Emperor Alexander could not possibly misunderstand Crown Prince Adrian. Adrian's recent actions had already revealed his urgency; given his temperament, he would impulsively seize the opportunity while everyone's attention was on the Azure Crown Prince to make his move. This gave Alexander a legitimate reason to remove him!
No matter how useful Adrian was to Alexander, Adrian's urgent desire to seize the throne had already crossed the emperor's forbidden line. Alexander would never let him remain!
Yet he failed to account for Quentin Hua. Damien Gray narrowed his eyes; although he didn't know what Quentin truly intended, it seemed Quentin genuinely planned to help Adrian. If so, he would surely stop Adrian from making foolish moves—Alexander's scheme might just fall through.
After a moment, Damien Gray finally spoke. "Have someone keep an eye on the Azure Crown Prince and Mona Shangguan." At such a sensitive time, who could know the real reason for the Azure Crown Prince's visit to Silvermoon?
He wasn't trying to stop anything—he was simply used to having everything under his control.
"Yes!"
Ethan Gu noticed Damien Gray seemed lost in thought, a rare tenderness flickering in his eyes. Ethan paused, surprised. Though he'd witnessed many entanglements around him, he never understood matters of the heart. It wasn't that no one cared for him, but he felt as if he were cut off from love, numb to emotion. Sometimes, he wondered if he himself was a bit strange.
Not wanting to disturb Damien, Ethan Gu quietly withdrew. Just then, Maxwell Jing, wandering in the courtyard, noticed Ethan's furrowed brow and contemplative look. He couldn't resist stepping forward and giving Ethan a friendly pat.
Ethan snapped out of his thoughts and asked, "What are you doing?"
Maxwell rolled his eyes. "I should be asking you that!"
Only then did Ethan Gu remember his actual task. He glanced at Maxwell Jing again, hesitating as he asked, "Are you really alright?"
Maxwell Jing grinned, eyes narrowing. "What could possibly be wrong with me? Relax—I promise I won't die before you do!"
Ethan Gu was speechless. It seemed Maxwell really was fine, so he stopped worrying and turned to leave.
Watching Ethan Gu walk away, Maxwell Jing's smile slowly faded, the curve of his lips tinged with bitterness. Perhaps he had suppressed his feelings for too long, which was why his sorrow had slipped out so easily. He thought he'd grown used to despair, but even the slightest touch could still make his heart ache unbearably.
This time, Morgan Shangguan had brought Susie Yun along, but before they could leave the residence, they ran into Claire Yi. Claire looked haggard; clearly, the scandal had hit her hard. Morgan merely glanced at her indifferently and kept walking, not intending to acknowledge her at all.
The royal residence was so vast that Claire Yi hadn't expected to encounter Morgan Shangguan the moment she stepped out. Guilt gnawed at her, so she hadn't planned to greet Morgan. But then her gaze accidentally landed on the Crescent Moon Earring dangling from Morgan's ear. Her face paled and her steps faltered.
She'd heard from her master that the Crescent Moon Earring was left behind by her senior brother's mother. Claire had always hoped he would one day give it to her. Now, seeing it on another woman, she stared at Morgan Shangguan's ear, her nails digging into her palm without her noticing. Why? Why had things turned out this way? Why did Morgan have to appear? If not for her, Claire could have stayed by her senior brother's side, waiting for him to accept her. But Morgan's arrival had stolen all her hope.
Morgan Shangguan naturally sensed Claire Yi's burning gaze. She finally stopped, turning to look at Claire. She had underestimated Claire's resilience; Morgan had thought that after all that had happened, Claire would be too ashamed to face Damien and would leave the residence. Yet, Claire still hadn't given up.
Claire Yi bit her lip, but she didn't lose control and curse, nor did she try to attack Morgan Shangguan.
Maxwell Jing raised an eyebrow and reminded, "Shouldn't Prince Damien have some orders for you? And yet you have time to ponder matters of the heart here!"
Only then did Ethan Gu remember his actual task. He glanced at Maxwell Jing again, hesitating as he asked, "Are you really alright?"
Maxwell Jing grinned, eyes narrowing. "What could possibly be wrong with me? Relax—I promise I won't die before you do!"
Ethan Gu was speechless. It seemed Maxwell really was fine, so he stopped worrying and turned to leave.
Watching Ethan Gu walk away, Maxwell Jing's smile slowly faded, the curve of his lips tinged with bitterness. Perhaps he had suppressed his feelings for too long, which was why his sorrow had slipped out so easily. He thought he'd grown used to despair, but even the slightest touch could still make his heart ache unbearably.
This time, Morgan Shangguan had brought Susie Yun along, but before they could leave the residence, they ran into Claire Yi. Claire looked haggard; clearly, the scandal had hit her hard. Morgan merely glanced at her indifferently and kept walking, not intending to acknowledge her at all.
The royal residence was so vast that Claire Yi hadn't expected to encounter Morgan Shangguan the moment she stepped out. Guilt gnawed at her, so she hadn't planned to greet Morgan. But then her gaze accidentally landed on the Crescent Moon Earring dangling from Morgan's ear. Her face paled and her steps faltered.
She'd heard from her master that the Crescent Moon Earring was left behind by her senior brother's mother. Claire had always hoped he would one day give it to her. Now, seeing it on another woman, she stared at Morgan Shangguan's ear, her nails digging into her palm without her noticing. Why? Why had things turned out this way? Why did Morgan have to appear? If not for her, Claire could have stayed by her senior brother's side, waiting for him to accept her. But Morgan's arrival had stolen all her hope.
Morgan Shangguan naturally sensed Claire Yi's burning gaze. She finally stopped, turning to look at Claire. She had underestimated Claire's resilience; Morgan had thought that after all that had happened, Claire would be too ashamed to face Damien and would leave the residence. Yet, Claire still hadn't given up.
Claire Yi bit her lip, but she didn't lose control and curse, nor did she try to attack Morgan Shangguan.