We Agreed You’d Just Play the Divine Son, So How Did You Become the Forbidden Zone Emperor? Chapter 5 : Chapter 5

Chapter 5. Situ Xing’s Suspicion and the Secret Surveillance

After speaking—

Chu Feng walked straight toward the war chariot, his expression returning to indifference.

The Forbidden Army guard rose to his feet and followed respectfully behind him with a bowed posture.

Chu Feng moved at an unhurried pace, steady and composed. Reaching the chariot, he cast a faint glance at the demonic beast harnessed before it. With a light leap, he entered the carriage.

The interior of the war chariot was constructed with a fra of black iron and walls of spirit wood. At its center stood a gilded throne, luxurious and resplendent, highlighting the dignity of imperial blood.

Seated upon the throne, Chu Feng let out a long breath.

A thin line of sweat slid down his forehead.

If one were to say he was not nervous, that would be impossible.

Impersonating a prince—especially before the prince’s personal guard—was a matter balanced on the edge of life and death.

Fortunately, he had withstood the pressure. At the very least, in bearing and aura, he had not exposed himself.

At that mont—

A respectful voice sounded from outside the chariot. It was the Forbidden Army guard.

“Your Highness, where shall we go next?”

“Back to the palace,” Chu Feng replied.

“Huh?”

A note of surprise crept into the guard’s voice.

“Your Highness, you ca here under Consort Yu’s orders to investigate the demonic sect’s rampant activities.”

“The matter has not yet been clarified. Are we returning already?”

Hearing this, Chu Feng’s heart tightened. He inwardly cursed his oversight.

However, he quickly regained his composure.

“There is nothing worth investigating.”

He knew that the more he spoke, the greater the chance of error.

Moreover, he was a prince. There was no need to explain himself to a subordinate.

The guard could not help but continue, “But—”

“Mm?”

Inside the chariot, Chu Feng did not elaborate. He rely raised his tone slightly.

Clang.

The sound of armor striking the ground echoed outside. Chu Feng knew the guard had dropped to one knee again.

“I obey Your Highness' command!”

Outside, the Forbidden Army guard rose and urged the demonic beast forward.

Rumble—

The war chariot roared into motion, thunderous and imposing, clearing the way in all directions as it advanced toward the imperial palace.

At the sa ti, the guard lowered his head. His face—and his heart—were filled with doubt.

His Highness had left the palace only three days ago.

And now he was already returning?

Over these three days, he had done nothing but indulge—first attending Situ Xing’s banquet, reveling in wine and beauty, then setting his sights on the two daughters of the Shangguan family and spending two days there.

“His Highness may be a wastrel, but investigating the demonic sect was a direct order from Consort Yu herself…”

The guard’s eyes flickered uncertainly. Sothing felt wrong.

Consort Yu’s commands were as unyielding as a mountain. No matter how indulgent the prince might be, he would ordinarily obey her and strive to accomplish the task.

What Chu Feng did not know was that suspicion had already taken root in the guard’s heart.

anwhile—

After Chu Feng boarded the war chariot, Situ Xing had maintained a respectful bow, watching it depart.

Only after it had completely disappeared did he slowly straighten, his gaze returning to calm.

“Uncle Wang, let us return,” Situ Xing said.

The elderly man behind him nodded and cast a deep glance at the Shangguan estate before following Situ Xing away.

As they walked, Situ Xing exhaled heavily. A cold gleam flickered in his eyes.

“Hmph. That wastrel has finally left.”

“It is fortunate that it was this wastrel who ca. If it had been one of the other two princes, the matter of the Situ family colluding with the Heavenly Demon Sect might have been exposed.”

His voice was low, tinged with relief.

The Heavenly Demon Sect’s havoc within the imperial capital naturally required the covert support of another great power.

That power was the Situ family.

Fortunately, the one dispatched had been the Third Prince, Chu Feng. With beauty and indulgence alone, he could be easily led in circles.

Yet after only a few days, he had returned directly to the palace.

Still, Situ Xing felt a trace of regret.

He had hoped to pin the cri of colluding with the Heavenly Demon Sect onto the Shangguan family—but the plan had failed.

Just then, Uncle Wang, walking behind him, continued reflecting on Chu Feng. The more he thought, the more uneasy he felt.

“Young Master,” Uncle Wang said gravely, “that Third Prince is very wrong.”

Situ Xing snapped back to attention and looked at him.

“How so?”

“He was very tense. Moreover, the aura emanating from him was that of an ordinary man—completely different from the previous Third Prince.”

Uncle Wang’s gaze sharpened.

“The Third Prince may be indulgent, but he carries the bloodline of Great Chu’s imperial house—the descendants of the Chu Emperor who once swept across the world.”

“But the one we just saw felt entirely like a mortal.”

Situ Xing’s eyes narrowed.

He himself had not sensed this. First, his cultivation was inferior to Uncle Wang’s. Second, Uncle Wang’s cultivation thods and divine abilities were all related to discerning auras.

If Uncle Wang believed sothing was amiss, then it likely was.

“Uncle Wang, you an… he is not the Third Prince?” Situ Xing asked quietly.

If he was not—

Then where was the real Third Prince?

Could it be—

He had already t with misfortune?

At that thought, even Situ Xing felt a chill.

If a prince had co to harm, the entire Great Chu Dynasty would tremble. Countless heads would roll.

However, he quickly regained his composure. The matter was not yet confird. But since Uncle Wang harbored suspicion—

Situ Xing turned slightly and glanced back in the direction of the Shangguan estate.

A cold smile curved his lips.

“Uncle Wang, since you suspect it, then from now on, we shall keep a close watch on the Shangguan family.”

“If that Third Prince is an impostor, then the real one must have t with disaster—and the Shangguan family would certainly be involved.”

“We need only observe their movents. Shangguan Chengfeng dotes greatly on his two daughters. If those two won suddenly disappear, then there is definitely sothing amiss.”

To the outside world, Situ Xing appeared to be a frivolous wastrel. In truth, he was calculating and shrewd, with formidable cultivation—one of the leading figures of the younger generation. He rely concealed it deliberately.

Uncle Wang nodded in acknowledgnt and prepared to dispatch people to monitor the Shangguan estate.

Inside the Shangguan residence—

Shangguan Chengfeng led his two daughters into his study.

Though Chu Feng and Situ Xing had both been sent away, Shangguan Chengfeng’s heart remained heavy with worry.

If the truth were exposed and the imperial family’s wrath descended like thunder, everyone in the Shangguan family would be executed without exception.

As the head of the clan, he could not flee.

But he still had his two daughters.

His gaze fell upon them, filled with tenderness.

Just then—

With a rustle, a dark figure flashed inside.

A trusted subordinate of Shangguan Chengfeng entered the study, his tone grave.

“Patriarch, sothing is wrong! Several terrifying experts have suddenly appeared around the Shangguan estate. After careful observation, I discovered they are agents planted by the Situ family.”

“It seems they have already begun to suspect the authenticity of Chu Feng’s identity!”