The bright moon hangs high, beckoning him down from his pedestal.

After leaving Wulan Yun's place, Shen Jingyan went to the courtyard of Shen Yinian's palace.

After dismissing everyone around her, she closed the door and, facing her brother who was reading behind his desk, went straight to the point: "Brother, are you confident you can become the Crown Prince?"

Shen Yinian paused in his writing, his brows immediately furrowing.

He put down his book, got up and walked to the door. After confirming that no one was outside, he turned around and said in a deep voice, "Ayan, you are not allowed to say such things again."

Shen Jingyan forced a bitter smile, revealing a cold, sarcastic tone: "Do we have to be so careful with our words in this palace now?"

"Brother, do you still remember how warm and loving it was when we were with Father and Mother in the desert royal court? Unlike now..."

"Ayan!" Shen Yinian interrupted her, his tone serious. "Face reality. Don't mention those things again."

Shen Jingyan pursed her lips and didn't say anything more, but her eyes were slightly red.

Seeing her like this, Shen Yinian softened his tone: "What's wrong? Why are you suddenly asking about this?"

Shen Jingyan's voice was choked with sobs, "My father has decreed that I should move to Yilan Palace immediately after returning to the palace, where that woman will personally teach me etiquette."

She raised her head, looking at her brother with suppressed humiliation in her eyes. "So, brother, I just want to ask you, are you confident you can become the crown prince? Are you confident you can rescue me from that place soon?"

Shen Yinian remained silent for a moment.

With his father's thoughts unpredictable and Shen Qingruo enjoying the emperor's favor, he wasn't entirely confident.

Looking into his sister's eager eyes, he could only offer a vague promise: "I will do my best."

"Give it my all..." Shen Jingyan murmured, repeating those four words. Suddenly, she asked, "After you succeed by giving it your all, will you ascend the throne yourself?"

She stared intently at Shen Yinian, her eyes revealing a yearning for and a sense of alienation from that supreme power that she herself was unaware of.

Shen Yinian looked at the unwilling look in his sister's eyes and sighed softly.

He stepped forward and, just like when they were children, patted her head, his voice clear: "No."

Shen Jingyan inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief, and her clenched fist relaxed without her noticing.

Meeting his sister's gaze, Shen Yinian continued, "Even if it really comes to that in the end, that position, I will give it back to you."

Looking at her composed brother, Shen Jingyan suddenly whispered, "Brother, do you know? I envy you so much."

Shen Yinian looked at her in surprise.

Shen Jingyan forced a bitter smile: "I envy that you are a boy, I envy that you are smarter than me, and that you are more favored by the Empress Dowager."

She lowered her eyelashes, her voice even softer, "There are some things I've never dared to tell my mother."

"I just really hate her unconscious favoritism."

"In her heart, my position as Crown Princess only has any value when you, my brother, are content to be the carefree Prince."

"Once you decide to fight for it, that position will naturally be yours."

"It seems that in her mind, I have no competitive advantage whatsoever."

Shen Yinian looked at his younger sister, who had once been flamboyant and bright but had gradually lost her vibrancy, and sighed in his heart.

He said, "My mother loves you."

"It's just that she has some ingrained ideas that she can't change in a short time."

He looked at her and promised, "Ayan, remember your brother's words. Even if I obtain the throne, it will only be yours."

You will definitely get what you want.

Shen Jingyan raised her head and looked at her brother's calm face. Her eyes were filled with turbulent emotions, which eventually turned into relief.

She finally spoke softly, "Brother, thank you."

Shen Yinian ruffled her hair: "Go back and prepare. As for Yilan Palace, just bear with it for now."

Shen Jingyan nodded, and as she turned to leave, her departing figure carried an indescribable sense of desolation.