This noon.

“Your Majesty.” Prime Minister Gu bowed his head respectfully. “A report has come from Quanzhou. The Quanzhou Prefect, Qian Zhiwei, committed suicide out of fear of punishment. The Qian Clan has submitted a letter pleading guilty, along with one hundred and twenty-one account books, three million six hundred and twenty thousand taels of illicit silver, and a total of forty chests of jewelry and antiques.”

Eunuch Qingxi stepped forward, took the guilty plea from Prime Minister Gu’s hands, and presented it to Ji Su. The plea was a thick volume. Ji Su scanned a few lines, then casually tossed it onto the desk and sneered, “They’re certainly fast.”

The plea stated that Qian Zhiwei's two sons could not bear to see the people of Quanzhou living in misery. Trapped between loyalty and filial piety, they knelt and begged Qian Zhiwei to submit a confession of his crimes. The clan was also aware of this; the clan elders detained Qian Zhiwei, tallied the illicit silver, and intended to send it to the capital for investigation. Unexpectedly, Qian Zhiwei, fearing punishment, hanged himself in his room. The Qian Clan had truly failed the Emperor's grace and begged the Emperor to pass judgment.

Previously, all memorials concerning Qian Zhiwei were held back, neither discussed nor addressed. This was a deliberate act of ambiguity to stir the waters and see who would jump out. Unexpectedly, before the big fish took the bait, the bait itself was gone.

“Such loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness...” Ji Su sneered as he said this.

Prime Minister Gu shook his head and smiled. “This move is truly brilliant.”

The case of the Prince of Rui's assassination could be treated as either minor or major. The Emperor had shown no intention of dealing with Qian Zhiwei, yet the Qian Clan managed to force him to commit suicide first... The Qian Clan was merely of humble origin, only gaining some prestige because Qian Zhiwei became a third-rank prefect. Their action was akin to a lizard shedding its tail to survive.

Where did they get their information?

Without definite news, how could they bear to do it?

The person behind Qian Zhiwei is extraordinarily capable. Barring any surprises, it could only be one of a few people.

Prime Minister Gu paused. He had originally thought it was the Prince of Rui.

This matter began with the Prince of Rui's journey south. Ever since the Prince of Rui left the capital, there has been unusual activity in the northwest. Although no troops have moved, the number of carrier pigeons has increased significantly. As soon as the Prince of Rui arrived in Quanzhou, he first accepted two hundred thousand taels of silver from Qian Zhiwei as compensation for an accident. Later, after a disagreement, he sold off Second Young Master Qian... This matter seems absurd, but could it not be considered a show of force?

He had always believed the Prince of Rui to be deep and calculating. This Prince of Rui of theirs was known for his absurdity, but if he were thoroughly absurd, then Gu Yunhe would believe he was genuinely so. Yet, this absurd prince was rarely spoken ill of among the common people; he could even be said to have a virtuous reputation. He didn't act tyrannically, didn't bully men or women, and was rather public-spirited and righteous. He also had a wide circle of friends in the capital. Although they were all dandies, they all held some weight in their families...

The Emperor has no son, and the Prince of Rui was also born of the Empress. No matter from whose perspective, the Prince of Rui's status was extremely useful. In terms of legitimate succession, the Prince of Rui was personally raised by the Emperor and is a full cycle of twelve years younger. If an elder brother dies and is succeeded by a younger brother, that is also a legitimate line of succession.

For those with ulterior motives, if the Prince of Rui, as the Emperor's own younger brother, could denounce the Emperor for being unfilial and disloyal, for committing patricide and usurping the throne, and claim The Late Emperor had a different final edict... he could raise troops in the name of legitimacy to correct the foundation of the state.

So, does the Prince of Rui truly not want it? If the Emperor chooses a successor from the imperial clan, that would also be a legitimate succession, and the throne would then be out of his reach.

The current emperor is in the prime of his life. Unless the Emperor dies young, given the age difference between them, the Prince of Rui wouldn't be emperor for long. And although there is conflict between the Prince of Rui and the one in the northwest, that person has a fatal problem—he claims to be The Late Emperor's illegitimate son who was lost, while the Prince of Rui is the legitimate son of The Late Emperor, born of the Empress, and is close with the sons of many important court officials. It's obvious which side the court officials would stand on.

The most interesting part is—regardless of whether the Emperor or the one in the northwest succeeds or fails, it is beneficial to the Prince of Rui.

If the Emperor wins, he is the Emperor's own younger brother, with the Empress Dowager above him; he is in an invincible position. If the one in the northwest wins, he is the legitimate son of The Late Emperor; both title and righteousness are on his side. If the two sides remain entangled and both suffer heavy losses, the ultimate beneficiary would still be him—the country relies on a mature ruler, and in a time of chaos, how could a young lord be enthroned?

If he were the Prince of Rui and coveted the throne, he would secretly aid the northwest a little, use the northwest's movements to gain the Emperor's trust, then use the Emperor's movements to gain the northwest's trust, profiting from the middle. When the time is right, a gentle push, no matter which side he pushes, would put the throne in his grasp.

Viewed this way, the Prince of Rui is highly suspicious in this matter of Qian Zhiwei. The Prince of Rui was raised by the Emperor's side for many years and is his full-blooded brother. It's not strange that he could guess the Emperor's thoughts. Using this matter to gain the trust of the northwest... I heard that not long ago, a traitor was discovered among the Qingxuan Guard, also found out because of the Prince of Rui's assassination case?

However, all of this was overturned by what he had just seen. The Prince of Rui emerged from the side hall, and only then did he realize that the Prince of Rui had long since returned to Yanjing. Since he was living in Qingning Hall, the 'Prince of Rui' currently in Jiangnan must be the Emperor's doing.

Could the Emperor not have thought of what he, Gu Yunhe, had thought of?

Therefore, he said the Prince of Rui—enjoys abundant imperial favor.

With this move, the Emperor had deftly pulled the Prince of Rui out of this tangled mess. With him in the palace, living with Your Majesty, his every move under the Emperor's watch, how could he be at fault? If he were at fault, wouldn't it be because the Emperor had indulged him?

Thinking of this, Prime Minister Gu cupped his hands and said, “Speaking of which, what a coincidence. His Highness the Prince of Rui also mentioned Qian Zhiwei to your subject just now.”

Ji Su said flatly, “He is incompetent.”

Then it was indeed not the Prince of Rui's doing. The Emperor's meaning was: the Prince of Rui is incompetent and doesn't have such a deep and calculating mind to do these things.

Prime Minister Gu was a little curious. He was a man who could see the whole leopard by looking at a single spot. When the Prince of Rui had asked him about Qian Zhiwei just now, he understood that the Emperor intended for the Prince of Rui to get involved in court affairs.

From this perspective, there was no need for the Prince of Rui... Even if he had been in contact with the one in the northwest before, now that the Emperor had revealed his intention for him to engage in court affairs, there was no longer any need for him to cooperate with that person.

At this moment, he began to hope that the Prince of Rui actually did have the intention of being the fisherman who profits while the snipe and clam fight.

Ji Su tapped a memorial with one hand—Ji Weiqiu wasn't incompetent, he was just unpromising.

“You will take charge of this matter,” Ji Su ordered. “One month.”

Prime Minister Gu smiled wryly in his heart, yet a rare fighting spirit arose. He smiled and said, “I ask the Emperor to grant a few more days. Why don't we make a wager based on when His Highness returns to the capital?”

......

After Prime Minister Gu took his leave, Eunuch Qingxi received some news and hurriedly came to report. He said in a low voice, “Your Majesty, some things were found at the Prince of Rui's Manor...”

Ji Su toyed with the jade ring in his hand and said, “Dispose of them.”

Eunuch Qingxi paused. “Yes.”

Imperial robes, a jade seal, letters—how complete.

It was precisely because it was too complete that it didn't seem real.

So... did he truly never have them?

......

“Imperial Elder Brother, may I leave the palace?”

......

Night market.

“...Asking me?” Ji Weiqiu paused for a moment, a flash of panic seizing him. 'Why does my brother look like he's about to drag me outside to kill me, just to avoid dirtying the house? If he's asking this, it must mean he has evidence... but how could I not know if I've done something wrong?'

He could guarantee that he himself was absolutely not the problem.

Since he wasn't the problem, did something go wrong with his subordinates?

The Prince of Rui's Manor was huge. There were two hundred ordinary servants alone, not to mention guards, stewards, and accountants. There were too many reasons they could cause trouble. Everyone is a living person; who doesn't have family and friends?

He didn't know where the problem had occurred.

Therefore, Ji Weiqiu carefully recalled, confirming he had only met the second son of the Qian family at that club, and had never even seen the eldest. He said with certainty, “Brother, I'm not too clear about it.”

“Qian Zhiwei's corruption involves many, his crimes are inescapable, and it's not at all surprising for his family to be implicated. Besides the Qian Clan, his own children are the most affected. Once the edict is issued, they will be descendants of a criminal, unable to take the civil service... the imperial examinations, or become officials. For their family, it's better to shed their tail to survive.”

Ji Weiqiu thought for a moment. “Perhaps the person behind him hinted at it? For them, with Qian Zhiwei's death, this bad debt is settled. The Qian Clan gets a good reputation for being caught between loyalty and filial piety, sacrificing personal ties for the greater good. With such a reputation, their future path won't be completely blocked.”

Ji Su showed no emotion, looking at him calmly, as if to say, 'Keep making it up.'

Seeing his expression, Ji Weiqiu knew his brother hadn't listened to a single word. No, it wasn't that he hadn't listened, but that his brother thought these were indeed possibilities, yet the greatest suspicion still lay with him.

'What good would it do me to do this?! Why does my brother think I did it?!'

Ji Weiqiu felt an inability to defend himself. He said, “I really am not clear about this matter. Brother, if you think there's something wrong with me, just go ahead and investigate. You don't need to save face for me.”

To Ji Su's ears, these words were nothing short of a provocation. He felt he had already given Ji Weiqiu, this child he had raised himself, many chances today.

The assassination on the river, the movements of the False King—every clue pointed to him, the Prince of Rui. He had treated it as a deliberate frame-up, but starting from today, with Qian Zhiwei's death, Ji Weiqiu sounding out Prime Minister Gu, then inexplicably wanting to leave the palace, and even concocting a perfectly plausible reason for Qian Zhiwei's death... Did he think no one knew that a Qingxuan Guard was a spy, or that the old man selling masks was his man?

Was there a single true word from his mouth?

A sense of disillusionment suddenly arose in Ji Su. He said, “Get out.”

Hearing this, Ji Weiqiu felt a surge of anger and wanted to storm off—'I must be a masochist! He inexplicably threw me into Jiangnan, then inexplicably brought me back. Even when I was poisoned, I never thought to blame him, only thinking about his hard work traveling day and night. I dragged my sick body back to the capital from Ganquan Villa and hid in the palace like I couldn't be seen in public, and this is what I get in return!'

He treated him as his own brother, but that person didn't necessarily treat him as his own younger brother!

'If that's the case, why bother teaching him the art of being an emperor? What, was he afraid that if I acted as bait to fish out the False King later, I'd be too stupid and get myself killed halfway through? That he couldn't maximize the benefits?!'

'And he was touched? Touched my ass!'

Ji Weiqiu lifted the curtain and stood up, about to jump out of the carriage, but Eunuch Qingxi grabbed him and firmly pushed him back down. “Your Highness, be careful! You can't just jump out like that!”

Eunuch Qingxi hadn't failed to hear, but he just found it baffling. Weren't they just talking and laughing a moment ago? How did they start arguing? He lowered his voice and said, “How could the Emperor truly be angry with you? Just yield a little.”

Ji Weiqiu didn't even look at Ji Su, about to say, 'How would I dare be angry with the Emperor? What am I? Am I even worthy?!' He paused, suddenly realizing something: if he left now, it would be an admission that he did it!

His brother... Ji Su wasn't an ordinary person. For him to ask him to his face today was, in a way, already giving him, his younger brother, some face. He was allowing him to defend himself. If it were anyone else, they might already be in prison by now.

Eunuch Qingxi looked anxiously at Ji Su, then back at Ji Weiqiu. “Aiyo, this... Your Highness, Your Majesty, this... How can there be an overnight grudge between brothers?”

Before he could finish, Ji Weiqiu shamelessly lowered the curtain again.

Ji Su said slowly, “Why aren't you leaving?”

Though it was nighttime, Ji Su's eyes seemed to pierce into one's heart, so sharp they were frightening. Ji Weiqiu remembered this look. It was the same look Ji Su had when he killed the seventh princess, who had been raised by Mother Empress's side since childhood.

A bitter taste filled Ji Weiqiu's mouth, and he couldn't help but mock himself inwardly: 'See, just look at you. To save your own life, don't you still have to sit here shamelessly? If you have the guts, just leave! Be tough, at worst it's just your life! Where's your backbone? Where's your dignity?'

“I won't leave!” Ji Weiqiu said angrily. “I don't even know what I did to displease you. What does Qian Zhiwei's death have to do with me? How many times have I even met him? If you hadn't shown me the memorials, I wouldn't care if he lived or died. It's not my business!”

“Brother, I really can't guess what you're thinking.” Ji Weiqiu was also disheartened. “Brother, what exactly do you think is wrong? Can I explain it to you? I'm right here. You can do whatever you want, investigate however you want. The Prince of Rui's Manor is three streets over, not even a tea's time to walk there. Investigate wherever you think there's a problem. You can even tear the Prince of Rui's Manor apart for all I care.”

“Or you can strip me of my prince title. I'll just be an ordinary member of the imperial clan. You can lock me up, just give me food to eat and clothes to wear. If that's not enough, you can throw me in the Dali Temple, that should be fine, right!”

Ji Su retorted, “You think I wouldn't dare?”

Ji Weiqiu said, “It's me who doesn't dare... Those were words said in anger, I don't really want to go to the Dali Temple.”

After speaking, Ji Weiqiu suddenly felt the urge to cry. He bit his lip, but a layer of mist still formed in his eyes. He felt ashamed and wanted to wipe them, but didn't dare to, so he could only lower his head.

He seemed to be genuinely aggrieved.

Ji Su thought languidly.

...Enough. This could be considered a warning to him today. In the future, he probably wouldn't dare to do such reckless things. He said, “What is the relationship between the spy in the Qingxuan Guard and you?”

Ji Weiqiu blinked hard. “Which one are you talking about?”

“The one from just now,” Ji Su said.

After realizing what was going on, Ji Weiqiu was dumbfounded. “Who? The one who bought me sugar cakes? He's a spy?!”

Ji Su didn't answer, which was clearly a confirmation.

Ji Weiqiu was one step short of swearing to the heavens. “I really don't know who he is! I just saw him standing inconspicuously and asked him to run an errand!”

Ji Su nodded. “Fine.”

After that, nothing more was said.

Ji Weiqiu didn't expect Ji Su to believe him just like that. He repeated, “Really, I honestly didn't know he was a spy. If he were a spy, would I order him around so openly? Don't I understand the principle of avoiding suspicion?”

Ji Su glanced at him faintly. “We understand.”

'You know my ass!'

How could Ji Weiqiu not hear the mockery in that?

Ji Weiqiu thought hard about what he had done today but couldn't figure out what had made Ji Su think he was restless. He didn't know what to say either; saying more would seem like he was deliberately trying to cover something up. For now, the only plan was to be obedient, behave himself, and wait for this storm to pass... He never wanted to enter the palace again.

He truly regretted it. He shouldn't have come to the palace from Ganquan Villa.

Ji Su showed him a little kindness, and he eagerly came running. He deserved this.

The carriage moved at a leisurely pace. After a long silence, it finally entered the palace grounds. Ji Weiqiu waited for the carriage to stop and eagerly got out. After Ji Su disembarked, he followed behind him, returning to the side hall in silence.

'Behave yourself.'

'Don't have too many expectations... After sitting in this position, his brother is no longer his brother. His brother was the Crown Prince, not Emperor Ji Su.'

The night was deep. Ji Weiqiu washed up haphazardly and fell asleep. When he woke up the next day, it was already late in the morning. He had groggily taken Imperial Physician Hu's medicine early that morning. At the time, Xiao Zhuo had asked if he wanted to go out and bask in the sun, and he had said there was no need.

'What's the point of going out? To be an eyesore to Ji Su?'

It was Ji Su giving him some face by not throwing him into the Dali Temple.

Eunuch Xiao Zhuo heard the sound and came in, asking softly, “Your Highness, are you getting up?”

“Get out,” Ji Weiqiu said.

Eunuch Xiao Zhuo bowed and exited quietly. Ji Weiqiu hadn't been lying down for long when he heard a commotion outside. He remained in bed, thinking idly, 'Who is that outside? Daring to make a ruckus in Qingning Palace? Are they tired of living?'

“Empress Dowager!”

“Your Majesty, this side hall cannot be entered without the Emperor's command!”

“Your Majesty—!”

“You dare to block this Empress Dowager?” a familiar female voice said from outside. “This matter concerns the state! It's not for you to be meddling here. Step aside!”

Ji Weiqiu was startled. 'Huh? Why is Mother Empress here?!'

Before he could react, the door to the side hall was forcefully pushed open. A figure in a purple palace dress walked in with great poise. A nanny said coldly, “Why haven't you come out to greet the Empress Dowager?!”

Ji Weiqiu: “...”

'What should I do?! Should I hide or not?!'

Before he could get up, he saw his Mother Empress had already walked in. The Empress Dowager saw Ji Weiqiu clutching his blanket, and Ji Weiqiu saw the Empress Dowager, who had come in full regalia.

The two stared at each other, wide-eyed. “...”

......

An hour later, in Qingning Hall, the Empress Dowager, Ji Su, and Ji Weiqiu were seated at a table.

The Empress Dowager was all smiles. “Eldest, really now. Your younger brother returned quietly, why didn't you tell Mother Empress? I heard he was assassinated, then poisoned. I was worried sick!”

She then turned to Ji Weiqiu, still smiling brightly. “You too. You came back, and if your Imperial Elder Brother forbade you from telling, couldn't you have come and told Mother Empress secretly? Look at you, you've grown so haggard! And you, didn't I send you to Jiangnan just to have fun? Causing all this trouble...”

“Mother Empress...” Ji Weiqiu was about to explain, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he saw his mother clutch her chest and let out a sob. “No need to say anything. Mother Empress, as a mere woman, doesn't understand your court affairs... Eat more. Look at you two brothers, both so thin. Does our royal family not have the money to support you?”

“Never mind, never mind. You brothers are grown now, Mother Empress can't manage you anymore. As long as you two are of one heart, I can rest easy about everything.”

Ji Weiqiu raised his hand. “Imperial Elder Brother likes this dish...”

Ji Su said flatly, “You have more.”

The Empress Dowager felt greatly comforted.

The author has something to say:

[Added a bit of plot]

I've really wanted to write this for a long time

—Even if the two brothers become enemies, they still have to eat at the same table when they come home