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The smile on Duàn Yì's face had yet to fade when it froze, stiff and ugly. With a mournful expression, he said,

"Second Uncle, you were the one helping Prince Duan vent his anger, and the ones who acted were the Estate's experts. It really has little to do with me. Prince Duan invited me to a banquet—can I refuse?"

There was no such thing as a good feast without ulterior motives. This was exactly that kind of situation.

It had been mentioned before that Duàn Yì himself bore Prince Duan no ill will. However, his current status and circumstances gravely obstructed Prince Duan's plan to take control of the Zhenbei King's Mansion.

Thus, he and Prince Duan's Estate were natural enemies. It would already be good enough if they could mind their own business. Now that the other side had invited him over, was it really just to thank him?

Duàn Yì was not merely no fool—he was quite clever. He feared the banquet would stir up some new trouble, its purpose nothing more than to tarnish his reputation and kick him off the Heir Apparent's seat. Then Prince Duan could once again gain the support of the Crown Prince, or even that emperor who sat in the Imperial Capital and possessed all of Shenzhou.

Xia Hong also understood Duàn Yì's current predicament very well. Indeed, this had been the result of his deliberate guidance. Thus, he smiled faintly and shook his head.

"How could you refuse? Though King of Zhenbei and Prince Duan's branch are enemies like fire and water, and I have no good impression of him,

we are both members of the Imperial Family, after all. Naturally, we must maintain surface harmony.

You are now the Heir Apparent. Every word and action of yours represents the