Huangfu Yuxuan leisurely filled his own teacup and then added a cup for Prince Li, before lightly saying, "Nephew is being benevolent to Uncle Nine, wouldn’t you say?"
Prince Li felt a wave of uncertainty in his heart, looking at Huangfu Yuxuan’s calm and composed deanor. Slowly, he sat down again, picked up the cup, and drank it all in one go.
The tea was still sowhat hot, sliding down his throat, directly reaching his heart, yet he seed unfazed.
He slowly put down the cup, lifted his head, and looked at his nephew in front of him, who had smiling eyes, thin lips, and a straight nose. Having been in the Capital City for so many years, he certainly knew that although his Eldest Brother was appointed Crown Prince from a young age, he hadn’t been very capable, and neither was his eldest son, but this second son was quite elusive.
They had crossed paths during palace banquets, but he hadn’t taken much notice of a child more than ten years younger than him; yet now, it seed he truly underestimated him.
The person before him remained as inscrutable as ever.
The difference was, he didn’t care to see through him before.
Now he did care, yet still failed to see through him.
He reluctantly collected his thoughts, smiling, "Thank you, Yuxuan, for resolving my crisis! This matter, Uncle Nine will keep in mind!"
Huangfu Yuxuan smiled leisurely, "Whether Uncle Nine keeps it in mind or not doesn’t matter, but Uncle Nine should know now that I am soone who can help you. Uncle Nine doesn’t want to leave the Capital City, and it just happens I also don’t want Uncle Nine to leave."
Prince Li’s eyes flashed with a hint of darkness, yet he still smiled and said, "Yuxuan is so considerate of Uncle Nine, Uncle Nine is very pleased. However, Yuxuan says I am not benevolent to my Eldest Brother, I wonder where this talk cos from? I’ve always respected my Eldest Brother greatly, could there be so misunderstanding?"
His heart was filled with apprehension; this remark was both a probing and a defense.
Huangfu Yuxuan sipped his tea, slowly saying, "Uncle Nine, let’s speak frankly, my father in Ningzhou caused so trouble with disaster relief, which shouldn’t have been known, yet a fish slipped through the net. That person shouldn’t have lived, much less arrived at the Capital City. But he survived and made it to the Capital City to file a complaint. Uncle Nine’s people protected him all the way, and now my father is Prince Liang, confined to reflect on his deeds. Uncle Nine, you still don’t admit it, could it be that you cleverly hide your achievents?"
Sweat instantly ford in little beads on Prince Li’s forehead.
He was attentive to the details of Eldest Brother’s disaster relief efforts in the vassal lands, watching for his mistakes to report imdiately. Upon learning of Eldest Brother’s extermination of a family, he thought it was his opportunity, instructing his confidants in the vassal lands to protect the only witness, but they must do so secretly without revealing their identities.
Indeed, his people had escorted the witness all the way.
But the matter was so secretive, yet Huangfu Yuxuan knew.
Furthermore, his tone was not probing or questioning; he was certain, very certain!
Prince Li was montarily speechless.
He wanted to deny it, but since Huangfu Yuxuan knew all the truth, would denial help? It would only make him seem more foolish.
Huangfu Yuxuan turned the white jade cup in his hand, his fingertips delicate and white, as glossy and smooth as the jade he held, as he spoke slowly, "Uncle Nine need not be alard. Being a prince, wanting that position is only human nature. Moreover, now that matters are settled, ntioning past affairs is unnecessary as nothing can change. Nephew rely wonders, my father was not unkind to Uncle Nine, so why is Uncle Nine willing to toil arduously for Uncle Three?"
Prince Li couldn’t say a word; he was working for himself, only to have his efforts usurped.
But how should he say that?
He managed a bitter smile, "It’s all a misunderstanding!"
"Whether or not it’s a misunderstanding is no longer important. However, Uncle Nine paid dearly for Uncle Three’s elevation to Crown Prince, and the first thing he does is target Uncle Nine, like ’after the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked; when birds are gone, the bow is stored away,’ Uncle Nine!" Huangfu Yuxuan’s tone seed ordinary, yet carried a hint of mockery; he smiled as if basking in spring warmth, but the words he spoke were like a knife, cutting through the veil Prince Li wanted to maintain.
Prince Li’s face turned as red as pig liver, though branded a hunting dog, he couldn’t even muster anger—this was precisely what infuriated him the most.
Huangfu Yuxuan’s voice was leisurely, "On the contrary, I, as a nephew, have done my utmost to keep Uncle Nine in the Capital City; otherwise, Uncle Nine should be on the way back to Ningzhou by now!"
The tea was fragrant, but as Prince Li drank it, he no longer knew its taste. After a mont of silence, he said, "Yuxuan is right; there were many blurry monts for Uncle Nine before. It seems music, chess, books, painting, poetry, wine, and flowers are what Uncle Nine should pursue; deviating once has resulted in a lesson. Rest assured, from now on, your Uncle Nine will never cause you trouble."
Huangfu Yuxuan lightly shook his head, smiling, "Uncle Nine is mistaken. Uncle Nine, being a prince, even if your heart is set simply on music, chess, books, painting, poetry, wine, and flowers, such idle sentints cannot be accommodated in the Capital City. Did Uncle Nine forget Jinglun’s tragedy?"
When Prince Li heard him ntion Jinglun, his heart couldn’t help but bleed again. If Jinglun were here, would Father still summon Prince Zhuang?
Huangfu Yuxuan drank his tea, speaking as if it were a matter of no consequence, "Jinglun’s untily death—Uncle Nine, do you think it was the doing of Jingwei?"
Prince Li’s eyes widened instantly, staring hard at Huangfu Yuxuan.
Huangfu Yuxuan leisurely sipped his tea, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, his eyes deep and knowing.
Prince Li trembled, "Yuxuan, what do you an by this?"
Huangfu Yuxuan shook his head, "It seems Uncle Nine truly thinks this way; poor Jingwei doesn’t even know what injustice he’s suffered unknowingly!"
Prince Li stood abruptly, hands braced on the table, eyes bloodshot and red, gritting his teeth, "You know who hard Jinglun, don’t you?"
Huangfu Yuxuan gazed into his eyes, his expression calm, exuding a subtle mockery: "It seems Uncle Nine’s mind is indeed occupied with music, chess, books, painting, poetry, wine, and flowers. At Grandfather’s birthday banquet, cousin Jinglun was exceptional, winning Grandfather’s praise. Who would’ve been most threatened by this?"
Prince Li’s eyes darkened, casting a glance his way.
Huangfu Yuxuan smiled, "Is Uncle Nine still suspicious of my father now? Laughable, if my father had such sches, would he still be rely Prince Liang?"
"Then who is it?" Prince Li’s gaze was full of hatred.
Huangfu Yuxuan was not in a hurry, instead picking up the pot, serenely filling two cups, without uttering a word.
Prince Li quickly pieced together his thoughts, his eyes filled with growing resentnt, teeth clenched painfully, squeezing out a few words, "Is it Old Three?"
Huangfu Yuxuan chuckled lightly, speaking elegantly, "This little nephew doesn’t know, but any matter can be speculated upon by considering who stands to gain the most." He spoke with grave sincerity, "If cousin Jinglun were here, given his excellence and Grandfather’s favor, who would currently occupy the Crown Prince position? It’s hard to say, indeed!"
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