After saying those words, Xu Yang does not show anger.
He becomes quieter.
More calculating.
Jing Mo asks carefully,
"Your Highness… what war?"
Xu Yang answers calmly:
"A war without swords."
This is father vs son.
Zhou ye stood near the lotus pond, her fingers slightly trembling.
"This is wrong…" she thought.
In the original story, xu yang was going to kill me on the wedding night has changed, and I had never written any character like jing yen, everything is changing itself because I saved myself and He wanted to trap me in the trap of his love but it did not happen. Who wants to kill him with slow poison? Everyone has enmity with me and not him.It could also be that the poison was meant for me and not for him.
Song lan smiled. " Princess what are you doing here".
"Noting song lan .I was just thinking about who gave him poison."
She lowered her voice, making sure no one else could hear.
"You follow the minister," she said softly, her gaze never leaving the distant figure. "And keep an eye on him. Do not let him notice you."
There was no fear in her tone — only quiet authority.
Song lan blinked in surprise for a brief moment. Princess, do you doubt the minister wen that he give poison to xu yang?
"Yes, princess I will keep an eye on him.
I have to leave from here, I also have to give medicine to xu yang.
But inside Xu Yang's chamber, everything was quiet.
Zhou ye stood near the table, grinding herbs carefully. The soft sound filled the silence.
Xu Yang was sitting by the window. His face was calm, but his body was still weak from the poison. He hated showing weakness. Especially in front of others.
But in front of her, he did not hide it.
"Drink this," she said, handing him the medicine.
He looked at the bowl and then at her. "You always give orders now?"
She raised an eyebrow. "If you do not drink it, I will force you."
A faint smile appeared on his lips. "You are brave."
"I am practical," she replied.
He drank the medicine slowly. Their eyes met for a moment, and something unspoken passed between them.
Soft.
Quiet.
The silence between them did not feel uncomfortable.
It felt dangerous.
Zhou Ye slowly took the empty bowl from his hand.
"You should rest," she said calmly.
Xu Yang did not move.
Instead, he asked quietly,
"If I die… what would you do?"
Her fingers froze.
Why would he ask that?
She forced a light tone.
"You will not die. I will not allow it."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"Not allow?"
She met his gaze.
"Yes."
For a moment, something intense passed between them.
Outside, Minister Wen watched the palace from afar.
A faint smile rested on his lips.
"The poison failed," his assistant whispered.
Minister Wen shook his head slightly.
"No."
"It succeeded."
The assistant looked confused.
"Your goal was not to kill the Prince?"
Minister Wen's eyes narrowed.
"I only wished to see…"
"Whom he would choose to protect."
He looked toward the inner palace.
"And now I have my answer."
Zhou ye sat beneath the lantern light, her brows slightly furrowed.
Song Lan stood beside her, adjusting the edge of her cloak carefully.
"You didn't eat properly today," he said softly. "You should take care of yourself."
His voice was gentle.
Familiar.
Comforting.
Jing Yen watched from the stone pathway.
His expression darkened.
When did Song Lan start standing so close?
When did she begin listening to him so carefully?
Jing Yen stepped forward.
"You treat your servant quite generously," he said lightly.
Zhou ye looked up. "Song Lan has been with me since childhood."
"That doesn't change his position."
Song Lan did not react.
He simply stepped slightly in front of her.
A subtle movement.
But protective.
Jing Yen noticed.
And it irritated him.
"A servant should know his limits," Jing Yen said calmly.
Song Lan finally lifted his eyes.
"My limit," he replied quietly,
"is wherever her safety ends."
Silence.
The air grew tense.
zhou ye felt it clearly now.
This wasn't about status.
This wasn't about manners.
It was jealousy.
Jing Yen smiled faintly.
"You speak boldly for someone without power."
Song Lan didn't smile.
"I do not need power," he said calmly.
"I only need loyalty."
Zhou ye heart softened.
This wasn't how the story was supposed to go.
Song Lan was meant to stay in the background.
Invisible.
Yet now—
He stood firmly at her side.
Unshaken.
Jing Yen turned to her.
"You trust him more than anyone, don't you?"
She hesitated.
"Yes."
The single word hit harder than any sword.
Jing Yen's jaw tightened.
In that moment—
The silent war shifted.
Not in the court.
Not between kingdoms.
But here.
Between pride and devotion.
Then,Inside his chamber, Xu Yang sat before the desk.
The candlelight made his expression unreadable.
He dipped the brush in ink.
He began to write.
"To His Majesty, my father,"
"You need not test my strength through others."
The brush did not tremble.
"If you wish to evaluate your son, you may do so directly."
He paused.
His eyes darkened slightly.
"Then, He write the dangerous line"
"The Third Princess remains under my protection."
"The great hall of the palace was silent.
Golden pillars stood tall beneath the dim lantern light.
The Emperor sat alone at the dragon-carved desk.
A sealed letter lay before him.
From Gusu.
From Xu Yang.
He broke the seal slowly.
Unhurried.
His expression unreadable.
He read the letter once.
Then again.
When his eyes reached the line—
"The Third Princess remains under my protection. Any action taken against her will be considered an action against me."
The air in the hall seemed to grow heavier.
So.
His son had finally spoken openly.
Not as a child.
Not as a prince seeking approval.
But as a man drawing boundaries.
The Emperor leaned back slowly.
A faint smile appeared.
Not warm.
Not angry.
Interested.
"He has grown," he murmured softly.
A shadow moved beside the throne.
A senior minister bowed.
"Your Majesty… shall we restrain the Third Princess?"
The Emperor tapped his fingers lightly on the desk.
"No."
His voice was calm.
"If I touch her now…"
"He will rebel openly."
He folded the letter carefully.
"My son believes he is protecting her."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"But he does not yet understand."
"In this palace, protection is weakness."
The minister hesitated.
"Then what shall we do, Your Majesty?"
The Emperor stood up slowly.
His robe brushed against the cold marble floor.
"Send no threats."
"Send no orders."
"Let Gusu remain peaceful."
The minister looked confused.
"Peaceful…?"
The Emperor's lips curved slightly.
"Pressure does not break strong steel."
"Time does."
He walked toward the open window.
The night wind moved the curtains gently.
"He thinks he has chosen differently."
"But every ruler must face the same question."
The Emperor's voice lowered.
"When the throne demands sacrifice…"
"Will he still hesitate?"
Silence filled the hall.
Then he gave one final command.
"Inform Minister Wen."
"Observe only."
"If the Prince grows softer…"
"Report it."
His eyes sharpened.
"And if necessary…"
"We will create a situation where he must choose."
The candle flames flickered violently.
Far away in Gusu—
Xu Yang stood beneath the same moon.
Unaware that his father had not been angered.
Only patient.