In the Emperor's sleeping chambers, Xiao Yuan awoke in the middle of the night to find not a single soul around him, not even a serving maid.
"Guards! Guards!"
Xiao Yuan frowned, shouting loudly to the outside.
But there was no response.
Xiao Yuan's brow furrowed.
"Eunuch Li!"
No matter how Xiao Yuan called out, not a single person appeared.
Xiao Yuan immediately sensed something was wrong.
"Guang Long! Su Fan!"
Xiao Yuan called out to the two people he trusted the most.
Guang Long was a given; they had grown up together, and Guang Long had cleared obstacles for him.
As for Su Fan, he was controlled by destiny, a puppet who only obeyed him.
Yet, neither of these two had appeared.
This made Xiao Yuan panic.
"Guang Long! Eunuch Li!"
Xiao Yuan pushed open the door and shouted loudly outside.
"Save your breath. Guang Long has been sent away by me, and Su Fan will not appear. As for Eunuch Li, do you wish to see him, my father, the Emperor?"
Xiao Zhihong walked in from outside, a smile on his face as he looked at Xiao Yuan.
Xiao Yuan's heart leaped in shock.
"It's you..."
Xiao Yuan had already figured out what was happening.
"You are already the Crown Prince, and the throne will be yours sooner or later. Why the rush?"
Xiao Yuan asked Xiao Zhihong with a look of confusion.
"Heh, with your current health, you'll live at least another twenty years after you die, right? Do you expect me to wait another twenty years? I can't wait,"
Xiao Zhihong said, shaking his head.
Xiao Yuan took a deep breath.
"Who else have you dealt with?"
Xiao Yuan closed his eyes, having already confirmed that Xiao Zhihong was responsible for the injuries on Xiao Zhiqian.
"You, and Xiao Xue'er who walked right into my trap. I've already sent people for my imperial brother,"
Xiao Zhihong hid nothing from Xiao Yuan, stating it truthfully.
"Xue'er knows nothing. Can't you spare her?"
Xiao Yuan could understand Xiao Zhihong killing him and Xiao Yan. For a victory, many must fall. If Xiao Zhihong wanted to secure the throne, he couldn't tolerate other princes and him. But Xiao Xue'er had never concerned herself with state affairs; he shouldn't have targeted her.
"No, I promised someone. Not a single member of the imperial family will be spared."
Xiao Zhihong said calmly.
"Who?"
Xiao Yuan asked Xiao Zhihong, puzzled.
Was there someone who harbored such hatred for the imperial family?
"Su Fan."
Xiao Zhihong revealed a slight smile and said to Xiao Yuan.
Xiao Yuan's expression immediately froze.
"Su Fan?"
Xiao Yuan's tone was filled with disbelief.
"Zhihong, don't be fooled by him. Su Fan is untrustworthy. Don't let him use you as a pawn!"
Xiao Yuan knew Su Fan's current situation. If Su Fan and Xiao Zhihong were truly cooperating, then a huge problem had arisen.
"Shut up! Isn't Su Fan highly valued by you now? If you can use him, can't I?"
Xiao Zhihong felt indignant seeing Xiao Yuan lecturing him.
After all these years, what else did he do besides lecture him?
"I've had enough of that look from you! You always thought my two brothers were better than me. And now? One is locked in prison, the other is lying in bed. Don't you still need me?"
"Zhihong, this has nothing to do with it. Su Fan is different now. You can't trust him. He's dangerous!"
Xiao Yuan frowned and warned Xiao Zhihong.
"I know, don't worry. Isn't Guang Long still here? I've already sent him to intercept Su Fan."
Xiao Zhihong waved his hand dismissively.
Xiao Yuan sighed.
"Forget it. The winner takes all. It's just a pity about Xue'er. Can't you really spare her life?"
Xiao Yuan wanted to say more, but in the end, he sighed and asked Xiao Zhihong as if pleading.
Xiao Zhihong remained silent, offering no reply.
Xiao Yuan immediately understood.
"For the sake of me being your father, let me leave on my own."
Xiao Yuan looked at Xiao Zhihong and said.
Xiao Zhihong nodded slightly.
Seeing this, Xiao Yuan turned and walked back into the room, striding to the bedside.
He stood before the clothes rack and spread his arms.
Xiao Zhihong understood Xiao Yuan's intention. This was the last time; let the Emperor leave with dignity.
"Change clothes."
Xiao Zhihong waved his hand, signaling his subordinate to help Xiao Yuan change.
He put on the dragon robe, donned the crown, and tidied his appearance.
Xiao Yuan once again became the majestic and inviolable ruler of the dynasty.
Xiao Zhihong had prepared the poisoned wine for Xiao Yuan.
"Father, please."
Xiao Zhihong personally offered the poisoned wine respectfully to Xiao Yuan.
Xiao Yuan took the poisoned wine.
With his hands behind his back, he walked to the window, gazing at the empire he had built, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
Then, he drained the poisoned wine in his hand, maintaining his imposing demeanor even in death.
...
In Xiao Yuan's sleeping chambers, Xiao Yan's injuries were still severe, making it impossible for him to get out of bed. Zhao Ling'er had been taking care of Xiao Yan during this time.
"It's such a shame I couldn't attend my best brother's wedding,"
Xiao Yan said with regret.
"Stop joking and drink your medicine quickly. I'll have someone come to help you change your dressing."
Zhao Ling'er placed the herbal soup by the bedside and said to Xiao Yan.
"Go on, go on. I need to recover quickly so I can go drinking with my brother."
Xiao Yan said with a smile.
"You only care about your brother. It feels like you're closer to Su Fan than your own kin."
Zhao Ling'er got up and gave Xiao Yan a sidelong glance.
"Of course. Su Fan is my true brother. My own kin? Do you think this is something a blood relative would do?"
Xiao Yan sneered and pointed to the wound on his chest.
Zhao Ling'er fell silent.
They all knew who had injured Xiao Yan, but what could they do?
Xiao Yan didn't care about the position of Crown Prince; he had given it up. As long as they didn't bother him anymore.
Zhao Ling'er went outside, intending to find an imperial physician to help Xiao Yan change his dressing. But as soon as she reached the door, she saw a group of people approaching menacingly, their presence overwhelming.
Zhao Ling'er was startled.
Having stayed in the palace for so long, she was no longer a mere rich young lady. She had some shrewdness, and seeing the situation, she immediately realized something was wrong.
She hurried back the way she came.
"Xiao Yan, a group of people have come and surrounded us!"
Zhao Ling'er pushed the door open and said to Xiao Yan with a look of panic.
Xiao Yan was taken aback.
"Did you see who they were?"
Xiao Yan struggled to sit up and asked Zhao Ling'er.
Zhao Ling'er shook her head.
It was too dark, and she hadn't seen clearly.
Xiao Yan frowned.
Suddenly, the sound of many footsteps echoed from outside the courtyard. Xiao Yan knew he couldn't hesitate any longer.
"Take me to the back courtyard!"
Xiao Yan said to Zhao Ling'er.
Zhao Ling'er quickly helped Xiao Yan towards the back courtyard.
By the time Xiao Zhihong's men arrived, Xiao Yan's bed was empty.
The commander of the Imperial Guards walked to the bedside and reached into the quilt.
"It's still warm. They haven't gone far. Search!"
Upon receiving the order, the Imperial Guards began to search the surroundings. They scoured both the front and back courtyards but found no trace of Xiao Yan.
The back courtyard, besides a garden and a waterside pavilion, contained only a well.
The commander suspected that Xiao Yan was either hiding underwater or in the well.