2836 Something Happened
Duan Tianya's stoic countenance broke into a subtle smile. "Your name came up in conversation with the old man not long ago. You should pay a visit to the family when you have the opportunity."
Duan Yue nodded in agreement.
Since his return to the Ultramarine Province, he hadn't had a chance to see his immediate family. Duan Tianya was the first to reach out to him.
Duan Yue observed the situation and then shifted his gaze back to Qiao Mu. "Qiaoqiao, did Rong Li approach you earlier?"
"Yes, he did," Qiao Mu replied with a hint of disdain. "It's clear he's up to no good. I sent him packing."
"He sent his lackeys to target you, but we lack concrete evidence to take any overt action against him. We'll have to plan carefully before we can confront him and release our pent-up frustration."
"Qiaoqiao, that's a brilliant idea!" Duan Yue chimed in enthusiastically.
Mo Lian. "….."
/Must you agree with everything she says? You have no principles./
"Rong Li has influential senior students backing him. If we intend to confront him, we need to devise a meticulous strategy beforehand," Mo Lian added thoughtfully.
Duan Yue shot him an exasperated glance.
/Why does this guy act like he's morally superior when he's no different? He's scheming and contemplating a kidnapping plan the very next moment/
Duan Tianya suddenly felt like he couldn't bear to hear any more.
"Old Third Duan, are you the older brother of Little Fourth Duan?" Qiao Mu inquired abruptly.
Duan Tianya's neck stiffened as he nodded.
"Very well, then," Qiao Mu nodded, her petite head turning as she walked toward the adjacent arena. "I'll go check on Xuanxuan's competition."
Duan Tianya was left baffled by her sudden departure. "What did he mean?" he wondered.
Mo Lian, noticing Duan Tianya's confusion, couldn't help but be amused. "Indeed, few in this world can decipher the whimsical thoughts and speech patterns of the young crown prince consort."
On the sidelines, Duan Yue wore a smile as he remarked, "Qiaoqiao probably considers you a friend now."
Mo Lian harrumphed before walking away.
Duan Yue rolled his eyes at Mo Lian's retreating figure and turned to Dao Seeking. "Do you wish to continue competing?"
Duan Tianya shook his head. "I've probably earned enough credits for today."
His main reason for participating in the competition was to challenge Duan Yue, an exceptional prodigy of the younger generation in the Duan Clan. Duan Yue might have originated from the Lower Star Domain, but his talent made him the top contender among the Duan Clan's youth.
Qiao Mu approached Qi Xuanxuan's battle stage and witnessed the young girl winning another match, grinning victoriously at her opponent from the standard class.
In a swift movement, Huifeng appeared behind the two of them. He leaned in and whispered to Qiao Mu, his expression serious. "Crown Prince Consort, there's troubling news from the capital regarding Butterfly Pavilion."
Qiao Mu was taken aback and turned to face Huifeng with a concerned expression. "What happened?"
"Last night, a mob attacked Butterfly Pavilion and set it on fire."
Mo Lian's eyes narrowed at the mention of Butterfly Pavilion. "How did things unfold? Were there any casualties?"
"That night, two guests lost their lives, but not due to the fire. They were tragically trampled to death in the chaos outside…" Huifeng's expression grew even more grim as he continued.
"Caixiu sustained severe injuries from the fire, damaging her embroidery work significantly."
"But how could that happen?" Weren't Caixiu and the embroiderer in the palace? Why did they end up at Butterfly Pavilion?
"Half of the school buildings were engulfed in flames and collapsed, but we managed to rescue most people in time, preventing a higher casualty count."
