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

Zhang Zhan patted his shoulder, startled by his serious expression, and told him not to be nervous. He joked, "I was just kidding. She probably wants to save her grandmother, so she's approaching you so she can go to Zhongyou Ridge."

Otherwise, he wouldn't have thought of anything about Tingyao that would make her want to get close to Zhao Siwei.

Why would Ji Tingyao, a girl with no power or influence, try to compete with Xu Tutu for the man she loves?

Is he courting death?

He was curious about Zhao Siwei's perspective on this deliberate approach, but dared not ask.

Zhao Siwei's concern for Ji Tingyao made him feel that if he really said something that upset Ji Tingyao, Zhao Siwei might actually slap him.

Zhao Siwei suddenly asked, "Have you investigated Tingyao?"

“Nonsense,” Zhang Zhan said.

This kind of person who suddenly appeared out of nowhere and captivated Zhao Siwei so completely, how could he not be curious, how could he not investigate him thoroughly?

If we let it go unchecked, who knows what kind of huge mess it might cause.

Zhao Siwei asked, "What about what we found?"

Zhang Zhan nodded, indicating that it was here.

However, I was also a little curious.

It turns out that Zhao Siwei did not completely trust Ji Tingyao.

Zhao Siwei raised his chin, indicating that he wanted to tell him.

Zhang Zhan shrugged.

"There's not much to say. My mother died early, and I lived with my grandmother. Once, when I went to the Meng family with Grandma Ji, I helped Meng** out, and we became good friends. Meng** is simple-minded; you should know that better than I do."

"Then, thanks to Meng**, he could come and go at certain banquets in the capital. As for him, he was very low-key and didn't have any dealings with anyone. As for his marriage, no one asked about it."

Zhao Siwei rolled his eyes at him.

What's the big deal? You can find out by asking anyone.

Zhang Zhan said, "But I think this person is not simple."

Zhang Zhan looked at Tingyao with an indifferent gaze, "After all, she is Ji Anzhi's older sister, and she is not bad-looking. She is also the eldest daughter of the legitimate wife. How could no one be interested in her? She must know her place."

He summarized his opinion of Ji Tingyao as, "She is a person with her own ideas."

Then, Zhang Zhan looked at Zhao Siwei and said, "And then, I took a liking to you. As for how the two of you fell for each other, I'm very curious."

Zhao Siwei began to ponder.

This is nothing like the Tingyao he remembers.

In his previous life, he did meet Tingyao because of Meng**, but from the first meeting, Tingyao gave him the impression that she was trying hard to get along with the people around her.

According to Zhang Zhan's intelligence, Ting Yao would never do something like killing him.

At that time, he was already a prince who had lost everything.

Tingyao approaching him at this time will not end well; she might even end up hurting herself.

What exactly made Tingyao choose him regardless of everything?

Zhao Siwei looked at the two chattering figures, then turned and left.

Zhang Zhan hesitated between Zhao Siwei and Ting Yao for a moment before stepping forward.

"Your Highness has other matters to attend to, so I will escort you both back."

Tingyao was a little intimidated by Zhang Zhan now, who was now Zhao Siwei's beloved younger brother and the one he always doted on.

"We've arrived, it's just a few steps away, so there's no need for Young Master Zhang to trouble himself."

Meng** also said, "Yes, we won't trouble Prince Zhang. We can walk by ourselves. Men and women shouldn't touch each other. Please stay away from us." She pulled Tingyao back a few steps.

Zhang Zhan's eyes were filled with a helpless smile.

He sensed that these two were now very afraid of him.

Previously, they had always been very respectful and polite to him.

"Then I won't see you off," Zhang Zhan said, not insisting.

Tingyao was taken away by Meng**, who whispered, "Have you changed too much? Are you playing hard to get?"

If this were the Meng** of the past, he would have jumped up immediately upon hearing Zhang Zhan say those words.

"What nonsense! This person is best admired from afar, not touched. I've already made a fool of myself once, do you think I'll make a second?" Meng** was furious. "But what about you? What exactly is your relationship with Zhao Siwei?"

Tingyao, without batting an eye, gave her explanation: "Isn't there a problem with the plot? So, with Zhong Youling's help, I managed to get noticed by the Ninth Prince."

Tingyao always felt that if things continued like this, Meng** herself would be able to guess what might have happened.

What will we do then?

"Tell me, what's Zhong Youling's relationship with Zhao Siwei?" Meng** had no idea what her best friend was thinking.

She stroked her chin, pondered for a moment, and then said, "The book says that Zhao Siwei's love for Xu Tutu was as deep as the sea, and that he was devoted to her for life. But it seems to me that Zhao Siwei treats everyone else better than he treats Xu Tutu."

That's really strange.

That's really scary.

Tingyao quickly covered her mouth, "I'm begging you, please shut up, or it'll cause a huge mess if they hear us again!"

She looked around, afraid that Zhang Zhan would hear her, but thankfully Zhang Zhan had already left.

Meng** snorted.

Then suddenly he asked, "So what do you think will happen after this winter hunt?"

"I don't know."

Tingyao is very honest. Everything that is happening now is vastly different from the original story. We should let things settle down for a while and then see how things go.

However, if Zhao Fucang had not been assassinated, the story would have been prolonged.

If he weren't dying, the conflict and strife over the succession wouldn't have intensified.

In retrospect, this is actually more terrifying than Zhang Zhan not becoming a prince.

Even if Zhang Zhancheng were not a prince, he could still interfere in the struggle for the throne.

Unless he ascends the throne himself and survives, everything is uncertain.

"Should we intervene?" Meng suddenly asked.

Tingyao: "How do you want to intervene?"

Meng** puffed out her cheeks and thought for a while before slowly saying, "It's nothing more than two lines: interfering with the male lead's romantic relationship, for example, making some progress between him and Xu Tutu."

"Secondly, intervene in the career path..."

Tingyao is waiting for her, for example.

At this point, the career path leads to Zhao Fucang's downfall.

But it's too difficult now.

This is an assassination attempt, and it will result in the extermination of nine generations of the family.

"Alright, since we're already here, let's have some fun," Tingyao said.

God knows what the next winter hunt will be like.

Meng** agreed wholeheartedly, nodding in agreement. "How about we go horseback riding tomorrow?"

“Okay.” Tingyao nodded.

Meanwhile, Zhang Zhan caught up with Zhao Siwei, who was lost in thought by the lake.

Zhao Siwei watched him run down the slope, "The ghost is chasing you, slow down!"

It's like a dream. In his past life, Zhang Zhan would have ignored him by this time. It seems that it was all just delay and disdain.

Zhang Zhan was in a good mood. "What's wrong?"

He picked up a stone from the ground and skipped it across the water.

Zhao Siwei was amused to see that he seemed to have a lot of leisure and refined tastes.

"Where did you get the leisure to play around like this? Even the Empress Yan has slapped you in the face!"

"What can His Majesty do if he doesn't believe her?" Zhang Zhan squatted by the lake, picking up stones and playing with them in his hands. "Just how beautiful is my mother? How could I have disgraced her?"

"If it's not shameful, do you think you're big?" Zhao Siwei glanced at him.

He still remembered that portrait.

He couldn't predict Zhang Zhan's expression, and he suspected that the painter had taken money.

Zhang Zhan swung his sword towards the lake, then called out to Zhao Siwei, "Do you think the Crown Prince knows about this? If he doesn't, I might as well go and spread rumors."

Zhao Siwei remembered what Tingyao had said before.

An exceptional mindset.

It seemed like a satire of him, but now it's very useful when applied to Zhang Zhan.

"Just pray that Empress Yan won't speak recklessly."

"It's not my bad luck to talk nonsense. If it really comes to light and someone who knows the truth from back then is still alive, wouldn't that make enemies for his son? At that point, it won't be about whether I want to be your brother or not; it'll be about the whole situation giving me a wave of wealth."

"So, what are you really thinking right now?"

Zhao Siwei chuckled.

Zhang Zhan said, "Why don't you give it a try?"

He really couldn't stand Zhao Siwei's muddled and confused state anymore.

He's always hiding his true abilities; he's clearly an incredibly capable prince.

"Otherwise, I will definitely be killed in the future. Empress Yan will not let me live. I dare not ask for any title in the Marquis's mansion. But I can persuade my father to support you. What do you say?"

Zhao Siwei remained silent.

It's not time to make a statement yet.

"If you don't go to the throne, you'll have nowhere to go now. What is the Crown Prince anyway?"

Zhao Siwei told him what it was about: "The Crown Prince has the Yan family behind him."

"The Bai family isn't weak either, is it?" Zhang Zhan chuckled, squatting by the lake to watch Zhao Siwei. "Or perhaps you should marry Meng**. You need a good in-law to help you out right now. Otherwise, you could marry my sister from the Marquis's mansion."

Zhao Siwei said bluntly, "I think you don't want me to fight for it at all, you want me to be made a king, right?"

Zhang Zhan didn't hide his thoughts even after they were exposed.

If Zhao Siwei doesn't want to seize the throne right now, the best way to protect himself is to be granted the title of king.

“Zhao Sicong is the Crown Prince, and you are a prince. Although you are brothers, his status is far higher than yours. But if you are granted the title of Prince, you will be on equal footing.”

However, the requirement for being granted the title of king was that one must get married before one could move out of the palace.

Therefore, Zhao Siwei was able to get married.

Moreover, Zhao Fucang had already been selecting concubines for him.

It was only because a series of things happened that it was delayed.

"It's not good for you to be constantly running into your mother in the palace..."

Zhang Zhan spoke very softly.

Seeing the look in Zhao Siwei's eyes, she said, "Do you still expect me to get along with her? It's impossible."

If Ji Tingyao hadn't sent a message to Zhong Youling, he would now be holding two memorial tablets and calling them his grandparents!

"Do you really think I can make peace with her?"

"I'm not crazy." Zhao Siwei couldn't bring himself to do something that would provoke Zhang Zhan into betraying him.

"What's the rush? This is nothing. Think long-term."

Zhang Zhan: ...

Aren't you panicking yet?

He's truly a Buddha, incredibly so.

"Then what are you waiting for?"

"Waiting to choose a concubine."

Zhang Zhan was speechless for a long time, then said, "Then you should go and beg your mother."

Zhao Siwei: "You'll be following me these next few days."

They were afraid of what Empress Yan might do.

They heard a sound and both looked up.

Prince Fan.

How could it be this bastard?

Zhang Zhan immediately recalled that dream and took two steps back.

Zhao Siwei's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he stepped forward, a forced smile on his face. "Uncle Wang, what brings you here?"

In his past life, he was genuinely grateful to King Fan, but what a scoundrel he was afterward!

“I came here because the scenery was nice,” said Fan Wang. “You and Zhang Zhan have a really good relationship. You even asked me to get a higher official position for you.”

His gaze fell on Zhao Siwei and Zhang Zhan's heads in turn. "Young Master Zhang is quite disrespectful to me. Have I offended you in any way?"

Zhao Siwei stepped forward, blocking his gaze from Zhang Zhan.

"I don't understand what Uncle Wang is saying. Zhang Zhan was a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in two examinations, but he has never been granted an official position. He deserves the credit for his meritorious service in this disaster relief effort."

Zhang Zhan was the runner-up.

He did not take a position in the Hanlin Academy because he did not want to offend the Crown Prince.

However, the Emperor had promised back then that he would definitely give Zhang Zhan an official position in the future.

He was merely reminding Jianwang's father.

Zhao Siwei countered, "What, did Zhang Zhan offend Uncle Wang somehow? I don't think so."

"Siwei, do you know what you lack most right now?"

Zhao Siwei pretended not to understand and chuckled.

"I'm so sleepy, I'm really tired lately, I'm going back to sleep now, Uncle Wang, you can enjoy the scenery by yourself."

As he spoke, he called out Zhang Zhan's name.

"I've heard of Prince Zhang—"

“It’s all hearsay, it’s all false,” Zhao Siwei interrupted Prince Fan.

Zhang Zhan followed, and he felt that even a glance at Prince Fan was disgusting.

"Do you think Prince Fan knows who I am?" Zhang Zhan suddenly asked.

"How would I know?" Zhao Siwei paused, "Why doesn't Prince Fan have any children?"

"You're asking me? I'd ask a ghost! I have no interest in investigating his affairs. Do as you please, I'm going back."

Zhao Siwei: "Father trusts Prince Fan a lot. If he entrusts Prince Fan to investigate you, this matter will be difficult to handle."

Zhang Zhan: ...

"Don't scare me."

Zhao Siwei: "I just thought about it and there might be such a possibility, but would Father Emperor be that stupid? Do you have any birthmarks or anything like that?"

“No,” Zhang Zhan said.

Zhao Siwei: "Do you want to be a prince?"

Zhang Zhan hadn't expected him to suddenly say that.

"I have no idea," Zhang Zhan said decisively. "What, do you think I'll become a threat to you?"

Zhao Siwei looked at him and said, "If you want to be emperor, I can help you."

Zhang Zhan was stunned.

Zhao Siwei: "Seriously, you can think about it."

Zhang Zhan: "I'm going crazy. What's so great about being a prince? If you're lucky, you get a fiefdom; if you're unlucky, you die in the capital."

"You already know, yet you still try to persuade me."

The two stopped talking.

When will my aunt be back?

Zhang Zhan: "She'll say in the next couple of days that what she has is quite frightening. I just don't know how His Majesty will react if we tell her directly."

"It wasn't Duke Xu who did it after all."

Zhang Zhan: "If you want, there are plenty of ways."

Zhao Siwei: 'The Duke of Xu is not a bad person.'

Zhang Zhan: "Then you can't be a good person."

Zhao Siwei did not leave, nor was there anywhere for him to leave.

They either go outside to get some cold air, or sit here, or go inside and bother Old Mrs. Zhang and Old Mr. Zhang.

Zhao Siwei was also exhausted, and leaned against the bedside with his eyes closed. After a long time, Zhang Zhan came closer, and Zhao Siwei could be felt trembling.