Zhang Lie glanced at the ninth prince, still deep in thought. He asked, "What do you think of the crown prince?"

The ninth prince hesitated. He didn't understand why Zhang Lie was suddenly asking about the crown prince; did he intend on working with the crown prince?

Knowing that the ninth prince had gotten the wrong impression, Zhang Lie clarified, "I mean, what do you think of the crown prince's life?"

"Born to nobility, the crown prince is the eldest and most established among us. Father values his work, and he's aided by the most senior and superior officials. His life's about as perfect as it can get," the ninth prince explained.

Zhang Lie smiled. Hidden behind the ninth prince's words was a sense of jealousy.

"From my perspective, his life...