Death of Xue Qinghe

"What!?"

Xue Xing and Xue Beng's eyes widened in disbelief.

Their entire bodies were trembling, not from excitement, but from fear.

"No, impossible!"

"Wasn't this supposed to be just a test?"

"How could he be dead!"

Xue Xing's teeth were chattering. He couldn't believe that Xue Qinghe was just dead like that.

It didn't make any sense!

They had always suspected that Xue Qinghe, who appeared merciful on the surface, was the one who had killed the other two princes.

They thought that by testing Xue Qinghe's strength or exposing a small flaw, they could bring him down.

But who would have thought that with just a single test, Xue Qinghe would end up dead?

"Reporting to the Prince, His Highness Crown Prince, he... he saw that a guard was injured and wanted to shield the guard from a fatal blow, and then…"

And then, there was no 'then'. Xue Qinghe was immediately reduced to pieces…

Hearing this, Xue Xing and Xue Beng exchanged a glance, their minds buzzing.

A Crown Prince who would sacrifice himself to protect a guard—could he really be a deceitful murderer?

Clearly, they had wronged Xue Qinghe.

"Royal Uncle…"

Xue Beng panicked, feeling as if the sky had fallen.

There was no need to think about it any further—Xue Qinghe's death alone was enough to prove that his brothers were not killed by him, but by someone or something else.

Xue Qinghe was innocent…

So, the Xue Qinghe who always told him to study hard and not indulge in debauchery was truly a brother who cared for him!

Realizing this, Xue Beng's legs gave out, and he collapsed weakly to the ground.

"Fourth Brother, as a prince, you should set an example and not indulge in debauchery…"

"Fourth Brother, once you've learned well, help me in the future…"

As Xue Beng recalled Xue Qinghe's words, tears streamed down his face.

He regretted it now. He shouldn't have listened to Xue Xing!

Was this really helping him?

Xue Beng wasn't stupid. On the contrary, he was quite smart.

Ever since he followed Xue Xing's advice, assassins and such had never come after him.

Xue Qinghe was merciful, genuinely merciful. If he could take a hit for a guard, wasn't that proof enough of his kindness?

If Xue Qinghe wasn't the problem, then who was?

Xue Beng's gaze turned to Xue Xing.

"Royal Uncle, after you lost the throne to my father, did you really have no lingering thoughts?"

At this moment, Xue Beng was no longer afraid and spoke calmly.

Other than Xue Xing, Xue Beng couldn't think of anyone else.

Eliminate the eldest, the third, and have the kindest second brother become the Crown Prince.

And he, Xue Beng, was the one who listened to Xue Xing.

"No matter whether I succeed or not, whether I reach the top, it won't harm you at all."

Thinking about it carefully, that was indeed the case.

Win or lose, it didn't affect Xue Xing in the slightest.

If he won, Xue Xing could climb higher, and maybe even make a move against Xue Beng.

Hearing this, Xue Xing looked at Xue Beng with a bewildered expression. Seeing the cold look on Xue Beng's face, he couldn't help but shudder.

"You suspect me?"

After saying this, Xue Xing saw that Xue Beng showed no expression, still staring at him.

After a brief moment of thought, Xue Xing suddenly understood.

Not suspecting him, Xue Xing, would be abnormal!

Since Xue Qinghe wasn't the problem, and all the other princes except Xue Beng were already dead…

After this incident, Xue Qinghe was dead as well.

So who stood to gain the most?

It wasn't the only remaining prince, Xue Beng, but rather Prince Xue Xing himself!

Everyone knew that Xue Beng and Xue Xing were the closest. When Xue Ye died and Xue Beng ascended to the throne, they would still be the closest.

But what if Xue Beng were to die unexpectedly?

Other than Prince Xue Xing, who else could take the throne?

"Royal Uncle, Second Brother was so merciful. Even if he became the emperor, what harm would that do?"

"I was utterly wrong to listen to you and end up harming my Second Brother!"

Xue Qinghe was the second in line, the second prince of the Heaven Dou Empire.

After the death of the first and third princes, and with the fourth prince being too young, it was natural for the second prince to become the Crown Prince.

After saying this, Xue Beng snorted coldly and walked out of the hall, ignoring Xue Xing and the kneeling "assassin."

It was too late to say anything now. He wanted to see his Second Brother Xue Qinghe one last time and, incidentally, confess his sins to Xue Ye.

No matter what the outcome, he would accept it.

"You…"

Xue Xing pointed at Xue Beng with his right hand, trembling with anger, but he couldn't say a word.

If he were in Xue Beng's position, he would think the same way.

Who could have known that Xue Qinghe would turn out to be innocent!

If he had known, he wouldn't have despised Xue Qinghe so much.

To be honest, although he had once aspired to be emperor, that was decades ago.

Now, he had long since given up on such ambitions.

Since Xue Xing remained silent, the guards naturally didn't dare to stop Xue Beng.

No matter what Xue Beng had done, he was still the Fourth Prince.

If this last remaining prince were to die in the Prince's residence, then even if Xue Xing wasn't rebelling, it would still be considered a rebellion.

Just then, the gates of the Prince's residence were kicked open by a group of figures clad in heavy armor, who quickly made their way to the main hall.

The leader of the group, though his face was obscured, radiated a terrifying aura.

The others were no different.

A chilling murderous intent filled the minds of everyone present.

Xue Beng froze when he saw the newcomers.

Xue Xing was equally stunned.

"It's you…"

"Prince Xue Xing, His Majesty summons you!"

Without acknowledging Xue Xing's greeting, the leader spoke in an official tone.

Xue Xing wasn't a fool; he understood the situation immediately.

If it were under normal circumstances, the people sent to summon him wouldn't have been so powerful, because that would be a genuine invitation.

These people were different. If Xue Xing uttered even a single word of refusal, he would be suppressed and dragged to see Xue Ye by force.

After all, the leader of this group was a Soul Douluo, one of Emperor Xue Ye's most trusted aides!

The others were also no pushovers; the weakest among them was a Soul Emperor.

"Lead the way."

Xue Xing sighed and said.

Escape?

Forget it. The fact that Xue Ye sent these people meant he was determined to capture Xue Xing, making escape impossible.

The purpose of sending such strong individuals was to prevent him from running.

Seeing this, Xue Beng's mind went blank, but he didn't say anything.

He was just about to cooperate with these people to see his father, Xue Ye, when he realized they were ignoring him entirely.

"???"

"What's going on?"

Xue Beng was baffled, feeling confused.

Why weren't they taking him?

"General, I'm an accomplice. You should…"

Instinctively, Xue Beng tried to stop them.

Hearing this, the group paused and gave Xue Beng a speechless glance.

Xue Ye only had one son left. Did Xue Beng really think they would arrest him?

Even if they were to punish Xue Beng, it would only happen after Xue Xing had been dealt with.

"Fourth Prince, His Majesty didn't summon you. If you have any issues, you may go to the palace on your own."

After saying this, the group didn't spare Xue Beng another glance and left directly.