Reincarnated as the Death Spider Queen, sacrificing Bibi Dong at the start

After all, this is a cruel game of raising venomous insects!

If an emperor wants to secure his throne, he will face far more open and covert attacks and perilous crises in the future than the minor squabbles between his brothers.

If he can't even defend against or withstand the underhanded tactics of his brothers, then even if he were to ascend the throne, he would be nothing more than a useless person who could be easily manipulated.

Aside from the overt rule of "no killing," the competition for the Star Luo throne has been ruthless from the very beginning.

Of course, in this kind of competition with no bottom line, one's own strength and the power behind one's back are ultimately the key to determining the outcome.

If the prince wanted to use underhanded tactics and accumulate power, he needed to win over court officials and find someone to help him.

And on what basis do those powerful court officials choose sides?

Everyone is the type to act only after seeing a clear outcome, so naturally, it depends on which prince has a better chance of winning.

Only if the court officials see that the prince has a high enough probability of winning in the future, and that betting on him in advance can bring huge political returns, will they risk stepping in to help him.

Otherwise, who would be willing to risk getting into trouble and offending the future emperor for the sake of a prince who is utterly useless?

Between Davis and Dai Mubai, there is not only a six or seven-year age difference, but the gap in their soul power cultivation is also like a chasm.

Add to that the influence Davis had painstakingly cultivated in the court over the years, and the gap between the two sides was obvious to the naked eye.

In truth, everyone knew perfectly well that Dai Mubai was merely a whetstone deliberately prepared by the old emperor to hone Davis's sharp edge.

Even the old emperor himself had no expectations of Dai Mubai.

For this reason, the vast majority of powerful figures in the court had already secretly sided with Davis and were all trying to curry favor with the Crown Prince.

This led to Dai Mubai's increasingly difficult situation in Xingluo City, and he lived in fear every day.

So, after finding a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity some time ago, he decided to go all in and slip away from Xingluo City overnight, fleeing all the way to the Tiandou Empire.

Hiding within the Heavenly Dou Empire, the Star Luo Empire's influence couldn't reach that far, making it difficult for them to easily intervene.

Moreover, the two countries are currently maintaining a peaceful trade relationship on the surface, so it is impossible for them to go to war over a prince who has fled.

Moreover, Dai Mubai sought refuge at a renowned Soul Master Academy within the Heaven Dou Empire, where he was protected by a Soul Saint of considerable strength.

In this complicated situation, the Star Luo royal family, for the sake of their reputation, simply turned a blind eye and announced to the public that he had gone to "train" himself, which was tantamount to tacitly approving his escape.

Nan Feng ignored Dai Tianfeng and Duke Youming's expressions and his gaze fell once again on Zhu Zhuqing, who was bowing her head and trembling slightly.

"Did you know when he left Xingluo City?"

Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head even further, her voice so faint it was like a mosquito's buzz, filled with bitterness: "...I don't know."

"So that means..." Nan Feng sneered, "not only did he escape, but he also left you alone in this fire pit without your knowledge or a word?"

Zhu Zhuqing's shoulders trembled violently, and her eyes instantly reddened.

She bit her lip tightly and didn't answer, but tears of grievance were already welling up in her eyes.

Nan Feng turned his head and looked at Dai Tianfeng and Duke Youming, who had remained silent:

"Your Majesty, how old is that runaway prince?"

Dai Tianfeng forced a smile and replied, "Your Majesty, I am twelve years old."

“Twelve years old.” Nan Feng raised an eyebrow, his tone full of sarcasm. “To an ordinary person, he might still be a child, but to a Soul Master, twelve years old is already quite old.”

"If there are no major problems with the upbringing of your Star Luo royal family, the responsibilities, duties, and even the sense of honor that a prince should have should be ingrained in his bones from a young age, right?"

"At twelve years old, he could abandon his fiancée, who was supposed to live and die with him, and run away with his tail between his legs just to survive?"

"It seems that this third prince has serious problems with his upbringing, or rather, his character!"

Nan Feng made no attempt to hide the contempt in his eyes, "What I despise most in my life is this kind of coward who runs away in the face of battle! Especially a coward who can just abandon his own woman!"

"Your Majesty, I suggest you be more cautious about considering the successor and setting a bottom line for tolerance. If the Xingluo Empire is handed over to such a coward, it will be doomed sooner or later."

Hearing Nan Feng's merciless scolding, the old emperor Dai Tianfeng was not angry at all. Instead, he nodded repeatedly in agreement: "Your Majesty is right! I will definitely discipline him more strictly in the future, and I will be more cautious in considering the successor!"

Davis, who was sitting below, was overjoyed when he heard Nan Feng's words!

Demon God Douluo publicly criticized Dai Mubai as a "coward" and even suggested that his father, the emperor, should carefully consider his successor!

This is tantamount to sentencing Dai Mubai to political death in front of the entire court!

With this overseas overlord's definitive conclusion, even if Dai Mubai were to get incredibly lucky and cultivate to become a Title Douluo, he would never have any chance to turn things around again!

His throne as Davis is secure! Absolutely secure!

Chapter 357 A Nine-Year-Old Kitten, Unaware, Steps into a Lolita Idol Group

……

Just as Davis was overjoyed, Nan Feng's gaze fell on him and Zhu Zhuyun.

"Judging from the way you two are, you must have a pretty good relationship, right?" Nan Feng asked with a half-smile.

Upon hearing this, Davis and Zhu Zhuyun quickly composed themselves and respectfully bowed their heads in reply: "Your Majesty, we have known each other since childhood and have been cultivating and sparring together all these years. We have shared joys and sorrows, so our friendship is naturally deep."

"It's good that the feelings are deep." Nan Feng nodded, but his tone carried a hint of warning. "Since they are deep, then cherish them. Don't let them become like some cowards and do something disgusting like abandoning their wives and children when disaster strikes one day."

Davis's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly patted his chest to assure everyone, "Your Majesty, rest assured! Even if I were to be shattered to pieces, I would never do such a despicable thing!"

"very good."

Nan Feng withdrew his gaze with satisfaction, and finally looked at Zhu Zhuqing, who was still looking down with her head down and filled with despair.

"Since your fiancé is a coward who only cares about his own life and has already abandoned you..."

Nan Feng leaned back in his chair and pointed at Zhu Zhuqing.

"Then I'll take this girl."

Upon hearing this, the vast banquet hall instantly fell into a deathly silence!

All the high-ranking officials of the Star Luo Empire were stunned.

Although everyone had heard over the years that this powerful Demon God Douluo kept many beautiful young girls of unknown origin in Heaven Dou City, and that there were even rumors in private that this lord had some unspeakable fetish and was a real "lolicon".

but!

In front of the entire court, in front of the emperor and the Duke of Youming, he so bluntly and domineeringly demanded the prince's fiancée...

This...isn't this way of eating a bit too unsightly and abrupt?!

However, in complete silence.

The Duke of Youming, sitting next to Zhu Zhuqing, reacted the fastest.

Without any hesitation, before anyone could react, he suddenly elbowed Zhu Zhuqing, who was still in a daze, under the table, and desperately tried to wink at her, signaling her to agree quickly!

Actually, the old emperor had hinted to him beforehand that he shouldn't bring Zhu Zhuqing to today's banquet.

After all, according to Xingluo's tradition, princes and their fiancées must attend important occasions together.

Now that Dai Mubai has already run away, it is indeed awkward for Zhu Zhuqing to attend the banquet alone as the "prospective Third Imperial Consort," and it even damages the royal family's reputation.

Despite the pressure, Duke Youming still insisted on bringing his daughter along.

Because he thought of the romantic rumors about this Demon God Douluo in Heaven Dou City.

He already felt that Dai Mubai was completely hopeless, so rather than waiting to die, he might as well try anything and take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to push his daughter out.

If His Majesty really takes a liking to Zhu Zhuqing, wouldn't the Youming family instantly climb onto a towering tree that is countless times thicker than the Xingluo royal family?!

Now, Nan Feng not only took the initiative to speak up, but also took the opportunity to pin the blame for the breach of contract entirely on Dai Mubai.

This is like a windfall!

Zhu Zhuqing felt a sharp pain from her father's blow and looked up in a daze.

Those clear, cold black eyes were filled with confusion as they looked at Nan Feng, who sat in the high position.

"What? You've been heartbroken by that coward and don't want to come with me?" Nan Feng looked at her, his tone softening.

Zhu Zhuqing shuddered, finally waking up as if from a dream.

Under the frantic urging of her father's eyes, she quickly lowered her head, her voice trembling with nervousness, yet unwavering:

"I...I'm willing!"

"very good."

Nan Feng nodded in satisfaction. "I've been active in Tian Dou City a lot. Although with my strength, coming to Xing Luo City would only take me a blink of an eye, it still feels like a hassle."

"Besides, all the children I raised are currently in Tiandou City. It wouldn't be appropriate to leave you alone in this cold and desolate imperial city of Xingluo."

"How about this, after the banquet, you come with me to Tiandou City. There are many girls your age there, and you can play with them."

Zhu Zhuqing stood there, her mind still buzzing, feeling as if it were all a dream.

One second, she was a victim abandoned by her fiancé and in danger of being assassinated by her sister at any moment;

The next second, she became the person this overseas overlord specifically named and wanted to take away.

Duke Youming was now beaming with excitement.

He left his seat and walked to the center of the hall, where he bowed deeply and respectfully: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty! It is a blessing for my daughter to serve by Your Majesty's side, a blessing she has accumulated over many lifetimes! It is also the greatest honor for our Netherworld Clan!"

Seeing her father's obsequious manner, Zhu Zhuqing felt a pang of resentment, but she could only follow him to the center of the main hall in a daze, bowing gracefully to Nan Feng once more to express her gratitude.

Looking at Zhu Zhuqing in the center of the hall and Zhu Zhuyun sitting next to Davis, a complex look of envy and jealousy flashed deep in his eyes.

However, on second thought, this is actually the best ending.

Nan Feng took her younger sister to Tian Dou City, escaping the cruel vortex of the struggle for the throne. That meant she no longer needed to rack her brains to kill her own sister because of those damned rules.

Even more so, if her younger sister becomes someone close to Nan Feng, then the Zhu family's status in the Star Luo Empire will definitely rise accordingly, and they will have gained a super backer that no one dares to provoke.

Thinking of this, Zhu Zhuyun felt completely relaxed, and even a little happy.

Davis, on the other hand, didn't mind at all and accepted it more readily than anyone else.

After all, the Star Luo Empire's higher-ups had been well aware of the rumors that Nan Feng liked to keep little girls in Tian Dou City for years.

Now that Nan Feng has taken Zhu Zhuqing away, he has not only completely cut off Dai Mubai's last chance to turn the tables with the help of the Zhu family, but also ensured that his throne is as secure as Mount Tai.

More importantly, through Zhu Zhuqing's connection, the Star Luo Empire has indirectly established a link with Seagod Island and this Demon God Douluo!

This deal is a steal by any measure! Everyone's happy!

……