Happy Spring Every Year

Chapter 162: Different Ways, Don’t Conspire with Each Other

Zhao Huaixiang entered the pavilion and saw Zhao Yuanye standing by the stone table. A gloomy look flashed across his eyes, but he could only pretend to be relaxed and said:

"It's open everywhere, everything is clear at a glance, there should be no ears or eyes."

Zhao Yuanye lowered his head and did not respond.

Zhao Huaixiang sighed lightly upon seeing this, walked over to sit opposite Zhao Yuanye, and softened his voice:

"If Ye'er wants to know something, it's okay to ask."

Zhao Yuanye finally raised his head after hearing this, his eyes red, and said in a trembling voice: "Uncle San, Ye'er only has one question, why do you do this?"

When Zhao Huaixiang saw the tears in Zhao Yuanye's eyes, his heart ached.

After all, he is still a child. Even though he is smart and thoughtful, even though he is braver than other children and has already participated in it, he still does not understand the cruelty of the times and human nature.

Since the child still called him "Third Uncle", he told him everything he knew and also let Ye'er know some principles that an upright person like Jiang Xun would not teach him.

Thinking of this, Zhao Huaixiang leaned forward slightly, placed his arms on the stone table, and said in a calm voice:

"Yer, after your father passed away, the Emperor once mentioned something in front of everyone, whether intentionally or unintentionally -

Of the three sons, the third one is the most like me."

"Your grandfather said this three times. The first time, your second uncle just listened and let it go. The second time, your second uncle took it to heart. The third time, your second uncle took it to heart."

"After that incident, something happened in Third Uncle's palace. A dishonest maid stole something. Fortunately, nothing serious happened in the end."

"Yer, do you understand?"

"It was your royal grandfather who pushed me, your third uncle, out and forced me to fight your second uncle."

"The things that happened in my mother's palace were done by the order of Concubine Shu, and the person who gave the order was none other than your second uncle."

"The reason nothing went wrong was because I intervened. But once I took action, it meant declaring war on your uncle. Once I started, there was no stopping..."

When Zhao Yuanye heard this, his eyes widened slightly.

Is it...Grandpa Emperor?

When Zhao Huaixiang saw Zhao Yuanye's expression, he knew that Jiang Xun had never told him these things.

He frowned slightly, and his eyes looked out and fell on Jiang Xun on the shore.

Jiang Xun was also looking over here, but he was a little far away and his expression could not be seen clearly.

At this moment, Zhao Huaixiang suddenly realized.

Jiang Xun asked Ye'er to wait here specifically so that he could... tell Ye'er the truth.

Whose words could be more convincing than his uncle, who is deeply involved in and suffers greatly from it?

In order to let Ye'er see the true face of his royal grandfather, Jiang Xun really had... good intentions, haha.

Zhao Yuanye seemed to have not yet reacted. He looked up in a daze and muttered, "Why...why do we have to kill each other? We are family."

When Zhao Huaixiang heard such innocent words, he felt bitter in his heart, but a hint of sarcasm appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"When your father was still alive, everything was naturally wonderful. Brothers were friendly and respectful, and their affection was deep."

"But--"

Zhao Huaixiang seemed to want to say something, but hesitated for a moment, licked his dry lips, and calmly changed the subject:

"But he passed away early, so your royal grandfather naturally racked his brains to train a crown prince as outstanding as your father."

"We're all human after all..."

"Even an emperor, how can he escape the human heart and human nature? He is just powerful. With just a wave of his hand, he can shake half the country and overturn the lives of countless people."

When Zhao Huaixiang said this, he looked far away, over the flying eaves of the pavilion, to the distant sky that was still covered with rosy clouds.

......

"Brother, you have to take care of yourself."

"What's wrong, Third Brother? Are you worried that I'll give up?"

"Yes, with my elder brother here to protect me from the wind and rain, I can be an idle and lazy prince."

"Okay, then, Big Brother, you must strive to live longer so that Third Brother can live a leisurely and carefree life every day. How's that?"

"not good."

"Ok?"

"Not just a little longer, but a long, long life, a hundred years!"

"Third brother is the one who knows how to talk. Fine, then I will live a long, long life, and let third brother live a carefree and carefree life!"

.......

The past seemed like yesterday, Zhao Huaixiang only felt a dense heat climbing up to the tip of his nose. At this moment, he felt as if his heart was hollowed out.

He covered his long eyelashes, calmed down for a long time, and then said:

"Yer, I'm not saying this to excuse myself, and I don't need to. In the royal family, 'not fighting' is a luxury."

"My third uncle has no power, my mother is just a maid, and your third aunt's family is also ordinary. I have no chance of winning."

"I know my own limitations and have no intention of fighting. I just want to live my own life. But your grandfather is unwilling to let me go. He insists on forcing me!"

"Since I'm going to fight, I have to do my best. Otherwise, if I lose and my mother, wife, and daughter are affected, I will hate myself for not giving my all for the sake of my so-called conscience."

"So, I can only do my best, no matter how dirty the means, as long as they can help me achieve my goal, I will accept them!"

"Of course, after walking the night road so many times, I have already prepared myself for a complete defeat and a complete death."

"I just didn't expect that today would end so peacefully..."

Having said this, Zhao Huaixiang's voice gradually became lower and lower until he fell silent.

At this moment, he was extremely grateful that all his plans for the flower viewing banquet had failed, otherwise today, he, Ye'er, and Jiang Xun would have been at war to the death.

Zhao Huaixiang was lost in thought when Zhao Yuanye opposite him shook his head.

Although it is still a childish face, it no longer has any of the innocence that a child should have.

His expression was so heavy as he said, "It seems that Third Uncle really has no choice, but Third Uncle is also truly cruel and despicable."

"With the loss of our father, my mother and I were already weak. Furthermore, we have never had any grudges against our Third Uncle. We can even say that we have a deep affection for him."

"If Third Uncle wants to fight, why does he have to attack Mother?"

"It's simply because Second Uncle is too powerful to be shaken, and Mother and I are weaklings, like fish on a chopping board. That's why Third Uncle deceives and exploits us wantonly, and abandons us when necessary!"

"From Third Uncle's perspective, this is called making the best use of resources, and giving up something to gain something. But from my perspective and that of my mother, Third Uncle's evil behavior is like stabbing us in the back!"

Zhao Yuanye had already held back the tears in his eyes. He slowly shook his head and took two steps back, trying to distance himself from Zhao Huaixiang, as if he was also severing their own relationship.

"In a difficult situation, it's hard to be independent. You can use strategies, take advantage of situations, and even harbor selfish desires, but you must not lose your bottom line. You must stick to it and not abandon it. Otherwise—you'll be no different from an animal!"

"This is the principle Mr. Jiang taught me, and Ye'er agrees with it."

"I took advantage of Third Uncle's mother today. Ye'er feels guilty, but Concubine Chun has gotten what she asked for."

"If we don't share the same ideals, we can't work together. From now on, Prince Xiang, please take care of yourself!"

After Zhao Yuanye said this, he turned around and left, fearing that Zhao Huaixiang would see his tears flowing.

Over the years, his third uncle was like his second father. He had poured countless affection into him, but now all he got in return was the cold words "Prince Xiang".

That's it, that's it.

Zhao Yuanye's tears were streaming down his face, and the only thing left in his sight was a tall figure standing on the shore.

At this moment, Zhao Huaixiang's trembling voice sounded behind him: "In this case, just one sentence, be careful of the Minister of Personnel."

Zhao Yuanye paused for a moment, then left without looking back.

Zhao Huaixiang stood by the pavilion, feeling bitter and aching in his heart. He saw Zhao Yuanye running towards Jiang Xun in a panic.

Jiang Xun seemed to hesitate for a moment, but he still squatted down and opened his arms to the little person running towards him.

As the lights and shadows flashed before his eyes, Zhao Huaixiang remembered that his elder brother had also walked towards Jiang Xun so eagerly, shouting:

"Xiuzhi, I've been waiting for you!"

Little Ye'er has already seen the appearance of his old friend.

And Jiang Xun really lived up to expectations and taught Ye'er very well.