The steward closed his eyes, steeled himself, and said, "Your Highness, the mine in West Mountain has been discovered. The Capital Governor is already sending people to investigate. It seems we can’t keep it under wraps anymore, Your Highness should make plans early!"

The Crown Prince’s vision went black, nearly causing him to stumble. The mine in West Mountain?

That was his lifeline as well.

The Court strictly regulates iron mines and private mining is forbidden. Wherever there is an iron mine, it is strictly controlled.

Five years ago, when he was still in the Vassal Land, his person in the Capital City inadvertently discovered the iron mine in West Mountain. Though not abundant, it was enough to arm a private army.

So, he immediately had people secretly purchase the land and assigned guards to watch over it closely, mining in secret with utmost caution to avoid detection.

Two years ago, he became the Crown Prince; his wish fulfilled. At that time, reporting the matter to the Court would have been a small achievement, but greed overtook him then.

Firstly, he knew this secret would remain undiscovered, and secondly, having the iron mine right at hand, he believed no one would be so generous as to let go of it!

Keeping the iron mine gave him another trump card.

Now, if the mine is discovered and the Capital Governor reports it, it will be taken back by the Court immediately.

Not only will he be unable to continue mining, but he will also have to erase every trace linking back to him.

Otherwise, it wouldn’t just be a matter of bringing trouble upon himself; this would indeed be something that his father, the emperor, would find intolerable.

The person in charge of that mine was his most trusted confidant; how could the secret have leaked? He hadn’t even mined half of it, and now it could be taken by the Court. The very thought pained his heart.

He realized something was wrong and, with a hollow gaze, looked at the steward: "How can these matters keep happening one after another simultaneously? What else haven’t you told me?"

The steward quivered as he spoke, "Y-Your Highness, our overt operations in the Capital City are fine, but over eighty percent of our covert ones have encountered problems!"

The Crown Prince felt a sweetness in his throat, his blood surging, and spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground.

The overt operations were mere façades, but the covert ones were his foundation, his trump card, his greatest reliance!

His vision blurred again, the pain in his heart, liver, and flesh overwhelming him. Weakly, he said, "Have you found out who did it? I will have him caught, torn to pieces, ground to dust, and ensure he dies without a burial place!"

The steward was almost in tears.

All this practically happened within a day and night yesterday. Because they were under house arrest and unable to go out, he only got the news today, and now it was dark, leaving no time for investigations.

However, given the gravity of the matter, he was ready to bear the Crown Prince’s wrath!

The Crown Prince’s eyes widened in fury as he slammed the teacups and teapots down. What use was tea now? He had no mind for it anymore.

Watching him vent his anger, the steward stood by silently, afraid the flying objects might hit him, yet too scared to leave.

Finally, as the Crown Prince finished venting, he collapsed, too weak even to sit back in his chair, slumping to the ground in a mix of anger and heartache.

He knew his methods well. Over the years, he had acted with great caution, and the hidden enterprises were especially discreet, known to very few as his.

But now, they had all been exposed one by one.

Who could it be? Who had the ability, the resourcefulness, and the courage to stand against him?

The steward thought hard, then finally gathered the courage to say, "Your Highness, according to the reports, before the steward at West Mountain was taken, he spread his fingers open, seemingly conveying a message!"

"Spread open his hand?" The Crown Prince absentmindedly spread his own hand open, looking again and again, thinking, until his face suddenly changed, gasping aloud, "Five? Old Fifth?"

This steward, having accompanied him from the Vassal Land to the Capital City, knew who he referred to and exclaimed, "Wasn’t he in Yunzhou?"

After his outcry, the Crown Prince was dazed. Yes, Old Fifth was in Yunzhou. Old Fifth had no intention of returning to the Capital City, so he couldn’t have influence here.

But then, who else could have done it?

No, it could only be Old Fifth.

Was it because he had killed Old Fifth’s son, causing Old Fifth heartache, that made Old Fifth return the favor?

At that moment, the second steward hurriedly ran in, standing at the door, trembling as he spoke, "Your Highness, something terrible... has happened..."

Another one!

The Crown Prince was both shocked and enraged, his face almost turning black with anger, "Speak properly!"

The second steward stammered, "Prince, something major has happened... The Second Young Master is in trouble..."

The Second Young Master? Naturally, they weren’t referring to the spirit of Yu Xuan but the second son at the Crown Prince Mansion, Huangfu Chi, the illegitimate second son after Huangfu Jing!

Back when the Crown Prince was in the Vassal Land, Huangfu Jing and Huangfu Chi by his side were like his left and right arms. The brothers inherited his deep cunning and ruthless nature. Over the years, the matters he plotted could not have progressed so smoothly without the help of these two sons.

Now, having lost Huangfu Jing, and now hearing that Huangfu Chi was also in trouble.

After the arson of Chunhua Building, the discovery of the iron mine, its impending reclamation by the Court, and the upheaval in his covert operations, one would think the hits he endured were enough. Unexpectedly, even greater blows awaited him.

Disregarding his own disheveled state, he trembled as he spoke, "What happened to Chi’er?"

His heart sank to the depths; was losing one son not enough; would he lose the second, too? These two were his grown, capable arms.

The second steward recalled in fear, "The Second Young Master was found thrown in the alley behind the mansion, covered in blood and unconscious."

This implied he was still alive? A flicker of hope arose in his heart: "What about the doctor? Has a doctor been called? The Imperial Physician, send for the Imperial Physician. Where is Chi’er now? I will go see him!"

The second steward said, "He’s already been taken to his courtyard, and someone has been sent to fetch the Imperial Physician."

The Crown Prince scrambled up and ran.

The chief steward and the second steward hurriedly followed behind him.

Everyone dashed to Huangfu Chi’s courtyard.

The courtyard was bustling.

When they discovered Huangfu Chi, they immediately and carefully carried him in, changing his blood-stained clothes and cleaning off the filth.

They found that Huangfu Chi had been brutally beaten. The blood on him was all his own doing.

Claiming he was covered in blood was an exaggeration, but the blood spattered on his body was indeed a shocking sight.

The Crown Prince rushed in, finding Huangfu Chi had been cleaned up, lying in the bed, pale and silent.

The Crown Prince threw himself to the bed, calling out, "Chi’er..."

The unconscious Huangfu Chi couldn’t respond, and seeing him in this state, the Crown Prince’s heart shattered.