After being warned, Liao Yixuan behaved himself for a while. But the more he thought about it, the angrier he became. When did it become the turn of a weak prince to lecture him?
Or was he just pretending for the first ten years or so?
That day, he restrained his strength, unlike a frail prince.
Xiao Ziyan asked in surprise, "You mean he knows martial arts?"
Liao Yixuan straightened his expression: "It is absolutely true, I would not dare to speak nonsense."
He tentatively speculated: "Is he declaring war on you, Second Prince? Otherwise, given his submissive nature, why would he jump out to make things difficult for me?"
Everyone in the capital knows I'm one of Your Highness's people. Making things difficult for me would be a direct slap in your face, wouldn't it?
After saying that, he gritted his teeth and said indignantly, "And he even claimed... claimed that Miss Shangguan was his woman!"
Xiao Ziyan smirked.
His good younger brother was very good at hiding it. So many of his own spies in Linhua Palace, yet not one of them discovered that he knew martial arts.
Upon further reflection, he realized that he couldn't have learned martial arts for no reason; someone must have been secretly helping him and teaching him martial arts.
Or perhaps it's not just one person, but even an entire organization?
Where would he get the money to support these people?
All these years, he's been acting like a lamb in front of me, a truly masterful tactic of playing dumb to outsmart me. I'm afraid he's plotting something big.
It seems I really underestimated him before.
Upon hearing him mention Shangguan Tianyun again, Xiao Ziyan casually said, "So, you were the one who started getting entangled with Shangguan Tianyun?"
He knew Liao Yixuan's wicked nature; he couldn't resist a beautiful, aloof woman. He had pursued Yu Shanlai in the same way before, but he eventually gave up when he saw that she was ambitious and had no interest in him.
It's not surprising that they've set their sights on Shangguan Tianyun now.
The Second Prince's voice was neither warm nor cold, yet it made Liao Yixuan shrink back.
"I just wanted to get to know her..."
He had planned to lure Shangguan Tianyun into a private moment to cultivate their relationship, but Xiao Ziwu suddenly appeared out of nowhere, leaving him utterly astonished.
He wouldn't have been so shocked if it were anyone else, but he was Xiao Ziwu, the least favored third prince of the Great Liang Dynasty, a man who would only swallow his anger and silently bear the pain when bullied and humiliated.
He said quietly that although he was only a few months younger than the Second Prince, if the civil and military officials wanted to support a prince of the right age to compete for the throne, they would only think of the refined and wise Second Prince.
In other words, he was just a nobody in the palace!
For someone like him to openly challenge the Second Prince for the sake of a woman, is the sun rising in the west?
Xiao Ziyan rubbed the corner of the table, his expression inscrutable, and said, "Since my good brother wants to spar with me, how can I not give him the chance?"
The sky was shrouded in a somber, oppressive darkness, with dark clouds pressing down on the city as if to crush it. The clouds churned and thunder roared deafeningly. A bolt of purple lightning shattered the sky into pieces. He suddenly turned his head and smiled, "You will be in charge of organizing my departure banquet. Make sure to invite my third brother."
Liao Yixuan's eyes lit up: "Yes, I understand." The Second Prince is trying to help him get revenge!
※※※※
The backyard of Linhua Palace.
Xiao Ziwu sheathed his sword, slightly out of breath, and said, "Now that I have exposed Liao Yixuan, Xiao Ziyan will definitely send more people to monitor me. I have almost mastered all 81 moves, so Master doesn't need to come over in the future; it's too risky."
Once the decision to fight for that position has been made, there is no turning back.
Whether he ascends the throne or withers away, either way, it shows that this path is extremely arduous, and he does not want to drag his master down this dead end as well.
Seeing him with his head down, speaking with a heavy heart and reluctance, Duan Ximu really wanted to give him a good flick on the forehead!
He jumped up and roared, "You little brat, you're trying to break my spirit! Ever since I sneaked into the palace to help you when you were a child, I've never thought about getting out of here unscathed. I've long since disregarded life and death!"
After saying that, he asked excitedly, "Wait, you just said that you want to compete with Xiao Ziyan for the throne?"
"You've finally figured it out?!"
"Hmm." Xiao Ziwu nodded slightly.
This is his master who has protected him since childhood; there's no need to hide anything from him. If his master wants to leave him now, he can understand, after all, this is a matter of life and death, and cannot be taken lightly.
Xiao Ziwu slowly looked at his master, whose square face was a mixture of disbelief and unmistakable joy, but not a hint of mockery that he felt he was indulging in wishful thinking.
The master was also pleased with the outcome, and Xiao Ziwu's furrowed brows slowly relaxed.
Duan Ximu's eyes welled up with tears, so he patted his shoulder. The young man was handsome and resolute. Despite being bullied for many years, his fighting spirit had not been extinguished. However, he had longed for family affection since childhood, and the cold treatment from that dog emperor had made him fearful and hesitant.
He said with satisfaction, "I have already secretly contacted the former officials of the previous dynasty. They are all extremely loyal and brave in battle. They are only willing to follow and serve you! Although you have half the blood of the dog emperor in your veins, you are still the only crown prince of our former Chu dynasty! It's just that your previous attitude of not fighting or grabbing disappointed them, which is why I didn't tell you."
"It's not too late now. If you're willing, I'll introduce you to someone soon."
He thought his master didn't want him to fight for the throne, but it turned out that his master had secretly planned so much for him!
Xiao Ziwu suppressed the bitterness in his heart, his eyes surging with intense emotions, and he bowed solemnly: "Thank you, Master."
His master had always held high hopes for him, like a young girl. His self-pity had hurt them, and he could never do that again.
Living is as humiliating as being a dog, so it's better to take a gamble.
"Your Highness, Young Master Liao has arrived." Chang Lai said with a pale face. He was now able to walk a few steps off the bed, but his movements were still somewhat slow.
"Go and rest, you don't need to be waited on." Xiao Ziwu frowned.
He was still recovering from his serious injuries, and today was a cold, rainy day; catching a chill would only worsen his condition. Chang Lai smiled weakly, "Your Highness, please go quickly. Don't worry about me."
Xiao Ziwu didn't waste any words with him. He grabbed him by the back of the neck and carried him back to the side hall, saying, "Just lie here and don't move." Then he changed course and went to the front hall.
Front hall.
Liao Yixuan withdrew his wandering gaze and looked at the newcomer: "Your Highness is very busy, and I have kept you waiting. I have come here specifically to deliver an invitation from the Second Prince. I hope Your Highness will do me the honor of attending the Second Prince's departure banquet tomorrow."
He looked around and found that in this huge palace, only the gilded patterns on the six pillars in the hall were worth something. The rest were just old objects that had been around for many years. Even if he took them to an antique shop to pawn, he might be mistaken for a troublemaker.
Liao Yixuan sneered inwardly, his expression changing several times.
How could I have been so easily fooled by this down-on-his-luck prince? And obediently let the duck that was already in my grasp fly away?
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