After hearing Nayan’s words, Natuo was so furious his teeth ground together in hatred.

Yet he exercised extreme restraint. He said, “Nayan, why bother with this act of truth and deception before me? You and I have been brothers for decades. If I couldn’t even see through these petty tricks of yours, wouldn’t I have lived all these years in vain? Today’s situation was clearly designed by you for me to fall into, all to make me lose face before Father King and create an opening for yourself! Your methods are truly masterful—I must admire them!”

“You flatter me.”

“You’re nothing but a scoundrel reveling in success.”

Nayan raised his eyebrows slightly. “Atuo, even if I admit to being a scoundrel, I still need something to exploit. If you weren’t so incompetent that you failed to capture the assassin and got injured instead, where would I find the opportunity to play the scoundrel?”

These words left Natuo with no response.

A scoundrel seizing opportunities!

And he himself had opened that door.

Seeing that Natuo’s veins were already bulging with rage, Nayan continued to test the limits of his patience. “Although you grew up at Father King’s side and are deeply beloved by him, don’t forget—this magnificent empire isn’t something you wait for, but something you fight for!”

Fight!

He emphasized this word heavily.

All these years, he had campaigned north and south, relying on the blade and sword in his hands—on real ability.

But Natuo had spent his days confined to the palace and Gaoding City.

Like a flower in a greenhouse!

Compared to him, it was undoubtedly like an egg striking a stone.

The fury in Natuo’s heart was already surging like torrential waters, about to overflow.

He clenched his fists in anger.

After a moment, he suddenly laughed, his face full of contempt. “Yes, you’re right! A magnificent empire is indeed fought for! But…” He paused slightly. “Have you ever heard a saying? ‘The empire returns to its rightful master!'”

“…”

“I am born of the legitimate Empress—I am the principal heir, while you are what’s called secondary-born! In Huyi, since ancient times, the secondary-born serve as ministers. Only the worthy are established, never as king. And what Father King values most is legitimate bloodline. Moreover, I grew up at Father King’s side and deeply understand his heart. So no matter how much you scheme and plot against me, in the end… you can only become a minister who guards the empire for the emperor.”

Natuo’s eyes grew fierce.

Each word struck at the vital point!

Nayan’s face darkened.

In this lifetime, his only weakness was his status as secondary-born.

He resented it!

Resented that he wasn’t born to the Empress, resented that his maternal clan was undistinguished.

But the facts were already determined—beyond his control.

Having successfully turned the tables on Nayan, Natuo felt considerably more at ease. He then took another step closer, leaning toward Nayan’s ear to add, “Nayan, you’d better remember—today you may have gotten the better of me before Father King, but someday, I can repay you double.”

Invisibly, a smokeless war had already begun between the two.

Nayan’s hand inside his robe clenched into a fist. He narrowed his eyes, turned his head, and replied in Natuo’s ear.

“I’ll be waiting!”

Leaving these three words, he turned and walked away.

Watching that retreating figure, the fury in Natuo’s heart also subsided considerably.

Just as he was about to leave as well—

Li Qiao emerged from within the hall.

“Third Prince.”

He called out just in time.

Natuo turned back. “Minister Li?”

A respectful address!

Li Qiao was the son of the Marquis of Pingyang. Like his father, he secretly supported Natuo’s claim, so this relationship was openly acknowledged.

The two were friends, not enemies!

Moreover, Li Qiao was perhaps an even more useful chess piece than the Marquis of Pingyang and Chancellor Gong Zuo.

After all, he was closest to the King of Huyi!

The two then went to the corridor on the left side of the great hall.

No one was around.

Only then did Li Qiao warn, “Your Highness must be more careful from now on.”

“You mean what happened in the hall just now?”

“Yes.”

“I didn’t expect to be set up by Nayan either, but even if he wins this moment, he can’t win forever.”

“Even so, Your Highness should still be careful. Fortunately, the Great King did not pursue the matter.” Li Qiao asked again, “However, how are Your Highness’s injuries?”

Natuo let out a heavy sound, covering his injured arm, then opened his palm.

Two obvious wounds were still visible.

They had already scabbed over.

“Your Highness?” Li Qiao was very worried at the sight.

“Don’t worry, it’s fine now.” Natuo closed his palm tightly.

“What exactly happened with that assassin?”

“I’m not entirely clear either. That night he was masked—I couldn’t see his face. Judging from his skills, he was a master. I had my household guards search all night, but found no clues whatsoever. Because I didn’t want the matter to reach Father King’s ears, I didn’t continue the investigation.”

Li Qiao’s mind was meticulous, so naturally he thought more deeply. He analyzed Natuo’s words in his mind.

After pondering for a long while, he said, “Since Your Highness has already sealed off the news, and only those close to you should know about your injury, how did it reach the Second Prince’s ears?”

“You mean?”

“This minister fears… walls have ears!”

Walls have ears!

Those four words were rather chilling.

Natuo’s brows furrowed high. Stunned for a moment, he came to his senses and said, “So you suspect that beside me… there are people planted by Nayan?”

“This minister only suspects. In any case, Your Highness must be careful in all matters.”

If Li Qiao hadn’t said this, Natuo wouldn’t have thought in this direction at all. Now reminded, he deeply felt there was much substance to this matter.

Could it be… there really was a spy among those close to him?

…

After this invisible storm in the palace concluded, it was already the end of the hour of chen.

The sky began to snow lightly again.

Snowflakes spun as they drifted lightly down to the ground.

Layer upon layer covering everything.

The accumulated snow grew deeper and deeper.

Ji Yinshu sat in the room, one hand propping up her chin, her gaze falling outside the door, staring entranced at the falling snowflakes.

A smile gradually emerged at the corners of her mouth.

She loved snow, and even more loved watching snowflakes gradually cover the blue stone tiles.

Cold wind blew outside.

Occasionally snowflakes entered, dampening the area before the threshold.

After a long while, she rose to her feet, stepped out the door, and stood under the eaves hung with icicles, looking up at the densely falling snowflakes.

She became increasingly entranced—

Her petite, upright figure stood straight, dressed in elegant men’s clothing, hair arranged in a high topknot with a simple but refined hairpin inserted, her lips curved in a smile, her face flushed, those long lashes rising with the wind, lightly brushing her eyelids—beautiful as an immortal.

This version of her was more handsome than any man!

More captivating than any precious object.

Like a mesmerizing winter scene.

Simply standing there was enough to make it impossible to look away.

Suddenly—

A cloak fell upon her shoulders.

Warmth also transmitted from her shoulders and back.

She first glanced to the side and saw a strong, powerful hand.

Following it upward with her gaze, she met Jingrong’s alluring yet melancholic eyes.

The two, their gazes locked!

White snow danced before them.