The ladder to heaven.
Under the dim lamplight, Chu Lan's expression shifted.
Whether it was because a layer of the window paper had been vaguely pierced or because the initial shock had passed, Chu Lan felt his mind settling instead.
After all, he was no stranger to the world! He was well-read in poetry and literature, having witnessed countless storms of blood and strife in historical records!
He picked up his teacup and sighed. "The Heir Apparent jests. How could a family like mine possess any ladder to heaven?"
Xiao Xun smiled. "Master Chu, the very fact that your family has reached its current standing is thanks to that ladder. Otherwise, how could you sit here peacefully at home, enjoying marital harmony, worry-free children, and modest comfort?"
Chu Lan grew irritated. "I don't understand what the Heir Apparent means. I, Chu Lan, have never committed crimes or wrongdoing. Am I not even allowed to live as an ordinary commoner? Just because of my brother, must I be denied the right to live like a human being in the eyes of the world?"
With that, he slammed his teacup heavily onto the table.
Xiao Xun said, "Whether you can or cannot, you know it well in your heart. And, Master Chu, is the life you lead now truly the one you desire?"
He also set his teacown down, gently and silently, yet Chu Lan felt a tremor in his heart.
"When your brother was in his glory, you were dim and unnoticed in the eyes of the world. When people saw you, they would only say, 'That's Chu Ling's older brother.' No matter how learned or talented you were, it was useless."
"When your brother fell from grace, you became an accomplice in the eyes of the world, subjected to scorn and humiliation. Your vast knowledge and erudition remained just as useless."
"Master Chu, in the eyes of the world, you will always be just Master Chu, the elder brother of Chu Ling. No one remembers your name."
"My visit today, as well as my previous ones, were all because of Chu Ling. Surely, Master Chu doesn't believe I came out of admiration for your scholarship?"
Chu Lan's face flushed red and then pale. As a scholar, his pride could bear it no longer. He stood up. "In that case, please leave, Heir Apparent. I, Chu Lan, dare not accept your excessive favor."
Xiao Xun laughed. "Master Chu, don't be angry. The truth and reality are often painful."
Chu Lan sneered. "I, Chu Lan, am simply ill-fated and deserve such humiliation."
Xiao Xun's voice was slow and deliberate. "It's not that you are ill-fated, Master Chu. After all, you and Chu Ling are brothers, born of the same parents and raised in the same environment. You pursued literature, he pursued martial arts. He was brave and resourceful; you are the heir to a master of the classics. He achieved great deeds; you opened schools and taught disciples. He had visible fame; you have the lasting merit of educating generations for a hundred years. Each of you brothers has your own strengths—how can you say you are ill-fated?"
Chu Lan was not unaccustomed to praise. He turned his head away and said indifferently, "The Heir Apparent flatters me. I dare not accept such praise."
"But a good fate is useless," Xiao Xun said. "You still ended up neglected and living in obscurity, even barely scraping by."
"Are you here tonight to protect me or to take my life, Heir Apparent?" Chu Lan slapped the table in anger. "If I'm already barely scraping by, just let me be."
Xiao Xun laughed heartily, then said meaningfully, "Master Chu, you even dare to slap the table in front of me now. It seems your fate has indeed changed."
A flicker of unease passed through Chu Lan's eyes. He lowered his gaze and bowed. "Your Highness, I am grateful for your protection. However, I know my own unworthiness and beg for your mercy."
Xiao Xun said, "I haven't finished what I was saying. It's not that you are ill-fated—you simply never encountered the ladder to heaven. Chu Ling befriended His Majesty and ascended to the heavens in one step. From then on, you could only remain in his shadow. No matter what you did, you could never surpass his brilliance."Chu Lan clenched his hands, lifted his head, and sighed softly. "It's just my ill fate. Thank you, Heir Apparent. This matter—"
"Then you have that fate now," Xiao Xun interrupted him, watching him intently. "Do you want to step onto this ladder to heaven?"
Under the dim lamplight, the young man's eyes bore into him, seeming to peer into his very soul. Chu Lan couldn't help but tighten his grip, forcing out a strained smile. "What are you saying, Heir Apparent? I don't understand. Alas, with the world in such chaos, what ladder to heaven is there to speak of?"
Xiao Xun chuckled softly and withdrew his piercing gaze, lowering his eyes to look at his own hands, gently stroking them.
"The Crown Prince is dead," he said.
Chu Lan gasped, his voice trembling. "This—this—"
"The Third Prince likely won't survive either," Xiao Xun continued. "Even if he does, His Majesty won't allow him to become Crown Prince. That's just how His Majesty is—indulgent to a fault when affectionate, but ruthless enough to disown his own flesh and blood when heartless."
Chu Lan's throat felt dry. "Ah, this—someone as lowly as me—" He meant to say that such matters were not for commoners like him to discuss.
Xiao Xun interrupted him again, looking up at him. "Master Chu, do you think I could become the Crown Prince?"
Chu Lan stared at him in shock, this time utterly speechless.
"Oh, no, that's not right. The Crown Prince's son is still alive," Xiao Xun said, watching Chu Lan with a faint smile. "With him around, I cannot become Crown Prince."
The words struck like a physical blow. Chu Lan could bear it no longer and staggered back two steps.
He knew it—things could never be that simple.
He knew it—whatever Chu Ling brought would surely be trouble.
Heavens, he was truly going to be killed because of Chu Ling.
Chu Lan stood frozen like a wooden post, his mind a chaotic whirl yet blank at the same time.
The room was silent, but no one burst in, no blades flashed, no blood was spilled.
The young Heir Apparent sat calmly, pouring tea for himself and then for Chu Lan.
"Master Chu," he said, "sit and speak."
Chu Lan stood dumbly. Sit or not sit—did he even have a choice? He numbly took a seat.
"Master Chu, have some tea," Xiao Xun said.
Chu Lan picked up the teacup and took a sip. What should he do? What could he do? He didn't want to die—
Seeing the man return to his earlier disheartened state—no longer stern-faced or slamming the table—Xiao Xun smiled. "Master Chu, you are different from Chu Ling—"
Hearing this now, Chu Lan felt no anger at all. He murmured, "Yes, I am different from him. I am not as good as him. I know nothing of his affairs—"
Xiao Xun cut him off. "What I mean is, you are different from Chu Ling. Chu Ling is about to die, but you, Master Chu, will live for a long time yet."
Chu Lan was taken aback. What did that mean? Was he not going to be killed?
"Heir Apparent—" he began, but hesitated, swallowing the rest of his words.
It wasn't out of any steadfast loyalty that he held back, but fear—speaking might mean death, not speaking might also mean death. He didn't want to die yet, so for now, he could only play dead.
Xiao Xun paid no mind to his hesitation. Instead, he raised a hand gently to stop him. "Master Chu, there's no need for you to speak just yet. Listen to me first. After I finish, you can judge whether what I say is right or wrong."
Him, judging whether the Heir Apparent's words were right or wrong? Chu Lan was even more bewildered."Earlier I said, the Crown Prince is dead, the Third Prince is deposed. The Crown Prince's son is only six years old this year - he is of royal blood and the legitimate heir. But His Majesty has neglected state affairs for years and is in poor health. An aging sovereign and a young heir apparent - is this truly beneficial for the Great Xia?"
"Will this bring peace to the realm, or will it plunge us into greater turmoil?"
"Master Chu, as a well-read scholar thoroughly versed in history, you must have formed your own judgment in your heart."
Chu Lan remained silent. Even without being well-read, he knew how to assess such statements - he wasn't foolish.
Xiao Xun didn't press him for an immediate answer.
"Now regarding you, Master Chu. As I mentioned earlier, the reason I can set foot in the Chu residence and speak with you isn't because of you, but because of Chu Ling." He said, looking at Chu Lan with a meaningful smile. "This applies to me, and to others as well."
Chu Lan lowered his gaze further, like an old monk entering meditation, listening as Xiao Xun's voice slowly reached him.
"Therefore, whatever Master Chu does now will only be attributed to Chu Ling's influence and achievements - it has nothing to do with you personally."
"I also mentioned earlier that Chu Ling is different from you. Chu Ling is about to die, while you, Master Chu, still have many years to live."
"So how does Master Chu, who still has many years ahead, wish to live? Like now - nameless, obscure, merely surviving in obscurity?"
"Or—"
Xiao Xun's voice paused as he handed a cup of tea to Chu Lan.
"—will you ascend the celestial ladder with me, and together, reach the heavenly gates."
Ascend the celestial ladder together?
Together, reach the heavenly gates?
Chu Lan raised his head to look at Xiao Xun.
He seemed to understand yet not fully comprehend, his heart pounding fiercely.
He heard his own voice - trembling, hoarse, respectful: "Chu Lan doesn't quite understand what you mean, Heir Apparent."
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