Chapter 53: The Class Game (Part 19)

A withered, skeletal hand lifted the red veil, but Yun Xueqing was quick. He swiftly pulled out a yellow talisman and slapped it onto the other’s forehead.

With the Immobility Talisman applied as insurance, Yun Xueqing steadied himself and examined the groom.

The groom’s face was utterly inhuman—sunken cheeks, bluish skin, hollow eye sockets with bulging eyeballs, and dark circles underneath like a corpse from the morgue.

And yet, this corpse was marrying him.

Yun Xueqing eyed the corpse-like groom for a moment, confirmed he truly couldn’t move, then took off his shoes and lay down on the bed alone. He slept in his clothes.

The groom, sitting at the bedside, saw that Yun Xueqing really intended to leave him hanging there. With only his eyes able to move, he glared furiously, straining them to their widest.

Locked by that chilling gaze, Yun Xueqing showed no fear whatsoever. He lay flat on the bed and drifted into a light sleep.

The first ray of morning sunlight filtered through the sandalwood window, illuminating the somewhat dim bridal chamber.

Yun Xueqing woke to find a man sitting beside him, his gaze sinister.

The groom, who had resembled a withered corpse before, now brimmed with vitality. His skin glowed with a normal luster, his features handsome—sword-like brows and starlit eyes—completely different from the night before.

His features had returned to normal, but after sitting coldly by the bed all night, his expression was sinister. Even his handsome face was shrouded in shadow. Flames burned in his eyes, waiting for the man on the bed to wake so he could unleash them.

Yun Xueqing got up and calmly glanced at him, utterly unconcerned with his mood. He had no intention of removing the talisman and simply left the room on his own to scout for clues around the area.

He was in the Marquis Mansion—his own home. Nothing seemed suspicious.

He wandered about, eventually circling to the lotus pond in the Back Courtyard. A rockery stood beside the pond, adding a touch of charm.

His nerves relaxed unconsciously. Yun Xueqing realized belatedly that the surroundings differed greatly from past perils, and he’d let his guard down without realizing it.

Before he could reflect on it, a pair of hands suddenly reached out from behind, covering his mouth.

Yun Xueqing’s eyes sharpened as he prepared to counter, but then a familiar voice sounded from behind. “Don’t be afraid. It’s me.”

He started to turn, but the voice chuckled lightly. “Don’t rush. Wait a moment.”

The person pulled him behind the rockery, hiding them both. The hand over his mouth never loosened.

Yun Xueqing was about to struggle and remind him when faint footsteps and voices approached from nearby.

“Marrying Yun Xueqing to the Crown Prince… is that really okay? If it fails, our Marquis Mansion…”

It was a middle-aged man’s voice, answered by a woman.

“Don’t worry, Madam. The Poison Doctor guaranteed it to me… No one will trace it. As long as Yun’er stays by the Crown Prince’s side, within a month, he’ll suddenly drop dead with no cause found.”

Their voices drew nearer, then passed.

“But I’m still worried…”

“Failure is not an option.”

They passed the rockery and gradually moved away. Yun Xueqing couldn’t hear more.

He pondered their conversation thoughtfully.

His breathing wasn’t smooth. Yun Xueqing belatedly realized the person behind him was still covering his mouth, arm pressed firmly against him.

He extended his index finger and lightly tapped the hand over his mouth, signaling to let go.

“You’ve uncovered a huge secret—one tied to your life and death.”

Yun Xueqing turned and saw Fu Wuxuan’s smiling eyes.

The man wore a white robe, his waist-length hair half-loose, half-tied with a simple white silk ribbon—a picture of elegant charm.

Yun Xueqing looked away. “Your leg’s healed?”

“Of course not,” Fu Wuxuan laughed, explaining. “But this is an illusion. Identities and physical conditions are set by the illusion. I got lucky this time—no more random half-crippled role.”

He curved his lips. “No need to trouble you carrying me.”

Devoid of seriousness, Yun Xueqing replied earnestly, “What’s your identity? How are you here?”

If he remembered right, this was the Marquis Mansion.

Was Fu Wuxuan part of the Marquis Mansion too?

“Me?” Fu Wuxuan produced a folding fan from somewhere and opened it casually. Inscribed on it were the bold characters “Heaven’s Will Romantic.” “Just an idle Noble Young Master. No official rank, no title.”

Yun Xueqing: “Then you…”

“Oh,” Fu Wuxuan said lightly. “It was your wedding yesterday. We had to host guests. I was one of them and used ‘too drunk’ as an excuse to stay overnight in the Marquis Mansion.”

Yun Xueqing frowned.

So there had really been people at the wedding banquet last night—not just Weird.

Fu Wuxuan read his thoughts and smiled faintly. “There were actually several other Challengers observing the ceremony last night.”

But no one dared make a sound. After all, they were watching with a bunch of Weird. One wrong move, and the Weird would swarm.

Fu Wuxuan noted that unlike the previous layer of Hell, he could use Oracle here.

The domain balanced itself. Being able to use Oracle meant this layer was more dangerous than the last—death lurking everywhere.

Yun Xueqing listened noncommittally.

He shared his identity and faction mark with Fu Wuxuan, who replied mysteriously, “Not necessarily. You might not be with the Crown Prince’s faction.”

Yun Xueqing recalled the words from behind the rockery.

From the tone, they were his elders, closely tied to the Marquis Mansion.

But rather than allying with the Crown Prince through marriage, it seemed they wanted him dead.

Still, it was just speculation. Clues were scarce; nothing confirmed.

The Crown Prince’s nighttime state did look dire—like a dead man already.

Did they need to kill someone who’d already died?

Yet daytime, he seemed alive. Two faces?

Yun Xueqing thought of the Other Shore Flower on his wrist and showed it to Fu Wuxuan.

Fu Wuxuan nodded, then suddenly began removing his outer robe.

Yun Xueqing stepped back hastily. “What are you doing?”

Fu Wuxuan grinned roguishly. “As you see—taking off my clothes.”

Yun Xueqing hesitated to speak. Fu Wuxuan observed his expression, stopped teasing, and quickly shed his outer and inner robes, revealing his pale waist and abdomen. A black bamboo leaf was branded there.

Yun Xueqing stared at the bamboo leaf and instinctively reached to touch it. His fingertip was cool; Fu Wuxuan shivered. “Don’t touch.”

He feigned a shy expression, like a virtuous maiden teased by a lecher, and hurriedly redressed.

Unaware of the odd atmosphere, Yun Xueqing mused, “Your mark indents downward, just like mine.”

The difference: his was on the back of his hand, this one in an improper spot. And different patterns.

Fu Wuxuan dropped his playful demeanor and analyzed, “Likely different faction divisions.”

Other Shore Flower for Crown Prince faction, bamboo leaf for Second Prince faction.

Yun Xueqing looked up. “You work for the Second Prince?”

Fu Wuxuan nodded. “Yeah, as a scribe… occasionally playing military advisor.”

Though a half-hearted one.

They exchanged intel casually when the snap of a dry twig sounded.

They looked over to see a maidservant holding a flower lantern behind a tree. She gasped, covering her mouth in terror, and backed away.

Fu Wuxuan raised a brow. “Seems our conversation was overheard.”

He approached. The maidservant trembled, legs weak, but didn’t dare flee. She knelt, pleading, “Mercy, noble ones! Mercy! This servant saw nothing. Please spare me!”

Fu Wuxuan chuckled. “Usually, saying you saw nothing means you did… What did you see?”

The maidservant knelt, shoulders shaking.

“You’re scaring her,” Yun Xueqing said flatly. “Get up. We won’t hurt you.”

The maidservant peeked up, saw no anger, and cautiously stood. “This servant will leave now.”

Yun Xueqing wondered how long she’d been there—had she heard about the Marquis Mansion plotting against the Crown Prince? He asked gently, “What did you hear? Tell the truth. I won’t blame you.”

Unscolded, she hesitated, then admitted, “Too far away. This servant heard nothing.”

Fearing disbelief, she added, “Just saw some things.”

Fu Wuxuan was amused. “Why won’t you tell me, but you talk to him?”

Yun Xueqing ignored the nonsense and asked softly, “What did you see?”

The maidservant: “Saw the Marquis and Madam pass by just now.”

With her confirmation, Yun Xueqing was mostly sure: the Marquis Mansion opposed the Crown Prince. They wanted him dead.

Having gotten the intel, Yun Xueqing prepared to end it when the maidservant ventured timidly, “Also saw you and this young master… this young master taking off his clothes.”

She regretted it instantly.

Her family’s heir—former heir now—had married the Crown Prince last night, and today she caught him in an affair with this white-robed young master.

For discovering such a secret, her life was forfeit. She wouldn’t survive the day!

Despairing, she heard Yun Xueqing say, “I see. You’re dismissed.”

The white-robed young master who’d stripped to seduce her heir added calmly, “Looks like you really heard nothing.”

The maidservant: “?”

She could just leave?

No pond for her?

Seeing they meant it, she stood dazed.

Fu Wuxuan grinned at Yun Xueqing. “Guess we need to watch what we say from now on. Can’t let anyone overhear.”

Yun Xueqing glanced faintly at him. “Wasn’t it you who wanted to talk about it here?”

Fu Wuxuan’s eyes curved. “Want to take me back to your room?”