Chu Shaoling ended up assigning Wei Ji under Zhang Lifeng's command. Although Wei Ji was closer to Wei Zhan compared to Zhang Lifeng and would likely receive more care, Chu Shaoling was afraid that with Wei Zhan having just taken charge, his foundation was not yet stable. Sending Wei Ji to him at this time would be tricky - if Wei Zhan treated Wei Ji well, others would accuse him of favoritism; if he was strict with Wei Ji, it would pain Chu Shaoling's heart. After much consideration, sending him to Zhang Lifeng seemed the better option.

Although Zhang Lifeng always appeared indifferent towards Wei Ji, he actually quite liked this disciple in his heart. Zhang Lifeng's five sons all favored literature over martial arts, not taking after their father. Zhang Lifeng couldn't help but feel there was no one to entrust his great undertaking to. Wei Ji's appearance filled this void perfectly.

After Chu Shaoling smoothed things over with Zhang Lifeng and pulled some strings, he finally found a battalion commander position for Wei Ji. With arrangements made above and below, half a month had passed. When Zhang Lifeng sent over a few sets of military attire for Wei Ji, it was already mid-February. Chu Shaoling immediately had Wei Ji put on the armor for him to see. It was Wei Ji's first time donning armor. The fit was excellent. He couldn't stop caressing the iron plates on his body, smiling: "It fits well. How does it look, Your Highness?"

Chu Shaoling stood up to adjust Wei Ji's collar, nodding: "Looks great. I've informed your elder brother. He will escort you over tomorrow to introduce you to your superiors. I've made arrangements above and below you, you don't need to worry."

Wei Ji wasn't worried at all. Before entering the palace, he had spent time in the imperial guards. He was generally familiar with military matters. Although Chu Shaoling had pampered him with fine food and clothing for over a year, Wei Ji's nature remained unchanged. Hardship was his sustenance. Joining the military aligned with his original aspirations. He wasn't concerned at all. Of course, he wasn't concerned, but someone else was.

With Wei Ji having no military merits, the highest position Chu Shaoling could secure for him was battalion commander. Not to mention the many layers of superiors above, the military had always been tougher than other places. The more Chu Shaoling thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. After a pause, he said: "If it gets too tough or tiring, just tell me. Worst case, you don't have to go. I'll find you another post. Don't just endure everything."

Wei Ji smiled: "Rest assured, Your Highness. I don't fear hardship."

"Even if you don't fear it, you can't truly exhaust yourself." Chu Shaoling adjusted Wei Ji's shoulder armor, saying solemnly: "If it's just the usual hardships, so be it. After all, you only need to go for two hours each morning. There's just one thing I'm not at ease with - in the military, you don't need to be so considerate. If you don't see eye to eye with your superiors, there's no need to flatter them. Just ignore them. If anyone dares to bully you, note down their name, come back and tell me. I'll have my ways of dealing with them."

Seeing Chu Shaoling's expression, Wei Ji couldn't help but recall the instructions from his grandmother and wife when he first joined the imperial guards. Unable to hold back a smile, he said: "Your Highness is overthinking. The military isn't as rumored on the outside. Besides, I'm a battalion commander after all. How could I be bullied? Please don't worry, Your Highness."

Chu Shaoling sneered: "Of course I'm not worried. Your master is the Grand Marshal, your elder brother is a general, your man is Prince Qin. With so many people supporting you, you could walk sideways in the military if you wanted. If you still get bullied like this, I'd be at a loss too. If anything goes wrong, I'll find those blind fools, string them up and slaughter them all. But then, don't even think about leaving the manor anymore. Just stay put obediently at home."

Wei Ji knew Chu Shaoling was just concerned about him. His heart warmed. Lowering his head, he said: "Rest assured, Your Highness. I understand your intentions. In the military, I will handle matters with balance. My sole focus will be earning merit and fame. As for Your Highness' worries, it's for no other reason than fear of tarnishing your reputation. I wouldn't dare let others bully me. A top attendant by Prince Qin's side can't be treated like a nameless foot soldier after all."

Wei Ji's words struck a chord with Chu Shaoling. Chu Shaoling instantly felt much more at ease. Chuckling lightly, he said: "As long as you understand my intentions, that's good. Enough. Today Chu Shaoyang is being kicked out of the imperial city to his fief. Consider it an auspicious day. I've had the kitchen prepare a nice meal. Go change out of this attire and let's head to Lifelong Companion Building for lunch."

Wei Ji nodded: "Alright."

Chu Shaoyang's departure this time was not very glorious. The Emperor did not hold a grand feast for the officials nor inform the six palaces. He only said that Chu Shaoyang's illness made him averse to noise and bustle. For the sake of Chu Shaoyang's health, he had to be sent away quietly. Therefore, when Chu Shaoyang left the palace and the city, it was all very cold and desolate.

Among the princes, Chu Shaoling claimed illness, Chu Shaomo said he couldn't get away from official duties, Chu Shaosui was still too young and Consort Shu wouldn't let him out. Only Chu Shaoruan had no excuse and had to go out of the city to see him off.

Chu Shaoruan actually wasn't very clear about this matter. But he had also vaguely heard about the Emperor's great anger in Chengqian Palace before the new year. Afterwards, Chu Shaoyang inexplicably fell ill and was now being sent to his fief. Chu Shaoruan secretly felt there was more to the story. But he was vexed that the people in the Zhen Manor were not competent nowadays. Chu Shaoling had also secretly demoted many of his subordinates. Investigating anything was difficult. To this day, he only had a partial understanding of Chu Shaoyang's situation.

Because the Emperor had decreed earlier that Chu Shaoyang's poor health made him unable to be exposed to light, Chu Shaoyang had been lying in the carriage the whole time. Chu Shaoruan never got to see what Chu Shaoyang looked like. He grew increasingly suspicious. Could it be that Chu Shaoyang had already died? Did it have something to do with Chu Shaoling again?

It couldn't be. It's not like it was the Emperor who died and they were secretly mourning, fearing instability in the court. It's just a prince after all. Chu Shaoruan's heart felt like it was being clawed by cats. He really wanted to get closer and lift the thick carriage curtains to take a peek. Who exactly was inside? Dead or alive?

Facts proved that Chu Shaoruan's imagination was too wild. Before he could no longer resist the urge to lift the curtains, Chu Shaoyang spoke from inside. His breathing was not at all like someone on the verge of death. His voice was steady and forceful as he slowly said: "I suppose Second Brother has come to see me off?"

Chu Shaoruan was startled. He quickly replied: "Yes, Second Brother was worried about you, so I came to check on you."

"Sigh," Chu Shaoyang let out a sigh, seemingly filled with countless helplessness and bitterness. After a long while, he said, "Only now do I realize, Second Brother is the one who truly cares about me."

Chu Shaoruan's heart jolted. It seemed the rumors were true. Chu Shaoyang was not actually ill. Then what exactly was going on?

No matter how puzzled Chu Shaoruan was, he didn't dare ask in front of so many accompanying personnel. Besides, although he and Chu Shaoyang were not as hostile as with Chu Shaoling, they had never been close either. Who knew if Chu Shaoyang was setting him up?

Chu Shaoruan did not respond to Chu Shaoyang's words. He only said: "I had long heard that Fourth Brother fell ill. But Father Emperor, fearing disturbing Fourth Brother's recovery, forbade us from visiting. Now hearing Fourth Brother's voice, it seems you have improved somewhat. Fourth Brother, you must prioritize recuperation above all else."

Chu Shaoyang sighed in the carriage and said after a while, "We are brothers, and at this time, only you, Second Brother, are still thinking of me. I don't have anything good to give you, but this is a hand warmer that the Empress Dowager rewarded me last year, which is very exquisite. Now I will give it to you, Second Brother. In the future, with mountains and rivers between us, who knows when we will meet again. Take care, Second Brother."

The attendant serving outside the carriage opened a crack, took the hand warmer with both hands, turned around and walked over to hand it to Chu Shaoruan. Chu Shaoruan felt uneasy in his heart when Chu Shaoyang called him "Second Brother" repeatedly, and he didn't dare to accept it. Chu Shaoruan gave a look, and his attendant hurriedly took it over. Chu Shaoruan said in a deep voice, "Fourth Brother, I accept your affection. I hope that you will take good care of yourself in the future and not be too sad. When your illness is cured, you will naturally be able to return to the city."

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then Chu Shaoyang's carriage left. Hundreds of palace servants and attendants, as well as three thousand imperial guards, accompanied him, heading southwest in a grand procession.

In the tightly guarded carriage, a hint of a cold smile appeared at the corner of Chu Shaoyang's mouth. Did they think that by sending him out of the imperial city, he would resign himself to his fate? Never.

Chu Shaoyang originally also despised Chu Shaoruan and his concubine-born mother. That pair was too much of an eyesore. Consort Li took away the Emperor's favor, and Chu Shaoruan took away the Emperor's love. But in recent years, Chu Shaoyang had increasingly felt that this mother and son pair had become more important to him. At the very least, they diverted a lot of Chu Shaoling's energy.

Now that he was practically exiled, as long as the Emperor said he was still ill, he would have to remain ill. But what if the Emperor didn't care?

Chu Shaoyang saw clearly that with his departure, the struggle for the throne would become more evident. Chu Shaomo's mother's family was lowly, and he was foolish. Chu Shaosui was too young and his talent was unknown. Not many people would support these two. The only ones with a chance for success were Chu Shaoling and Chu Shaoruan.

Chu Shaoling had a noble status and the support of the Empress Dowager, while Chu Shaoruan's mother was favored and had the Emperor's approval. These two were evenly matched in the past two years. However, starting from last winter, the situation changed. Chu Shaoling seemed to have become a different person, and the situation for Chu Shaoruan and the Zhen family took a sharp turn for the worse, suppressed by Chu Shaoling.

Chu Shaoyang sneered coldly. He had previously wanted to use Chu Shaoruan to kill Chu Shaoling, and then take over Chu Shaoling's forces to kill Chu Shaoruan. However, he didn't expect Chu Shaoruan to be so useless, being forced by Chu Shaoling to the point of having no power to fight back.

Now that Chu Shaoyang was in trouble, the only way out was for Chu Shaoling and Chu Shaoruan to both suffer losses. When both of them were dead, even if he had made mistakes in the past, he was still the eldest legitimate son. With only Chu Shaomo and Chu Shaosui left, what choice would the Emperor have? He could only establish Chu Shaoyang as the Crown Prince.

Chu Shaoyang thought it through. Since Chu Shaoruan was weak now, he had to help him. If Chu Shaoruan was smart enough to see the things in the incense burner, he should still have a few chances of winning.

Chu Shaoyang's face was gloomy as he looked at the roof of the carriage. He only needed to wait now. After the clam and the crane fought, he would return to the imperial city to reap the benefits as the fisherman.

In Linzhi Palace, Consort Li read the letter in her hand, her heart filled with doubt: "Is this true?"

Chu Shaoruan was also hesitant, and after a while, he said, "When Chu Shaoyang left, he put something in the hand warmer and gave it to me. From his tone, it seemed like he had something unsaid. Sigh, I don't know what to say. I'm also half believing and half doubting. Mother Consort, do you know anything else about what happened in Chengqian Palace that day?"

Consort Li shook her head and gently bit her lip, slowly saying, "I was also puzzled that day and wanted to sound out your father, the Emperor. But you don't know yet?" Speaking of the Emperor, Consort Li's heart was filled with many complaints, and she couldn't help but say resentfully, "Now, in your father's eyes, there is only your good cousin! He only believes her all day long and treats me as a great evil person who wants to kill and harm her. How could he pay attention to me?"

Chu Shaoruan sighed in his heart and patiently said, "Mother Consort, you are too easily provoked. Consort Zhen always tries to make you angry so that she can act like a virtuous person, making the Emperor and the Empress Dowager dislike you. But you always fall for it. Forget it, let's not talk about this today. Let's just talk about whether we can trust what Chu Shaoyang said."

Consort Li read the letter back and forth a few more times, and after a while, she laughed coldly, "Whether it's true or false, we'll just assume it's true! Anyway, this person has nothing to do with us. Whether he lives or dies doesn't affect us. If it's true, it's good to stab Chu Shaoling in the heart. If it's false, it's just adding another wronged soul to this imperial city."

Chu Shaoruan hesitated for a moment and nodded, "Chu Shaoyang's departure this time is strange. Maybe it was really Chu Shaoling's doing. That venomous snake is sinister and ruthless. He might be able to harden his heart even against his own brothers. Let's give it a try."

Chu Shaoruan got up, walked to the incense burner, and threw the letter in his hand into it. The paper touched the burning charcoal and instantly caught fire. The densely packed small characters turned into ashes. In the corner of the letter, the words "Wei Ji" were faintly written. The flames licked up and burned it in an instant.