After hearing that, Xu Tiannan relaxed his brow, smiled, and raised his cup, taking a small sip of wine.
He said, "My beloved ministers, being able to gather here with all of you today is truly my good fortune. From this day on, with everyone's united efforts, our Sun Moon Empire will surely grow ever more prosperous."
"Your Highness is wise! We are willing to serve Your Highness with all our strength, through fire and water without hesitation!"
All the ministers stood and raised their cups in unison, their voices echoing throughout the grand hall.
At the banquet, everyone exchanged drinks, the atmosphere lively and exuberant.
Watching the scene before him, Xu Tiannan couldn't help but feel a swell of pride.
Since becoming Crown Prince, more and more officials and powerful figures had joined his ranks every day, greatly strengthening his power.
His influence and faction were growing rapidly, like a snowball rolling downhill.
Though no ninth-rank Soul Engineer had yet joined his side, Xu Tiannan believed that day was not far away.
After all, he was the future Emperor. For ninth-rank Soul Engineers, building a good relationship with the next ruler in advance was something they would surely be willing to do.
At this moment, Xu Tiannan couldn't help but feel a little light-headed with pride.
He felt as if he were the new sun of the Sun Moon Empire—his day to rule the world was just around the corner.
In truth, such arrogance was inevitable. Xu Tiannan's journey so far had been smooth and free of major setbacks.
He had not, like in the original story, lost his legs and become a eunuch confined to a wheelchair, stripped of a man's dignity.
Now, at just over twenty years old, he was already the Crown Prince. Every day, people flattered and praised him endlessly.
If it were anyone else, they would have already become unbearably arrogant.
The fact that Xu Tiannan could still maintain even a semblance of composure was already quite remarkable.
In such circumstances, no one could remain completely grounded—unless that person had no desires at all.
As the banquet continued, the combination of fine wine and endless flattery soon made Xu Tiannan dizzy and slightly drunk.
After becoming tipsy, his behavior and speech grew even more relaxed.
He looked at the beautiful musicians and dancers performing in the center of the hall, noticing that they had grown tired—their performance was no longer as flawless as at the beginning.
Immediately, he said, "Someone—switch them out. Bring in a new group to continue the music and the dance for me!"
The nobles and officials below were also enjoying themselves immensely. After all, the Crown Prince's mansion served only the finest food and drink—truly a feast fit for royalty.
At that moment, a noblewoman—around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with delicate features, striking beauty, and the cultivation of a Soul Sage—blushed and said,
"Your Highness, I am skilled in dance. Please allow me to perform for you."
A female Soul Sage stepping forward to dance instantly pushed the banquet to its climax.
No matter where they went, Soul Sage-level experts were always considered part of the elite.
And a beautiful, young female Soul Sage was even rarer—each such woman was usually surrounded by countless admirers.
To have such a woman volunteer to dance was not something just anyone could accomplish.
The reason she did so was simple—Xu Tiannan, the Crown Prince, still had no Crown Princess.
And what was a Crown Princess? The future Empress!
So this female Soul Sage had begun entertaining certain thoughts.
All eyes in the hall widened, eagerly watching her performance.
As a Soul Sage, her control over her body far surpassed that of ordinary dancers—her flexibility, coordination, and grace were hundreds of times greater.
Furthermore, the seven soul rings that had tempered her body made every curve of her form flawless and fluid—completely without blemish.
Her movements were delicate yet fiery, refined yet passionate.
Her round, firm hips and supple waist twisted with mesmerizing rhythm—so alluring that many could hardly restrain themselves.
For a time, everyone in the hall stared wide-eyed, unwilling to blink, and some even drooled in secret.
Xu Tiannan watched the Soul Sage's seductive figure, his eyes burning with desire.
To be adored and flattered by thousands—being Crown Prince truly was intoxicating. Compared to when he had been the eldest prince, there was simply no comparison.
The banquet lasted several hours. By the time it ended, Xu Tiannan was half-drunk and half-awake.
"Everyone," he said lazily, "half a month from now, I shall host another feast at Minghua Gardens. Then, we shall gather and celebrate again."
With that, Xu Tiannan left the hall together with the dancing female Soul Sage.
The nobles and ministers watched as the Crown Prince went off to enjoy his pleasures, their eyes filled with envy.
Across the entire Sun Moon Empire, there were probably only a few hundred female Soul Sages.
And once you removed the older ones, the less attractive ones, and those already married, the number of single, beautiful female Soul Sages grew even smaller.
As the nobles and ministers envied Xu Tiannan's good fortune—
An unremarkable, yellow-haired middle-aged man named Song Zhong silently thought to himself,
"Half a month from now, Minghua Gardens… If I remember correctly, that's on the outskirts of Mingdu.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I must report it to the Second Prince at once."
Indeed, Song Zhong was no ordinary noble—he was an undercover agent planted by the Second Prince, Xu Tianyu.
——————————
Late at night, a masked man entered the Second Prince's study.
Inside, the man removed his mask—it was Song Zhong.
He knelt on one knee and respectfully reported,
"Your Highness, Crown Prince Xu Tiannan plans to host a banquet at Minghua Gardens in half a month. I believe this is an important piece of intelligence."
Upon hearing this, Xu Tianyu couldn't contain his joy.
This was the perfect opportunity for an assassination.
If they set up an ambush on the road to Minghua Gardens, Xu Tiannan could surely be eliminated.
Xu Tianyu said excitedly,
"Well done, Song Zhong. This information is crucial—I shall reward you heavily."
Then, Xu Tianyu took a small wooden box from his storage soul tool and handed it to Song Zhong.
Receiving it with both hands, Song Zhong bowed gratefully.
"Thank you for Your Highness's reward."
Xu Tianyu continued,
"Return and keep your cover. Continue to stay under Xu Tiannan's command."
Then he ordered Song Zhong to leave through a secret door.
Once Song Zhong was gone, Xu Tianyu was left alone in the study.
His gaze turned cold and filled with murderous intent.
"Xu Tiannan, if you stayed in Mingdu, there would be nothing I could do to you.
But since you're walking straight into death's grasp—I'll gladly oblige."
Soon after, Xu Tianyu began contacting his maternal relatives, as well as the Wang family patriarch, Wang Yan, and other powerful allies to plan the ambush—how best to strike on the road and assassinate Xu Tiannan.
...…
Time flew by, and half a month later—
On the outskirts of Mingdu, amidst the sound of screams, five terrifyingly powerful figures charged toward Crown Prince Xu Tiannan's convoy...