Hua Yan was correct. Not only the Asura clan but also other clans near them were aware that Cha Yan, the Asura King's second younger brother, had been at odds with the Asura King even before the latter ascended to the throne. After his succession, Cha Yan had repeatedly provoked him.
However, Prince Jin's family was loyal to the Asura King. Especially after Hua Yan inherited the title of County Prince, he had agreed with all of the Asura King's decisions. When the Asura King even proposed befriending the Human race, Hua Yan was the first to voice his agreement. If the Asura King were to push him out without evidence, it would hurt the hearts of loyal subjects.
"Hua Yan, I too always believed you were loyal to me. So when I saw your private actions, I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe you were such a calculating person, that you harbored such great malice towards my three brothers and me! Hua Yan, why? Why have you become like this?!"
The Asura King remembered the little dumpling who always followed him, sweetly calling him "eldest cousin" when they were young. Those were happy times. His mother doted on him, his father, though strict, also loved him, and his two younger brothers respected him. This soft little dumpling also liked to follow him.
But why did it all change so suddenly? His mother died abruptly, his father grew to dislike him, and his two younger brothers saw him as a thorn in their side. Even so, this cousin still liked to follow him, but why was this cousin also plotting against him?
Hua Yan, as if his scales had been touched, roared, "Why?! Eldest Cousin, do you remember my deceased parents? Do you remember my deceased brothers? Why was I the only one left from my entire family? Eldest Cousin, do you know?"
Hearing Hua Yan bring this up now, the Asura King was even more confused. "Didn't Uncle Jin die from a relapse of his illness? And Auntie died from difficult childbirth? Weren't your other brothers victims of accidents?"
Hua Yan, hearing the Asura King's words, laughed maniacally. "What accidents? Eldest Cousin, I'm telling you, these were not accidents! My mother died from difficult childbirth while carrying my brother, but why did she have a difficult childbirth? It's because someone poisoned her while she was pregnant with my brother, leading to the death of both mother and child! As for my brothers, they didn't die from accidents; someone lured them into the Abyssal Depths, so none of them grew up! And my father, he didn't die from a relapse either; he died from poisoning! Eldest Cousin, do you know who did all this?" kuAiδugg
Hua Yan smiled sinisterly, his gaze towards the Asura King filled with undeniable hatred.
After listening, a person suddenly flashed through the Asura King's mind. He instinctively wanted to deny it, but he knew clearly that this person was truly capable of such acts.
Seeing the Asura King's change in expression, Hua Yan laughed heartily and said, "Eldest Cousin, judging by your reaction, you know who did it?"
Who else could it be but the previous Asura King?
"Eldest Cousin, do you know why I survived? Because he thought I wasn't smart and wouldn't amount to anything if kept. Moreover, he couldn't let my father be without an heir, so he charitably spared me. Eldest Cousin, do you know why, among all his living brothers, only my family suffered such a fate?"
The Asura King knew. Before the previous Asura King ascended the throne, Prince Jin was the most favored successor. He was kind to his own people, but extremely cruel to outsiders, especially to races hostile to the Asura clan. It was also because of this that the previous Asura King's father intended to pass the throne to Prince Jin, but Prince Jin told him he didn't want to be the Asura King, so the previous Asura King ended up on the throne.
"He was wary of my father, drugged him, and feared we would compete with his son for the throne, so he simply killed all my brothers!"
The Asura King understood his hatred, but one thing he didn't understand was, "How did you know all this?"
According to his investigation, Hua Yan was still a very kind child a thousand years ago. How did he suddenly become like this? If it was because he learned these things, he was still young when his mother and brothers died. How could he understand the complexities of it all?
"Because my father told me himself!" Hua Yan's crimson eyes were so red they seemed about to bleed.
"But you weren't there at the time, were you?"
When Prince Jin died, Hua Yan was on a diplomatic mission to the Human realm. Upon learning of his father's critical condition, he rushed back, but unfortunately, he was too late.
"No, I had actually arrived before he died. He told me everything himself. As he was dying, he even instructed me, saying I hadn't managed to see him one last time. Father also told me then why he had refused grandfather's offer to pass him the throne. It was because he knew that if he sat on the throne, his brother would surely be displeased. To maintain their brotherly affection and protect his family, he refused."
Looking at Hua Yan's increasingly hateful gaze, the Asura King closed his eyes. Hua Yan's words continued. These matters had been buried in his heart for too long; if he didn't vent them, he would go mad.
"Eldest Cousin, don't you find it ironic? My father refused the throne to maintain brotherly affection and protect his family, but what did his brother who ascended do? His brother killed almost all of his sons! His wife and he himself died at the hands of his brother! Eldest Cousin, tell me, can I not hate him?"
The Asura King couldn't utter a word of accusation at this moment, looking at Hua Yan with eyes full of guilt.
Hua Yan, however, did not appreciate it. He raised the paper in his hand and said with a sinister smile, "Eldest Cousin, since you could find all this out, you should also be able to find out that Third Cousin had advised Second Cousin to accept reality and accept you as his brother. Second Cousin was almost persuaded, wasn't he? It's also because of Second Cousin's advisor that your relationship deteriorated."
The Asura King just looked at Hua Yan, saying nothing. Of course, he had found this out, which was why he had been so lenient with Cha Yan and Xi Yan. He also knew that the advisor was speaking on Hua Yan's behalf. The Asura King had intended to kill that advisor, but Cha Yan had protected him extremely well, causing his attempts to fail multiple times. Under the advisor's influence, the brotherly relationship had worsened.
Although he knew Hua Yan was manipulating everything from behind the scenes, the Asura King had never exposed him. He had even covered for him multiple times, allowing Hua Yan to remain hidden. As long as the last layer of fig leaf wasn't torn off, Hua Yan would still be the little dumpling in his memory. The Asura King always convinced himself of this. As for the brotherly affection with Cha Yan, as long as Cha Yan didn't go too far, he could accept it.
Hua Yan, unaware of the Asura King's thoughts, only wanted to vent his fury. "Eldest Cousin, why can his sons have harmonious brotherhoods, while I have to suffer family ruin!"
Hatred, a torrent of hatred, emanated from Hua Yan. At this moment, Hua Yan no longer concealed his hatred for the previous Asura King!
The Asura King opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.
What could he say? Ask him to let go of his hatred? That would be too hypocritical. Ask him to seek revenge? But that person was already dead, and he couldn't exact revenge.
Finally, the Asura King said wearily, "Hua Yan, return to Prince Jin's manor. From now on, I will no longer protect you."
Regarding this matter, the Asura King had made up his mind.
But to Hua Yan, these words meant: I will push you out to protect Cha Yan.
Hua Yan said nothing, only bowed to the Asura King and walked out of the council hall.
The moment he stepped out of the council hall, Hua Yan resumed his former gentle and refined demeanor, as if the madman from moments ago had not been him.