Magic Emperor En

“Did something happen?” Zhuo Fan’s heart tightened.

Grandmother shook her hands with a dry laugh, “Ha-ha-ha, Steward Zhuo, she’s fine. She’s… just in seclusion!”

“Seclusion? The Esoteric Debate has ended and the strife of the eight houses has begun. What’s she, the house lord, doing goddamn secluding herself?” His stare bore into Grandmother’s group, noticing their reactions were off. He knew something was up.

But his questioning was cut off by the sudden booming voice of Old Pang, “Their Highnesses, the Crown Prince and third prince, have arrived!”

Startled, Long Yifey and the rest looked on curiously.

“The Crown Prince always abides by his ancestor’s teachings and hardly ever visits the noble houses. Why is this time different, openly disobeying the tradition and coming to the eighth house?” Grandmother gave Zhuo Fan a hard look and drew a conclusion, “Either he must feel his position threatened and was forced to intervene, or the Luo clan must be so radiant that even the grand Crown Prince has to bask in its glory.”

Scratching his nose, Zhuo Fan’s eyes flashed, “I’ve seen him once and he left me with an impression. He sticks to ethics, treating everyone fair, but he does it all with a clear purpose in mind. He is subtle and sharp, and won’t get himself dragged into the houses’ strife. He’s more of an old fox watching the fire burn from the sidelines. Yet he took the initiative of coming here by himself, to get close to us. He has a clear objective in mind. As to what, we’ll just have to wait and see.”

His allies nodded. Zhuo Fan was cunning to the bone and calm even in this situation, earning their admiration.

“Steward Zhuo, His Highness Crown Prince has come to pay the Luo house a social visit, but he is sure to want to discuss something secret as well. It’s best if we take our leave first.” Xie Xiaofeng said.

Zhuo Fan nodded, having Yan Fu lead them to another room, “Abode Lord Xie, you’re so thoughtful!”

They left not a moment too soon, as in the next moment, someone with a bright and crisp laughter entered, “Ha-ha-ha, imperial brother, imperial sister, your Prosperity Compound is so lively. That crowd you have outside almost had even me blocked.”

Two golden men walked in with their attendants behind them, Crown Prince and Yuwen Cong.

Zhuo Fan snickered inside at the sight of the first, [He’s good. The emperor just made Luo house’s siblings a regent and princess and grabbing the excuse, he came out of the woodworks in an instant.]

Thus making the two feel awkward about shooing him away. Though they had no reservations about the second guy.

Zhuo Fan turned to the ball of fat with a shake of his head.

Thinking back, didn’t the fatty drag him as well? [These two are indeed related, humph…]

“Please forgive my transgression of not coming out to welcome you, Your Highness!” Luo Yunchang pulled her brother to bow before Yuwen Bo. All while Zhuo Fan was standing behind them, looking bored and with nothing particularly important to do.

Crown Prince ignored this obvious rudeness and instead helped the two up with a smile, “Please, we’re all family now. You don’t have to be so distant. Just call me elder brother.”

Luo Yunchang was startled. The siblings found him kind, amiable and modest. They were overwhelmed with gratitude.

However, Zhuo Fan’s trained eye saw through the facade. He hadn’t lived two lives for nothing.

“Oh, Steward Zhuo, you sir have become the Best Steward Beneath Heavens as of today. You are in charge of all of Tianyu’s affairs. Beneath one man and above everyone else. Congratulations on having received such boundless glory. I know it is late, but please accept my acclaim.”

The Crown Prince went to Zhuo Fan and made a solemn and perfect bow, a ninety degrees down angle. If he were any more modest, he’d be on his knees by now.

Everyone was shocked at his modesty.

That person bowing there was His Highness Crown Prince. The only ones to receive such respect were either the emperor or the Four Pillars. The seven house lords were clearly exempt.

Yet here he was giving Zhuo Fan the greatest respect the imperial family could offer. Everyone looking at them felt touched by the gesture.

All but Zhuo Fan, who wasn’t buying any of that fake modesty, watched on with a cold eye and a curt nod, “Oh, I know. Next time be quicker about it.”

Pff!

Blood almost spurted in waves as the people keeled over and laughed. It got a crack out of the bowing Crown Prince too. His face twitched and became red as a fireball.

Yuwen Cong had the least control and cursed, “Brother, how can you step all over him? Elder brother offers you his sincere congratulations and this is how you thank him? To be quicker about it? As if we’re truly in the wrong here…”

“He said he came late and asked for forgiveness. What, didn’t I forgive him and now I can’t even chew him out for it? What more do you want?” Zhuo Fan rolled his eyes.

Pff!

Blood was bound to flow if he kept this up. The fatty was so pissed that his lard and everything quaked, “You’re nitpicking! Can’t we ever get a simple polite greeting out of you? Don’t think that I won’t, won’t….”

“Won’t what, beat me up? Bring it!” Zhuo Fan snickered, flipping the fatty off in taunt.

The fatty had smoke coming out of his ears. Oh, he wanted to put the prick in his place, but he was smart enough to know when he was outmatched, outclassed, though not outweighed. And so, while he looked positively charging, he had one greasy hand, by chance or not, holding Crown Prince’s hand in such a way as if the other guy was pulling him, and then shouted, “Elder brother, don’t stop me. I will put this punk in his place for what he did to you.”

The Crown Prince’s mouth twitched.

[I see why the old third has become sworn brothers with Zhuo Fan. Look at them! One has a flair for the dramatic, cocky and obnoxious, sticking his nose higher than the heavens even in front of me, The Crown Prince.]

[The other is no better either. He’s got no power yet still wants to play-pretend, pulling me into his act while he’s at it.]

[These two are like two peas in a pod. A bromance made in heaven!]

Contrary to his thoughts, he knew Zhuo Fan had the power to match the attitude. His only choice was to make friends with the guy. Thus he laughed, “Ha-ha-ha, Steward Zhuo is so fresh and reasonable. I truly admire you. Old third, that was my sincere apology and what Steward Zhuo said was right. You can’t interfere.”

“Humph, consider yourself lucky that the elder brother has let you off. Next time… humph!” The fatty flicked his sleeve, speaking that line like second nature, all while being close to having a panic attack inside.

[Oh, mommy, I’m free at last! If I had fought with that freak, my modest 400 kg fat would’ve been tenderized!]

Zhuo Fan merely scoffed.

They all returned to the lounge and sat. The Crown Prince clapped for his men to present his gift. Dozens of 8th grade ingredients and some 6-7th grade materials.

These materials far outstripped even the Diamond Sand Zhuo Fan once called a genuine treasure. Among them, Sea Phantom Wing stood out, the wings of a 7th level spiritual beast, Abyss Phantom Butterfly!

The Abyss Phantom Butterfly was exceedingly rare, haunting the black depths of the largest seas. It was ethereal, expert in using illusions and swift in water. Not even a peak Radiant Stage expert could escape this creature’s illusions, offering instead his soul for it to feast on.

And these wings retained that special trait. These were far better than his former Lightning Wings, both in strength and attack.

The higher in stage a cultivator progressed, the more he trained his soul, hence soul attacks were more sought after.

The Sea Phantom Wings were a nightmare for any Radiant Stage expert, or even higher.

Eyes fixed on the Crown Prince’s gift, Zhuo Fan sighed. [The imperial family must have a sizable treasury amassed over a thousand years for a mere Crown Prince to present such an invaluable gift.]

The Crown Prince noticed his look and nodded with a smile, “Steward Zhuo, I know you had Lightning Wings, but had come to lose them in the Esoteric Debate. Please kindly accept this gift I’ve prepared for you.”

“Every reward is deserved. What does the Crown Prince wish for me to do in exchange?” Zhuo Fan smiled. He was never a believer of free lunches.

Shaking his head, Crown Prince showed a vague smile, “Steward Zhuo is a national hero, and the Luo clan is a national asset. I only wish for the two of us to work together for the safety of our empire. That is my humble request.”

[Humph, more like having us as your lackeys! Cut the slick act!]

Zhuo Fan scoffed inside.

The fatty urged, having long since exhausted what little patience he had, “Just accept the elder brother’s goodwill. What’s there to consider? Won’t it help you strive harder for Tianyu? This is a natural responsibility of the Luo clan, now a crucial part of our nation!”

Glancing at him, Zhuo Fan snickered, but nodded.

He pegged the fatty as being on the Crown Prince’s side for coming here together, but hearing him now changed his opinion.

The Crown Prince wanted Luo clan to work with him, for him. As for national safety and such gimmick, that came second. But the fatty’s dumb act, played out in ignorance, changed its content, making Luo clan working for Tianyu and thus accepting the gift fully deserving.

The way it went, what looked like fatty helping Crown Prince was in fact helping Luo clan escape Crown Prince’s clutches. Striving for Tianyu and siding with the Crown Prince weren’t semantics.

Thus the Crown Prince’s gift became a waste!

[The fatty was hiding himself. He is quite the shrewd guy. I wonder if the Crown Prince can read between the lines.]

[Oh, he would be royally pissed if he could…]