Rain fell in a steady drizzle, pattering against the leaves, weaving a melody that rang through the mountain forest.
Among the trees, a young man carried another man on his back, struggling with every step.
"Your Highness, put me down. There is no need to waste your strength on me..."
Seeing the muddy ground and the Crown Prince's slender frame, Cui Rong could not help speaking up as the prince carried him onward.
"You... broke your leg saving me."
The Crown Prince gritted his teeth and trudged forward, one step at a time.
"Besides, you are my Little Uncle," he continued. "Whether out of affection or duty, I cannot abandon you."
Cui Rong lowered his lashes at those words and fell silent.
He had saved the Crown Prince... only to keep the Cui family from being implicated in this assassination attempt.
Besides, people from other factions had also taken part in the attack.
Clearly, they wanted to pin the entire assassination attempt on the Cui family.
How could he let them succeed?
He had not truly wanted to save him.
He studied the Crown Prince's profile, his dark eyes shifting slightly.
The Crown Prince... really was as kind as the rumors said.
Far too merciful.
That would be his most fatal weakness.
Thud!
Suddenly, the Crown Prince slipped, sending both himself and Cui Rong tumbling to the ground.
"Little Uncle, are you all right?" The Crown Prince hurriedly pushed himself up and asked.
Cui Rong slowly raised himself and replied, "...I am fine."
Perhaps he should not have pretended to break his leg to gain the young Crown Prince's trust.
At this rate, even an uninjured man would end up hurt.
Looking up, he saw the Crown Prince's gloomy expression. Water ran down his fair face, indistinguishable from tears. Noticing