The ladder to heaven.

Chu Lan’s expression shifted under the dim lamp.

Whether because a veil had been subtly lifted or because his initial shock had passed, Chu Lan felt his mind grow calmer.

After all, he wasn’t entirely inexperienced! He was well-read, familiar with the bloody storms of history in scholarly texts!

He picked up his teacup and sighed: “Young Master jests. How could a family like ours have any ladder to heaven?”

Xiao Xun smiled: “Mr. Chu, your family’s current status was obtained through such a ladder. Otherwise, how could you be sitting comfortably at home today, in harmony with your wife, with children free from worry, content with modest prosperity?”

Chu Lan grew somewhat angry: “I don’t understand what Young Master is saying. I, Chu Lan, have never committed any crimes. Can’t I even live as a common citizen? Must I be denied a normal life in others’ eyes just because of my brother?”

With that, he set his teacup down heavily on the table.

Xiao Xun said: “Whether you can or cannot, you know perfectly well in your heart. Besides, Mr. Chu, is your current life truly the one you desire?”

He also set his teacup on the table, gently and soundlessly, yet Chu Lan’s heart trembled.

“When your brother was in his prime, you were eclipsed in others’ eyes. When people saw you, they only referred to you as Chu Li’s elder brother. Even if you were a scholar of immense learning and talent, it was useless.”

“When your brother fell from grace, you were seen as his accomplice in others’ eyes, enduring contempt and humiliation. Your extensive knowledge and multifaceted talents remained useless.”

“Mr. Chu, in the eyes of the world, you will forever be just ‘Mr. Chu’ or ‘Elder Brother Chu.’ No one remembers your name.”

“My visit today, as well as my previous visits, were all because of Chu Li. Surely Mr. Chu doesn’t believe I came out of admiration for your scholarship?”

Chu Lan’s face alternated between red and white. The scholar’s pride within him could no longer endure. He stood up: “If that’s the case, Young Master, please leave. I, Chu Lan, dare not accept your excessive favor.”

Xiao Xun smiled: “Don’t be angry, Mr. Chu. The truth and reality are always hurtful.”

Chu Lan sneered: “I, Chu Lan, am ill-fated and deserve such humiliation.”

Xiao Xun spoke slowly: “Mr. Chu is not ill-fated. After all, you and Chu Li are brothers born of the same parents, raised in the same environment. You pursued a scholarship while he trained in martial arts. He has courage and strategy; you are an heir to the scholarly tradition. He accomplished great deeds; you founded a school and taught students. He has immediate fame, while you have the merit of educating generations that will last centuries. Your brothers each have their strengths. How can you say you’re ill-fated?”

Chu Lan was not unaccustomed to praise. He turned his head and said calmly: “Young Master flatters me. I don’t deserve such praise.”

“But even good fortune is useless,” Xiao Xun said. “You still end up in your current state—ignored by all, even reduced to living in secret shame.”

“Young Master, have you come tonight to protect me or to take my life?” Chu Lan angrily tapped the table. “If I’m already living in such a pitiful state, please just leave me be.”

Xiao Xun laughed heartily, then said meaningfully: “Mr. Chu now dares to pound the table before me. Your fortunes have changed.”

A flash of unease crossed Chu Lan’s eyes. He lowered his gaze and bowed: “Young Master, Chu Lan thanks you for coming to protect him. However, Chu Lan knows his unworthiness. Please have mercy on me.”

Xiao Xun said: “I hadn’t finished speaking earlier. You are not ill-fated; you simply never encountered a ladder to heaven. Chu Li met His Majesty and ascended in one step. From then on, you could only remain beneath him. No matter what you did, you could never surpass his brilliance.”

Chu Lan clenched his hand, raised his head, and sighed: “That is still bad fortune. Thank you, Young Master. This matter—”

“But now you have this opportunity,” Xiao Xun interrupted, looking at him. “Do you want to step onto this ladder to heaven?”

Under the dim lamp, the young man’s eyes gazed deeply at him, seemingly peering into his heart. Chu Lan couldn’t help but clench his hands tightly, forcing a smile: “What are you saying, Young Master? I don’t understand. Ah, with the world in such chaos, what ladder to heaven are you talking about?”

Xiao Xun smiled and withdrew his piercing gaze, lowering his eyes to look at his own hands, gently stroking them.

“The Crown Prince is dead,” he said.

Chu Lan let out a startled sound, his voice trembling: “This, this—”

“The Third Prince likely won’t survive either,” Xiao Xun continued. “Even if he does, His Majesty won’t let him become Crown Prince. His Majesty is like that—when affectionate, he indulges without restraint; when heartless, he doesn’t even recognize his flesh and blood.”

Chu Lan’s throat went dry: “Ah, this— Someone of my humble station—”

He wanted to say that such matters were not for a commoner like him to discuss.

Xiao Xun interrupted again, looking up at him: “Mr. Chu, do you think I could become the Crown Prince?”

Chu Lan looked at him in shock, this time unable to make even the slightest sound.

“Oh, that’s not right. The Crown Prince’s son is still alive,” Xiao Xun said, looking at Chu Lan with a slight smile. “With him around, I cannot become Crown Prince.”

Those words hit like a fist. Chu Lan couldn’t bear it anymore and stepped back twice.

He knew things couldn’t be that simple.

He knew that Chu Li would certainly bring trouble.

Heavens, he was truly going to be ruined by Chu Li.

Chu Lan stood frozen like a wooden post, his mind in chaos yet somehow blank.

The room was completely silent. No one burst in with flashing swords and flying blood.

The young heir sat calmly, pouring tea for himself and Chu Lan.

“Mr. Chu,” he said, “please sit down and talk.”

Chu Lan was stunned. To sit or not to sit—could he even make that decision himself anymore? He sat down mechanically.

“Mr. Chu, drink your tea,” Xiao Xun said.

Chu Lan picked up the tea and took a sip. What should he do? What could he do? He didn’t want to die—

Seeing this man revert to his earlier disheartened state, no longer stern-faced or pounding the table, Xiao Xun smiled: “Mr. Chu is different from Chu Li—”

Now, hearing these words, Chu Lan wasn’t angry at all. He murmured: “Yes, I’m different from him. I’m not as good as him. I know nothing of his affairs—”

Xiao Xun interrupted him: “What I mean is, you’re different from Chu Li. Chu Li is about to die, while you, Mr. Chu, will live for a long time.”

Chu Lan was startled. What did that mean? Did it mean he wouldn’t be killed?

“Young Master—” he called out, but hesitated, swallowing some words.

His hesitation wasn’t out of loyalty, but out of fear—speaking meant death, not speaking also meant death. He didn’t want to die, so now he could only pretend to be dead.

Xiao Xun didn’t mind his hesitation. Instead, he raised his hand gently to stop him: “Mr. Chu, you don’t need to speak yet. Listen to what I have to say first, and afterward, you can judge whether I’m right or wrong.”

He was to judge whether Xiao Xun was right or wrong? Chu Lan was even more confused.

“I said earlier that the Crown Prince is dead, the Third Prince is ruined, and the Crown Prince’s son is only six years old this year. He is of the Crown Prince’s bloodline, the natural heir, but His Majesty has neglected court affairs for many years, and his health is poor. An elderly, frail emperor and a young heir—is this good for the Great Xia?”

“Will the realm become peaceful because of this, or will it fall into greater chaos?”

“Mr. Chu, as a scholarly man well-versed in history, you surely have your judgment.”

Chu Lan remained silent. Even if he weren’t well-read, he would know how to judge after hearing these words. He wasn’t a fool.

Xiao Xun didn’t press him for an immediate answer.

“Now, regarding you, Mr. Chu. As I said earlier, my ability to enter the Chu residence and speak with you is not because of you, Mr. Chu, but because of Chu Li.” He looked at Chu Lan with a meaningful smile. “As it is with me, so it is with others.”

Chu Lan lowered his gaze even further, like an old monk in deep meditation, listening as Xiao Xun’s voice slowly continued.

“Therefore, whatever Mr. Chu does now will only be attributed to Chu Li’s power and merit, having nothing to do with you, Mr. Chu.”

“I said earlier that Chu Li is different from you. Chu Li is about to die, while you, Mr. Chu, will live for a long time.”

“So how does Mr. Chu, who will live for a long time, wish to live? Like now—nameless, obscure, merely surviving in shame?”

“Or—”

Xiao Xun’s voice paused, and he offered a cup of tea before Chu Lan’s eyes.

“Step onto the ladder to heaven with me, together, to the gates of heaven.”

Step onto the ladder to heaven together?

Together, to the gates of heaven?

Chu Lan raised his head to look at Xiao Xun.

He seemed to understand yet not understand. His heart pounded.

He heard his voice, trembling, hoarse, respectful: “Chu Lan doesn’t quite understand Young Master’s meaning.”