Rest assured, I'll definitely stand by your side

"With nothing better to do, I came to visit Second brother. Second brother wouldn't refuse to welcome me, would you?"

Xue Haicang smiled and followed Xue Luochuan into the palace.

"Third brother, what are you saying? Why would I not welcome you as a guest?"

Xue Luochuan sat down at the tea table, picked up the teapot beside him, poured Xue Haicang a cup of clear tea, and pushed it before him.

"My place cannot compare to Eldest brother's. This is merely ordinary tea, nothing like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Tea at Eldest brother's place. Third brother, I hope you will not mind."

As he spoke, Xue Luochuan poured himself a cup as well.

"However good Eldest brother's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Tea may be, it cannot compare to the tea here with Second brother. After all, I stand on your side, Second brother."

Xue Haicang lifted his cup and took a light sip. "It is just that times have changed. In the past, even combined, we were no match for Eldest brother. Now, Second brother alone can contend with him, which makes me seem rather unnecessary."

The hand holding Xue Luochuan's teacup paused almost imperceptibly, but soon returned to normal.

"Third brother, what are you saying? What is the relationship between us? Once I bring down Eldest brother, how could I possibly treat you unfairly?"

Xue Luochuan took a sip of tea and looked at Xue Haicang with a faintly amused smile.

"That is true."

"The game has already begun. If I do not stand with the winner, then I can only stand with the loser. And I will definitely stand with Second brother."

Xue Haicang patted his chest, his tone exceedingly solemn.

"With those words from Third brother, I can rest assured."

"With Third brother's help, bringing down Eldest brother is only a matter of time."

Xue Luochuan raised his teacup toward Xue Haicang.

Seeing this, Xue Haicang raised his cup as well. Then, the two of them drained their tea at the same time.

After chatting idly with Xue Luochuan for a while longer, Xue Haicang left Xue Luochuan's palace.

However, he did not return to the palace where he lived. Instead, he headed to the palace of the First Prince, Xue Qinghe.

Inside the imposing, solemn palace.

Xue Haicang held a cup of Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Tea, his expression grave.

"Eldest brother, you know that Third brother has always respected you the most."

"Our relationship is not something Xue Luochuan can compare to. No matter what happens, I will definitely stand by your side."

Slurp~

After taking a sip of Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Tea, Xue Haicang leaned back in his chair. "The tea at Eldest brother's place is not something Second brother's coarse tea can compare to."

Xue Qinghe silently turned the teacup in his hand, a faint smile always lingering at the corner of his lips. "As long as Third brother likes it. My teacher sends me some Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Tea every so often."

"Whenever Third brother wishes to drink some, simply come to Eldest brother's place."

Though that was what he said, Xue Qinghe did not believe a single word Xue Haicang had just spoken.

Xue Luochuan's ambitions were laid bare for all to see, and he possessed the strength to contend with him. Xue Haicang's ambitions, on the other hand, were hidden in the dark. He simply did not yet have the strength to sit at the chessboard, which was why he had not revealed them.

"Then I shall be visiting Eldest brother more often from now on."

Xue Haicang took another sip of Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Tea, though an imperceptible gleam flashed deep in his eyes.

First he went to Xue Luochuan, then he came to Xue Qinghe. He was betting on both sides at once. No matter whether Xue Luochuan or Xue Qinghe eventually ascended to that position, Xue Haicang would not lose out.

Besides, there was a saying: when the snipe and clam fought, the fisherman profited. If Xue Luochuan and Xue Qinghe fought too fiercely and ended up mutually wounded, would his chance not come?

The position of Crown Prince was not necessarily beyond Xue Haicang's reach.

After speaking with Xue Qinghe for a while longer.

Seeing that Xue Qinghe intended to send him off, Xue Haicang wisely rose and left without lingering in Xue Qinghe's palace.

After Xue Haicang walked out of the palace, Xue Qinghe quietly watched in the direction he had departed, his eyes gradually narrowing.

"Should I clear out the uncontrollable factor in advance?"

Xue Luochuan muttered to himself, a dangerous glint gradually appearing in his eyes.

But the glint came quickly and vanished just as quickly, as though it had never appeared.

Time slowly passed.

Afternoon.

Canglan King's Mansion.

Bai Wanwan, having comfortably caught up on her sleep, slowly opened her eyes, stretched her waist, and opened her mouth in a small yawn.

Then she felt something enter her mouth. She chewed it lightly a few times. It was quite sweet.

"How is it? Are the grapes sweet?"

Holding a bunch of washed grapes, Qian Renxue looked at Bai Wanwan with a teasing smile.

"Sweet~"

Bai Wanwan nodded and sat up from the rocking chair, only to see Qian Renxue feed her another grape.

"Mmm~"

"Sister, I plan to go see Dugu Bo later."

Bai Wanwan chewed the grape.

"Mm, finish the grapes before you go."

"There is no rush."

Qian Renxue fed her another grape.

However, upon seeing the grape Qian Renxue offered this time, Bai Wanwan did not immediately eat it. She blinked several times, then her cheeks suddenly flushed red.

Qian Renxue had a grape between her teeth and was feeding her the exposed half...

A while later.

After finishing the grapes, Bai Wanwan rose from the rocking chair, called for Yang Wushuang, and hurried out of the King's Mansion.

Watching Bai Wanwan's departing figure, a faint smile remained on Qian Renxue's lips.

Meanwhile, Moxiong and Guibao, hidden in the dark, exchanged a glance before both silently lowered their heads in thought.

"Did you see anything just now?"

Guibao asked Moxiong through Sound transmission.

"Mm..."

"As a subordinate, I was in the Front Hall the entire time. I do not know what happened in the Back Hall."

"Did you see something?"

Moxiong responded through Sound transmission.

"What a coincidence. I was in the Front Hall too. I know nothing and saw nothing."

Guibao silently replied.

"Mm, girls feeding each other things is probably perfectly normal and reasonable."

"Of course, I know nothing and saw nothing. I was merely speaking casually."

Moxiong turned his gaze toward Guibao.

"Mm, perfectly normal and reasonable."

Guibao lightly nodded. After exchanging a look with Moxiong, he said nothing more.

He also made up his mind that even if Moxiong were beaten to death, he had seen and heard nothing just now. He had been in the Front Hall the entire time and had never gone to the Back Hall.

Moxiong's thoughts were the same as Guibao's.

Even if his good brother Guibao were beaten to death, his answer would remain that he knew nothing, saw nothing, had been in the Front Hall the entire time, and had never gone to the Back Hall.