Chapter 94: You Are Indeed Fortunate

Chapter 94: You Are Indeed Fortunate

The excitement of the imperial examination didn't last long; following the bloody storm in the court, an eerie calm settled over the palace, both inside and out.

The Third Prince kept a low profile, not stirring up any trouble, as if he didn't exist in the eyes of the court. Consort Rou was equally quiet, her daily routine revolving solely around serving the Emperor, showing no change in behavior—no striving for power or displaying any ambition.

The court was even quieter. The Emperor had just executed a batch of ministers, his mood sour due to the exposure of his illness. Everyone wanted a crown prince to be named, but no one wanted to be the first to suggest it, knowing that would mean certain death.

Perhaps because his emotions had temporarily stabilized, or perhaps sensing that the situation was slightly unfavorable to him and needing to improve his reputation, the Emperor did not immediately order the Second Prince's execution. Instead, he was thrown into the celestial prison, left unmentioned and unaddressed for the time being.

However low-profile he tried to be, the matter would still be dealt with; it was just a matter of time, and everyone knew this.

One could imagine what life in the imperial dungeon was like, even without experiencing it firsthand. It was bound to be miserable, akin to that of a commoner, but no, perhaps even worse than a commoner. At least commoners had their hands and feet, and as long as they were diligent, they could earn their own meals through hard work. They could choose whether to eat dry rations or porridge, and decide for themselves how often to bathe. At the very least, they could maintain a semblance of cleanliness and dignity in public. But not so for the Second Prince.

Once cast into the mire, none of those guarantees remained. There was no question of maintaining any dignity, nor did he need to. After all, since the moment he was thrown into the dungeon, not a single soul had come to see him. How could there be any chance of losing face?

"Ha... hahahaha—"

The Second Prince laughed until tears streamed down his face, tossing aside the moldy dry biscuit that the jailer had brought him.

"Why must the Second Imperial Brother torment himself?"

A familiar figure approached from afar, it was Prince Jian, Zhu Yan.

The Second Prince was taken aback. How many days had it been since he last heard a human voice? The dungeon was eerily silent, with only snakes, insects, rats, and ants rampant. Even the jailer who delivered meals was as mute as a statue, never uttering a single word to him. Now, someone had actually come to visit him?

It was none other than Zhu Yan, whom he had previously despised the most!

"Have you come to mock me?" He glared with a menacing expression.

"Isn't the mockery in the grand hall that day enough?" Zhu Yan lowered his eyes, "If it's not better than that, I have no interest."

In his hand was a box, which he carried to the prison gate, set down, and began to unpack item by item. The first thing was a cushion, which he arranged for himself before sitting on it.

Second Prince: ...

Next came the food box. Zhu Yan took out dishes one by one. There was a thick, piping hot porridge, steamed buns with a soft, elastic texture, indicating they were well-leavened; there were also several small dishes, pickled vegetables with boiled soybeans, fresh vegetables stewed with tender meat bones...

Although there was meat, it wasn't extravagant fare or exquisite delicacies. Compared to the princely rations, it was as if from two different worlds, seeming more like what an ordinary household would consume.

The Second Prince clicked his tongue, about to mock Zhu Yan for being stingy, when he heard Zhu Yan say,

"My princess consort prepared these. He said that now, delicacies and luxuries mean less to you than these humble offerings."

The Second Prince fell silent.

Indeed, after living in prison for so long, tormented daily by meager scraps of food, his body and digestive system had transformed. He could no longer handle rich meats and elaborate dishes; instead, simple nourishing meals would make him more comfortable.

He said with an air of sarcastic envy, "You're quite fortunate."

Wen Ruan... what a youth, embodying warmth and talent in equal measure. From the moment he learned of this person, he had been striving to win him over, but alas, time was not on his side. He thought to take it slow, believing that opportunities would come, only to find that incessant interruptions kept derailing his plans. Looking back, he realized he had never truly had the chance to sit down and have a proper conversation with Wen Ruan.

Zhu Yan nodded. "Indeed."

It was somewhat shameless, akin to deliberately piercing his own heart.

The Second Prince glared at him fiercely. "Are you pleased with yourself?"

Zhu Yan was genuinely sincere. "Mm."

Second Prince: ...

You've indeed come to mock me, haven't you? You've indeed come to gloat!

He held back, considering the shared dishes, trying his best to remain calm: "My concubine, Wen Ru..."

Though he didn't particularly like her, and she wasn't very sensible, she was at least Wen Ruan's cousin.

Zhu Yan: "I will take care of it, do you mind?"

The Second Prince naturally didn't mind; he had specifically mentioned it to remind Zhu Yan to handle the matter properly and not upset Wen Ruan. However, Zhu Yan's quick response—

"Old Six, you've grown soft-hearted, haven't you?"

Zhu Yan: "Hm?"

The Second Prince: "Ever since you've been with Wen Ruan, you've become much more humane."

"Perhaps it's not a matter of softening heart," Zhu Yan poured two glasses of wine, one for himself and the other pushed into the cell, "but rather, regaining something from the past?"

The Second Prince fell silent.

Everyone knew what Zhu Yan had been like in recent years, but he hadn't always been this way. When he was still a child, the Crown Prince would personally instruct him every day, guiding his hand as he learned to write. The Empress showed him boundless affection and care. He had always been known for his remarkable talent and exceptional abilities, praised by the ministers and held in high regard, destined to become a virtuous prince.

Back then, just like the Third Prince, he felt both envy and admiration. Who wouldn't want to be a virtuous prince under the Crown Prince?

But then...

The Second Prince let out a laugh. "Now, you don't want to be a virtuous prince either, do you?"

What Zhu Yan craves now is undoubtedly that very position.

The Second Prince resented himself for only realizing it now, yet he was also amused by his own insight, assuming the Third Prince was still underestimating Zhu Yan: "So, Prince Jian, why have you come to see me today? Is there something you want my help with?"

Zhu Yan raised an eyebrow. "Do I need your assistance?"

His usual arrogance and self-assurance shone through.

"Alright, alright," the Second Prince nearly laughed until tears streamed down his face, "you do indeed look down on me. So, why did you come to see me then? It can't be some deep brotherly affection, spare me the act, I'll throw up."

Zhu Yan twirled the wine cup with his fingertips: "Have you ever thought about how to live?"

The Second Prince was taken aback for a moment before bursting into laughter: "Can I still live? Sixth, you don't seem like such a naive person."

Zhu Yan looked at him: "So, do you want to live?"

The Second Prince fell silent once again.

Who would want to die if they could live?

Suddenly, he grabbed the prison bars with both hands, his eyes blazing with intense fire: "Are you going to save me? Can you tolerate me?"

Zhu Yan glanced at him indifferently: "What good things are you thinking of?"

The Second Prince was speechless.

"You won't have the chance to live in Da Li anymore. Treason and patricide are unacceptable in this world," Zhu Yan said slowly as he sipped his wine. "But the world is vast, not just Da Li. Both you and the Third Imperial Brother's maternal families have territories for commerce. Maritime and land trade should not be unfamiliar to you. To the west lies Persia, and to the southeast are Wa, Jiao Chi, and Luzon. If you venture further, there are vast seas and numerous countries, more than enough for you to display your talents."

The Second Prince was stunned: "What you mean is…"

Zhu Yan: "I remember when we were young, the Second Imperial Brother had a great interest in business."

The Second Prince clenched his fists.

It wasn't just an interest; during his youth, he wished he could live with his maternal grandfather's family and secretly follow the merchant caravans. But he was a prince, a person of high status, and couldn't engage in lowly affairs. He was severely reprimanded by his mother for this, beaten and confined, until he was forcibly corrected…

He occasionally wondered what life would be like if he weren't a prince, if he came from a common background. Perhaps he would be wealthier and more accomplished than he was now.

Zhu Yan indeed provided him with a path he hadn't considered, but it also shackled him. The title of prince was out of the question; he would have to change his name and become a commoner. If he dared to reveal his true identity in any setting, not only would Zhu Yan not tolerate him, others wouldn't trust him either. They might even join forces against him, considering everyone who stood by him last time ended up dead.

He would have to wander for the rest of his life. Zhu Yan wouldn't allow him to settle in Da Li.

The hardships aside, he had studied the trade routes. Apart from Da Li, other places were either bitterly cold or ruled by monarchs who didn't measure up, unworthy of comparison to Da Li. With effort, he could indeed carve out a domain for himself, but no matter how large that domain became, it would always be dependent on Da Li. For the rest of his life, he would have to rely on Zhu Yan's mercy.

But being controlled for life… At least he would be alive, right?

The Second Prince quickly made his decision: "I…"

Zhu Yan: "Your mother, I can't save her. Father is watching her too closely, and she is too determined. She is already critically ill."

The Second Prince covered his face with his hand, remaining silent for a long time before wiping his face and speaking again: "Thank you for telling me."

Zhu Yan was not modest in the slightest: "Mm."

The Second Prince picked up the cup of wine on his side and downed it in one go: "You actually knew everything, didn't you?"

He was referring to his rebellion.

Zhu Yan nodded slightly: "There will be more to come."

But the Second Prince was in the imperial prison; anyone attempting something similar would be obvious.

"Is the Third Brother also secretly plotting?" The Second Prince's eyes suddenly turned sharp. "He deliberately lagged behind, wanting me to test the waters for him so he could avoid pitfalls and make his plans more perfect?"

Actually, that wasn't the case. The Third Prince learned some secrets on the day the Second Prince started his rebellion and later developed his own plan, but Zhu Yan remained silent.

The Second Prince jumped to his feet: "Well, my good Third Brother is impressive! In the end, I couldn't beat you!" He paced around in place for a few moments before suddenly lunging towards the prison bars, his eyes filled with malevolence and coldness: "Sixth, you need to step up your game. Eliminate him, and no one can take this world from you!"

Zhu Yan's expression was calm: "Not everything you want to seize is desired by others."

The Second Prince was speechless.

It was hard for him to call Zhu Yan pretentious because, since his youth, following the Crown Prince, to his recent madness and obsession, opposing the Emperor, he never seemed to want to be an emperor.

But who else could bear the weight of the world? Besides him, there was no one else.

"Do whatever you want. Who cares?"

The Second Prince couldn't bring himself to advise Zhu Yan to 'ascend the throne for the sake of the people'—it felt sour and nauseating. Changing direction, he asked: "Do you know about my secret organization?"

Zhu Yan: "On the day you were attacked, it was I who notified them."

The Second Prince: "Why?"

Zhu Yan: "Dying like that would be a bit of a waste."

No wonder Wen Ruan chose him. Sixth did have some skills that commanded respect.

"Well, tell me, what do you need me to do for you?" The Second Prince drank another cup of wine. "Don't think I'm a fool. If you help me, there must be some benefit for you."

Zhu Yan: "I want everything in your possession related to the Third Imperial Brother."

The Second Prince laughed: "Sure, after all, I've been fighting him for so many years. In this world, who knows more about him than I do?"

Compared to Zhu Yan, he wanted even less to see the Third Brother win.

He leaned closer and whispered a location to Zhu Yan.

"He isn't Concubine Rou's biological son. His birth mother is Consort Mu, but you can make a big deal out of this."

This was his trump card, which he originally planned to use himself, but since he lost the opportunity, it was convenient for Sixth.

"I suddenly remembered that when I was attacked, I saw the place where Feng Yi was detained. People with special markings passed through or entered and exited. Perhaps this could become a boost for the Third Brother."

Feng Yi was deeply devoted to Consort Mu. The details of the palace intrigue from back then were suppressed by the Emperor's intervention, but someone who had spent over a decade seeking revenge for a woman might help the Third Brother.

He warned Zhu Yan to be cautious.

"As for me, I'm not in a hurry. Looking at the current situation, His Majesty doesn't want to kill me right away," the Second Prince said languidly as he sat on the ground. "If I can survive, it will be my good fortune to see you ascend the throne. If I don't make it, it's fine too. At least try your best to send the Third Prince down here to keep me company in death, alright?"

Zhu Yan remained silent.

This silence made the Second Prince a bit anxious. "You're not going to let him off, are you? You won't let the Third Prince continue to stand against me, will you? That would be disgusting!"

But then again, after some thought, it was actually fine. This time, he wouldn't let the Third Prince off; he had to finish him! Once they left Da Li, even if Zhu Yan wanted to intervene, he couldn't stop him! The Third Prince was bound to die!

Zhu Yan replied, "We'll see."

After all, they didn't know what the Third Prince would do next.

The Second Prince enjoyed his most satisfying meal since entering the imperial prison, and sighed deeply. "I never thought that in this grand scheme, you would be the last one standing."

Despite Zhu Yan's strong presence, why did he and the Third Prince consider each other their greatest rivals, seeing Zhu Yan as nothing more than a sharp blade, ready to be used at any moment...

Blind eyes and deaf hearts, no wonder others couldn't understand.

"Regardless, protect Da Li well, like the Crown Prince did."

The Second Prince lowered his gaze, swallowing his bitter smile.

If the Crown Prince were still alive, how could he have ever thought of rebelling? He would only think about how to strive to be a virtuous prince.

When Zhu Yan met people inside the prison, Wen Ruan was on a nearby street, taking care of some business while delivering goods.

Such tasks didn't usually require his personal attention, but since he happened to be passing by today and his subordinates were quite busy, it wasn't troublesome to handle these errands himself.

After chatting warmly with the shopkeeper for a while, discussing trivial matters over tea while analyzing market trends and considering his next moves, Wen Ruan felt like a fish in water, thoroughly enjoying himself. As he was leaving, he noticed someone passing by the door.

A woman, with a long face, high nose, fair skin, draped in a slightly thick veil that concealed her figure, giving an impression of a certain age, her demeanor different from that of ordinary women, exuding a noble air...

And somewhat familiar?

But Wen Ruan didn't remember when he had seen this woman before.

Perhaps it was just his imagination. In a blink of an eye, how could he be sure?

"Shopkeeper, please stay."

He politely bid farewell to the shopkeeper and slowly walked towards the main street, discovering that his luck today was truly extraordinary, as he seemed to have spotted the Tenth Prince and Wen Yu.

The Second Prince had been holding back for several days, finally finding another opportunity to sneak out of the palace to play. Today, he came specifically for Zhu Yan and Wen Ruan, but upon arriving at the Jian Wang's mansion, he found that both were absent. Hearing that they were near the imperial prison, he hurried over.

In recent days, he had secretly visited the Jian Wang's mansion several times, becoming increasingly familiar with Wen Ruan, and no longer being as polite. He discovered that this sister-in-law was indeed quite capable, revealing her true nature without restraint...

Seeing Wen Ruan from afar, the Tenth Prince wanted to wave and greet her.

"Tenth Highness."

Unexpectedly, someone stepped out from the side, blocking his path.

The Tenth Prince frowned. He recognized this person: Wen Yu. During the hunting event with the Beidi envoys, this man had tried to claim a life-saving favor in the woods, claiming to be his sister-in-law's younger brother. Though there wasn't any great enmity between them, he had certainly caused trouble for his sister-in-law multiple times. How could this be tolerated?

What was he doing, suddenly blocking his way here?

The Tenth Prince felt extremely uncomfortable.

Taking advantage of the fact that Wen Yu hadn't noticed his sister-in-law yet, and she hadn't seen Wen Yu either, he lifted his chin slightly, leading Wen Yu aside into an alley. "What's the matter?"