How did Xie Yanfang get here?
Third Prince's expression was extremely gloomy.
Of course, he had always known Xie Yanfang shouldn't be underestimated, which was why the Xie family had been surrounded immediately upon arrival, just like the Yang Family.
The city gates were sealed, cutting off all communication—he never expected to keep it completely hidden, as long as there was enough time to kill the Crown Prince.
But not only had the Xie family not been surrounded and killed, they had broken through the encirclement instead.
This damned Xie family.
Imperial Uncle Zhao said hatefully, "The Xie family actually had so many troops hidden away. They truly have wolfish ambitions."
Third Prince wished he could capture Xie Yanfang and tear him apart alive.
"Xie Yanfang!" he shouted. "How audacious of you to harbor private troops! Are you planning to rebel?"
His voice flew over the human barricades between them. Hearing this, Xie Yanfang laughed.
"I'm not planning to rebel," he said, signaling the guards in front of him to step aside. He urged his horse forward a few more steps to get a clearer view of Third Prince.
His eyes were frozen with frost, yet tinged with red, like a piece of blood jade, radiating undisguised hatred.
Hatred for Third Prince, who indeed had wolfish ambitions. Hatred for himself, for not staying by the Crown Prince's side, especially after Miss Chu had repeatedly warned him—
Hatred for being cautious yet still a step too late.
Hatred for the heavens' cruelty, hatred for his own powerlessness—
"I'm going to kill you."
Xie Yanfang put away his crossbow and drew the long blade from his back, his voice calm as he spoke.
His soft voice also crossed the human barricades and reached Third Prince's ears. Combined with his blood-red gaze, even the bloodthirsty and murderous Third Prince felt a slight tremor of fear.
He was a scholar in the eyes of the world, and Xie Yanfang was also a scholar in the eyes of the world. Scholars understood best how terrifying such scholars could be.
"Xie Yanfang is a madman," Imperial Uncle Zhao whispered beside him. "If we don't eliminate him this time, he'll be trouble in the future."
"Of course I know that," Third Prince said bitterly, his gaze fixed fiercely on the white-clad man holding the blade across from him.
But fighting Xie Yanfang to the death now would do him no good.
Although the Crown Prince was dead, that damned son of his was still alive, posing an endless threat.
What was worse, if anything were to happen to him—
"Xie Yanfang—" Third Prince laughed loudly and shouted, "Although I haven't reached the hunting grounds yet, the Crown Prince has already been killed by my men."
Whether it was truly his men or not didn't matter. All he needed was for the Crown Prince to be dead, and for Xie Yanfang to know that the Crown Prince was dead.
Whether Xie Yanfang was startled by this, Imperial Uncle Zhao didn't know, but he himself was startled. Wouldn't this only provoke Xie Yanfang further?
"Ah Zhu," he couldn't help but blurt out, using Third Prince's childhood name.
Third Prince signaled for him not to worry and laughed loudly again toward the other side.
"You're my enemy because I was the Crown Prince's enemy. Now that the Crown Prince is dead, you don't need to kill me."
Imperial Uncle Zhao thought of something and began to understand. Yes, yes, this was a solution. He smiled without speaking.
In the distance, Xie Yanfang stood silently without responding.
"You became my enemy because you wanted to be the Imperial Uncle, didn't you?" Third Prince continued. "That's easy to fix. Just find another sister from your family to marry me, and everything will be as before."
Find another sister to marry Third Prince? Xie Yanfang remained silent, listening as Third Prince continued.
"Xie Yanfang, the reason you schemed to have your sister marry the Crown Prince was because he was the Crown Prince, wasn't it?" Third Prince asked with a mocking smile. "It couldn't possibly be because you admired his character, could it?"
Hearing this, Xie Yanfang laughed and replied, "Of course not."As long as he was willing to speak, it was good. The Third Prince exclaimed in approval: "Young Master Xie the Third is truly forthright! We are born as humans precisely to pursue fame and fortune."
At this point, his expression turned contemplative.
"Young Master, truth be told, you and I are kindred spirits. His Majesty now has only me as his son - I am the Crown Prince. Therefore, if you marry your sister to me, she becomes the Crown Princess, while you remain the Imperial Uncle. What could be wrong with this? Isn't this a joyous outcome for all? Why must we fight to the death?"
He spoke with profound sincerity.
"Young Master Xie the Third, the Crown Prince is dead. That chapter is closed."
The Xie family had numerous sisters. Whoever became the Crown Princess would ensure the Xie family remained imperial relatives by marriage.
The Crown Prince was dead, beyond retrieval. One must move forward and seek new paths.
Xie Yanfang looked at the Third Prince, then suddenly shifted his gaze to the side where Minister Zhao stood quietly guarding the Third Prince.
When Xie Yanfang's gaze fell upon him, Minister Zhao felt as if targeted by a venomous snake, a sudden chill running down his spine.
"Since Your Highness holds me in such regard," Xie Yanfang said with a smile, "then kill Minister Zhao. Let there be only one Imperial Uncle in this realm."
Xie Yanfang, you damned bastard! Minister Zhao cursed inwardly, knowing all along this youngster was no good, he—
He opened his mouth to speak, but before any sound emerged, a sharp pain pierced his abdomen as a blade entered.
What was happening?
Minister Zhao turned in disbelief to see the Third Prince's pale face—
This was the face he had watched grow from childhood, bearing striking resemblance to his own, as the old saying goes: the nephew follows the uncle. He had always taken pride in this.
He had cared for this nephew more diligently than his own son.
He had gathered followers for him, schemed for wealth on his behalf, plotted for him, committed evils for him, and even shielded him with his own body.
When those arrows flew earlier, he had without hesitation positioned himself before the Third Prince.
He cherished the Third Prince as his own life.
But apparently, the Third Prince did not reciprocate this devotion—
That Xie Yanfang, with just one sentence! Just one sentence! Without even questioning, without evasion, without even bargaining—
Uncle Zhao pressed his hand against his chest, staring fixedly at the Third Prince.
"Ah-zhu—" he stammered through clenched teeth, calling the Third Prince's childhood name.
The Third Prince withdrew his hand, pulling out the long sword, then delivered a kick.
Uncle Zhao instantly breathed his last, falling from his horse. His remaining warning—"Ah-zhu, beware of him—" never had the chance to be uttered.
This sudden turn of events startled everyone present, especially the Zhao family members who recoiled in retreat.
The Third Prince remained unperturbed, wiping his blade clean on Uncle Zhao's corpse. "My uncle cherished me. For the success of my great undertaking, he willingly sacrificed his life."
He then turned to Xie Yanfang.
"Young Master Xie the Third, thus, I and my future son will have only you as our Imperial Uncle. Are you satisfied?"
Xie Yanfang laughed heartily, sheathing his long blade: "Satisfied!"
As he put away his weapon, the Third Prince's smile deepened. Having persuaded Xie Yanfang, even if the former Crown Prince's damned son still lived, it mattered little now.
Perhaps, to demonstrate sincerity and to properly fulfill his future role as Imperial Uncle, Xie Yanfang might even personally eliminate the former Crown Prince's son.
The former Crown Prince.
That Crown Prince had already become part of the past.
The Third Prince said: "Young Master—"He was about to generously make more promises when Xie Yanfang, who had just sheathed his long blade across from him, suddenly drew his bow and aimed it at the Third Prince—
"Xie Yanfang!" The Third Prince's face twisted into a hideous expression as he roared, "How dare you—"
His words were answered by the sharp twang of the bowstring. Three arrows shot forth, following Xie Yanfang's icy gaze.
The suddenness of the event caught many off guard. First, the Imperial Uncle of Zhao had been killed, unsettling the guards' composure. Thus, when Xie Yanfang abruptly attacked, they failed to react in time.
By the time the guards regained their senses, the Third Prince had already been struck by three arrows, tumbling from his horse and landing atop the freshly slain body of Imperial Uncle Zhao.
Xie Yanfang sat calmly on his horse, his hands resting idly as he coldly commanded, "Kill them!"
Leave no one alive!
Third Prince, only with your death will this realm truly have but one Imperial Uncle from the Xie family.
There will never be another new Imperial Uncle again.
...
...
The hunting grounds were chaotic with the pounding of hooves and the flicker of torches, but the sounds of battle had ceased.
People no longer ran amok, instead crouching or lying flat on the ground to avoid being trampled into mud by the incoming riders.
"Young master, young master—"
A palace maid stumbled forward, waving her arms desperately as a young man in white robes galloped toward her on horseback.
"Miss, please save Miss—"
Xie Yanfang rushed to the maid and urgently asked, "Where is Yu'er? Is Yu'er safe?"
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