Silence fell over the grand hall. All eyes were on Xue Liulan.
He considered his next move, then stepped to Xue Feiyan's side. "Seventh Brother," he said loudly, "I want you to swear on our eldest brother's name that your answers to my questions will be the truth."
Xue Feiyan looked up, confused. But Xue Liulan's gaze was calm, betraying nothing.
"Why bother?" Xue Feiyan sneered, his voice low enough that only they could hear.
"To keep the promise," Xue Liulan replied just as quietly.
Xue Feiyan took a deep breath and raised his voice. "I swear."
Xue Liulan nodded. "Seventh Brother, the rule that brothers may fight but never kill… Big Brother set that rule, did he not?"
"Yes."
"And since we were children, have we ever disobeyed him?"
"No."
"You have masters at your command. Taking my life would be easy for you, would it not?"
"Yes." Xue Feiyan answered crisply, but his confusion grew. Where was this leading?
Murong Jin frowned, watching. Are you kicking him while he's down, Xue Liulan? Just as the Crown Prince had said: A king must be heartless.
Xue Liulan didn't know what she was thinking. He paced slowly in front of his brother.
"All of Jindu knows I am a dissolute prodigal, far less diligent than you. But now that I have reformed, I am your equal in power, am I not?"
"Yes."
"When Qi'er was born, you were jealous, weren't you?"
"Yes." Xue Feiyan answered without hesitation. To have children with the woman he loved… how could he not be jealous?
Li Yan, watching from the side, was baffled. These questions seemed irrelevant.
Suddenly, Xue Liulan stopped. He knelt beside Xue Feiyan and bowed to the Emperor. "Father, the truth is clear. Someone used Sister-in-law's guilt to frame my brother."
"What?"
"How?"
Whispers erupted in the hall. How could the Fifth Prince be so sure? Just from those questions?
"Liulan, where is your proof?" The Emperor wanted to believe his son was innocent, but the court needed more.
"The proof is that I am still alive. And so is my son."
"What?" The Emperor stood, staring at him. This son continued to surprise him.
Xue Liulan laughed softly. "I am powerless in martial arts. Yet even though we are rivals, Seventh Brother never sent assassins after me. And Qi'er… he is the eldest grandson of the Xue family. Seventh Brother was jealous, of course. But he used no underhanded means. This proves he has kept our promise. My bond with him is not as strong as his bond with Big Brother was. Yet he spared me."
"So, he could not have harmed the brother he respected most." The Emperor understood. But Murong Yu's death… her final words… doubt still clouded his mind.
Seeing the Emperor waver, Xue Liulan relaxed. Xue Feiyan was safe.
"Father, I believe Sister-in-law was deceived by the true mastermind, led to believe that Seventh Brother was behind it all."
The Emperor stroked his chin, his gaze shifting between his sons, finally landing on the silent Deng Qinyao.
"Decree: The Fifth Prince, Xue Liulan, is to investigate the death of the Crown Prince. The truth must be found." He sat up straight. "For now, take Deng Qinyao and the Seventh Prince to the heavenly prison."
"Yes." The guards dragged Deng Qinyao away.
Xue Feiyan stood slowly. He looked at Xue Liulan and gave a faint smile. Xue Liulan returned it, watching his brother's back as he was led away. He knew Xue Feiyan had wanted to kill him just moments ago. But he had held back.
"If you don't kill him, you are nursing a tiger," Murong Yan whispered.
Xue Liulan turned to his father-in-law and smiled. "Then when the tiger is grown, I will be safe."
He gestured for Murong Yan to follow. "Please."
Back at the residence, Murong Jin sat in the dark, rocking her son. Her father's arrival hadn't eased the pain of her cousin's death.
Footsteps. Two shadows fell across the window.
"Jin? Won't you bring the baby out for your father to see?" Murong Yan's voice.
Xue Liulan stood beside him, looking at the dark room. It was like her heart right now—no light, no way out. They were drifting apart.
The door creaked open. Murong Jin walked out, the baby in her arms. "Father. Why didn't you tell me you were coming? Did you not trust me?"
There was joy in her voice, but also anger, aimed sharply at Xue Liulan.
Murong Yan glanced at the prince, then turned to his daughter. "Here. Let me see my grandson."
He took the sleeping baby. Qi'er smiled in his sleep.
Xue Liulan watched Murong Jin. She ignored him completely.
"Father-in-law, watch him for a moment." Xue Liulan grabbed her hand and pulled her away.
"Hey!" She tried to pull back, but his grip was iron.
He dragged her through the moon gate into the garden. He stopped, loosening his grip but not letting go.
Her anger flared. Before he could turn, she struck at his back.
He didn't even look. He blocked her hand with his free one, twisted her wrist, stepped in, and pinned her against a tree, her arm locked against her chest.
"You never ask. You never give me a chance to explain." His forehead rested against hers.
"I don't need to. I saw it with my own eyes." She glared back.
"You don't get to decide what you need," he growled, a vein pulsing in his temple.
"Are you telling me I was wrong? That you didn't plan my cousin's death?" she sneered.
"Yes."
"Hah! Xue Liulan, I may have been out of the game for a while, but I'm not blind. You and she planned this. You used her guilt to drive her to suicide!"
"It wasn't me!" His grip tightened unconsciously.
"Ah!" A sharp pain shot through her wrist.
He realized what he was doing and let go, stumbling back. His eyes were red, wild in the moonlight.
She stared at him, frightened. She had never seen him lose control like this.
Silence stretched. "I'm sorry," he whispered. He turned to leave.
"You…" She took a step toward him.
He stopped. "And I am sorry about Murong Yu." Then he walked away, disappearing toward the study.
She stood there, stunned. When she finally ran after him, he was gone.
In the courtyard, Murong Yan held the baby stiffly. He walked toward her.
"Jin." He looked at her with concern.
She forced a smile. "You must be tired, Father. Give him to me."
"Jin, things are not always what they seem," he sighed. "I know her death hurts you. But for her… perhaps it was a release."
A release? She looked at him. His eyes were sharp as eagles, piercing through the surface.
"Was her regret truly love for the Crown Prince?" she asked, looking down at her son.
"I don't know. I only know his death weighed on her. Perhaps her love for the Seventh Prince couldn't outweigh the guilt that kept her awake at night." He put a hand on her shoulder. "Jin, not everyone can live with their choices without regret."
No regrets? How many could face their past so calmly? Murong Yu had chosen death to escape. But for those who had to live… what then?