Becoming Invincible By Marrying The Ultimate Villainess - Chapter 41 - Chapter 41 – The Crown Prince’s Birthday Banquet, All the VIPs Have Arrived!

Leaving the Divine Strategy compound, Ning Ye quickly vanished into the night, heading toward the grand palace situated in the heart of Wudu.

He passed through the Sky Pass Garden, walked past the Returning Dragon Temple, and crossed the famed Three Life Bridge of Wudu.

Finally, he arrived before the majestic and awe-inspiring gates of the Junlin Imperial Palace.

With a simple motion, Ning Ye took out the jade slip and handed it to the guards. A pair of palace guards escorted him inside, leading him toward the East Palace, reserved exclusively for the Crown Prince.

Notably, along the way, many of Junlin’s upper echelons cast curious glances at Ning Ye. Several daughters of noble families gazed at him openly, their fiery stares piercing him.

However, Ning Ye had no time to pay attention to such nonsense. He had a hunch that tonight wouldn’t be a peaceful night, so throughout the journey, he kept his focus on the palace’s defensive layout, preparing for his upcoming actions.

“East Palace is located on the eastern side.”
“The Scroll Hall is on the north side.”
“The Junlin Imperial Guards have a two-and-a-half-minute gap in their patrols.”
“The palace’s faintly oppressive aura contains at least ten distinct presences!”
“Could they be the ten renowned Junlin Divine Generals of the Eastern Wilderness?”

“Let’s hope… Jun Qianyue can really draw the attention of the palace and Mu Lingxi tonight, allowing me to smoothly enter the Scroll Hall!”

Ning Ye’s thoughts halted there as he followed the guards into the East Palace’s main hall—the Yang Xin Hall.

This was the location where Crown Prince Wu Chen would host his birthday banquet.

Entering the Yang Xin Hall, Ning Ye’s gaze was immediately drawn to the lavish surroundings. Golden beams etched with lifelike dragons adorned the pillars, while red carpets covered the vast hall floor.

The hall was already bustling with Junlin’s nobility:

The Inspector-General of Wudu!
The Commander of the Imperial Guards!
The powerhouses from the Six Departments!
The Prison Warden!
The Minister of Justice!
The Head of the Royal Academy!

These towering figures, who were rarely seen, had now all gathered.

As Ning Ye walked into the hall, countless burning gazes fell upon him, making him the center of attention within moments.

“Surely, this must be the Tenth Prince from the Yanyun Empire!”

“Indeed, didn’t expect someone so young to have claimed the top spot in the Eastern Wilderness Heavenly Hero list!”

“Rumor has it, he created a Lotus Flame at the Tianmen Pass, annihilating countless Xie Sect powerhouses and a Divine Punishment Elder. Truly monstrous!”

“Shush! My daughter keeps blabbering his name every day, my ears are worn out!”

“So what? If he weren’t engaged to the second Miss of the Jun family, I’d’ve tried to marry him off to my daughter!”

“Tch! You’d be courting death if you tried to steal a corner of Jun’s wall!”

“Pfft! Can’t I even think about it? Besides, the ruler in Wudu currently is surnamed Wu, not Jun!”

“Shh! Keep it quiet!”

Hearing the chaotic murmurs, Ning Ye shook his head and didn’t bother paying any attention, deciding to take his seat quietly instead.

As he checked the jade slip and searched for his seat, a familiar voice suddenly rang out.

“Ning Ye, over here!”

Hearing this, Ning Ye raised his gaze and spotted a stunning figure dressed in luxurious feathered robes, sitting beside the highest throne in the Yang Xin Hall. It was a beautiful woman with a striking, flawless appearance.

“Princess Wu Yao of the Junlin Empire.”

Ning Ye murmured to himself before walking toward her.

“You’ll sit here.”

Wu Yao pointed to the empty seat beside her, smiling gently.

Ning Ye nodded and took his seat beside her.

“I have to admit…”

“The battle at Tianmen Pass…”

“The Tenth Prince utterly crushed us all!”

As Ning Ye settled into his seat, Wu Yao leaned back with her arms crossed, her beautiful eyes fixed on Ning Ye as she teased him with a playful smile.

Hearing this, Ning Ye glanced at Wu Yao and saw no trace of resentment in her eyes. He gained a newfound respect for her—after all, he believed: hatred solves nothing, practice does.

“Where’s your Xiao Tu brother?”

Pouring himself a cup of crimson wine, Ning Ye asked casually. The battle at Tianmen Pass had been too chaotic, so he hadn’t paid much attention to Xiao Tu, the supposed Heaven’s Chosen. However, he knew Xiao Tu had been saved by Wu Yao, as their bond from childhood still remained.

“He said there’s somewhere he needs to go.”
“Wait for his return.”
“He’ll come looking for you!”

Wu Yao responded casually. Back at Tianmen Pass, she had already noticed the past grudge between Ning Ye and Xiao Tu. And now, with Ning Ye about to marry Jun Qianyue and become the son-in-law of the Divine Strategy Army’s command, it was hatred upon hatred, grudge upon grudge. So it was certain that once Xiao Tu was done with his affairs, he would return to the capital!

“Mm.”

“I’m looking forward to it!”

Ning Ye downed a cup of fine imperial wine without a second thought, indifferent to her words. He knew where Xiao Tu would go, and it would be the last place where Xiao Tu could try to defy destiny.

This time, Ning Ye eagerly awaited Xiao Tu’s return, hoping he would seek revenge against both him and Jun Qianyue. After all, he wasn’t about to miss his last opportunity to extract every bit of value from Xiao Tu. Once that was done, Xiao Tu, the destined child, would be free to meet his end.

“Hmph! Arrogant man!”

“You should remember the saying: ‘Thirty years in the east river, thirty years in the west river…”

Wu Yao scoffed lightly.

“What familiar words!”

Ning Ye shrugged and, without hesitation, cited a famous line that resonated throughout the world:

“Enemies defeated by my hand shall no longer be considered my opponents!”

“I gave him time to catch up—until he could no longer even see my shadow!”

This…

Hearing them, Wu Yao’s expression changed. She stared at Ning Ye with a stunned look. His martial intent was remarkably strong, far beyond what she had expected. Could Ning Ye really be planning to carve out his own path to unparalleled dominance?

If that were true, Ning Ye could be far more terrifying than she had imagined.

Just as she was lost in thought, a guard’s voice suddenly broke the silence.

“Third Prince, Wu You!”
“Princess Consort, Nian Nujiao has arrived!”

The announcement echoed, and all the nobility in the hall rose in unison.

At that moment, a graceful figure dressed in a lavish black brocade robe, with a soft yet strikingly handsome face, entered alongside a beautiful maiden in a crimson gown.

The moment the Third Prince, Wu You, and his consort appeared, Ning Ye immediately sensed their hostility and the provocation they carried.

But here was the problem—Ning Ye was sure he had never seen these two before. Where did their hostility come from?

“It’s truly inexplicable,” Ning Ye shook his head.

Wu Yao noticed his confusion and spoke with a faint smile.

“There’s no need to be surprised, Tenth Prince.”

“My sister-in-law was once the cherished daughter of the Xie Sect before marrying into the royal family.”

“At the Tianmen Pass, you slaughtered so many of the Xie Sect’s powerhouses. Her hatred toward you is only natural.”

That explained it.

Ning Ye nodded slowly. He hadn’t been aware of Nian Nujiao’s background, but it didn’t matter anymore.

Moreover…

Wu Yao’s tone shifted as she continued, “Your fiancée, the Second Miss Jun, is someone my third brother has set his sights on.”

What do you mean?

Ning Ye furrowed his brow.

Wu Yao let out a long sigh and explained, “It’s normal that you don’t know this upon arriving in Wudu.”

“The Second Miss Jun is renowned for her unmatched talent and influence across the continent.”

“As such, she’s had countless suitors throughout her life.”

“However, one of the most fanatical of those suitors is my second brother, Wu Lintian.”

“Before leaving the capital, he declared that anyone who dared to pursue the Second Miss Jun would face his wrath.”

“And my third brother has always been his most devoted follower. How could he not harbor hostility toward you?”

Wu Lintian?

Ning Ye raised an eyebrow. He had heard of that name before—the second prince of Junlin, second in talent only to Jun Qianyue.

Three years ago, Wu Lintian had received recognition from the Nine Heavens Fengyu Tower, allowing him to embark on a pilgrimage to the Sacred Mountain. However, he had refused and stayed behind, fighting for the royal family along the border. Known as the killing god in the army, his devotion to Jun Qianyue earned him the title of the most ardent lover of all time.

“Let me think… how did the result turn out for this ‘first devoted’ prince of Junlin?”

“Didn’t he end up dead?”

Ning Ye’s thoughts lingered on that, and a faint smirk appeared on his face.

At that moment, the doors of the hall burst open once more, and the guards announced,

“Crown Prince Wu Chen!”
“Princess Consort Mu Lin has arrived!”