Chapter 162: Different Paths, Different Plans

Zhao Huaixiang entered the pavilion and saw Zhao Yuanye standing beside the stone table. A hint of gloom flashed across his eyes, but he could only pretend to be relaxed and said:

"It's open everywhere, and everything is clear at a glance, so there should be no ears or eyes."

Zhao Yuanye lowered his head and did not respond.

Zhao Huaixiang sighed lightly upon seeing this, walked over to sit opposite Zhao Yuanye, and softened his voice:

"If Ye'er wants to know something, it's okay to ask."

Zhao Yuanye finally raised his head after hearing this, his eyes red, and said in a trembling voice: "Uncle San, Ye'er only has one question, why do you do this?"

When Zhao Huaixiang saw the tears in Zhao Yuanye's eyes, his heart ached.

After all, he is still a child. Even though he is smart and thoughtful, even though he is braver than other children and has already participated in it, he still does not understand the cruelty of the times and human nature.

Since the child still called him "Third Uncle", he told him everything he knew and also let Ye'er know some principles that an upright person like Jiang Xun would not teach him.

Thinking of this, Zhao Huaixiang leaned forward slightly, put his arms on the stone table, and said in a calm voice:

"Yer, after your father passed away, Grandfather Emperor once mentioned something in front of everyone, whether intentionally or unintentionally -

Among my three sons, the third one is the most like me. ”

"Your grandfather said this three times. The first time, your second uncle just listened and let it go. The second time, your second uncle took it to heart. The third time, your second uncle took it to heart."

"After that incident, something happened in the palace of Third Uncle's Consort. A dishonest maid stole something. Fortunately, nothing serious happened in the end."

"Yer, do you understand?"

"It was your royal grandfather who pushed me, your third uncle, out and forced me to fight your second uncle."

"My mother's palace affairs were ordered by Concubine Shu, and the person who gave the order was none other than your second uncle."

"The reason why nothing went wrong was because I tried to stop him. But once I did it, it meant declaring war on your uncle. Once I started, I couldn't stop..."

When Zhao Yuanye heard this, his eyes widened slightly.

Is it...Grandpa Emperor?

When Zhao Huaixiang saw Zhao Yuanye's expression, he knew that Jiang Xun had never told him these things.

He frowned slightly, and his eyes looked out and fell on Jiang Xun on the shore.

Jiang Xun was also looking over here, but he was a little far away and his expression could not be seen clearly.

At this moment, Zhao Huaixiang suddenly realized.

Jiang Xun asked Ye'er to wait here specifically so that he could... tell Ye'er the truth.

Whose words could be more convincing than his uncle, who is deeply involved in it and suffers greatly?

In order to let Ye'er see the true face of his royal grandfather, Jiang Xun really had... good intentions, haha.

Zhao Yuanye seemed to have not yet reacted. He looked up in a daze and murmured, "Why...why do we have to let everyone kill each other? We are family."

When Zhao Huaixiang heard such innocent words, he felt bitter in his heart, but a hint of sarcasm appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"When your father was still alive, everything was naturally very good. The brothers were friendly and respectful, and the affection between brothers was deep."

"But--"

Zhao Huaixiang seemed to want to say something, but after hesitating for a moment, he licked his dry lips and calmly changed the subject:

"But he passed away early, so your royal grandfather naturally racked his brains to train a crown prince as outstanding as your father."

"We are all human beings after all..."

"Even if you are an emperor, how can you escape from the human heart and human nature? It's just that you have great power. With just a wave of your hand, you can shake half of the country and overturn the lives of countless people."

When Zhao Huaixiang said this, he looked far away, over the flying eaves of the pavilion, to the distant sky that was still covered with rosy clouds.

......

"Brother, you have to take care of yourself."

"What's wrong, Third Brother? Are you afraid that I will give up?"

"Yes, with my elder brother protecting me from the wind and rain, I can be an idle and lazy prince."

"Okay, then Big Brother will try to live longer so that Third Brother can live a leisurely and carefree life every day. Is that okay?"

"not good."

"Um?"

"Not just a little longer, but a long, long, long life!"

"Third brother is still good at talking. Fine, then I will live a long and long life, and let third brother live a carefree life!"

.......

The past events seemed like yesterday, Zhao Huaixiang only felt a dense heat climbing up to the tip of his nose. At this moment, he felt as if his heart was hollowed out.

He covered his long eyelashes, calmed down for a long time, and then said:

"Yer, I'm not saying this to excuse myself, and I don't need to. In the royal family, 'not competing' is a luxury."

"My uncle has no power, my mother was born a maid, and your aunt's family is also very ordinary. I have no chance of winning."

"I know myself well and have no intention of fighting. I just want to live my own life, but your grandfather is unwilling to let me go. He insists on forcing me!"

"Since I want to fight, I must do my best. Otherwise, if I lose in the end and my mother, wife, and daughter are implicated, I will hate myself for not doing my best for the sake of my so-called conscience."

"So, I can only do my best. No matter how dirty the means are, as long as they can help me achieve my goal, I will accept them!"

"Of course, after walking the night road so many times, I have already prepared myself for a complete defeat and death."

"I just didn't expect that today would end so peacefully..."

At this point, Zhao Huaixiang's voice gradually became lower and lower until he fell silent.

At this moment, he was extremely grateful that his plans for the flower-viewing banquet had all failed, otherwise today, he, Ye'er, and Jiang Xun would have been at war to the death.

Zhao Huaixiang was lost in thought when Zhao Yuanye opposite him shook his head.

Although it is still a childish face, it no longer has any of the innocence that a child should have.

His expression was so heavy, and he said, "It seems that Third Uncle really has no choice, but Third Uncle is also really cruel and despicable."

"After losing my father, my mother and I were already weak. We have never had any grudges against our third uncle. We can even say that we have a deep relationship with him."

"If Third Uncle wants to fight, why does he have to attack Mother?"

"It's just because Second Uncle is too powerful to be shaken, and my mother and I are weak and vulnerable, so Third Uncle deceived and used us wantonly, and abandoned us directly when necessary!"

"From Third Uncle's perspective, this is called making the best use of things, and it's called giving up something to gain something. But from my perspective and that of my mother, Third Uncle's evil behavior is tantamount to stabbing us in the back!"

Zhao Yuanye had already held back the tears in his eyes. He shook his head slowly and took two steps back, trying to distance himself from Zhao Huaixiang, as if he was also severing their own relationship.

"In a difficult situation, it is difficult for you to be independent. You can use strategies, take advantage of situations, and have selfish desires, but you must not lose your bottom line and stick to it. Otherwise, you will be no different from an animal!"

"This is the principle Mr. Jiang taught me, and Ye Er agrees with it."

"I took advantage of Third Uncle's mother today. Ye'er feels guilty, but Concubine Chun has gotten what she asked for."

"If we don't share the same ideals, we can't make plans together. From now on, Prince Xiang, please take care of yourself!"

After Zhao Yuanye said this, he suddenly turned and left, fearing that Zhao Huaixiang would see his tears flowing.

Over the years, his Third Uncle was like his second father. He had poured countless love and affection into him, but now all he got in return was the three cold words “Prince Xiang”.

Forget it, forget it.

Zhao Yuanye's tears were streaming down his face, and the only thing left in his sight was a tall figure standing on the shore.

At this moment, Zhao Huaixiang's trembling voice sounded behind him: "In this case, just one sentence, be careful of the Minister of Personnel."

Zhao Yuanye paused for a moment, then left without looking back.

Zhao Huaixiang stood by the pavilion, feeling bitter and aching in his heart. He saw Zhao Yuanye running towards Jiang Xun in a panic.

Jiang Xun seemed to hesitate for a moment, but he still squatted down and opened his arms to the little person running towards him.

As the lights and shadows flashed before his eyes, Zhao Huaixiang remembered that his elder brother had also walked towards Jiang Xun so eagerly, shouting:

"Xiuzhi, I've been waiting for you!"

Little Ye'er has already seen the appearance of his old friend.

And Jiang Xun really lived up to expectations and taught Ye'er very well.