Xue Beng was stunned by the scolding and instinctively tried to defend himself. "It... it was Xue Qinghe who started it..."
"He hit you first, so you should have endured it!" Prince Xue Xing's voice suddenly rose, his tone full of pained exasperation.
"You think by reporting him, you're clearing your name? Getting back at him? Let me tell you, you've just washed your neck and thrust it toward his blade! You've walked straight into his trap!"
He suddenly leaned down and pointed at Xue Beng's nose. "Do you know why he hit you yesterday? To provoke you, so you'd come charging out today like some brainless fool!"
Xue Beng's face instantly turned deathly pale, his lips trembling. "He... he set me up?"
"Set you up?" Prince Xue Xing gave a cold laugh, a glint of ice flashing in his eyes. "That's not all! This was an open, aboveboard scheme!"
"He hit you in front of everyone to humiliate you and destroy your credibility! He knew you couldn't swallow your pride and would inevitably go complain! And what about him?"
Prince Xue Xing straightened and paced a couple of steps, his tone steeped in mockery and helplessness. "He'd already prepared that load of high-minded, self-righteous bullshit!"
"Purging the palace, educating his younger brother, protecting the imperial family's reputation! Every word was backed by righteousness and propriety, and every one hit you right where it hurt: your bullying of the palace servants! How could you possibly fight him?"
"Everyone at court knows about your misdeeds! What evidence could you produce to refute him? He really did strike you, and you really were in the wrong!"
"By reporting him, you only humiliated yourself and personally nailed the label of 'arrogant, domineering, and irresponsible' onto your own head!"
"And you only made His Majesty even more disappointed in you!"
As Xue Beng listened to his uncle's analysis, a chill shot from the soles of his feet straight to his crown. Every limb and bone turned cold and rigid.
He thought back to Xue Qinghe's impassioned, righteous performance in court, the ministers' admiring gazes, his father's disappointed look, and his own despair as he finally collapsed on the floor like a clown...
So it had all been part of the other man's scheme!
"He... he's so vicious!" Xue Beng's voice was hoarse, full of fear and lingering dread. The grievance he'd felt before was swallowed by overwhelming terror.
"Vicious? Hah! It's your own fault, you fool. Why'd you have to go provoking him? Bullying men and women was bad enough, but you even brought that habit into the palace. I knew this would blow up one day."
At that, Xue Xing sighed. "But I never thought it would be Xue Qinghe who spoke up."
Then Xue Xing looked at Xue Beng helplessly. "At least this matter ends here. An imperial prince disgracing himself too badly would damage the empire's reputation as well. From now on, don't go provoking Xue Qinghe."
Xue Beng hurriedly nodded, but inside, he seethed with resentment. He'd thought his uncle would come up with some kind of plan, but instead he was telling him to endure it.
But at the thought of Xue Qinghe, Xue Beng felt as if he were falling apart. The man was a demon. All that benevolence was just an act.
"Uncle..." Xue Beng's voice was hoarse and dry, with a hint of a sob. "Does that mean... does that mean I can only let him bully me like this, with no hope of ever getting ahead?"
Prince Xue Xing looked at his nephew's devastated state, and though he felt sorry for him, he felt even more helpless. He was just about to offer a few more words of warning when a clear, slightly tense announcement came from outside the hall:
"His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived—!"
The announcement struck like thunder, exploding through the silent bedchamber!
Xue Beng's body stiffened. He was here! Why would he come?! Was he here to laugh at him? Or was he going to...
Prince Xue Xing's expression changed as well, his eyes instantly sharpening like a hawk's. He quickly glanced at Xue Beng, who was trembling on the bed, then took a deep breath and forced down his doubts and a trace of apprehension.
Ye Yang's arrival at this particular moment was far too "convenient" to be well-intentioned!
The heavy palace doors soundlessly swung open.
Ye Yang appeared in the doorway. Today, he wore a simple, elegant moon-white robe and had his usual gentle smile. He walked in at his leisure, as if he had truly come only to visit his injured younger brother.
Two obedient-looking eunuchs followed behind him, carrying several brocade boxes that were clearly worth a fortune.
"Greetings, Your Highness," Prince Xue Xing said first, bowing with impeccable decorum, though his eyes held wariness and scrutiny.
"So Uncle is here too." Ye Yang's smile didn't change, and his tone remained gentle, but his gaze had already passed over Prince Xue Xing and settled on Xue Beng.
"I heard Fourth Brother was badly injured, and I've been quite concerned. After court this morning, I went out of my way to find some fine medicines and tonics for him."
His voice was clear and pleasant, full of an elder brother's concern. Every word seemed to carry warmth.
But to Xue Beng, it sounded like a venomous snake hissing, cold and slick, making his hair stand on end.
[ Ding! Roleplaying as a benevolent elder brother, acting skill +1 ]
Ye Yang walked slowly to the bedside and looked down at Xue Beng, who was lying face-down.
His gaze lingered for a moment on Xue Beng's back, wrapped in thick bandages with faint traces of blood showing through. His brows furrowed slightly, as though he were truly concerned about his younger brother's injuries.
"Fourth Brother," Ye Yang said more softly, with just the right touch of sorrow. "You've suffered. As for what happened yesterday, your elder brother had no choice. I was a little too heavy-handed."
"But you have to understand, I did it for your own good, and for the reputation of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family. Do you... still resent me?"
As he spoke, he reached out with an entirely natural air, as if to pat Xue Beng's shoulder reassuringly. But the fingers came down on the edge of the worst whip wound on Xue Beng's back!
"Ugh—!" A piercing pain exploded through his back. Caught off guard, Xue Beng let out a brief, stifled groan. His body jerked, and cold sweat instantly covered his forehead.
"Fourth Brother? What's wrong? Does your wound hurt again?" Ye Yang's hand "paused" there in concern, his fingertips pressing just a little harder. His face remained gentle, tinged with self-reproach.
"Alas, it's all my fault. Someone, bring up the Nine-Turn Jade Dew Ointment I brought. I hear it works wonders on this kind of external injury."
[ Ding! Inflicting pain, mental strength +1 ]
Xue Beng's vision darkened with pain. He bit down hard on his lower lip to keep a scream from escaping.
He could clearly feel the coldness of Ye Yang's fingertips and the precise pressure that seemed accidental but was anything but! How was this a visit to the sick? This was torture!
Fear rose within him like a frigid tide, engulfing him in an instant. Any lingering doubt about what Prince Xue Xing had just told him vanished as well. This demon was capable of anything!
Prince Xue Xing stood to one side, watching every bit of it.
His fist clenched violently inside his sleeve, his nails nearly digging into his flesh, yet he had no choice but to keep his expression composed.
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