Chapter 118: Is It Too Late for Me to Prepare a Coffin Now?

Chapter 118: Chapter 118: Is It Too Late for Me to Prepare a Coffin Now?

The Third Prince looked at Su Han and paused for three seconds. "Should... I believe you?"

Su Han nodded. "Yes, you should."

The Third Prince glanced at him. "I don’t."

Su Han glanced back. "You do."

The Third Prince opened his mouth. "I..."

Su Han’s eyes widened in a glare. "I said, you believe me."

The Third Prince looked at Su Han and nodded. "Oh."

...

"Well... that’s the whole story. Now you’re all caught up."

An hour later, in a pavilion in the back garden of the Separate Garden, Su Han spoke to the Third Prince, who was sitting across from him.

The Third Prince looked at him and nodded.

After a moment of silence, he looked at Su Han and asked, "So... what you’re saying is, the Old Ancestor haphazardly arranged a marriage for you, you got pissed off, and then you just so happened to see a tree that the Old Ancestor personally planted years ago, so you burned it down on a whim?

You didn’t set the fire to target me, and you didn’t know I was under the tree at the time, so...

...burning me was just... an unexpected bonus?"

Su Han nodded. "That’s more or less the gist of it. I’m really not lying to you this time."

The Third Prince turned to the Eldest Princess, who nodded with some uncertainty. "The marriage contract from the Old Ancestor is real, and it’s also true that he’s unhappy about it.

If the truth is what he says it is, then this does sound like his style."

She didn’t know the specific details, but it didn’t sound like he was lying.

The Third Prince nodded. This did indeed sound like his style.

’But... why do I get the feeling that something’s a little off?’

’He found out the Old Ancestor randomly set him up with a marriage, so why...’

"Hey, Xiaosanzi, what are you thinking about?"

"Huh? I was just thinking that after you found out the Old Ancestor arranged for you to marry some old woman who’s god-knows-how-many hundreds or thousands of years old...

...why didn’t you immediately go dig up the Old Ancestor’s grave instead of having the time to come here and start a fire..."

Having said more than he should have, the Third Prince belatedly slapped a hand over his mouth.

However... it was too late.

Su Han’s eyes lit up. He turned and started walking away.

"Han, where are you going?"

"To the Imperial Mausoleum!"

THUD.

The Third Prince fell right off the stone stool and landed on the ground.

’Dig... dig up the ancestral grave?’

’If you want to dig up the grave, do it yourself! You can’t drag me, your third brother, into this!’

’If you go dig up the grave after I reminded you about it, doesn’t that make me an accomplice?’

Panicking internally, the Third Prince scrambled up from the ground and stumbled after Su Han.

"Don’t be rash! Don’t be rash! Han, have you forgotten what you used to say when you were a kid?

Being rash is the Demon! It’s the gunpowder in a cannonball! It’s a pair of handcuffs and shackles! Being rash is a lifetime supply of regret!"

Su Han glanced at him. "I’m not being rash."

The Third Prince saw his completely calm and carefree expression, which didn’t look the least bit impulsive.

’That... made him panic even more!’

’If it was just a rash impulse, he might get to the Imperial Mausoleum, cool down, and decide not to dig.’

’But seeing how calm he is, this clearly isn’t an impulse—he’s dead set on digging up the grave, isn’t he?’

"Han, don’t be in such a hurry to go to the Imperial Mausoleum! We can talk this through!"

Su Han stopped and looked back at him. "So, are you going to help me or not?"

"I’ll help!"

Seeing the Third Prince’s expression—as if he were ready to charge through a mountain of knives and a sea of fire, facing death without flinching—Su Han smiled with satisfaction.

"No need to be so tense. I’m not asking you to make some huge sacrifice."

Seeing the smile on Su Han’s face, the Third Prince felt his courage abandon him. If experience had taught him anything, it was that the gentler Su Han’s smile, the more miserable his own fate would be.

"H-Han... what do you want me to do?"

"Hmm..."

Su Han stroked his chin, thinking for a moment.

"You were just burned in a fire set by someone, right..."

"What do you mean ’by someone’? You were the one who set it!"

Su Han waved his hand. "That’s not the point."

The Third Prince: "..."

’How is that not the point? Is he trying to deny it?’

Su Han ignored the Third Prince’s internal grumbling and said, "Weren’t you caught in the crossfire... between me... and the Old Ancestor?

Just stay in bed and pretend you’re still sick, like your injuries haven’t healed.

Then, have your head steward ’accidentally on purpose’ spread the news that you were burned. Leave the rest to me and Sister to handle."

The Third Prince: "...You... what are you trying to do?"

He wasn’t an idiot. Hearing Su Han’s plan so far, he could sense a grand conspiracy brewing.

"What else could I be doing?"

Su Han rolled his eyes. "Xiaosanzi, you’re injured. As your siblings, shouldn’t that bunch come visit you?"

The Third Prince: "..."

Hearing this, the Third Prince became even more flustered. "So..."

"So, Sister and I will be kind enough to gather everyone together to come see you.

Then, you’ll take an Elixir and your injuries will be healed.

And to celebrate your recovery, we’ll all throw a banquet."

"You..."

The Third Prince stared at Su Han in shock. "You’re going to beat people up again!"

Su Han: "..."

’How many times do I have to say it? What is wrong with this family? Can’t you stop using the word ’again’?’

’That word really hurts, you know? It makes me sound like some kind of repeat offender.’

He gave a calm nod and looked at the Third Prince. "Can’t I?"

The Third Prince: "..."

Looking at Su Han, the Third Prince managed a smile that was uglier than a crying face. "Fine."

Su Han nodded with satisfaction. "Then it’s settled."

The Third Prince thought for a moment, then grabbed Su Han. "Han, how do I usually treat you?"

Su Han considered it, then nodded. "You’re alright."

"Since I’m so good to you, why don’t you give me a heads-up? Who provoked you this time?"

Su Han looked at him in surprise. "Does someone have to provoke me first?"

The Third Prince: "..."

’Han, you’ve changed!’

’You’ve become even more ruthless!’

’Before, you only came up with creative ways to punish people after they offended you. Now... you’re planning to beat people up even when they’ve done nothing to you!’

"Ahem, then... can you give me a little hint? Who are you planning to deal with this time?"

Su Han looked at him. "Who?"

The Third Prince: "...Then... which ones?"

Su Han looked at him. "Which ones?"

The Third Prince: "...A... a lot?"

Su Han gave him an odd look. "Did I ever say I was planning on sparing anyone?"

The Third Prince: "..."

’If I back out now... is it too late?’

’Father Emperor! Help me! People are going to die!’

’After this is all over, that bunch is going to stuff me in a sack and beat me to death, aren’t they?’

"You can do it, Xiaosanzi. I believe in you."

Seeing the utterly miserable look on the Third Prince’s face, Su Han just smiled and patted his shoulder. "You’ve got this."

The Third Prince: "...Or, how about we go back to discussing the Imperial Mausoleum thing?"

Su Han glanced at him. "Xiaosanzi, are you planning to go to the Imperial Mausoleum with us, too?"

The Third Prince: "..."

’Too?’

’So he’s saying he *still* plans to go to the Imperial Mausoleum?’

’This guy...’

’You can’t screw me over like this!’

’Oh my god... if I go prepare my coffin now, will I still make it in time?’