Xiao Yun had maintained a strategy of responding to every change with no change since his identity was restored.
It wasn't that he hadn't done anything.
Previously, believing he wouldn't live past twenty-five due to a curse, he had adopted a somewhat reckless attitude. His actions were often unreliable, and in the eyes of the world, he was merely a spendthrift prodigal son. Even when serving in various government departments, he was inconsistent, treating it as a pastime, doing as he pleased.
After the curse was completely lifted and his identity restored, his ambition resurfaced.
Even if he didn't contend for the throne, he still had a wife and children to support. He could no longer be idle and go through the motions.
Thus, he began to show a determined effort to improve.
The court officials observed this with great praise.
"This is the demeanor of a legitimate eldest son!"
However, this was particularly grating to the Crown Prince.
In his view, Xiao Yun was deliberately putting on a show for the Emperor and deliberately challenging him, the Crown Prince.
Although Consort Wei had advised him to lie low, he had never been one to do so. From dealing with the Second Prince, he had always taken the initiative. How could he tolerate being "provoked daily" by others without taking any action himself?
Wasn't that admitting defeat?
The Crown Prince sighed for several consecutive days, his smile seemingly vanished. Lu Peishan, seeing this, proactively offered him advice.
"First, we must quickly gain the support of Prince Xin of the Eastern Ling Kingdom. As for Prince Yue... once Princess Mu Jin returns to her residence, I will employ a small stratagem to ensure Your Highness wins the beauty's heart."
The Crown Prince's face still showed signs of fatigue: "But Little Seven..."
Little Seven was merely missing, neither seen alive nor found dead.
The Emperor had already dispatched people to search everywhere. It would be best if he were dead. If he were alive, not only would Princess Mu Jin be out of reach, but the assassination attempt might also be exposed.
Lu Peishan smiled slightly: "Your Highness misunderstands. The primary reason you wish to eliminate Prince Yue is his subtle intention to seize the throne and his continuous rise in power. However, now that the eldest prince has returned, Prince Yue is no longer worth mentioning. Whether he is missing or alive has no impact on the overall situation. As long as Princess Mu Jin returns to the capital, even if she is still Prince Yue's fiancée, I will find a way to prevent her from becoming Prince Yue's consort."
Only then did the Crown Prince's face show joy, and his mind cleared, giving him an idea.
"My father detests the Wei family, and my mother is out of favor. I am also suspected by my father. If I can find Little Seven at this time, who would suspect that I was the one who sent people to pursue and kill Little Seven?"
Lu Peishan praised: "Your Highness is wise."
Once Princess Mu Jin entered the Eastern Palace, Prince Xin, the Yun family, and even the entire Eastern Ling Kingdom would become powerful backing for the Crown Prince.
This was the first point.
"Second, we must eliminate Prince Ding'an," Lu Peishan continued.
Wasn't that stating the obvious?
The Crown Prince cast a displeased glance at her.
She said: "Eliminating him does not mean killing him, but rather making him gradually disliked by the Emperor. The Emperor most despises fratricide and the disregard for brotherhood. As long as Prince Ding'an becomes such a person in the Emperor's eyes, he will no longer pose any threat to Your Highness."
"Do you have a way?"
Wang Qingyao guarded the Eastern Palace fiercely and had long declared she would never go to the Eastern Palace again.
Even Lu Peishan herself felt too embarrassed to invite Wang Qingyao to the Eastern Palace anymore.
Prince Ding'an had always been in lockstep with his princess. If his princess didn't come to the Eastern Palace, he wouldn't either. Just as his princess guarded against everyone in the Eastern Palace, he guarded against everyone in the Eastern Palace.
Moreover, now that he had regained his identity as the eldest prince, he was even more vigilant.
It was difficult to act.
The Crown Prince himself had not come up with any good ideas.
Lu Peishan smiled: "It's all baseless speculation, why take it seriously? Your Highness's own brother is readily available. What kind of fratricidal incident occurred ultimately depends on Your Highness's performance."
The Crown Prince's eyes lit up; he understood.
He took Lu Peishan's hand and said gently: "Crown Princess, you are truly my wise helper. If I ascend the throne in the future, you will surely be honored as Empress, ruling the world."
Lu Peishan showed a touched expression.
At the same time, far away in Prince Ding'an's residence, Ling Yun sneezed several times: "Is someone thinking of me?"
Wang Qingyao: "Calculating, more like."
As a result, Ling Yun caught a cold.
It was likely due to his exhaustion from working day and night, forgetting to eat and sleep.
Wang Qingyao, a modern person, never took colds seriously.
However, upon hearing this in the palace, there was a great commotion.
The Emperor sent all the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital to treat Ling Yun, making a fuss over a minor ailment, and finally prescribed a remedy for a common cold.
The Empress Dowager bestowed precious medicinal herbs such as ginseng, deer antler, and snow lotus, as if Ling Yun were suffering from a terminal illness.
The Crown Prince, to show his brotherly affection, personally came to visit Ling Yun, but he was very cautious and did not bring any food.
After the Crown Prince returned, he fell ill the next day, with a severe onset, much worse than Ling Yun's condition.
Just when everyone thought the Crown Prince had been infected by Prince Ding'an, the Crown Prince became so ill that he could not get out of bed. Within a few days, news of his critical condition spread.
All the physicians from the Imperial Hospital, from top to bottom, examined him but were helpless.
Logically, a common cold should not be so severe. Prince Ding'an had already recovered, and the Crown Prince had drunk several pots of medicine, yet there was no improvement.
No one knew the cause of the illness.
In despair, the Crown Princess invited a high monk from the Grand State Temple to examine the feng shui.