Before heading to the battlefield, the Second Prince had discussed with Xie Jue the likelihood that, once he left Fox City, the Eldest Prince would surely target the armory. The red sandstone mine had always been coveted by them, a prize they had long sought to bring under control.
The Beiman King was valiant and skilled in warfare, but nowhere near as adept in the art of balance as the Yanyang Royal Family. If his preference were for the Eldest Prince, then military provisions and armants ought to have been handed over to him. Everyone would then know that the Eldest Prince is the next heir to the Beiman King, and none of the other princes would have any intent to compete. Yet, he deliberately divided the responsibility for provisions and armants between his two favored sons, intending for them to work together sincerely and support one another. But he forgot that the throne of Beiman has room for only one occupant. To ascend, one must push the other down. If the Second Prince could modestly accept the role of a vassal, this arrangent might have ensured peace. But the Second Prince, too, harbors ambitions for the throne, turning this division into an unpredictable factor for the Beiman Army.
However, the cracks and gaps between them were not yet obvious. No one dared tamper with the supplies, and all this was due to the Beiman King’s illustrious war achievents, which kept his sons’ sches firmly in check.
He was like a majestic tiger, beneath whose wings everyone relied on his strength. But if, one day, this tiger were to grow weak or lose the ability to protect his domain, the sons under his wings would begin fighting over territories, and the lands he ruled would splinter into chaos.
The Beiman people have their unique customs, and even Xie Jue could not fathom how such a system had been passed down for so many years.
Now the Sixth Prince wanted to encroach upon the core interests of the Second Prince Manor, under the banner of the Eldest Prince. This was undoubtedly a test of how far the Manor’s boundaries could be pushed.
Xie Jue said, "Before the prince set out for the battlefield, he discussed the preparation of supplies with . The Manor has dedicated personnel overseeing this matter, and in previous years, no errors have ever occurred. Sixth Prince need not worry; before the designated date, our armants will certainly be ready. The Eldest Prince’s leg injury has yet to recover and requires rest; I dare not disturb him excessively. And as Sixth Prince’s health is frail and he relies on dicinal redies, I only hope that both of you can recover well. As for matters requiring toil and effort, leave them to the Second Prince Manor. If there’s anything you need regarding the oversight of military provisions, you need only ask; we shall wholeheartedly assist."
The Sixth Prince was not oblivious to Xie Jue’s subtext, seeing through his words that he recognized their attempts to seize power and mocked their poor health. Smiling faintly, he sipped his tea and said, "Helian has been staying at Second Brother’s Manor and has grown bolder, it seems. Nowadays, even my words fall on deaf ears."
Xie Jue rose and respectfully bent his body. "I wouldn’t dare."
"What is it you wouldn’t dare? You dared to compete with Xiao Jiu for influence, set a trap within the palace to ensure he completely lost any chance of marrying Lan Ningzhen; what else wouldn’t you dare? The Eldest Prince is recuperating from his leg injury, and I am sickly and unwell—this, indeed, is Second Brother’s most triumphant and smug year. Your Manor’s strategists must have been exceptionally industrious behind the scenes. Last year, after General ng was killed, was that not orchestrated by your Manor? Stirring discord between and the Eldest Prince?" The Sixth Prince spoke slowly, his smile growing colder.
Without even raising his head, Xie Jue could feel the pressure emanating from the Prince of Beiman. He said, "I receive royal provisions and serve the court with loyalty. Before departing, the Second Prince instructed clearly to coordinate thoroughly with the Eldest Prince on the armants. The Manor’s strategists, numbering over ten, each have their roles. If the Sixth Prince wishes to intervene in matters of armants, convincing only won’t suffice; you would need to persuade all the strategists of the Manor. They’ve served in the Manor for many years, loyal and unwavering, and will not betray us."
"I need not persuade everyone. I only need to persuade you. You, in turn, will persuade them," the Sixth Prince said plainly. "From the tone of your words, is this a refusal to cooperate with us?"
"Armants are crucial to the front-line warfare; I dare not decide privately. If the Prince deems it inappropriate, may I inquire with the Princess before offering a reply?" Xie Jue asked diplomatically, avoiding direct confrontation. He realized there was soone listening behind the screen—likely the Eldest Prince, as expected.
"Fine, then. Very well indeed. Helian Feng, you’ve grown audacious!" The Sixth Prince slamd the teacup forcefully onto the table, his voice full of nace. "I’ve approached you with kind words, yet you remain impervious. I never noticed before how adept Second Brother was at winning hearts—a single Lan Ningzhen has everyone wrapped around his little finger. Do you understand what kind of consequences await you for refusing today? Oh, and on New Year’s Eve, you were absent from the Imperial Court—rumors say you went out of the city with Lan Ningzhen. Such a pity, though: had you been in the Imperial Court that day, Xiao Jinghong wouldn’t have had to die; the one to perish would have been you. re Manor strategists—lives so cheap—have you thought this through?"
Xiao Jinghong’s death was a lingering grievance for the Manor’s strategists, fueling their resentnt and dread, yet leaving them helpless. Their lives were like drifting weeds, clinging to the shelter of the Manor, but even the Second Prince might not guarantee their safety—otherwise, Xiao Jinghong would not have died.
Xie Jue expertly displayed just the right amount of fear and trembling, as if startled, even a thin layer of sweat appearing on his forehead. This pleased the Sixth Prince greatly, and he decided not to push further for the mont. "Enough. I called you here today to discuss this matter. Go back and think it over carefully."
"Understood!"
Xie Jue kept his head down, masking the emotions in his eyes. Outside the door, Lan Ningzhen stood in striking red attire, leaning casually against a tree opposite the street, chewing on a stem of wildflower with a carefree, roguish air that gave him an irresistible charm.
Upon seeing him, Xie Jue’s lips curled into a faint smile as he called out, "Anning!"
Lan Ningzhen, gazing off into the distance, turned at the sound of his voice, plucking the flower stem from his mouth and breaking into a radiant smile as he waved at him. "I’ve co to take you ho!"
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