Transmigrating into a book to save her best friend, her sickly husband vies for her affections every

Zhao Siwei's gaze swept over the two of them. "So, the negotiations just won't work out?"

He looked at Zhang Zhan and said directly and decisively, "Then let's go see the Emperor now and let him give you justice."

This matter cannot be resolved by Zhang Zhan and Consort Xian themselves. If it is not handled properly today, it will definitely cause him to lose his appetite and sleep.

So, the simplest way is for him to personally expose Zhang Zhan's identity to his father!

If we don't live, then nobody lives!

Based on his understanding of his father, he was fine with these kinds of trivial family matters.

As soon as he finished speaking, Consort Xian was stunned. Zhang Zhan was also stunned.

"Are you crazy?" Consort Xian scolded Zhao Siwei. "Zhao Siwei, do you know what you're saying?"

They should have killed Zhang Zhan right here; that way, they wouldn't have had any worries later.

Zhao Siwei stared at Consort Xian, "Are you out of your mind? You hate that palace maid, no, you hate..."

He had no idea what the palace maid's name was, and he kept calling her "palace maid," which could easily cause trouble.

"You hate that aunt, but wasn't it Father who really did something wrong? If he didn't want to, could that aunt have forced him to do it?"

Both Consort Xian and Zhang Zhan were shocked by his words; Zhang Zhan even stopped crying.

Consort Xian was so angry she nearly fell backward, pointing at Zhao Siwei and yelling, "Your father is the Emperor, the Emperor enjoys the world, with three wives and four concubines—"

“That’s more like it,” Zhao Siwei interrupted Consort Xian before she could finish speaking. “Mother Consort is quite good at giving Father a way out. Since you think having three wives and four concubines is fine, then why are you so resentful? It’s just that you’re petty and narrow-minded; you won’t let the older wives off the hook, and you won’t let the younger ones off the hook either.”

"Do you even know what happened back then? How dare you talk to me like that!"

"You know what happened back then, that's enough. And Father, are you afraid that I'll take Zhang Zhan to him? Do you think that Father will protect Zhang Zhan out of pity for that aunt?"

Zhao Fucang will definitely protect Zhang Zhan; such an outstanding son has fallen from the sky, which is a great thing for him.

Zhao Siwei refuted Consort Xian, "If you don't know, and you don't say, or if you do say, you only say what you think the other party is wrong, then I won't hear the whole story, and no one will believe it."

Consort Xian wanted to pounce on Zhao Siwei right now, "It's because it's Zhang Zhan that you don't believe me!"

Zhao Siwei was very direct: "Yeah, what else?"

“You killed their grandparents. A life for a life. Zhang Zhan only wants you to disappear from the capital. What more do you want? Don’t tell me you’re some emperor’s favorite concubine. The emperor is subject to the same laws as the common people.”

Why kill Zhang Zhan's grandparents of all people?

"Then take him to your father." Consort Xian gritted her teeth. "With another obedient prince, your father might even consider it a New Year's gift from heaven. Besides, the two elders of the Zhang family are not her biological grandfather and grandmother."

The two elders in the Zhang family were not her biological grandfather and grandmother.

These words shattered Zhang Zhan's innate sense of wonder.

"Your grandfather is in the imperial mausoleum, and your grandmother is in the Cining Hall. You should understand this."

"Will His Majesty kill me? No, at most he'll reprimand me. After all, if something happens to me, Zhao Siwei, you'll lose face too. His Majesty also needs you to stand against the Crown Prince to maintain the balance of the court!"

"As for you, Zhang Zhan, if you want to live on as a prince, you either have to fawn over the Crown Prince, or you have to obediently listen to us, mother and son. I won't lose out. If you go to the Crown Prince, you'll never be able to hold your head up in the capital for the rest of your life."

"We, your mother and I, raised you and brought you up!"

"Zhang Zhan, without us, mother and son, you would have died long ago!"

"You want me dead—"

As Consort Xian spoke, she felt a chill on her neck as Zhao Siwei's dagger flew past.

Consort Xian was so frightened that she covered her neck and took several steps back. After confirming that her neck was not injured, she said in an extremely shrill voice, "Are you crazy? I am your mother!"

"I think you're the ones who's gone mad." Zhao Siwei looked around at the people that Consort Xian had brought from who-knows-where. "Who exactly will be your future master?"

Consort Xian was extremely disappointed in her son.

"Master? Everything you have now is thanks to my doting love. As for the rest, it's all thanks to this damned thing. Once it dies, it will all be yours."

Looking at his mother who was going crazy and his brother who was in a state of collapse, Zhao Siwei felt that it wasn't much better than his previous life. At least in his previous life, Consort Xian didn't cause him so much trouble, and Zhang Zhan could still say something to him, which made him so angry that he couldn't eat when he got back.

"Zhang Zhan," Zhao Siwei looked at Zhang Zhan, "you must have cried some water out of your brain, now think about what to do."

Zhang Zhan's hand, gripping Zhao Siwei's sleeve, fell, his resolve unwavering. "Either do as I initially suggested out of pity, or let me die here. Otherwise, I'll leave here alive today—"

"Stop talking nonsense." Zhao Siwei pulled him up. "Zhang Zhan, I'm on your side now. No matter what you do in the future, don't try anything dirty with me."

Zhang Zhan looked at him.

Zhao Siwei didn't care about anything else, "Can we settle our own scores? You and my mother can settle your own scores, I have no grudge against you!"

Consort Xian found her son amusing. "Each to their own opinion? Zhao Siwei thinks you're quite naive. You came from my womb, do you think Zhang Zhan will let you off the hook?"

"I'm not stupid," Zhang Zhan said.

Zhao Siwei's eyes were filled with anxiety.

Zhang Zhan, however, looked at Consort Xian.

"Does Your Majesty think I entered the palace unprepared and all alone? If I haven't left the palace within an hour, someone I arranged will go to the Three Departments to beat the drum, and my nominal father from the Marquis's mansion will also enter the palace immediately."

"And you, murdering a prince, do you think anyone can protect you? Zhao Siwei, you yourself said that his current arrogance stems from you, his mother who serves the emperor with her beauty, and my willingness to serve him faithfully!"

"Your son is a useless prince now."

Zhao Siwei snapped, "Don't curse everyone in one group when you're swearing!"

Seeing that Consort Xian was wavering, Zhang Zhan asked Zhao Siwei beside him, "Zhao Siwei, I'm going to see your father, do you want to come?"

Zhao Siwei nodded; he was now determined to stick close to Zhang Zhan.

Before this guy completely calms down, we absolutely cannot let anyone, or any words, cause him to oppose us.

He was truly wronged to die being chased and attacked like this his whole life!

He didn't do it!

He even saved Zhang Zhan's life today!

Why did things turn out this way?

It was only after this heavy snowfall, when Zhang Zhan volunteered to go to the disaster relief effort, that things started to change.

He had even prepared a memorial for disaster relief long ago, waiting to submit it in a few days. He would handle this task himself, not giving Zhang Zhan the opportunity. He would then have Tingyao keep an eye on Zhang Zhan's every move.

Once outside, Zhang Zhan grabbed Zhao Siwei and they started running.

"Why are you running! Slow down!"

Zhang Zhan didn't say anything, he just ran with all his might.

Zhao Siwei realized that this was not the way to his father's palace, but the way out of the palace.

What does this mean?

"Aren't you going to see Father?"

Why should you acknowledge a father like that? You can have him if you like!

Zhao Siwei remained silent.

When they could finally see the palace gates, Zhang Zhan stopped, panting heavily as he squatted on the ground. He moved his arm and said, "Let go, it's really going to break."

From the moment he started to run, Zhao Siwei kept holding onto his arm.

Zhao Siwei wouldn't let go, and Zhang Zhan, unable to bear it any longer, bit down hard.

Okay, it's loosened.

Zhang Zhan looked at his wrist, which had been pulled red, blew on it, and then looked at the person standing next to him who was facepalming. "Zhao Siwei, are you putting on a show for my mother?"

"Acting?" Zhao Siwei kicked him, sending Zhang Zhan sprawling into the snow. He then looked at him coldly. "If I kick you to death right now, it won't be acting anymore. Do you want to try?"

Zhang Zhan simply sat down on the ground, grabbed a handful of snow and covered the slightly sore spot on his wrist, then slowly asked, "Are you going to break ties with your mother?"

Zhao Siwei's mind was in turmoil. "I'll accompany you back to the Marquis's residence first."

"I can't walk anymore, let's rest for a while." Zhang Zhan refused. The palace gate was right in front of them, and Consort Xian would definitely not dare to do anything reckless.

Zhao Siwei: "What the hell are you doing? Aren't you cold?" He reached out and pulled the person up, lifting him up like a quail.

As they approached the palace gates, Zhao Siwei suddenly remembered something.

Did they forget to pick up the plaque for leaving the palace?

Zhang Zhan also remembered that she had intended to no longer associate with Consort Xian, which was why she returned it.

The two looked at each other.

Zhao Siwei took a half step back and raised his hand to urge him to go quickly, "Go ahead, you used to let me use the pass, and it was just normal entry and exit, wasn't it?"

Zhang Zhan shook his head. "That's because I bribed the gatekeepers. Otherwise, what do you think palace rules are made of?"

Silence, true silence, is not about making a scene, but about resisting the cold wind in the snow.

“Go back and look for it,” Zhang Zhan said.

There are many other ways to get out, but they all require getting involved with people who have sufficient authority.

Zhao Siwei refused.

If he leaves and comes back, things might have changed drastically. Who knows who might pop out of nowhere and whisper something in Zhang Zhan's ear.

Heaven knows what earth-shattering things Zhang Zhan might come up with when he thinks for himself.

“There’s another way to get out,” Zhao Siwei suddenly said.

There are secret passages in the palace; this is a royal secret, and Zhao Siwei, who has been emperor once, knows it very well.

There were few people on the palace road during the snowy night. Finally, Zhao Siwei stopped at an abandoned palace, climbed up, and pulled Zhang Zhan up with him.

Then they led him into the artificial rockery.

"Are you going to kill me?"

You stepped on my foot.

The sound gradually faded away.

Zhang Zhan could sense that he had entered a secret passage, but there was no light at all.

Zhao Siwei touched the wall; he had walked through this secret passage countless times, so he remembered it clearly. "Hold my clothes tighter."

Zhang Zhan had been holding on tightly, but still couldn't see clearly. He twisted his ankle a few times and asked, "Why do you know about places like this?"

"I only found out by running around, don't talk nonsense. If Father finds out, he'll depose you."

It was very quiet in the darkness.

Zhang Zhan finally had time to think.

What was he doing in the palace?

Is it to kill Consort Xian?

Maybe, but more likely it's to go find Zhao Siwei.

Zhang Ruizhe dared not believe either of Xianfei's words. After all, he genuinely thought that Zhao Siwei had made a mistake and believed that the two were half-brothers.

Today, not only did someone tell him that it was true, but so many other things happened that he couldn't quite accept it.

“There are steps,” Zhao Siwei said. “Lift your feet a little higher.”

Zhang Zhan felt a stinging sensation in the tip of his nose again.

He feels like he's about to break down.

He wanted to avenge his grandfather and grandmother.

But if he really kills Consort Xian, Zhao Siwei will turn against him, he definitely will.

Finally, it emerged from somewhere.

This is where vegetables are delivered to the imperial palace. It's a bit messy and quite far from the Marquis's residence. A secret passage, after all, needs to be hidden.

After climbing over the wall and going out the door, Zhao Siwei shook the dust off his cloak and put it on Zhang Zhan. "Let's go."

Zhang Zhan looked at the person walking ahead, but only stared at his back.

Zhao Siwei found it very strange, "What's wrong?"

Zhang Zhan stepped forward and then jumped onto his back.

"Are you crazy?" Zhao Siwei was scared half to death and almost fell down with him, but he managed to carry him on his back. Suddenly, he felt that Zhang Zhan seemed much lighter.

"I can't walk anymore," Zhang Zhan said. "My feet are uncomfortable."

It really feels uncomfortable.

Zhao Siwei pondered that Zhang Zhan had fallen several times while they were walking in the dark, so he must have been injured.

The snowstorm was still heavy, but it was much better in Beijing than in the outskirts.

The cloak was very thick; Zhang Zhan, lying on top of Zhao Siwei, gently lifted it to cover both of them.

"So, you broke off our friendship because you found out I'm your brother? Not because I refused to go to Yongzhou with you?"

“Yes.” Zhao Siwei had a headache. “Don’t even mention Yongzhou, that place is my bad luck.”

Zhang Zhan then asked, "Where's the money?"

"I spent it," Zhao Siwei said honestly.

Zhang Zhan said calmly, "You need to be honest and careful with every word you say right now, or I'll go back to sleep and all your work today will be for nothing." He really wanted to go against Zhao Siwei; whether he was angry or disgusted to death depended on his mood.

The threat worked. Zhao Siwei said, "If it hadn't been spent, would you still be asking me?" Zhang Zhan must have investigated.

Zhang Zhan didn't want to ask anymore and sighed.

Zhao Siwei suddenly laughed, "Can this matter be settled with money?"

Zhang Zhan: "You're overthinking it."

Zhao Siwei said, "Do you think I'd let you starve to death?"

"So what about money! The little bit of silver you get from the palace each month isn't even enough to buy food for Xiao Jiu!"

Zhao Siwei knew that money was a complicated matter, and if anything related to money came up later, Zhang Zhan would immediately suspect him.

"I had a dream where the God of Wealth told me that Yongzhou could make me rich. He mentioned several plots of land and business opportunities, so I invested all my money in it."

Zhang Zhan's voice rose considerably, "You poured three million taels of silver into it? Do you know how much can be accomplished with three million taels of silver?"

Zhao Siwei now wishes he could grow two hands to cover his ears.

But without any spare hands, Zhang Zhan could only call out in his ear.

"Zhao Siwei, Ninth Prince, this year the national treasury only received 12 million taels of silver, and you spent a quarter of it. Yongzhou's annual tax revenue is only 500,000 taels at most, and you, acting like a bodhisattva, have scattered 3 million taels into the treasury. Why don't you scatter 3 million taels into my house?"

Zhang Zhan poked his head. "You can fool ghosts, but don't fool people."

Zhao Siwei said, "Believe it or not, it's up to you. Just wait and see. By June next year, you'll be richer than you can believe."

Zhang Zhan spoke again, "Then why can't I find anything? I can't find out where even a single copper coin went."

Zhao Siwei remained silent for a moment.