Chapter 290 - A clash

Chapter 290: Chapter 290 - A clash

The news must have spread quickly, because before long, the Emperor himself came down from the castle, followed closely by Dican, both coming to welcome the returning Crown Prince.

The moment Celaus’s eyes landed on his younger brother, his expression changed slightly.

He frowned.

"Dican..."

His sharp eyes moved over his brother from head to toe. He noticed immediately that Dican had lost weight. His once-bright blond hair had faded to a pale shade, and there was something strangely lifeless about his appearance.

"You’ve lost some weight," Celaus said, his voice carrying a trace of concern. "Have you been well, brother?"

Dican simply smiled and nodded.

"I’m good."

Celaus’s brows drew together.

That answer alone was unusual.

The Dican he remembered had been overflowing with energy. He would have been jumping around, talking endlessly, teasing his brothers, or doing something completely ridiculous just to make everyone laugh.

This man standing before him was different. He... he seemed too cold.

Celaus studied him for another moment, a strange uneasiness settling in his chest.

What happened during these five years?

What could have possibly made Dican change so much?

Before he could ask anything else, the Emperor stepped forward.

"Welcome back, my son."

He opened his arms and pulled Celaus into a warm embrace.

Celaus returned the gesture briefly before stepping back and bowing respectfully.

"Father, I have great news. I have completed my mission."

The Emperor’s expression immediately brightened.

But beside Dican, Bian froze. His fingers tightened. "What..." His voice came out quieter than he intended. "What do you mean?"

Celaus glanced toward him.

A small grin appeared on his face.

"I found the missing prince."

The words struck Bian like a blade.

The Emperor’s face lit up with joy.

"Wonderful!" he exclaimed. "Our family is finally together again."

He happily patted his eldest son’s shoulders, his expression filled with relief after years of uncertainty.

But Bian heard almost nothing.

His mind had gone completely blank.

No.

His heart began hammering against his ribs.

No, no way.

He stared at Celaus as though waiting for him to laugh and admit it was some kind of misunderstanding.

He can’t be here.

He couldn’t have survived.

He couldn’t still be alive.

Then movement caught his attention.

Two more figures descended from the ship.

Bian’s gaze immediately snapped toward them.

Xing Yu stepped down first, his arms wrapped protectively around a young man with blond hair.

Bian’s breath escaped him in quiet relief.

Blond.

His tense shoulders loosened slightly.

That’s not him.

Jian had black hair just like him. The person standing beside Xing Yu couldn’t possibly be Jian. Perhaps they had found someone else. Perhaps the Crown Prince had simply made a mistake.

Bian almost smiled.

He doesn’t even look like—

His thoughts abruptly stopped.

The young man lifted his head.

Their eyes met.

Everything inside Bian went cold.

The familiar face he had once known as a small, delicate boy had changed over the years. His features had matured, his face slightly longer now, and the softness of his chubby cheeks had disappeared. His jaw had become more defined, his features sharper, almost sculpted.

He was beautiful.

Strikingly so.

A brilliant green gem rested between his brows, glowing faintly against his skin.

But none of that mattered.

It was those eyes.

Those unmistakable, glaring eyes.

Bian knew them.

There was no mistaking them.

His breath caught painfully in his throat.

Jian. His body instinctively faltered, and he took a step backward.

It’s him.

It’s really him.

The boy he had believed was dead.

The person whose life he had stolen.

The one person who could expose everything.

Bian’s face went pale.

Before his panic could become visible to everyone, Dican’s arm moved around him, pulling him close.

Bian immediately leaned into the familiar embrace, using it to steady himself while his mind raced.

Calm down.

His fingers curled tightly into Dican’s clothes.

I’m not that helpless human anymore. His eyes flickered toward Jian. I’m a prince consort now.

He forced himself to breathe.

He had status.

Influence.

Jian might have returned, but he couldn’t simply destroy everything Bian had built.

Bian swallowed hard, forcing the trembling from his body and carefully rebuilding the sweet expression on his face.

What can he possibly do to me now?

Jian walked straight toward Bian, completely ignoring the Emperor and the rest of the royal family around him.

His eyes were fixed only on the man standing beside Dican.

"Where is my grandfather?"

Bian blinked.

His heart thudded violently against his chest, but his expression remained frozen for only a second before he quickly replaced it with one of surprise.

"Jian..." he murmured, his voice soft. "It’s so great to see you. I’m glad you survived."

"Cut the bullshit!"

Jian’s voice echoed through the courtyard.

Everyone around them fell silent.

His eyes were cold as he stepped closer.

"Where is my grandfather?" he demanded. "I know he came with you on that ship. Where is he?"

Bian’s face immediately turned pale.

"I... I don’t understand what you mean." His eyes slowly became wet. "Our grandfather... he disappeared."

Bian lowered his head, looking almost heartbroken.

"I tried to find him. I really did." His voice trembled. "I sent people to look for him. I searched for him myself, but..." He swallowed, tears slipping down his cheeks. "There was no trace of him."

"You’re lying..."

"I’m not."

Bian looked up at him with tears filling his eyes.

"Jian, why would I lie to you about something like this? I know how much your grandfather means to you. I would never want you to suffer."

That last sentence only made Jian’s anger burn hotter.

"You expect me to believe you? What did you do with him!"

Jian’s voice dropped dangerously low.

Bian flinched.

"I really don’t know where he is..."

"Enough!"

Jian’s fist swung before anyone could react.

Bang!

His fist struck Bian across the face.

Bian staggered backward, blood appearing at the corner of his mouth.

The entire courtyard erupted into chaos.

"Bian!" Dican immediately moved forward, catching Bian before he could fall. "Are you alright?"

Bian touched his bleeding lip with trembling fingers. His eyes filled with tears as he looked at Dican. "Dican..."

The soft, wounded voice made Dican’s expression darken. "Why did you attack my mate?"

Jian’s eyes narrowed. "Your mate?"

He looked at Bian with disgust. "He is lying to you."

"Jian, enough!" Dican stepped between them. "Bian has done nothing to you."

Jian’s fists clenched. "You really believe him?"

"I know my mate."

Jian laughed coldly. "You don’t know him at all."

He moved forward again.

Dican immediately raised his arm to stop him.

Jian’s eyes flashed. He was already furious, and seeing Dican protect Bian only made the anger inside him explode. "You’re protecting him?"

His power surged.

The air around him trembled.

Bian instinctively took a step backward, but a tiny smile almost appeared beneath his tears.

Yes fight and kill him Dican!

"Jian!"

Xing Yu’s voice cut through the chaos.

But Jian had already drawn his sword.

The sharp sound of metal leaving its sheath rang across the courtyard.

Dican’s expression changed instantly.

The two blades collided.

Clang!

The impact sent a sharp metallic sound through the courtyard.

Jian attacked first.

His sword swept toward Dican’s shoulder, but Dican twisted aside and blocked the strike. Jian immediately turned his wrist and changed direction, bringing the blade upward toward Dican’s chest.

Dican stepped back just in time.

The blade sliced through a strand of his pale blond hair.

"Jian, stop!" Dican shouted.

"Get out of my way!"

Jian swung again.

This time Dican met the strike head-on.

Their swords crashed together, sparks flying from the collision.

Dican’s strength forced Jian back several steps, but Jian quickly steadied himself and rushed forward again.

His movements were fast.

Much faster than Dican expected.

Jian ducked beneath a sweeping strike, spun around, and brought his sword toward Dican’s side.

Dican blocked it with his own blade.

The force of the impact pushed both of them apart.

Before either could attack again, a figure suddenly moved between them.

Xing Yu. His sword flashed as he intercepted Jian’s next strike.

Clang!

Jian’s eyes widened. "Xing Yu?"

"Enough." Xing Yu stood firmly between Jian and Dican, his cold eyes fixed on him. "Move."

"No."

Jian’s anger flared. "He is protecting that bastard! He.... I don’t know what he did to my grandpa!" His voice cracked.

Tears welled up in his eyes before he could stop them, blurring his vision as he tried desperately to hold them back.

"My grandpa came here with them," Jian continued, his breathing becoming uneven. "He was supposed to be safe. He was supposed to be here when I came back."

His fingers trembled around the sword. "But now he’s gone."

A tear slipped down his cheek.

Jian quickly wiped it away with the back of his hand, looking almost angry at himself for crying in front of everyone.

Bian lowered his eyes, allowing his tears to fall freely. He looked hurt, frightened, and completely innocent in front of everyone. "I really don’t know where he is," he whispered.

Jian’s eyes reddened. "Shut up!"

Xing Yu could see the pain behind Jian’s anger. He knew how much his grandfather meant to him, and he also knew that Jian wasn’t thinking clearly anymore. If he allowed him to attack Dican again, the situation would become impossible to control.

"Listen to me," Xing Yu said quietly. "We will find your grandfather. But you cannot lose control here."