Li Jiancheng called out to stop him: “You know Father’s temperament. Since he has agreed, it’s not something you and I can change with a few words.”

Li Yuanji said excitedly: “So we just do nothing and watch Father cast aside Third Brother’s death?”

“Father won’t forget Xuanba’s death.” Li Jiancheng said slowly: “It’s just that he was influenced by Third Lady’s theatrical performance and feared he would truly drive Shimin to a desperate end, so he had no choice but to agree. Though he’s agreed now, he’s also thoroughly disappointed in Shimin. In that regard, this is somewhat beneficial to us.” In truth, Li Jiancheng didn’t care at all whether Li Shimin married Yunyi as an equal wife. What he cared about was only Li Yuan’s attitude toward the former.

“But…” Li Yuanji had just said one word when Li Jiancheng took over: “Things in this world cannot always go as we wish. All we can do is strive for maximum benefit from the situation.”

He stood up and took the orange that had been squeezed out of shape from Li Yuanji’s hand, crushing it hard. Juice immediately splattered from the broken peel. “Remember, you must always look at things from a long-term perspective. Don’t let your eyes be clouded by minor immediate changes. Shimin is gradually walking the path to destruction. We just need to give him a push at the appropriate time.”

Li Yuanji heard the killing intent in his words, his eyelids twitching as he asked hesitantly: “Elder Brother, you… want Second Brother to die?”

Li Jiancheng stared at him: “What, you don’t want that?”

“I…” Though Li Yuanji disliked Li Shimin, they were blood brothers after all. Until now, he had never harbored true murderous intent toward Li Shimin.

Li Jiancheng threw away the mangled orange and took a cloth to wipe his hands: “When we dealt with Zhiyun before, why didn’t I see you being so indecisive?”

“Zhiyun was different. He was Wan Shi’s child and deserved to die. But Second Brother… he’s our blood brother from the same mother. Wouldn’t doing this be too excessive?”

Li Jiancheng said grimly: “When Shimin released Princess Jinyang four years ago, did he think it was excessive? When he competed with us for military achievements these past four years, did he think it was excessive? When he insisted on marrying Princess Jinyang despite Father’s opposition, did he think it was excessive? No, he never thought himself excessive, believing everything was perfectly justified. Since that’s the case, why should we think it excessive?”

Li Yuanji said hesitantly: “But he is still Second Brother…”

Li Jiancheng’s lips curved into a cold arc: “Unfortunately, he only cares about himself, never about Father, let alone us so-called brothers.”

Li Yuanji remained silent for a long time, then nodded: “I understand. From now on, I’ll follow your lead completely. Whatever Elder Brother wants me to do, I’ll do.”

“Good!” Li Jiancheng nodded: “Though Xuanba is gone and Shimin is like this, I still have you as a good brother. Heaven hasn’t treated me too poorly after all.”

In Mingse Palace, Yunyi held a bowl of bird’s nest porridge, lost in thought about who knows what. Ruyi said softly: “Princess, if you don’t eat now, this bird’s nest porridge will get cold.”

Yunyi came back to her senses, looked at the untouched bird’s nest porridge in her hands, and set it down: “I have no appetite. You eat it.”

Ruyi said worriedly: “These past two days, Princess, you’ve only had one proper meal. Each time you eat a few bites and say you’re full. Today you haven’t touched anything at all. If this continues, your body won’t be able to take it.”

Yunyi shook her head: “I’m fine. I’m just worried about Shimin. I wonder if Third Madam conveyed my words to him. Counting today, it’s already the fourth day. If he’s still kneeling, I’m afraid his legs will be ruined.”

Jixiang happened to enter and, hearing this, said: “Second Young Master isn’t someone without sense. Princess, don’t worry. Besides, aren’t Third Madam and the others there? They won’t let anything happen to Second Young Master.”

“I hope so.” Though she said this, Yunyi remained uneasy: “Jixiang, go to the Tang King’s residence and ask Third Madam about Second Young Master’s condition.”

Jixiang knew that without getting clear answers, her mistress’s heart wouldn’t be at peace. Sigh, the Tang King was truly obstinate—wasn’t he afraid of karmic retribution for being the one to separate lovers?

Jixiang pushed the still-warm bowl of bird’s nest porridge closer to Yunyi: “Princess, eat this and this servant will go.”

“You girl, when did you learn to bargain?” Though she said this, Yunyi still picked up the bird’s nest porridge again, eating it spoonful by spoonful. After finishing the last bite, she said: “Now can Miss Jixiang go?”

Jixiang smiled lightly and curtsied: “Yes, this servant will go immediately.”

Before her words had finished, a leisurely voice sounded from outside: “Where are you planning to go?”

“Here again!” Jixiang muttered under her breath, slowly turning to bow: “Greetings to Fourth Princess.”

The newcomer was indeed Xin’an. She glanced at Jixiang: “You still haven’t told this Princess where you’re going.”

Jixiang smiled without warmth: “This servant has stomach discomfort and wants to go to the privy. Since Princess asks so eagerly, are you planning to go together?”

Her words provoked light laughter, including from the palace servants Xin’an had brought. When they saw Xin’an’s harsh glare, they quickly lowered their heads, not daring to laugh anymore.

Ruyi barely suppressed her laughter and pushed Jixiang: “Didn’t you just say you couldn’t hold it anymore? Hurry and go.”

“Oh, I’ll go right now.” Jixiang looked at Xin’an’s ugly expression, laughing as she walked out.

After Jixiang left, Yunyi spread her sleeves wide like butterfly wings and said coolly: “What are you doing in my palace?”

Xin’an recovered and smiled: “Look at what Seventh Sister is saying. I came to care for you, of course, to see how you’ve been these past days. After all… such a big incident occurred.”

Hearing this, Yunyi sensed trouble. Sure enough, Xin’an continued: “You’re truly disappointing. Clearly a princess of the current dynasty and His Majesty’s aunt, yet you’re running off to be a concubine to the Tang King’s second son. If word spreads, where will the imperial family’s dignity be?”

Seeing her disparage their princess, Ruyi couldn’t help saying: “Fourth Princess is mistaken. Princess is marrying Second Young Master as an equal wife.”

Xin’an curved her lips disdainfully: “To put it nicely, it’s equal wife. To put it bluntly, it’s still concubine. Throughout history, no one has ever heard of a man having two wives.”

Ruyi said defiantly: “Weren’t E Huang and Nu Ying both wives of Emperor Shun?”

“E Huang and Nu Ying…” Xin’an laughed behind her hand: “Setting aside whether these two people truly existed, even if they did, they were only imperial consorts, not empresses. No matter how you phrase it… they were still concubines!”

Ruyi’s face went pale with anger. Unable to think of any rebuttal, she could only silently fume. Yunyi glanced at the secretly pleased Xin’an and said coolly: “Whether wife or concubine, it has nothing to do with you. Please leave.”