Young Master in Flower City

Chapter 971 972: Trapped in Despair

"In these extraordinary times, unexpected events could happen at any moment. Past loyalty doesn't guarantee present faith!" Xiao Tianyu remarked with hidden meaning. How could Liu Yan not understand? She smiled faintly and said, "Tianyu, don't be too suspicious. Besides, Grandma Liu has cooked a whole table of dishes and invited me over. I can't possibly refuse, can I? Wouldn't that make people feel cold-hearted?"

"Princess!" At this moment, Liu Xiang, standing nearby, spoke with a smile, "This gentleman is correct; it is indeed a special period. Perhaps the Princess should reconsider. It won't be too late to visit once the situation in Cangye Kingdom stabilizes!"

These words from Liu Xiang were naturally a tactical retreat.

"No need!" Liu Yan gazed at Liu Xiang, smiling as she said, "If even Grandpa Liu is a traitor to Cangye, then Cangye is truly beyond salvation. Therefore, I am willing to trust Grandpa Liu!"

"This..." Liu Xiang feigned difficulty.

"Let's go!" Liu Yan waved.

But Xiao Tianyu said, "Perhaps I should accompany you?"

At these words, Liu Xiang's heart trembled. He had not forgotten Zhao Hou's instructions, but he remained composed, saying, "That might be a good idea, at least..."

"No need!" Liu Yan interrupted directly, "Tianyu, just wait for me at home. Grandma Liu only invited me!"

"Alright." Xiao Tianyu nodded slightly, glancing at Liu Xiang. Seeing Liu Xiang's evasive gaze, Xiao Tianyu's eyes suddenly turned sharp, but he said nothing.

Soon, under Xiao Tianyu's watchful eyes, Liu Xiang and Liu Yan left the Princess's Mansion.

Afterward, Xiao Tianyu lifted his foot and walked toward the hall.

"Brother Tianyu!"

Just as Xiao Tianyu arrived at the hall, Liu Yuan came up to him and said, "My sister has gone to..."

"I know!" Xiao Tianyu smiled indifferently, little knowing that his senses had already reached out, locking onto Liu Yan. As soon as Liu Yan made a move, he would arrive promptly.

...

Prime Minister's Mansion.

"Grandpa Liu, why is there not a single guard at your mansion?" Standing before the gates of the mansion, Liu Yan expressed some doubt. How could the grand Prime Minister's Mansion have no guards?

"These are busy times, and to avoid implicating the guards, I dismissed them!" Liu Xiang fabricated a casual reason; in truth, the guards had been killed by Zhao Hou. Naturally, he wouldn't reveal the truth, so he continued, "Princess, please!"

"Grandpa Liu, after you!" Liu Yan made a 'please' gesture as well and then walked into the mansion, with Liu Xiang following behind, a trace of guilt flashing in his eyes, but he had no choice.

After reaching the guest hall, Liu Yan noticed it was empty, furrowing her brows slightly: "Grandpa Liu, where is Grandma Liu?"

Thud~

Suddenly, Liu Xiang knelt to the ground, causing Liu Yan to be puzzled, "Grandpa Liu, why are you doing this? Get up quickly!"

"Princess, I beg your forgiveness!" Liu Xiang sobbed with tears flowing, causing Liu Yan's confusion to deepen: "What on earth is happening?"

However, before Liu Yan could finish her words, Zhao Hou appeared with a group of people from an inner hall. Liu Yan's eyes fixed on the newcomers, knowing full well the reason behind this incident.

Liu Xiang inviting her to a family meal was merely a trap.

"Zhao Quan greets the Princess!" At this moment, Zhao Hou bent slightly, a smug smile in his eyes. The Princess met Zhao Hou's gaze, "Spare me the pretense. What are you doing here?"

"Naturally, I'm waiting for the Princess!" Zhao Hou smiled slightly.

Liu Yan's expression turned unpleasant, and then her beautiful eyes looked at Liu Xiang, asking, "Even you have betrayed Cangye Kingdom? You were the most loyal minister of Cangye and even once sought protection from the Haotian Sect for me. Why now..."

"Princess, this old minister is truly sorry to you. Even a thousand deaths wouldn't be enough to redeem my guilt, but..."

"But what?" Liu Yan's eyes looked down on Liu Xiang as he continuously kowtowed: "Zhao Hou captured my family and threatened me, so I..."

"So you brought me here to await capture, is that it?" Liu Yan said.

"Princess..."

"It's not your fault, get up..."

However, Liu Xiang did not get up; his eyes were fixed on Zhao Hou: "I hope you keep your promise!"

Bang~

Just as he finished speaking, Liu Xiang struck his own forehead fiercely, and crimson blood flowed extensively, staining the carpet. Liu Xiang's body then slowly collapsed.

Seeing this, Liu Yan was stunned for a long while before reacting. She bent down to support Liu Xiang, tears glistening in her eyes: "Grandpa Liu, why did you do this? I said it wasn't your fault. Why did you..."

"Offending the Princess is a grave offense. I... I can only... only die to atone, so please, Princess..." Before finishing his words, Liu Xiang had already died.

"Grandpa Liu... Grandpa Liu..." Liu Yan continuously shook Liu Xiang's corpse, a single tear sliding down. Even if he had spoken the truth in the Princess's Mansion, Liu Yan would have come for the sake of Liu Xiang's family, so she didn't blame him.

If there was blame, it was that Liu Xiang had been too foolish.

Then Liu Yan placed Liu Xiang's body down, her beautiful eyes lifted, coldly staring at Zhao Hou and the others, "Now are you satisfied?"

"He brought this upon himself; no one else is to blame!" Zhao Hou smiled nonchalantly.

Liu Yan coldly snorted, "Where has he hidden the other people of the mansion?"

"They are quite safe!" Zhao Hou stared at Liu Yan and continued, "I understand that luring the Princess here is a grave offense. Zhao Quan sincerely apologizes to the Princess here!"

"Hypocrite!"

Liu Yan coldly snorted, "Speak up, what do you want me for?"

"Naturally, it's the Jade Seal!"

"The Jade Seal is not with me!"

"The Princess surely jests!" Zhao Hou looked at Liu Yan with a smile, "If I order someone to search your body, it won't be ideal. Besides, the Princess is of noble blood, with such a perfect figure—it's truly exciting to look at. If my men were to lose control and did something disrespectful to the Princess..."

"Shameless!" Liu Yan's expression turned unpleasant.

"Since the Princess insists on resisting, Zhao Quan will not be polite. Men, search her!"

"How dare you!" Liu Yan shouted.

"You're merely a fallen princess, do you still think you're of noble blood?" Zhao Hou sneered, and immediately, two Celestial Realm guards approached Liu Yan leisurely, their eyes constantly appraising Liu Yan's alluring figure.

"Arrogant!" Liu Yan's eyes filled with killing intent, and the Celestial Realm's aura burst forth in an instant, pouncing directly at the two guards. Qianqian's figure drew an arc, reaching the guards in a flash, intending to kill.

"Still trying to resist?" One of the guards sneered, a large palm flashing out. However, Liu Yan's change in tactics was extremely fast; she reversed a move, directly clutching the opponent's wrist: "Break!"

Crack~

After a crisp sound, the guard's arm was pulled off by Liu Yan, causing the guard to scream miserably.

Both being at the Celestial Realm, there are naturally strong and weak among them, especially since Liu Yan was from the Haotian Sect and not an ordinary Celestial Realm powerhouse that could be compared to.