The incident of striking the second prince that day did not cause much of a stir. The Crown Prince, however, made many subtle moves. The two were locked in a fierce undercurrent, while the surface remained calm.
The Crown Prince went south. The floods in the south had risen severely, inundating half the rice paddies. Food was scarce, houses were washed away, and refugees were gradually increasing.
Following him was the top scholar, Cheng Qian Gong, who was the Crown Prince's companion reader. They had grown up together since childhood and shared a deep bond.
After more than half a month of work, they built a dam, blocked the floodwaters, and provided relief to the refugees. For a time, the Crown Prince's reputation soared in the south. People said the Crown Prince was benevolent and cared for his subjects.
The day before their planned return to the capital, a banquet was held. After several rounds of drinks, most of the guests had left.
Only two people remained.
The Crown Prince's handsome face was flushed with drunkenness. He had indulged in a few extra drinks today. A maid refilled his empty wine cup, and the Crown Prince raised it in a toast to the gentleman sitting alone below.
"Qian Gong, you've worked hard for the past few days. Without you, things wouldn't have been resolved so quickly."
The young man in white had very fair skin and thin lips, giving him a cold and ruthless appearance. However, his eyes held a smile, and his straight back was as slender as bamboo.
His dark, glossy hair was tied up with a single white jade hairpin, further accentuating his jade-like eyes and exuding an elegant aura.
Amidst the boisterous banquet, he was dressed in plain white, his eyes clear, abstaining from alcohol and substituting tea. His voice was clear and light, "Your Highness, you are too kind. It is Your Highness's unparalleled talent."
The Crown Prince burst into laughter and drained his cup. He stood up unsteadily, his gaze intense, "Qian Gong, I want to ask you a question."
Cheng Qian Gong replied gently, "Your Highness, please speak."
"Between me and Fourth Brother, who is more formidable?"
The Crown Prince's eyes darkened, his breathing grew heavy, and his emotions fluctuated wildly.
The young man in white paused before saying, "Your Highness the Crown Prince is kind and profound, excels in governance, and is capable in handling affairs. The Fourth Prince's methods are treacherous and brutal, not the actions of a wise ruler."
Although the answer was not entirely satisfactory, the Crown Prince's spirits soared even higher. He slammed his wine cup onto the ground, his deep eyes burning with a raging fire.
He spoke each word deliberately, his gaze intense.
He chuckled.
"Fourth Brother, oh Fourth Brother."
Cheng Qian Gong gently lowered his gaze and calmly sipped his tea. The Crown Prince's disposition remained unstable; he had always enjoyed competing with the Fourth Prince since childhood. Compared to the Fourth Prince, the Crown Prince was still too impatient.
He did not take sides. His life was dedicated to the people, seeking only a wise ruler.
As for the Fourth Prince, he was too cruel and heartless, beyond control.
***
Sunlight streamed through the thin clouds, illuminating the earth and reflecting silver rays.
In front of the hall, a bronze tripod incense burner emitted wisps of white smoke. The rich, intoxicating scent of agarwood was particularly invigorating and refreshing.
Shen Yue half-supported her head, casually flipping through a book of military strategies.
A beautiful, fair-skinned maid lowered her gaze, her slender fingers carefully peeling grapes. She offered the plump, juicy grapes to Shen Yue's mouth, occasionally brushing against her soft lips.
Fu An tiptoed in, gesturing for the maids in the hall to withdraw. He then knelt beside Shen Yue and offered a plump cherry to the Fourth Prince's mouth.
"Your Highness, are you going to the training grounds later?"
Shen Yue's hair was unbound, flowing down to her snow-white neck. Her dark eyelashes cast a faint shadow as she let out a soft "En."
After an hour of studying military strategies, Shen Yue stood up, preparing to head to the training grounds.
Fu An washed his hands and began to tie Shen Yue's hair.
The Fourth Prince detested being touched by others. He remembered a bold maid who had dared to climb onto the Fourth Prince's bed. The Fourth Prince had been furious, and the maid was dragged away and beaten to death. The bed itself was dismantled. Therefore, many daily tasks were personally handled by Fu An.
Shen Yue spent a long time at the training grounds until the evening glow arrived. The setting sun's glorious silhouette was blown by the evening breeze onto the lake, scattering a vast expanse of sparkling, vibrant rose-red scales.
Her temples were damp with sweat, her skin was cold and white, and her jawline was elegant.
She was breathing slightly heavily. Fu An held a clean handkerchief and meticulously wiped the sweat from Shen Yue. Dressed in black, her exposed skin appeared like a patch of snow.
Placing her bow and arrows aside, Shen Yue prepared to leave. The summer air was stifling, yet her eyes seemed to hold a faint chill.
Her body was covered in the scent of sweat. As she was about to depart, she heard a commotion on the road.
Shen Yue originally had no intention of meddling, but when she heard a familiar voice, her footsteps faltered. After a moment of silence, she still walked over.
Shen Yao Jin sat on the ground in a state of disarray, his hands and clothes covered in mud, as if he had rolled in a mud puddle. A eunuch was reaching out to pat Shen Yao Jin's head.
The foolish Shen Yao Jin stared blankly, unaware he was being bullied.
He even smiled foolishly and said, "Play, let's play together."
Shen Yue watched this scene, her inner dark memories resurfacing. Her tightly pursed lips curled into a sharp arc as she strode over.
The eunuch, hearing the sound, turned around and saw the young man in black with white skin.
His face was likely recognized by everyone in the palace.
The eunuch broke out in a cold sweat and immediately knelt down, "This servant greets the Fourth Prince."
She stood tall and graceful, her straight back as unyielding as a green bamboo, showing no signs of wavering. Her tear mole was a vibrant red. Her luxurious, husky voice was soft and slow, "You truly have a great deal of audacity."
"This servant, this servant dares not! Fourth Prince, this servant is guilty!" The eunuch frantically kowtowed. The Seventh Prince was known to be foolish, and everyone in the palace knew this. No one took such a prince seriously. Perhaps they were outwardly respectful, but their hidden schemes ran deep.
The eunuch never expected to be so unlucky, to be seen by the passing Fourth Prince and incur such misfortune.
Shen Yue remained unmoved, her expression cold, a hint of a chilling smile playing on her lips. Her eyes were like frost, an arrogance unbecoming of her age.
Her full, vibrant red lips uttered a single word.
"Beat."
Fu An stepped forward without a word, raising his hand and delivering more than ten slaps to the eunuch. The crisp sounds echoed, and before long, the eunuch's face was swollen like a pig's head.
He continued to beg for mercy, tears streaming down his face.
Shen Yue asked, "Which hand hit him?"
The eunuch dared not speak, kneeling on the ground like a lump of rotten flesh. His face burned with pain.
Seemingly annoyed, she indifferently lowered her long, thick eyelashes. "Since that's the case, then neither hand will be kept."
The eunuch's eyes were filled with terror. He tried to crawl towards the Fourth Prince but was kicked over by Fu An. The kick was heavy, directly breaking his ribs. He curled up on the ground, unable to even cry out.
Shen Yao Jin was stunned, blood pooling on the ground, a blinding sight. He had never seen so much blood before.