Jin Suolun sidestepped slightly, evading the move, and said calmly, "Big Brother, why are you angry? Are you trying to curry favor with the seventy-second brother, hoping for a place in the royal palace later?"
If King Fusang were to truly establish Jin Xiaolou as king, then after his succession, he would surely eliminate his stumbling blocks...
The reason the First Prince Jin Ha was being so superficially flattering and fawning towards Xiaolou was undoubtedly to secure his own future.
"Suolun, shut your damn mouth!"
Jin Ha was furious, trembling with rage. "Do you think everyone is as dirty-minded as you are? Xiaolou isn't even an adult yet, and you're already ostracizing and mocking him? Besides, Father King isn't dead yet, are you and Third Brother already this impatient?"
"That's right!" Jin Suolun slammed the table angrily, casting a sinister glance at King Fusang and Jin Ha. "It's precisely because Father King has lived too long that he's become a stubborn old fool. He knows Xiaolou is too young to shoulder the future of Fusang, yet he insists on supporting his succession. Isn't this senility?"
King Fusang: "..."
Indeed, having too many children brings its own troubles.
Look at Suolun's words just now; he completely disregarded him, the king...
If he wanted Xiaolou to succeed, he would have to clear all obstacles beforehand. Otherwise, even if Xiaolou became king, he wouldn't be able to suppress Jin Suolun and Jin Huanqi.
"Father King, Big Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, please stop arguing..."
Jin Xiaolou stood up, sighing deeply. "I don't want to inherit the throne, nor do I want to see brothers turn against each other. Can't we live in peace?"
He had thought that his second and third brothers would have restrained themselves during his absence, but he never expected them to escalate, even disregarding their father's authority...
"Heh, Xiaolou, you're too naive!"
Jin Ha chuckled helplessly. "If your second and third brothers truly cared about you, they wouldn't have dared to be so disrespectful and utter such treasonous words..."
If he were Xiaolou, he would leave Fusang country as soon as possible, find a place to marry and have children, and live happily.
Continuing to stay in the Fusang royal family, he would eventually be killed.
However, Jin Xiaolou was unfazed. "Since I have returned, I will not leave Fusang, nor will I abandon Father King..."
With that, Jin Xiaolou looked coldly at Jin Suolun and Jin Huanqi. "As for my second and third brothers, if you dare to do anything detrimental to Father King and the country, don't blame your younger brother for being impolite!"
Upon hearing this, Jin Huanqi was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Hahahaha, Xiao... Xiaolou, this is probably the funniest joke I've heard this year. Oh, it's hilarious! You say you'll be impolite to us, what leverage do you have?"
"Exactly!" Jin Suolun echoed coldly. "Xiaolou, do you have a million soldiers, or are you guided by a master? Have you even looked in the mirror? What kind of person do you think you are?"
King Fusang: "..."
He truly regretted giving birth to these two scoundrels, Suolun and Huanqi.
The other princes were all in their respective fiefdoms, some enjoying their retirement, some tending to flowers and plants, some fishing for leisure, and some indulging in debauchery and neglecting their duties...
Although these princes consumed national resources daily, they posed no threat to the Fusang throne or the populace.
Only the second and third princes were in fierce contention, as if the King of Fusang didn't abdicate quickly, the two sons would tear him apart...
"Whether I have leverage is not important; what matters is whether the citizens of Fusang will support you!" Jin Xiaolou remained calm in the face of danger.
As far as he knew, in the fiefdoms governed by his second and third brothers, the people, unable to bear various tortures and tyrannical rule, had moved away with their families...
If even the people did not support them, what was the point of them becoming king?
Jin Suolun snorted upon hearing this. "I'm too lazy to discuss state affairs with a child like you. Father King, your son is tired. I bid you farewell!"
Seeing this, Jin Huanqi also quickly stood up. "This grand hall is so suffocating; I'm almost suffocating. Father King, please enjoy your meal. Your third brother will take his leave..."
After speaking, the two left one after the other.
Xiao Ying and Xiao Jun sat in the guest seats, having witnessed the internal struggle of the royal family throughout. They felt a hidden sense of fear...
"Xiao Ying, do you think if the Crown Prince hadn't been sent to Dashui Village, would he have met the same fate as Xiaolou?" Xiao Jun asked in a low voice.
Xiao Ying, holding a large crab and eating with oil all over her mouth, replied, "Probably. Think about it, Noble Consort Xian wanted to get rid of the Crown Prince back then, and then support the third prince's succession. Isn't that very similar to Xiaolou's current situation..."
"Then, then when are we going back to our country? I'm afraid the second and third princes will kill us!" Xiao Jun asked with a look of panic.
"What are you afraid of? If he dares to touch us, I... I'll castrate him!" Xiao Ying was fearless.
Xiao Jun: "..."
With your skills, before you could castrate the second and third princes, you would become a eunuch yourself.
The next morning, at the old Yun family's residence in Dashui Village.
"Guihua, why are you getting out of bed and causing trouble? Just lie there on the kang."
Gu Shi helped Zhao Guihua, who struggled to walk to the doorway. "Look outside, it's hot and dry. It hasn't rained for over ten days. If you get heatstroke, it will be very uncomfortable..."
"Mother, I just want to go and check on the shop. It's been so long since I've been there, I'm worried!" Zhao Guihua sighed.
Although Yun Gui Fang was managed by Steward Liu, Steward Liu was an outsider. No one knew if he was embezzling funds or stealing...
Zhao Guihua couldn't lie on the kang any longer and decided to go and see for herself.
"Then why don't you let Daman help you check? You have to go in person?" Gu Shi looked helpless.
She had become paralyzed, yet she was still thinking about Yun Gui Fang...
Upon mentioning Yun Daman, a sense of melancholy welled up in Zhao Guihua's heart. "Daman... Daman doesn't want me anymore!"
Since their argument last time, Daman hadn't returned to the village for several days.
Gu Shi: "..."
"Guihua, are you talking nonsense in broad daylight?" Gu Shi glared at her. "Jin He is already so big, who else would Daman want if not you? Does he want to remarry?"
"Mother, believe me, Daman has been really abnormal lately. Ever since he became the county magistrate, even his walking posture has changed, he's become so arrogant. Now that I'm paralyzed and can't serve him, what man would cherish a wife like me?" Zhao Guihua wiped away her tears.
Gu Shi: "..."