and hit him instead.

“You—” Shen Jue’s voice turned icy as killing intent surged from him.

This time it was Lu Yan who panicked. He quickly grabbed Shen Jue’s shoulder and pressed him down firmly.

“Calm down! Calm down!”

Yu Qing was sweating with anxiety.

【What kind of strange creature was this Third Prince?】

【Every word out of his mouth was like swallowing deadly poison!】

【First he provoked Lu Yan, now he was provoking Shen Jue. Was he repeatedly dancing on the edge of getting himself killed?】

Su Hewan stood quietly to the side, watching the scene unfold, waves surging in her heart.

She looked at Tuoba Yun, who still maintained his perfectly polite smile, her expression becoming extremely complicated.

【This man’s level was far too high.】

【The legendary master of top-tier manipulation?】

【First he painted a grand picture for Qingqing, using it to belittle Lu Yan’s possessiveness.】

【Then he turned around and, under the banner of “doing it for her own good,” began attacking Shen Jue.】

【This man was truly formidable!】

【Not only had they failed to probe anything out of him—he had instead stirred them into complete chaos!】

Just as the tension between them was reaching a breaking point, a cool female voice calmly cut in.

“The Third Prince is joking.”

Su Hewan stepped forward. She positioned herself precisely between Shen Jue and Tuoba Yun, subtly blocking the killing intent radiating from Shen Jue.

Her expression was calm, her gaze clear as she looked straight at Tuoba Yun.

“The Chief Overseer is His Majesty’s trusted confidant and an important pillar of the state. For a mere palace maid like me, Su Hewan, to receive the Chief Overseer’s favor is already the fortune of three lifetimes. As for marriage, children, and enjoying family happiness—how could such worldly pleasures compare with following the Chief Overseer, serving the country, and realizing one’s ambitions?”

She smiled faintly, but then her tone suddenly sharpened.

“On the contrary, Third Prince—your elder brother has just died, and your second brother is imprisoned. Yet you still have the leisure to linger here discussing romance and sowing discord among us. Such composure is truly admirable.”

Her words were neither harsh nor gentle. She made her stance clear while simultaneously labeling Tuoba Yun’s earlier “kindness” as nothing more than stirring up discord, instantly pulling the situation back under control.

The smile on Tuoba Yun’s face stiffened slightly.

Looking at the composed woman before him—so calm, so logical—a trace of surprise and admiration flashed in his eyes.

He withdrew his aggressive stance and once again wore his gentle smile, cupping his hands politely.

“This prince spoke out of turn. I hope Miss Su and Chief Overseer Shen will not take offense.”

Shen Jue looked at Su Hewan standing in front of him.

That slender yet resolute back somehow miraculously soothed the violent rage churning in his chest.

He gave a cold snort and withdrew his aura.

“It’s getting late.” Seeing this, Lu Yan let out a breath of relief and spoke in a deep voice, breaking the strange atmosphere.

“Let’s end today’s outing here. We should head back.”

Yu Qing nodded repeatedly, eager to leave this place of trouble as quickly as possible.

The group had no more mood for sightseeing. In silence, they set off on the road back to the capital.

The carriage rolled slowly along the small path through the maple forest, the atmosphere so oppressive it felt hard to breathe.

Yu Qing secretly lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and glanced outside.

Shen Jue and Lu Yan rode side by side on horseback, their expressions darker than storm clouds.

As for Tuoba Yun, he seemed completely unbothered. He rode leisurely beside the carriage, even carrying a faint, almost imperceptible smile on his face.

Watching him like this, Su Hewan grew even more wary.

This man’s depth of scheming far exceeded expectations.

Just as the carriage was about to leave the boundaries of Maple Forest Garden—

Whoosh—!

A sharp sound tore through the air!

“Watch out!”

Lu Yan reacted the fastest. Almost the instant the sound rang out, he shouted loudly. With a crisp clang, the embroidered spring saber in his hand slashed a cold arrow that had been shot toward the carriage window, knocking it violently aside.

However—

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

From the surrounding maple forest, arrows rained down like locusts, the whistling of their flight blending into one continuous roar!

More than a dozen black-clad, masked men wielding blades and crossbows suddenly sprang out from the forest shadows. Without a word, they launched a frenzied attack on the group.

“Assassins! Protect the Third Prince!”

Lu Yan shouted and exchanged a glance with Shen Jue.

Though the two had been openly competing with each other moments ago, now that a powerful enemy had appeared, they instantly displayed astonishing tacit cooperation.

Shen Jue moved like lightning. At some unknown moment, a sword as thin as a cicada’s wing had appeared in his hand. The sword light was chilling, each strike ruthless as it went straight for the assassins’ throats.