You Were Sent to the Capital as a Hostage, Yet You Took the Throne as Emperor? - Chapter 3:

Chapter 3: You Dare Challenge Me? You’re Not Worthy!

Early the next morning.

A sharp scream echoed through the inner residence.

Commander of Guards Gao Ming pushed open the door and frowned at the source of the scream. “Qingyi, what are you yelling about?”

A maid in a willow-green dress pointed at the corpse by the bathhouse door, her face pale with terror, unable to form a sentence.

Gao Ming’s eyes narrowed slightly when he saw the body.

“What happened? What’s going on?”

Wang Runlian stepped out while fixing her hair. When she saw the body, her expression turned to a mix of shock and anger. “Bai Xue? How did she die? Who killed her?!”

Although the Prince’s Residence had many servants, they all lived in the front courtyard. Because Wei Ran’s identity needed to be kept secret, only a handful of people from Liangzhou—maids and stewards—lived in the inner residence.

Gao Ming turned to Wang Runlian and questioned coldly, “Weren’t Qingyi and Bai Xue always following you around?”

“This body is already frozen stiff. She clearly died last night. And you didn’t even notice?”

“What kind of Etiquette Officer are you?”

Wang Runlian gritted her teeth. “Commander Gao, it was you who told me to assign a maid to serve that imposter. That’s why I sent Bai Xue.”

“She died outside the bathhouse. It must’ve been that imposter. He’s gone too far!”

Just then, a creak echoed from nearby, and the group turned their heads.

A door slowly opened, and out walked a lean yet upright young man with striking features. He yawned as he exited the room.

Seventeen or eighteen years old, elegant and refined, he wore a luxurious white padded robe, a jade hairpin securing his topknot. A few strands of hair hung over his forehead, lending him a roguish charm.

It was none other than Wei Ran.

After spending a night in warmth and safety, his pale complexion had improved, and he looked much more spirited.

Wei Ran calmly gazed at Wang Runlian and frowned. “Wang Runlian, is this how you carry out your duties as Etiquette Officer? The maids you’ve trained have such violent tempers.”

“She hadn’t even begun assisting me with my bath before she started cursing at me.”

“She acted so arrogantly, clearly thinking someone would back her up. When I disciplined her, she even tried to kill me.”

“I had no choice but to kill her in self-defense.”

He spoke with complete calm, as if commenting on a trivial matter.

Wang Runlian’s eyes widened in fury. Her voice turned shrill. “Li Baoshu! You bastard! You killed someone and now you’re trying to blame me?!”

“Commander Gao, he—”

Before she could finish, Gao Ming cut her off sharply, “Wang Runlian, watch your words. He is the Heir of Prince Min. You must always remember that.”

“If outsiders saw you disrespecting your superior, what then?”

Wang Runlian fumed in silence… though clearly enraged.

Gao Ming looked at Wei Ran and sneered. “You’re bold, I’ll give you that. You’ve already killed two people and still remain so calm. Truly impressive.”

Wei Ran shrugged. “Since you agreed to my terms yesterday, I am the Heir of Prince Min. If a Heir has no authority, then what good is the title?”

“You’re twisting logic—Commander Gao—” Wang Runlian tried to speak again, but Gao Ming silenced her with a cold glare.

“Enough. Bai Xue was arrogant for too long. If you had warned her ahead of time, she wouldn’t have ended up dead.”

“A maid is dead. So be it. No need to make a fuss.”

Wang Runlian opened her mouth but couldn’t respond. In the end, she transferred all her anger toward Wei Ran, glaring at him as if to kill with her eyes.

A cold wind swept through. Wei Ran tugged his cotton robe tighter.

Suddenly, he said, “By the way, Etiquette Officer Wang, when I first entered the capital and paid respects at the palace, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager gave me a fox-fur cloak. You took it, and it’s been almost half a month.”

“It’s cold today, and I have few clothes to keep warm. When will you return the cloak?”

Wang Runlian’s face changed, her expression a mix of caution and rage.

“You can just wear something else. That cloak is mine. And you, as the Heir, have the nerve to steal from me?”

“If word gets out, it’ll shame the Prince. See what happens then.”

That fox-fur cloak was made from snow foxes—extremely rare and hard to hunt. Just one was worth a thousand gold. A single cloak required seven or eight of them, making it worth more than ten thousand gold.

After seizing it from the original host, Wang Runlian had treasured it dearly, rarely even wearing it herself.

Wei Ran raised an eyebrow and lightly responded, “Oh? If that’s the case, I won’t take what you cherish.”

“Fine. I’ll just wear this outfit to the Third Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony.”

“If Her Majesty asks about the fox-fur cloak, I’ll simply say a servant stole it.”

He gave her a sideways glance.

Trying to fight me?

You’re not even qualified.

As the saying goes, if you can’t manage your own house, how can you manage the world?

The Prince’s Residence was a mess, with no order or hierarchy.

As the Heir, he would establish new rules.

One day, within this residence, he would be the one above all.

Wang Runlian was stunned.

Gao Ming gave her a cold look. “Go get it for him.”

Her heart shattered.

If she handed it over, she’d feel the loss bitterly.

If she didn’t, and the Empress Dowager found out the truth from this imposter… the consequences would be unimaginable.

Just as she entered the house to retrieve the cloak, Wei Ran’s irritating voice rang out again from the courtyard, making her blood boil.

“The gift for the Third Princess’s coming-of-age ceremony hasn’t been selected yet. You’d better not forget.”

“As the Heir of Prince Min, the gift I bring represents the Prince’s face. It mustn’t be too cheap.”

“Commander Gao, I’ll leave the task to you. Choose something that’ll satisfy everyone.”

“I remember Etiquette Officer Wang has a priceless golden jade hairpin—the Gilded Emerald Hairpin. She never wears it, treating it like a treasure…”

Wang Runlian nearly exploded. She wanted to yell, but saw that Wei Ran had already walked away.

At 10 a.m.

Wei Ran walked out, draped in the fox-fur cloak, not feeling cold at all.

In his hand was a golden silk box containing the Gilded Emerald Hairpin that Wang Runlian cherished like a life’s treasure.

As the saying goes—clothes make the man.

With just a bit of grooming, Wei Ran seemed transformed.

With a face like carved jade, sword-shaped brows, deep black eyes, and striking features, he looked truly exceptional.

Under the fox-fur cloak, he wore a moon-colored brocade robe embroidered with python patterns and flower-stitched cloud boots.

A jade pendant hung from his waist, a jade hairpin fixed his topknot, and strands of hair framed his forehead. He looked every bit the refined, handsome young noble.

He was the perfect embodiment of the saying, “Like jade among men, unmatched in the world.”

Before departure.

Gao Ming gave him a stern warning.

“I’ll be with you on the way to the palace, so there won’t be any danger.”

“But once inside, you must mind your words and actions. Do not slip up.”

“At the palace banquet, avoid causing trouble. If you can stay out of sight, then do so.”

Wei Ran nodded silently. “Understood.”

Then he boarded the carriage.

Gao Ming took the reins, leading eight guards.

The grand carriage slowly left the Prince’s Residence.

Wei Ran lifted the curtain slightly, his gaze deep as he took in the prosperity of Chang’an City.

White Tiger Avenue was a hundred paces wide, paved with smooth green stones stretching from the east to the west gates.

The ancient buildings lining the road were adorned with intricate carvings and beautifully painted eaves.

Shops bustled with endless streams of customers, and the rooftops were adorned with decorative ridges. It was a scene of true prosperity.

With a glint in his eyes, he murmured, “Given this second chance at life, if I don’t strive to rule the world and enjoy beauties by my side, wouldn’t it be a waste?”

“At the very least, I must rise to become a powerful foreign prince like Wei Wuji. Only then can I control my own fate.”

Across the street from the Prince’s Residence, in a teahouse.

By the window on the second floor, four cold and focused eyes stared at the carriage leaving the estate, filled with killing intent.

Two women in plain clothing, wearing wide bamboo hats and veiled faces, sat watching quietly.

Even behind the light veils, their otherworldly beauty was evident.

One woman had gentle eyes like autumn water, graceful and mature, exuding the charm of an elegant lady.

The other had a sharp, cold gaze, otherworldly and ethereal, untouched by worldly dust.

Though veiled, their beauty could not be hidden.

The colder of the two clenched her teacup, her thin lips pressed together. Her soft voice was laced with pure killing intent.

“Master, we’ve waited so many days. That bastard finally came out. When do we strike?”

Her voice was crisp, cold, and melodious like a nightingale—young and chilling.

Clearly, they were two female assassins.