Countless undercurrents flowed between the two beneath a calm surface. Bai Jiu left the hall first, leaving only the Crown Prince still inside. The Crown Prince watched his tall, handsome, and upright figure sway out of the hall's threshold, the expression on his face becoming increasingly unreadable. He only held compassion, but a killing intent leaked from his eyes.

Bai Jiu went straight back to his manor. Xiao Jin turned his head and couldn't find anyone. The Prince of Qin and Zhang Taiyan were still being held under his authority, so naturally, he was filled with worry. Turning his head, he saw Xie Jingsheng approaching.

"You've stabilized the situation." Xie Jingsheng had clearly rushed from the Hall of Heavenly Purity. His sleeves still carried the smell of gunpowder ash. "It's hard to say about the Prince of Qin, but Zhang Taiyan cannot die." He said, clutching his stomach and frowning, "Get me some strong liquor. Tonight, there's no sleeping."

Indeed, there was no sleeping. Just killing another Prince of Qin would already stir up monstrous controversy, not to mention adding Zhang Taiyan. Who knows what misfortune struck this year; three imperial nobles have fallen one after another. At this rate, only the Crown Prince and the Prince of Tang would be left.

Thinking of this, Xie Jingsheng suddenly said, "Where is the Prince of Tang?"

Xiao Jin was extremely busy; how could he still remember a timid Prince of Tang?

When Bai Jiu returned to his manor, it was almost dawn. He carried a chill all over him, and even after bathing, the cold couldn't be concealed. He reached his hand into the quilt and knew Xin Yi was still awake.

"Why aren't you sleeping?" Bai Jiu leaned on the edge of the bed and asked him softly.

Xin Yi opened his eyes and said, "I got distracted and didn't notice the time until now." Then he added, "It's cold outside, come in."

Bai Jiu got under the covers. Xin Yi reached over and stroked his back. Bai Jiu smiled, "No injuries." He said, embracing Xin Yi with his other hand, gently patting his back, and lowering his gaze, "Sleep with me a little longer."

Xin Yi heard Bai Jiu's breathing deepen, and the hand patting his back also slowly stopped. He knew this meant Bai Jiu was truly tired. He closed his eyes, but his mind remained clear.

The next day, the Emperor was still in bed. He only summoned Imperial Physician Hong and Bai Jiu for an audience. He Anchang pleaded for Zhang Taiyan, kneeling for a long time outside the Hall of Heavenly Purity. The longer he knelt, the angrier the Emperor became. The Crown Prince was also refused entry to the hall. As for the Prince of Qin, no one dared to mention him.

The gunpowder incident was extraordinary. Only someone of immense influence could have accomplished such a deed within the palace. Xiao Jin's Capital Guards Bureau vigorously investigated. The detained eunuchs all uniformly claimed it was at the Prince of Qin's instigation. Even the Prince of Qin himself fully admitted responsibility for the matter, intent on seeking death. Even Xiao Jin detected something fishy, but the Prince of Qin clenched his teeth and refused to name anyone else, so the case could only be placed upon his head. Intentionally attempting to harm His Majesty was a capital offense.

The Left Faction also felt deeply wronged. Zhang Taiyan, their leader, was imprisoned first. The old man couldn't withstand the ordeal; if it dragged on, whether he could escape unscathed was unknown. He Anchang continued to kneel outside the Hall of Heavenly Purity. Below, Bai Jiu's people watched with covetous eyes. Their days were filled with apprehension.

Within a few days, Xin Yi, the heir of Beiyang, silently entered the Court of Judicial Review and became a small registrar under Zuo Kai.

"That's the Prince of Qin's cell." In the prison, Xiao Jin pointed to the innermost one for Xin Yi. "It's damp and gloomy, and he's quite ill."

Xin Yi was accompanying Zuo Kai this time to extract confessions from the eunuchs. Hearing this, he couldn't help but look over. Xiao Jin stroked his newly sprouted stubble and continued, "I think the Prince of Qin is doomed this time."

"The case isn't settled yet." Xin Yi held his pen, making a few strokes on the paper. "There are still three people's confessions; give them to me now, so I can explain things when I go up."

Xiao Jin said, "Aren't you curious?"

Xin Yi stopped writing. "My curiosity is useless." He paused and said, "However, this case truly doesn't seem like the Prince of Qin's doing."

"His Majesty has the final say in this matter." Xiao Jin turned his eyes back to observe Xin Yi and said, "Why do I feel like you're different?"

Xin Yi smiled, took the confessions, pointed upwards, and set off. Xiao Jin shouted from behind, "Come to my place for lunch at noon; my sister is waiting for you." Xin Yi nodded and went up. Xiao Jin let out a "hey" sound on the spot and muttered to himself, "He really doesn't ask anything..."

Xin Yi went up with the confessions. The damp and dark atmosphere of the prison did not affect his gentle, downcast gaze in the slightest as he stepped onto the stone stairs. Rather than curiosity, he wanted more to follow Zuo Kai and diligently hone himself. What he couldn't forget from the explosion that night was a sense of powerlessness. It surged from deep within, continuously tormenting his heart. Every time he recalled it, he grew a little more anxious. Xin Yi felt that he was no longer content with merely being protected by Bai Jiu. He also had a burgeoning desire to defend the last remaining warmth he had.

Zuo Kai, who was above, waited for a moment. Xin Yi then presented the confession. Zuo Kai was addressed as 'teacher' by Xin Yi. He considered himself strict, yet he couldn't find any faults in this young heir. Although Xin Yi couldn't speak, he was very diligent.

Zuo Kai flipped through the confession, and after a long while, he let out a sigh, saying nothing. Yet his pity for the Prince of Qin was entirely conveyed in that sigh. In this world, the only ones who couldn't be saved were those who sought death. The Prince of Qin had completely cut off his own retreat. His lineage's fate was sealed.

In this matter, the Prince of Qin hid gunpowder first, the Crown Prince intervened to protect His Majesty in the middle, and Zhang Taiyan pleaded for mercy last. The Emperor was in a state of heightened suspicion. The three events combined inevitably led to suspicion of the Crown Prince's premeditation. Because the Prince of Qin had always been aligned with the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince's return to the capital this time was also vigorously sought by him, it was not impossible for him to suffer this calamity for the Crown Prince. Furthermore, if the gunpowder had been more potent that night, and the Emperor had met with an accident, the Crown Prince, already having the Left Faction's affinity and the Capital Guards Bureau's separated forces at hand, plus the Prince of Qin's supporters, would have found it incredibly easy to quickly ascend to the throne. But on second thought, if this matter wasn't premeditated by the Crown Prince, then it was a case of killing three birds with one stone. As it now seemed, only Bai Jiu's faction stood out, reaping rich benefits. Even in court, no other power could rival him in the short term. In an instant, the tide turned. Bai Jiu seemed covered in infinite glory, but in reality, he was already at the cusp of danger. If the Emperor and Crown Prince were to reconcile as before, then as much favor and trust Bai Jiu enjoyed today, he would suffer as much hidden resentment that day.

This scheme was more than just killing three birds with one stone; it essentially suppressed all three factions in the capital overnight. But who this person was, was currently unknown.

Recently, Bai Jiu had been so busy that his feet barely touched the ground, and he was nowhere to be seen in the manor. Therefore, at noon, after Xin Yi left the Court of Judicial Review, he went to Xiao Jin's place as agreed. Meng Chen had been with him all along. They hadn't gone far when a carriage pulled up alongside them.

"Ah, Heir Yi." The person lifting the curtain was the Prince of Tang. His perpetually troubled expression finally showed a smile, and he said eagerly to Xin Yi, "Things have been busy these past few days, so I haven't been able to speak with you. Where are you off to?"

Xin Yi stopped, bowed with a smile, and pointed ahead. The Prince of Tang said, "Are you going to Lord Xiao's place? Come up, Imperial Uncle will give you a ride."

Xin Yi couldn't refuse this offer, so he got into the carriage. The two sat facing each other. The Prince of Tang seemed unaccustomed to formal pleasantries with others. He simply said, "No need for formalities in front of your Imperial Uncle. How have you been doing in the capital?"

Xin Yi nodded and smiled.

The Prince of Tang himself felt a bit awkward, saying regretfully, "I haven't had a long talk with you, and as your uncle, I'm truly out of line." After speaking, his melancholy face reappeared, and he said, "I couldn't persuade Old Seventh back then, which caused you to suffer. Now that you've come to the capital, if you need anything, just have someone inform this prince. Although this prince has no great abilities, I cannot let anyone bully you."

Seeing Xin Yi listening attentively, he continued, "The Prince of Pingding is a good man. Although the rumors outside are unpleasant, he has genuinely done a lot for your family."

Xin Yi looked up. The Prince of Tang said with a troubled expression, "Look at Bai Jiu now with the Crown Prince; isn't he holding a grudge? If you have time, you should try to stop him a bit. He is the Crown Prince after all; he can't go too far, or it will make things difficult for everyone."

'Was the root of Bai Jiu's longstanding animosity with the Crown Prince, the Prince of Yan?' Although Xin Yi was quite alarmed inwardly, he maintained a calm expression. He could only lower his gaze again to hide his shock.

The Prince of Tang earnestly advised, "Now that you are working in the Court of Judicial Review, you will inevitably deal with old cases and files. You're bound to encounter old matters. Your Imperial Uncle advises you." His palm rested on Xin Yi's shoulder, and he said sincerely, "Bear what you can bear. Some matters, even if investigated thoroughly, may not be overturned. Especially cases related to the Crown Prince, it's best to avoid them. The Crown Prince probably still harbors resentment."

These words undoubtedly stirred up a monstrous storm in Xin Yi's heart, almost overturning the calm he maintained.

That night.

The prison was silent. Suddenly, the sound of chains broke the stillness, like ice smashing onto water, gradually raising splashes. The Prince of Qin, held in the innermost cell, opened his eyes. He looked at the person standing with hands clasped behind his back in front of the cell in the darkness. His throat was dry, his body weak. He could only lean against the cold wall, staring at that person.

The opened food box was gently pushed over. The warm aroma of the food lingered at his nostrils. This scent was somewhat unusual; it made the Prince of Qin's eyes suddenly soften.

"It's hard for you to have found this." The Prince of Qin pulled at the corner of his mouth, picked up the chopsticks. His hands were stiff from the cold, and he couldn't help but tremble when he picked them up. He said, "It smells exactly the same."

'It smelled exactly the same as what Princess Consort of Qin used to make.'

The Prince of Qin, with trembling hands, took a few light bites. The food was in his mouth, but his eyes dimmed again. It took a long time for him to swallow, and he dropped the chopsticks onto the plate. "But the taste isn't the same."

That person kept watching him, but did not speak.

The Prince of Qin leaned against the wall, lost in thought for a while, then said, "I understand what you mean; I won't cause you any more trouble. I just don't want to live anymore. My eldest brother is dead, Old Sixth is dead, Old Seventh is dead, Zhirou is dead, Wen'er is also dead. At my age, I should be enjoying time with my brothers, wife, and children, but everyone is dead, leaving me alone and utterly meaningless. It would be better to go along with them, to be together in the afterlife."

That person said, "Some die fittingly, some get what they deserve; that is fate."

"However, neither of these is the reason for their passing." Prince of Qin said, "He is an executioner, but you are the one who sends people on their way."

That person fell silent, then said, "This is sentiment."

"Damned sentiment!" Prince of Qin laughed lifelessly. "You send an entire family to their deaths, yet you still speak of sentiment."

"You were never one to meddle in affairs." That person took out a wine cup and a wine pot from the food box and said, "Who was so talkative this time, telling you such things that shouldn't be told?"

"I've been your eyes for over a decade." Prince of Qin pressed down on the wine pot, leaned closer, and said expressionlessly, "Yet you killed my wife and son."

That person didn't move, but also raised his head. A trace of pity appeared in the pale moonlight, and he said, "Clean and decisive is the way to achieve greatness. I did it for your own good. Moreover, for Xin Wen, it was Bai Jiu's people who submitted the petition; I wanted to stop it, but I couldn't."

"If not for your tacit approval, he wouldn't be able to pull off such a big scheme. If not for your intention, he wouldn't leave such a huge handle. You sacrificed my son and completely absolved yourself. You are, after all, flesh and blood; do you not have a shred of guilt?"

"Since you put it that way," that person's pity grew, and he said hoarsely, "I have no shred of guilt."

"How could you!" Prince of Qin slammed his hand on the ground beside him, tears welling in his eyes, filled with hatred. "How could you two! You and him, you truly are father and son, killing sons and brothers, cold and heartless!"

"Only by being cold and heartless can one be worthy of the imperial family." That person's voice suddenly turned cold. "Shouldn't Old Sixth have died? Shouldn't Old Seventh have died? Shouldn't all these people have died? If Bai Zhirou hadn't died early, how could you have willingly remained in the capital!"

The Prince of Qin gritted his teeth, "What does it have to do with her? With just one word from you, I would go through fire and water; what does it have to do with her? What does it have to do with her!"

"Further words are useless now." That person pushed away the Prince of Qin's hand, filled a cup with wine from the pot. "Go now."

The Prince of Qin gave a desolate laugh, "Back in the palace, Consort Hui intended to poison my mother; you rushed to the Empress's palace, bringing Imperial Father to save her life. I remembered that forever, and for that, we shared a deep bond, seeing each other as brothers. I never thought this final journey would return to the beginning, also ending with a cup of wine."

That person pushed the cup. "There is a definite number in fate."

After saying that, the person had already turned away.

In the darkness, the Prince of Qin raised the cup. He watched that person leave step by step, then suddenly called out, "Third Brother."

That person paused.

The Prince of Qin said, "Your younger brother will go first."

As the words fell, he tilted his head back and drank it all. The empty cup slipped, shattering on the ground.

The next day, just as Xin Yi stepped into the Court of Judicial Review, he overheard others whispering, "Prince of Qin is gone."

The Prince of Qin was gone.