Therefore, they did bear some responsibility for failing to look after Qiao Nian and causing his death, but certainly not much. After all, Qiao Nian and the others were not three-year-old children; bumps and bruises were inevitable. Though they did not want accidents to happen, there was nothing they could do when they did.
"Besides, Qiao Nian's death is actually a good thing. Though the Emperor never said so, the Twelfth Prince died in the Northern Lands, and he was still grieved by it. Now that the Blood Robe Marquis Mansion has lost a son, perhaps the Emperor will feel a little better."
Naturally, Zhao Rulíng had said those words. Even if Yu Changkong harbored similar thoughts, he would never dare voice them.
Still, it had to be said that Zhao Rulíng saw things quite clearly. There was a difference between grieving alone and having someone grieve alongside you.
"I'm not worried about Qiao Nian's death. So long as we follow Lei Wanche and the Ninth Prince's approach and do not get involved, there should be no problem.
"The key issue now is that you and I failed in our task, and Qiao Nian died as well. This has become a problem. Will the Emperor think us incompetent?"
It was a sharp question. Yu Changkong truly wanted to keep hold of Beitang Sheng's thigh. Perhaps in the future he might ride the wind and soar; even the path of Heavenly Being or Gods and Devils was not impossible.
But once he lost Beitang Sheng's favor, leaving aside what would become of Zhao Rulíng, his own future—and that of his son Yu Huashen—would no longer be so clear.
"Do good deeds, and ask not what lies ahead. This time, we can be said to have done everything in our power. That