"Has the Emperor appointed you as Crown Prince?" Pei Wuwang's sharp eyes struck Liang Yong's sore spot with a single question. Although he was the eldest son, he had always been disliked by the Emperor due to his mediocre abilities, and the position of Crown Prince seemed a distant dream.
Liang Yong's face flushed red instantly.
Just as he was about to explode, Pei Wuwang added, "I've heard that His Majesty has recently been very fond of the Second Prince. Some ministers have even suggested making the Second Prince the Crown Prince. After all, the Second Prince is 'benevolent' and even took the initiative to come to Qinghe County to help with disaster relief. He is much better than some princes who hide outside the city and dare not come in."
These words struck Liang Yong like a devastating blow.
He suddenly turned to look at Liang Chengze, his eyes filled with suspicion and jealousy.
He had previously thought that Liang Chengze's arrival for disaster relief was an attempt to steal credit, and now, hearing Pei Wuwang's words, he was even more convinced that Liang Chengze had long been secretly colluding with ministers to try and seize his position as crown prince!
"Well... Second brother, so you've been planning this all along!"
Liang Yong trembled with rage, pointing at Liang Chengze and cursing, "No wonder you rushed into the city to provide disaster relief; it was all to curry favor with the Emperor and the ministers! You hypocrite!"
Liang Chengze's gentle smile completely crumbled.
Unexpectedly, Pei Wuwang's words exposed the conflict between the brothers, so they could only feign composure: "Brother, don't listen to Young Master Pei's nonsense, I didn't..."
The more he explained, the more Liang Yong felt he was guilty, and the two started arguing on the spot, completely forgetting about arresting Pei Wuwang.
Pei Wuwang watched this scene, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, and quietly pulled Shen Qingtang back a few steps.
Watching the tigers fight from the sidelines is much easier than taking action yourself.
Liang Chengze's face darkened. He stopped arguing with Liang Yong and instead turned to look at the onlookers. His voice was not loud but clear enough: "Brother, how could you listen to the provocation of an exiled convict? Pei Wuwang just wants to cause discord between us brothers. Don't fall for his trick."
He shifted the blame entirely to Pei Wuwang, then changed the subject with a hint of regret: "Besides, Father has always valued the order of seniority. You are the elder brother, so you should be valued. But if you get angry with me over such a small matter, it will only make the ministers think you are not steady enough, and wouldn't that ruin your own career?"
These words both absolved him of responsibility and offered Liang Yong a false promise. Liang Yong was already stubborn, and upon hearing "the eldest son should be chosen over the youngest," he also thought of "the emperor's favor towards his elder brother."
The anger in my heart instantly turned into resentment and unwillingness.
With red eyes, he roared, "That's right! Since ancient times, the eldest son has always been chosen, not the youngest! Father will definitely make me the crown prince, it's not your turn, the second son, to fight for it!"
He became more and more agitated as he spoke, and pointed at Pei Wuwang, about to curse him again.
Shen Qingtang suddenly spoke up, her voice cold: "Some people believe whatever others say, and even after being sold out, they still help count the money. They don't need to be so... 'naive'."
Although the words didn't explicitly name anyone, everyone could tell that they were subtly implying that Liang Yong was brainless.
Liang Yong jumped up in anger: "How dare you, a woman, speak to this prince like that!"
Shen Qingtang ignored him and instead looked at Liang Chengze. Shen Qingtang looked at Liang Chengze and said in a tone that seemed to be praising him but not praising him: "Your Highness the Second Prince is indeed quick-witted. You were able to calm down the First Prince with just a few words. This kind of 'ability' is not something that everyone has."
The implication behind these words was obvious: he was a man of deep cunning.
Liang Chengze still wore a gentle smile and cupped his hands, saying, "You flatter me, young lady. I just didn't want my brothers to fall out. Besides, my elder brother has always been a role model for me. He is straightforward and deserves to be respected."
These words were spoken in accordance with Liang Yong's thoughts, and Liang Yong's doubts instantly disappeared. He patted Liang Chengze on the shoulder and said, "Second brother understands me best!"
She completely forgot about her previous unpleasantness and was unaware that she was once again completely under Liang Chengze's control.
Just then, a disheveled figure suddenly darted out from the street corner.
It turned out to be Lu Jiaojiao, who had secretly escaped from the dilapidated house!
Her plague had somehow completely disappeared, though her clothes were tattered and her hair was disheveled. She saw Liang Yong and Liang Chengze.
His eyes lit up instantly.
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