Chapter 397: Surely power is still charming

【Older brother says this fun matter, how big is it?

Very very big, right?

Back then, that overbearing Crown Prince simply took his personal troops and fled.

Such a flight only gave Father King a greater excuse for his anger; the Crown Prince's mother consort, that is, the Queen, was then run through the chest by Father King's sword on the spot.

Still not enough, after the Queen's death, Father King's wrath not yet spent, he again ordered palace attendants to cut the Queen's corpse in half at the waist and hang it on the capital city walls.....

She died.

She died.

Older brother, that woman who from childhood on has mistreated us, the Queen, really died.

You don't know, when I heard this news, my heart was overjoyed beyond measure at that very moment.

I think back to those years when we two wore old clothes and moved about the palace, only able to be mocked by other favored princes and princesses.

I think back to those years when we two were deprived of firewood, only able to wrap ourselves in blankets and guard a pit of ash, you holding me in your arms as we shivered together through the winter.

I even still recall those years when you brought me through the crowds, taking advantage of the year's end to pay respects to the former king's empress dowager and beg for reward money.....

Those days were rare times when we brothers had some extra income.

The former king's empress dowager was also a kind old lady who rarely wished to give us brothers money.

Whenever we received her gifts, the two of us brothers could always live considerably better.....

But whenever I think of her, I also recall you taking my hand past the Lord Crown Prince and his flock of sycophantic lackeys; I accidentally, because of a smiling glance, called someone 'Fifth Brother'.

Sometimes I truly hate my unforgettable memory.

Because I remember too clearly, so whenever at midnight I dream back, I always think of those people mocking you.

Because I remember too clearly, so whenever at midnight I dream back, I always think of the moment I cried out 'Fifth Brother' and saw the sadness on your face.

I am the younger brother you raised; I ought to have sworn to serve only you as my elder brother.

But I instead......

Easily, I took those who mocked you as my brothers.

Older brother, please honestly tell me, have you ever been disappointed in me over this matter?

Older brother, please honestly tell me, have you ever because of this matter.....

and tried to abandon me?

No need to rush to tell me the answer.

Although I am still young, I can understand that this answer may not be easy to give.

Furthermore, I still need to tell Older Brother another major matter.....

Older brother, it's not too late to decide after you hear me out.

Another major matter is——

I have defected to the Crown Prince, and now I am under his command, devising plans for him.

I know, I know Older Brother seeing this far must be quite surprised.

But Older Brother, don't be surprised yet; first hear me out! First hear me out!

Nowadays, An Nan is extremely unsettled!

An Nan originally lay at the junction of the Nine Provinces and the Southern Seas, a place where fish and dragons mingle.

The Queen's family, slaughtered by Father King earlier, was not insignificant; Father King suspected the Queen and the Crown Prince, and naturally extended his suspicion to the great clans.

Yet the great clans have intermarried for years; now that the Queen is dead and the Crown Prince has erred and fled outward, to preserve their blood ties they have grown even tighter—how could they be easily shaken?

Nowadays in An Nan, Father King holds the military power, the great clans control the flow of money and literary influence, while the Crown Prince hides with a portion of his personal troops in the mountains.....

The first two lack neither manpower nor silver, but the latter lacks both men and silver, truly a picture of utter distress.

Moreover, that the Crown Prince could decide to seize Yongzhou by force shows he is a reckless brute; going to his side would be more useful than going to the sides of the first two.

This person previously had a precedent of blindly following others.....

The Crown Prince used to listen to Old Five; Old Five was killed by Our Majesty while laying plans in Sincere City, dying there, which in turn led the Crown Prince to make a great mistake in An Nan.

I now stand in Old Five's place; perhaps I cannot prevent the Crown Prince from rising again and making another great mistake.

Everyone knows to follow the strong.

But sometimes, perhaps it is precisely by writing against the wind that one gains the most power.

Older brother, older brother, older brother, older brother.....

Older brother, older brother, older brother, older brother.....

If I were truly a fool, that would be nice; alas, I am not.

If I were truly a fool, that would be nice; alas, I am not.

If I could truly live a lifetime under your protection, feigning foolishness all my life, that would be nice.....

Alas, I cannot.

Older brother, upon my departure I will surely have to swallow my pride and submit; who knows, I may end up calling thieves my brothers for a long time.

I do not ask for your forgiveness; I only ask that you take good care of your health.

Rest assured, if I can preserve my life.....

I will surely welcome you back to An Nan in glorious splendor.

Your foolish younger brother, An, stays.

All is well; do not worry.】

Indeed, I did not misjudge the person.

Ouyang An this lad is indeed different from Ouyang Yan, who constantly thinks of selling his beauty like an old green tea.

He has brains, he has guts, and even possesses a rare loyalty and courage.

Du Shanü rarely felt a hint of approval in her heart; recalling the last time she put the collar on Ouyang An, she felt a slight regret for the first time—

Had I known how deeply this boy relied on his elder brother, the collar might indeed be somewhat superfluous...

This thought flashed through Du Shanü's mind and quickly vanished.

In this world, nothing is truly superfluous.

Ouyang An is now sincere toward Ouyang Yan, but how long can this sincerity last?

One year like this, five years, ten years, twenty years... what about fifty years?

Will it always be like this?

Moreover, even if he remained sincere, what if one day circumstances changed and Ouyang Yan suddenly died?

Ouyang An is clearly capable; a single chain on Ouyang Yan is not enough—adding another chain is only proper.

Thinking this, Du Shanü softened her tone slightly, bent down, lifted the chin of the beautiful person still kneeling on the ground, and helped them up:

"Do you miss Xiao An? If you still want to write a letter, why not write another one now? I'll have someone send it out tomorrow."

Ouyang Yan, having already been disappointed when his seduction failed, now being struck with a stick and then given a sweet date, was practically dazed by the favor, and exclaimed in startled delight:

"Your servant... your servant naturally wants it!"

The second letter had arrived some time ago, but since he couldn't just see Yu Yiai whenever he wanted, he also couldn't find anyone to help.

Since being placed under house arrest, no one in this mansion has taken him seriously; unable to find assistance, he could only live in seclusion.

He had long wanted to write another letter to his younger brother; now that he can, it's naturally wonderful!

Du Shanü nodded casually and asked in a soft, slow voice:

"What do you want to write?"

Ouyang Yan, helped to sit in the chair beside her, felt somewhat excited yet also ill at ease.

He hadn't seen anyone in a long time, completely unaware that anything was wrong, and even less aware of Du Shanü's intentions, so he quickly replied:

"It's just a family letter, only simple words: I write that I also miss him, urging him to take good care of his health... Xiao An, this child, has always been prone to overthinking since childhood; in fact, I have never blamed him for calling others 'elder brother.'"

Du Shanü listened absentmindedly, her fingers tapping intermittently on the back of Ouyang Yan's hand.

Their body heat mingled, Ouyang Yan felt a warm glow in his heart, thinking today might finally bring some progress, but in the next instant his whole being felt as if plunged into an ice cellar—

Because, Du Shanü suddenly spoke casually:

"Ah, writing such things is so boring..."

"How about this: I'll tell you what to write—by year's end I want to hear news of the King of An Nan's great mourning; no matter what means he uses, otherwise I will send your corpse back to An Nan."