"He’s a good person, but he won’t be a Monarch." Zhao Yao pouted, speaking reluctantly, "Someone like the foul Father Emperor is a responsible emperor for the country and the people."
Watching Zhao Yao’s awkward look, Tong Xi held back a laugh and said, "Your Highness, do you think the Fourth Prince will be like the Emperor? From what I see, the Fourth Prince doesn’t seem to be a decisive person."
"Then you’ve underestimated Fourth Brother. Fourth Brother’s depth and means are quite remarkable, it’s just all hidden beneath his expressionless face." Zhao Yao stroked his chin and said, "Someone like Fourth Brother, whose thoughts are hard to guess, will make the ministers fear him."
"The cold and icy demeanor of Fourth Prince indeed is intimidating and keeps people at a distance." Tong Xi asked again, "What about the Eighth Prince?"
"Eighth Brother is more ruthless than anyone else, and in the future, Eighth Brother will probably kill many to ascend to power." Zhao Yao’s expression grew heavy as he spoke, "If the Crown Prince finally defeats Prince Dai, then Eighth Brother will definitely force the Crown Prince to death and then kill Third Brother and the others, leaving none alive."
Tong Xi was frightened by Zhao Yao’s words. He asked in shock, "Your Highness, will the Eighth Prince also kill you?"
"Eighth Brother probably won’t kill me, but aside from me, everyone else will die." Zhao Yao sighed softly, "If nothing unexpected happens, it will be Fourth Brother and Eighth Brother fighting for that position in the end."
"Your Highness, the Third Prince and the others don’t count, but there’s still the Seventh Prince." Tong Xi said, "If the Crown Prince is defeated, there’s still the Seventh Prince, he’s also a legitimate son, and the Duke Mansion will surely support the Seventh Prince at that time."
"When it’s Seventh Brother’s turn, do you think Duke Zhen will still be alive?" Zhao Yao questioned again, "Do you think the Duke Mansion will still be the same as before?"
If the Crown Prince ultimately loses to Prince Dai, neither Duke Zhen nor the Duke Mansion will have a good end.
"Perhaps before something happens to the Crown Prince, something will happen to Seventh Brother first."
"Because Seventh Brother isn’t content." To be honest, among the royal brothers, the one he dislikes the most isn’t his Ninth Brother who used to bully him often, but his condescending Seventh Brother. "As you said, Seventh Brother is also a legitimate son, so he is unwilling. Haven’t you noticed? Seventh Brother looks down on all of us. In his eyes, he is the most noble, and we are all low-status bastards. Even the Crown Prince, he despises."
"But the Crown Prince is the legitimate eldest son, on what basis does the Seventh Prince look down on the Crown Prince?"
"It’s very simple because the late Empress was not a legitimate daughter of the Duke Mansion, but rather an illegitimate one." Seventh Brother has always thought he hid it well, but his eyes had long exposed his true thoughts, otherwise why did Ninth Brother always target him? "And Seventh Brother is too conceited. He always thinks he is the smartest among us, but actually, he is the dumbest. He is not even as good as Ninth Brother."
Tong Xi strongly agreed with Zhao Yao’s statement, nodding repeatedly, "Exactly, the Seventh Prince always looks at people with his nostrils."
"If Seventh Brother were always so haughty, it would be one thing, but he just has to pretend to be..." Zhao Yao struggled to find the right word, "kind and approachable, as if it were his charity."
"Your Highness, you are absolutely right." Yes, what I dislike most about the Seventh Prince is this.
"In terms of studies, Seventh Brother is no match for Fourth Brother. In riding and archery, Seventh Brother is the worst. In intrigue and calculation, he thinks he is very clever, but actually, he is the worst as well." Zhao Yao said sharply, "The only thing Seventh Brother can boast about is his legitimate status, but nothing else."
"Although the Empress is the legitimate daughter of the Duke Mansion, she is ultimately a second wife. Therefore, Seventh Brother’s status as a legitimate son is really inferior to the Crown Prince’s. Why is he so arrogant?" Actually, in the palace, being a bit stupid is no big deal, but thinking oneself to be smart is more frightening than being foolish.
"Just wait and see, among our group of brothers, the first to encounter trouble won’t be the Crown Prince, nor will it be Prince Dai, but Seventh Brother." Zhao Yao stated with great certainty, "And Seventh Brother is bringing it on himself." With Seventh Brother , he still dreams of muddying the waters and reaping the benefits. Truly wishful thinking.
At this moment, in the Xingde Palace, in the Fourth Prince’s room.
The Fourth Prince had already finished bathing and was sitting at the table reading.
Wei Mian brought in a new lamp, which was much brighter.
"Your Highness, the Lady has called you to dinner, surely there’s something she wants to discuss with you. Isn’t it impolite not to go?"