Sabotage

"My husband has suffered a grievance," Li Miaotan sighed softly.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed. "Don't say such things. What does this little grievance amount to?"

He truly did not think it was a big deal. Compared with the divide between life and death, these grievances were not worth mentioning.

Besides, whether something counted as a grievance depended entirely on how one viewed it.

If one placed oneself in the position of the weak, one would feel wronged. But if one placed oneself in the position of the strong, one would disdain it.

Li Miaotan laughed. "Yes, I underestimated you too much, Husband."

She knew that Chu Zhiyuan possessed great breadth of spirit and did not care about what was before him.

She then said, "This time truly was too dangerous."

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head. "After spending this half-day with First Brother, I feel Third Brother's chances really are slim."

"Oh?"

"First Brother appears rash, but he is actually extremely steady. It is hard for him to make mistakes."

"...That is indeed so."

"So Third Brother cannot summon any enthusiasm?"

"Third Brother was originally gentle and weak by nature. He dislikes competing and fighting, has no patience for these trivial matters, and knows it would all be futile effort. Naturally, he has even less desire to stand out."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded. "But competing against First Brother is indeed clever."

Rather than adding flowers to brocade by joining the First Prince's ranks, it was better to become the First Prince's opponent. That would instead draw the First Prince's attention and respect.

The First Prince respected the strong.

This showed a thorough grasp of the First Prince's temperament and an action tailored precisely to it.

He smiled. "This was the Empress's idea, wasn't it?"

Li Miaotan's phoenix eyes flickered, and she gave a