The Crown Prince learned of Lin Chan’s broken engagement two days later than those outside the palace.

The one who mentioned this matter to him was a young eunuch who was ordinarily unremarkable in the Eastern Palace.

This news undoubtedly delighted the Crown Prince.

He couldn’t contain his joy and clapped his hands, laughing. The more he laughed, the louder his voice became.

This was truly an unexpected turn of events, a ray of hope emerging from darkness!

He had expended so much effort trying to get First Miss Lin to break off her engagement, only to accomplish nothing. He never imagined the General’s Manor would take the initiative to break off the engagement themselves.

They took the initiative to break it off!

Didn’t this show that even Heaven was helping him?

Father Emperor was the Son of Heaven, and he was the Son of Heaven’s son—naturally Heaven would help him.

At this moment, the Crown Prince was brimming with confidence, the gloom that had hung over his heart for days completely swept away.

“Where’s Wang Gui?”

When feeling triumphant, one can’t help but share with trusted confidants. For the Crown Prince, that person was Wang Gui.

“It seems we haven’t seen Eunuch Wang all along,” the young eunuch said respectfully.

The Crown Prince was somewhat displeased. “That Wang Gui—disappearing early in the morning, he’s becoming increasingly outrageous!”

He glanced at the young eunuch and asked casually, “What’s your name?”

“This servant is called Wang Fu.”

“Wang Fu?” The Crown Prince was in a good mood and couldn’t help but be amused. “What’s your relationship with Wang Gui? Don’t tell me you’re brothers?”

Wang Fu hastily replied, “This servant doesn’t have such good fortune. However, this servant and Eunuch Wang are from the same hometown.”

“Fellow townsmen—” The Crown Prince smiled. “Seems your area produces quite a lot of talented people.”

Wang Fu’s mouth twitched.

The folks back home probably wouldn’t appreciate this kind of praise.

“Wang Fu, accompany me for a walk in the garden.” The Crown Prince was in the mood for a stroll.

Wang Fu followed closely behind the Crown Prince to the garden.

Though the Eastern Palace garden wasn’t large, it was elegant and exquisite, especially at this time of year when flowers bloomed everywhere.

Several palace servants working in the garden caught sight of the Crown Prince approaching from afar and quickly retreated to the side of the path, eyes lowered and heads bowed.

Naturally the Crown Prince paid no attention to these palace servants of the lowest status. Accompanied by Wang Fu, he wandered casually through the garden, his mood improving even more.

After some time passed and Father Emperor had forgotten about First Miss Lin being abducted, he could properly scheme again.

Pondering these matters, the Crown Prince thought of Wang Gui again.

Where the hell had that dog Wang Gui run off to!

Annoyed, he kicked a tree.

The tree’s branches and leaves swayed, and a human shadow flashed past.

The Crown Prince’s expression changed drastically. He stumbled back two steps and shouted loudly, “There’s an assassin!”

Palace servants from nearby came rushing over, but the shadow had disappeared.

The Crown Prince stared at the thick trunk, his face full of suspicion.

“Wang Fu, go take a look.”

“Yes.” Wang Fu quickly complied, cautiously circling to the other side of the tree. His face immediately filled with terror as he retreated repeatedly.

“What is it?” the Crown Prince asked.

Wang Fu raised his hand to point at the tree, trembling all over.

The Crown Prince felt compelled to take a step forward and vaguely glimpsed a hanging black shadow.

His cold sweat instantly emerged.

Just then, several palace servants ran up to them.

“Protect His Highness!”

“Your Highness, where is the assassin?”

The Crown Prince pointed at the tree, his expression rather unpleasant.

That didn’t seem to be an assassin, but rather a person hanging from the tree.

The several palace servants slowly circled behind the tree and drew in sharp breaths.

Someone had hanged themselves!

Just then, the hanging person turned half a circle, their face now facing them.

“It’s Eunuch Wang!” one palace servant shrieked.

The palace servants were both frightened and shocked. “It really is Eunuch Wang!”

“Which Eunuch Wang?” The Crown Prince’s heart inexplicably tightened as he asked Wang Fu.

Wang Fu choked out, “Reporting to Your Highness, it’s, it’s Eunuch Wang Gui.”

The Crown Prince’s pupils constricted. He unconsciously walked a few steps forward and finally saw clearly the true face of the hanging person.

It was a face he knew all too well—undoubtedly Wang Gui!

“What, what’s going on?” the Crown Prince asked, his face pale.

Wang Fu blocked the Crown Prince’s view and advised, “Your Highness, you shouldn’t look anymore.”

The Crown Prince nodded and moved farther away, but his heart was pounding wildly beyond his control.

Wang Gui had actually hanged himself!

In that instant, a twisted face flashed through the Crown Prince’s mind.

The Crown Prince shook his head violently to dispel that horrifying face, his breathing growing heavy.

The Crown Princess—the Crown Princess had been hung from a tree after her death!

His gaze slowly moved toward the tree.

Wang Gui had already been taken down and laid on the ground. The person who was usually so clever and amusing was now like a dead fish washed ashore—stiff and merely disgusting.

The Crown Prince looked away and said harshly, “Get someone to investigate. Wang Gui must have been murdered!”

In the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Emperor Tai’an set down his brush and turned his head to ask Liu Chuan, “That Wang Gui—has it been resolved?”

“Reporting to Your Majesty, it’s been resolved.”

“What was the Crown Prince’s reaction?”

“The Crown Prince is convinced Wang Gui was murdered and demands a thorough investigation.”

Emperor Tai’an’s eyes showed disappointment.

Between those words from that day and Wang Gui’s death, he thought the Crown Prince would reflect and restrain himself. He didn’t expect things to remain the same.

“You go to the Eastern Palace.”

“Yes.”

Liu Chuan made a trip to the Eastern Palace and met with the Crown Prince, whose mood was agitated due to Wang Gui’s death.

“Eunuch Liu, you’ve come at just the right time. Quickly help me investigate who murdered Wang Gui!”

Liu Chuan stepped forward, his voice somewhat low. “This servant knows Your Highness had deep affection for Wang Gui and in your grief cannot accept his death. But Your Highness, think about it—this is the Imperial Palace with the True Dragon presiding over it. How could there be such a villain? Wang Gui’s death was Heaven’s will.”

“What Heaven’s will—” Meeting Liu Chuan’s meaningful gaze, the Crown Prince froze.

Heaven’s will, Heaven’s will—his eyes suddenly widened, full of shock.

Was that what he meant? Had Father Emperor killed Wang Gui?

Cold sweat instantly covered his entire body. Even after Liu Chuan left, the Crown Prince remained like a clay statue.

After a long while, the Crown Prince began smashing things like a madman.

Precious tea sets and vases shattered all over the floor, the thudding sounds making hearts constrict along with them.

“Your Highness, be careful not to get cut.” Wang Fu blocked the flying porcelain shards.

“Get away!” The Crown Prince, eyes red, kicked Wang Fu aside.

Wang Fu crawled back over, his face full of worry. “Your Highness, don’t hurt yourself!”

“Get lost!” The Crown Prince kicked him again.

Wang Fu silently crawled back once more.

One kicking mercilessly, one persistently crawling back—this absurd scene playing out in the Eastern Palace somehow seemed perfectly natural.

Finally, the Crown Prince tired of kicking. He stared at the young eunuch prostrate at his feet and asked, “What’s your name again?”

“This servant is called Wang Fu—Fu as in good fortune.”

“Wang Fu.” The Crown Prince sat on the couch as if drained, unconsciously repeating the name.

The palace servants standing in the corner, not daring to breathe loudly, quietly glanced at the humble, dog-like young eunuch, unsure whether to feel envious or contemplative.

This Wang Fu had truly been remembered by His Highness. From now on, he would probably be the person replacing Wang Gui.

These palace servants guessed correctly. After the Crown Prince realized Emperor Tai’an’s warning to him, his mood became extremely foul, and the clever, attentive Wang Fu quickly became someone the Crown Prince couldn’t do without.

Just at this time, a piece of news suddenly spread among the officials and nobility.