As the saying goes, "Old people are like children." Some people, as they age, develop a temperament similar to that of a child. Take the Retired Emperor, Xiao Sheng, for example. In the past, when he was the Emperor, he would never act willfully even when he was ill. Even if he knew the medicine was bitter and he didn't want to drink it at all, he would calmly take it.

 

But now, as the Retired Emperor, Xiao Sheng was no longer willing to do so. The medicine was unbearably bitter, and he would rather not drink it. His attitude was that if he could avoid it, he would. Even though he knew the medicine was for his own good, and even though he knew that not taking it would worry many people, he still resisted.

 

The imperial physicians couldn't persuade him and didn't dare to press the issue. After all, the Retired Emperor was once the Emperor, and dealing with them would be as easy as crushing an ant. In the end, the physicians had no choice but to inform Xiao Jin, as they couldn't persuade him and needed someone else to try.

 

Upon learning this, Xiao Jin immediately went to persuade Xiao Sheng. Xiao Sheng merely said to wait a while. As the medicine was about to cool, Xiao Sheng still showed no intention of drinking it, leaving Xiao Jin feeling quite helpless. He knew that continuing to persuade Xiao Sheng would make him angry, but taking medicine was no small matter. Even if Xiao Sheng got upset, as his son, Xiao Jin had to try to persuade him.

 

However, before Xiao Jin could say anything, Xiao Shan arrived.

 

Xiao Shan, with his keen observation, noticed Xiao Sheng's awkward expression, Xiao Jin's helpless look, and the now-cold medicine on the table. He blinked and said, "Imperial Father, aren't you feeling unwell? Why haven't you taken your medicine? Didn't the imperial physicians say that the medicine loses its effectiveness when it cools? Originally, two bowls would suffice, but if you drink it cold, it might take four bowls to get better."

 

Xiao Sheng shot him a sideways glance, "Nonsense."

 

In truth, he knew he had to take the medicine; he just wanted to be a bit willful.

 

However, it seemed that this willfulness worked in front of Xiao Jin and the others, but it was useless in front of Xiao Shan. When Xiao Shan spoke, few could resist. Xiao Sheng understood this well but still wanted to put on a show.

 

Then Xiao Shan continued, "If Imperial Father is afraid of the bitterness, we can have some candied fruit prepared. You can eat some after taking the medicine."

 

Xiao Sheng's face darkened, and he replied in an annoyed tone, "Who is afraid of bitterness?" He endured all kinds of hardships and wasn't about to be deterred by a bowl of bitter medicine. Xiao Shan always had a way of saying the most unexpected things, and only Xie Zhui could tolerate him.

 

Xiao Sheng picked up the bowl and drank the medicine in one gulp. After setting the bowl down, he looked at Xiao Shan and asked sullenly, "Do you have any business here?"

 

Xiao Shan replied, "I don't have any particular business. I just came to see how Imperial Father and Second Brother are doing."

 

Xiao Sheng said, "I bet you're eyeing the treasures in your second brother's private treasury again. Last time, you took pearls and let Mingming use them as marbles. What are you after this time?"

 

Xiao Shan replied with a serious expression, "How could that be? I already took those pearls back from Mingming and put them away properly. How could I let Mingming ruin the things Second Brother gave me?"

 

Xiao Sheng pursed his lips, clearly not believing him. Given how much Xiao Shan doted on Mingming, he would probably laugh even if Mingming rode on his head. A box of pearls was nothing in comparison.

 

Xiao Jin, standing to the side, laughed and said, "If they're given to Mingming, let him play with them. How can that be considered ruining them?"

 

Xiao Shan chuckled contentedly, "Imperial Father, Second Brother, you both spoil him too much. Sooner or later, Mingming won't even see me as his father anymore."

 

Xiao Sheng snorted, thinking to himself that Xiao Shan was speaking nonsense. No matter how close Mingming was to them, he could never be closer than he was to Xiao Shan and Xie Zhui.

 

The three of them continued to chat casually, exchanging light-hearted banter. Before long, Xiao Sheng began to feel sleepy.

 

Xiao Shan and Xiao Jin watched as he lay down, and only after the calming incense was lit in the hall did they quietly leave.

 

Once outside the hall, Xiao Jin's tone lightened a bit, "If you hadn't come today, Imperial Father would have had a hard time drinking that bowl of medicine."

 

"How could that be?" Xiao Shan raised an eyebrow and said, "Imperial Father might not give face to others, but he would certainly give face to you, Second Brother. Of course, my timely arrival and efforts did help quite a bit."

 

Xiao Jin's eyes crinkled with a smile. Xiao Shan's arrival was no coincidence; he knew about Xiao Sheng's health and naturally made frequent visits to the palace to pay his respects. However, Xiao Shan never liked to take credit for himself, so he spoke about these matters casually.

 

Xiao Jin didn't call him out on it; they both understood these things without needing to say them aloud.

 

Xiao Jin changed the subject, "Stay in the palace for lunch today. When Imperial Father wakes up, you can keep him company and chat."

 

Xiao Shan didn't put on any airs and simply agreed, "Alright."

 

Lunch was taken in the palace, but for dinner, Xiao Shan naturally wanted to return home to be with Xie Zhui and Mingming.

 

With Xiao Shan supervising, Xiao Sheng took his medicine more promptly, and his health gradually improved.

 

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, including Xiao Rong.

 

Gu Linglong was puzzled by Xiao Rong's concern for Xiao Sheng's health. To speak frankly, when Xiao Rong was vying for the throne, he had certainly considered the possibility of Xiao Sheng being no longer around.

 

Xiao Rong became quite adept at reading Gu Linglong's thoughts. When she raised her eyebrows slightly, he knew exactly what she was thinking.

 

So he whispered in her ear, "As long as Imperial Father is around, I will always be his child. Even if I make mistakes, Imperial Father will back me up. If Imperial Father is not here, I would have to constantly tread carefully in front of the Emperor. The Emperor doesn't have a place for me in his heart. Even if I felt stifled to death, I couldn't afford to provoke him. Thinking this way, it's best if Imperial Father stays around forever."

 

Gu Linglong, her eyes twinkling, softly replied, "The prince has been reading a lot lately and thinking deeply. It's truly impressive."

 

"Of course," Xiao Rong said, his true nature showing after just a few sentences. He proudly slapped the table and added, "I am also Imperial Father's son, so I have some of his cleverness."

 

Gu Linglong: "......"

 

This simplicity had its advantages; it made Xiao Rong's thoughts easy to understand and predict.

 

After his moment of pride, Xiao Rong cheerfully asked Gu Linglong about their child.

 

He wanted to raise their child to be both knowledgeable and cultured, and bought many books to keep at home, ready to start his son's education. However, this idea was promptly dismissed by Gu Linglong. She thought to herself that with Xiao Rong's own limited scholarly abilities, it was unrealistic to expect their child to excel academically.

 

The child's cleverness took after his father, and no amount of effort would change that. Given this, it was better for the child to read enough to understand the world and its principles. As for the notion of outstudying the Emperor's children, it was best not to entertain such unrealistic ambitions.

 

Hearing Xiao Rong's question, Gu Linglong smiled and said, "The child is still young. What else can he do besides eat and drink?"

 

Xiao Rong thought for a moment and agreed, "That's true." Then he suggested, "How about giving him a little sister?"

 

Gu Linglong didn't expect him to say that and couldn't help but kick his leg, her voice cold, "He already has two older sisters. Why add another sister?"

 

Xiao Rong laughed awkwardly, but he enjoyed seeing Gu Linglong's spirited demeanor. If she wanted to kick him a couple of times, so be it. It didn't hurt, and as long as Gu Linglong was happy, that was all that mattered.

 

***

 

As autumn gave way to winter and the weather turned thoroughly cold, Xiao Sheng's health remained stable, suggesting that they could enjoy a harmonious New Year.

 

However, on the day after the first snowfall of the year, a guard from the Cold Palace suddenly reported that Consort Lan was gravely ill.

 

Although Consort Lan had been confined to the Cold Palace, her special status meant that Xiao Sheng didn’t treat her harshly; he simply never saw her again.

 

Back then, to avoid public scrutiny over Xiao Jin's legitimacy, the Emperor refrained from deposing the Empress, even though he might have wanted to.

 

The fact that Consort Lan swapped the children was undeniable, and it was also true that the Empress, influenced by slander and manipulation, attempted to kill Xiao Shan.

 

Being an Emperor often required a certain coldness; Xiao Sheng was like this, and so was Xiao Jin.

 

Consort Lan was his biological mother, and everything she did was to make him Emperor, all for his benefit. While she wronged Xiao Shan, she was entirely loyal to Xiao Jin.

 

Yet, after Consort Lan was confined to the Cold Palace, Xiao Jin never visited her, not even once.

 

As an Emperor, maintaining an untarnished reputation was one reason. The second reason was that Xiao Jin simply didn't know how to face Consort Lan.

 

At this point, the relationship between him and the Empress already developed irreparable cracks.

 

The Empress, who once meticulously planned for her own future, now couldn't help but think of Xiao Shan whenever she saw him. She couldn't avoid the bitter realization that she spent her life scheming, only to end up making way for the son of the very person she plotted against.

 

The reason they could maintain a superficial balance now was because Xiao Shan completely distanced himself from the situation.

 

Regardless of whether the Empress had any intention of acknowledging her own son, whether Consort Lan felt panic or relief, or even Xiao Jin's own feelings, Xiao Shan had one clear stance: "What you want to do is your business. What I want to do is mine. No one can force me."

 

Xiao Shan, by taking a hands-off approach, indeed saved himself a lot of trouble.

 

This delicate balance continued to persist, and now with Consort Lan gravely ill, those who heard the news would likely have very mixed feelings.

 

Xiao Jin dismissed the guard and sat in his chair for a long time.

 

It seemed as though he was deep in thought, yet at the same time, it appeared as if he was thinking of nothing at all.

 

After an indeterminate amount of time, perhaps the duration of an incense stick burning, or maybe an hour, he stood up.

 

These past few days, Chang An had been ill and resting, so Xiao Jin was attended by the eunuch Chang Xi. Although Chang Xi wasn't as perceptive as Chang An, he was attentive to details. For instance, noticing Xiao Jin's demeanor now, he quickly fetched a white fox fur cloak to drape over Xiao Jin's shoulders.

 

Xiao Jin allowed Chang Xi to adjust his clothing, his expression as cold and sharp as the icy weather outside.

 

On a snowy night, Xiao Jin went to the Cold Palace for the first time.

 

He stood outside the Cold Palace for a long time, snow accumulating on his shoulders. Chang Xi, worried that the cold wind might make him ill, looked anxious but didn't dare to speak. The guards in front of the Cold Palace also kept their heads down, not daring to make a sound.

 

Squinting against the wind and snow, Chang Xi thought to himself that it would have been better if Chang An were here. Chang An had been with Xiao Jin since childhood and understood him very well, always knowing exactly what to say to reach Xiao Jin's heart.

 

Fortunately, Xiao Jin's moment of stubbornness didn't last long. He stopped the announcement and stepped into the Cold Palace.

 

Many people lived in the Cold Palace, but Consort Lan had her own separate courtyard, attended by a personal maid.

 

She lacked nothing in terms of food and clothing, and her quarters were warm in winter and cool in summer. However, the Cold Palace was still the Cold Palace. No matter how fine the courtyard, it was still a place of isolation, where one often faced a silent and empty courtyard.

 

As Xiao Jin stepped into the courtyard, he heard Consort Lan coughing. He walked over to find a maid urging Consort Lan to drink some hot tea.

 

Consort Lan shook her head, and as she inadvertently looked up, she saw Xiao Jin standing at the door.

 

Under the lamplight, Xiao Jin was dressed in luxurious robes, his face as fair as jade.

 

Consort Lan stared at him in a daze, her expression complex and her eyes filled with an indistinct emotion. The maid, noticing her unusual reaction, turned and saw Xiao Jin. Startled and delighted, the maid dropped the teacup she was holding. Ignoring the mess, she hurriedly went to pay her respects.

 

Chang Xi quickly stepped forward to stop her from speaking and gently led her out.

 

Consort Lan lay on the bed while Xiao Jin stood quietly for a long time. Eventually, he walked to the bedside and sat on the chair next to the bed. He looked silently at Consort Lan's much more haggard face. In his memory, Consort Lan was vibrant, delicate, and prone to tears, always seeking help at the slightest difficulty.

 

Now, she was calm, her entire being marked by illness.

 

To be honest, Xiao Jin was not very familiar with Consort Lan. In the past, their conversations were rare and mostly revolved around Xiao Shan.

 

Consort Lan used to complain about Xiao Shan causing trouble and angering Xiao Sheng, while Xiao Jin would defend Xiao Shan, saying his straightforward nature meant no harm.

 

Even now, knowing she was his biological mother, Xiao Jin still didn't know what to talk about with her.

 

The strongest bond between them was Xiao Shan, yet Consort Lan was like a knife in Xiao Shan's heart.

 

After a long silence, Consort Lan's suppressed coughing broke the quiet. She covered her mouth with a handkerchief, coughing painfully for a while, then looked up at Xiao Jin. "It's freezing cold; Your Majesty should return."

 

Xiao Jin lowered his gaze, his expression indifferent.

 

He knew well that Consort Lan was gravely ill. His presence was both right and wrong.

 

However, there was always a question in his heart that he wanted to ask Consort Lan personally, and now he had the chance to do so.

 

"Do you regret it?"

 

Swapping the children, harming Xiao Shan, turning sisters against each other, and ultimately creating this situation—did she ever regret any of it?

 

Consort Lan gazed at the falling snow outside the worn window. She did not speak.

 

She used to cry often, sometimes genuinely wanting to have a good cry. Her child was estranged from her, so many times when tears fell, it was because she truly wanted to cry.

 

She often wondered, if given another chance, would she do it all over again?

 

After much contemplation, she realized she probably would.

 

Consort Lan remained silent, and from her silence, Xiao Jin got his answer.

 

He couldn't quite describe what he felt in his heart. If he had to put it into words, it might be a sense of heartache for Xiao Shan.

 

Although he was the beneficiary of the victory, he had no standing to feel sorry for Xiao Shan, yet he still felt deeply troubled.

 

He gained the throne, and even though the Empress might be uncomfortable, she had to maintain appearances. Consort Lan, his biological mother, was willing to push Xiao Shan aside to shield him from harm.

 

Xiao Shan lost his status as the legitimate son, lost the mother who raised him, and his biological mother even tried to kill him.

 

Some things cannot be erased with a simple word like "misunderstanding." The pain of a knife is known only to the one who is cut. No one, except the person involved, can easily speak the word "forgive" on their behalf.

 

Xiao Jin sat in the Cold Palace for a long time, during which Consort Lan quietly drank her medicine.

 

As he stood up to leave, Consort Lan softly asked from behind him, "Xiao Shan, is he doing well?"

 

Xiao Jin did not respond. Xiao Shan was doing well, still the same as before. But a person who grew up in the capital, now forced to leave his homeland and family because of these chaotic affairs, cannot be simply described as well or unwell.

 

Consort Lan did not receive an answer. She closed her eyes.

 

Countless times, she dreamt of a pair of hands pushing Xiao Shan to take the blow. The knife pierced his chest, and warm blood splattered on her face. Only then did she see clearly that those hands were her own.

 

She pushed him away, and now, after everything settled, to ask about Xiao Shan seemed hypocritical.

 

When Xiao Jin left the Cold Palace, it was already late. He did not take a sedan chair but walked back to his quarters step by step.

 

The cold wind lashed at his face, biting and fierce.

 

In his quarters, it was as if he slept, yet also as if he did not.

 

In his dreams, bizarre and fantastical stories played out.

 

When he woke up again, his throat was a bit sore. He called out for Gui Xi, who quickly appeared before him with a cup of warm water.

 

Xiao Jin drank the hot water, which soothed his throat somewhat, though his head still felt heavy.

 

Gui Xi whispered, "Your Majesty, you have caught a cold."

 

Xiao Jin responded with a low hum.

 

Seeing Xiao Jin's downcast expression, Gui Xi hesitated for a long time before softly saying, "Your Majesty, you have a fever, and the Retired Emperor is furious. When I went to see the Retired Emperor to explain the situation, he did not say much. On my way back, I encountered the Prince of Yunnan paying his respects to the Retired Emperor. It's been quite a while, and there's no word of the Prince of Yunnan visiting Consort Lan."

 

Xiao Jin's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this. He traced the patterns on the cup in his hand and suddenly spoke, "Gui Xi, how long have you been serving me?"

 

"Your servant has been serving Your Majesty for half a month," Gui Xi replied softly.

 

Xiao Jin nodded and chuckled lightly, saying nonchalantly, "Half a month is indeed not long, so it's understandable that you don't know my temper. I want to know, who gave you the audacity to try to sow discord between me and my Third Brother?"

 

Hearing this, Gui Xi's mind went blank. He hurriedly knelt on the ground, continuously kowtowing, "Your Majesty, your servant did not, and would not dare."

 

Xiao Jin's gaze fell on him, his words as sharp as a blade: "Do you think that just because I am ill, I am confused? Or that being ill makes me easily influenced? My visit to the Cold Palace does not mean I wish my Third Brother to go as well. There are often rumors and gossip in the palace; I don't mind if you discuss them privately. But bringing them to me to sow discord is unforgivable."

 

Gui Xi panicked, his face turning pale.

 

Xiao Jin, unwilling to listen to further explanations, called out for the guards, "Take him away and investigate who is behind him." A eunuch, if he were smart, would never do such a thing. It was absolutely impossible that he acted without someone else's direction.

 

The guards escorted Gui Xi away, while Xiao Jin's expression remained indifferent, his eyes cold.

 

Every move within the palace was closely watched. The upheaval from years ago was too significant, involving too many intricate matters. There were certainly intelligent people in the world. Coupled with Xiao Shan's actions, Xiao Sheng's attitude, his own indulgence of Xiao Shan, and Xiao Yi being privy to the truth, it was inevitable that some rumors would spread.

 

However, as long as Xiao Sheng remained silent, Xiao Shan did not acknowledge anything, and he himself did not speak, even the truth could only be regarded as mere rumors.

 

Xiao Jin understood very well that even if Xiao Shan had no ambitions for the throne, some ministers or concubines in the harem believed themselves to be clever, thinking they saw things differently from others.

 

They hinted, what if one day Xiao Shan regretted it? Which prince would willingly give up the throne? They inadvertently revealed such an attitude, as if saying, "I am the one who truly has your best interests at heart."

 

They believed that Xiao Jin did not truly trust Xiao Shan and that their relationship was fragile and easily manipulated. Therefore, whenever they had the chance, they would continuously suggest to him not to trust Xiao Shan and to be wary of him.

 

The things that Xiao Jin, as an Emperor, could not do due to propriety, they could do.

 

Ultimately, it would be they who offended Xiao Shan, having nothing to do with him, the Emperor.

 

Some sought to gain his trust through such methods, creating an unspoken secret among them, hoping to replace Xiao Shan's presence.

 

But these people failed to consider whether he would agree to let anyone surpass Xiao Shan's place in his heart.

 

Tampering with the bloodline of the legitimate heir could indeed stir up a storm, but what did that have to do with him and Xiao Shan?

 

What Xiao Jin detested most in his life was anyone using these matters to cause trouble for Xiao Shan.

 

Take Gui Xi just now, for example, who inadvertently mentioned Xiao Shan's attitude towards Consort Lan. If it were someone else, frequently hearing such remarks, wouldn't they start to think that Xiao Shan was becoming too arrogant? Wouldn't it create a sense of unease in their hearts?

 

Beautiful things tend to blur over time, and brotherly affection was no different. If his resolve wavered and he began to doubt Xiao Shan, what kind of future would await Xiao Shan?

 

But these people's schemes were destined to fail. In this lifetime, he would always protect Xiao Shan.

 

The more people in this world who couldn't stand Xiao Shan and wanted to bring him down, the more he was determined to let Xiao Shan live a life of glory and freedom.

 

Those who couldn't understand this clearly had poor judgment and need not appear before him in the future.

 

After Xiao Jin had his porridge, a palace servant came to report that Xiao Shan arrived. Xiao Jin allowed him to enter.

 

Due to the heavy snowfall, Xiao Shan brought a chill with him as he approached.

 

Seeing that Xiao Jin's cup was empty, Xiao Shan poured him a cup of tea and casually asked, "Did Gui Xi make a mistake?" When he arrived, he saw Gui Xi being dragged away by the guards, looking like he caused quite a bit of trouble.

 

Normally, those who served the Emperor were always clever and perceptive. It was unclear what kind of mischief this young eunuch was up to.

 

Xiao Jin responded with a cold snort, "Who knows whose advice he was following. His ambitions were too wild. My place is too small to contain him."

 

Xiao Shan clicked his tongue and said, "Having such people around must be quite vexing for you, Second Brother."

 

"Not really," Xiao Jin replied calmly after finishing his cup of water. "Getting rid of someone like that can serve as a warning to others, making the palace and the court a bit quieter for a while." At least until the matter was fully investigated, the trivial memorials from the ministers would likely decrease by half.

 

Xiao Shan noticed the fatigue in Xiao Jin's eyes and couldn't help but ask, "Second Brother, are you tired?"

 

Xiao Jin looked up at him, and Xiao Shan's face was full of concern. "You are the Emperor, destined not to act on whims, but sometimes you should relax and not exhaust yourself."

 

"That incident back then, it wasn't your fault, and it wasn't mine either," Xiao Shan said earnestly, looking at Xiao Jin. "As for me, I've always been a bit of a scoundrel. Over the years, I haven't wanted to see the Empress Dowager, nor anyone else. People might say I'm unfilial and try to reason with me, but being far from the capital, I don't have to hear those unpleasant words."    

 

"But you, Second Brother, have suffered. Others swapped the children without your consent, but their intention was for your benefit. All the subsequent actions were supposedly for your future. The Empress Dowager wanted to kill me for your sake. Even my unwillingness to stay in the capital and my decision to move my family to Yunnan can be said to be for your benefit. So, while I can ignore everyone, you feel that you cannot."

 

"Because you feel that you have received all the benefits, and everyone acted for your sake, you can't even find the words to refute it. If you did, it would seem ungrateful. Everything revolves around you, and yet you don't appreciate it." At this point, Xiao Shan lowered his gaze and sighed. "But Second Brother, you are just a person, a person of flesh and blood. Overthinking everything will only make you live a very tiring and repressed life."

 

"Your biological mother is gravely ill, and when you go to see her, do you worry whether I will feel estranged from you upon hearing the news?" Xiao Shan asked, though he didn't wait for Xiao Jin to answer. He continued, "But how could I not know what kind of person you are, Second Brother? If I didn't have at least this much trust in you, what kind of brothers would we be?"

 

Xiao Jin looked at him and smiled, "I really don't know what to say about your temperament."

 

Xiao Shan raised an eyebrow and smiled, "I am selfish and petty, always considering my own comfort first. No matter how much others might feel helpless, their concerns always come second to mine."

 

Consort Lan swapped his identity and hurt him, so from then on, she no longer existed in his eyes. Even if she fell ill, it had nothing to do with him.

 

The Empress Dowager, his biological mother, tried to kill him without knowing the truth. When the truth came out, he could understand her feelings, but he couldn't bring himself to see her as his mother or pretend that nothing happened in front of her.

 

After all, the situation was extremely dangerous at the time. If things went wrong, he would have been the one to die, and Xie Zhui, Mingming, and others would have lost their lives as well.

 

Everyone seemed to have their reasons for hurting others, and when explained, they might even gain others' forgiveness. But he was indifferent by nature, always cold-hearted, and would never force himself to endure discomfort just to put others at ease.

 

Among all these people, Xiao Shan didn't want Xiao Jin to be hurt or feel troubled.

 

So he chose to leave far away, taking Xie Zhui and Mingming to start a new life in an unfamiliar place.

 

He could let go, but Xiao Jin was tightly bound by these matters. As he said, for Xiao Jin, everything these people did was supposedly for his benefit, leaving him with no choice.

 

Xiao Jin wasn't a stubborn person, but he couldn't see past this. He inevitably felt a sense of guilt towards himself and others.

 

Xiao Shan, on the other hand, hoped that Xiao Jin could face everything with equanimity.

 

The path of an Emperor was inherently difficult. If one was too burdened with thoughts, even the body wouldn’t be able to withstand it.

 

Xiao Jin looked at the spirited Xiao Shan and said, "How are you selfish? You are a gentleman, a person of genuine character. I wouldn't tolerate anyone saying a single bad word about you."

 

As for himself, he was merely someone who had to consider things from the position of an Emperor.

 

Consort Lan was his biological mother, an unavoidable fact.

 

Years later, future generations might piece together this relationship from fragments of history. In the evaluations of him in the annals, there would likely be a line stating that he disowned his biological mother for the sake of power.

 

Xiao Shan blinked and said, "Alright, Second Brother, let's not flatter each other. It's quite embarrassing to hear." Despite his words, there wasn't a hint of embarrassment on his face.

 

Xiao Jin was amused by his demeanor, and the oppressive emotions in his heart began to dissipate unconsciously.

 

Seeing the gloom in Xiao Jin's eyes fade significantly, Xiao Shan stood up and said straightforwardly, "Second Brother, take your medicine properly and get well soon. I should be heading back. Xie Zhui and Mingming are waiting for me at home to grill some meat together."

 

Mentioning Xie Zhui brought an unconscious smile to Xiao Shan's eyes, his expression visibly softening.

 

Xiao Jin felt a pang of annoyance and waved his hand, "Go, go." So what if he was close with his Prince Consort? He, with countless beauties in his harem, never had such a sticky relationship with anyone.

 

Xiao Shan obediently took his leave, cheerfully saying as he departed, "Second Brother, you're an Emperor now. Be kinder to yourself."

 

Xiao Jin acknowledged with a nod. As an Emperor, his future path was destined to be a solitary one. But having Xiao Shan as a brother, even walking forward in the dark, he didn't feel lonely.