Since Consort Liu’s passing, Li Yan was like a changed man.

He lost his former arrogance and pride, growing cold and silent.

To unmask the mastermind behind Zijuan, Li Yan had tried every method he could think of, yet he still had nothing to show for it.

The culprit was hidden too well; Li Yan couldn’t find any trace of them.

At a dead end, Li Yan overheard people discussing the Second Prince and the Fourth Prince, which made him suddenly recall his mother’s dying words.

She had said the person behind Zijuan could only be one of two people:

Either the Second Prince or the Fourth Prince.

The motive, of course, was the struggle for the title of Crown Prince.

Li Yan had always looked down on the Fourth Prince.

It was precisely this contempt that made him believe the Fourth Prince was incapable of plotting against him and Consort Liu.

After all, the Fourth Prince was utterly spineless and tight-lipped. He never fought back when bullied, merely curling into a ball with his head in his hands.

’How could such a useless person possibly frame someone else?’

’Besides, even if the Fourth Prince miraculously found the gall to make a move, how could he guarantee the title of Crown Prince would fall to him?’

’The Second Prince was still ahead of him, blocking the way!’

Instinctively, Li Yan felt the Second Prince, Li Hao, was the more likely suspect.

Though Li Hao was somewhat reckless, he was physically powerful, a master of horsemanship and archery, and had Xianfei meticulously managing his affairs. He was a powerful contender for the title of Crown Prince.

After the Crown Prince’s death, popular support was highest for Li Hao and Li Yan. Even the ministers at court privately agreed that the next Crown Prince would be one of the two.

Thus, a rivalry between them was inevitable.

The more Li Yan thought, the more suspicious the Second Prince became in his mind. He immediately found a dagger and concealed it in his sleeve.

He left the Imperial Palace and headed straight for the Second Prince Mansion.

’I have to find Li Hao and demand an explanation. If he truly orchestrated all of this, I’ll make him pay a blood debt with blood!’

Li Hao disliked studying but loved practicing martial arts.

Since establishing his own mansion outside the palace, he frequently held martial arts tournaments, inviting skilled fighters from all corners to attend.

He would select the most exceptional combatants from these tournaments and have them stay at his residence as Guest Elders in his service.

When Li Yan reached the Second Prince Mansion, he found a martial arts tournament in full swing.

He pushed through the crowd of onlookers and immediately spotted Li Hao seated in the stands.

Li Hao was watching the fighters on the stage trade blows. At a particularly exciting moment, he involuntarily shot to his feet, applauding and cheering with gusto.

Li Yan limped toward the stands.

"Second Brother!"

Li Hao was engrossed in the match when he was startled by the sudden appearance of the Fifth Prince.

"Fifth Brother, what are you doing here?"

Li Hao was not the most perceptive of men and failed to notice anything unusual about the Fifth Prince.

After a moment of surprise, his smile returned, and he called out a warm greeting.

"Perfect timing! Come, have a seat. The matches today are fantastic!"

Li Yan stared at his brother’s smile.

It was a bright, open smile, without a hint of shadow.

It was clear he was in high spirits.

Li Yan said darkly.

"My mother just passed away, yet here you are, hosting a tournament and laughing so merrily."

The smile on Li Hao’s face stiffened. He then frowned and asked, displeased.

"What’s that supposed to mean? I’m sorry your mother died, I truly am. But I can’t be expected to stop living my own life just because you’ve lost yours, can I?"

Li Yan stared him in the eye. "Or are you laughing so heartily precisely because you’re happy my mother is dead?"

Li Hao couldn’t stop himself from swearing.

"Are you out of your mind? What does your mother’s death have to do with me? Don’t go blaming me for everything!"

Li Yan lunged forward, whipped out the dagger, and aimed the point at Li Hao, demanding fiercely.

"Tell me the truth! Did you plot against me and my mother? Was it you?"

Li Hao shot to his feet.

The movement was so abrupt that it sent the table in front of him crashing over.

Teacups and fruit platters scattered across the floor.

All eyes in the crowd snapped toward them.

When they saw the dagger in Li Yan’s hand, everyone’s face turned pale with fright.

Someone shrieked in terror, "Murder! He’s going to kill him!"

The guards of the Second Prince Mansion drew their swords and converged on the Second Prince, trying to protect him.

The tournament on the stage was forced to a halt.

Staring at the dagger point just inches away, Li Hao felt his anger surge.

"You really are completely insane!"

With that, he shot out a hand, seized Li Yan’s wrist, and wrenched it downward.

Li Yan cried out in pain, his fingers instinctively releasing their grip.

The dagger fell to the ground with a CLANG.

Li Hao grabbed his shoulder with his other hand, raised his knee, and slammed it into Li Yan’s stomach.

Li Yan doubled over in pain, curling into a ball.

A nearby guard immediately rushed forward to retrieve the dagger, lest the Fifth Prince grab it again.

Despite the excruciating pain, Li Yan gritted his teeth, scrambled back to his feet, and lunged at Li Hao with a ferocious expression.

Naturally, Li Hao wasn’t about to stand there and take a beating.

The two fell into a brawl.

Not only was Li Hao powerfully built, but he was also a skilled fighter. Li Yan was no match for him.

He dominated the fight, overwhelming Li Yan completely.

By the time they were forcibly pulled apart,

Li Hao’s clothes were torn and his face had a few new scratches, but he was otherwise mostly unharmed.

Li Yan, however, was in a sorry state. He had lost two teeth, and his left arm was broken.

News of the incident soon reached the Emperor’s ears.

The Emperor sent an Imperial Physician to treat their wounds and ordered both of them to be confined to their residences to reflect on their misconduct, and to copy the *Rules of Conduct* one hundred times.

For the time being, that was the end of the matter.

At court, a minister presented a memorial to the throne, suggesting that the various princes be granted the title of Commandery Prince.

This had been proposed before, as the Second, Fourth, and Fifth Princes were all getting older. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

At the time, the Emperor had felt the princes had achieved nothing of merit and were not yet worthy of being enfeoffed. They needed to be tempered further.

Now, however, the Emperor’s resolve was wavering.

’Rather than keep the princes cooped up in the capital to squabble amongst themselves,’ he thought, ’it might be better to send them out to make their own way in the world. Especially the Fifth Prince, Li Yan. The boy no longer has any chance of competing for the title of Crown Prince. Keeping him in the capital will only lead to more trouble. It would be better to grant him a title, send him to his own fief, and let him live out the rest of his days in peace.’

But this was merely a thought.

The Emperor still had his reservations and needed more time to consider.

Li Hao, confined to his residence as punishment, was naturally in a foul mood.

’In my view, that brat Li Yan started the whole thing for no reason. If anyone deserved punishment, it was Li Yan. I was simply dragged into it.’

To lift the Second Prince’s spirits, his attendants scoured the city for fun and interesting trinkets to bring back for Li Hao to amuse himself with.

When Li Hao was pleased, his attendants were naturally well rewarded.

As time went on, more and more people began sending treasures to the Second Prince.

Among them were more than a few who hoped to fish in troubled waters.