Ruin Wielder-Chapter 24: Wedding Banquet. (2/3)

"IMPERIAL PRINCE, THE PRINCE OF DESTINY, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PERSON IN THE WHOLE UNIVERSE, PRINCE TANG ZHENLIYUN IS HERE."

A servant came in and yelled at the top of his lungs. Outside, Liyun’s carriage had just stopped before the Luo Mansion. The moment it arrived, the entire atmosphere shifted, heavy and suffocating, like the sky itself was pressing down.

The white-armored guards poured in, their spears gleaming like frost under lantern light. They moved through the Luo Mansion as if it were their own barracks, taking positions at every corner, sharp eyes scanning without hesitation. No one dared stop them, no one even dared speak. After all, this was the Emperor’s land—who would dare question his men? Each of these guards was a peak-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, monsters in human skin, their presence alone enough to crush the breath from weaker cultivators.

"His Highness will be here shortly, I want everyone to stand up when he graces you with his presence."

Ergou came forward and ordered. He might be a loyal dog of Liyun, but that didn’t mean he was weak. His body carried the pressure of a Mid-Stage Soul Transformation cultivator, far above the Nascent Soul Realm Guards, who had already shaken the Luo clan with their arrival.

"You!! How dare—"

Wang Ximen almost jumped from his seat, anger flashing in his eyes.

"True Disciple Ximen, if I were you, I would keep quiet for now. I can’t protect you against someone like this. I didn’t even know the Tang Empire had such strong cultivators, and this many at once..."

Chen Tao’s voice came heavy as he gripped Ximen’s shoulder. His strength was there, yes, but even he knew—if this boy made a move now, he would die like a dog before the entire hall.

"Hmmph."

Ximen just snorted and sat in the chair, he looks down on this backwater empire and region, so the prince of such an empire was beneath him as usual.

Ergou stood aside, and a tiny three-year-old Liyun floated inside. His golden-sleeved robe was eye-catching, the people of the empire stood up in sheer respect of him, while Ximen was forced by Elder Chen Tao.

Look at his coat, he’s a Golden Core Realm baby. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Chen Tao yelled inside his mind, he was certain this baby was no ordinary child. The sheer presence he had was even overwhelming even for Chen Tao.

"We greet Prince Liyun. May you live for eternity."

The whole hall said in unison, "The whole pavilion fell silent, only Liyun was slowly floating to his seat while giving small nods, and Ergou followed him a step behind like his shadow."

"Your Highness"

Chen Tao cupped his fist as soon as Liyun reached the seat, although he was a strong cultivator, he was really admiring this tiny prince who was just a step behind him.

"Hmm?"

Liyun raised an eyebrow, glancing over Chen Tao briefly before shifting his gaze toward Ximen, who slouched arrogantly in his chair as if the empire itself were beneath him.

I can’t save you forever, brat.

Chen Tao thought coldly, his fist tightening as he gave another bow toward Ergou, who ignored him outright. Ergou’s eyes stayed locked on Ximen like a drawn sword, just waiting for his master’s command to strike.

"Forget it. We’re here on a happy occasion."

Liyun said, then sat in his chair, his figure looked small compared to the huge wooden chair. Ergou, hearing this, nodded slightly and stood behind him like the loyal person he was.

Wang Mu trembled. He had heard the stories—that the little prince was overprotected, a prodigy beyond measure. But seeing it now, he realized how true those stories were.

Liyun’s sheer charisma made it impossible to decide where to look—toward the Nascent Soul guards filling the hall or toward the three-year-old Golden Core prince who radiated the presence of a sovereign.

"Your Highness, it was my negligence not to go to the Palace to escort you here. The journey must have been hard for you."

Wang Mu stepped forward with his usual flattering smile, but this time his eyes faltered. He couldn’t bring himself to look directly into Liyun’s gaze. The pressure rolling off the three-year-old prince was far too overwhelming for a mere Peak Stage Foundation Building cultivator like him.

?? What are you on? It’s less than a five-minute journey, what is this fool talking about?

"Don’t worry, I’ve been accompanied by my lovely maids here... Or are you suggesting you’re a better traveling companion?"

Liyun’s words fell light, but the sting behind them made Wang Mu’s smile twitch. The crowd turned their heads just in time to see ten gorgeously dressed maids enter the pavilion. Their steps were graceful, their expressions calm, not sparing a glance at anyone else. They walked straight to Liyun’s side, forming a perfect line behind Ergou, ready to serve the prince at a single gesture.

At the center, Li Mei stood tall beside Ergou, her bearing marking her clearly as the Chief Maid, her silks gleaming under the lantern light.

Ximen’s eye was certainly on the maids while Liyun was looking at him with his side eyes. He wanted to see what kind of trope this was supposed to be, he was certain there was a trope here somewhere. The villain was either the final boss or just a stepping stone for the protagonist.

Lecherous! This is clearly the sign of a minor, third-rate villain, let’s see what the protagonist brings to the table.

Liyun, a past-life avid cultivation novel reader, was confident he could guess what kind of protagonist he was seeing, he was not hostile, nor was he against the idea of a protagonist, he was just amused.

"I... this Wang doesn’t dare, Your Highness. I only wished for what any loyal subject desires—to serve."

Wang Mu said, his smile thin and his heart pounding. He was nervous to the bone. The Emperor was not just any ruler—he was a schemer among schemers. Everyone remembered what happened to the Wu family. After His Majesty sent Liyun there, their house was stripped down, forcing them one rank below even the Luo family—despite being related by royal blood themselves.