Qin Songfeng was naturally worried about his sister's safety, but he knew Qin Songya's determination and believed that she knew her limits.

Now that I heard Bai Luoqiu's interruption, I felt relieved.

"Stop talking, you traitor. You are already defeated, why don't you surrender?"

Su Xu turned around to look at the battle scene outside, and discovered with some despair that Su Bi had an almost overwhelming advantage.

Not only because the other side had more people, but the people brought by Bai Luoqiu alone were enough to beat the soldiers that he had worked so hard to beat. Not to mention the Yulin Army brought by Qin Songfeng to clean up the battlefield.

For a moment, he was a little overwhelmed.

Why?

Why was the military power he had worked so hard to gain not as good as the army that Su Bi casually took out?

Just like he had been striving for the position of crown prince for so long, but in the end he could not compare to the advantages that Su Bi was destined to have since birth.

He turned around, stared at Emperor Shao Yuan with his scarlet eyes, and asked the question he had always wanted to know.

"Father, you've said since I was little that I'm the most like you and you had high hopes for me. But why did you choose the son who didn't grow up with you? Just because he's the legitimate son? Aren't you afraid that he might have other ideas?"

He didn't understand. For so many years, was his father's attention and love for him all fake? But why did everything change when Su Bi came back?

He worked so hard to learn literature and martial arts, just to make himself more outstanding and more eye-catching, to become the son that his father was most proud of. But he still lost to a legitimate son of noble birth and powerful family.

He had everything he wanted when he was born. A legitimate son, a mother of noble birth, and a powerful maternal grandfather. Then, he easily got a wife of the same noble birth and a maternal family that held military power.

It seems like all the good things in the world belong to him alone. How unfair this world is!

Emperor Shao Yuan, who was questioned, had no words to express his grievances.

If there was anything he felt guilty about, it was Su Bi that he felt most guilty about among his three sons. But even so, he never thought of passing the throne to Su Bi.

Of course, he was also worried that he was still resentful of the hostage incident, and his position as the crown prince was only temporarily kept for the sake of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.

He was indeed the most optimistic about Su Xu, and at one point he wanted to wait until Su Bi met with some success in Ryukyu, or wait until Su Bi returned to the country and was unable to handle his position, and then naturally make him the crown prince.

But not only did Su Bi return from the Ryukyu Kingdom safely, he also grew up to be a gentleman, and apart from his weak physique, there was nothing wrong with him.

He was in trouble for the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion, and he couldn't bear to let down the child. In addition, he thought he was still young and was not in a hurry to decide on a successor, so the matter of changing the crown prince was put on hold.

He never expected that the child he loved the most and cared about the most would hate him for this and stab him in the back.

"You beast! I have wasted all my years of hard work in cultivating you!"

Emperor Shao Yuan could only scold him, otherwise what else could he say in front of Su Bi and Bai Luoqiu?

Su Bi spoke.

"Third brother, I actually envied you when I first returned home."

"Jealous of me?" Su Xu couldn't believe it.

"yes."

Su Bi laughed at himself.

I envy your loving father and filial son, and I envy your family reunion.

He looked at Su Xu, without a trace of hatred or complacency in his eyes, as if he was looking at a stranger.

"In fact, what the emperor wants to say is that if you continue to be so outstanding and filial, he actually wants to pass the throne to you."

Su Bi turned around and looked at Emperor Shao Yuan, her eyes expressing neither joy nor sadness.

"Really? Father?"

Emperor Shao Yuan looked pale and wanted to refute, but he couldn't say a word.

Seeing him like this, Su Bi smiled again.

"See? You are his first choice."

She was obedient and filial, she grew up by his side and according to his ideas, she had no powerful family background or relatives who interfered in the government, she lived by relying on the emperor's favor, what a perfect and easy-to-control heir she was.

“What a pity.”

Su Bi sighed with some regret.

It's a pity that you are too impatient.

Su Xu's face went blank after hearing this. This was completely contrary to what he had known for so many years.

He asked Emperor Shao Yuan in a daze, "Father, is this true?"

Emperor Shao Yuan was exposed by Su Bi and betrayed by Su Xu, and he felt very complicated. He opened his mouth several times, but in the end he did not answer him.

Su Xu understood something immediately.

He looked up to the sky and laughed so hard that tears came out of his eyes.

It turned out that what he valued most, he had already obtained. And what he wanted most, should have been easily offered to him.

Everything seems to be... fate.

"But all I have done is not in vain, right? I know that father, if Su Bi can bring you greater benefits one day, you will choose him without hesitation."

Su Xu wiped his eyes fiercely, still smiling as he looked at Emperor Shao Yuan.

No amount of favor or attention can be more important than benefits; this is what the royal family calls family affection.

All he did today was just to be one step ahead and not wait for the best opportunity.

The fighting outside was coming to an end, and soon, Qin Songfeng and Bai Luoqiu stepped into the hall.

Su Xu was also forced to kneel on the ground.

"Your Majesty, all the rebels outside the palace have been captured, and all the resisters have been executed."

"well!"

Emperor Shao Yuan coughed and looked happy.

Just as he was about to punish Su Xu, he spat out a mouthful of blood and then fainted.

"Call the doctor!"

Su Bi helped Emperor Shao Yuan to lie down, while the eunuch hurriedly ran to call for the imperial physician.

"Your Highness, this..."

Qin Songfeng looked at Su Xu who was still detained in the palace, and asked Su Bi how to deal with him.

"First, take Prince Rui to the Heavenly Prison and wait for the Emperor's decision."

Bai Luoqiu glanced at the unconscious Emperor Shao Yuan, then at Su Xu, hesitated for a moment, and finally nodded his head and said yes.

…

Outside Linhua Palace.

The soldiers of the Wucheng Bingmasi and the palace soldiers of Prince Ning's Mansion and Duke Zhenguo's Mansion were still confronting each other.

Originally they were ordered to surround the Linhua Palace, but unexpectedly they were surrounded outside.

Although the number of soldiers in the two prefectures was not as large as theirs, each of them was strong and powerful, and it seemed that they had the upper hand rather than the Five Cities Army.

Neither side took any action, as if they were waiting for something.

Suddenly, Huailiu appeared outside Linhua Palace with thousands of soldiers.

"Prince Rui has been imprisoned for treason and rebellion. Why don't you surrender?"

With that said, the soldiers behind him rushed out one after another, swords drawn, and prepared for battle.

When the leaders headed by the Five Cities Army saw this, they realized that the situation was hopeless and finally put down their weapons.

After confiscating the weapons, Huai Liu ordered these people to be imprisoned pending trial.

After dealing with those who surrounded the palace, he hurried into Linhua Palace to report.

"Crown Princess!"

Ning Xihua, who was waiting for news in the hall, almost subconsciously relaxed the tension she had been holding as soon as she saw Huai Liu's figure.

Without waiting for Huailiu to reply, she first twisted her neck, then bent her straight waist and turned to look at Song Yi.

"Song Yi."

Song Yi and Huai Liu both thought that she had something important to say, and they all turned their eyes to her, waiting for her instructions.

"Bring me a bowl of ice water with more milk. Oh, and bring one for Huai Liu, too."

It was such a hot day, it was very uncomfortable for her just to sit and wait for news, not to mention Huailiu and the others who were running around outside.

Before, she was worried and couldn't eat anything. Now, seeing Huai Liu's expression, she knew that things were either settled or almost settled. She could finally eat her ice bowl in peace.

Huai Liu: “…”

Song Yi: “…”

The ladies watching: "..."

Huailiu and Song Yi were stunned for a moment, but then they reacted immediately.

Song Yi quickly got up and went to instruct the kitchen.

Huai Liu smiled and replied, "Crown Princess, you are considerate of your subordinates. Thank you for the reward."

Hey, there are ice bowls. Huaichuan Songyi and the others don’t have them. It’s a waste not to eat them! I’ll reply after eating them!