Initially, Xie Qiao felt that she was not very happy to help a person like Great Consort Hui to send her soul away. However, now, she thought if this person was affected by dark energy, she would be somewhat pitiful.

She had been harmed her whole life.

“You shouldn’t think too much now,” Zhao Xuanjing reminded her.

“Okay, I won’t think about anything.” Xie Qiao grinned.

She looked very obedient now, but Zhao Xuanjing was still worried. He just stayed at the residence and did not go anywhere.

…

At the Xie family’s side, Xie Pinggang handled the funeral coldly at first. Many people still thought that he was cold-blooded and heartless. After all, the grand preceptor treated the Xie family well. Now, Xie Pinggang should at least cry…

Who knew how many people scolded him behind his back for not being a good person.

However, after scolding him for two days, Xie Pinggang resigned. He said that he would be the grand preceptor’s adopted son and would mourn for three years.

At that time, many people praised him for being grateful…

Xie Niushan did not have any objections to that.

It was a pity that he quit being an official for three years. However, the grand preceptor… was really good to his family. Not to mention his son attending the funeral, even if he had to personally mourn for three years, it was possible!

The Xie family lived in seclusion.

Only Xie Pinghuai and Xie Xi would occasionally come to the Crown Prince’s residence to see Xie Qiao.

Xie Pinghuai initially suspected that Xie Qiao was lying again, but when he saw her lifeless eyes, he immediately felt guilty.

He was really terrible!

His eldest sister was already like this, yet he actually thought she was faking it!

“Eldest Sister, your illness is still hurting your eyes? What about in the future? It can’t be… It can’t be that you can’t even get off the ground, right? This way of dying is too miserable…” Xie Pinghuai’s heart was bleeding.

Xie Xi also pursed her lips.

Meng Jifang rolled his eyes.

Where did this illness come from?! It was a life-saving treatment, yet this blood-related brother of the Xie family did not even know about that? Did he think that Xie Qiao got it somewhere?

“Have you seen the fruit tree? I’m like those trees now. First, my eyes were shaken off. In the future, as my eyes are hollowed, the branches on my body… My hair and limbs will also peel off bit by bit. In the end, I’ll only have my head left…” Xie Qiao tried her best to scare them.

Xie Pinghuai felt a little disgusted. “Are you blind? Do you want your eyes to fall out of your eyes?”

“Yeah?” Xie Qiao nodded, feeling happy in her heart.

“Then… I’ll find a craftsman to fix a fake one for you… At least you can coax people… Otherwise, what will you do when the Crown Prince ascends the throne?” Xie Pinghuai said disdainfully.

“Ascends the throne?” Xie Qiao was stunned.

“Yeah, isn’t brother-in-law going to be the emperor soon?” Xie Pinghuai was very naive.

Meng Jifang had not left the house recently and did not know anything. When he heard that, he was shocked. “Impossible! The Crown Prince just said that he wants to resign!”

“But those ministers wrote a letter together to oppose the abolition of the Crown Prince, right?” Xie Pinghuai said matter-of-factly, “The Emperor is sick and said that he wants to abdicate. The Fourth and Fifth Princes went to the palace and they were asked if they were willing to take the Crown Prince’s place. The Fifth Prince was scared to tears on the spot and insisted on not being the emperor. The Fourth Prince also kept rejecting it. Your father was so angry that his beard turned white.”

The opportunity that came to his door was completely rejected by the Fourth Prince.

The Crown Prince, Zhao Xuanjing, was talented and virtuous. He would rather volunteer to guard the border than agree to be the heir.

The Fourth Prince almost wanted to commit suicide. He insisted on proving that he really did not want to be the emperor…

At that time, the emperor really wanted to find someone new. He thought that the next generation would have to have some courage. That was why he asked in public. Who would have thought that the two of them would have such a big reaction.

As such, the civil and military officials could only place their hopes on the Crown Prince. Even Marquis Meng began to brag about how wise and divine the Crown Prince was.