Inside the Phoenix Tower, everyone drank heartily, feeling even more elated.
Through the numbing effect of alcohol, they reminisced about many past events.
As night fell, Lin Guoping finally departed with his entourage, completely tipsy.
"This trip to the Imperial City has been quite fruitful!" Lin Jianyi chuckled. "Not only did I meet the Imperial Son-in-Law, but I also became acquainted with the young master of the Lin family, one of the three great families of the dynasty!"
"Indeed!"
Lin Chuchu smiled lightly. "This young master of the Lin family is approachable and seems like a good person to befriend!"
"One cannot judge people solely by their appearance!"
Lu Fan took a drink, a smile playing on his lips.
Lin Guoping was slightly startled. Lu Fan's words were like a sudden enlightenment: "Brother Lu, what do you mean by that?"
"It means nothing, just a casual remark!"
Lu Fan smiled faintly, not elaborating.
After several rounds of drinks, everyone rose. Lin Jianyi cupped his fists and said, "Brother Lu, farewell. After several days in the Imperial City, we depart tonight. If fate allows, we shall drink together again!"
"You're leaving tonight?"
Lu Fan was taken aback. "That's rather quick!"
"There are matters at home that require my attention, so it must be so!"
Lin Jianyi stated frankly, "If there's an opportunity in the future, we'll drink together again!"
Lu Fan nodded slightly. He considered Lin Jianyi a friend, and felt a pang of reluctance at his departure.
The night was dark and windy. Lu Fan walked alone through the Imperial City, feeling quite intoxicated, his steps unsteady.
Suddenly, a dark shadow flickered in the distance, and in an instant, it appeared before Lu Fan.
"Imperial Son-in-Law, you have quite the spirit, getting so drunk!" the man in black sneered, a powerful aura emanating from him.
Lu Fan frowned. "Who are you? Why are you blocking my path?"
"I am naturally here to escort the Imperial Son-in-Law!"
The man in black sneered. "Imperial Son-in-Law, you should know not to offend those you shouldn't. Otherwise, you'll have to reincarnate!"
As soon as the words fell, the man in black thrust his sword forward, unleashing a world-shattering strike.
Lu Fan's body exploded backward. He had initially thought this man in black was nothing special, but he hadn't expected the sword energy to be so formidable.
"Venerable?"
Lu Fan's intoxication largely dissipated. "Are you perhaps sent by the Zhao family?"
"You know too much!"
Without further ado, the man in black attacked Lu Fan again. His mission was to assassinate Lu Fan, and he would not allow himself to fail.
"Hmph!"
Lu Fan snorted coldly, and the power of flames instantly spread around him, his aura surging.
"With you alone, you cannot kill this Venerable!"
The man in black's expression changed drastically upon seeing this. The aura Lu Fan displayed was several times stronger than his own.
He was a Venerable, albeit only a first-grade one, but he was no match for a Spirit Emperor, unless Lu Fan was also a Venerable.
"Who sent you!"
Lu Fan's voice turned icy, and the power of flames instantly restrained the man in black.
Let alone a first-grade Venerable, even a second-grade Venerable would not be taken seriously by Lu Fan.
Feeling the restraining force, the man in black's face contorted in panic. He had been confident of success in his assassination today, but it seemed it was not as simple as he had thought.
In the Imperial City, many experts appeared. Witnessing the scene before them, their hearts stirred.
Someone daring to attack the reigning Imperial Son-in-Law on the street was no small matter.
As the crowd of onlookers grew, conversations began to erupt.
"This person is truly audacious, daring to confront the reigning Imperial Son-in-Law. Isn't he afraid of the imperial family's wrath?"
"In this Imperial City, many members of the royal family have met their demise. Even the Imperial Son-in-Law must tread carefully, lest he invite endless bloodshed!"
The conversations continued, and the crowd buzzed with speculation.
The Golden Armored Guard arrived upon hearing the commotion. The entire street instantly cleared, with no one daring to obstruct them.
"Take him down!"
A general shouted, then cupped his fists towards Lu Fan. "This subordinate arrived late. Imperial Son-in-Law, you must have been startled!"
Lu Fan waved his hand. "Find out who is behind this. I want to see who wants to harm me!"
"This subordinate obeys!"
The general nodded quickly, not daring to delay in the slightest.
Just then, the captured man in black suddenly collapsed, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
Lu Fan was slightly shocked and deeply moved. He hadn't expected the enemy to be so vicious.
"Imperial Son-in-Law, this..."
The Golden Armored general was terrified. This was an assassin targeting the Imperial Son-in-Law, and now he had died suddenly. If the Emperor were to question him, he feared he would not be able to bear the consequences.
"It's fine!"
Lu Fan waved his hand. "This has nothing to do with you!"
The Golden Armored general felt as if he had received a great pardon. The others present were astonished, wondering who dared to act so boldly within the Imperial City.
The next day, news of the Imperial Son-in-Law's assassination spread throughout the Imperial City. Even the Imperial Palace was abuzz with discussions about the incident. Su Dan Novel Network.
In the Imperial Garden, Linglong was worried, waiting for Lu Fan to find her. Xiao Qing, however, ran over in a panic.
"Princess, why are you still in the Imperial Garden? The Imperial Son-in-Law was assassinated!"
"When?" Linglong instantly became anxious.
"Last night, the Imperial Son-in-Law was attacked on the street!"
Xiao Qing said repeatedly, "As for who was responsible, investigations are still underway!"
Upon hearing this, Princess Linglong could no longer contain herself and strode out of the palace.
Lu Fan was the person she cherished. If something happened to him, she would turn the entire Imperial City upside down to find the culprit.
At the inn, Lu Fan was bathing. He had been drinking heavily the previous night, and his body smelled strongly.
Princess Linglong arrived at the inn and barged directly into Lu Fan's room. Just as she was about to check if Lu Fan was injured, she saw him bathing and let out a startled cry, instinctively turning her head away.
"What's wrong, Princess?"
Xiao Qing asked, arriving a moment later, thinking something had happened to Lu Fan.
"No, nothing!"
Princess Linglong shook her head and pulled Xiao Qing aside. "Let's wait here. He might need some time!"
"Need time?"
Xiao Qing was bewildered, not understanding what Lu Fan was doing.
When Lu Fan emerged, he looked instantly refined. "Why are you here?"
"I heard you were assassinated last night, so I rushed over to see you," Princess Linglong said awkwardly. "I accidentally intruded just now, so please don't think too much of it."
"It's fine!"
Lu Fan waved his hand. "Anyway, I am already the prospective Imperial Son-in-Law. What should be seen and what shouldn't be seen is all the same."
"How can you be so vulgar!"
Princess Linglong scolded. "I haven't acknowledged you as my Imperial Son-in-Law yet."
"Princess, you should clarify. I was bathing, and you barged in. Now you're calling me vulgar," Lu Fan narrowed his eyes. "Doesn't that seem unreasonable?"
"Cough, cough..."
Princess Linglong coughed lightly, her face instantly flushing with embarrassment. Lu Fan's words were indeed not without merit.
Her uninvited intrusion was indeed somewhat improper.
"Let's talk about the main issue. Who attacked you?" Princess Linglong asked. "Although you are not my Imperial Son-in-Law yet, I will certainly seek justice for you!"