He said, "Do you know why Father, the Emperor, cares about you the least? In fact, he's deceiving everyone. The person he cares about the most is you, my dear imperial younger brother. Do you know where all those eunuchs and palace maids who bullied you in everyday life went? Let me tell you, I've sent them out of the palace. It was all a deception, they were all killed by Father. I was just stealing credit, making everyone think that with me protecting you, no one could bully you. When Father finishes removing all the thorns for you, what's left will be the advantage of the fisherman. You certainly wouldn't want me to die. When Father dies, I'll be able to seize your throne and then kill you."

Tang Lin took a sip of wine and continued, "But now, I don't want to anymore. I don't want to compete with you for the throne. If you want it, I'll help you ascend to the throne. And then, no one will dare to bully you except me. Yu'er, I'll give you everything you desire, even if you want my life. Yu'er, I like you. Will you be mine?"

Tang Lin said as he wrapped his arm around Tang Yu's waist, affectionately kissing his cheek. Before Tang Yu could react, Tang Lin, as if he had succeeded in his plan, suddenly pushed Tang Yu down to the ground and aggressively sucked on his neck, while also unbuttoning his clothes.

Tang Yu, who was not only slow to react but also a beat behind, finally remembered to push Tang Lin away. However, his strength was no match for Tang Lin's, so all he could do was shout loudly. The passing old emperor saw this and immediately ordered someone to separate the two of them, protecting the frightened Tang Yu. He slapped Tang Lin across the face, causing half of his face to swell up instantly. He also sobered up a bit from the alcohol. "Father Emperor? What are you doing here?"

"Unfilial son, Yuer is your own younger brother!" The old emperor's face turned red with anger, exuding an air of frustration. He had always witnessed Tang Ling treating Tang Yu especially well and mistakenly believed that they shared a deep brotherly bond. However, he never expected that Tang Ling would be the one to come up with this idea against Tang Yu.

At this moment, Tang Lin's gaze finally fell on Tang Yu, who was standing behind the old emperor. Tang Yu's clothes were disheveled, his face filled with a frightened expression. The look in his eyes towards Tang Lin was no longer as affectionate as before, but rather, filled with fear.

"Father, I was just drunk. Yuer, Brother Ling always dotes on you the most. You must believe in Brother Ling!" Tang Ling anxiously defended himself. He wasn't afraid of the Emperor accusing him; he was only afraid that Tang Yu would never speak to him again after this.

"Unfilial child, you still dare to argue. If I hadn't arrived on time today, Yuer... How could I give birth to a son like you? You wretched creature!" The old emperor was clearly infuriated, pointing at Tang Ling and scolding him harshly, causing Tang Yu to feel somewhat remorseful.

"Father, I'm fine. Please don't punish the Second Crown Prince," Tang Yu tugged at the sleeves of the Emperor's robe, rubbing them and nodding as he spoke. His round, shining eyes looked sincerely at the Emperor. Tang Lin watched Tang Yu's astonished expression, realizing that Yu'er no longer called him Brother Lin. In that moment, he truly felt that Tang Yu would never forgive him."

The old emperor glanced at Tang Lin, who was kneeling on the ground, and then looked at Tang Yu. He shook his sleeves, took Tang Yu's hand, and left. Tang Yu turned back and glanced at Tang Lin. The Tang Lin who used to seek revenge for even a slight grievance seemed to have no resentment at this moment. Instead, Tang Yu detected a hint of reluctance. He smiled as he watched Tang Yu, who was gradually moving away from him. At that moment, Tang Yu felt some regret. If he hadn't shouted loudly, would his father have not come? Although the old emperor did not punish his second elder brother at the moment, Tang Yu knew that this matter would not end so easily.

Sure! Here's the translation: "Sure enough, everyone present that day disappeared, including Tang Yu's second older brother, Tang Ling, whom he thought loved him the most. They never appeared again. Tang Yu speculated that they had all died. It was said that on that day, someone accidentally broke the emperor's favorite vase. In his anger, the emperor placed the blame on everyone in the palace, including the thirty-two eunuchs and palace maids who were present that day, neither more nor less."

As for Tang Lin, maybe he was secretly executed, maybe he was imprisoned. In any case, after that day, he never saw Tang Lin again. It was then that he realized just how much the old emperor cherished him.

"Where is Yu'er?" In contrast to Tang Yu's current disappointment, Song Jiang seemed rather cheerful. This morning, he had ruthlessly dealt with Prime Minister Xuan Tianxin, significantly weakening his military authority. Immediately after the court session, he came straight to the Qingfeng Pavilion.

"Yugongzi… he's inside," Shun Gonggong said, trembling. This was the first time he had felt death so close. If His Majesty were to see Yugongzi's current appearance, Shun Gonggong wasn't sure he would survive for much longer.

Song Jiang carefully examined the kneeling Shun Gonggong and suddenly felt something was amiss. He hastily rushed into the room, only to find Tang Yu's condition worse than he had imagined. Song Jiang waved his hand, signaling for someone to close the door, and slowly approached him. "Yu'er, the ground is cold. Let me help you up."

However, before the hand could touch Tang Yu, he heard his hoarse voice saying, "Don't touch me."

At this moment, Song Jiang naturally went along with him and gently coaxed, "Alright, I won't touch you. You can get up by yourself."

Tang Yu sat on the ground without any reaction. His body had long gone numb from sitting on the ground, and besides, he didn't want to get up. He didn't even bother to glance at Song Jiang Lin and continued to lower his head, looking at his fingers. Tang Lin once said that his hands were the most beautiful ones he had ever seen, even more so than those of a woman.

"Tang Yu, your body isn't well. The floor is cool. Can you get up, please?" Song Jianglin knew that Tang Yu was not in a good state now, so he had to lower his posture and patiently negotiate with Tang Yu. However, it seemed like Tang Yu was completely oblivious to any external influences, blocking out Song Jianglin's voice as if he hadn't heard a thing.

After enduring a few sentences, Song Jianglin already had to suppress his impatience. But Tang Yu, against all odds, remained the same. He truly couldn't bear to harm even a single strand of Tang Yu's hair. Yet Tang Yu continued to oppose him. "Tang Yu, are you deliberately trying to upset me?"

Tang Yu said, "As a slave from a defeated country, how can I possibly deserve such kindness?" Tang Yu seemed to be mocking, as if mocking himself, and also mocking Song Jianglin's actions.

The phrase "亡国奴" touched his bottom line, causing Song Jiang's brow to tightly furrow. Looking at the cold demeanor of Tang Yu, he disregarded his struggles and pressed him onto the bed. "Since you are a slave, you should stay true to your duty. Remember, you belong to me. No one else can harm you, not even yourself. Do you understand?"

The breath of Song Jianglin sprayed onto Tang Yu's face. Suddenly, Tang Yu realized that his position in Song Jianglin's heart was far more important than he had imagined. Yet, even so, what does it matter to him?

Tang Yu had a nonchalant attitude, which Song Jiang couldn't stand the most. In a fit of anger, he disregarded Tang Yu's struggle and passionately kissed his lips, becoming increasingly unable to let go.

"Umm... Song Jianglin... you... let go... of me."

Tang Yu mumbled incoherently beneath Song Jianglin. Taking advantage of the situation, Song Jianglin pried open Tang Yu's shell-like teeth little by little, invading his fortress and stirring his tender tongue. The intimate contact couldn't help but remind Song Jianglin of the beauty of last night with Tang Yu. Meanwhile, his other hand had already torn apart half of the thin and sinful garment on the latter's body.

Song Jiang's hand had already touched Tang Yu's body, and Tang Yu's slight trembling excited him even more. The sudden taste of blood in his mouth immediately brought him back to his senses. Song Jiang quickly pulled away from Tang Yu's lips. Tang Yu's lips were stained with blood, and his face was pale, which scared Song Jiang quite a bit. "Tang Yu, what are you doing?"

Licking the bloodstain from the corner of his mouth, Tang Yu stubbornly stared at Song Jianglin. He tugged at the torn clothes that Song Jianglin had ripped, barely covering the snowy white chest in front of him.

"Did you pretend not to hear the words I just said?" Song Jiang exclaimed angrily, still pressing down on Tang Yu. However, now he was only filled with anger and distress, lacking the impulse he had moments ago.