"Fortunately, it did not go that bad… It seems that this time, elder sister has to thank you!" Duan Zitong exhaled a breath of cold air and slowly sat down. However, there was still some lingering fear in her heart.
"Elder sister, in our relationship, 'thank you' is not necessary... Also, Elder sister doesn't need to worry, because in XingYi's heart, Duan Jingyang must die too, but not now! Everything was destined...! So, in the future, elder sister doesn't need to worry about Xing Yi with regards to the throne, because Xing Yi was indeed destined to take the throne. On the other hand, Xiao Yuxuan... perhaps elder sister needs to spend more effort? Or she might regret it..." Duan Xingyi curved his lips into a smile that was not a smile, his eyes rippling with light!
"Forget it...! This time, elder sister has made a wrong move. Since this elder sister knows your real intention, then this sister will not interfere in your matters in the future! As for Xiao Yuxuan… Rest assured, I already have him in the palm of my hand, and no one can change that fact!" When he mentioned Xiao Yuxuan, the strong possessiveness and self-righteousness that shot out from the depths of Duan Zitong's eyes made him doubt it. It might be the case for her, but he knew well it was still far from it... Women!
Just as Duan Xingyi predicted, the next day, Duan Chen ordered the revocation of Duan Jingyang's house arrest. But still, he was not allowed to take even half a step outside the palace.
Tinker Pavilion
"First Prince, accept the decree…" After Elder Li read out the imperial edict, he put his hands together and respectfully placed the imperial edict on his palms. He then handed it to Duan Jingyang!
On the ground, Duan Jingyang gritted his teeth and clenched his fists until his joints turned white. The moment he heard the imperial edict, he felt a stifling feeling in his chest, and a chill that pierced into the depths of his soul! If he couldn't leave the palace, how would he be able to see his sister? What would be the difference?!
Eunuch Li's eyes dimmed when he saw Duan Jingyang silently kneeling on the ground. He inwardly exhaled a long breath.
"First Prince, don't be upset! Being able to move about freely in the palace is better than being locked up in your pavilion…" Eunuch Li spoke sincerely as he took a few steps forward and placed the imperial edict right under Duan Jingyang's nose!
"This son… accepts the decree with gratitude…" It was just a few words, but it seemed to have used up all of Duan Jingyang's strength! Just as Duan Jingyang took the imperial edict and slowly rose up, a clear and melodious voice suddenly rang out from the entrance!
"Xing Yi congratulates imperial brother for regaining his freedom…" Duan Xingyi wore a purple robe and his charming peach blossom eyes flickered with bright and resplendent splendor. His thin lips lightly opened as he slowly stepped into the pavilion!
When Eunuch Li saw Duan Xingyi walk in, he turned around, bowed respectfully, "This old servant greets the Second Prince… Since the First Prince has accepted the imperial edict, then this old servant will take his leave…"
After Eunuch Li left, the ambiance of the entire Tinker Pavilion tensed. Duan Jingyang clenched the imperial edict so hard in his hand as he glanced disdainfully at Duan Xingyi!
"You are not welcome here!" The cold voice contained a great deal of anger. Duan Jingyang clearly remembered the day of his sister's wedding! If it wasn't for Duan Xingyi interfering, perhaps his own sister wouldn't have to suffer greatly!
"Tsk tsk…! Imperial brother, why do you appear like you want to eat this younger brother of yours! For imperial brother's information, if it wasn't for Xing Yi's beautiful words in front of imperial father, imperial brother would probably have to wait for a longer time before he will be released in his confinement…" Duan Xingyi slightly raised his sword-like brows as his clear eyes met Duan Jingyang's disdainful gaze. His pretty lips slightly curled upwards, but there was no lack of provocation in his gaze!
"You—! What did you say?!" The moment he received the imperial edict, although Duan Jingyang was disappointed and heartbroken, a trace of warmth still flashed through the depths of his heart. At the very least, his father still remembered that he was his son after all. But now, Duan Jingyang felt as if his entire body was submerged in a cold pond. His heart couldn't withstand the desolation and deep despair that seeped into his bones!
"It's fine if you don't appreciate it, because Xing Yi really doesn't need you to remember this favour nor ask you to return it. However, there is someone who I want to remember this favour I gave you, and that she should return it with a favour, too!" Duan Xingyi's delicate eyes narrowed slightly. He suddenly felt impatient to see what kind of expression Duan Muyan would have when she found out about this news!
"What do you mean?!" Duan Jingyang looked at Duan Xingyi with vigilance. For some reason, he felt that this person was emitting an indescribable menacing aura, like some asura from hell. It was as if he was planning something sinister that would destroy everything, and no one could stop him!
"My meaning is…" Just as Duan Xingyi was about to speak, he suddenly heard the sound of hurried footsteps. Duan Xingyi pursed his lips and smiled, then turned around to the door and met Xiao Yuxuan's gaze!
The god-like general and the asura of hell, like the clash of ice and fire, was bound to cause a tidal wave! The two of them stared at each other for a moment before Xiao Yuxuan bowed slightly!
"Yuxuan greets the second prince…" Xiao Yuxuan's pure and clear voice was calm as he cupped his hands and made a path for him! Duan Xingyi lazily raised his eyes and his unreadable gaze landed on Xiao Yuxuan. The curve of his lips slowly deepened as he turned around and left, leaving behind only a wave of inexplicable chuckle.
Looking at the purpled-robed man leaving the hall, Xiao Yuxuan's sword-like eyebrows tightly knitted together. He felt as if that man was concealing some hidden dark secret. Duan Xingyi was far too mysterious, so mysterious that it was unsettling.
Without giving it much thought though, Xiao Yuxuan withdrew his gaze and strode towards Duan Jingyang.
"Jing Yang! Are you okay?! I heard that the Emperor has ordered for your freedom!" Xiao Yuxuan's eyes were bright as he excitedly spoke!
"Heh … Freedom?! It was just a bigger cage! Yu Xuan, did you know? It was actually Duan Xingyi who had requested imperial father to release me! Why?! Why does somebody had to ask father for my release?! Why couldn't father do it on his own?! In my father's eyes, am I really nothing?!" Duan Jingyang's body trembled from anger. His hands that were holding the imperial edict were itching to shred the scroll into pieces which signify his humiliation! In the next second, Duan Jingyang's anger had reached its peak that he ruthlessly threw the imperial edict onto the ground!
When Xiao Yuxuan saw this, he immediately ran back towards the door and closed it. He then quickly picked up the imperial edict and walked over to Duan Jingyang's side.
"Jing Yang… Don't be like this...! We have to remain calm no matter what. Don't forget, Mu Yan's grievances and humiliations were many times more than this! For her sake, you have to endure well!" Xiao Yuxuan's clear eyes flickered as he resolutely spoke! With Duan Jingyang's current state of mind, he could only empathise with him!
"Endure? What was the use of enduring it all?! Tell me, Yuxuan! What was the use of enduring when my own father does't even put me, his son, in his eyes! He only gave this decree to establish Duan Xingyi's reputation for being benevolent in front of the court! It was his way of implying that the position of Crown Prince was deserved by that other son of his! To imperial father, I am just a tool for his other son to gain attention and power! Do you still think that he will let me live after he made that Duan Xingyi the Crown Prince? So, what's the point of enduring...! Hahaha…!" Duan Jingyang laughed out crazily, but when Xiao Yuxuan heard of it, he felt a sharp pain!
"Jing Yang…" Xiao Yuxuan's sword-like eyebrows furrowed. A sorrowful light flashed in his deep eyes. At this moment, he actually didn't know what to say to comfort Duan Jingyang... because he couldn't refute it. How could he, when even he, himself, thought it to be the case, too!
Duan Jingyang suddenly stopped laughing. His face was solemn as he gripped Xiao Yuxuan's shoulders tightly as he appealed to him, "Yuxuan… You must bring Mu Yan away from here! The farther, the better... Duan Xingyi and Duan Zitong will definitely not let Mu Yan off. You have to bring her away! It's not yet too late…" Each of Duan Jingyang's words were firm and clear!
"Jing Yang! Don't worry, no matter what, I won't let anybody to hurt either Mu Yan or you! Besides, this is not yet the end. There's still something you could do! Do you remember the time you caught a cold? There were people who clearly wanted to kill you! If not for your wariness, you would have already lost your life. Rather than sitting still and waiting for death, why not take the initiative of revealing that to the world? So, even if the Emperor wants to cover it up, it would be hard for him to do so!" Xiao Yuxuan's voice was light and low, but it contained an unusually resolute determination!
"You… What do you mean…" Duan Jingyang's eyes flickered with a trace of fear. His hand slowly slipped off Xiao Yuxuan's shoulder and he lowered his eyes. For a moment, he didn't know how to respond to Xiao Yuxuan's suggestion!
"Jing Yang, don't tell me you don't want to do something for yourself and Mu Yan?! Then what about Consort Li's death? Aren't you going to avenge her senseless death?! You have always known what was her greatest wish! Jing Yang... You cannot just sit still and do nothing! It might even put you and Mu Yan in an even more disadvantageous and dangerous situation!" Xiao Yuxuan's words had cleared Duan Jingyang's mind! That's right! All this year, he had only wish for one thing, and that was to gain his father's praise. He even settled to just have him glance at him, and it would be fine, and his days would be complete. For so long, he had only lived for his imperial father!
But now, he finally did understand that in the heart of his father, he was never a son! No matter how hard he tried and how well he did, it did not change anything! Indeed, he was a fool for not realising of the uselessness of this devotion. Rather than humiliating himself like some fool, he should focus his attention on his sister who had it worst. He should start living his life for her!
"Yu Xuan! Then help me!" Duan Jingyang suddenly turned around with a determined look in his eyes. His face were once again shining with brilliance and hope! From this moment onwards, he, Duan Jingyang, would be reborn! He would fight against the Heavens, and fight against fate!
Speechless, Xiao Yuxuan nodded in satisfaction. His clear eyes shone with triumphant! That was what he had been waiting for!
Sage Storage Pavilion
Duan Xingyi was just about to leave in large strides when he met Duan Zitong who had walked in!
"Xing Yi... You are in casual attire… Are you going out of the palace?" He was dressed in deep purple and had an emerald dragon pendant at his waist. His long hair was tied up in a purple ribbon and fell down to his waist like a waterfall. He casually stood there, and with the slight curve of his lips, he looked extremely charming and alluring! This kind of man could really make all women fall for him without any qualms!
There are times were Duan Zitong was curious as to what kind of woman his younger brother, whose appearance seemed to carry a demonic charm, would fall for.
"Of course this younger brother of yours is going out of the palace. There's no point of needing to pretend, is there? Did elder sister come to find Xing Yi for some reason?" Duan Xingyi slightly raised his good-looking eyebrows and returned inside the main hall. Duan Zitong followed him in!
"Don't let this elder sister guess that you're going to the Xiao manor!" Duan Zitong spoke bitterly as she cast a sidelong glance at her younger brother!
"That's hard to say. I might passed by, so I might as well go in and take a look…" Duan Xingyi disapproved and his fingers subconsciously played with the dragon pendant on his waist. This had already become a normal action of Duan Xingyi!
"Xing Yi, earlier, elder sister promised you that she would not interfere in Jingyang's matters. This time, elder sister wants you to agree that you will not interfere in Mu Yan's matters! You just need to focus all your attention on Duan Jingyang! As for Duan Muyan, elder sister will naturally make arrangements!" Su Jinxiu had only reported to her two days ago that Duan Muyan had been caned in Xiao Manor. She didn't want her younger brother to interfere and stand up for her again this time! Whatever the purpose!
"Since elder sister had asked, then Xing Yi might as well just say so. Duan Mu Yan is still of use to me! I don't care what my sister does to her, however, there was one thing. He had to spare her life! This life… It is extremely important to whether or not I can ascend to the throne!" Duan Xingyi's handsome face had a rare coldness and his clear voice was filled with an icy coldness that could not be refused!
"Why would elder sister want her dead? I never thought of letting her die so easily. Only when she's alive would I feel the joy of revenge! But Xing Xing, how is her life important to you?! You'd better not let your sister find out that you're in love with her... Even if I would not have the enjoyment of revenge, I will make her die a graveless death just like that slut, Ling Ziyan!" Duan Zitong seemed to not have felt the warning in Duan Xingyi's eyes as she coldly replied!