Isolated town in northern border region

"Urgent dispatch—!"

In the Chengtian Hall, the messenger collapsed before the imperial steps, his voice hoarse.

"The northern barbarian cavalry has breached Yanmen Pass and seized the three prefectures of Yunzhou, Shuozhou, and Weizhou! The defending general has been killed in battle, the people have fled south, and the northern border is in dire need of attention!"

The entire hall erupted in uproar.

Emperor Xiao Mu of Chu suddenly stood up from the dragon throne, his face ashen.

"Three states? Losing three states in a row?"

"Your Majesty, the northern barbarians are advancing fiercely, the canal is still frozen, and reinforcements cannot advance north. If we do not negotiate peace as soon as possible..."

"Make peace? With what? With the entire kingdom of Great Chu?"

The court was in complete chaos.

No one noticed that the direction of the Eastern Palace was deathly silent.

The Eastern Palace.

Xiao Lie was awakened by the pain.

The arrow wound in his chest was still bleeding, and the memories of the two souls in his mind were tangled together, like two ropes twisted together.

"What does it mean when your own father dies, but your throne is seized by your own uncle, and your uncle's six sons are plotting to kill you every day?"

"He was clearly the crown prince, yet he acted like a coward for seven years!"

"Finally, he was accidentally shot and killed by the Crown Prince's guards during the spring hunt!"

Before Xiao Lie could even accept the fact that he was a useless crown prince, the palace door was kicked open.

"Xiao Lie!"

The eldest prince, Xiao Yu, strode in, dressed in a python robe and jade belt, with a sword at his waist, followed by four guards with knives, exuding a murderous aura.

He didn't come alone.

Xiao Lie involuntarily shrank back a little!

It wasn't that he was afraid; it was just his body's instinctive reaction.

For the past seven years, no matter what happened, the original owner always did the same thing: bowing her head, backing away, not daring to look at him, not daring to talk back, and not even daring to breathe loudly.

"Your Majesty... Eldest Brother..."

Xiao Lie heard his own voice, which was light and soft, like stepping on cotton.

Xiao Yu didn't even glance at him, walked to the table, sat down, and crossed her legs.

"Did you know that the Northern barbarians have seized three prefectures in succession?"

Xiao Lie kept his head down.

"I... just woke up... haven't heard anything yet."

"Never heard of it?"

Xiao Yu sneered and slapped Xiao Lie across the face with her backhand!

"It's all because of you!"

Xiao Lie suddenly looked up.

Xiao Yu pointed at his nose, her voice so loud that the entire East Palace could hear it.

"It's all because of you, you good-for-nothing! You never talk back when hit, never fight back when insulted, you just hide in the Eastern Palace like a coward!"

"Now even the northern barbarians dare to look down on my Great Chu, all because of you, you coward!"

Xiao Lie opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but his body's instincts made him swallow his words back.

The original owner's memories were screaming: Don't talk back! Just be patient, and when you turn sixteen, you can inherit the throne!

Xiao Lie then remembered that seven years ago, when his uncle Xiao Mu seized the throne on the grounds that Xiao Lie was too young and the country was in jeopardy, he had made an oath before the late emperor's spirit.

They said they would pass the throne to Xiao Lie as soon as he turned sixteen.

But by this time, the useless crown prince had already changed his soul.

In Xiao Lie's eyes at this time, the so-called succession to the throne at the age of sixteen was nothing but a pie in the sky!

It's a miracle they weren't killed!

Perhaps it was because the original owner was too incompetent?

No, wait! I'll be sixteen in just two weeks!

Isn't it possible to be killed at any moment?

No way! I have to think of something. This position of Crown Prince is a death sentence for me!

Xiao Lie's face was full of fear, but this only made the eldest prince, Xiao Yu, even more arrogant!

He stood up, walked up to Xiao Lie, and patted his face like he was patting a dog.

"Useless trash. Do you know what people outside are saying about you? 'Cowardly prince, turtle-like crown prince!'"

"Even the northern barbarians know that the Crown Prince of Great Chu is a spineless coward!"

He turned around and his gaze fell on Bisu, who was trembling in the corner.

Bisu was Xiao Lie's personal maid. They grew up together and were nominally master and servant, but in reality, they were like brother and sister.

She was holding a bowl of medicine in her hand, and her face turned pale with fright at the sight, but she still gritted her teeth and stood in front of Xiao Lie.

"Your Highness...it's time for your medicine..."

Xiao Yu's eyes lit up.

"Oh, this little girl is quite pretty."

He reached out and grabbed Bisu's chin, lifting her face up.

Bisu was so frightened that she trembled all over and smashed the medicine bowl on the ground.

"Your Highness...I beg you..."

"Beg me? Beg me for what?"

Xiao Yu smiled frivolously, her fingers sliding down until they grabbed Bi Su's collar.

"You useless crown prince, you're nothing but a living turtle! You can't even hold onto the throne, you can't even protect the Eastern Palace, and you... you're even less likely to be able to!"

With a "rip," Bisu's sleeve was torn.

Bisu screamed, tears streaming down her face.

"Your Highness! Your Highness, save me!"

Xiao Lie's body was trembling.

It's not fear.

It's a reaction etched into the very bones of this body!

Submitting to whatever comes my way has become a habit!

Xiao Lie saw Bi Su's tears, Xiao Yu's hands, and the lewd smiles on the guards' faces.

A voice in my head is shouting:

When are you going to back down?

Did all those who retreated to our side die?

Have we retreated to the point where we can't even respect ourselves anymore?

He pulled the sword from the wall!

That was the late emperor's sword!

For seven years, the original owner would only kneel before the sword and cry out, but never draw it!

"stop."

The sound wasn't loud.

But the entire East Palace fell silent.

Xiao Yu's hand froze in mid-air as she turned her head.

Xiao Lie raised his sword and pointed it into the distance.

His body was still trembling; it was the original owner's instinct protesting.

But his eyes were no longer the same eyes that dared not look up or meet eyes.

"I said, stop."

Xiao Yu was stunned for a moment, then laughed: "Oh, so this good-for-nothing dares to..."

He hadn't finished speaking.

A cold glint flashed.

Xiao Lie suddenly pulled out the late emperor's sword from the wall—the scabbard crashed to the ground with a piercing sound.

He had never learned swordsmanship, but at this moment, the hand holding the sword was as steady as if it were made of iron!

The cold blade pressed against his skin, and Xiao Yu's smile froze on his face.

"You...you dare!"

"I dare."

Xiao Lie's voice wasn't loud, but it pierced the ears of everyone present like a nail.

"I've had enough! For the past seven years, I've endured it every single moment!"

"Only today have I finally understood what utter nonsense the position of Crown Prince is!"

"It's just an excuse I'm making to fool myself!"

With a flick of his wrist, Xiao Lie's sword cut through the skin on Xiao Yu's neck, drawing out a thin line of blood.

Xiao Yu's expression finally changed.

"Xiao Lie! You're insane! You dare touch me..."

"What's wrong with me touching you?"

Xiao Lie took a step forward, and the blade went even deeper.

"You dared to trespass into the Eastern Palace, armored and armed, so what if I killed you with my lone sword?"

He looked around, his gaze sweeping over the guards, eunuchs, and palace maids.

Everyone was shaking!

"I am the Crown Prince of Great Chu! The late Emperor's legitimate son! Who do you think you are?"

He kicked Xiao Yu in the back of the knee, and Xiao Yu fell to his knees with a thud.

The room was deathly silent.

No one dared to move.

Xiao Lie leaned on his sword, looking down at the kneeling prince. The wound on his chest had reopened, and blood was flowing down his clothes, but his back was as straight as a spear.

"Xiao Yu, listen carefully. What position of Crown Prince, what succession to the throne, I have no interest in them."

"Our Great Chu was founded on military might! During the reign of our late emperor, the four kingdoms submitted to us, and the northern barbarians of the grasslands dared not even look south!"

"And now? What have you beasts done to my Great Chu?"

"Even the northern barbarians can advance unimpeded; is this still the mighty Chu Dynasty?"

Xiao Lie flicked his wrist, and the sword slammed into Xiao Yu's face, knocking her to the ground. He then pulled Bi Su behind him.

"Don't be afraid."

Xiao Lie's voice suddenly softened.

"From today onwards, no one can bully you anymore."

He turned his head and looked at Xiao Yu, who was kneeling on the ground with a livid face.

"If you want my position as crown prince, you'll have to kneel and speak like this!"

Xiao Yu was knocked to the ground by the sword, his forehead hitting the gold brick, and blood flowed down.

He froze for a moment, then screamed like a pig being slaughtered.

"You...you dare to hurt me?"

"You'll regret this!"

"Your sword wounded prince, let's see how you explain this!"

Xiao Lie did not answer, but stared at him coldly, his eyes devoid of any emotion, like a mountain lord choosing its prey.

"Take your people away! My Crown Prince's Palace will not accept such filth!"

"As for an explanation, I will certainly satisfy you in court tomorrow!"