Can't You See Big Brother's Well-Intentioned Efforts?

"Don't change the subject. I'm asking you what you're doing here." Ye Yang couldn't be bothered to play along.

Ding! Pressured Xue Beng, Dignity +1

"This..." Xue Beng hesitated for a moment before hurriedly responding, "It's nothing major. This lowly maid was just clumsy, knocked over the water basin, and dirtied my new robe. I... I lost my temper for a moment and taught her a lesson."

"She's just a servant; if she doesn't know the rules, she needs to be taught. Wouldn't you agree?"

As he spoke, he kicked the overturned basin at his feet, attempting to shift all the blame onto the palace maid, though he dared not meet Ye Yang's eyes.

The maid on the ground heard Xue Beng's twisted version of events and trembled in terror. She suppressed even her sobs, staring at Ye Yang in panic, as if convinced the Crown Prince would only favor his own brother.

Ye Yang smiled, nodding as if he found Xue Beng's words reasonable, then turned to the maid and said, "You go out first. I will deal with you later for dirtying the Fourth Prince's new clothes."

Ding! Deceived two people, Acting +1

Xue Beng breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly kicked the maid. "Get out of here already! Since my big brother has spoken, I'll spare you for now—I'll punish you later!"

Hearing this, the maid felt as if her world had ended, but she had no choice. She crawled out of the room with her body hunched over.

Once the maid was gone, Ye Yang swept his gaze over the messy floor and looked at Xue Beng. "Well? I, your older brother, have come to visit you, and you intend to speak to me in an environment like this?"

Xue Beng was utterly confused by this. He had assumed Xue Qinghe came here specifically to stand up for the maid, but looking at it now, that didn't seem to be the case—otherwise, he wouldn't have helped him earlier. But what exactly was he trying to say?

Xue Beng recalled his past actions, but he couldn't think of a single thing he had done to offend Xue Qinghe.

Seeing that Xue Beng hadn't replied for a long time, Ye Yang's face showed a hint of displeasure. "What? Do you want me to do it myself?"

Ding! Pressured Xue Beng, Dignity +1

Xue Beng was startled and hurriedly shouted, "Someone, come here!"

Soon, two attendants entered with cleaning tools. It seemed they weren't doing this for the first time, but their expressions changed drastically when they saw Xue Qinghe standing at the front.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince!" The attendants hurriedly bowed.

Ye Yang nodded. "Rise. Just get on with your work."

Ding! Ordered two people, Dignity +1

"Yes."

The attendants lowered their heads and exchanged glances before hurriedly rising to begin cleaning with practiced ease. However, Ye Yang's presence here put immense pressure on them, as they feared being dragged into the conflict between the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince.

Once the cleaning was finished, Ye Yang took a seat. Even though this was Xue Beng's bedchamber, Ye Yang sat in the main seat as if he were the master of the house.

Xue Beng felt dissatisfied, but he didn't say anything and sat to the side.

No sooner had he sat down than Ye Yang suddenly spoke up. "What, no tea for me? Could it be that I, the dignified Crown Prince, can't even have a cup of tea from you?"

Ding! Pressured Xue Beng, Dignity +1

Hearing this, Xue Beng was speechless. He usually didn't see him being so demanding.

Still, he didn't protest and hurriedly said, "My apologies, Brother. I have been neglectful."

He stood up and picked up the hot teapot to pour into the cup in Ye Yang's hand. Ye Yang was the first person to ever make the playboy Xue Beng pour tea.

As he watched the tea pour into the cup, Ye Yang suddenly lost his grip, as if he had been scalded. The cup hit the table with a crisp sound.

The tea spilled everywhere, splashing all over Ye Yang.

Ding! Tea-soaked, Adaptability +1

Xue Beng hurriedly snapped out of it, frantically setting down the teapot with a look of utter shock and surprise. "Brother, I... I didn't mean to."

"I... I'll call someone to bring a cloth right away."

Just as Xue Beng was about to call out, he heard Ye Yang say with feigned anger, "Xue Beng, you actually dared to dirty my favorite casual robe!"

"And you tried to hurt me with hot tea! You are truly lawless!"

Ding! Pressured and deceived Xue Beng, Dignity +1, Acting +1

This accusation made Xue Beng's face turn pale. He shook his head frantically. "I didn't! I didn't, Brother, I really didn't mean to. I didn't know the tea would be this hot."

"It... it must have been those attendants. They must have set it up on purpose. I didn't know!"

Xue Beng hurriedly explained, his face looking miserable, as if he had suffered a great injustice.

Hearing this, Ye Yang seemed to believe him, and his expression softened. "So that's how it is. I was just thinking, Fourth Brother, how could you do such a thing? You must have been framed by someone else."

Ding! Deceived Xue Beng, Acting +1

Xue Beng finally breathed a sigh of relief, though he couldn't help but feel there was something wrong with the way things were being phrased.

The next second, he heard Ye Yang say coldly, "However, you did dirty my clothes and nearly scalded me—that part is still your doing, isn't it? If I don't punish you for this, wouldn't I be a spineless Crown Prince?"

Hearing this, Xue Beng's expression, which had just relaxed, turned ugly again. Ye Yang's hot-and-cold attitude was unbearable.

"That is only natural." What else could Xue Beng say? He had already invoked the Crown Prince title; he had no choice but to agree.

Ye Yang nodded. "Since you also agree that you should be punished, then in light of your good attitude in admitting your mistake, I won't have the Emperor step in. I'll handle it myself."

"Very well." Xue Beng nodded subconsciously. After all, punishments were not meant for the nobility, let alone a prince like him—what kind of punishment could there be?

But when he realized what had been said, his expression froze, and he looked at Ye Yang in disbelief. "Wh-what?"

Ye Yang revealed a brilliant smile, though in Xue Beng's eyes, it was no different from the smile of a demon.

"A country has its laws, and a family has its rules. Naturally, I won't be too harsh on my fourth brother, but the necessary punishment is unavoidable."

"Besides, didn't you already agree to it, Fourth Brother? Or are you intending to deceive this Crown Prince?" Ye Yang's words were light, but to Xue Beng, they felt like a thunderbolt.

[Ding! Pressure applied to Xue Beng, Dignity +1]

"This younger brother wouldn't dare, I was only..." Xue Beng tried to retort, but Ye Yang didn't give him the chance. "As long as you wouldn't dare. Someone, bring me a switch!"

The attendant outside heard the Crown Prince's command and hurriedly fetched a thorny switch before walking in.

The attendant was confused as to why the Crown Prince needed a switch, but as he handed it over to Ye Yang, he suddenly realized something and looked at Ye Yang in shock.

Could this switch be for the Crown Prince to punish the Fourth Prince?

Ye Yang took the switch, and when Xue Beng saw the dense, sharp thorns covering it, his entire body began to tremble, his face turning deathly pale.

"B-Big Brother, even if you have to punish me, there's no need to use a switch like that." Xue Beng found it hard to believe that the usually benevolent Crown Prince could be so ruthless with his punishments.

"No need? But why do I feel it's just right?" Ye Yang put on a helpless expression at these words. "If it doesn't hurt, you won't learn. Oh, Fourth Brother, Fourth Brother, can you really not see the good intentions behind my actions?"

[Ding! Deceived Xue Beng, Acting +1]