Disappointment, Unable to Wait Ten Years

Thinking of his son's condition, Prince Duan's grief was quickly joined by a ruthless decisiveness. With a thud, Prince Duan knelt down:

"Your Majesty, I am too incompetent to protect my own son. But no matter how useless I am, I will never let anyone bully my child without striking back. Let me make myself clear today: the grudge of a wounded son is irreconcilable. If I do not avenge him, I am unworthy to be a father. I would tear down not only a princess's mansion, but even Yama's hell itself if I had to!"

His voice brimmed with murderous intent, echoing through the hall. The Emperor felt a jolt in his heart, wanting to speak, but when he met Prince Duan's anguished gaze, he found himself unable to utter a single word of rebuke.

The Emperor sighed softly. "Fifth Brother, I am heartbroken over Ray too. What happened has happened—no matter what you do, you can't change the fact that Ray has already been hurt. If you keep stirring up trouble like this, you'll only comfort our enemies and pain our own."

"Your Majesty..." Prince Duan couldn't believe what he was hearing, staring at the Emperor in shock. The Emperor's face darkened. "What, you won't listen to me now?"

"I wouldn't dare... I... accept your order." Prince Duan bowed his head, each word heavy and sorrowful.

What's done is done; his son was already ruined, so he had to accept it. There was no point in seeking revenge for his child.

Hahaha... What a joke. Truly, the funniest joke in the world.

If someone stole the Emperor's throne, could he say to the Emperor: 'Elder Brother, what's done is done. Just accept your fate and stop thinking about reclaiming the throne, lest you give others an opening.'

Elder Brother, would you accept that?

Do not do unto others what you would not want done to yourself. My dear elder brother, surely you understand that much?

Prince Duan took deep, heavy breaths, forcing down his grief and disappointment, reminding himself over and over that the man before him was his elder brother, the emperor he had sworn to serve. He could not show disrespect, could not question the emperor's judgment.

But... the inner reminders that always worked before were useless this time.

He hated it!

Ahem... The Emperor seemed to notice his own words were inappropriate and added, "Fifth Brother, I know you're worried about Ray, but we still need to get to the bottom of this. Third Sister is Ray's aunt—she would never harm him. You acted too rashly. As for Serena Feng staying in the Princess Royal's residence, Third Sister didn't know about it."

Prince Duan was beyond disappointed. It had always been this way since childhood. Every time he argued with the Princess Royal, regardless of who was right or wrong, their father would always blame him. Now his elder brother was doing the same.

Prince Duan looked deeply at the Emperor, making no effort to hide the sorrow and disappointment in his eyes. "Elder Brother... I call you that just to remind you, even if I am a brute, I am not a fool."

Prince Duan choked back a sob, his voice raw with grief: "The day Serena Feng entered the city, there was an assassination attempt at the gate. She left early, the Brocade Guard failed to catch her, but they did throw her guards in prison. That day, Serena Feng spent a fortune to bribe the Brocade Guard. Elder Brother, are you telling me that after such a major incident, you and the Princess Royal didn't know Serena Feng had entered the city?"

"Fifth Brother..." The Emperor looked embarrassed, at a loss for words, and finally mumbled, "I did know Serena Feng entered the city, but I knew nothing about Ray."

"You didn't know, and I believe you. But what about the Princess Royal? Are you telling me she didn't know? Wasn't she the one who ordered the Brocade Guard to arrest people? Elder Brother, I know you and Father have spoiled her since childhood—I don't envy her, I don't resent it. But in this matter, are you still going to take her side? Others might not recognize Ray, but she's his own aunt—how could she not?"

Prince Duan paused briefly. Seeing the Emperor about to speak, he cut him off: "Elder Brother, don't tell me the Princess Royal didn't see Ray. Ray was traumatized, dull and broken, his hands ruined. Now, except for Serena Feng, he won't let anyone near him. Wherever Serena Feng goes, she carries him in her arms. Unless you're blind, there's no way you wouldn't notice my Ray."

Calling her 'Princess Royal' over and over, Prince Duan was making it clear he was drawing a line between himself and her.

"Fifth Brother, Third Sister was indeed at fault, but Ray's injury truly has nothing to do with her. Ray is her own nephew—how could she possibly hurt him?" The Emperor pleaded earnestly, but Prince Duan only responded with a mocking laugh.

"Hahaha... Elder Brother, are you joking?" Prince Duan had no respect for the Emperor now, standing up straight. "The Princess Royal could even harm her own son—do you think she'd spare my Ray? If she won't spare her own flesh and blood, there's nothing she wouldn't do."

"Fifth Brother, Third Sister isn't that kind of person. You're slandering her—if she heard this, she'd be heartbroken." The Emperor frowned, clearly displeased. Prince Duan had expected this, and felt only deeper sorrow.

He just couldn't understand what was so special about that depraved woman. Why did both Father and his elder brother treat her like a treasure, insisting she was kind and generous?

Enough... He'd never wanted to get involved in the fight for the throne, but now the situation was forcing his hand.

Elder Brother, don't blame me. If you must blame someone, blame yourself.

Prince Duan looked deeply at the Emperor, then hid all his sorrow, kneeling with a blank face: "Your Majesty, I admit my fault. Please punish me."

The Emperor didn't realize that Prince Duan's words came from utter disappointment and grief. He simply thought Prince Duan had come to his senses, and smiled: "That's more like it. We may be born into the imperial family, but we're still siblings—there's no such thing as a grudge that lasts overnight. In this matter, Third Sister bears some blame, and I won't pursue yours either. Later, release her son and the people you took from her estate. The rest, let it go. Third Sister won't hold it against you."

"I obey your command." When Prince Duan uttered these words, he had exhausted all his strength.

He didn't know how he managed to walk out; all he knew was... his elder brother was growing more and more foolish, spun around by a venomous woman.

Hahaha... How pitiful, how tragic.

Prince Duan threw back his head and laughed, tears streaming down his face.

Before entering the palace, he'd sworn he would never take sides, only stay loyal to the Emperor. But his dear elder brother had pushed him away—his loyalty was nothing but a joke.

"Isn't this Prince Duan? What, did a little praise from your elder brother make you so smug?" The Princess Royal, having heard Prince Duan was leaving, waited for him on purpose. Seeing him devastated, she smiled brilliantly, her flirtatious eyes gleaming with triumph.

When Prince Duan sensed someone approaching, he immediately hid his emotions and turned to look coldly at the Princess Royal. "Little Third, you're celebrating too soon. I have never claimed to be a gentleman, and I don't believe in waiting ten years for revenge. I'll settle this score very soon."

"Oh? So you're planning to defy the imperial decree? Aren't you afraid the Emperor will order your death?" The Princess Royal was all smiles, pure and friendly, making it hard to imagine how she could say something so cutting...