Prince Xian’s Manor.

The wind and snow continued unabated, though not as severe as before. After gradually lessening somewhat, Jingxian emerged from the house and stood under the eaves, looking at the icicles hanging from the roof tiles—one after another, some long, some short, like sharp silver needles.

He seemed to be staring in a daze!

His eyes gradually becoming unfocused!

Not knowing how much time had passed, suddenly someone came to report, “Your Highness, Young Master Mo has sent a letter.”

Hmm?

His expression changed, furrowing slightly as he turned to receive the letter and opened it to look.

Asking him to meet at the horse grounds!

At a time like this?

Though the snow wasn’t heavy, it wasn’t light either!

He pondered for a moment in his heart but ultimately decided to go.

At the horse grounds.

He had just entered when he saw Muruo riding on horseback, circling around the vast horse grounds. At this moment the snow had lessened considerably. Muruo didn’t know how long he’d been there—his hair, clothes, and face were all covered with snowflakes. Despite this, it still couldn’t obscure his heroic and spirited appearance.

Muruo saw him and raised the riding crop in his hand, lightly flicking it once on the horse’s back.

The horse then walked in his direction.

Muruo smiled with a curl of his lips. “I’ve been waiting for you quite a while.”

Hmm?

“In this snowy weather, why did you ask me to come here?”

“Riding horses in heavy snow has a unique flavor.”

Jingxian was confused. At this moment, with Jingrong imprisoned in the great prison, how could Muruo still have the mood to ride horses here?

But ultimately he didn’t ask.

Muruo asked him, “Want to try?”

“Sure!” He readily agreed.

Immediately, someone prepared a good horse for him.

This wasn’t his first time riding. Back when he was still at the Eighth Prince’s manor, the Emperor had taken him riding a few times. It’s just that he had been quite young then and had forgotten all the techniques. Once on horseback he naturally became a novice, instinctively clenching his legs tight against the horse’s belly and wrapping the reins around his wrist twice.

Only then did he feel at ease!

All his actions were observed completely by Muruo.

“Afraid?” Muruo asked him.

“A little.” He smiled. Muruo said: “Actually, horses are naturally very gentle animals. There’s no distinction between good and bad, nor between fierce and docile. However, this all depends on whether they can meet a good horse trainer. If they can, they’ll become spirited warhorses galloping across battlefields, naturally excelling at charging into battle and killing enemies! But if they meet a poor trainer, even the best horse will become a proud and arrogant mount difficult to tame. They’re naturally unwilling to bow their heads, much less willing to submit beneath another’s control!”

His voice was warm and deep, yet clearly seemed to carry countless sharp swords, piercing one bloody and mangled.

Jingxian vaguely caught the meaning within, but on the surface he remained calm.

He even pretended not to understand, his face bearing a smile.

Your smile, still harmless and innocent!

Muruo then suddenly dismounted, took hold of Jingxian’s horse’s reins, and began slowly leading the horse forward.

One on horseback!

One leading the horse!

The cold wind was bone-piercing, blowing directly into the two men’s faces, even more brazenly drilling into their clothing, constantly “biting” at them! While leading the horse, Muruo said, “Back then, when my mother gave birth to me, it was a difficult labor and her life hung by a thread. But my father was wandering the martial world at the time and wasn’t home. Your mother consort and my father were fellow disciples. Your mother consort’s medical skills were no less than my father’s—she too could be called a miracle physician of her generation. If not for her, my mother would have died then and there, and I wouldn’t exist. Though my mother eventually passed away from illness, since I became aware, my father always told me that your mother consort was a benefactor to the Mo family. Even if it cost our lives, we must protect you all completely. After your mother consort died that year, you unfortunately fell ill. My father exhausted every effort trying to save you. Before he died, he gave me countless instructions that if one day he died, I should cure you in his place. All these years, heaven has finally not failed those with dedication—your illness has finally been cured.”

Jingxian couldn’t see his expression.

He only asked, “Why do you suddenly bring this up?”

“Just thought of it.”

“My mother consort owed your Mo family a debt, but your Mo family owes me a debt. Perhaps this is just fate.”

Muruo suddenly stopped.

Standing still in place.

“What’s wrong?” Jingxian asked.

Muruo turned around, looking at him very seriously, and said, “Jingxian, all these years I’ve always considered you a brother, exhausting every effort to treat your illness. You said you wanted to leave the palace, so I helped you by asking Miss Ji. In the end it was still Jingrong who petitioned the Emperor before you were allowed to leave the palace and enter court.”

“I should thank him for that.”

“From the beginning, he had no interest in the throne and even planned to hand it over to you. You should also be clear that Jingrong’s heart isn’t in politics. Sooner or later he’ll leave the capital with Miss Ji, and you are destined to be the future heir apparent.”

“Muruo, you…”

“I’m telling you all this hoping you’ll understand—Jingrong is not your enemy!”

Huh!

Jingxian nearly fell from his horse.

Fortunately he gripped the reins tightly in his hands.

Yet his face was deathly pale!

He pursed his lips for a long while. “What do you mean by this?”

Asked extremely softly!

Muruo’s face was cold as he raised his eyes, looking at his innocently feigned expression: “Jingrong is now imprisoned, bearing such serious charges. After the annual sacrifice, the Emperor will certainly deal with him. And the biggest beneficiary is you, isn’t it?”

Huh!

“You suspect me?” Jingxian glared slightly.

“I made a bet with myself initially. I bet on trusting you, because I thought I understood you. But actually I was wrong. It turns out trust of that kind doesn’t exist between you and me at all.” Muruo smiled bitterly and released the horse’s reins from his hand.

The horse seemed to break free from its restraints, its front hooves rising high.

“Neigh~”

Because of this, Jingxian fell hard from the horse’s back, extremely disheveled.

His face was a mess as he lay on the ground.

The attendant at the side saw this and immediately rushed over to help him up.

But—

“Get lost!” He rebuked sharply.

The attendant flinched and immediately stepped away.

He struggled to push himself up from the ground. His originally gentle and innocent eyes had completely disappeared. Finally revealing that cold, greedy appearance, he laughed coldly at Muruo before him.

Damn it!

Muruo grabbed his collar in one fist, angrily saying, “Jingxian, do you know what you’re doing? Why have you become like this? Why?”

Roaring in anger!

Jingxian curved his thin, cold, eerie lips and pushed him away, slightly raising his chin. “Muruo, if you must blame someone, blame heaven. Who told me to be born into an imperial family? From the day I was born, my fate was already decided. The struggle will never stop! Either you die or I perish. I have no choice.”

This was the real Jingxian!

The true him hidden beneath the sickly facade had finally torn off that false mask!

The disappointment in Muruo’s heart almost pervaded his entire body. That feeling tore apart his trust in Jingxian built up over many years—not a shred remained!

Speechless!

Still speechless!

Jingxian narrowed his eyes sinisterly. “Muruo, don’t blame me. This was also my only recourse. If I don’t eliminate Jingrong, even if I ascend the throne in the future, I still won’t be able to rest easy. But if you now… choose to stand on my side, we can still be like before.”

Bah!

Muruo laughed coldly, leaned close to his ear, and said one sentence: “A fledgling returns to the forest—it has always been fate.”

Huh!

Jingxian’s eyes deepened further.

And leaving behind that one sentence, Muruo had already turned and departed…

Watching that retreating figure, Jingxian’s heart grew even colder.

“Cough, cough, cough…”

He suddenly began coughing.

Coughing up blood. Fresh blood splattered onto the pure white snow, strikingly vivid…