"I..." He Xue really didn't know how to explain it for a moment.

Seeing He Xue's troubled expression, the Crown Prince assumed that He Xue was blaming herself for letting something slip. He thought that He Xue must have heard it from Consort Tongjia, otherwise how would He Xue know?

"He Xue, tell your brother Crown Prince, did you hear what Mother Tong said?" the Crown Prince asked softly.

He Xue looked at the Crown Prince, unsure whether to nod or shake her head.

"Fourth brother, don't take it too seriously. Mother Tong didn't tell you because she didn't want you to have any estrangement from Consort De!" The Third Prince patted the Fourth Prince on the shoulder.

He couldn't understand why Consort De would do such a thing, using her own son to gain a position; his mother would never do such a thing.

The eldest prince sat down next to the fourth prince and put his arm around his shoulder. "Fourth brother, you still have us, and you still have Mother Tong. We all know how Mother Tong treats you! Just think of yourself as Mother Tong's own son, okay?"

The eldest prince felt that his mother was far superior to Consort De in comparison. Although his mother always forced him to study, hoping he would surpass the crown prince, she would never give him away. He decided he shouldn't upset his mother so much in the future.

"Fourth Brother, I'm sorry!" He Xue looked at the silent Fourth Prince and realized that she had been too impulsive. The Fourth Prince was still a child and could not accept that his own mother had sold him.

The Fourth Prince looked up at the Crown Prince, the First Prince, the Third Prince, and He Xue, who was on the verge of tears, and forced a smile. "Fourth Brother is alright. Actually, it's for the best. What she did has exhausted the last bit of maternal affection she had for him!"

"Fourth brother, do you want to change the imperial genealogy to Mother Tong's name?" the Crown Prince asked.

"Second brother, I..." The fourth prince certainly hoped to truly become the son of Consort Tongjia, but he also knew what doing so would mean, and he did not want to create a rift between himself and the crown prince because of it.

"If you want to, then don't overthink it! Let's work together to find a solution!" the prince said with a smile.

The Fourth Prince looked at the Crown Prince and suddenly smiled, "Thank you, Second Brother!"

"Fourth brother, you can't just thank the second brother! We'll help you too!" the eldest prince said with a smile.

"Yes, thank you too, eldest brother and third brother!" the fourth prince said, his eyes moist.

"There's no need to be so polite between brothers!" the Third Prince said.

The four brothers watched for a while and then suddenly burst into laughter.

"Me too, I'll help Fourth Brother too!" He Xue exclaimed, jumping up and down.

"Don't worry, how could I forget you!" The Crown Prince knelt down and picked up He Xue. "You are of utmost importance!"

"Brother Crown Prince, just say the word, and I will go through fire and water without hesitation!" He Xue said, patting her chest.

The three princes were amused by He Xue's expression.

Afterwards, the four princes sat down and talked about some other things.

At first, Xue could respond with a few words, but later she couldn't stay awake any longer and fell asleep.

The Crown Prince had been watching He Xue closely, but when he couldn't hear her voice anymore, he turned around and saw that she had fallen asleep.

"Eldest brother, third brother, fourth brother, let's call it a day! Xue is asleep!" the Crown Prince said in a low voice.

"Alright, we'll head back now!" the eldest prince said.

The prince nodded, then picked up He Xue and carried her towards the bedroom.

The Crown Prince had already had the room for He Xue cleaned beforehand, and he gently placed He Xue on the bed.

He Xue groggily opened her eyes, "Brother Crown Prince!"

"Go to sleep! Your brother, the Crown Prince, is here with you!" The Crown Prince gently patted He Xue.

He Xue quickly closed her eyes again.

The Crown Prince noticed that He Xue was wearing a small pendant around her neck, which he had given her when she turned one year old. It was a lotus flower carved from white jade.

The Crown Prince hadn't intended to keep He Xue with him all the time, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up. He remembered that there was still a lot of jade in the storeroom, which could be used to carve some small trinkets for He Xue.

After the Crown Prince and Xue fell asleep, he instructed someone to guard Xue and then returned to his study.