Yes, compared to Xie Jin Yan, the officials looked down even more on a prince born to a cook.

Even with the Emperor's protection, the court was now clearly divided into two factions: the Crown Prince party and the First Prince's faction.

Now that the First Prince was crippled, he could no longer be supported.

The conservative Confucian officials either respected the嫡 (dí, the legal wife's children) or the eldest.

Naturally, the vast majority would choose Xie Jin Yan.

Moreover, Xie Jin Yan was able to ascend to the position of Crown Prince not because he was the son of the legal wife.

Although young, he had fought on the battlefield, unlike Xie Ru Feng, who was pampered and protected by the Emperor.

Even if Xie Ru Feng tried to pretend, the soldiers on the frontier would not submit to him just because he dropped his pretense.

Even if he won over Prince Ning, it would only be a stalemate. If the officials were to find out that he had framed Xie Jin Yan, then... all that awaited him would be public outrage.

Originally, he could have waited for Xie Jin Yan to return to the capital safely and then been slowly suppressed by the Emperor, but his impatience gave Xie Jin Yan an opportunity.

Allowing him to bring these matters to the agenda.

However, that alone was far from enough.

In addition to this, before returning to the capital, he still needed to win over Song Yan.

And he needed to make good use of Xiao Yun Qi...

Otherwise, how could he live up to their "sincere hearts" intent on usurping the throne?

Thinking to himself, Xie Jin Yan immediately looked at Feng Yuan and instructed him, "Feng Yuan, go find two corpses, one male and one female, with statures similar to mine and Shijie (Senior martial sister). Then preserve them well, making sure they don't rot. Then leak news of my death."

"I want to lure the snakes out of their holes."

"Yes," Feng Yuan replied, and immediately turned and left.

Watching Feng Yuan's figure disappear into the distance, Yu Qing Wu quickly closed the door and turned back to Xie Jin Yan's side.

She frowned at him and lowered her voice, "Your Highness, are you planning to fake your death?"

"Yes."

Xie Jin Yan nodded, a hint of gloom on his brow. He laughed coldly, "Only when I am dead will those people reveal their true faces."

"When they are gloating, my reappearance will inevitably cause a great uproar. As for Xie Ru Feng, although he usually pretends to be weak, his current behavior shows that he is impatient for quick success and loves to show off. He has only been glorious for a few days, and he can't help but make a move?"

"With this kind of temperament, he might target those officials who once looked down on him if he enters the court. If he really wants to sit on the throne, I'm afraid it will be difficult."

"Furthermore, if he offends Song Yan in order to take my life, what do you think Song Yan will do?"

"Even if he knows he is being used by me, he will never swallow this anger. Once this crack is torn open, he will never have anything to do with Xie Ru Feng again."

That was really… the truth.

It had to be said, Xie Jin Yan had been maneuvering in the court for many years.

In just a moment, he had thought of all the possible outcomes.

So, what needed to be done now was to meet Song Yan, and second, to strengthen defenses, both to give Xie Ru Feng an opportunity to assassinate him and to ensure that he would not be injured.

Yu Qing Wu thought of someone.

Her Shimei (junior martial sister), Yan Qingqing...

Although young, she had a miraculous healing skill.

And she was quite knowledgeable in making sophisticated weapons.

With this in mind, Yu Qing Wu immediately told Xie Jin Yan her idea.

The two immediately sent someone to Yan Qingqing's hometown to deliver the news.

After arranging these matters, five days later, after Song Guan and Song Yilan returned to Qingzhou from Qu County, the two of them went to the Song residence as guests.

At this time, more than half of spring had passed, and the weather was gradually entering early summer.

Once summer arrived, it would be rainy.

It was only noon, and there was already a heavy rain.

The smell of soil drifted in the air with the rain, faintly accompanied by the scent of grass.

Stepping down from the carriage, one was greeted by a lush green meadow, surrounded by clear lakes, the water so clear that even the swimming fish were clearly visible.

Yu Qing Wu, Xie Jin Yan, Song Guan, and Song Yilan slowly stepped down from the carriage.

"Right here, this lake belongs to my family, it's all mine."

As soon as she got out of the carriage, Song Yilan pointed to the vast lake, saying with some pride.

After experiencing the events in Qu County, and working with Song Guan to destroy hundreds of lairs of the Southern Yue spies, Song Yilan seemed to have grown up a lot overnight.

She seemed to no longer resent Yu Qing Wu as much as before.

Instead, she gently took her arm and pointed to the fish in the water, asking, "By the way, Yu Niangzi (Miss Yu), since you can tame beasts, insects, and birds, can you also tame fish?"

This…

Yu Qing Wu had never tamed them, nor had she ever thought about it.

Hearing Song Yilan's question, she was slightly stunned, and honestly waved her hand, laughing, "No, fish can only survive in water, and they can't be used anywhere else, so I never thought about it."

"Oh, really? Can you tame horses? My family has a lot of horses."

Song Yilan was a little disappointed, but soon, excitement appeared on her face again.

If she could tame horses, then in the future, those horses would have to listen to her, and it would be easier to deal with that Qin clan.

Thinking of Qin Yiliu, Song Yilan's face couldn't help but droop.

However, when her gaze fell on Yu Qing Wu and Xie Jin Yan, a look of joy couldn't help but appear in her eyes.

What would that bitch, Qin, react when she saw these two people she hated the most in the past?

What would she react if she knew that the heroes who had taken down hundreds of Southern Yue spy strongholds a few days ago were herself and Song Guan?

Speaking of which, it was precisely because of this that Song Yilan no longer resented Yu Qing Wu so much.

After all, compared to fighting for favor with that Qin clan, being a hero could make her even more proud.

While thinking, the group had already arrived at the entrance of the Song residence.

The architecture of Shu was different from that of Kyoto. Although the Song family was the wealthiest clan in Qingzhou, the houses were very simple. Most of the houses were built of stone, unlike the princes and nobles of Kyoto, who mostly used smooth blue bricks.

The door was made of iron, and it looked very strong.

As Song Yilan knocked on the door, a servant walked out from inside. When he saw that it was Song Yilan, his face suddenly lit up with joy, and he excitedly called out to her, "Third Miss, you...you're back! Where have you been these days? You don't know how worried the master was."

Worried?

Her father must be worried.

Although her father was now very protective of that Qin clan, he still loved her after all.

Thinking of this, Song Yilan also missed her father a little.

She smiled, not answering the servant's words, but only loudly asked him, "Xiao Shi, where did my father go?"

"He went to the clan, saying that he had important matters to discuss with the Holy Maiden."

Holy Maiden?

Song Yilan sneered in her heart, but her face remained calm. She only gave Yu Qing Wu and Xie Jin Yan a look, and asked, "Yu Niangzi, Xie Langjun (young man), shall we go see my father first?"