“Too hasty?” After careful consideration, Xiao Changying also felt it was a bit rushed as if the Crown Prince couldn’t wait to create an opportunity to eliminate all threatening individuals. “Brother, His Highness the Crown Prince is already twenty-three this year…”

There were rumors outside that the Crown Prince wouldn’t live past twenty-four years. They had always thought it was a rumor spread by the Crown Prince himself to maintain a low profile for protection. But how could their Emperor be so perceptive? If these rumors were groundless, why would His Majesty take no action?

So… the Crown Prince truly wouldn’t live past twenty-four years. This explained his current actions reasonably and logically.

His younger brother’s expression was extremely complex, showing both joy and worry.

Xiao Changqin could understand his current thoughts. He was pleased that something was wrong with the Crown Prince, giving him perhaps a chance to fulfill his wishes, though the opportunity was extremely small. His worry stemmed from the possibility that Shen Xihe might not be indifferent to the Crown Prince – after all, the Crown Prince had paved such a path for her. Even a stone would warm up after being held for so long. If so, the Crown Prince’s death would cause her pain.

“The Crown Princess must have feelings for the Crown Prince,” Xiao Changqin had to pour cold water on his brother, making him face reality soberly.

Noticing Xiao Changying’s slightly stiffened body, Xiao Changqin spoke deliberately: “The Crown Prince has always been far-sighted. If he had known early about his short lifespan, our imperial family wouldn’t be as peaceful as it is now. This battle coming so hurriedly can only mean the Crown Prince has recently accepted his fate of a short life.

At this moment, the Crown Prince has abandoned the Xiao family, focusing solely on paving the way for the Crown Princess. They’ve been married for nearly three years – if the Crown Princess hadn’t been moved at all, the Crown Prince wouldn’t have gone this far.”

No one understood better than him the bone-deep, heart-piercing pain of loving someone deeply, yearning for even the slightest response from them, be it just a glance or a fleeting smile.

Xiao Changying clenched his jaw, remaining silent.

Seemingly blind to his resistance, Xiao Changqin continued: “The Crown Princess must have known early that the Crown Prince wasn’t destined for longevity. She resolutely married into the Eastern Palace for the sake of legitimate succession, to avoid the pain of spousal conflict later. The Crown Princess is someone who values national affairs over personal relationships.

Even if she didn’t have feelings for him, which she does now, she wouldn’t marry again after the Crown Prince’s death.”

Therefore, you’d better kill that hope early.

Xiao Changqin didn’t want his brother to harbor unrealistic fantasies, just as he once did. It was precisely because his fantasies were too beautiful that he exhausted himself trying to grasp them, like a flying kite – the harder he pulled, the less control he had. In the end, his joyful expectations were shattered, leaving him unable to accept it and regretting it for life.

“She wants to seize that position. If the Crown Prince dies, how can she compete?” Xiao Changying refused to give up.

Xiao Changqin gave a light laugh: “The Crown Prince is still alive. They will have offspring sooner or later, or perhaps… the Eastern Palace already has good news.”

Xiao Changying’s face turned pale as he pressed his lips together in emotional resistance: “Even if she’s pregnant, how can you be certain it will be a prince!”

“It will be a prince.” Xiao Changqin spoke with absolute certainty, emphasizing each word.

For others, it might be a fifty-fifty chance, but when it came to Shen Xihe, any child she bore would be a prince. Even if it weren’t real, the Crown Prince would arrange a switch.

“The Crown Prince, he…” Xiao Changying understood Xiao Changqin’s implied meaning and was shocked. He couldn’t process or accept this fact.

Blood inheritance and imperial legitimacy were of utmost importance, yet Xiao Huayong would risk mixing the imperial bloodline just for Shen Xihe!

“This is why he could move the Crown Princess’s heart.” Xiao Changqin delivered another heavy blow to Xiao Changying.

Xiao Changying completely crumpled at this. His eyes moved aimlessly, his mind in chaos.

To be fair, having never faced such a choice himself, he wasn’t sure if he could do what Xiao Huayong did when confronted with the situation. Such actions completely subverted his principles and etiquette, challenging his fundamental beliefs…

Seeing Xiao Changying’s lost state, Xiao Changqin patted his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze, sighed softly, and turned to leave with his hands behind his back.

In this matter, Xiao Changying had eagerly allowed himself to be used by Xiao Huayong. Given the Crown Prince’s honesty, he didn’t want to awkwardly pursue why the Crown Prince had manipulated Xiao Changying – if the Crown Prince had truly wanted to harm Xiao Changying, he wouldn’t have returned alive.

He had lost his desire for the throne. If Shen Xihe’s young son ascended the throne, he could peacefully withdraw from this circle of politics – a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Most importantly, not competing with Shen Xihe would prevent Xiao Changying from being caught in the middle.

Since this was the case, why not plan early to stabilize the situation? He could gain his freedom sooner.

Back in his study, Xiao Changqin wrote furiously, sending out sealed letters one after another. The next day, before dawn and morning court, news exploded in the capital about pirates massacring fishermen in the Min River.

Lights lit up in official residences one by one as civil and military officials hurriedly dressed in their court attire to attend the audience.

An entire village had been massacred, and the bloody memorial was presented to Emperor Youning, who flew into a rage. He ordered the Jiannan Military Commissioner and the defenders of Hanzhou and Yazhou to thoroughly investigate the matter, bypassing the South Shu Prince’s manor due to their mourning period.

Someone immediately proposed that since the pirates were rampant, they requested His Majesty to send troops to suppress them.

Emperor Youning accepted the suggestion and immediately named Xiao Changying, but Xiao Changqin responded: “Reporting to Your Majesty, the Ninth Prince was attacked last night upon returning home. His injuries are severe, and I haven’t had the chance to report this.”

“An attack on a prince in the capital?” Emperor Youning became more enraged. “The Department of Justice, investigate this thoroughly for me!”

The Minister of Justice accepted the order, and Xiao Changqin lowered his eyes as he returned to his position.

Since Xiao Changying had already been named, choosing another general at this point would seem inappropriate. Someone immediately stood up to propose Xiao Changyan to lead the troops. Xiao Changyan didn’t want to be this test stone, and his people argued strongly to decline him, but they couldn’t win against the political maneuvering of several factions. He was ultimately appointed commander by His Majesty, leading five thousand naval troops to Min Prefecture.

After the court dismissed, Xiao Changyan specifically stopped Xiao Changqin: “Fifth Brother’s wisdom surpasses others, but don’t become a weapon in others’ hands.”

Xiao Changqin slightly raised his eyes, his smile not reaching them, and gave a perfunctory bow: “Eighth Brother is brave and skilled in warfare, with elite troops and capable generals under his command. Your brother wishes you victory from afar, adding to your achievements.”

“Fifth Brother, three legs make a tripod stand firm, when the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold!” Xiao Changyan reminded him solemnly.

“Your brother isn’t as learned as Eighth Brother. I only know that one monk carries water to drink, two monks lift water to drink, three monks… have no water to drink.” Xiao Changqin gave a false smile. “Since there are too many people, causing everyone to go thirsty, someone shouldn’t exist, right, Eighth Brother?”

“It seems Fifth Brother has chosen his water carriers. This brother wishes you success in your endeavors.” Xiao Changyan laughed coldly.

“Eighth Brother should return victorious soon, otherwise your brother worries you’ll miss the opportunity to see…”

Xiao Changqin’s measured words made Xiao Changyan leave in anger.