TNIBFT -Chapter 174 No Use for You Anymore

“Clang!”

Zhou Tianhu was so terrified that he dropped to his knees, his entire body pressed to the ground, and he cried out urgently, “My lord, please grant me a chance to atone for my sins!”

“I’ve served you faithfully in Sifang City for many years and never failed in my duties. This time… this time…”

Zhou Tianhu lay prone on the floor, his back already soaked with cold sweat.

His voice trembled, and the fear in his heart threatened to drown out all other emotions.

The music at his ears abruptly stopped.

The hall fell completely silent, as if one could hear their own heartbeat.

Cold sweat dripped from Zhou Tianhu’s forehead, one drop after another, falling onto the floor.

The man on the high seat had narrow eyes and a face as smooth and pale as white jade. The middle-aged man’s appearance was strikingly delicate, his manner even more enchanting than a woman’s.

He twirled his long hair beside his ear with an elegant fingertip, saying, “Atone for your sins?”

“I see you’re becoming more and more useless. You can’t even find a little boy. Tell me, what use do I have for you?”

Gao Defu’s voice was sharp, his tone suddenly icy.

Zhou Tianhu trembled all over. “My lord, please, hear me out. My loyalty to you has never faltered. It’s just that this time, the child in Sifang City holds an official position—a prodigy renowned far and wide. I thought only such a boy would be worthy of serving you.”

A prodigy?

Gao Defu’s eyes lit up, as if intrigued.

He shifted slightly, settling himself comfortably in the wide chair.

Zhou Tianhu glanced nervously at Gao Defu on the high seat and hurried to continue explaining: “I didn’t expect Ye Tian’s subordinates to be so formidable. They killed all my men, and the child was rescued.”

“Ye Tian?”

Hearing the familiar name, Gao Defu’s previously casual expression instantly hardened.

His eyes widened, neck craning forward. “Ye Tian?”

His expression mixed disbelief with a hint of unusual excitement.

Zhou Tianhu didn’t understand what the old eunuch meant.

He went on: “Ye Tian’s men are extremely strong and ruthless. More than twenty of my men were killed, and a single fire burned down the meeting point we had built over years.”

Gao Defu clasped his hands behind his back and stood up, pacing along the steps.

Could it be…

This Ye Tian… is really the Ye Tian whose entire family was slaughtered back then?

The Ye Crown Prince?

What a coincidence…

If so, the cold smile on Gao Defu’s lips grew wider.

He turned his gaze to Zhou Tianhu on the floor. “No use for you anymore. You may leave.”

Zhou Tianhu was bewildered.

Did the old eunuch’s words mean he was letting him go?

He breathed a sigh of relief. He had intended to grab some children to sell in the capital, but seeing Ye Yunting could fetch even more money, they had targeted him. Before they could act, their backer arrived, ready to send a batch of boys for his amusement.

This old eunuch was truly perverse.

Capricious in anger and favor, yet supremely powerful, a close aide of Consort Zhao. Someone like him could not offend such a figure; a single mistake could cost his life. Only the best children could be sent.

Zhou Tianhu was just about to rise.

Suddenly, a chill ran down his neck, as if air had entered his windpipe. He turned toward Gao Defu on the high platform in shock.

A playful smile curled at Gao Defu’s lips, his eyes looking at him with cold contempt.

Zhou Tianhu felt suffocated. He clutched his neck, palms sticky, his eyes bulging from the lack of air. He stared intently at Gao Defu, only to see a middle-aged man emerge behind him, his aura dark and foreboding, holding a dagger thin as a cicada’s wing, glinting with a ghostly light.

“You…” Zhou Tianhu could not even make a sound.

“Bang!” — he fell straight to the ground.

Gao Defu looked with disgust at Zhou Tianhu, who refused to die, then turned to the person beside him. “Meng Qing, you know what to do, right?”

“Ye Tian really has a strong life… after all these years, he still hasn’t died.”

Gao Defu chuckled.

Then, taking small, quick steps, he sat down in a chair and continued, “Since he’s still alive, we must resolve matters for the Consort. Don’t you agree?”

Meng Qing remained silent.

Gao Defu, in high spirits, glanced at the group of musicians by the pillars. His expression darkened. “Play the music!”

A beautiful melody immediately filled the air.

Gao Defu tapped along to the rhythm with one hand, bobbing his head as if lost in the music. Suddenly, he said, “Let’s see if it’s really Young Master Ye.”

“If it is… don’t forget to give him one more stab for me, hahaha…”

…

By the time the three children were almost finished with their meal, Tao Ling’er, covered in filth, rolled and crawled back to the hotpot restaurant.

Seeing both Ye Yunting and Ye Tian there, she hugged Ye Yunting and, with a wail, completely broke down.

“Yunting… I’m so sorry!”

“It’s fine, as long as you’re safe!”

“It’s fine, as long as you’re safe!”

Tao Ling’er’s hair was soaked, plastered to her forehead. Her eyes were red, her light-colored embroidered shoes muddy and wet, her dress stained with dirt and water. She was a complete mess—barely escaping death had almost shattered her mind.

Ye Tian instructed Xiao Xun’er to take her to bathe and change clothes.

By the afternoon, Sifang City had gradually returned to normal; most of the disaster survivors had been properly settled.

Zhao Kang led teams to rescue civilians buried under the heavy snow. While the survivors had food, they also had to contribute labor, joining the organized efforts to save others.

Everything was moving in a positive direction.

…

The next morning.

Shangguan Ning received word that Lin Huarong had been placed under house arrest by His Majesty, and she officially took over the authority previously held by Lin Huarong’s disciples.

The Left Prime Minister suddenly became obedient, frequently claiming illness to avoid court appearances.

But secretly, he had begun setting up a net of schemes. Shangguan Ning knew that Qin Fengyi’s early intervention—capturing the targets ahead of schedule instead of taking both Left and Right Prime Ministers in one sweep—must have been because she learned about the little prince. She wanted to personally come and retrieve him, eager to take him away herself.

“My lord?”

Seeing Shangguan Ning lost in thought, Zhao Mingyuan stepped forward. “My lord, everyone is ready; we can depart at any time. The court needs manpower, and the brothers also wish to return quickly to assist His Majesty.” Zhao Mingyuan smiled honestly and scratched the back of his head.

Shangguan Ning said, “Your mission is important. Once we leave, the safety of the little prince during this time rests with you.”

“Understood!”

Zhao Mingyuan clasped his fists.

After speaking, Shangguan Ning lifted her foot to leave. Zhao Mingyuan followed, calling out from behind, “Where are you going?”

“Let the brothers go first. I’ll catch up on a fast horse.”

Without turning back, Shangguan Ning left the alley.

Snow still covered the ground. She stepped on the accumulated snow, looking at this city that did not belong to them.

Passersby trudged along, faces weary and steps hurried. Some walked in groups. A few said, “Did you see that little prodigy beside Lord Tao? Only five or six years old, yet he organized everything for us. How to place the refugees, it was all arranged by him.”

“Truly remarkable… even more reliable than my husband.”

“Yes, even distributing the rice and grain was his doing. This is new rice! To meet such a good person, we must truly be blessed.”

Their voices choked with emotion, revealing the people’s deep affection for Ye Yunting.

Shangguan Ning’s lips curved slightly—a proud, honored smile.

This was a prince of Dazhou, naturally extraordinary!

Your Majesty… do you realize what an exceptional child this is?