"Now, ten years later, he actually has a weakness, and all for a woman."
The Emperor leaned back in his dragon throne, unconsciously turning the jade thumb ring on his hand, his dragon eyes narrowing slightly.
As the saying goes, childhood shows the man. Xiao Yi's callousness was in his bones from birth, a coldness that was truly alarming.
In terms of ability, he surpassed the Crown Prince. In terms of intellect, he was sufficiently resolute. But he was too ruthless, lacking any weakness, which made the Emperor wary of him.
"Marrying her... is fine too." Having a weakness made him more like a human being; it gave him a vulnerability, proving he wasn't indestructible.
Eunuch Chen massaged the Emperor's temples and smiled, saying, "His Highness Prince An is at an age of youthful vigor. It is only natural for him to be captivated by a woman's charms."
The Emperor scoffed. "What do you know? These two sons of mine are completely different."
The Crown Prince has feelings, though he is not devoted; he has vulnerabilities that can be exploited. But Prince An...
"It takes no real skill for a daughter of the Cui family to make the Crown Prince like her. The second daughter of the Cui family, who caught Prince An's eye and made him play games with Us, is the one with true skill."
The heart of a cold and callous man is not so easily breached.
Eunuch Chen frowned. "Hearing Your Majesty say this, it seems none of the Cui family girls are easy to deal with."
The Emperor replied, "If they are easy to deal with, they can live a few more days. If not, We will simply snip the candle wick. It's as simple as that."
"Your Majesty is absolutely right."
The Emperor concealed the icy glint in his eyes and closed them to rest.
In terms of personal preference, he actually favored his younger son more. He had ambition, tactics, and enough ruthlessness.
When interacting with him, Xiao Yi hid needles in cotton and could hold his own in their exchanges without losing ground.
The Crown Prince, on the other hand, was just a ball of cotton. He had some brains but was far too cautious and timid. Raised by the Empress to be overly obedient, he lacked any sharp edges.
Such a soft and pliable temperament was unfit for the great responsibility of ruling a nation; he would be completely unable to keep the officials in line.
An emperor needed to be decisive and ruthless in his judgments.
Yet his two sons were at two completely opposite extremes, causing the Emperor constant headaches.
The Crown Prince was born to the Empress, making his succession entirely legitimate. But as long as the Cui and Tang families were not eliminated, the Emperor could not sleep peacefully at night, fearing the Crown Prince would fail to protect the Xiao family's empire and hand it over to others.
But even if he eliminated the Cui and Tang families for him, there would be countless other powerful officials in the court in the future. With his indecisive and cowardly nature, what would he do then?
Prince An, however, was decisive and ruthless enough.
But his ruthlessness was the kind that didn't distinguish between friend and foe; if he was displeased, he would simply slit their throats.
Not even Consort Liang was enough to keep him in check. If the Emperor handed the empire over to him, he feared Xiao Yi would slaughter every last official.
Being too merciful was cowardice, unable to defend the empire. The younger son was certainly not cowardly, but he was tyrannical! The Emperor feared he would destroy the empire.
"I had too few sons," the Emperor sighed softly.
It was precisely because of this that Xiao Yi was so unbridled; he knew the Emperor would never kill him.
Regardless of whether the Emperor was satisfied or not, the worst punishment was usually just a beating with a wooden board.
Not far from the Imperial Study, Xiao Yi's path was blocked by Lady Zhao. "Your Highness, Her Ladyship is tossing and turning, unable to sleep. She is deeply concerned and specifically asked this old servant to wait for Your Highness to leave the Imperial Study and invite you over."
Xiao Yi turned his steps and followed Lady Zhao to Consort Liang's sleeping quarters.
The palace was brightly lit with candles. Consort Liang sat on a chaise longue, gazing out into the courtyard. Seeing Xiao Yi's figure step inside, she immediately hopped down. "How was it? Did your imperial father agree? What was the result?"
Xiao Yi glanced at her, sat down in a nearby chair, picked up a teacup, and drank without saying a word.
"Oh my, say something! Are you trying to worry your mother to death?"
"The tea is cold," Xiao Yi said, setting down the cup. Beside them, Lady Zhao immediately ordered someone to bring fresh tea.
Consort Liang stared unblinkingly at Xiao Yi, her face full of expectation.
"Mother... is it just gossip that is keeping you awake?"
Consort Liang was speechless.
"Nonsense. I am clearly worried about you. Your imperial father detests the Cui family. Hearing that you want to marry a Cui girl, he will definitely be furious. How could I possibly sleep?"
"Then why didn't Mother go to the Imperial Study to plead for mercy on my behalf?"
"..."
Xiao Yi continued, "If it were the Empress, she would certainly have done so for the Crown Prince."
"..."
Consort Liang pursed her lips. "How did I not? Didn't I go to the Imperial Study for you beforehand?"
"Mother was just causing trouble for me, not helping me."
"..."
Consort Liang scrunched up her face, secretly annoyed. She had truly given birth to a living ancestor; he acted more like a mother than she did.
She gathered her skirts, sat down properly, and said, "Your imperial father only has two sons. Even if he is angry, he will at most beat you. He won't kill you."
At most beat him?
Just listen to that. Are those words a mother should say? Does a beating not hurt?
This was how Xiao Yi had been raised by Consort Liang since childhood: as long as he didn't die, everything else was irrelevant.
Xiao Yi's face looked somewhat wooden. "Since Mother knew I wouldn't die, why were you so worried you couldn't sleep?"
That year when he went missing in the palace for a whole day, she had been perfectly leisurely and unbothered.
She thought he was just out playing, but in reality, he had been taken away by her arch-rival at the time...
Later, his mother had that concubine killed.
And later still, when he was bestowed the title of prince, he did not spare a single one of that concubine's former palace servants—he wouldn't even have spared an ant's nest.
Consort Liang looked a bit sheepish. "Alright, alright, I was just being a busybody, curious about the result."
There were some past events that neither mother nor son wished to mention, or even recall.
She was long accustomed to Xiao Yi's sarcastic and eccentric remarks.
Xiao Yi simply stood up. "It is getting late. I should leave the palace."
Consort Liang was full of question marks.
What? She had been thoroughly roasted with a bunch of nonsense and heard absolutely nothing useful. "Wait, then what was the point of you coming all the way here?"
Xiao Yi lowered his eyes. "It was Mother who summoned me here; I did not come on my own."
So? She was the one returning empty-handed? Didn't he make a wasted trip too?
"No, you can't leave until you tell me," Consort Liang said, grabbing his sleeve.
Xiao Yi's gaze darkened slightly, and Consort Liang immediately let go. She was a little afraid—a mother afraid of her own son.
"If you don't tell me, I will summon Yunfeng into the palace tomorrow."
Consort Liang's words successfully brought Xiao Yi to a halt.
"He wants me to help him bring down the Cui family," Xiao Yi finally said after a long moment.
Consort Liang was startled.
"Then... did you agree?"
Xiao Yi turned back to look at Consort Liang but said nothing.
Consort Liang suddenly slumped into her chair, clutching her chest. "He is forcing you to make a clean break with the Cui family."
Xiao Yi gave a faint "Mhm."
The Emperor did not trust his claim that Yunfeng would sever ties with the Cui family, nor did he believe the vows he made. This was cutting off his retreat, forcing him to forge a blood feud with the Cui family.
After a long while, Xiao Yi let out a cold laugh and spat out four words: "The sovereign's heart is unfathomable."
Wary of him, yet still supporting him.
"What else did he say?" Consort Liang asked.
Xiao Yi replied, "Nothing much, just testing me in every possible way."
Using the Zhou family and the Cui family to test his ambition and his temperament.
Hearing this, Consort Liang found it laughable. "Doesn't he know what you are after in his heart? Yet he still tests you. Does he just want to hear you say some nonsense about a kind father and a filial son, or deep paternal love?"
Human hearts are complex, and the royal family even more so.
He didn't want Xiao Yi to marry a noblewoman from a prominent family and gain their support, yet he always turned a blind eye, even supporting him to keep him on par with the Crown Prince. What was his true intention?
But if the brothers were to truly turn against each other and fight to the death, he would be displeased.
Consort Liang rubbed her forehead, her head throbbing painfully. "And what about you? What do you intend to do?"
He had already acted on the matter regarding Tang Qingwan, and what was done could not be undone. Whatever else he chose to do now, it truly made no difference.
Xiao Yi remained silent and departed from Consort Liang's chambers.
