Whoever can strike me hard will be rewarded handsomely.

Qin Xi, formerly the heir apparent of Prince Rui, is now the Prince of Rui'an, the eldest grandson of the late emperor, and the son of Qin Ji's elder brother. He was also a key figure in the assassination attempt at Yushan and a pawn held by the Ning'an Provincial Governor.

If Qin Ji were assassinated and the late emperor had no surviving sons, Qin Xi, as the late emperor's eldest grandson, would be the most legitimate heir in law.

The young man, in his early twenties and less than five years older than Qin Ji, had become a prisoner of the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs, yet he still maintained the dignity of the Prince of Rui'an, keeping his clothes perfectly in order and presenting himself in an impeccable manner.

Hearing footsteps, Qin Xi didn't even raise an eyebrow. "I have nothing to say, don't waste your energy."

"I have nothing for you to explain here." Qin Ji ordered his men to open the prison door, placed the wine he was carrying on the table, and sat down on a simple stool. "As uncle and nephew, your uncle has invited you for a drink."

Qin Xi was surprised to see him, and a complex expression crossed his face before he finally sat down opposite Qin Ji.

"After the assassination attempt at Yushan failed, I knew this day would come. It's all about the victor and the vanquished. I have nothing to say. If you want to kill me, then kill me."

Qin Ji poured two cups of wine, pushing one towards him. "When I first ascended the throne, the Empress Dowager was powerful, and Wang Jing held absolute power. There were wolves and tigers all around my bed. I was restless day and night. I went behind the rockery to seek a moment of peace, but I didn't expect to run into you catching crickets."

"I will always remember that it was you who told me to be patient, for patience is the key to success."

Qin Ji didn't actually have much interaction with this blood-related nephew who was a few years older than him.

The prince who came out of the cold palace had never even seen his father, the emperor. How could he have ever crossed paths with the pampered and noble eldest grandson of the emperor?

After he ascended the throne as the youngest son, everything settled down. He had only met Qin Xi briefly behind this artificial hill when Qin Xi was sent out of the palace and raised far away.

Qin Ji always knew that Qin Xi was a backup option who could replace him at any time.

If he disobeys, killing him and installing a puppet ruler would be an easy task for both the Empress Dowager and Wang Jing.

Later, the Empress Dowager and King Jing died one after another, and Qin Ji took over the reins of government. Qin Xi, the Prince of Rui'an, lived a more low-key life and rarely attracted attention in front of Qin Ji.

Hearing Qin Ji mention something from so long ago, Qin Xi was somewhat surprised, and his feelings of complexity deepened.

He once felt sorry for his uncle, Qin Ji.

Under the dual oppression of the Empress Dowager and Wang Jing, Qin Ji, despite being the ruler of the country, lived in constant fear and trepidation.

What's the point of being a ruler like that?

Who would have thought that Qin Ji's luck would be this good?

After the Empress Dowager passed away, Wang Jing seized power, breaking the balance between the two sides. Wang Jing became all-powerful and his wolfish ambitions grew stronger. It seemed that the usurpation of power was imminent. However, this powerful minister died in a horse accident.

When Heaven wants to favor someone, there is absolutely no reason to believe it.

Fifteen years ago, neither his father nor his uncles could have imagined that their life-or-death struggle would result in his younger brother, who was so poor he couldn't even get enough to eat and whose name he didn't even know, getting a ready-made match.

Qin Xi was unwilling to accept this; he was the eldest grandson of the emperor, and his name was given to him by the late emperor.

A seal is the king's seal, a token of imperial authority, and a symbol of legitimacy of imperial power.

If that's the case, why can't he give it a shot?

Therefore, he accepted the olive branch extended by Sun Han, the Provincial Governor of Ning'an.

Losing is simply because I'm not as skilled as my opponent.

He also confirmed one thing: their young emperor was indeed very capable.

His ability to survive from the Empress Dowager and Wang Jing until he came to power and regained all the power was indeed not something that could be explained by mere luck.

Qin Xi gazed at the sake in his glass, a bitter smile appearing on his face. "Uncle, could you answer a question that has been lingering in my mind for a long time?"

Qin Ji tapped the table, indicating that he should ask.

Was Wang Jing's fall from his horse truly an accident?

Qin Ji's gaze fell blankly three feet away, perhaps recalling something.

Just when Qin Xi thought he would not get an answer, the young emperor's calm voice rang out in the prison cell, carrying an authoritative and powerful tone: "Wang Jing is disloyal and unjust, and acts perversely. He seizes the benefits of the world to enrich himself; Heaven will punish him."

The airtight answer, however, left Qin Xi somewhat disappointed. "Does Your Majesty dare to do it but not admit it?"

Qin Ji was surprised by the question and asked in astonishment, "What's there to be ashamed of about killing a disloyal and unjust minister?"

Why bother saying something ambiguous like "I'll take him back in a few days"?

Qin Xi abandoned his desire to ask questions, tilted his head back and swallowed the bitter wine in his cup. Just as he was about to put down the cup, he heard the young emperor's sharp and unparalleled words.

"Who do you think is the heavens?"

The wine glass slipped and fell onto the table, rolling down the surface before being caught by a finger on the opposite side.

Qin Xi looked up from his wine glass and met a pair of eyes that seemed to say, "Who else but me?" as if the world was in his grasp.

In that instant, Qin Xi realized an incredibly cruel truth.

He thought he had only lost as an opponent in this high-stakes gamble for the throne.

In fact, in the eyes of his little royal uncle, he probably never even sat at the gambling table.

His Adam's apple bobbed silently, and it took Qin Xi a while to find his voice, "So, is the heavens coming to take me away too?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Xi saw the young emperor's brows furrow slightly, as if he hadn't expected him to ask such a foolish question.

Yes, assassination and treason are matters of life and death. Does he really think he can save his own life?

He clearly had planned for the winner to take all, so how could he lose his composure after just a few words?

Qin Xi gave a bitter smile and knelt on the ground. "My two children are five and three years old respectively. They are still young and do not understand anything. They have not been involved. I hope Your Majesty will show leniency."

Qin Ji didn't even glance at his nephew who was prostrating himself in front of him. He stood the overturned empty wine cup upright again and poured wine back in.

"When your ambition swelled and you conspired with Sun Han to assassinate him, did you ever think about your two children, one five years old and the other only three?"

Qin Xi was speechless.

"Don't you know who Sun Han, the Provincial Governor of Ning'an, is?"

"Is it ignorance, or are they blinded and deafened by ambition, choosing to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear?"

Qin Ji put down the wine pot and said calmly, "Wang Jing's remnants are like rats digging up the foundation of the court and vermin robbing the granaries."

"You cooperate with him, attempting to overthrow the world and fulfill your own ambitions. Where do you hope the fate of our Great Yin Dynasty will lead?"

Qin Ji's voice wasn't loud, but his few words were like a thunderclap.

Qin Xi slumped to the ground, speechless for a long time.

The will of Heaven may prevail, but the hearts of the people may turn against you.

Perhaps when he chose to cooperate with Sun Han and go against the tide, he was destined to suffer a crushing defeat.