Chapter 1327: Crown Princess

"I couldn't help it; her charm was too great," Zu'an replied casually. Feeling the subtle anger in the three women's eyes, he quickly corrected himself, "She saved my life before, so naturally, I had to save her too."

"Saved your life?" Yun Jianyue looked suspicious, finding it hard to connect the Elf Princess with Zu'an.

"Actually, Sister Yan should know Princess Xue," Zu'an explained.

"I know her?" Yan Xuehen was startled, a bewildered expression on her face.

"She used to be a maid in Chu Yan's house in Brightmoon City, a spy sent by the Shi family from the capital..." Zu'an briefly recounted the past events.

"So it was her." Yan Xuehen nodded slightly; her disciple had mentioned her before.

Upon hearing this, Yun Jianyue praised, "That young girl is truly intelligent and courageous. To endure such hardship among humans at such a young age and finally succeed in rescuing her people—if I had met her sooner, I would have taken her as my disciple."

"You were hiding in the palace all last night? With the Demon Emperor there, you weren't discovered?" Yu Yanluo was more concerned about this.

"Speaking of which, we owe it to the Little Demon Empress. Our previous judgment of her was correct; she's indeed not aligned with the Crown Prince..." Zu'an briefly described how the Little Demon Empress saved them.

"You stayed in the Little Demon Empress's bedchamber all night?" The three women looked at him strangely, thinking, *This guy really attracts female attention wherever he goes.*

"Cough, cough, she just wanted to deal with the Crown Prince," Zu'an explained awkwardly.

The three women didn't dwell on it, considering the Little Demon Empress's identity. They quickly moved on to the recent events. Yu Yanluo said, "Thanks to your friends helping just now, otherwise I might have been taken for questioning."

"I just told you I have good connections, but you didn't believe me," Zu'an chuckled. He continued, "Now, with various clans gathered in the royal court, and incidents involving the Great Golden Roc King, the Elf King, and the Peacock Bright King, every clan is feeling insecure. The situation is very tense, and the Crown Prince's faction doesn't dare to act recklessly."

"This royal court seems calm on the surface, but underneath, it's a stormy sea," Yu Yanluo said with a serious expression. "By the way, before you returned, our clans were actually discussing the Grand Clan Assembly three days from now."

"Grand Clan Assembly?" Zu'an was surprised.

Yu Yanluo explained, "The demon race has many subordinate clans, and this time, for an unprecedented event, all clans have been invited. There will definitely be a meeting. Besides some superficial formalities, the most practical outcome will be the decision of representative seats for each clan."

"Representative seats?" Yan Xuehen was a little confused.

Yun Jianyue, however, was clearer on these matters. "Although the Demon Emperor holds supreme power, he doesn't micromanage everything. Daily affairs and policies among the clans are often proposed and voted on by clan representatives. Powerful clans have more representative seats, while weaker ones usually only have one. Often, winning over representatives from various clans is a very important matter, just as Yu Yanluo invited people from the small and medium-sized clans to discuss things earlier; that was also part of winning them over."

Yu Yanluo nodded. "Exactly. Each clan leader automatically holds one representative seat. Any additional seats must be earned, with a maximum of three more. The Snake Clan once had three seats at its peak. Unfortunately, after what happened to my mother, the Snake Clan declined significantly, and now we nominally retain only one seat. Therefore, we have very little say in internal demon clan affairs."

"Earn them yourselves? How?" Zu'an asked curiously.

"Among the demon race, of course, the strong are respected. Each time a Demon Emperor is replaced, the representative positions are re-contested. Those confident in vying for a spot can sign up. Many weaker clans know they have no chance and simply don't participate. Of course, there might occasionally be one or two geniuses, but in most cases, contesting representative positions is a game for the powerful clans."

Zu'an's expression was strange. "Since it's such a coincidence, sign me up too. I'll help you secure a spot then."

Yu Yanluo was a little worried. "It's a troubled time, and the Golden Crow Guards are looking for you everywhere. It's better not to."

"Precisely because I'm wanted everywhere, I need to do the opposite," Zu'an replied. "No one will expect me to show up so openly, and this will also solidify my identity as Yan Zu."

"That's an excellent plan," Yun Jianyue clapped her hands and laughed. "Then sign me up too. I'll help you win a representative seat. Oh, and sign up the Ice Stone Maiden as well."

Yan Xuehen was somewhat stunned. "Aren't you afraid of lowering your status by participating in such a competition?"

"Our Sacred Sect values practical benefits, not so much bureaucracy," Yun Jianyue snorted. "During this time, I've received much care from Sister Yu. I've always been clear about debts and favors; I never owe anyone anything, so I'll repay it with this."

Zu'an, standing nearby, remarked faintly, "Sister, it seems you owe me quite a few favors, don't you?"

"Go away..." Yun Jianyue pushed him aside. Their usual interactions were normal, but she suddenly remembered that time he saw her most secret side, and her cheeks flushed instantly.

Yan Xuehen, the only one aware, thought to herself, *This demoness is getting her comeuppance today. Back then, she made my life miserable; I couldn't even sleep for days.*

"Demoness, you do have a point. Count me in too. It'll be a good chance to experience the prowess of these demon experts."

Yu Yanluo naturally tried to decline, but unable to resist their enthusiasm, she had no choice but to agree. She felt a little dizzy for a moment, imagining two Grandmasters and one Master with explosive combat power helping her secure representative seats. She couldn't help but feel sorry for their opponents.

Meanwhile, the Elf King's Mansion was in an uproar because Princess Xue had returned!

Several elders immediately convened a secret meeting in the council hall. All seven elders were present, except Qiao Wei who was out, and all unauthorized personnel were strictly forbidden from approaching.

"Princess Xue, where were you last night? What exactly happened?" An elder quickly inquired.

"Yesterday, I was in the palace, about to leave, but the Crown Prince asked to speak with me, using my father's situation as an excuse. I followed him, but who knew he was worse than a beast..." Qiao Xueying recounted the events of yesterday, sobbing as she spoke.

While a different story could be told to outsiders, she had to tell the truth to the Elf clan's core leadership to prevent misinformation from leading them to wrong judgments.

Xue'er was already frail and delicate; her weeping, like pear blossoms after a spring rain, was truly heartbreaking to witness. Many elders cursed angrily, "This is outrageous! To think that the esteemed Crown Prince of the demon race could be so vile!"

"It was already too much to imprison the Elf King under false pretenses before, but we never imagined he would sink so low this time!"

"The royal family is truly declining generation by generation. If such a person ascends to power, the demon race will surely be ruined by him!"

...

The group cursed indignantly for a long time. A female elder, holding Qiao Xueying and continuously comforting her, found a moment to ask, "Xue'er, how did you get out of the palace then? And how was the poison in your body neutralized?"

At her words, everyone looked at Qiao Xueying.

Xue'er wiped away her tears and replied, "Yesterday, at a critical moment, a mysterious person suddenly appeared and tried to assassinate the Crown Prince. After the Crown Prince's bodyguards stopped him, he abducted me. Then I vaguely lost consciousness and woke up this morning near the Elf King's Mansion."

The elders were all greatly alarmed. "Didn't that assassin take advantage of you?"

Xue'er's face reddened. "Elders, what are you thinking? No one took advantage of me. I don't know how he managed to neutralize the poison in my body either."

Seeing no trace of sorrow on her face, unlike a young woman who had just been violated, they believed her words.

The elders began to discuss:

"Who was that assassin, and why would he save Princess Xue?"

"Could he have been an old friend of the Elf King?"

"But the Elf King's friends would have no reason to assassinate the Crown Prince."

...

At this point, another elder, frowning, said, "Compared to these things, I'm more worried about the palace finding out that Princess Xue has returned and connecting our Elf clan with the assassin."

The elders fell silent, each growing worried.

The same female elder, however, scolded them, "Why are you all so cowardly? Xue'er was clearly the one wronged this time. If anyone should settle scores, it's us with the Crown Prince. When did it become their turn to accuse us? Just relay what Xue'er just said to the palace and demand an explanation from the Crown Prince. We, the dignified Elf Royal Family, are not ones to be slaughtered at will."

Although some still held dissenting opinions, this view gained the approval of the majority, and so the Elf King's Mansion quickly took action.

Xue'er was a little surprised, thinking, *Indeed, everything is just as the Little Demon Empress predicted. That woman's insight into human nature is truly frightening.*

Meanwhile, Elder Wu rushed back to the imperial palace. The moment he entered, he saw the Crown Prince furiously smashing a medicine bowl on the ground.

Elder Wu frowned. "Crown Prince, what has made you so angry?"

The Golden Crow Crown Prince's face was livid. "Just now, I received intelligence that Princess Xue has returned to the Elf King's Mansion, and people from the Elf King's Mansion have even sent an envoy to demand an explanation!"

"What?" Elder Wu was startled. "How dare they? What about the assassin's whereabouts?"

"Princess Xue claims she was unconscious and knows nothing, waking up only after dawn..." The Golden Crow Crown Prince briefly recounted their story. "That wretch definitely isn't telling the truth. She must have been defiled last night, but I, the Crown Prince, can't make it public! It's infuriating!"

Elder Wu breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed the Crown Prince hadn't completely lost his head in anger. If yesterday's incident were to get out, it would undoubtedly be a huge scandal for the royal family, potentially even leading to a complete rupture between the Golden Crow clan and the Elf clan.

"This woman is no longer pure; she's unworthy of being my Crown Princess," the Golden Crow Crown Prince gritted his teeth. "Find a way to inform the Peacock Royal Family to send Kong Nanwu back to me. She will be my Crown Princess. Also, send some experts to the human realm to escort her, and do not allow any men to approach her."

Truly, once bitten by a snake, one fears a coiled rope for ten years. He had to have his people watch her to ensure Kong Nanwu's purity.

Elder Wu nodded. "Understood!"

The Golden Crow Crown Prince stood up. "Has Queen Medusa been captured and brought back? I'm filled with wicked rage right now; I'll vent it all on her!"