Before the house was raided, the maidservant of the Prime Minister's residence absconded with t

"Young master, please don't get agitated, and please don't be sad."

Liu Wei knelt by the bedside and offered kind words of advice.

"Let's rest here for a few days and then, when we get back to the capital, perhaps we can find a royal physician..."

Perhaps there is still hope for your leg to heal!

When he said the word "cured," he himself was not sure, but he still tried to make his tone sound confident.

"As for revenge..."

Liu Wei paused, avoiding Xie Jingxing's face.

Let's put revenge on hold for now!

The people of the Seven Kill Pavilion are notorious for their ruthlessness in the martial arts world.

In our current state, we are no match for them at all.

This is undoubtedly a futile attempt to fight a losing battle!

As he spoke, he carefully tucked the thin blanket around Xie Jingxing, his movements so gentle that they didn't seem like those of someone who wielded a knife all the time.

Liu Wei knew better than anyone the despair His Highness Prince Cheng was experiencing at that moment.

He desperately wanted to be emperor, but now that his hopes have been dashed, how could he not be heartbroken!

"What's the point of going back?"

Even if there's still hope for my leg to heal, my ear will never grow a new one!

Xie Jingxing's voice was so hoarse that it was almost unrecognizable, as if it were being forced out from deep in his throat.

He raised his hand, trembling as he touched his left side, where where an ear should have been, now only dried scabs and rough bandages remained.

Xie Jingxing's eyes were red-rimmed, and his bloodshot eyes were filled with intense resentment and hatred.

His voice suddenly rose, making the candlelight flicker: "How could the Great Zhou Dynasty allow a one-eyed prince to inherit the throne?"

Liu Wei, I'm not reconciled... I'm not reconciled at all!

The last few words were almost shouted out, which aggravated his wounds, causing him to gasp sharply and the veins on his forehead to bulge.

Liu Wei quickly pressed down on his shoulder: "Young master, please don't get agitated!"

"Your injury shouldn't be agitated. Let it heal first. We can talk about other things later."

As he spoke, he took out a porcelain bottle from his waist, poured out a pill, and handed it to Xie Jingxing's lips.

Xie Jingxing did not refuse, mechanically opening his mouth and swallowing, his Adam's apple bobbing.

Seeing that he had calmed down a bit, Liu Wei slowed down his speech and carefully began to speak: "Actually, His Majesty still cares for you quite a bit."

Even if I can't become emperor, I can still be a wealthy prince...

Even he himself felt guilty about saying that.

But no matter how much he wanted to lie, he couldn't openly deceive him. Even if he was disabled, he still had a chance to become emperor!

"Do you love me?"

Xie Jingxing gave a cold laugh, a laugh devoid of any warmth.

"Now that I'm crippled, my father won't even give me a second glance."

It's even less likely that they'll pass the throne to me.

Even if he were willing, the civil and military officials would not agree, nor would the people of the Great Zhou!

He turned his head and stared at the dim shadow at the top of the bed curtains, his gaze terrifyingly empty: "I will become a joke, a stain on the royal family."

My good brothers...

Believe it or not, they'll turn around and laugh at me for taking the opportunity to retaliate and kick me when I'm down!

Do you think I'll have any good days ahead of me?

He used to bully those brothers quite a bit.

Liu Wei opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Xie Jingxing is right.

He knew all too well that brotherhood within the royal family was always the least valuable thing.

Xie Jingxing closed his eyes, the pain from his wounds coming in waves, but what hurt even more than his body was the inexplicable fear in his heart.

He's already in this state; going back would just make him a useless pawn.

His emperor father probably wouldn't even bother to look at him, let alone spend any energy on him.

Father will definitely find a suitable prince to raise.

It could be the Crown Prince, or another brother, but it could never be Xie Jingxing.

The royal family cannot afford to lose face like this.

How could a prince who was missing an ear and whose legs were not even sure if he could stand up sit on that dragon throne?

What would the court officials say?

How will history books write it?

Moreover, he lost more than just his father's favor and regard.

His mother, the Imperial Concubine, will also fall out of favor.

The family behind his mother will also be implicated because of the loss of this pawn.

Xie Jingxing grew increasingly frightened as he thought about it, his fingers unconsciously clenching the mattress beneath him until his knuckles turned white.

"Young master, please don't be so discouraged."

Liu Wei noticed that his emotions were starting to fluctuate again, so he quickly tried to comfort him.

"His Majesty would not do that to you."

You are the prince he has always loved.

Even if you are like this now, he will not give up on you.

No matter what, you're still his own son!

Liu Wei knew in his heart that everything King Cheng said was true.

But he could only say the nice things, even if he didn't really believe them himself.

He had to ensure the Prince of Cheng's safe return to the capital, otherwise the Emperor would punish him.

Xie Jingxing opened his eyes, looked at the guard who had been by his side, and forced a smile that looked more like a grimace. "Liu Wei, you don't need to comfort me."

Since ancient times, the imperial family has been ruthless; the ruler and his subjects come first, then the father and son.

Besides, my father, the emperor, never had any fatherly affection for me.

His voice lowered, as if he were talking to himself: "The royal family has no shortage of sons and daughters."

"What does it matter if I'm gone?"

Liu Wei felt a pang of sadness and wanted to say something, but found himself unable to utter a single word.

King Cheng is right. The emperor has more than a dozen sons. Losing one is really not a big deal.

"Young master, please don't think like that."

Your Majesty is the emperor, so naturally you think about more things than ordinary people.

But he won't ignore you.

Don't worry too much, just focus on recovering. I'll stay with you.

He secretly pondered: King Cheng's maternal family still existed, and had been operating in the court for many years, with deep roots.

Even the most ruthless emperor would still give them some face and show some dignity to Prince Cheng.

Moreover, the King's mother was a Noble Consort, so the old emperor wouldn't be too heartless for that reason alone.

However... the throne is out of the question.

The thought flashed through Liu Wei's mind, but he didn't say it aloud.

"Hmph!" Xie Jingxing suddenly snorted coldly, his eyes turning sinister. "I may not be able to be emperor, but I won't let certain people reap the benefits without effort!"

He slowly sat up, ignoring Liu Wei's obstruction, and stared sharply at the candlelight: "Liu Wei, send a message back to have people continue searching for and killing the Northern King."

From now on, anyone can be emperor, except the Northern King.

The thought, like a venomous snake, coiled around his mind, tightening its grip.

If the Northern Prince is once again valued by his father and becomes the Crown Prince again, then he, his mother, and his family will be nothing more than fish on a chopping board, at the mercy of others.

He and the Northern King were already irreconcilable enemies.

Once the Northern King regains power, his first act will be to take revenge on him and his maternal clan.

At that time, let alone a wealthy prince, he might not even be able to save his own life.

"Young master, this...this is not appropriate, is it?"

Didn't you say that His Majesty forbade you from touching the Northern King again?

Furthermore, they've added allies to the Northern King's trusted men; if we try to strike again, it will be very difficult to succeed.

Liu Wei looked troubled, feeling that this was too risky.

If the emperor finds out that Prince Cheng has sent assassins to kill the crown prince again, then even a wealthy and powerful prince will be unable to protect himself.

He felt sorry for the few assassins who had died before.

Training a loyal follower is not easy; it takes a lot of time and money.