The Empress Dowager was very pleased after venting her anger, and Chu Shaoling was also quite happy. When he went to the Huixin Institute early in the morning, he encountered Chu Shaoruan. After greeting each other, Chu Shaoruan turned and left without saying another word.

Wang Muhan whispered, "Your Highness, that Consort Li has been punished, so the Second Prince has also lost face. Now, except for coming to the Huixin Institute and paying respects to the Emperor and Empress Dowager, he doesn't leave his own palace on ordinary days."

Chu Shaoling chuckled lightly, thinking that one should not be too unbridled when favored, for the more delighted one is before, the more dejected one will be after.

When Chu Shaoling listened to the Grand Tutor's lectures, he never liked having others present, so there were only him and Fu Jinglun in the pavilion. After finishing a chapter, Fu Jinglun put down the book and said softly, "Congratulations to Your Highness. Yesterday, during the court discussion, the Emperor approved of Wei Zhan being appointed as the commander of the Cavalry Battalion. Taking advantage of the Emperor's disgust towards the Zhen family and his longing for the Empress, having Marquis Zijun recommend Wei Zhan was truly a good idea. It's just that the Fourth Prince really lacks discernment. I didn't expect the Fourth Prince to actually harbor ill intentions towards Your Highness."

Fu Jinglun was his trusted strategist and knew about this matter. Chu Shaoling said, "Perhaps it's because the Empress Dowager has been treating me too well recently, making him anxious. He actually wanted to use Consort Li to harm me, what a fool."

Fu Jinglun shook his head and sighed. At first, he didn't believe that Chu Shaoruan could really betray Chu Shaoling. After all, they were born of the same mother. He had underestimated this seemingly naive little prince.

After some thought, Fu Jinglun couldn't help but lament, "It's just that there's one point Your Highness wouldn't listen to me. That day, if you had said you were praying for the Emperor, wouldn't it have been better? Although this incident suppressed Consort Li and the Zhen family, it didn't significantly improve the relationship between Your Highness and the Emperor. Without the Emperor's favor, you will still be at a disadvantage."

Chu Shaoling shook his head, "It was just an act, and overdoing it would be counterproductive. Everyone knows that the Emperor and I are not close. If I suddenly wanted to pray for him day and night, let alone the Emperor, even I wouldn't believe it myself. The Emperor is suspicious. If I ended up drawing a tiger that looks like a dog, it wouldn't be good. As for the Emperor's favor, hehe, what do I need it for?"

Fu Jinglun laughed and nodded, "Your Highness has your own plans. I understand now. But how does Your Highness think the Fourth Prince should be dealt with?"

Chu Shaoling sneered coldly, "He has already become estranged from me. Naturally, he can't be kept. Consort Li doesn't know that the information was provided by the Fourth Prince. I will find a way to let Consort Li know. By then, she and Chu Shaoruan will definitely think that this was a trap set by me and Chu Shaoyang. Given Consort Li's temperament, she certainly won't let the matter rest. At that time, I'll just watch the dogs bite each other."

Fu Jinglun didn't expect Chu Shaoling to be so ruthless. After some thought, he still advised, "Your Highness only has this one legitimate younger brother. The Fourth Prince is still young and may have been deceived by someone. It would be better if Your Highness clarified the matter and consoled him, thus subduing the Fourth Prince. Repaying evil with virtue will surely move the Fourth Prince."

Chu Shaoling looked as if he had heard a huge joke, his eyes full of resentment. He laughed coldly, "Teacher, are you trying to coax me? Repaying evil with virtue, how do you repay virtue? Even if others don't harm me, I will still harm them, let alone those who have harmed me. Each and every one of them, none of them can escape."

Fu Jinglun was secretly surprised. Chu Shaoling had always doted on the Fourth Prince, but recently, for some unknown reason, his temperament had greatly changed, and his actions had become increasingly ruthless. In any case, Fu Jinglun was pleased to see Chu Shaoling's mature mind. He nodded, "Your Highness handles matters decisively. I admire that."

After the lesson, Chu Shaoling left the Huixin Institute and saw Chu Shaoruan. Chu Shaoyang hurriedly came up to him, smiling, "Big Brother! I congratulate you."

It was admirable that Chu Shaoyang had such a good attitude. Chu Shaoling also had a face full of smiles, "Congratulate me on what? I told you long ago that I have my own ways."

The brothers let the servants follow them from a distance as they walked and talked. Chu Shaoyang said in a low voice, "Big Brother, I was so worried. That day, when Father Emperor and Consort Li went to investigate you, how did you turn the situation around? When I first heard about it, I was extremely shocked, fearing that the witchcraft matter would be exposed."

Chu Shaoling chuckled lightly, "It's all in the past. Forget it. I just can't figure out how Consort Li found out."

"I'm afraid some servants have ulterior motives." Chu Shaoruan had already thought of a way to exonerate himself. He said with concern, "Big Brother, when you prepared those things, you must have had the servants get some items. There are so many palace maids in Bitao Palace. Who knows which one is not loyal? Even with Wang Muhan, Big Brother can't completely trust him. When they saw those things, they will inevitably think in that direction. Big Brother, you should conduct a thorough investigation when you return and never let treacherous servants harm you."

Chu Shaoling nodded with a smile, "That's right. Anyone who dares to harm me, I will definitely not spare them."

They passed the Thousand Carp Pond. Chu Shaoyang headed west towards Zhaoyang Palace, while Chu Shaoling walked east back to Bitao Palace. Looking at his brother's back, Chu Shaoling sneered in his heart. Chu Shaoruan had given himself an excellent excuse, but unfortunately, he didn't know that Chu Shaoling had never practiced any witchcraft, let alone had anyone prepare talisman paper and cinnabar. From beginning to end, only Chu Shaoruan knew about this matter.

Chu Shaoling couldn't describe his feelings. If it was said to be heartless, he had already become completely heartless in his previous life. The current Chu Shaoyang was no longer the brother who clung to him, wanting their mother.

The snow was just right. Chu Shaoling didn't take the sedan chair and slowly walked back to Bitao Palace. Entering the main hall, Wancui led the palace maids to remove Chu Shaoling's cloak. Wancui took the hand warmer from a palace maid, tested it, and then handed it to Chu Shaoling. Another palace maid presented hot tea. Chu Shaoling took a sip of tea and, not seeing Wei Ji, turned to ask Wang Muhan, "Where is Wei Ji?"

Wang Muhan lowered her head and said, "Wei Ji is on duty at the hour of the Monkey. There is still one hour before he comes over. If Your Highness wants to see him, this servant will go call him right away." Wang Muhan knew that Chu Shaoling liked having Wei Ji by his side. Chu Shaoling usually spent the morning at the Huixin Institute, so Wang Muhan tried to arrange for Wei Ji to be on duty in the afternoon and evening. However, she didn't expect Chu Shaoling to ask about him even when he was absent for a short while.

Chu Shaoling looked outside, lost in thought. He smiled, as if thinking of something, and said, "Take me to see the room he lives in. There's no need to disturb him."

Eunuch Wang was stunned for a moment but didn't dare say anything. Now, Guard Wei was a third-rank guard. When he was off duty, he no longer needed to go to the outer city and lived in Bitao Palace. It was quite convenient to go and have a look. Wang Muhan bowed and accompanied Chu Shaoling out of the bedchamber. They walked along the winding corridor behind the hall and turned to the front. The guards' quarters were in the inverted houses in the front. With Eunuch Wang's arrangements, Wei Ji now had a room to himself.

The room was empty. Chu Shaoling slowly walked in. Wei Ji's room was very clean and tidy, with everything neatly organized. Chu Shaoling approached and touched the quilt on the bed, which was still quite warm.

Chu Shaoling took it upon himself to open Wei Ji's wardrobe and book box for a look. In Wei Ji's wardrobe, there were just a few cotton clothes and spare guard brocade robes. Underneath were a few undergarments, all washed clean. Chu Shaoling chuckled to himself, thinking that while no one was around, he could take all the undergarments. Knowing Wei Ji's personality, he would certainly be anxious and embarrassed but not dare to make a fuss.

In Wei Ji's book box were all military strategy books, which Chu Shaoling had long memorized. He casually flipped through them. Just as he was about to put them back, he noticed a box about half a foot square at the very back of the book box.

Without any hesitation, Chu Shaoling directly took it out and opened it. Inside was a piece of rice paper. When Chu Shaoling opened it up to look, he was stunned. It turned out to be a piece of discarded paper he had ruined while painting last year and had thrown away.

In the painting, a bright moon hung on a treetop, with two people sitting under the tree drinking wine, looking content. Chu Shaoling thought for a moment. This was a painting he had done last year as a birthday gift for Chu Shaoyang. At the time, he had wasted a few sheets of paper to paint that painting for Chu Shaoyang, casually tossing the discards. But he didn't know Wei Ji had picked one up from somewhere and hidden it away.

A spot in Chu Shaoling's heart suddenly ached, tugging at his heart, feeling both distressed and comforted.

Seeing Chu Shaoling lost in thought, Eunuch Wang also glanced at the painting and hurriedly apologized, "How did Your Highness's handwriting get out? It's this servant's fault for not keeping watch."

"It's alright, it's just a piece of discarded painting. I didn't even pay attention to it at the time." No one cared about this thing, yet Wei Ji had picked it up and treasured it.

Wei Ji went to the dining hall to get lunch, four steamed buns, two vegetarian and two with meat, wrapped up in a small package. Holding it, Wei Ji walked into the room, not expecting Chu Shaoling and Wang Muhan to also be there.

Chu Shaoling was still holding that painting. When Wei Ji looked up and saw it, his face instantly turned pale as he stammered, "Your...Your Highness..."