Chapter 314: Chapter 219: Ying’Er’s Compromise, Subduing Luo Ying, Another Reinforcement for the Crown Prince’s Mansion

Lu Mingyuan’s avatar, Yang Erlang, sat across from Luo Ying.

"Has your power reached this level? Even Elder Li was no match for you. What in the world did you do to them?"

Luo Ying had long noticed something was off about her subordinates. Her crisp voice held a distinct chill as she asked deeply.

Yang Erlang smiled faintly. "Me? I didn’t do anything. They simply understood the bigger picture and realized that opposing His Highness, the Crown Prince, is a mistake. Your methods, on the other hand, are a bit too crude."

Ever since Lu Mingyuan read the old man’s mind, he knew things weren’t that simple.

They intended to use the White Lotus Ancient Sect as a front, framing the White Lotus Sect for the assassination of the Crown Prince.

’Their intentions are sinister,’ he thought. ’They must be a sworn enemy of the White Lotus Ancient Sect.’

So, Lu Mingyuan had a Blood Glutton Shadow Warrior assume the form of the sallow-faced old man, and together with the man’s subordinates, they walked through the Imperial Capital.

Just as expected, someone led them.

This led them to Luo Ying.

It had been a long time.

Luo Ying was as cold as ever, her face a Ten Thousand Year Ice Mountain. It seemed nothing could make her crack even the slightest smile.

"Cut the crap. You didn’t sneak in here just to lecture me, did you?"

A frosty chill emanated from her sword’s edge, its Sword Qi severe. It was poised so that another fraction of an inch would be enough to split Yang Erlang’s head in two.

Lu Mingyuan chuckled. "As I said, I wanted to talk with you, Lord Ying. Your current situation isn’t very good, is it? Let me guess... Has the Endless Pavilion fallen into internal strife? Are you troubled, Lord Ying, with nowhere left to go?"

When Yun Qinghe had explained that the Endless Pavilion was divided into three major factions...

...he had wondered if Luo Ying had already become part of a self-preservation faction.

’Given Luo Ying’s character, she wouldn’t remain loyal to Prince Jin, nor would she pledge allegiance to anyone else. Being dependent on others isn’t her style.’

’She would undoubtedly do everything in her power to unify the Endless Pavilion in the Imperial Capital and become its new leader.’

"What does my situation have to do with a traitor like you?" Luo Ying’s voice was glacial.

Clearly, she was still deeply unhappy about Yang Erlang’s betrayal.

Luo Ying frowned as a possibility occurred to her. "Don’t tell me... you were the Crown Prince’s man from the start?"

Lu Mingyuan shook his head. "Betrayal, loyalty... none of that matters. What matters most is your survival, Lord Ying. Right now, surely you don’t want to see the leadership of the Endless Pavilion in the Imperial Capital fall into someone else’s hands, do you?"

Luo Ying was no fool. She instantly understood the implication of his words.

Combined with the Crown Prince’s Decree he had produced, Luo Ying quickly figured out his purpose for coming.

"You want me to pledge allegiance to the Crown Prince?"

Her eyes narrowed, seemingly surprised by this proposition.

As she spoke, her hands tightened on the hem of her dress, betraying the anxiety she felt about her situation.

Lu Mingyuan smiled. "I wouldn’t call it ’pledging allegiance.’ Think of it as a partnership."

"If you, Lord Ying, are willing to partner with His Highness, the Crown Prince, then nothing will be a problem."

He knew that with Luo Ying’s pride, the idea of "pledging allegiance" would be intolerable to her.

That was why he had to use the more diplomatic term: "partnership."

Lu Mingyuan couldn’t help but linger on Luo Ying with his gaze.

Here in the brothel, under a new identity, Luo Ying had, for once, shed her unchanging black bodysuit. Instead, she wore a palace-style gown that proudly accentuated her figure. Her hair was simply pinned up with a Jade Hairpin, and a single lock had escaped to fall beside her ear, gently brushing her cheek.

In this guise, he could glimpse a shadow of the woman she once was: Luo Ying’Er, the Second Princess of the Golden Crow Country.

Her cold demeanor was tinged with an air of helplessness—a combination that a man like him found most alluring.

It was as if that Tributor of the Endless Pavilion, the Shadow Scout, had faded into the past.

He had to admit, even if Luo Ying usually paid no mind to her looks, once she revealed her delicate, oval-shaped face and her vermilion lips, thin as a cicada’s wings, she was still an undeniable beauty.

"His Highness, the Crown Prince, should be well aware of what kind of people we are, shouldn’t he?"

Luo Ying didn’t reject the offer of a partnership outright. Instead, she voiced her concerns.

Her situation within the Endless Pavilion was dire; she had practically reached the end of her resources.

The remnants of Prince Jin’s faction had been marginalized, reduced to a disorganized mob.

A former core subordinate like Gongyang Hu had been reduced to getting himself thrown in prison just to stay alive.

That day at the North Gate of the Imperial City, Gongyang Hu had deliberately opposed the Crown Prince.

If he hadn’t, he would have been quickly found and killed by the people from the White Lotus Ancient Sect.

Being thrown into the Celestial Prison was, ironically, a way to save his life.

The other factions of the Endless Pavilion were steadily encroaching upon the remnants of Prince Jin’s power in the Capital City.

Luoshui Cave Heaven, Golden Court Mountain.

The Great Sui Dynasty, the White Lotus Ancient Sect.

The Jade Toad Continent, the Nether Moon Celestial Sect.

The leaders of these six major powers were all watching like tigers, ready to pounce.

Prince Jin had originally been handpicked by Xun Yu as his successor, wielding authority over the entire headquarters.

Prince Jin’s Mansion in the Great Yan Dynasty was the headquarters of the Infinite Faction, from which he could command all its members throughout the land.

A year after National Preceptor Xun Yu’s disappearance, combined with Prince Jin’s death, the entire situation within the Infinite Faction had changed dramatically.

As a mere Tributor, even with a host of experts under her command, her own foundation was far weaker than that of the other leaders.

"His Highness, the Crown Prince, doesn’t care about your background. As long as you serve him, your survival is guaranteed."

Lu Mingyuan didn’t care what was actually happening within the Endless Pavilion. He figured he would just make the bold promises first and worry about the rest later.

’If you can’t even convince yourself, how can you convince others?’

The patronage of the Eastern Palace Mansion was a very attractive offer.

After all, in the eyes of many, the current Crown Prince, having received the imperial edict to act as regent for Emperor Yong’an, was no different from the actual ruler of Great Yan.