The noisy square instantly fell silent with a shout of "The Prince arrives," and all eyes turned towards the entrance of the Prince's mansion.
The eight-panel vermilion gate slowly opened, first revealing a line of guards wielding long sabers who rushed out from within. They were followed by a procession of palace maids carrying various colored lanterns, and finally, four eunuchs holding ornate canopies. Behind them trailed an elderly eunuch.
After the guards took their positions, the old eunuch's voice rang out again, "Greetings, Your Highness." The crowd immediately lowered by a segment. Even the opium addict beside me, who had been lost in his own world, knelt down, murmuring greetings to the Prince.
I looked around and realized I was the only one standing. Startled, I quickly half-crouched.
Seeing that no one was paying attention to me, I cautiously raised my head, just enough to peer over the crowd and see the Prince's mansion entrance.
A fiery red horse appeared at the entrance, with a figure seated atop it. He wore armor that shimmered with golden light, and a black mask with bared fangs covered his face. Although he possessed the aura of someone in a high position, he looked more like a general about to march into battle than a prince.
I felt a sense of bewilderment.
The Fifth Prince's mansion was holding a selection for a consort, and the display was truly unique. Even if the Fifth Prince was a battlefield general, was this attire appropriate for such an occasion?
Moreover, I recalled Old Madam Wang mentioning that the miserly old man had inquired about the Fifth Prince's identity. He was rumored to be a prince who loved his people dearly, and there was no mention of him leading troops in battle.
As I was observing the Prince, I noticed his gaze suddenly shift towards me. His eyes lit up, and he let out a surprised exclamation.
"Huh?"
The sound wasn't loud, but to my ears, it was like thunder.
"Trouble, my identity has been discovered," was my first thought. I immediately prepared to flee, but a cold pressure coursed through my body, making me feel as if I had been submerged in water for a long time.
"What should I do? Am I going to die here?"
"Giddy up!" The sound of urging the horse forward followed.
The magnificent horse, spurred by its rider's command, galloped towards me. Some people who couldn't dodge in time were sent flying, their screams cut short in mid-air.
In an instant, the crowd blocking my view descended into chaos. I wanted to use the opportunity to escape with the crowd, but my body refused to move.
As I closed my eyes, preparing for death, a warmth spread from my chest, instantly dispelling the numbness. Seeing the horse about to trample me, I rolled aside, narrowly avoiding a fatal encounter.
Scrambling to my feet, I dove into the crowd.
My only thought was to get away from there as quickly as possible. But before I could take two steps, a hand grabbed me.
Turning sideways, I saw it was Old Ghost, who had somehow blended into the crowd.
Just as I was about to ask, "How are you here?" Old Ghost's voice reached my ears, "Don't speak, be careful not to expose yourself. We'll talk later!" He then turned my body away from the Prince.
The Prince had now reached the spot where I had been standing. He remained on his horse, his gaze sweeping around as if searching for something.
This time, I dared not look at him, lowering my head in fear like everyone else, lest he discover my presence.
Old Ghost's cultivation was already profound, but the Prince's cultivation seemed to be several times deeper than Old Ghost's.
It was well known that spirits and malevolent entities harbored no goodwill towards the living, and many spirits consumed humans to enhance their cultivation.
The warmth I had felt on my chest had vanished, replaced by a chilling coldness that was more piercing than ice. In an instant, I felt an overwhelming urge to fall asleep.
Without a second thought, I reached into my backpack to retrieve something.
But as my hand entered, it stopped. I realized the cold object wasn't any of my belongings, but the seal Old Ghost had given me.
Old Ghost's words echoed in my mind: "If the seal leaves your person, even the gods cannot save you."
However, in the current situation, I absolutely could not take it out. Doing so would not only stop the cold but also cost me my life.
Just as I felt I could no longer hold on and was about to faint.
"Found you. Let's see how long you can hide."
With a furious roar, the Prince slapped the saddle. The long spear hanging from the victory hook was instantly in his hand. He struck the butt of the spear, and it shot towards me like an arrow loosed from a bow.
My entire body was frozen and numb; I was unable to react. I could only close my eyes and await my fate.
Then, a hearty laugh sounded in my ears.
"Hahaha..."
I thought it was Old Ghost intervening. Opening my eyes, I saw a thin, stick-like figure standing beside me – it was the opium addict I had been talking with about dreams earlier.
He was now more than two meters away from me, his right hand gripping the Prince's spear.
"You've been discovered after all. Zuo Quan, after impersonating the Prince for so many years, you're now trying to kill his orphan. Are you even human anymore?"
I was stunned. The person sitting on the magnificent horse wasn't the Prince?
But he had clearly emerged from the Prince's mansion, and the guards, palace maids, and eunuchs had all addressed him as Prince.
Zuo Quan sneered, "The Prince entrusted his heir to me before he left. Is it wrong for me to temporarily assume the Prince's position?"
"Nonsense! What right do you have to be the Prince? Over ten years ago, the Prince merely said he was going out to travel and asked you to temporarily manage the mansion. You've usurped his place. If you claim the Prince handed the mansion over to you, then produce the Prince's personal seal, and I'll believe you."
"Why so much nonsense? If you don't believe me, I'll make you believe!" Zuo Quan snorted, "Spear!" The spear, held tightly by the opium addict, suddenly trembled and broke free from his grasp.
"Despicable! Using the Prince's armor, you're seeking death."
As soon as the opium addict finished speaking, he took a deep drag from his pipe and exhaled towards Zuo Quan.
A black stream of air erupted from his mouth, instantly engulfing the entire square in a dark mist.
Following that, a series of clanging sounds reached my ears.
"Now that you're here, you won't be leaving," Zuo Quan's voice was laced with anger.
"I never intended to leave. You despicable traitor who usurped the throne, coercing the Princess with such lowly means! Aren't you afraid the Prince will return and kill you!"
"Shut up! If I didn't do this, how could I lure out such a big fish like you? I won't let you leave today, no matter what."
At this moment, Old Ghost's voice echoed in my ears again, "Kid, hurry into the mansion, find the Princess, and give her the seal I gave you. Make her seal off the Half-Yin Realm. Go quickly..."
Before I could ask why, I felt a push on my body, and then I was flying. I found myself inside the Prince's mansion.
Before I could even get to my feet, Zuo Quan's furious roar came from outside the gate, "Damn it! You have helpers too! I will tear you all to shreds..."