Chapter 77: The Fools Set Out

Just as Ye Feng was grandly brandishing his blade before the gates of the imperial palace, flaunting his might, there were others waiting for news in a farmhouse on the outskirts of the capital.

A tall, elegant figure in a blue robe stood outside the thatched hut, tilting his head slightly as he gazed in the direction of the capital. If Ye Feng were present, he would have recognized this man as the very youth who, when Ye Feng first arrived in the city, incited others to attack him before slipping away unnoticed—Feng Ran.

At that moment, a faint smile graced Feng Ran's handsome face, his gaze deep and resolute as he watched the sky above the capital, silent for a long while.

He was contemplating how the Ye family and the royal household would resolve this conflict. It was true that the four assassins had been sent by his deliberate design, their sole purpose being to expose the two princes. Success is eternal, and notions of mercy or righteousness are fleeting to him; only results mattered. The victor, after all, writes the history.

Everyone knew that Gala was born of Marquis Yingluan's drunken night with a woman from the West; yet few realized that Feng Ran's own origins were far more tragic. He was, in fact, abducted by his 'mother.'

In this era, whether a woman bore a son or daughter greatly affected her standing within the household, especially in a powerful family like the Fengs.

His 'mother' had been a mere concubine, but after winning the favor of his father, Feng An, she conceived. Her schemes were deep; to guard against uncertainty, she traded her own body to a merchant, requesting that he find three pregnant women from the distant West who were due around the same time.

They had to be of mixed blood, for the concubine herself was half Western.

Ten months of pregnancy, and when the day came, she delivered a daughter. Anyone with a little sense knows that similar due dates do not guarantee simultaneous births, though there is always the option of a caesarean...

Thus, Feng Ran came into being.

He lived for years in a haze, complacent with his illustrious identity. But on his fifteenth birthday, everything changed. The merchant who had aided his 'mother' found him and revealed the truth.

The reason was simple: greed. The merchant wanted money, threatening Feng Ran with what he knew.

Feng Ran gave in once, then twice. But the merchant, foolishly, kept demanding more. Eventually, Feng Ran lost patience—the outcome was inevitable.

After that, Feng Ran developed a sense of inferiority, a resentment towards his father, but even more towards his mother. Had it not been for them, he might have been a happy commoner. Had it not been for them, his birth mother would not have died by the knife.

Yet what could he do? His mother had killed his birth mother, but for all these years, she treated him as her own son. His father took pride in him. They had given him a life of luxury.

Over time, his hatred shifted from his parents to the very institution—to the royal family.

Later, people from the Sanctuary approached him. He possessed Western blood, and the Sanctuary was a Western force; it was only natural that he joined. Most importantly, they shared a common enemy: the royal family.

A biting, cold wind stirred, pulling Feng Ran from his reverie. "I suppose it has all ended by now. My two good disciples, I have truly acted in accordance with your status," he mused, then broke into a chilling laugh that sent shivers down one's spine.

The sound of hooves approached swiftly. A man with a cold, sinister aura dismounted and came before Feng Ran. "Reporting, Third Saint Son! The Ye family youth, upon receiving word, charged alone with his blade to the palace. But due to interference from the royal household, he only managed to kill the Ninth Prince; the Seventh Prince was rescued."

This man had watched from a distance, seeing only the broad strokes: Ye Feng killed the Ninth Prince, and as he was about to slay the Seventh, a voice from within the palace interrupted him.

"What of Ye Feng?" Feng Ran's tone was flat, revealing no emotion.

"He was taken away by that giant ape. Still, the rift between the Ye family and the royal house has been sown. The Emperor himself has declared he will personally go to the Ye family to demand justice." As he spoke, the man's eyes brimmed with admiration for Feng Ran.

"Tell me the details," said Feng Ran, waving his hand to the young man before him.

At once, the man recounted all he had seen and heard, embellishing with his own understanding—such as the giant ape nearly clashing with an elder of the palace, the Emperor choosing to quell the situation to avoid escalation.

"Heh... Ye Feng, proud as you are, you are still dancing to my tune," Feng Ran sneered, revealing sharp, white teeth.

Behind him stood three middle-aged men, each exuding a chilly aura. Hearing Feng Ran's unsettling laughter, they shuddered involuntarily.

"So be it, consider Ye Feng lucky this time! Still, I hope he remains fortunate next time." Feng Ran turned to glance at the three behind him. "Stay here for the coming days; do not go wandering."

With that, Feng Ran flicked his robe and strolled out, as though walking through a tranquil garden.

"My good disciple, since you have survived, I shall stoke the flames and make full use of you," he whispered with a warm smile. "Ye Feng... what use is noble birth or wielding power?" He smiled lightly, departing with serenity.

At the Ye residence, Ye Feng sat leisurely in the grand armchair, admiring the boundless beauty of the sunset, lost in thought.

"Young master!" Two men in black appeared not far from Ye Feng. "During your visit to the palace, there has been no unusual activity at Duke Billis' residence."

"Good, keep watching. Also, the surveillance of our household servants must be carried out with utmost secrecy. There's one more matter—confirm the timing of those four assassins' appearance on the mountainside. Do not ease up on monitoring Duke Billis until this is clarified. Once you have the answer, report to me immediately," Ye Feng instructed, his eyes never leaving the slender streaks of dusk in the sky.

"Understood!" The two men bowed slightly and quickly moved toward a corner.

"Duke Billis is merely a mouthpiece, perhaps even being used as a pawn," Ye Feng murmured, tapping the armrest.

"Sir! News from the royal household—tomorrow the Seventh Prince will leave the palace alone, reportedly to pay respects at the royal mausoleum," Xiao Zhu ran over, panting, and announced.

"Heh! A fool is a double-edged sword. Used well, it can yield unexpected results; used poorly, it can lead to utter ruin," Ye Feng suddenly rose, chuckling.