"What have I done? I did what I had to do." Zhong Tianyi's face bore a manic smile.

At that moment, his heart was filled with excitement, surprise, tension, and an uncontrollable sense of panic.

He knew what he was doing, success would make him king, but failure condemned him to death a hundred times over.

He never thought he'd actually reach this point, let alone that he would be so close to that position.

It was within reach!

Yet he was still afraid.

Scared to death, yet excited to the core.

That's why his smile was so bizarrely twisted.

"Why can't you look at me? Why can't you just look at me?" Zhong Tianyi rushed in front of Zhong Daolong, his expression ferocious as he roared at him.

"How am I any worse compared to my elder brother? Whatever he has, I have, and whatever he can do, I can do it better."

"But why can't you just look at me? Why do you always push me so far away? Pushing me outside the door? Aren't we family? Don't I have the surname Zhong? Doesn't my body flow with the blood of the Zhong Family?"

"If you had seen me sooner, if you had given a moment's thought to my situation... I wouldn't have had to resort to such methods to get what I want."

"A father's love and a son's filial piety should bring boundless joy, so how did things end up like this? Why did you force me to take things this far?"

Zhong Daolong, having seen his share of grand scenes, quickly regained his composure after the initial shock.

While pondering his current predicament and looking for solutions, he stalled for time as he waited for reinforcements.

At the very least, he needed to control the unknown deadly poison coursing through his veins.

Zhong Daolong looked at Zhong Tianyi with a mocking expression and said aloud, "I never gave you any chances, but that didn't stop you from making your moves. Do you think I was unaware?"

"If I had given you just a bit of encouragement, to what lengths do you think you would have gone?"

"If I had put you in the same position as your elder brother, you two would probably have fought each other to death by now, wouldn't you? With the situation in turmoil and the foundations of the Royal Family shaking... how could I possibly allow that?"

"I was protecting you, can't you see that? Why can't you appreciate the trouble I've gone through? Wouldn't being a wealthy idle person have been better? That's surely happier than being trapped every day in this deep palace... That position is a glory but even more so a shackle."

"You speak prettier words than a song. When you and your second and third uncles vied for that position in those days, why didn't you say it was a shackle? Tian Que is so eager for that position; why doesn't he see it as a shackle? It's only a shackle when it comes to me?"

"Between you two brothers, I can only choose one... and there's only one position."

"Why does it have to be him? Why does it have to be him? Just because I was born a few days later?" Zhong Tianyi shouted angrily.

This had been his grievance for many years.

Just because Tian Que was the older brother, and he was the younger brother, Tian Que was the Eldest Prince, the Crown Prince, the future Crown Prince.

Every day surrounded by flowers and applause, his gaze commanded everyone to bow and be a stepping stone to that supreme throne.

Countless people flattered him, humbly circling around him, hoping for a word of praise or a benevolent smile.

As for himself, the Second Prince, he was the pride of the drinking joints, a playboy.

The ones around him were also some insignificant people who didn't make it to the public eye.

Even so, those who were sincerely close to him were systematically removed by them. Zhong Jie, Huang Yufan, Chen Zhongqi, and recently Yu Huoshui, who died because of him...

He had no friends by his side.

Nor could he have friends.

Who would want to get involved with a licentious prince who had no interest in politics and no chance of ascending to the supreme throne? Not only would there be no gain, but it was also possible to incur the fear and reprisal of the future king.

It was a losing proposition.

He was all too familiar with the expressions of those people when they saw him, respectful yet tinged with sympathy, enthusiastic yet deliberately keeping their distance.

He pretended not to care, pretending he hadn't seen through their hypocrisy and the ugliness behind their masks.

But his heart was filled with hatred.

One day, when power was in his hands, he would slaughter all the dogs who had humiliated and insulted him.

If he did not erupt in silence, he would perish in silence.

When those people approached him, Zhong Tianyi chose the former without hesitation.

The look in Zhong Daolong's eyes when he gazed at Zhong Tianyi was full of mockery and pity as he spoke, "Do you think by eliminating me, you will get everything you want?"

"To conspire with a tiger for its skin will only end with the beast eating you, leaving no trace of your bones."

"Could it be worse than it is now?" Zhong Tianyi retorted, saying, "Once my elder brother succeeds the throne and takes control, will I still have good days ahead? The Tranquil Residence will be where I'm buried, and I'm afraid I won't have tranquility anymore, right?"

"Why would it come to this between brothers?" Zhong Daolong, clutching his chest, cursed as if hating to part with steel, "Do you know why I chose your elder brother to be the Crown Prince?"

"It's not just because he's older than you, following the royal family's tradition of favoring the elder over the younger. More importantly, although he lacks the talent to blaze new trails, he has the strength to guard what we have."

"Moreover, he is magnanimous, simple, and honest. If he were to succeed, he wouldn't harm you, and you and your siblings could still enjoy wealth and honor…"

"And you? Can you do it? Would you dare let your elder brother live?"

"…"

This question truly stumped Zhong Tianyi.

Could he let his elder brother live?

The legitimate heir, the Crown Prince, had assisted the king in dealing with military secrets for many years and had connected with countless forces in private...

With such a man alive, he would likely never have peace of mind.

"Look at you…" Zhong Daolong observed Zhong Tianyi's demeanor and said coldly, "That's why I will never regret my choice."

"It's not important anymore." Zhong Tianyi sighed softly out of sheer boredom, "The victor will have countless others to crown and honor them."

"So..." Zhong Daolong looked at Zhong Tianyi and Chen Fenglei and asked, "Do you want to kill me, or do you want to imprison me?"

"So that the king knows…" Chen Fenglei bowed and cringed, his body as crooked as ever, and said, "This poison… will claim the king's life."

"Oh, so it's killing me then." Zhong Daolong nodded, looking at Chen Fenglei and asking, "He kills me to take the position beneath me. What about you? Why are you killing me?"

"Wealth and honor, I've given you all I could, haven't I? If I hadn't trusted you too much, would you have the chance to stand before me at this moment?"

Finally, Chen Fenglei raised his head, and in that moment, as if supported by some mysterious force, brazenly locked eyes with Zhong Daolong, "Because I know the Empress was poisoned, not sick to death."

Zhong Daolong's expression stiffened, and then he burst into hearty laughter.

"I get it, I get it now…" Zhong Daolong took off the glasses on his nose, his smile broad and unrestrained, "This explains everything."

His body sprang up, and his right hand transformed into a claw, reaching toward Zhong Tianyi.

To catch a thief, first catch the king.

A young king is still a king.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.