Chapter 55
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At this moment, the gazes of three people all fell on A’Mo’s chubby face, including that prince who could live for another one thousand nine hundred years.
This was a burden that any chubby kid couldn’t bear.
A’Mo lowered his humble chubby head and hesitantly reminded His Highness, “Could it be that a little dog on the roadside took a tiny bite of the candied hawthorn? Just a tiny, tiny bite…”
The three sets of eyes on A’Mo didn’t shift, but instead became even more intense.
Mrs. Han nervously apologized, “It’s this humble servant’s fault for not watching the child carefully. I’ll go buy another string right away, begging Your Highness’ forgiveness.”
After saying this, she hurriedly turned to buy it.
“No need.” Xie Duo handed the candied hawthorn in his hand to the chubby little brother in Han Jiao’s arms. “Give this string of candied hawthorn to the greedy little dog on the street on my behalf.”
A’Mo’s eyes lit up. He politely bowed while holding the candied hawthorn. “This consort thanks Your…”
Han Jiao promptly covered his little brother’s mouth.
Xie Duo laughed, his narrow phoenix eyes squinting as he deliberately looked at Han Jiao and softly replied, “Beloved Consort, no need for such formality.”
Han Jiao blushed, lowered his head, and held his chubby little brother tightly, ignoring this stinky little brother.
“I should return to the palace.” Xie Duo restrained his laughter.
Mrs. Han warmly asked, “You’re leaving already? Won’t you come home for a while?”
“No need. By the way, I have a task to entrust to Master Han.”
“Then in the future, Your Highness is welcome to visit often!” Mrs. Han found the prince to be more approachable than she had imagined. He had a pleasant appearance and remarkable skills. Quite a likable child.
After saying this, she looked at Xie Duo with a face full of tenderness.
After a short pause.
Seeing that Mrs. Han was still standing by his side, Xie Duo cleared his throat and gently reminded, “It’s a confidential task.”
Han Jiao then reacted. He quickly handed his little brother to his mother, urging them to go home first.
When the mother and son disappeared at the end of the alley, Xie Duo turned and walked toward the other end of the empty lane, with Han Jiao following briskly.
“I have a set of accounts here. Find an opportunity to personally deliver it to Sixth Brother for me,” Xie Duo calmly instructed Han Jiao regarding the task.
Han Jiao nodded in response. “I’ve just informed Your Highness that in the short term, I may not be able to meet with Prince Yan privately. Unless it’s an urgent matter, I can find an opportunity to deliver it. If it’s of utmost urgency, Your Highness may consider delivering it personally to prevent any delay.”
“If I could conveniently deliver it myself, why would I come to you?” Xie Duo took out the several account sheets from his pocket and handed them to Han Jiao.
Han Jiao accepted them cautiously, keeping them folded and tucking them into his sleeve.
“You can take a look,” Xie Duo said.
Han Jiao paused and stopped in his tracks.
Xie Duo also halted, turning to him with a stern expression.
Han Jiao realized that the Ninth Prince wanted him to examine the accounts on the spot.
Perhaps he needed help with the calculations?
Han Jiao quickly unfolded the pages and began to read.
After reading the first page, Han Jiao’s face was already filled with shock. He looked up at Xie Duo in astonishment.
Xie Duo raised his chin slightly, indicating for him to continue.
Rushing through the five pages, Han Jiao was left speechless, overwhelmed by the shock.
The account sheets turned out to be solid evidence of the Eldest Prince and the Second Prince colluding in wrongdoing!
Han Jiao had been thinking for days about how to expose the Eldest Prince’s true nature in front of Prince Yan.
Before he could come up with a workable plan, the big boss unexpectedly extended a helping hand in the nick of time!
“This… this…” Han Jiao’s tongue tied in knots, his ears burning, and he had a rather embarrassing suspicion.
It wasn’t that he was being presumptuous, but given the timing of the big boss’ assistance, how could he not have such thoughts?
Yes, Han Jiao believed: It was because the Eldest Prince had plotted and falsely accused him, intending to get him expelled by Prince Yan. So the big boss took action personally and exposed the Eldest Prince’s dark secrets.
This idea was quite reasonable.
Otherwise, why would the big boss get involved in the power struggle between the princes at this particular moment?
And why did he target the Eldest Prince first?
But Han Jiao had the self-awareness not to make too much of himself.
He had merely designed a new ball and new rules for the Ninth Prince. There was no need to make the Ninth Prince “lose his temper for the sake of a beauty.”
Perhaps the big boss was just clearing obstacles to help Prince Yan.
But why was the timing so perfect?
Xie Duo said expressionlessly, “Deliver these account sheets personally to Sixth Brother, and tell him you found the evidence yourself. Make him wary of the Eldest Brother.”
“I understand,” Han Jiao couldn’t help but ask softly, “Why, Your Highness… why not do it yourself?”
“I won’t involve myself in any factional struggles.”
Han Jiao thought for a moment, nodded earnestly, carefully folded the account sheets, and placed them in his sleeve pouch.
The two continued to walk in the quiet alley.
Han Jiao gathered the courage to ask quietly, “Your Highness, you mentioned earlier that only Prince Yan can change the current situation for Great Chu. I dare to think that Your Highness has a preference, but why choose to remain impartial?”
Xie Duo didn’t answer.
Han Jiao nodded and said, “I spoke out of turn, Your Highness.”
“I can tell you, but you must promise not to tell anyone, including Sixth Brother.”
“I swear to the Heavens, I won’t reveal a word.”
“Because my preference doesn’t really matter. It won’t change the outcome, and it might make Seventh Brother think I’ve abandoned him. Seventh Brother’s temperament is different from most people. Once he realizes that I’m going after Senior Minister Li, he’s likely to descend into madness. In this world, anyone can oppose him, except for me and Senior Minister Li.”
Han Jiao’s heart felt like it had been suddenly twisted.
In the past, many readers speculated that when it came to Xie Duo, he was just pretending to be weak, biding his time until the end.
But right at this moment, Han Jiao was a hundred percent convinced that the big boss’ words were sincere, not an excuse.
Han Jiao took a deep breath and asked quietly, “May I inquire, Your Highness, if even you can’t influence this struggle for the throne, then who can hold the key to it?”
Xie Duo gave a bitter smile. “Who else could it be? Sixth Brother is the uncontested choice for the throne, everyone knows that. But have you ever wondered why Senior Minister Li dares to undermine him? It’s because of Father Emperor’s disagreement with Sixth Brother’s policies. Father Emperor is concerned that after Sixth Brother ascends the throne, he’ll completely overturn all of Father Emperor’s achievements with his new policies, causing chaos in the court.”
Han Jiao understood this, but ultimately, it still depended on the Emperor’s will. He asked weakly, “How can we make the Emperor believe that Prince Yan has no intention of defying him?”
Xie Duo shook his head. “Father Emperor has watched Sixth Brother grow up. At this point, no matter how well Sixth Brother pretends to be obedient, he can’t deceive Father Emperor. If Seventh Brother takes the reins of power, authority will fall into Senior Minister Li’s hands, and Senior Minister Li’s policies align with Father Emperor’s views. That’s the real reason Senior Minister Li is willing to take a risk. Now, it’s all about whether Senior Minister Li’s loyalty can convince Father Emperor that he won’t rebel. Fortunately, Senior Minister Li is an outsider, and his chances aren’t great. I believe Father Emperor will ultimately trust Sixth Brother more.”
These straightforward words, pointing to the heart of the matter, brought Han Jiao to a clear understanding of the political situation.
In Han Jiao’s heart, an indescribable sense of awe surged for a moment.
So that’s how it is.
He had previously been unable to understand how the wise old Emperor, as depicted in the novel, could believe that Prince Yan had colluded with the border commanders.
The real reason, it turned out, was that the Emperor detested Prince Yan due to their differing political views.
It was also because the Emperor was concerned that Prince Yan might disrupt the court and destroy the ancestral legacy that he was unwilling to let Prince Yan take over the Great Chu’s leadership.
So, Han Jiao finally understood why, when the old Emperor was on his deathbed, he defied popular opinion and firmly designated Xie Duo as the Crown Prince.
Ultimately, the old Emperor didn’t trust Prince Yan and didn’t trust Senior Minister Li. He chose to trust Xie Duo.
He believed in the father-son relationship between them, believing that only Xie Duo wouldn’t erase all of his policies and achievements while he was in power. Only Xie Duo wouldn’t make him worry about the imperial authority falling by the wayside. Only Xie Duo had the strength to bear the burden of the Great Chu’s destiny alone.
Han Jiao was the only one who knew all the reasons and the future results now.
Because both inside and outside the court, they still saw Xie Duo as a useless prince who only knew how to skip his studies and play cuju.
Even Han Jiao, as someone familiar with the novel, had genuinely believed that the big boss was a total slacker.
Those in the midst of it, how could they have foreseen that this seemingly insignificant person would rise to greatness at some point in the future?
Even Xie Duo himself had no idea.
“Your Highness,” Han Jiao halted and gazed steadily at the big boss’ back.
Xie Duo turned to look at him.
Han Jiao quietly asked, “Why are you willing to tell me these state secrets?”
Xie Duo laughed lightly. “State secrets? These matters are not things only I can see through. Senior Minister Li is one, Senior Minister Xu is one, and there are many court officials who are also in the know. Adding one more like you won’t make much of a difference. I’m telling you to leave you a path for survival.”
Han Jiao was taken aback. “Please explain, Your Highness.”
Xie Duo stared at the little child prodigy. “Have you ever thought about why the court’s high-ranking officials are so devoted to currying favor with an idle prince like me?”
“Of course, it’s because Your Highness enjoys the Emperor’s favor the most.”
“If you only think that far, you might as well buy a coffin and wait for death.”
Han Jiao’s fighting spirit was suddenly ignited. He furrowed his brow, thinking quickly, and then his eyes lit up. He responded confidently, “If I could join Your Highness’ camp, I could avoid being caught up in the power struggle between Prince Duan’s faction and Prince Yan’s faction. I could sit back and watch the show from a safe distance and, once the two factions determine the victor, I could naturally choose the safest side.”
Xie Duo’s lips curved. “Indeed, you’re quite the scholar.”
Han Jiao, feeling embarrassed, said, “Thank you for your guidance, Your Highness.”
“I’m not the kind-hearted type who takes in those fence-sitters.” Xie Duo approached and narrowed his eyes, warning the little child prodigy, “As for Master Cotton who can create new cuju rules, I might consider accommodating him. But—he can’t help one prince with policy essays and then go help another prince with accounting.”
Han Jiao: “……”
Why did this sound so familiar?
“Your initial choice was the right one,” Xie Duo’s eyes displayed a proud self-assuredness, “Both inside and outside the court, the only one who can provide shelter for you isn’t Sixth Brother, nor Senior Minister Li. It’s me.”
Han Jiao: “……”
What initial choice was he talking about?
Could it be that when Han Jiao previously requested to ghostwrite a policy essay for him, the big boss had taken it a sign that he would align with him?
But that policy essay was clearly written under duress!
Xie Duo gazed sternly at the little child prodigy, took a few steps backward, and said in a low voice, “I’m heading back to the palace.”
After saying that, Xie Duo suddenly spun around, took three or four steps to the top of the wall, leaped over, and took a shortcut, sprinting toward the direction of the palace.
Han Jiao: “……”
Judging from his urgency, it seemed that His Highness had sneaked out of the palace secretly.
Han Jiao returned home with a mind full of thoughts, hiding the accounts of the Second Prince’s faction, and began to ponder.
In the current situation, aligning with the big boss was indeed the safest choice, but in the novel, Xie Duo took his own life!
In the novel’s ending, Xie Duo and Prince Yan encountered an ambush, and at a critical moment, turned their enemies into allies and worked together to break through.
Prince Yan instinctively shielded his brother in a dire situation, almost losing his life. This act helped dispel the suspicion between the two brothers.
By all accounts, the two brothers should have reconciled at this point, but in the novel, Xie Duo inexplicably took his own life after avenging their enemies.
At that time, many readers argued that this was a forced abdication for the male lead, even if it meant Xie Duo committing self-sacrifice or deliberately losing.
Some readers claimed it wasn’t just deliberately losing, it was practically throwing away the entire Pacific Ocean.
The ending of this Antagonist of the Year even became a trending topic, with hashtags like #The Self-Cultivation of a Bug-Level Boss and #Only I Can Kill Myself.
Some speculated that it was merely an attempt to whitewash Xie Duo’s sins and make amends for the earlier brutal persecution of Prince Yan’s faction.
Now, Han Jiao found himself in the midst of it. He initially thought the big boss was just going through a teenage phase and acting on impulse, but now, it was evident there must be more important reasons.
Ultimately, Prince Yan had the male protagonist halo, so if Han Jiao chose the big boss at this point, he wouldn’t be able to switch sides later, and the ending would surely be manipulated by Senior Minister Xu.
Han Jiao felt surrounded by danger from all sides, with nowhere to turn.
***
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