...
Tian Dou City, Crown Prince's Residence.
Inside the study, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.
Dressed in elegant casual clothes, Qian Renxue, disguised as "Xue Qinghe," held a dossier in her hand, her brows furrowed.
"You mean...he's back?"
"Yes, young master."
From the shadows, Serpent Spear Douluo She Long slowly emerged, his expression somewhat solemn:
"Xuan Hao just returned to Tian Dou City and took those people to Qi Bao Zhai.
He's currently hanging out with that old fox Ning Fengzhi."
"and..."
She Long paused, his tone becoming somewhat strange:
He also brought back a girl.
"A girl?"
Xue Qinghe raised an eyebrow.
"Doesn't this kid have enough women around him?
What's so strange about him bringing one more back?"
"This one... is different."
She Long took a deep breath and lowered his voice to say:
"Although the girl wasn't wearing the Spirit Hall's uniform or any insignia, I have no doubt about her identity."
"That's Hu Liena."
"The Celestial Fox, a direct disciple of Pope Bibi Dong and hailed as the core of the Spirit Hall's Golden Generation."
"Hu Liena?!"
Upon hearing this name, Qian Renxue abruptly stood up.
The facade of gentle refinement she usually maintained instantly cracked, and a hint of annoyance and surprise flashed in her eyes:
"Why would she come to Tiandou City?
And why is she with Xuan Hao?!"
"Young Master, have you forgotten?"
Serpent Spear Douluo reminded us:
"Some time ago, we sent a secret message back to Spirit City and received the reply that Xuan Hao had caused a big disaster in the Papal Palace and was imprisoned by the Pope.
As a result, the kid used some means to escape overnight."
"The Pope was furious and even sent Elders Chrysanthemum and Ghost to arrest him."
"But now, Xuan Hao has not only swaggered back, but he's also accompanied by the Pope's most favored disciple..."
Serpent Spear Douluo looked puzzled: "This...this plot doesn't quite add up."
"If he were a fugitive, Hu Liena should have come to arrest him, but according to the scouts, the two of them were behaving intimately, and Hu Liena was even being carried on Xuan Hao's back the whole time…"
"This isn't arresting a fugitive, this is clearly..."
"They're clearly just out sightseeing!"
Qian Renxue slammed her hand heavily on the desk, gritting her teeth:
"That bastard! He's playing us!"
What trouble did they cause?
What escape did they go on the run?
If they really fell out, how could Bibi Dong possibly let Hu Liena follow him?
This can only mean one thing—the relationship between Xuan Hao and Bibi Dong is not as strained as the rumors suggest!
It might even be... a performance they put on!
But then, Qian Renxue thought of an even more serious problem.
"wrong..."
Qian Renxue took a deep breath, "Regardless of their relationship, the most important thing now is that Hu Liena cannot be exposed!"
"Xuan Hao's current persona is that of a neutral and profit-driven super second-generation heir with a mysterious, reclusive family background."
"It was precisely because of this identity that the old emperor favored him so much, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School tried so hard to win him over.
I even went so far as to use my privilege as the crown prince to make things convenient for him, allowing him to take those national treasures from the royal treasury."
"All of this is based on the premise that he is not affiliated with the Spirit Hall!"
Qian Renxue paced back and forth in the study, her speech becoming increasingly rapid:
"But now, he's swaggering around town with the Pope's personal disciple..."
"Once Hu Liena's identity is recognized, once they are connected..."
"Xuan Hao's identity will be exposed immediately!"
"At that time, everyone will know that Xuan Hao is a member of the Spirit Hall!"
Thinking of this, Qian Renxue felt a chill run down her spine.
If Xuan Hao is exposed, then she, the Crown Prince who has "gone to great lengths" to win over Xuan Hao, will instantly become a laughing stock in the entire Tian Dou City!
What would the Snow Night Emperor think?
"My good prince, the person you went to such lengths to win over is actually a spy for the Spirit Hall?
Are you blind?
Or... are you in cahoots with the Spirit Hall yourself?"
"Damn it!!"
Qian Renxue felt a chill run down her spine.
She had originally hoped that Xuan Hao could help her share some of the pressure in Tiandou City and stir up the waters so that it would be easier for her to act.
Now look what's happened!
This bastard not only didn't help, but he also caused her such a huge mess!
This isn't an ally; this is a complete liability!
"Get the car ready!"
Qian Renxue suddenly turned around, "Go to Qibaozhai!"
"I'm going to go and ask that bastard myself what he's up to!!"
"Is he upset that my infiltration of Tiandou was going too smoothly, and he has to make things more difficult for me before he's satisfied?!"
"Young Master, are you going in person?"
Serpent Spear Douluo was surprised.
"Can't I just not go?!"
Qian Renxue snorted coldly and strode out:
"What if he gets too drunk and starts talking nonsense, and then sells me out too?!"
"All I hope for now is..."
"That bastard had better give me a reasonable explanation."
"Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless towards him!"
...
As dusk fell, the city lights began to illuminate the night.
After indulging in a feast at Qibaozhai with his group of beauties, and then "inspecting" the most bustling streets of Tiandou City, Xuan Hao and his entourage finally returned to the Tiandou Royal Hotel.
Xuan Hao stopped in his tracks as soon as he stepped into the hotel's magnificent lobby.
On the sofa in the lobby lounge, a familiar figure sat upright, holding a book in his hand, but his eyes kept glancing towards the door, clearly having been waiting for a long time.
Xueqing River.
At this moment, although he still maintained the elegant demeanor of a crown prince, the anxiety that almost overflowed between his brows could not be concealed.
Xuan Hao's eyelids twitched, and he instantly guessed what this young master... no, young lady was here for.
This is a case of coming to demand an explanation.
He turned around and said to Dugu Yan and Hu Liena behind him:
"Yanzi, Lingling, you two take Na'er and Sister Nana upstairs to rest first.
While you're at it, organize the things you bought today."
"And what about you?"
Dugu Yan glanced at Xue Qinghe not far away, somewhat wary.
Ever since that night when her grandfather told her about the true nature of the Crown Prince, her feelings towards this gentle and refined prince have been like an avalanche.
"His Highness the Crown Prince wants to speak with me.
I'll go and have a chat with him for a bit."
Xuan Hao waved his hand, "Don't worry, it's downstairs, it won't get lost."
After seeing the women off, Xuan Hao straightened his collar and walked straight toward Xue Qinghe.
Before he could even say hello, Xue Qinghe slammed the book shut, stood up, grabbed Xuan Hao's arm without a word, and dragged him directly into the private room that had already been booked.
"Bang!"
The door slammed shut, cutting off all outside sounds.
Xue Qinghe took a deep breath, turned around, and stared intently at Xuan Hao.
His gentle, jade-like face was now covered in frost, and his voice was extremely low, yet it revealed a hysterical rage:
"Xuanhao! Are you insane?!"
"Bringing Hu Liena by your side and swaggering around Tiandou City like this... what do you mean by that?"
"Do you think your current identity isn't sensitive enough?
Or do you think my position in the Heaven Dou Royal Family is too secure?"
"Are you trying to completely expose yourself and then drag me down with you?!"
Xuan Hao rubbed his wrist, which had been pinched red, and walked to the sofa to sit down.
He even had the leisure to pour himself a cup of tea, looking puzzled.
"Exposed? Exposed what?"
"Are you still going to play dumb with me?!"
Qian Renxue's chest heaved with anger as she pointed at Xuan Hao's nose and cursed:
"Who is Hu Liena?
She is the Pope's personal disciple! She is one of the Spirit Hall's publicly acknowledged golden generation!"
"Unlike you, a genius who has been hidden away and unknown to everyone, Hu Liena's name and appearance are not a secret in the intelligence networks of various major powers! Many people have even seen her portrait!"
"The truth will always come out! It won't be long before her identity is exposed in Heaven Dou City!"
Qian Renxue took a deep breath, her tone stern:
"By then, everyone will know she's from the Spirit Hall! And you, behaving intimately with her, going in and out together..."
"All those fabricated stories about reclusive families you told before will instantly become a joke!"
"Everyone will assume you were sent by the Spirit Hall!
And I, the Crown Prince who went to great lengths to win you over, will become a fool in everyone's eyes, and even be suspected by Father Emperor of colluding with the Spirit Hall!"
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