The basin filled with cold water was placed next to it.

Ye Jingchen put his palm into the basin, spread his fingers, and let his hand sink to the bottom of the basin. When he picked it up, water flowed out from between his fingers, leaving only a few drops of water in his palm.

He then closed his five fingers together and repeated the action, leaving a small handful of water in his palm when he left the water.

"Jinghe, do you understand why I couldn't scoop up water with my hands the first time, but I could the second time?" Ye Jingchen asked.

"Because the five fingers are tightly clasped together," Ye Jinghe said.

"This is the power of unity and concerted effort. Divided, they are like a scattered heap of sand; united, they are unparalleled!"

Throughout history, in every dynasty, which emperor's ascension to the throne wasn't marked by fratricide and bloodshed?

"You're still young and don't understand the allure of being a prince. Even if you don't want to fight for it, there are countless scoundrels behind you pushing you to do so, hoping to profit from its allure!"

"Even though we are of noble status, to those people we are nothing more than tools for their power struggles!"

"Are you willing to be used as a tool by others?" Ye Jingchen asked him.

Ye Jinghe shook his head decisively.

Anyone who dares to use him as a tool, he will take their life!

Of course, my brother is an exception.

As long as his brother is willing to continue treating him well, he can become the most obedient weapon in his brother's hands.

"As long as we brothers and sisters unite as one and work together, outsiders will not be able to sow discord or take advantage of us!" Ye Jingchen slowly closed his fingers and clenched them into a fist.

“I know you don’t like my elder sister. We’ve both done a lot of things to hurt you in the past. I’ve realized my mistakes and am trying my best to make amends. My elder sister—she still harbors resentment towards you because of your birth mother, but that’s not your fault. I have no right to ask you to let go of the past grievances and forgive her, nor do I have the right to ask you to live in harmony and love each other. I only hope that you two will not disagree on one thing.”

Ye Jinghe stared at Ye Jingchen with his dark eyes.

"When faced with a problem, we must stand united against external forces. We may not like them, but we must stay united! Can you do that?" Ye Jingchen asked.

Ye Jinghe stared at Ye Jingchen for a long time before slowly nodding.

He truly loathed Ye Jingshu. Whether in the past or present, Ye Jingshu always looked down on him with that condescending gaze, as if she were looking at an ant.

Many of the hardships he had suffered in the past stemmed from Ye Jingshu and her brother.

Although Ye Jingshu never actually hit him, her and the former crown prince's dislike for him was the main reason why the palace servants dared to bully him with impunity.

He didn't hate his brother because he felt that his brother was no longer the detestable crown prince he used to be; the way the two of them looked at him was completely different!

His brother was the one who saved him from darkness, the one who gave him a new life, so he liked his brother, but Ye Jingshu—

If it weren't for the fact that her brother still considers Ye Jingshu his older sister, he would never tolerate Ye Jingshu acting so arrogantly in front of him!

After applying a cold compress for 15 minutes, Ye Jingchen personally applied medicine to Ye Jinghe's face.

Upon closer inspection, his red and swollen face was particularly shocking, and he dared not apply the medicine too forcefully.

"Brother, I'm not in pain." Seeing the heartache in Ye Jingchen's eyes, Ye Jinghe felt a sweet warmth in his heart.

His brother felt sorry for him, and he'll do it again next time—

Okay, I can't do that again next time. What if my brother really gets angry and never talks to me again?

"You don't need to attend the rest of the classes. Get some rest. I'll call you for dinner." Ye Jingchen said to him after applying the medicine.

And he also gave him the Nine-Linked Rings.

"Okay." Ye Jinghe took the nine-linked rings and gave Ye Jingchen a well-behaved smile.

However, both the symmetrical dark circles under her eyes and the swollen half of her face looked particularly jarring.

Ye Jingchen patted his head and left the side hall.

People are more likely to sympathize with the weak and younger children.

Moreover, Ye Jinghe had always behaved so well in front of him, so Ye Jingchen naturally favored Ye Jinghe more.

Despite his bias, he knew that Ye Jinghe wasn't as obedient as he appeared in front of him.

He was too smart, had an extraordinary memory, and was also affected by the poison of the Intoxicating Flower. Looking at his crazy appearance after he grew up in the novel, Ye Jingchen knew that he was actually a green tea dumpling with black sesame filling.

Therefore, he made his favoritism towards Ye Jinghe public and responded to his tentative expectations every time because he knew that the hatred in Ye Jinghe's heart had not been eliminated and that he was still suffering from the damage caused by the poison of the Drunken Heart Flower. Ye Jinghe was still so young, and his sensitive and fragile nerves could not withstand any stimulation.

Neurotoxin damage is irreversible and has endless consequences. If overstimulated, it could destroy Ye Jinghe at any time.

If he can't even protect Ye Jinghe, how can he expect the princes and princesses to trust him?

Even the emperor might suspect him!

As for Ye Jingshu, she has a strong sense of right and wrong, a simple personality, and ambition, but her princess syndrome is like Ye Jinghe's poison—a ticking time bomb.

Princess syndrome can be cured, and Ye Jingchen has already found someone who can cure it.

Her dislike for Ye Jinghe was what gave Ye Jingchen the biggest headache.

However, from Ye Jingshu's perspective, she has every right to dislike Ye Jinghe.

There is an irreconcilable conflict between them, which cannot be resolved with just a few words.

Ye Jingchen hopes that Ye Jingshu will eventually grow into an intellectual and elegant older sister, but this is just his wish.

He could certainly guide Ye Jingshu step by step into the way he hoped, and he had that ability, but he didn't want to do so.

Everyone should have their own unique personal charm, rather than living according to the persona expected of them by others.

For the rest of the class, he kept thinking about how to soothe Ye Jingshu's emotions.

After school, Ye Jingshu tidied up her desk and was about to leave when Ye Jingchen quickly called her back.

"Your Majesty, may we talk?"

"If you're trying to persuade me to let go of my resentment and prejudice against Ye Jinghe, then we have nothing to talk about!" Ye Jingshu said coldly, her head held high.

"I want to apologize to you for my favoritism!" Ye Jingchen said sincerely.

"Oh, so you know you're biased? I thought you'd forgotten who your real sister is!" Ye Jingshu mocked.

Ye Jingchen does often forget this, after all, he isn't the original owner of this body. But then again, if it were the original owner, the siblings might not have been able to get along so peacefully!

"Royal sister, it is indeed wrong of me to favor Jinghe, and Jinghe has also made mistakes. But to be fair, you are also at fault, aren't you?" Ye Jingchen said helplessly.

"I was wrong, my mistake was not firmly stopping you from bringing that little madwoman back to the East Palace from the very beginning!"

"I have something to do, I'll be going now!" Ye Jingshu clearly didn't want to say anything more, and left without waiting for Ye Jingchen to say anything.