As Zhou Wangshu stepped out of the room, his footsteps echoing down the corridor, Lingling stepped in quietly, the chill from outside briefly slipping into the room before the door closed.

She lowered her head in greeting but paused, she furrowed as she felt the crinkle of parchment slip into her palm. Without breaking stride, she tucked the paper into her sleeve, her movements were quick, making sure that no one noticed.

Inside, the room felt colder than before, despite the faint warmth from the brazier. Lingling glanced at the figure seated by the window. His gaze remained fixed on the frosted garden beyond the window.

Lingling stepped toward the brazier, her hands deftly adjusting the coals in the fire to make the room warmer. Then, moving with quiet efficiency, she selected a heavier robe from the screen and approached him.

"Lingling," Wu Yingyue's soft voice broke the silence, startling her for a moment.

"Yes, Your Highness?" Lingling asked, draping the white robe with silver fox fur over his shoulders.

Wu Yingyue's fingers curled around the edge of the robe as he let out a slow breath.

"Was what I did... truly so wrong?"

"How can that be, Your Highness? All that you've done... was it not to secure the future of the empire? To protect your place and ensure the people would have a capable ruler?"

"Then why does he hate me so, Lingling? Why does A-Shu..." He paused, then continued with a deep sigh,

"Why did Zhou Wangshu look at me like that?"

Lingling bowed her head,

"M-May be Lord Duke needs time to understand your Highness's intention."

Wu Yingyue's lips curved into a faint, bitter smile. "Time," he murmured. "I wonder if we'll have enough of it."

The silence returned, heavy and suffocating. Lingling looked at him, To the world, he was the Crown Prince, untouchable and unyielding, his every step calculated and precise. Yet, at that moment, sitting beneath the flickering light of the brazier, Wu Yingyue seemed no more than a man,

 Isolated, burdened, and painfully human.

She bowed low and whispered, "Your Highness, please rest. The brazier will keep you warm."

Wu Yingyue nodded and just as he pushed himself up, supported by Lingling, the door to his chambers creaked open. The faint sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the room before stopping abruptly. Guang Ze, stood at the entrance, bowing deeply, his hands clasped before him.

"Your Highness, The Emperor has summoned you to the Imperial Study."

Wu Yingyue's fingers, which had been loosely holding onto the edge of the bed, tightened. For a moment, his phoenix eyes flickered but soon they turned back to normal.

"What does His Majesty wish to discuss at this hour?"

"The messenger did not specify, Your Highness. However..." Guang Ze hesitated, his head still bowed. "It seems to be a matter of urgency."

A shadow crossed Wu Yingyue's face, but it disappeared as quickly as it had come. He straightened, brushing away from Lingling's attempt to steady him.

"Prepare my robes, ensure they are fitting for an audience with His Majesty."

"Yes, Your Highness," Lingling replied softly, immediately moving to the wardrobe to select the appropriate attire.

Guang Ze glanced at Wu Yingyue, "Shall I arrange for the imperial sedan chair, Your Highness?"

"No need," Wu Yingyue replied as he adjusted the jade ornament in his hair. "I will walk. A brisk wind may help clear my thoughts."

Lingling returned with a thicker robe, one adorned with golden embroidery of imperial dragons, and draped it over his shoulders.

He turned and strode toward the door, Guang Ze followed closely behind.

As Wu Yingyue stepped out of his chambers, a biting wind swept through the corridors. The cold forced his body to bend forwards, and a violent cough tore through his chest. Guang Ze and LingLing immediately stepped forward to support him.

"Your Highness!"

"Your Highness, we should take the sedan. The outside air is too harsh—"

"I am fine." Wu Yingyue straightened, brushing their hands away as he adjusted his robes. With steady and determined steps, he strengthened himself.

The palace, usually alive with murmured conversations and the shuffle of servants, was eerily silent. Those who had been tending to their tasks quickly stepped aside, lowering their heads as the Crown Prince passed. Some pressed themselves against the wooden pillars, their fingers gripping the edges of their sleeves as if afraid even the air around him would burn them.

They had all been in the palace for years... who didn't know that His Highness, the Crown Prince, was both the kindest and the most ruthless?

Wu Yingyue ignored it all.

Then, as he neared the archway leading to the emperor's hall, his steps faltered.

His eyes had fallen on a closed door at the far end of the courtyard.

Wu Yingyue only stood there, gazing at the door as if expecting it to open. As if expecting someone to step out.

But nothing happened.

"Let's greet Her Majesty on the way back."

"Yes, Your Highness. I will inform Her Majesty of your request for an audience."

"Your Highness, please be careful, The Emperor is suspicious by nature. It would not be good to get on his bad side." Guang Ze stepped forward and spoke to Wu Yingyue in a low voice.

Wu Yingyue just nodded and entered into Royal study alone.

Guang Ze and the attending eunuchs halted at the entrance, their heads bowed as they knelt in silence.

The doors shut behind him with a resounding thud.

At the center of the study, behind an imposing table stacked with neatly arranged memorials, sat the emperor, draped in golden robes.

Wu Yingyue lowered himself into a deep bow. "This son greets Imperial Father."

The emperor didn't glance at him, "You took your time."

Wu Yingyue fell to his knees with a bloody thud, the sharp sound resonating against the polished wooden floor. The impact sent a sharp jolt of pain up his legs, but he did not flinch.

The emperor did not react.

"This son was unwell and unfit to present himself before the Imperial Father."

The silence stretched unbearably. The Eunuch behind stepped forward and changed the emperor cup and poured warm tea.

For a long time, the emperor didn't speak as if not even acknowledging Wu Yingyue's presence, as if he, the Crown Prince—was nothing more than another shadow cast upon the cold floor.

Wu Yingyue remained kneeling, his forehead damp with cold sweat. The ache in his knees grew sharper with every passing second.

Suddenly, the Emperor's hand trembled and he threw the cup towards Wu Yingyue.

The Crown Prince didn't dodge as the porcelain shattered against Wu Yingyue's temple. Warm blood mixed with hot tea trickling down his cheek and staining the collar of his robes. Yet, he did not move, did not so much as raise a hand to wipe the blood away.

"You were unwell?" The emperor's voice was quiet, almost soft as wiped his hand in a silk handkerchief, "You are the Crown Prince of this empire, Wu Yingyue. Even if you were at death's door, you should have dragged yourself here."

"This son understands his mistake."

The emperor scoffed, "Do you?"

No one dared to answer as a faint chill spread in the room.

The emperor's fingers tapped against the armrest, then he spoke, each word sharper than the last.

"Zhen(1) heard the Duke of Canghe came to meet you. Do you think the mere position of the Crown Prince places you so high that you dare to deceive me?"

"Do you think I am unaware of the small movements you've made behind my back all these years?" His voice turned colder. "This Zhen knows everything."

The emperor stared down at Wu Yingyue, his eyes brimming with an unfathomable depth of malice.

"You think... just because you are the only prince remaining in this power struggle, that I don't dare to kill you? Working behind my back to use the gold from the imperial treasury! Are you qualified, you mute!"

Wu Yingyue kept his head lowered, but he silently breathed a sigh of relief. He was scared that the emperor heard of A-Shu movements or Xiao Ming's return.

"This son only has the interest of people in mind. The refugees gathered outside the capital walls. They really need help. I have already submitted all the necessary memorials, and the money was allocated by the Ministry of Revenue."

"You believe the Ministry of Revenue's approval equates to mine?"

Wu Yingyue stiffened.

"The money belongs to the imperial treasury. No matter how noble your excuses, it does not change the fact that you acted without my direct consent."

"Do you believe yourself to even be qualified to decide how Zhen's gold should be spent?"

Wu Yingyue clenched his fists beneath his sleeves, his nails digging into his palms. "This son would never dare to act against the Imperial Father's will. I only borrowed for—"

"You only thought to use this opportunity to win the people's favor," the emperor interrupted coldly. "To gain the hearts of officials. To strengthen your position while making a fool out of me."

Wu Yingyue's lips parted slightly, but he did not refute the words. A thin bead of blood dripped from his brow onto the floor, its crimson stark against the polished wood.

The emperor observed him for a long moment before scoffing. "You truly think yourself indispensable."

A slow smile curled the emperor's lips, a chilling contrast to the words that followed.

"Since the Crown Prince is so willing to sacrifice for the people... then let us see just how much he is willing to lose."