The next day, Hongqing packed her things and prepared to leave the palace.

"Why are you doing this? You would have a better future studying in the palace. Wouldn't it be better to make your third uncle look at you with new respect?" Honghui frowned, not understanding.

Hongqing smiled nonchalantly, "Honghui, it's in your best interest for me to leave the palace. The Empress is already getting involved in politics, and Hongyan is always by the Emperor's side. I need to build connections for you outside, otherwise we really won't have any chance of winning."

Honghui was slightly taken aback. He grabbed Hongqing's wrist and said in a very serious tone, "Hongqing, I've already said that I have no interest in that position. I won't compete for it. You don't need to do anything for me."

Hongqing gripped his hand tightly, her knuckles turning white. "Honghui, you shouldn't be like this. You are the true eldest son, the rightful heir to the throne. They are all heartless people who stole what was yours. Don't worry, I will stand by your side and fight to get it back for you."

Honghui really didn't understand why Hongqing was so stubborn. He stared intently into Hongqing's eyes and said, word by word, "Hongqing, I don't need it."

Hongqing suddenly laughed: "You don't need it? Are you really willing to accept this? Your mother was clearly the Emperor's consort, but now, she has been posthumously honored as Empress by the Emperor?"

Has the Emperor bestowed upon the Ulanara clan any glory and honor?

"Do you still retain your position as crown prince and your status as the eldest son of the legitimate wife?"

Honghui remained silent.

After a long silence, he slowly said, "I accept my fate."

“But I won’t accept it!” Hongqing’s voice suddenly hardened. “I don’t accept this damn fate! Whatever I want, whatever I want to take, I will fight for it myself. I don’t want anyone’s charity. If anyone gets in my way, I will get rid of them. Honghui, you are the best path for me.”

Honghui then realized that Hongqing wanted to use him to embark on a path to success.

"That's my own brother!"

Hong Qing laughed even more unrestrainedly. He suddenly ripped open his shirt, revealing his chest, which was covered with four or five knife scars.

Honghui's eyes widened in disbelief, speechless: "This...this is?"

Hongqing stroked the deep scars: "Do you really think that the only tricks the women in our household have are arguing, going home, and fighting over things?"

He gave a mocking smile: "I am the eldest son! There are many who want to get rid of me and put their own son in power."

Honghui, tell me, do they treat me like their own brother?

Honghui pursed his lips, unable to utter a word. His chest was churning with turmoil. He had never imagined that brothers from the same household, merely holding the position of heir, would actually be so ruthless as to kill each other.

Seeing Honghui's shocked expression, Hongqing said with a hint of self-mockery, "Don't underestimate women. Their schemes and tricks are no less than men's, and they have far more lives on their hands than we do. Take my father, for example. Four of his brothers from the same mother died, all because of women. Two of my own brothers also died."

Children and teenagers alike are their enemies.

Honghui, this is my path, and I must walk it.

Honghui didn't know what to say, or whether he should continue to stop him or comfort him.

Do not advise others to do good if you have never experienced their suffering.

However, he really couldn't bear to see his good brother go down a path of no return.

He didn't stop Hongqing in the end.

But he wondered, who was responsible for Hongqing's pitiful and tragic fate?

Are they those women who would stop at nothing to get their sons into a position of power?

Or was it the instigator, Uncle San, who did nothing?

Will he and Hongyan also end up like this?

He voluntarily withdrew from the situation, refusing to compete or fight. Would Hongyan or the Empress still see him as a thorn in their side?

Hongqing's departure didn't have a significant impact on the Imperial Study. Everyone just felt much more at ease.

Hutuli and Hongyan left the palace with Yierha.

Fucha Mansion

"Uncle!" Hutuli called out sweetly as soon as she saw Changhua.

Changhua had always adored this niece. He himself had no daughters, only sons, and his wife, Dong Eshi, had just given birth to her third son two months prior. Therefore, he was extremely fond of girls.

"Hutuli is here! Your uncle has prepared a gift for you. You should like it."

Looking at the gentle smile on Changhua's face, Yierha's eyes revealed a hint of envy.

"Greetings to the eldest princess."

When Yierha saw Changhua about to bow to him, he hurriedly stopped him: "No! Lord Changhua, you are also Yierha's uncle."

That's true. Changhua is Changning's older brother, the Empress's own brother, and a legitimate brother-in-law of the Emperor, so Yierha dared not let him bow to him at all.

Changhua chuckled. He had originally intended to be polite because he was worried that the eldest princess might feel uncomfortable.

“Let’s go in together, Hongyan. You good lad, I’ve heard you’ve made great progress lately. Your uncle will give you a good test later.”

Hongyan responded with a smile, "Uncle's knowledge is enough to make me feel ashamed."

Hutuli said with a grin, "Uncle, you can give him a good quiz later. He's borrowed about ten books from me lately, saying he's finished reading them all. I don't know how well he's learning, so it'll be good for you to check on him."

Changhua raised an eyebrow: "Oh? It seems Hongyan has been working really hard lately! Alright, then your uncle will give you a test question later so you can try your luck."

Hutu chuckled to herself (^～^)

Hong Yan "..."→_→

You are such a good sister to me.

Upon entering the reception room, everyone saw the boy standing in the center.

Hutu blinked. Oh, is this Fashan?

She glanced at him quickly and felt that he had a gentle and dignified temperament. He was quite fair-skinned, with a slightly round face, and didn't seem like the kind of person who was mean or cold-hearted.

Hutuli, being quite perceptive, said that he was going to visit Moyaqi and Wuxiha and also to congratulate his cousin Duoxihui, so he left first. Before leaving, he quietly tugged at Hongyan's clothes.

Hongyan followed her.

Yierha steadied himself and went inside alone. Inside were Changhua's wife, Dong'e, and Fashan's mother.

Hutu pulled Hongyan outside, muttering, "He looks average, not particularly handsome..."

Hongyan said helplessly, "How can you judge a book by its cover? As long as someone is gentle and kind and treats their elder sister well, that's enough."

Hutuli pursed her lips: "I was just saying, but the stories in the novels are all about talented men and beautiful women. As for you, my elder sister is of noble birth, so your partner can't be anything less than excellent."

"They were chosen by Father Emperor, how could they be bad?"

"That's true. Your uncle has gone to his study. Would you like to go find him first, or go see your cousin, Dorsey?"

"Let's go find my cousin first."