The incident of hitting the Second Prince that day did not cause any major waves. The Crown Prince, however, was particularly active with small movements. The two were like undercurrents surging beneath the surface, while their outward appearance remained calm.
The Crown Prince went south. The floods in the south had risen severely, submerging half the rice paddies. Food became scarce, houses were washed away, and refugees gradually increased.
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, a dam was repaired, the floodwaters were blocked, and the refugees were relieved. For a time, the Crown Prince's reputation spread far and wide in the south, with people saying he was benevolent and cared for his subjects.
The day before they were scheduled to return to the capital, a banquet was held. After several rounds of drinks, most of the guests had departed.
Only two people remained.
The Crown Prince's handsome face was flushed with intoxication. He had indulged in a few extra drinks that day. As a maid refilled his empty wine cup, the Crown Prince raised it to the only gentleman sitting attentively below.
"Qian Gong, you've worked hard these past few days. Without you, things wouldn't have been resolved so quickly."
The young man in white had fair skin and thin lips, giving him a cold and emotionless appearance. However, his eyes held a smile, and his straight back was as slender as bamboo.
His dark hair was held up by a single white jade hairpin, further accentuating his jade-like eyes and exuding an elegant aura.
Amidst the revelry of the banquet, he was clad in simple white, his gaze clear, not touching any alcohol, using tea as a substitute for wine. His voice was clear and light, "Your Highness is too kind; it is Your Highness's unparalleled talent."
The Crown Prince laughed heartily, draining his cup. He stood up unsteadily, his gaze burning, "Qian Gong, I want to ask you a question."
Cheng Qian Gong replied gently, "Your Highness, please speak."
"Between me and the Fourth Prince, who is more capable?"
The Crown Prince's eyes darkened, his breathing becoming heavy, his emotions fluctuating intensely.
The young man in white paused for a moment before saying, "Your Highness the Crown Prince is kind and wise, skilled in governance, and capable in action. The Fourth Prince's methods are cunning and brutal, not the actions of a wise ruler."
Although the answer was not entirely satisfactory, the Crown Prince's spirits became even more buoyant. He threw his wine cup to the ground, his deep eyes igniting with a fierce fire.
He spoke word by word, his brow furrowed with intensity.
He let out a laugh.
"Fourth Prince, oh Fourth Prince."
Cheng Qian Gong gently lowered his gaze, calmly taking a sip of tea. The Crown Prince's temperament remained unstable; he had always liked to compete with the Fourth Prince. Compared to the Fourth Prince, the Crown Prince was still too impatient.
He did not take sides. His life was dedicated to the common people, seeking only a wise ruler.
As for the Fourth Prince, he was too cruel and heartless, and beyond control.
Sunlight shone through the thin clouds, illuminating the land and reflecting a silver glow.
In front of the hall, a tripod bronze incense burner emitted wisps of white smoke. The rich scent of aloeswood was particularly invigorating and refreshing, its fragrance clear and secluded.
Shen Yue propped her head with one hand, casually flipping through a book on military strategy.
A beautiful, fair-skinned maidservant, with lowered eyes, delicately peeled grapes with her slender fingers. She brought the round, juice-filled grape flesh to Shen Yue's mouth, occasionally brushing against her soft lips.
Fu An walked in silently and gestured 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, will you be going to the training grounds later?"
Shen Yue's hair was not tied up, and it cascaded onto her snow-white neck. Her eyelashes, like ink, drooped slightly as she faintly responded with an "Mm."
After studying military strategy for an hour, 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 disliked being touched by others. He recalled an audacious maidservant who had dared to climb onto the Fourth Prince's bed. The Fourth Prince had been enraged, and the maidservant was dragged away and beaten to death. Even the bed was dismantled. Therefore, many matters, big and small, were handled personally by Fu An.
Shen Yue stayed at the training grounds for a long time, until dusk. The glorious reflection of the setting sun was blown onto the lake by the evening breeze, casting a large expanse of shimmering, bright rose-red scales.
Her temple hair was dampened by sweat, her skin cold and pale, her jawline beautifully sculpted.
She was breathing lightly. Fu An held a clean handkerchief and meticulously wiped the sweat from Shen Yue. Dressed in black, the exposed skin was like a patch of snow.
Putting aside her bow and arrows, Shen Yue prepared to leave. The summer day was muggy, yet her eyes seemed to carry a faint hint of coldness.
Her body was covered in the scent of sweat. As she was about to leave, she heard a commotion on the road.
Shen Yue originally did not want to meddle in other people's affairs, but upon hearing a familiar voice, her footsteps halted. After a moment of silence, she still walked over.
Shen Yao Jin sat on the ground in a disheveled state, his hands and clothes stained with mud, as if he had rolled around in a mud puddle. A eunuch was reaching out to pat Shen Yao Jin's head.
The simple-minded Shen Yao Jin was stunned, unaware that he was being bullied.
He even smiled foolishly and said, "Play, let's play together."
Shen Yue watched this scene, remembering dark memories from her past. Her tightly pursed lips curved into a sharp arc as she strode over.
The eunuch, hearing the sound, turned his head and saw the black-clad, white-skinned youth.
There was probably no one in the palace who did not recognize that face.
The eunuch broke out in a cold sweat and immediately fell to his knees, "This servant greets the Fourth Prince."
She stood tall and elegant, her back as straight and upright as a green bamboo, without the slightest tremor. Her tear mole was tinged with red, and her voice, luxurious and husky, was soft and slow, "You truly have a lot of nerve."
"This servant, this servant dares not, Fourth Prince, this servant is guilty!" The eunuch frantically kowtowed. The Seventh Prince was known to be simple-minded, a fact known to everyone in the palace. No one took such a prince seriously. While they might appear respectful on the surface, their hidden machinations were profound.
The eunuch had not expected to be so unlucky, to be seen by the passing Fourth Prince, thus bringing about such misfortune.
Shen Yue remained unmoved, her expression indifferent, a faint, chilling smile touching her lips. Her eyes were like frost, carrying a cold pride not befitting her age.
Her full, bright red lips uttered a single word.
"Strike."
Fu An stepped forward without a word and delivered over a dozen slaps to the eunuch. The crisp sounds echoed, and soon the eunuch's face was swollen like a pig's head.
He continued to beg desperately, tears and snot streaming down his face.
Shen Yue asked, "Which hand did you use?"
The eunuch dared not speak, kneeling on the ground like a lump of rotten flesh, his face burning with pain.
As if annoyed, she calmly lowered her long, thick eyelashes. "If that's the case, then neither hand is needed."
The eunuch's eyes were filled with terror. He tried to crawl to 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 stared, dumbfounded. Blood spilled everywhere, piercingly bright. He had never seen so much blood before, so red, so terrifying.