The Empress had entrusted palace affairs to the Crown Princess, and such a major matter as the Sacrifice to Heaven had been placed under Zhou Weizhao’s overall command. No matter how one looked at it, Emperor Jianzhang’s intentions were already beyond need for guessing. The Bureau of Astronomy hurriedly calculated the auspicious date, and with a stroke of his brush, Emperor Jianzhang selected the nearest available day—the twenty-first day of the second month after spring had begun.

When the Crown Prince heard the news, Prince Dongping was patiently trimming his fingernails. His eyes had sunken deep due to excessive sleepless nights, and his entire frame had lost a full circle of weight.

Sanbao stood nearby, watching with complete concentration, fearing any mistakes might occur—though the Crown Prince trusted Prince Dongping greatly, he himself feared Prince Dongping somewhat. What others didn’t know, he had vaguely overheard during his night watches: Prince Dongping kneeling before the Crown Prince, weeping about being unfilial, about the old ginseng, and such things. Having served by the Crown Prince’s side for so long, he could guess countless secrets from just these few words. His heart had jumped up and down, nearly frightening himself to death, terrified that Prince Dongping might resort to that old trick again.

Though the Crown Prince was ill, he was still the Crown Prince, wasn’t he? The Imperial Grandson, after all, hadn’t yet been officially enfeoffed as Crown Imperial Grandson. If something happened to the Crown Prince, with the Eastern Palace Crown Prince gone, wouldn’t the Imperial Grandson’s position become awkward? If something happened to the Crown Prince, the first to suffer misfortune would be those like himself who served at his side.

Prince Dongping paid no attention to Sanbao’s state of mind. Seeing the anger hidden faintly between the Crown Prince’s brows, he consoled him softly: “Father, please don’t be angry. This is a good thing.” Had these words been spoken in the past, he would never have said them. What kind of good thing was this? What was good about it? Though Zhou Weizhao was his brother, the two were destined to be adversaries.

But now things were different. He no longer harbored any hopes for that position, so naturally, many matters no longer concerned him.

The Crown Prince made a “wah” sound, drool flowing down the corner of his mouth. He trembled as he moved his fingers, his eyes fixed tightly on Prince Dongping, shaking his head: “No… you… you…”

His words were mumbled and completely unintelligible, but Prince Dongping understood their meaning.

By now, anyone with eyes knew that Zhou Weizhao was the definite heir apparent. How many people flocked to Zhou Weizhao? How many who had once offended Zhou Weizhao now lived in fear and trepidation? Even Chen Dezhong constantly conducted himself with a wary heart. Yet at this moment, only the Crown Prince, only the Crown Prince still thought of him. The Crown Prince had always doted on him.

He buried his head against the Crown Prince’s arm and finally broke into sobbing tears.

Sanbao was so startled that even his neck shrank back. Looking left and right, he immediately led the others in retreating completely. He still wanted to live a few more good years. Speaking of which, life was truly difficult for him—he had to worry about the Crown Prince being displeased and having him killed, yet also had to worry about making the Crown Prince and Prince Dongping too happy, which might later displease the Crown Princess and the others.

The Crown Prince laboriously lifted one hand to pat Prince Dongping’s head, struggling to articulate a few more words: “Don’t… don’t cry… I’m here.”

Prince Dongping reached out to grasp the Crown Prince’s hand, looking at him with utmost earnestness: “Father, it’s enough.”

The Crown Prince’s eyes widened as he looked at him, as if momentarily unable to comprehend what he meant.

Prince Dongping wiped the tears from his face, one hand still holding the Crown Prince’s hand, saying in a low voice: “Father, the situation outside has become unbearable.”

The Crown Prince naturally knew this. That bastard Prince Gong—that bastard had dared to flee the Imperial Mausoleum and even dared to raise troops in rebellion! It was truly… Thinking of this point, he burned with rage, suddenly coughing several times.

Seeing him in this state, Prince Dongping immediately continued: “Now is not the time for us to fight among ourselves. Prince Gong has colluded with Han Zhengqing, and Han Zhengqing has let the Tartars through the passes. These Tartars have captured Datong and have already charged to Zijing Pass. Are we going to watch Prince Gong gain power? Of course we cannot let him succeed!”

They could not let him succeed. The Crown Prince’s fingers moved slightly, his face still full of fury.

Prince Dongping was grateful for the Crown Prince’s heartfelt concern. Thinking about it made him feel sorry for himself, but sometimes, when one didn’t have that fate, one simply didn’t have it. Previously he still had thoughts of competing, but later, after becoming entangled with that troublemaker Han Zhengqing, he only felt himself filthy and foul—how could he still be worthy of sitting in that position?

He carefully explained once more to the Crown Prince his desire to live a peaceful life, his tone suddenly becoming extremely somber: “Father, there’s something I must tell you, about that old ginseng…”

One thing leading to another, Prince Dongping could no longer contain the pain and indignation in his heart. He spoke of how Han Zhengqing had deceived him, his eyes full of agony: “He did it deliberately! He wanted to use my hand to poison you to death! How could he conceive such thoughts?! He’s simply inhuman…”

This matter had lodged in Prince Dongping’s heart, preventing him from sleeping peacefully. Now having the opportunity, he continued speaking without restraint: “It’s all my mother… my mother wanted him to help, so she deliberately claimed I was his son…”

The moment these words left his mouth, the Crown Prince’s eyes had already bulged almost to the point of popping from their sockets. Making several “ah wu, ah wu” sounds, he could no longer breathe.

Grand Consort Fan… Grand Consort Fan had dared! She had actually dared to say this! She had dared to do this behind his back… The Crown Prince couldn’t catch his breath. His throat wheezed and rasped like a bellows, frighteningly loud. In no time at all, his face turned iron-blue, and it seemed he wouldn’t recover.

Prince Dongping, immersed in his own pain, only now noticed something wrong with the Crown Prince. In anxious panic, he began calling for the imperial physicians while busily rubbing the Crown Prince’s chest himself.

Physician Hu and Director Sun rushed in all at once, lifting eyelids and taking pulses. After a flurry of activity, they finally stabilized the Crown Prince’s condition. They sent people to brew medicine and specifically instructed Prince Dongping: “His Highness cannot withstand stimulation. The Prince should be more cautious and try to speak of matters His Highness likes to hear…”

The Crown Prince’s purpose now was simply to remain alive—at least until Zhou Weizhao was enfeoffed as Crown Imperial Grandson, to stay alive properly. They dared not be anything but devoted.

Prince Dongping choked out an acknowledgment, then crouched down again beside the Crown Prince. As before, he squeezed his hands and patted his back, holding back tears as he said: “Father, I told you this because my heart is too pained… I’ve wronged you… Mother has also wronged you…”

The Crown Prince could only wheeze heavily with coarse breaths, the sorrow, rage, and resentment in his eyes gradually condensing. He had thought he held Grand Consort Fan in the palm of his hand, thought Han Zhengqing was just a running dog under his control.

But he had never imagined that what bound Han Zhengqing wasn’t him, but Grand Consort Fan.

Using such a contemptible method to leash that dog…