Feng Yuan remained calm despite being cursed furiously by Xiaoying.

When Xiaoying asked why he had appeared on the mountain, he said quietly: “Your palace maid was too hasty and miscalculated the timing, showing the suicide note to others too early.”

So today’s mishap was largely due to Jian Hu.

Although Xiaoying had thoughtfully begged Father Emperor in the suicide note not to punish her palace attendants, to avoid adding to his sins that would disturb his rest in the netherworld.

However, Jian Hu feared that if the Crown Prince’s disappearance was noticed for too long, she, as his maid, would still be punished for neglect of duty.

So in her haste, she didn’t bother timing it properly and presented the suicide note to General Ye too early.

Unexpectedly, before General Ye had finished reading it, Feng Yuan, who was also in the commander’s tent, snatched it away. After quickly scanning it, he suddenly dashed out like an arrow released from a bow, mounted a horse, and galloped up the mountain.

As a result, he happened to witness Yan Xiaoying leaping off the cliff. Feng Yuan jumped down after her, and together with Mu Hanjiang, “rescued” the Crown Prince.

Xiaoying looked speechlessly at Jian Hu behind Feng Yuan, who was crying so desperately that she could barely walk. She couldn’t help but give her a helpless glare.

Still crying! Serves you right! Where were you earlier?

The path down the mountain seemed longer than the ascent.

Feng Yuan carried Xiaoying steadily. As they were approaching the foot of the mountain, he whispered in her ear: “Judging by how forcefully you cursed, you don’t seem like someone seeking death. So… what were you trying to do?”

Xiaoying was truly exhausted; the wasted half-day had been deflating.

She didn’t feel like talking, instead pretending to be weak, closing her eyes and leaning against the man’s broad, solid chest, taking the opportunity to rest and consider her next move.

Feng Yuan looked down at the youth pretending to sleep with closed eyes. Though he hadn’t received an answer, he gave a light chuckle, the vibration of which traveled through his chest to Xiaoying’s face.

Xiaoying half-opened her eyelids and asked coldly: “What are you laughing at?”

If not for these two nuisances—him and Mu Hanjiang—she would have already successfully escaped and hurried back to help her adoptive father and the others.

When they reached the carriage, Feng Yuan placed her inside, then turned to Mu Hanjiang and said: “The Crown Prince’s emotions are still unstable. I’ll ride in the same carriage with him on the return journey to prevent His Highness from being alone with dangerous thoughts and doing something foolish again.”

Mu Hanjiang hesitated because, in his view, Feng Yuan was the one with more unstable emotions.

If he had an episode, the Crown Prince wouldn’t need to climb a mountain to jump off a cliff—he could be strangled to death by Feng Yuan in an instant.

After all, something similar had happened ten years ago. At that time, he was with his mother and witnessed Feng Yuan’s rage as he held Feng Qiyuan underwater.

However, the Crown Prince weakly said from the carriage, “I was inconsiderate and cursed at Grand Brother just now. Sharing the carriage back would be good—I can properly apologize to Grand Brother…”

Since the Crown Prince wasn’t afraid, Mu Hanjiang naturally couldn’t interfere with the brotherly bond between the Feng siblings.

Once the carriage curtain was lowered, Xiaoying couldn’t be bothered to keep up appearances. She stretched her legs against the soft cushions and studied Feng Yuan across from her.

Feng Yuan’s brotherly affection seemed to have been exhausted. He showed no interest in comforting his suicidal fourth brother, instead opening the book bag his attendant had just handed him, taking out a book with folded pages, and began reading silently.

Xiaoying craned her neck to see—the book was full of Master Ge’s annotations and appeared to be about governance.

Imperial Tutor Ge Danian had a relationship with Feng Yuan that was part father, part teacher. The old man’s former reservations seemed to have completely disappeared when it came to the Grand Prince.

These days, he had even neglected her lessons as the Crown Prince, seemingly determined to make up for the Grand Prince’s years of missed education within a month.

Studying so diligently? Was Imperial Tutor Ge planning to test him upon returning to the palace? If so, why ride in the same carriage with her?

Seeing how he had risked death by leaping down the cliff, she had thought he truly cared for his brother, and had been somewhat moved, believing that there was still some genuine familial affection within the imperial family.

Now that Xiaoying’s anger had subsided and she had regained her composure, she smiled cheerfully at Feng Yuan: “Hey, does Grand Brother have any connections to help me leave the city again?”

Hearing her calm tone without cursing, Feng Yuan looked up, set down his book, examined her, then took a handkerchief to wipe the scrapes on her face.

“If you still intend to seek death in this manner, I won’t help you arrange it.”

Though his movements were gentle, his tone was ice-cold, leaving no room for negotiation.

Xiaoying couldn’t be bothered with roundabout talk: “You should have guessed, I wasn’t trying to commit suicide. I… just grew tired of the position of Crown Prince and wanted to go out freely… Besides, if I leave, it doesn’t affect you in any way, right?”

Feng Yuan was about to wipe her neck, but Xiaoying turned her head to avoid him.

Although she wasn’t particularly concerned with propriety between men and women, and Feng Yuan hadn’t seen through her female identity, this was still too intimate.

So she reached for the handkerchief, preferring to wipe herself while looking at the small copper mirror on the nearby drawer.

Feng Yuan handed the handkerchief to Xiaoying, lowered his eyes, and said quietly: “The chess game hasn’t reached its halfway point. You can’t simply stop when you wish…”

Nonsense! She wasn’t a chess piece on his board. Each had their plans—why should her life or death concern him?

But before she could speak, Feng Yuan fixed her with a single statement: “Just because you’ve rescued him doesn’t mean you’ve resolved matters in the palace. This Feng Qiyuan… you must continue to impersonate him!”

Xiaoying paused, slowly turning her head to stare intently at Feng Yuan: “What do you mean by that?”

Feng Yuan looked into her eyes and said, “If you have time tonight, come sit with me at my place. Whatever you’d like to eat, I’ll have someone prepare it for Your Highness.”

Given the situation, there was no point in futile denial. Xiaoying quickly composed herself and said with a smile: “Certainly, I love visiting Grand Brother’s palace.”

As they spoke, the sound of approaching hoofbeats suddenly came from outside, followed by Mu Hanjiang’s voice: “Crown Prince, would you like some water to drink?”

Normally, servants would attend to a master’s water needs.

But Young Master Mu had taken the initiative to perform this menial task, not to curry favor, but likely because he was concerned about leaving the Crown Prince alone with the Grand Prince.

If the Crown Prince died in the carriage because of the mad prince while being escorted back to the palace, it would be most unfortunate.

Mu Hanjiang, unwilling to bear responsibility, naturally had to pay attention.

Hearing Mu Hanjiang’s words, Xiaoying grabbed at them like a lifeline. She pushed past Feng Yuan and stuck her head out the carriage window, saying to Mu Hanjiang on horseback, “It’s stuffy in the carriage. I’d like to ride and get some fresh air.”

Mu Hanjiang looked at her discreetly, noting that she seemed normal, without signs of being coerced or beaten by the Grand Prince.

However, the Crown Prince had just attempted to jump off a cliff. If he now accidentally fell from a horse, those accompanying him couldn’t escape responsibility.

So, after considering, he said: “If Your Highness truly wishes to ride, would you be willing to share a horse with me?”

With him protecting, there would be no fear of this martial-arts-inept heir apparent having an accident.

Yan Xiaoying was about to say something when her slender waist was gripped firmly, and she was pulled back from the window.

The Grand Prince answered for his fourth brother from inside the carriage: “Fourth Brother is injured and needs to return to the palace to rest. His emotions are still unstable. I hope Lord Mu won’t indulge his willfulness.”

These words showed proper brotherly responsibility.

Mu Hanjiang couldn’t argue, but added worriedly: “If the two princes need anything, please command me. I’ll be riding not far behind the carriage.”

The Crown Prince in the carriage couldn’t respond because Feng Yuan had covered her mouth with his large hand. Unable to break free, she tried to elbow him in the waist.

Feng Yuan let out a muffled groan but showed no intention of letting go.

Xiaoying didn’t want to compete in strength with a madman, so she stopped struggling and obediently nestled in Feng Yuan’s broad embrace, glaring at him with her large eyes.

Her eyes were spirited, especially now when a layer of mist had formed due to anger. Looking at them, one might be momentarily entranced by their bright, rippling light.

During Feng Yuan’s momentary distraction, his hand was bitten hard by his fourth brother. The teeth marks were deep enough to draw blood immediately.

Feng Yuan frowned and finally slowly released his grip, and Xiaoying also released her bite.

Feng Yuan lowered his gaze to examine the wound on his hand and exposed Xiaoying’s plan: “Guards surround us. Even if you had a horse, you couldn’t escape very far…”

After a pause, he added: “Tonight’s invitation still stands. Whether you come or not is up to you…”

Having said this, Feng Yuan picked up his book bag, exited the carriage, requested a horse from the guards, mounted it, and rode back to the palace.

Mu Hanjiang had been escorting the carriage all along. He had heard muffled sounds from the Crown Prince inside the carriage, along with thumping against the carriage walls—the two inside seemed to be fighting.

It wasn’t appropriate for outsiders to interfere in a fight between imperial brothers, but neither could they allow something bad to happen.

He was calculating the timing, preparing to intervene at a critical moment to rescue Feng Qiyuan. Just as he was about to speak up, Feng Yuan exited the carriage.

Mu Hanjiang had sharp eyes and noticed the bloody bite mark on Feng Yuan’s palm. It seemed the frail Crown Prince hadn’t been at a disadvantage…

But how had the Grand Prince bullied the frail youth to the point that Feng Qiyuan had to bite him?

Mu Hanjiang’s brow furrowed slightly, unable to decipher the mystery between the Feng brothers.

Meanwhile, Xiaoying remained alone in the carriage, finally able to catch her breath.

Now, thinking carefully, she must have shown too many flaws in front of Feng Yuan. She hadn’t expected that he had seen through her, but he could restrain himself from speaking for so long.

That’s the frightening thing about taciturn people—you never know what they’re thinking.

Xiaoying took a deep breath, leaned against one side of the carriage, and quickly reviewed the situation.

Judging by Feng Yuan’s behavior—how he had endured being bitten without crying out—he likely saw some value in her and wasn’t eager to overturn the game board.

As long as he didn’t expose her to His Majesty, Xiaoying wasn’t worried.

With this thought, Xiaoying quickly calmed down, deciding to honor Feng Yuan’s invitation that night.

However, upon returning to the palace, another storm awaited.

This archery excursion had ended with the Crown Prince being humiliated and attempting suicide unsuccessfully.

The matter was serious. Naturally, after escorting the Crown Prince back to the palace, Mu Hanjiang had to report to the Chunde Emperor.

By coincidence, Mu Hanjiang had finished his official duties early today and had planned to pass by the military camp to pick up his sister and return home together.

Before reaching the camp entrance, he had happened to see the Crown Prince going up the mountain alone. Driven by curiosity, he had secretly followed, thus preventing an imperial death.

The Chunde Emperor narrowed his eyes as he examined the Crown Prince’s suicide note presented by Lord Mu.

Imperial Tutor Ge had worked hard; his student’s writing had indeed improved greatly. The note was much more eloquent than before.

The letter sincerely acknowledged guilt to the Emperor. It stated that although he knew his mother was domineering, narrow-minded, and nepotistic, he had been unable to stop her due to filial piety and couldn’t distance himself from her, thus failing the Emperor’s trust.

Being ridiculed by those encouraged by the Second Prince made him feel inadequate in both civil and military affairs, unable to command respect.

Therefore, life held no more joy for him. He could only apologize with his death, proving his courage and avoiding tarnishing the name of the Feng family’s sons.

On an ordinary day, such a letter would have seemed like nonsensical tattling.

This kind of childish quarrel, this trivial matter—how could it enter His Majesty’s eyes?

But Feng Qiyuan’s cliff jump had been witnessed by many, and they had nearly carried back the youth’s cold corpse.

No matter how inadequate Feng Qiyuan was, he was still the Dafeng dynasty’s Crown Prince, the son of Feng Qishu!

How could he be bullied by those wastrel sons in the capital who set dogs to fight and falcons to hunt?

Such impropriety—if word spread, wouldn’t it undermine the authority of both ruler and subject?

Thus, an imperial verbal edict was issued. As the sun set, the Second Prince and the youths who had mocked the Crown Prince today knelt in a long row before the hall.

The Chunde Emperor had long seen that the Second Prince lacked brotherly affection and didn’t treat his brothers well.

Previously, when he had enticed the Fourth Prince to go outside the palace to watch plays, tarnishing the Crown Prince’s virtue, that could be overlooked. But today, witnessing the Crown Prince being ridiculed, he had only encouraged his followers.

This was displaying the discord between the Feng imperial brothers in front of outsiders, disregarding the imperial family’s face—utterly disgraceful!

The Chunde Emperor intended to use this incident to teach the Second Prince a good lesson, to improve his character. Thus, showing no leniency, each of the kneeling miscreants was sentenced to ten military lashes!

These weren’t the ordinary rods used in the palace but whips with steel barbs! Ten lashes would leave the body completely lacerated!

When Consort Shang of the Western Palace heard this, she was so distressed she could barely stand, and hurried to plead guilty and beg for mercy from His Majesty.

As for the elder family members of the punished youths, they knelt in a row outside the hall, pleading for forgiveness for their unfilial offspring.

But today, not even the King of Heaven himself could successfully plead for mercy.

His Majesty was determined to rectify the atmosphere within the palace and improve family values. All ten lashes were delivered in full, each landing squarely on the bodies of those being punished.

It was said that the Second Prince had to be carried back to his palace, unable to make a sound, with blood dripping all along the way.

This turn of events left those who had rushed to align with the Second Prince after Empress Tang’s downfall completely bewildered, finding the imperial mind difficult to fathom.

The urgency to choose sides had to be tempered—at the very least, they needed to discern the right direction first.

As for the Crown Prince, His Majesty personally went to reprimand him as well.

How could a dignified, spirited man—not some cloistered maiden—have such a narrow mind?

Did he need to jump off a cliff seeking death just because he was at a low point, or was he ridiculed by others?

Causing such a commotion throughout the city was utterly absurd!

The Crown Prince listened tearfully to his father’s admonishment, finally crawling out of bed to sob and embrace the Chunde Emperor’s legs: “Father Emperor, your son was foolish and nearly failed to fulfill his filial duty to you. Your son was wrong. I will never do such a foolish thing again! I will live well and not cause Father Emperor to worry!”

Normally, the Chunde Emperor detested his fourth son’s crying, but today he knew his son had truly suffered great humiliation. He asked if he wanted the Second Prince to come and apologize.

Feng Qiyuan didn’t follow this suggestion. Instead, he pleaded for his second brother, saying that he had been very angry at the time, but after returning to the palace and calming down, he had understood.

His second brother was socially adept and wasn’t failing to protect his brother; he was just constrained by face and couldn’t openly rebuke those wastrel sons.

The Chunde Emperor disliked this kind of “foolish goodness” and asked sternly: “Don’t you know that such weakness only encourages others to bully you more?”

Xiaoying, tears still flowing, looked up at the Chunde Emperor with slight confusion and said: “But he is my Second Brother! If I make things difficult for him, wouldn’t I be making things difficult for Father Emperor?”

These words struck directly at the Chunde Emperor’s heart.

As an unfavored distant royal relative, he had grown up in a provincial estate. His understanding of fraternal strife naturally exceeded that of others.

But after all, it was just a minor branch’s residence, not as intense as the open conflicts and secret struggles within the imperial palace. The grievances his little fourth son had endured were probably more than he knew.

The Chunde Emperor prided himself on his upright family teachings and hoped his children would be close to each other, not always coveting what didn’t belong to them, neglecting familial bonds.

But such a wish, placed in the highest-ranking household in the land, seemed somewhat fantastical.

Empress Tang was shallow and domineering, yet she had raised such a pure and sincere child, which made the Chunde Emperor sigh with wonder.

Looking around the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace, the furnishings were sparse, in stark contrast to the Second Prince’s lavish palace.

The Chunde Emperor shook his head and instructed Li Quan behind him to inform the Internal Affairs Department tomorrow that the Crown Prince’s food, clothing, and living expenses should match the scale of a Crown Prince, and the other princes should not exceed their bounds.

Hearing this, Li Quan knew His Majesty would be rebuking the lady from the Western Palace again and hurried off to relay the message.

After showing concern for the neglected Crown Prince, the Chunde Emperor returned to rest with his consorts and concubines in the rear palace.

Xiaoying, however, couldn’t rest, as she had an important appointment that night.

By now, in the Eastern Palace, all of the Empress’s informants, except for Jian Hu, had been removed by Xiaoying on the pretext of laziness and negligence.

Jian Hu, having failed to help the Crown Prince “ascend to heaven” during the day, was somewhat dejected. She had drunk some wine to drown her sorrows and gone to bed early.

When night fell, Xiaoying got up and sneaked out to meet Feng Yuan.

Although the Grand Prince’s palace had recently added some furniture, it remained as cold and empty as ever.

Having lived in the Desolate Palace for so long, he wasn’t accustomed to having people attend him closely. Those palace servants were eager to stay far away from him, so the inner palace remained empty except for him.

Xiaoying noticed that the table was set with honey dates and fruits—all her favorites. There were even two or three fruits she had never seen before.

“This southern pear was sent by Third Granduncle. It’s a specialty from his hometown, with soft flesh and a clean sweetness. Try some.”

Feng Yuan seemed to have forgotten the unpleasantness of his hand being bitten earlier that day and calmly offered Xiaoying a pear.

Xiaoying sniffed the pear’s fresh fragrance and bit into it without ceremony, savoring the juice as she asked: “You didn’t invite me here just to taste delicacies, did you? Tell me, what’s your plan?”

Seeing Xiaoying enjoying the sweet fruit, Feng Yuan’s lips curled into a faint smile, but he said nothing.

Xiaoying detested his silent demeanor the most, so she provocatively tossed the pear core at him, staring at him calmly.

On her way here, Xiaoying had organized her thoughts and guessed that she must have given herself away when using that packet of madness-inducing medicine.

Others might not connect the Empress’s madness to her, but Feng Yuan, who had given her the medicine, knew perfectly well.

Could he have determined from this that she wasn’t the Empress’s biological son? But how did he know she had rescued someone?

Feng Yuan finally opened his mouth, slowly explaining: “That day when people came to remove bodies from next to the Desolate Palace, I saw a face identical to yours. That one… is the real Feng Qiyuan, right?”

So that was it—her subordinates disguised as workers had been spotted by Feng Yuan hiding on the wall.

But she had deliberately drugged his half-drunk sugar water—why hadn’t it knocked him out? Had he noticed it?

Before she could ask, Feng Yuan said expressionlessly: “The water tasted wrong. Although you added sugar to try to mask it, it could still be detected immediately.”

Xiaoying shook her head helplessly. His sensitive palate was something she hadn’t accounted for.

Still, she stubbornly argued: “How do you know that one is real, and I’m not Feng Qiyuan?”

Looking at the stubborn youth, Feng Yuan’s thin lips curled into a smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes.

“Before your people came, I climbed over into the courtyard and saw him under the bed. Feng Qiyuan has had a mole on the right side of his neck since childhood, and the person hidden under the bed had exactly that mark. You don’t have it!”

Xiaoying raised an eyebrow. She always wore high-collared clothes—when had Feng Yuan seen her neck?

But thinking more carefully, Xiaoying’s brows furrowed as she suddenly recalled that night they had slept together. This bastard, when distressed by the tomb-crying Chunde Emperor, had buried his face in her neck…