I Am the Fated Villain Chapter 1270:

1631. Following his script, Chu Gucheng’s ruthless decision-making

The Imperial Capital of Xian Chu Haotu was left reeling after the shocking events that occurred at the Champion Marquis’ residence last night.

By dawn, a swarm of imperial guards and high-ranking generals had descended upon the estate to launch a formal inquiry. The residence was transformed into a scene of mourning, draped in white funereal silk, while the children of the Marquis wore expressions of profound grief and indignation.

An incident of this magnitude naturally ignited a firestorm of fury and trepidation throughout the city. People wondered how a thief could possess such audacity to commit murder on the very day of the sovereign Chu Gucheng’s birthday celebration.

Panic gripped many ministers, who feared that a rival power of Xian Chu Haotu had launched a covert strike to sow chaos while the Champion Marquis was away commanding the front lines. Others whispered that the culprit might be a guest, given that the capital was currently teeming with various Sects and factions, some of whom surely harbored hidden agendas.

In response, Chu Gucheng moved swiftly, ordering an investigation into the movements of every guest from the previous night. The Imperial Capital was placed under total lockdown. Magnificent, shimmering formations ascended from the city walls like a radiant canopy, casting a brilliant glow over the sky.

Ancient runes pulsed within these layers of light, vibrating with a terrifying power that made onlookers tremble with awe.

Deep within the palace halls at that moment, Chu Gucheng’s face was a mask of fury. His hands were clenched so tightly beneath his royal sleeves that his body shook with suppressed rage.

Kneeling before him was Chu Wushang. Looking like a man who had lost his very soul, the prince was pale and broken, his spirit utterly crushed.

“You… you unfilial son! Are you trying to bring about my ruin with this?”

Chu Gucheng spoke through gritted teeth, the words practically hissed.

For a moment, he felt the urge to strike him, but he could not bring himself to harm his own child. He had invested too much hope in this son over the years to destroy him now.

“Father, just kill me. I am truly sorry. I have failed you and betrayed every hope you placed in me. I am a total disappointment,” Chu Wushang murmured, his voice hollow as he remained prostrate.

His eyes were vacant, resembling those of a walking corpse. Standing behind the ruler, the Law Saint manifested, his face etched with sorrow and helplessness.

Chu Wushang was the firstborn, the one Chu Gucheng had groomed for greatness. Having watched the boy grow into a man, the Law Saint viewed him almost as a grandson.

The Law Saint had even bestowed the name “Chu Wushang” upon him. Seeing the prince in this lifeless state—and considering the unthinkable acts he committed after the banquet—brought the Law Saint deep pain.

“...”

The Law Saint let out a heavy sigh, finding himself at a loss for words.

The atrocities committed at the Champion Marquis’ residence could not be hidden for long, especially since Chu Wushang had made no attempt to cover his tracks. Any diligent investigator could trace the evidence back to him with ease.

If the truth came to light, the fallout would be catastrophic. Not only would Chu Wushang be destroyed, but the entire royal lineage of Xian Chu Haotu would be dragged into the mud.

His prestige would be annihilated before the eyes of every distinguished guest in the capital. What would the world say if it were revealed that the Crown Prince of Xian Chu Haotu assaulted the wife of the Champion Marquis while the Marquis was shedding blood for the realm at the border?

The entire kingdom would become the laughingstock of every Sect and faction in existence.

Recognizing this, the Law Saint had immediately moved to obscure the evidence of the previous night. For now, the truth remained buried. He had intended to discuss this with Chu Gucheng privately this morning, but Chu Wushang had already confessed, begging his father for a death sentence to appease the public.

This display of despair only deepened the Law Saint’s heartache.

Chu Wushang had always been seen as a steady, responsible man. The Law Saint could only assume that a moment of blinding rage had caused him to act without reason. Yet, it was shocking that after all these years, Chu Wushang’s obsession had festered into a demonic thought within his heart.

“How am I supposed to resolve this mess you’ve created...?”

Chu Gucheng felt a wave of immense grief as he looked at his son’s broken form. But the damage was done.

With a heavy sigh, Chu Gucheng closed his eyes and turned away. His knuckles were white with tension beneath his imperial robes.

Suddenly, an announcement came from outside the chamber.

“Your Majesty, Old Fu requests an audience.”

Though confused by the timing, Chu Gucheng granted him entry.

“Your Majesty, this old servant has failed you and the First Prince. I should never have spoken those words to him last night...”

Before he even entered the room, Old Fu’s voice rang out, thick with tears and sorrow.

Chu Gucheng turned around to see Old Fu staggering in, his wrinkled face wet with tears of regret and self-reproach.

Initially, Chu Gucheng was baffled. However, as Old Fu explained how he had followed the First Prince after the banquet—noticing his melancholy state—the ruler’s expression shifted drastically.

He realized what had transpired.

“So, you revealed the truth of the past to Wushang?”

Chu Gucheng exhaled slowly, his gaze turning cold. His youngest son, Chu Xiao, had already perished due to this man’s negligence. Now, Old Fu’s words had driven his eldest son to ruin.

“Your Majesty, I am truly sorry. I should have kept my mouth shut...”

Old Fu sobbed, kneeling and striking his head against the floor repeatedly in a plea for forgiveness.

“I only suspected the First Prince’s involvement this morning after hearing the news from the Champion Marquis’ residence.”

He went on to explain the events of the night with profound remorse. Knowing that Chu Wushang still carried a grudge regarding Qing Lan and the Champion Marquis, Old Fu had been unable to watch him suffer and told him the truth.

Qing Lan hadn’t been forced to marry Chu Heng by Chu Gucheng’s hand. Instead, she had personally petitioned the ruler to arrange the union. Chu Gucheng had never intended to separate the lovers; he simply kept the truth hidden to prevent Chu Wushang from resenting the Marquis, whom he hoped would become the prince’s greatest ally.

Old Fu only wanted to clear the air and remove the First Prince’s obsession, but he never anticipated such a violent reaction.

Chu Gucheng remained stoic, though a sigh escaped him. He knew Old Fu’s intentions had been pure.

“Father, do not blame Old Fu. I alone am responsible for my actions. I will accept the consequences. He only spoke for my benefit,” Chu Wushang said, finally looking up to defend the old servant.

His mind was still clouded, struggling to process the weight of the situation. Regardless of the reasons, the crime was committed. Regret was a useless emotion now.

He realized he had been far too impulsive. He had disgraced the kingdom and endangered Old Fu. Yet, he still couldn't fathom why he had lost control so completely last night, as if an internal demon had been commanding his every move.

The pain and anger of years had erupted at once. He remembered confronting Qing Lan, demanding to know why she had asked his father for the marriage.

Her response had been devastatingly calm. She told him she had genuinely fallen in love with Chu Heng and wished to spend her life with him. While she had feelings for Chu Wushang in their youth, her heart eventually shifted toward the Marquis.

She admitted she had struggled to choose between the two of them back then, but during the years Chu Wushang was away from the capital, her bond with Chu Heng solidified as he rose to glory.

“I knew I owed you an apology all these years. But you avoided me, so I could never say it. I am actually glad you came tonight so I could finally tell you. I am sorry. I was young and indecisive, and I didn't reject you clearly enough back then, which caused you pain.”

“But I truly cherished your feelings. I didn't want to hurt anyone. Is that so wrong? Yet you treated me like a stranger for years, harboring such resentment...”

Qing Lan had looked at him with a mix of sorrow and faint bitterness, appearing relieved to finally have the burden off her chest.

Chu Wushang had simply stared at her before breaking into a chilling laugh.

So that was it. She didn't care about her betrayal; she only cared that he had dared to blame her for it.

In her mind, she was innocent, and he was the one in the wrong.

“If I had to choose again, I would do the same thing. I was so blind to ever care for a woman like her,” Chu Wushang whispered to himself, a flash of murderous intent returning to his eyes.

The memory of last night struck a raw nerve. For years, he had blamed his father for their separation, believing himself too weak to protect her. Now he saw he was merely a fool, dancing like a puppet.

“...”

“Rise, Old Fu. This is not your burden to carry.”

Chu Gucheng felt a pang of sympathy for the old man who had served him since childhood. Old Fu had protected him from clan bullies when he was young, and despite the tragedy with Chu Xiao, his loyalty was unquestionable.

“Your Majesty, I am the one who misled the First Prince. I am willing to take the fall for last night. I am old and expendable, but the First Prince has a future. Let me take the scandal upon myself,” Old Fu begged, his forehead bloody from striking the floor.

The Law Saint and Chu Gucheng were both moved by this display of devotion.

“Old Fu, it was my hand that did the deed. I will not let you take the blame,” Chu Wushang insisted, attempting to help the old man up.

“Enough. It was only Qing Lan. If her death allows my son to conquer his Dantian’s inner demons and regain his focus, then it is a price worth paying.”

Chu Gucheng’s voice turned icy as he made his decision. “My master has already wiped away the traces of last night. Not even a Great Luo Golden Immortal could find the truth now.”

“Wushang, do not worry. I will not let a single woman stain your legacy. You have never failed me, and I will not punish you for this. Her death was her own doing.”

Chu Gucheng waved his hand dismissively. “Everything is Karma. As for the Champion Marquis, I will handle him. Xian Chu Haotu is currently besieged by enemies. If I pin this on a foreign spy or a guest, he will have no choice but to accept it.”

“Father...”

Chu Wushang looked at the ruthless man before him, feeling a strange mixture of gratitude and chilling alienation.

“Chu Heng possesses the Yin-Yang Twin Jade, crafted into mandarin duck pendants. He likely left one with Qing Lan. They are connected; he might use the other to find clues,” Chu Gucheng noted, his brow furrowing.

The Marquis was still at the border. He could not be allowed to learn the truth. Since he couldn't return personally, he would surely send his most loyal men with the pendant to investigate.

“We must ensure his subordinates never reach the capital. Intercept them on the road,” Chu Gucheng ordered, his face hardening with cold resolve. Though he valued Chu Heng, he would sacrifice the man’s peace to protect the royal bloodline.

...

While the capital was in an uproar and the palace was being questioned, very little information was actually surfacing.

The Heart-Searching Stone of the kingdom was insufficient for probing the souls of those in the Dao realm, making it impossible to verify anyone’s testimony.

By the following morning, a steady stream of guests and officials visited the Marquis’ home to offer their respects. Meanwhile, Gu Changge sat peacefully in his courtyard, sipping tea and watching the bamboo sway. Before him hovered a mysterious ancient book wreathed in chaotic Qi and shifting Dao laws.

Wisps of dark smoke rose from the Book of Scavenging, forming a faint silhouette in the air. On the other side, a mass of black fog shaped itself into a miniature version of Old Fu, who bowed respectfully to report.

“Master, everything is proceeding according to your design. Last night was a success. Chu Gucheng has already sent his shadow guards to eliminate the Champion Marquis’ messengers before they can reach the city.”

“Furthermore, Chu Guch”