From beginning to end, Xu Tianran's expression never changed in the slightest.
That alone showed how deeply he hid his thoughts.
Even knowing the assassination had failed, he remained perfectly composed, with not a ripple showing on his face.
"Brother!"
Xu Tianyuan silently cursed him for being such a good actor, then rushed straight over and hugged Xu Tianran, unleashing his attack right in his face.
"Some bastard whose sons will be born without assholes-that heaven-cursed, damned, brainless piece of trash-actually sent people to assassinate me!"
"If heaven hadn't watched over me and a mysterious expert hadn't saved me, you'd never have seen your little brother again!"
As Xu Tianyuan poured out his grievances, he rubbed the blood on his body onto Xu Tianran. He acted as distraught as he possibly could.
It was as though he was still reeling from the shock and had finally lost control of his emotions upon seeing his beloved older brother.
"Uh..."
Xu Tianran's face darkened.
But with so many people present, he could hardly express his displeasure.
Every civil and military official, court expert, and imperial guard was watching.
As the crown prince, he could not lose his composure in public.
He forced out a smile, patted Xu Tianyuan on the back, and offered a sham of consolation.
"Don't worry, little brother. I'll make sure the culprit is caught."
What a picture of brotherly affection and respect!
Hearing this, Xu Tianyuan rubbed salt into the wound again.
"Brother, once you catch that son of a bitch, you have to break both his legs!"
The moment those words left his mouth, the entire gathering fell silent.
Everyone's eyes swung toward Xu Tianran's legs.
Most of them knew who had orchestrated the attempt on Xu Tianyuan's life that night.
And precisely because of that, the words "have to break both his legs" were practically the most deadpan joke in the world.
"Pfft..."
They struggled to hold back their laughter, but some ultimately failed and let a sound escape.
It was very faint, yet those nearby heard it clearly.
Xu Tianran, however, remained as steady as Mount Tai.
Only inwardly, his fury had already been ignited.
The greatest pain of his life was having his legs blown off all those years ago. Not only had he lost the ability to walk, but he had also been rendered completely incapable of fathering children.
Had he not known that Xu Tianyuan was an utter fool whose head was filled with nothing but listening to songs in brothels, drinking, and making merry, he really would have suspected that his brother already knew he was the mastermind.
"Brother, why do I feel like your expression looks a little off?"
Xu Tianyuan asked despite knowing perfectly well.
Mockery hid in his eyes, while outwardly he still looked frightened and helpless.
At those words, Xu Tianran gave him a long, searching look, as though he could see through everything.
Only after confirming that Xu Tianyuan's eyes were as clear and stupid as ever-
Did Xu Tianran finally agree against his true feelings.
"Yes. Once he's caught, we'll definitely break both his legs."
After saying that, he even made a show of issuing orders to the guards behind him.
"You lot, go check my sixth brother's quarters and see whether you can find any threads of a clue."
The guards exchanged glances and immediately prepared to leave.
But just then, Xu Zhengxiao's icy voice rang out.
"No need."
"It's enough that the crown prince has shown his concern. I will send men to investigate the culprit."
Xu Tianran smiled and nodded.
"With you taking action, Father, success is assured. My efforts would be superfluous."
As he spoke, he forcibly peeled Xu Tianyuan off himself.
The bloodstains on his sleeves truly disgusted him.
"I still have state affairs to review, so I'll head back first. I hope tonight's events won't happen again."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Tianran's servant took hold of his wheelchair and slowly wheeled him away.
"By the way, little brother, do you know anything about that mysterious expert who saved you? Who were they, and how strong were they?"
Xu Tianran suddenly turned back and asked.
It was a probing question.
He was desperate to know exactly who had intervened to save Xu Tianyuan.
If an expert was secretly protecting his brother, the subsequent assassination plans would have to be rearranged.
Xu Tianyuan continued his performance, beating his chest and stamping his feet. "Ah! Look at this brain of mine! I completely forgot! Why didn't I ask my benefactor's name back then? I'm guilty!"
Seeing this, Xu Tianran said no more, and his retreating figure gradually disappeared into the night.
But no one saw the sinister shadow that crept into his eyes.
It meant the attempts on Xu Tianyuan's life were not over yet.
The only difference was that next time, he would send stronger assassins.
Xu Tianran would not allow himself to keep making mistakes.
Next time, he had to send a Soul Douluo directly, or even a Titled Douluo, to secure a one-strike kill.
Otherwise, the throne that seemed within easy reach might face needless complications.
Once Xu Tianran's wheelchair had vanished completely from sight, Xu Zhengxiao turned toward the surrounding eunuchs, palace maids, and imperial guards who had gathered to watch, and shouted.
"Disperse! Get back to whatever you should be doing!"
As though granted a grand pardon, the crowd hurriedly scattered.
In the blink of an eye, only Fire Phoenix Douluo Luan Feng, Mad Bull Douluo Wang Yiheng, and Xu Tianyuan, covered in blood and hunching his neck like a cowering quail, remained.
"Tianyuan."
Xu Zhengxiao took a deep breath, walked up to Xu Tianyuan, and reached out to pat the dried blood on his shoulder.
His touch was gentle, as though he feared he might knock his youngest son to pieces.
"Move in with me from now on."
Xu Zhengxiao urged him, his tone carrying both earnestness and helplessness. "After what happened tonight, there's no guarantee it won't happen a second or third time."
Anger had clouded his judgment earlier, but now that he had calmed down completely, his mind was clear as a polished mirror.
There was an eight or nine in ten chance that tonight's assassination had been ordered by that bastard Xu Tianran.
But could he move against Xu Tianran now?
No.
Even if he wanted to, he could not.
Xu Tianran was deeply entrenched in both the court and the military. He, the emperor, had long since become one in name only.
"Father, I don't think the palace is safe at all."
The moment Xu Tianyuan heard he was to move in with his father, he shook his head like a rattle drum.
He knew perfectly well that the palace was Xu Tianran's home turf. Even if he moved in with his father, he could only hide for a while at best. Once Xu Tianran sent a Titled Douluo, he would still be a sitting duck.
Then father and son would depart together, keeping each other company on the road to the Yellow Springs.
His eyes shifted as he continued his award-winning performance. His entire face was filled with terror, both hands clutched tightly at the hem of his clothes, his body trembled slightly, and his eyes obligingly shimmered with tears.
"Why don't I stay at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy instead?"
Xu Tianyuan hunched his neck, his voice trembling. "There are lots of people and prying eyes there. Maybe the assassins will mistake someone else for me and kill them instead."
Hearing this, Xu Zhengxiao's eye twitched, and a trace of sorrow flashed through his gaze.
How could he not know that the palace was a dragon's pool and a tiger's den, and that staying here was even more dangerous?
Yet sending his youngest son to the academy left him uneasy too.
"All right."
Xu Zhengxiao sighed, his wrinkles almost bunching together as the flesh of his face sagged.
"The Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy is indeed relatively safe. I'll speak to Jing Hongchen tomorrow. You can go straight there afterward. Remember to send me word regularly that you're safe."
However, Xu Tianyuan shook his head fiercely, his expression one of utter terror.
"No! I have to go tonight!"
"Father, you have no idea. Every time I close my eyes now, I see those three men in black charging at me with their blades raised. If I spend another night in those quarters, I'm afraid I'll scare myself half to death."
"That place is a murder house now. If I stay there, sooner or later I'll have nightmares."
Seeing his cowardly state, Xu Zhengxiao felt both angry and heartbroken.
Ultimately, though, he was his son. Disappointing as he was, that fact could not be changed.
So be it. Going to the academy sooner would be good too.
Before you continue