In the midst of this suffocating silence, there was a gentle knock on the door of the duty room.

"Your Highness, the Third Prince has arrived and is waiting in the side hall to present his report on the floods in Huaiyang." A eunuch's cautious voice sounded outside the door.

Xiao Chengjing took a deep breath, the breath carrying a burning pain deep within his chest. He forcibly suppressed the surging rage, slowly and heavily smoothing out the crumpled letter in his hand, as if desperately controlling some force about to spiral out of control. When he looked up again, the turbulent waves in his eyes had been forcibly frozen, leaving only a bottomless icy pool and a trace of barely perceptible weariness.

"Let him in." The voice returned to its usual calm, but was a few degrees colder than usual.

The door was pushed open. A young man dressed in an indigo prince's everyday robe walked in. He was tall and slender, with a face that bore a five or six-point resemblance to Xiao Chengjing. He was equally handsome, but his brows lacked some of Xiao Chengjing's cold sharpness, instead possessing a more gentle and refined air. His eyes were bright and clear. He was none other than Xiao Chengyu, the third prince born to Consort Lan.

"Your subject greets Your Highness the Crown Prince." Xiao Chengyu bowed respectfully and presented a thick memorial with both hands. "This is a proposal from your subject and several officials from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue regarding the follow-up dredging, relief, and reconstruction of the Huaiyang floods. Please take a look, Your Highness."

"Hmm." Xiao Chengjing responded lightly, took the memorial, but did not immediately focus his gaze on the words. Instead, he subtly observed his younger brother in front of him.

Xiao Chengyu stood quietly to the side, his posture respectful, his gaze calmly fixed on a corner of the desk, waiting patiently. He possessed a composure unlike that of other princes, neither humble nor arrogant, like a secluded orchid in a deep valley.

Xiao Chengjing opened the memorial, forcing himself to focus on the current state of affairs. The memorial was well-organized and appropriately detailed. From the planning of disaster relief sites, the allocation of medicines for epidemic prevention, and the reconstruction plan for flood-damaged river embankments, to how to raise funds and grain, prevent corruption, and appease the people, everything was considered in great detail. The handwriting was elegant and powerful, the arguments were clear, and the logic was rigorous.

However, when his gaze swept over the budget for the stones needed to rebuild the river embankment, his hand holding the vermilion pen paused slightly. That budget figure… seemed too “precise” and “ideal.” He remembered a secret report from the Ministry of Works a few days earlier mentioning that the prices of several key types of stone in Huaiyang had fluctuated due to flooding and transportation difficulties.

Without changing his expression, he turned to the budget page of the memorial, pushed it in front of Xiao Chengyu, and lightly tapped the line of numbers for the total price of the stone materials with his fingertip. His tone was calm and even: "What is the basis for this calculation? Have you actually verified the recent market price of stone materials? A secret report from the Ministry of Works stated that the price of 'Qinggang stone' has increased by more than 30% due to transportation difficulties caused by river siltation. Is your budget calculated based on the old price?"

Xiao Chengyu was slightly taken aback, then immediately stepped forward and carefully examined the numbers. He frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and a look of realization and regret flashed in his eyes: "Your Highness is wise! It was my oversight! This draft was prepared half a month ago, when the price of stone was still stable. Although I received a report from the local authorities the day before yesterday mentioning transportation difficulties, I was only thinking about submitting the general report as soon as possible, and I did not take this latest change into account. It was my oversight!" He was sincere and did not make any excuses. He quickly took out the charcoal pencil and small notebook he carried with him from his sleeve and began to calculate rapidly on the blank space of the memorial.

Watching his focused and efficient movements, and seeing his frank admission of oversight and immediate correction, a complex glint flashed deep in Xiao Chengjing's eyes. This younger brother was intelligent, pragmatic, and quick-witted; even more remarkable was his candor in not hiding his abilities and his willingness to take responsibility. The overall structure and most details of this proposal demonstrated governing skills and a holistic perspective beyond his years. This potential… In Xiao Chengjing's mind, the long-held thought of leaving the capital became clearer and more urgent. The court needed a new pillar when he left.

Xiao Chengyu quickly calculated the figures and respectfully marked the revised numbers and brief explanations next to the memorial: "Your Highness, based on the latest market prices and estimated losses, this budget requires an additional 13,000 taels of silver. Please review it."

Xiao Chengjing glanced at the clear and accurate corrections, nodded, picked up his vermilion brush, and wrote "Approved" on the memorial. He put down his brush, and his gaze fell on Xiao Chengyu again, no longer scrutinizing, but with a deep sense of entrustment.

"The proposal is generally feasible, but the details need further refinement." Xiao Chengjing's voice deepened, carrying an undeniable decisiveness. "Chengyu."

Xiao Chengyu immediately became solemn: "Your subject is here."

"I will need to leave the capital soon. During my absence, you will temporarily assume the responsibility of overseeing the country."

"Leaving the capital?" Xiao Chengyu looked up abruptly, his gentle eyes revealing undisguised astonishment for the first time, even tinged with panic. "Your Highness? Where are you going? This... the responsibility of overseeing the country is immense, I fear..."

“Jiangnan.” Xiao Chengjing interrupted him, uttering two words. His gaze passed over Xiao Chengyu, seemingly piercing through the thick palace walls, looking towards the misty, rain-shrouded distance. Deep within those eyes lay an anxiety and resolve that no one could understand. “There is something I must go to.” He withdrew his gaze, fixing it on Xiao Chengyu’s shocked face. His tone was resolute, brooking no argument: “Regarding all matters of the court, I will leave a written edict, entrusting you with all your handling. The elders of the cabinet will assist you. If you encounter any unresolved issues, report to me via express courier.” He paused, then added, each word carrying immense weight: “In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures are necessary. I trust you.”

Xiao Chengyu was completely stunned. His face drained of color, his lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but he couldn't utter a single word. The memorial in his hand fell with a thud onto the polished, gold-brick floor. Regent? Acting as regent for His Highness the Crown Prince? This sudden, mountain-like responsibility left him dizzy. Looking at the unwavering resolve and hidden anxiety in his brother's eyes, a complex mix of emotions welled up within him—the shock of being trusted, the trepidation of facing such a heavy responsibility, and a faint, subtle stirring that even he himself hadn't fully grasped.

Silence fell once more in the duty room. Only the autumn wind howled past the window, swirling withered leaves and pattering against the windowpane, making a rustling sound like the urgent drumbeats of fate.

Xiao Chengyu took a few deep breaths, trying to calm his wildly beating heart and turbulent thoughts. He slowly bent down, picked up the memorial from the ground, his movements more solemn than ever before. He straightened up again, meeting Xiao Chengjing's deep gaze, suppressing all his panic, his eyes gradually becoming calm and resolute. He lifted the hem of his princely robe, knelt on both knees, and performed the most solemn salute to the crown prince behind the desk:

"Your subject, Xiao Chengyu, will obey His Highness the Crown Prince's orders! He will certainly do his utmost to live up to your trust!"

His voice was not loud, but every word was clear, carrying a sense of power that seemed to emerge from a cocoon, falling heavily in the duty room filled with the atmosphere of power and farewell.