"Your Highness," the maid hesitated before speaking, "it's been three days, and Your Highness has not eaten or drunk anything. Your body can't take it."

Chu Shaoling chuckled lightly, "Now that I'm under house arrest, what does it matter if I don't eat or drink? Just leave it."

The maid knew it was pointless to say more. The once glorious and powerful Prince Qin had been accused of treason, with evidence and witnesses against him. Prince Qin had no way to defend himself, and from that day on, he was placed under house arrest. The Emperor never inquired about him again.

The maids withdrew one after another. After a moment of silence, Chu Shaoling picked up a pastry from the table, broke it open, and took out a letter wrapped in oiled paper.

Chu Shaoling read it slowly and then casually threw the paper into the charcoal brazier.

Fu Jinglun and the others were gathering people to prepare to rescue him.

Although Chu Shaoling was under house arrest in his own residence for privately keeping a dragon robe, his network of connections and prestige in the court, built over many years, remained intact. His loyal followers were still there. Even if a centipede dies, it does not go stiff. Chu Shaoling had been building his power for many years and would not be defeated by this setback.

The situation was very unfavorable for him now. The letter made it clear that Fu Jinglun and the others were planning a rebellion. Whether the dragon robe incident was true or not, Chu Shaoling could not escape the charge of treason. Since he could not clear his name, his strategists could only carry out the rebellion to the end. Chu Shaoling understood that this was the only way to save his life.

Chu Shaoling's strategists were willing to die for him and were still struggling for him in this situation. Chu Shaoling felt a sense of comfort in his heart.

Chu Shaoling went to the study, took up a brush, and wrote a letter, listing the manors he had privately purchased over the years and the gold and silver he had accumulated. He distributed them according to the merits of the people who had followed him for many years. Finally, he strictly ordered his strategists and loyal followers not to die for him anymore.

Chu Shaoling had no children, and his wife had passed away last year. Now that he had settled these matters with the people who had always followed him, he truly had no attachments left.

Chu Shaoling's brush did not stop, "Shaoling has received much help from you all, which I will always remember. From now on, we will be separated by mountains and rivers. Take care of yourselves."

This time, Chu Shaoling did not hide the letter in the ashes to send it out but directly ordered someone to send the letter out openly and make it public. At this point, Chu Shaoling was not afraid of anything.

With the strength of Chu Shaoling's subordinates, changing the dynasty was not a joke. But this time, he did not want to fight anymore.

If it were the Zhen family or Prince Chen who had harmed him, Chu Shaoling would never have given up so easily. But the person who had harmed him this time was his own brother, the Fourth Prince Chu Shaoyang.

After the death of the previous Emperor, Chu Shaoling and the twelve-year-old Chu Shaoyang had relied on each other for survival. For several years, Chu Shaoling had been cautious and calculating in his every move, all for the sake of giving his younger brother a place in the imperial city. He had seen too much of the open and hidden struggles in the palace.

Without the protection of their mother, they had no choice but to fight. For the sake of Chu Shaoyang, he had defeated the Second Prince Xiang and the Third Prince Chen, and had almost wiped out the entire Zhen family, the maternal family of the current Empress. Just when Chu Shaoling thought that nothing could stop him, he never imagined that the one who would finally pull him down would be Chu Shaoyang, whom he had doted on and raised.

Chu Shaoling had fought for so long, all for the sake of letting Chu Shaoyang live well. Now that Chu Shaoyang had turned against him, Chu Shaoling did not know what he was fighting for anymore.

Chu Shaoling entered the inner chamber. In the five years since the residence was built, there were some ingenious mechanisms. The guards had not found a few hidden compartments. Chu Shaoling took out a dagger from a hidden compartment and concealed it in his sleeve.

Chu Shaoling sorted out the wealth of the residence and instructed the steward to distribute it according to the number of people. Although they were also under house arrest, they had served Chu Shaoling for many years and had received his favors. Seeing him like this, many people had tears in their eyes, and a few close maids could not hold back their sobs in the corridor.

Less than an hour after the letter was sent out, there was movement outside. The sound of armor and shields clashing could be heard, clearly the sound of the Imperial Guard's armor. Chu Shaoling chuckled. They had come so quickly.

Chu Shaoling sat down to have tea. Chu Shaoyang slowly walked in.

The brothers sat facing each other. Outside the hall, Chu Shaoling's five remaining close attendants and the ten Imperial Guards brought by Chu Shaoyang each guarded one side, their eyes full of vigilance and wariness. Chu Shaoling laughed. When had they, as brothers, ever been like this?

Chu Shaoyang silently took a cup of tea, not knowing what to say for a moment.

Chu Shaoling looked at Chu Shaoyang's features, which were similar to his own, and was a little lost in thought. When had it started? When had Chu Shaoyang begun to have a different mind and plan his own forces?

It was not that he had not noticed. How could someone as intelligent and alert as Chu Shaoling not have realized his younger brother's actions? But Chu Shaoling had always turned a blind eye. He could not bring himself to be ruthless towards Chu Shaoyang like he was towards others. Time and time again, he had secretly reprimanded him, and time and time again, he had indulged him, leading to today's outcome.

Chu Shaoling put down his teacup and said softly, "When did you start wanting to establish your own power?"

Chu Shaoyang was silent for a long time before shaking his head, "I don't remember."

Chu Shaoling scoffed, "My dear brother, my beloved."

Chu Shaoyang's face turned pale, his eyes full of unwillingness. He said hoarsely, "Big brother, were you really wholeheartedly devoted to me? If you truly cared for my well-being, why did you never give me any power or teach me anything? I don't need you. I want to fight for that power and position myself."

Chu Shaoling's face remained unchanged, but his heart turned cold. This was the younger brother he had doted on since childhood, the one he could not bear to let suffer any hardship or harm. He had done all the dirty and dark deeds himself, never allowing Chu Shaoyang to get his hands dirty, afraid of tainting his hands.

Chu Shaoling let out a long sigh. Before Empress Ling passed away, Chu Shaoling had sworn at his mother's bedside, promising Empress Ling that he would treat Chu Shaoyang well for the rest of his life, protect him and love him, and not let him be tainted by the dark side of the imperial family, allowing him to grow up in peace and happiness.

The younger brother he had protected and raised at the risk of his own life now came to question him, asking why he was unwilling to give him power.

Why was he unwilling to give him power? Chu Shaoling could not help but laugh. Chu Shaoyang saw Chu Shaoling laughing in a way that seemed unlike him and felt somewhat ashamed and angry. He tried to remain calm, "What's wrong with you?"

Chu Shaoling laughed coldly and shook his head, "You have no right to ask me these questions."

Chu Shaoyang would never know that the throne was never what Chu Shaoling wanted. If Chu Shaoyang had been of the same mind as him, what would it matter to give him the throne? It was an empire won for him in the first place. Chu Shaoling was willing to be the Duke of Zhou, but unfortunately Chu Shaoyang was even more suspicious and intolerant than Prince Cheng. Of course, there was no need to let Chu Shaoyang know about this.

Chu Shaoyang's face turned pale. Chu Shaoling interrupted what Chu Shaoyang was about to say and sneered, "You know better than me how the dragon robes and crown in my residence got there, and you also know better than me how those letters of association with foreign officials ended up in my study."

A few days ago, Chu Shaoyang had feigned illness to keep Chu Shaoling at the Prince Ming's residence. The people sent to retrieve Chu Shaoling's belongings had hidden the so-called evidence in the residence. Chu Shaoling had always been unguarded against Chu Shaoyang, and in the end, Chu Shaoyang had succeeded.

"I just didn't expect that you would actually collude with the Zhen family, that you would actually collude with the Empress," Chu Shaoling stared straight into Chu Shaoyang's eyes and asked him word by word, "How could you be so stupid?!"

Chu Shaoyang's face turned bright red in an instant.

Chu Shaoling stood up, lightly tidied his sleeves, and sneered, "Being stupid is one thing, but if you don't have the ability, don't try to plot against a tiger for its skin! Prince Xiang is the Empress Zhen's own son. Once you defeat me, how could Empress Zhen allow you to occupy this position? At that time, it would only take a word to pardon Prince Xiang and have him return from his fief! Then, will the Zhen family support Prince Xiang, who has Zhen blood, or will they support you?!"

Chu Shaoyang's face became even more deathly pale, his eyes filled with shame and anger. He shouted, "I don't need you to remind me! I know it myself." Chu Shaoling looked at Chu Shaoyang and sneered, but he didn't want to say more. Without him, it was only a matter of time before Chu Shaoyang was killed by the Zhen family.

Chu Shaoling had not had a moment's rest since Empress Ling's death. Now that he had put down his burden, he felt the most relaxed. Chu Shaoling didn't want anything anymore.

Chu Shaoling tidied his headdress and robes. He was born to the late Empress Yuan, the eldest of the main lineage, the most noble prince of the Chu dynasty. Even if he were to take his own life, he would die with nobility and dignity.

Chu Shaoling took another look at Chu Shaoyang. Just as he was about to take out the dagger from his sleeve, the guards outside the hall suddenly erupted!

Chu Shaoling was stunned for a moment. He turned his head to look outside. The guard seized the opportunity and suddenly pounced on one of the imperial guards brought by Chu Shaoyang. The guard's movements were extremely fast, and in a few moves, he had restrained the imperial guard under him and snatched the sword from the imperial guard's waist!

"Seize him!!" The leader of the imperial guards finally reacted. The nearby imperial guards immediately drew their swords and pounced. The guard drew the sword he had snatched, and as if a tiger had grown wings, he faced the nine elite imperial guards without any fear. He raised his sword and slashed. Before the imperial guards could react, the guard had already gained the upper hand. In just an instant, the guard had killed several imperial guards and turned to charge into the hall!

The leader of the imperial guards finally realized that the guard was targeting Chu Shaoyang. He shouted, "Protect His Highness," and took a few steps to block the entrance of the hall. However, he did not expect that this guard was a man willing to die. Dodging left and right, he charged into the hall despite being slashed several times!

The situation changed in an instant. The guard leaped into the hall and went straight for Chu Shaoyang. With a turn of his sword, it was pressed against Chu Shaoyang's neck! Everyone in the hall instantly dared not move.

The guard was covered in blood, his face splattered with blood, his murderous aura overwhelming. Even Chu Shaoling was stunned for a moment. Was this person sent by Fu Jinglun? Impossible. Fu Jinglun would never dare to act without his own authorization. Even if it was Fu Jinglun and the others who made a move, they would not take such a risk. But who else could it be?!

The guard had been staring at Chu Shaoling since entering the hall. His voice was slightly panting from the earlier fight, but it was also loud and clear, "Everyone except Prince Qin, leave the hall. You!"

The guard stared at the leader of the imperial guards and shouted, "Go prepare a four-horse carriage, now!"

Chu Shaoyang was frightened by the sudden turn of events and said in a hoarse voice, "What do you want to do?!"

This was a kidnapping of the Fourth Prince! Everyone was shocked and terrified. The leader of the imperial guards managed to say, "Listen..."

"Enough nonsense! Every minute you delay, I'll chop off one of the Prince Ming's fingers!" Fearing that the crowd would not act, the guard turned the blade and instantly made a cut on Chu Shaoyang's neck. Blood trickled down.

Chu Shaoyang felt a sharp pain in his neck. He had never experienced this before and hurriedly shouted, "What are you doing standing there? Hurry up and go!"

Everyone hurried to prepare the carriage and horses. The guard looked at Chu Shaoling and said in a deep voice, "I'm sorry for the inconvenience, Your Highness. Once we're out of the imperial city, Your Highness will have a place to make his move."

Chu Shaoling walked closer and only then did he see the guard's face clearly. Under the blood, the face could be considered delicate, and at this moment, it appeared even more heroic. However, due to excessive blood loss, his face was a bit pale. Chu Shaoling vaguely remembered having such a guard, but he really didn't know why he would do this for him. Chu Shaoling couldn't help but ask, "Who sent you here?"

The guard paused, lowered his eyes, and said softly, "No... no one sent this subordinate."

Chu Shaoling had never imagined that at this time, there would still be someone who would do this for him.