Chapter 0258: Don’t Mistake His Compassion for a Weapon to Attack Him

When Xie Chengze left the Imperial Hospital, Shen Yuan surmised he might have gone to seek out either the Empress or the Crown Prince.

Regardless of whom he approached, neither would harm Xie Chengze for the time being.

The Crown Prince’s stance was self-explanatory. As for the Empress… aside from the Crown Prince’s attitude, the directives in the second imperial decree alone would compel her to hold her position. Otherwise, the Crown Prince’s ascension would violate the late Emperor’s final wishes, and killing Xie Chengze before his enthronement would bring no benefit to the Crown Prince.

Shen Yuan summoned his informant within the Imperial Hospital, instructing him to relay orders to his agents to transmit updates continuously, ensuring he maintained a thorough grasp of the palace situation during his convalescence. Unexpectedly, just after issuing these commands, he heard unusual noises from outside.

Then, a sharp sword aura tore through the curtains, carrying intense killing intent straight toward Shen Yuan’s face!

Shen Yuan’s eyes darkened as he tilted his head to the left. The cold blade grazed past his ear and embedded itself deeply into the wall behind him, scattering gray dust.

Xie Jinyu stepped into the inner chamber shrouded in murderous energy. His gaze swept over the trembling physician kneeling on the floor before he coldly waved a hand. “Get out.”

The physician scrambled out of the room in panic.

Shen Yuan narrowed his dark eyes, observing Xie Jinyu’s drastically changed demeanor. After a long moment, he extended two fingers to pull the still-vibrating long sword from the wall, his tone casual as he remarked, “Your Highness the Crown Prince, it’s been a while.”

“Shen Yuan,” Xie Jinyu stared at him heavily, icy words spilling from his lips. “I shouldn’t have killed you.”

Shen Yuan naturally didn’t interpret this as repentance for Xie Jinyu having killed him in the prison of their previous life.

He was likely regretting having killed Shen Yuan first, thus allowing Shen Yuan to be reborn one step ahead of him.

What surprised him was how Xie Jinyu had managed to be reborn.

Was Xie Chengze’s current incarnation as the Second Prince connected to Xie Jinyu from their previous life?

What had Xie Jinyu done after Shen Yuan’s death?

Studying Xie Jinyu’s expression, Shen Yuan realized he probably wouldn’t get answers today.

This Crown Prince had clearly come for his life.

“Where is the Second Prince?” Shen Yuan pressed down on the sword in his hand and asked solemnly.

“That’s none of your concern.” Xie Jinyu slowly advanced toward him, intangible internal energy gradually gathering in his palm. With Shen Yuan just recovered from serious injuries, killing him would be effortless.

His voice grew increasingly ominous. “This is no concern for a traitorous official like you.”

Shen Yuan smiled faintly. “This official naturally doesn’t concern himself with such matters. But does Your Highness truly dare to kill me?”

Xie Jinyu’s steps halted.

“This life of mine was granted by Emperor Jian and the Second Prince. Your Highness should know what the Second Prince’s temperament would lead him to do if I were to die.”

“Your Highness forced the Second Prince to his death in our previous life. Will you now force the Second Prince to his death in this life as well?”

After recovering all memories from his previous life, Shen Yuan had meticulously pieced together clues and gradually uncovered certain truths.

When he first returned to Jingcheng and met the Second Prince, knowing the Second Prince’s notorious greed and arrogance—how he colluded with officials to amass wealth secretly—Shen Yuan had ignored the Second Prince’s overtures and instead supported the Crown Prince, who enjoyed an excellent reputation for being refined and benevolent.

In his heart, Shen Yuan had considered the Second Prince thoroughly mediocre and completely ignorant of the ways of rulership, which was why he repeatedly rejected the Second Prince’s recruitment attempts.

Each refusal only fueled the other’s growing fury. Once, the Second Prince had pointed directly at his nose and cursed, “Shen Yuan, do you truly believe the Crown Prince is some kind of virtuous man? You can’t possibly imagine how despicable he is! He’s a madman!”

At the time, Shen Yuan had thought it was merely the Second Prince’s shame turning to rage, for he himself had grown impatient and retorted recklessly, asking the Second Prince to take a hard look at his own character—was he even worthy of Shen Yuan’s allegiance?

Looking back now, perhaps the Second Prince had long been aware of the Crown Prince’s near-obsessive feelings for Xie Chengze.

In places beyond Shen Yuan’s sight, the Second Prince must have endured sufferings unknown to him.

That snowy night in Liaozhou should have been the Second Prince’s only chance to break free from the Crown Prince.

He abandoned all of Xie Chengze’s “possessions” and chose to flee through the snow, but how could a mortal body withstand the bitter cold of Liaozhou’s winter? If Shen Yuan hadn’t found him, he might have died in that blizzard.

Back then, the Second Prince’s gaze had been one of despair and pity.

Despair that he would ultimately have to return to the gilded cage of the palace, and pity for his own desire for freedom warring with his fear of death.

It was from that moment onward that the Second Prince grew increasingly hostile toward the Crown Prince, as if he had nothing left to lose, becoming ruthless and daring enough to kill.

A decade of prolonged strife had changed everything.

When the Second Prince was assassinated on the Dragon Throne, that gaze brimming with hatred—was it saying, “Even in hell, I will return to kill you,” or was it lamenting, “If you hadn’t chosen to follow the Crown Prince back then, I would never have come to this end?”

Xie Jinyu’s icy voice cut through Shen Yuan’s thoughts. “Second Brother is not like him.”

Even if he imprisoned Second Brother, Second Brother would not be angry.

Because he was so kind and gentle, as soft-hearted as in their childhood days. Even if locked away, he would only chide Xie Jinyu for not preparing carefully enough, never calling him a madman.

Thus, even if Shen Yuan were killed, Second Brother would forgive him.

“Even a clay figure has its limits. Does Your Highness the Crown Prince truly dare to gamble that the current Second Prince will willingly remain confined by you, tolerating all your vile acts?”

Shen Yuan met Xie Jinyu’s gaze directly, his sharp eyes like piercing light in the darkness, laying bare the shadows in others’ hearts. “One year might be bearable, but what about three years? Five? A decade? What when he grows weary?”

“Your Highness, do not weaponize his soft heart against him.”

Shen Yuan’s words tore away the veil of decency from Xie Jinyu’s heart, exposing the filth beneath.

“Silence!” Xie Jinyu snarled, snatching the sword from Shen Yuan’s hand and pressing it hard against his neck, his eyes blazing crimson with hatred. “What do you know?! Second Brother needs only me, and I need only him!”

No one else was necessary!

“Go ahead and try.” Shen Yuan lifted his chin, fearlessly meeting the blade at his throat. “Kill me, and see if the Second Prince will still treat you as he once did.”

“I killed our father, and Second Brother never blamed me! Do you think you, Shen Yuan, matter so much?”

Xie Jinyu laughed coldly, though whether his heart held the same confidence as his words, only he knew.

Shen Yuan shuddered at this. “You poisoned His Majesty?”

“Yes.” Xie Jinyu’s face twisted into a vicious smile. “But that fool was too slow. Had I acted sooner, I would have done it far more elegantly.”

Shen Yuan felt a slight shock in his heart. He knew Xie Jinyu wouldn’t stoop to lying about such matters, but he never expected that Xie Jinyu, at just nineteen, was already capable of such ruthless methods.

No wonder the Second Prince was so wary of him.

Who wouldn’t fear someone who dared to poison his own father with his own hands?

In his past life, Shen Yuan had been deceived by the gentle facade the Crown Prince showed the Second Prince, completely unaware of the dark and terrifying personality hidden within the ruler he followed.

And now, with the Crown Prince’s body occupied by the soul of a twenty-eight-year-old adult, what kind of obsessive and insane actions would he take next?

Thinking of that pure-hearted young man, Shen Yuan didn’t even need to ponder—he knew the boy would undoubtedly try to counter force with gentleness, appealing to reason and emotion in a futile attempt to correct Xie Jinyu’s twisted mindset.

Little did he realize that this would play right into Xie Jinyu’s hands.

Taking a deep breath, Shen Yuan’s gaze turned cold and stern. “Where have you hidden the Second Prince?”