ITF Chapter55

“I have made some interesting discoveries; I look forward to meeting you.”

Only these few words were written on the snow-white paper.

Shao Cheng folded the letter that Wen Yan had sent via a messenger. Just as he was about to set it on fire to burn it, Shao Yixiao suddenly pushed the door open and barged in, shouting without any reservation, “Bai Jiashu has truly gone mad!”

The flames rapidly consumed the entire sheet of white paper, turning it into a small heap of dark ash in the dish. Shao Cheng shot him a displeased, sideways glance. “I think you are the one who has gone mad. No matter what, that is still the Crown Prince.”

Shao Yixiao shut the door behind his back and calmed his emotions down a bit.

When he went to see Bai Jiashu that afternoon, Bai Jiashu was drinking alone in a gloomy mood. Ever since learning about the relationship between Bai Heting and that guard, he had been like this almost constantly. Shao Yixiao hadn’t thought much of it and casually teased, “So many days have passed, and the infatuated prince is still grieving?”

Bai Jiashu gave him a flat look. “What do I have to grieve about? He already kicked that fellow out.”

No matter how Shao Yixiao thought about it, those words felt rather off. It sounded as though Bai Jiashu intended to reconcile with Bai Heting. He sat down beside Bai Jiashu and said meaningfully, “Kicked out? Are you sure he was expelled, and not hidden away?”

“There is no difference between being kicked out or hidden away,” Bai Jiashu said indifferently. “He will take that Alpha’s life.”

This development was quite different from what Shao Yixiao had imagined.

Leaning a little closer to Bai Jiashu, he asked in confusion, “Are you sure? Is that what he told you?”

“I am sure.” Bai Jiashu stared straight ahead and finished the last drop of wine in his glass.

On the day of the banquet, when he heard that Bai Heting had expelled that guard from the General’s Mansion, his heart had indeed felt much lighter. In the days that followed, he had found many excuses for himself. For instance, using someone to alleviate the discomfort of the heat period was not uncommon among unmarried nobles. For another instance, when two people spent day and night together, crossing the line was inevitable; many nobles had illicit relationships with their maids.

Most importantly, given someone of Bai Heting’s status, it was impossible for him to hand his heart over to a guard. The fact that he would commit such an absurd act, in the final analysis, was simply because he lacked an Alpha partner.

Bai Jiashu thoroughly brainwashed himself and finally made up his mind—this time, he absolutely had to convince his royal father to agree to his marriage with Bai Heting.

When he went to look for Bai Yi, he happened to learn that Bai Yi was currently discussing matters with Bai Heting in the bedchamber. That only made him more excited. Ignoring the attendants who tried to stop him, he pushed his way forward,b only to be struck like a bolt from the blue right at the entrance of the bedchamber.

There had always been rumors in the palace that Bai Heting was the king’s illegitimate son. It wasn’t that he hadn’t suspected it, but he had once firmly believed that the reason Bai Yi refused to agree to the marriage was that Bai Heting’s status was unworthy of him.

Now, however, he was no longer so sure.

Bai Heting was indeed his biological older brother, linked by blood. When Bai Yi spoke to Bai Heting, his tone was affectionate, even carrying a hint of doting.

This was a privilege Bai Jiashu had never enjoyed.

In Bai Yi’s eyes, Bai Heting’s mother was the most beautiful person in the world. And Bai Heting…

He was far more important than imagined.

It turned out that he, with his ordinary talent, was the one who was unworthy of the other in his royal father’s eyes. Just like his queen mother, who had lived as a functional widow for over twenty years, he had never truly caught his royal father’s eye.

However, he was Bai Yi’s only legitimate heir.

He was the future master of this country.

He would possess this nation, along with everyone living within it.

“I must marry Bai Heting.” Bai Jiashu said resolutely.

Shao Yixiao was completely dazed with anger by his stubborn obsession. “Have you forgotten what kind of relationship he has with that guard? And what is your position? Omegas across the entire world are yours for the taking! Do you… do you have any idea how much gossip you’ll have to endure? Do you insist on humiliating yourself like this?”

“That sort of thing isn’t rare among the nobility anyway,” Bai Jiashu said indifferently. “Once that guard is dead, the rumors and gossip associated with him will be buried along with him. When that time comes, everything can start anew.”

After listening to Shao Yixiao’s recount, Shao Cheng said thoughtfully, “We must indeed make the Crown Prince abandon this notion.”

With a personality like Bai Jiashu’s, which was easily manipulated, Bai Heting was by no means an ideal candidate for Crown Princess.

Having vented his anger, Shao Yixiao finally calmed down a bit, walked to the table, and poured himself a glass of wine. “Still, if Bai Heting can really eliminate that bastard, it can be considered solving a piece of trouble for us.” He tilted his head back, downed the wine in one gulp, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and cursed harshly, “The Urdans are as irritating as insects that can never be fully wiped out.”

Shao Cheng looked at his son speechlessly. Only after a moment did he say, “How are you sometimes shrewd and sometimes foolish?”

“Am I wrong?” Shao Yixiao blanked.

Shao Cheng let out a sigh.

“That bastard is Bai Heting’s greatest weakness,” he asked, guiding him patiently. “What benefit does having your enemy clearing away his own weakness bring you?”

Shao Yixiao had never considered the issue from this angle. He felt ashamed of his own naivety, but he was also left confused by his father’s ambiguous attitude.

“Do you not wish for him to die?” he asked, perplexed. “His death will surely deal a severe blow to the Urdan rebel army.”

Only seeing the immediate benefits ahead was a common ailment among the young. Shao Cheng shook his head and said, “Pei Yan does have to die.” Having said that, he thoroughly crushed a tiny piece of unburnt white paper from the dish between his fingers. “However, he has to make a contribution before he dies.”

*

Three days later, a torrential rain poured down over the capital.

The dense curtain of rain washed away all traces of pedestrians. Bai Heting left a black horse at the end of the main avenue, tugged down his hood which was soaked through by the rain, and walked slowly along the small path in the dark of the night.

The lodging Qiu Chen had found for Luo Congye was located in a secluded area. After walking on foot for half an hour, he finally spotted a house that matched the description. This house had no windows. Peering through the narrow crack in the door, one could see only pitch-black darkness, with not a single trace of light inside.

Bai Heting knocked twice on the door. No one came to answer. He called out, “Open the door,” but still received no response.

He reached out and gave the door panel a push. With a creak, the door slowly opened.

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