The Fifth Prince raised an eyebrow as he watched the Fourth Prince bustling about. It was true that silent dogs bite. He suspected the cold arrow shot at him was ordered by the Fourth Prince, who stood to gain the most from his death. He never underestimated the complexities of human nature.
As for who saved him, he could only think of his future Imperial Consort. Though not yet confirmed, no one else could have acted under the Emperor's watchful eye.
However, this incident made the Emperor look at him more closely. The existence of someone undetectable by his own guards posed a threat to the Emperor. He insisted he had no idea who was helping him, and though the Emperor was suspicious, he had no proof and had to let it go.
The palace did not fall silent with the death of a few princes; instead, undercurrents began to surge. After all, only two adult princes remained, presenting an opportunity for the younger ones. Everyone began to scheme and maneuver, even reaching into the front court. Families with daughters in the palace sought to subtly exert influence and gain support for their nephews.
The Fourth Prince saw the Fifth Prince approaching and was the first to greet him. The Fifth Prince, not wanting to give him cause for criticism, returned the smile.
"I just came from Father Emperor. He praised my recent handling of state affairs, and even Mother Empress regards me with a new eye. I believe I still have room for improvement. When you have free time, Imperial Brother, please offer more guidance. I will strive to be more thorough and satisfy everyone." The Fourth Prince looked at him calmly, feigning a humble desire for instruction.
"It is what everyone hopes to see, that Fourth Brother is keen on self-improvement. Father Emperor will surely be pleased to hear these words. If Father Emperor praises your level so highly, it means your skill is already quite advanced. I think it is not you who should be asking me for guidance, but I who should be asking you. Please do not hold back when the time comes." Wasn't it just about putting on a show? The Fifth Prince could do that too. If he didn't know the Fourth Prince's true character, he would have considered him a humble and cautious person. In reality, he never underestimated the people in the palace.
When the Crown Prince, Second Prince, and Third Prince were still alive, the Fourth Prince never stepped forward. Everyone described him as foolish and dull-witted, incapable of being molded. But after their deaths, the Fourth Prince immediately displayed his intelligence and talent, impressing the Emperor and Empress.
Regardless, he currently held the advantage of seniority. Although his maternal family was not particularly prominent in the capital, they were a noble lineage and would not drag him down.
In contrast, his own mother consort had long since dedicated herself to cultivating her mind and spirit, never participating in harem disputes. She was merely a concubine's daughter before her marriage and had no contact with her maternal family. She had long been abandoned, effectively having no maternal support. He had to rely entirely on himself.
"Not at all, not at all. If there is any place Brother can be of use, I will impart all my years of experience without reservation." The Fourth Prince looked at him with a doting gaze, cultivating an image of a loving younger brother to appear harmless to everyone and to reassure the Emperor and Empress that the throne could be entrusted to him.
To say he had no ambition would be a lie. It was just that he knew it was impossible before and had concealed himself. Now that his time had come, he did not want to miss this opportunity and was prepared to take a gamble. The Fifth Prince before him was his greatest competitor. Su Dan Novel Network.
The Fifth Prince, unwilling to engage in such pretense, cited being busy and took his leave. The Fourth Prince watched his receding figure enter the Emperor's study, lost in thought.
"You know about the floods in the south. Your Imperial Brother just recommended you for this. It is a good opportunity to earn merit. What are your thoughts?" The Emperor seemed to be seeking his opinion, but in reality, he was issuing a veiled command.
Although the Fifth Prince did not desire this opportunity, he knew his image in his father's eyes was not yet stable. The Emperor suspected him and was testing him. To refuse would surely incur his displeasure. He quickly nodded, indicating he had no objections and was willing to serve the court with all his might.
The Emperor cast him a suspicious glance, then slowly nodded and drafted an imperial decree, ordering him to depart early the next morning.
As soon as he left the palace, the Fifth Prince sent a letter to Wu Caiwei. Upon reading the contents, Wu Caiwei couldn't help but furrow her brows, a sense of unease settling in her heart. She knew without a doubt that this journey would be perilous. Wondering what awaited him, she ordered Yan'er to pack their luggage that very night.
At the first hint of dawn, the Fifth Prince, accompanied by a large contingent of men, provisions, and medicinal supplies, slowly departed the imperial city. On the outskirts, he saw two figures on horseback waiting by the roadside. They were none other than Wu Caiwei and Yan'er.
The Fifth Prince knew the journey would be dangerous. However, in recent lifetimes, for some unknown reason, his health had been deteriorating, making him unfit for martial arts. If he didn't bring her along, he feared he might not return. In this lifetime, his interests were intertwined with Wu Caiwei's. If anything happened to him in the south, and he was disgraced in the eyes of the world, she, his fiancée, would not fare well either.
Rather than live a life of mere survival, he decided to have her accompany him south. With her protection by his side and his own strategies, he believed they could overcome any adversity. Once they ascended to the highest position together, Xuanyuan Xin vowed to compensate her handsomely.
In truth, his letter hadn't said much. He merely stated that he was ordered by the Emperor to go south to deal with the disaster and didn't know when he would return. As she had suspected, she couldn't rest easy and insisted on accompanying him.
As the sky brightened, the maids in Wu Caiwei's courtyard noticed something amiss. After searching everywhere, they couldn't find their young lady. They only found a letter on her desk addressed to her father and quickly took it to Master Mu. Upon reading the letter, Master Mu fell into deep thought. To say he was worried about his eldest daughter's safety would be false. He was merely weighing the pros and cons of her departure.
If she, a mere woman, were to go to the south rashly and something untoward were to happen to her, Master Mu would suffer no loss. After all, he had long since drifted apart from that daughter. If the Fifth Prince returned safely, he would surely remember her kindness and favor the Mu family. If the Fifth Prince died with her in the south, it would be said they were deeply in love, and the Mu family would gain a reputation. Only if both returned safely would he have cause for concern, contemplating how to reconcile with her.
After some thought, he instructed the steward, "Quietly spread the news among a select few that the eldest young lady has secretly gone south to find the Fifth Prince. It would be best if the higher-ups were to hear of it."
"Yes, Master." Although the steward didn't understand why his master gave such an order, usually when a young lady went missing, they would try to conceal it to protect her reputation.
However, their young lady was the future Fifth Prince's Consort, a prospective daughter-in-law of the imperial family. Master Mu's instructions must have a reason. Perhaps it was to curry favor with the Emperor. After all, the Emperor might be impressed by the fact that their young lady, worried about his son's safety, resolutely went south, leaving a good impression in the Emperor's mind.