Chapter 97
Although the Fifth Prince's mother came from a humble background, she was still one of the Emperor's concubines. While she couldn’t compare in other aspects, at least in terms of food, the Fifth Prince was slightly better off than the Sixth Prince, who had been deliberately suppressed by Cao Lan'er. He could at least eat his fill, even if the meals weren’t particularly good.
As a child, Yue Heng took medicine far more often than he ate a full meal. Under Cao Lan'er’s indulgence, it was normal for him to go hungry or only half-full - as long as he didn’t starve to death.
Once, he was even pushed into the water by a eunuch for making a fuss about being hungry and demanding food. The Fifth Prince happened to pass by with his attendants and rescued him. That was how the two brothers truly got to know each other.
Because his mother’s status was low, the Fifth Prince and his mother had also suffered their share of bullying. Knowing how bitter that felt, seeing Yue Heng in an even more pitiable state stirred compassion in his young heart, and he took on the responsibility of looking after his younger brother.
His main method was digging a hole outside Yue Heng’s secluded palace quarters and secretly giving him half of his own meals every day. Yue Heng would sneak out at midnight to eat. No matter how miserable those days were, he truly survived that hardest period thanks to the food his Fifth Brother sent him.
Human memory is strange, some things are forgotten, while others remain deeply etched.
Yue Heng would never forget the image of himself as a child, crouching by that small hole in the wall, wolfing down cold rice and leftovers.
And so, he also clearly remembered the kindness his Fifth Brother had shown him.
Yue Heng was clever, and the Fifth Prince was no fool either - otherwise, their hole-digging and food-smuggling operation would have been discovered long ago.
When Yue Heng began learning martial arts from his uncle and started building his own influence, he developed a habit of sending books to the Fifth Prince. Anything he could get his hands on, especially military strategy texts and secretly copied treatises on statecraft.
The Fifth Prince vaguely sensed something but maintained a facade of being inarticulate and dull-witted. In private, however, he studied the books Yue Heng sent him thoroughly.
When Yue Heng began taking action against Cao Lan'er and her faction, he outright told the Fifth Prince that he wanted him to become Emperor.
The Fifth Prince smiled and said, "I thought you’d had that idea for a long time."
Yue Heng had indeed considered it early on, but his resolve only strengthened after he began his revenge.
Yue Heng remembered his Fifth Brother telling him that being a good Emperor would be difficult, but he was willing to try. He also asked Yue Heng to supervise him - if he ever changed, Yue Heng should depose him and appoint a new ruler.
The Fifth Prince said Yue Heng understood things more clearly and knew what he wanted, whereas he feared that after becoming the ruler of the world - an Emperor who held power over life and death, he might lose his true self, having grown up under the shadow of power struggles.
At that moment, Yue Heng felt certain his Fifth Brother would make a good Emperor because he knew exactly what kind of person he was.
Yue Heng also knew he himself didn’t want to be Emperor but could assist his Fifth Brother. Dayue would surely thrive under their joint rule.
Most importantly, his Fifth Brother had suffered enough from being bullied by palace eunuchs and maids and had witnessed the vile schemes of harem women fighting for favor. He would never let his own children suffer the same fate or allow his concubines to resort to such ruthless tactics.
"But where there are people, there will be conflict and competition. When the Fifth Prince is busy with state affairs, can he really monitor his harem daily to stop women from vying for favor?"
The Sixth Prince wasn’t much of a storyteller either. Though Jiang Lin sensed the deep brotherly bond, he was skeptical of the last part. With a harem full of women, the drama would be endless.
"True, so Fifth Brother decided he’ll only have an Empress, just one woman in the harem. If she wants to argue, she’ll have to quarrel with him. But as married couples know, fights between husband and wife are always settled by bedtime."
Yue Heng even winked suggestively at Jiang Lin and Wei Yunzhao.
Jiang Lin: "...Sixth Prince, you sure know a lot."
Yue Heng wore a confident and proud expression. "I’ve done my research. If things aren’t settled by bedtime, it’s definitely the man’s fault."
His gaze shifted between Jiang Lin and Wei Yunzhao, tinged with envy. "With a pair like you, if one can’t manage, the other can step in. It’ll definitely work out."
Jiang Lin: "..." He knows way too much.
So Jiang Lin decisively shattered Yue Heng’s fantasy. "Bedtime can wait. Has my Su Qiao even agreed to marry you?"
A critical hit - Yue Heng visibly deflated.
Unlike Jiang Lin, who only knew how to mock the Sixth Prince, Wei Yunzhao was kinder and steered the conversation back to the Fifth Prince. "Has the Fifth Prince truly decided to have only an Empress?"
"Of course," Yue Heng answered firmly. "He’s even chosen his Empress."
Jiang Lin and Wei Yunzhao exchanged glances, impressed by the speed but also full of questions. "Who?"
"You know her, the Yin family’s daughter, the one formerly betrothed to the Crown Prince."
Not only did this bunch of brothers all have their eyes on the Yin family’s daughter, but now that they’d taken the Crown Prince’s position, they were also taking his intended bride?
Yue Heng explained: "When the old man wanted to name Fifth Brother as Crown Prince, he was reluctant at first. The old man told him to name his conditions, and Fifth Brother said he’d taken a liking to a girl, who just happened to be the former Crown Prince’s fiancee. To keep the throne from falling into my hands, the old man had no choice but to grant this small request. He issued a separate decree betrothing Yin Feifei to Fifth Brother as Crown Princess."
Jiang Lin: "..."
Wei Yunzhao: "..."
It was hard to decide whose move was more outrageous.
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