"What? The day after tomorrow?" Shen Qingfeng slapped the edge of the bed abruptly. "How is that possible?"
The crown prince's wedding was no casual matter. Not to mention the right timing, location, and harmony of people, just choosing the wedding date required extreme caution. Yet King Xia Jie had made such a hasty decision.
Not to mention how much betrothal gift needed to be prepared for the crown prince's wedding, how to decorate, and what the procedures should be. These things definitely couldn't be fully arranged in just two days.
Moreover, Xia Chuli had lost the people's hearts because of the statue of Xing Tian. Getting married in such a hurry at this moment, and doing a poor job of it, would only invite criticism from the world.
It was deliberate. Absolutely delib-er-ate!
"That Xia Yonglin... is indeed not going to be that honest!" Shen Qingfeng cursed under his breath. Although he knew that Xia Yonglin wouldn't wait for them to counterattack obediently and would surely cause some trouble, he didn't expect that Xia Yonglin, who had just been intimidated by his letter, would directly suggest to King Xia Jie that Xia Chuli marry Qi Mengmeng as soon as possible.
"As soon as he saw me being pardoned, he couldn't sit still anymore." Xia Chuli said. He seemed to have seen through and understood a lot during this period. After all, only when many things surfaced could one discover how deep their hidden essence was.
"They're so eager to get me to marry Qi Mengmeng. They can't wait to plant her as a spy beside me." Xia Chuli sneered.
Shen Qingfeng paused for a moment and said in a deep voice, "Their goal is to seize the throne... If this order is King Xia Jie's intention, it means..."
"I know." Xia Chuli interrupted him. "Father never liked me. Xia Yonglin is the best heir in his heart."
Shen Qingfeng pursed his lips and comforted him, "A Li, you should know that according to the ancestral teachings of Li Xia, you are the legitimate heir."
"What's the use of being legitimate without strength?" Xia Chuli smiled. He looked at Shen Qingfeng and said, "The support of the Minister of Justice's Mansion alone is not enough, Qingfeng."
"Didn't you say you would help me seize the throne?" Xia Chuli squinted his eyes and slowly tightened his grip on Shen Qingfeng's hand. "Military power is the best bargaining chip."
Shen Qingfeng's pupils shrank suddenly! He slapped Xia Chuli's hand away, took a few steps back abruptly, and stared fixedly at Xia Chuli.
"What do you want to do?" Shen Qingfeng's voice trembled slightly.
What do you want to do, Xia Chuli!
Do you want to turn the Bian Palace blood - red again like in the previous life?
Although Shen Qingfeng knew that in this difficult situation, staging a palace coup directly might be the best way. Although it would leave a stain on Xia Chuli, history was written by the victors. So in the previous life, he and Xia Chuli had chosen the path of staging a palace coup.
But what he was afraid of now was not this. It was that the development of things was too similar to that of the previous life!
He seemed to see that ruthless Xia Chuli, the one who had poisoned him without a shred of kinship.
"Qingfeng, how do you think I should fight against them?" Xia Chuli's voice was calm, pulling Shen Qingfeng's thoughts back. He stared blankly at Xia Chuli and pursed his lips without saying a word.
After a long while, he said in a deep voice, "I have a better way."
There was still a year until King Xia Jie's critical illness. He could gather all the people from the Listening - Wind Pavilion within this year, then organize an army, and secretly kill Xia Yonglin and Xia Yanhe.
After all, he had wanted to do this in the previous life, but unfortunately, he had less than five secret guards at that time and simply couldn't achieve it.
But this life was different. As long as Xia Yonglin and Xia Yanhe were dead, Xia Chuli could smoothly become the King of Li Xia. Not only would he not be criticized, but King Xia Jie would also have no reason to refuse.
"What's the way?" Xia Chuli raised his eyebrows.
"I'll get rid of Xia Yonglin and Xia Yanhe." Shen Qingfeng said in a deep voice.
"Haha..." Xia Chuli suddenly laughed. "Qingfeng, you can't do it. I'll be dead before you manage to kill them. Can't you see the current situation? Even if they're clearly trying to plant a spy in my mansion, Father won't refuse."
Shen Qingfeng said, "A Li, trust me."
Xia Chuli stopped laughing. He looked at Shen Qingfeng and suddenly asked, "Qingfeng, do you want me to marry her?"
Shen Qingfeng was stunned.
This sentence was so familiar that the box of his sealed memories suddenly opened. He saw two overlapping figures. At that time, Xia Chuli had also kissed his temple like this and asked, "Do you want me to marry her?"
What had he answered at that time?
Oh, it seemed to be: I don't want you to. Why can't you be only mine?
But Xia Chuli had promised so nicely at that time, and then he got married. He even had the nerve to come to him and say that he only had Shen Qingfeng in his heart.
How ironic.
No one could have imagined that he was reborn. With the memories of his previous life, he was facing this question again.
"Get married." Shen Qingfeng heard himself saying. "She's from Queen Qi's camp. Even if you don't marry her, Queen Qi will find an excuse to get you to marry someone else. Moreover, Qi Mengmeng has a good heart and can be controlled."
"A good heart?" Xia Chuli said. "Did you feel that when you were chatting with her just now?"
Shen Qingfeng was silent for a moment and said, "No."
"So you've had contact with her before." Xia Chuli turned his head away dejectedly and looked at his fingertips.
"A Li..." Shen Qingfeng sighed softly. He sat on the edge of Xia Chuli's bed. After being silent for a long time, he finally said, "I believe you'll become a good King of Li Xia. I'll help you ascend the throne. You'll have a harem full of concubines, be respected by thousands of people, and be remembered through the ages."
"And you?" Xia Chuli said. "Will you stay with me?"
Shen Qingfeng paused and said, "... I'll select capable officials to help you govern the country. I..."
"I'm asking where you'll go!" Xia Chuli suddenly interrupted him, with hidden anger in his tone.
Shen Qingfeng looked at Xia Chuli, took a deep breath, and slowly stood up. He seemed very tired and wanted to go back. "You should rest well. I'll leave first."
Xia Chuli grabbed him and said in a trembling voice, "You'll go with Lu Yan, right?"
Shen Qingfeng turned his back to him and didn't say a word.
Xia Chuli laughed miserably and said self - deprecatingly, "Yes, you'll go with Lu Yan to the Northern Kingdom, train his army, and govern his country. Then what are you going to do? Overthrow me? Make Lu Yan the king?!"
"Xia Chuli!" Shen Qingfeng slapped his hand away and glared at him. "Rebellion will cost countless lives! Is this how you think of me?"
"So if it weren't for those lowly common people, you actually wanted to support Lu Yan to the throne, right? I'm just a substitute. You chose me because I'm the best among the bad ones! That's why you went to Lu Yan's side!" Xia Chuli roared.
"Slap!"
Shen Qingfeng's hand hung in the air. Looking at Xia Chuli's face turned to the side by his slap, with five clear finger marks on it, it made Shen Qingfeng's eyes turn red.
"Why have you become like this again..." Shen Qingfeng's voice trembled. He couldn't believe that although he had tried his best to protect Xia Chuli in this life, he still became so extreme, so... like before.
"I'm supporting you to the throne for the people of Li Xia, for Li Xia!"
Once upon a time, he never cared about these things.
He had supported Xia Chuli, staged a palace coup to kill King Xia Jie, killed Xia Yonglin, Queen Qi, and so many others... Every time he waved his sword or gave an order, he never considered the people's livelihood.
He only had a passionate love for Xia Chuli.
Now it was gone. His passionate love had finally burned out, not because of himself, but because of Xia Chuli, who had consumed it bit by bit!
Now, his heart could no longer hold him.
Just as he had said to Yu Shuang before, helping Xia Chuli ascend the throne was just for a peaceful and prosperous world, for the people, and there was no such ridiculous reason as love or not.
Xia Chuli covered his face. He still maintained the posture of being turned to the side by Shen Qingfeng's slap. With his head down, his expression couldn't be seen.
"You're the legitimate heir. I won't help Lu Yan rebel." Shen Qingfeng gritted his teeth and said. "After you become the King of Li Xia, I'll let him return to the Northern Kingdom and never set foot in the Central Plains again. Everything here will be yours."
Isn't this what you, Xia Chuli, want? You want to dominate the world and become the most powerful person. I, Shen Qingfeng, am just a pawn for you to seize power. You never had feelings for me, so why put on an act?
He had understood this truth in the previous life.
So, I'll give you what you want, then let me go with Lu Yan.
We'll owe each other nothing. Isn't that good?
Shen Qingfeng glared at Xia Chuli fiercely, then turned around and said, "You should rest well. I'm leaving."
"Do you like Lu Yan that much?" Behind him, Xia Chuli covered his face and questioned.
Shen Qingfeng didn't stop. He was really tired. There was no need to entangle with Xia Chuli anymore.
They were just in a relationship of interests and couldn't be involved with such absurd things as "love".
"Heheh..." Seeing that Shen Qingfeng didn't respond to him, Xia Chuli suddenly laughed self - deprecatingly. In a corner that Shen Qingfeng couldn't see behind his back, a hint of killing intent flashed in his eyes.
"Have you had sex with him?"
Shen Qingfeng stopped in his tracks.
"Have you or haven't you?" Xia Chuli seemed to be going crazy. He started to speak without restraint. "Was it good having sex with him?"
"Bam!!"
The only response to him was the sound of the door slamming shut in Shen Qingfeng's extreme anger.