The steward’s heart ached a little.
But Ji Huo just happened to be the most troubleso scion in Shengjing.
"Princely Heir, why have you co?"
He carefully put on a smiling face, "Today, at Duke Wei Mansion, we have guests, and everyone is busy to the point of chaos. Unfortunately, our Eldest Young Master is confined to his sickbed. If the Princely Heir doesn’t have anything important, perhaps another ti—"
"No worries."
Ji Huo interrupted him, "I ca precisely because he’s confined to his sickbed."
He thoughtfully glanced at the noisy street, crowded with passersby, "Since there are guests at ho, and I happen to be free, why don’t I help Brother Wei with receiving them."
Brother Wei?
On his way here, he had clearly been calling Eunuch Wei.
True to form as a regular in high society, Ji Huo was always especially kind and protective of won: "Why are you still standing there? Go find so chairs, for my two delicate sisters can’t be tired out."
Wei Yingying felt sowhat awkward, "This... this is not necessary."
Shen Hua indifferently stated, "I want a chair made of golden Phoebe nanmu."
The steward’s eye twitched uncontrollably. Unfortunately, he couldn’t just repel such a shaless person. He had no choice but to signal to a servant behind him, who hurriedly left to notify the Madam of the house.
Duchess Wei hurried over upon hearing the news, setting aside what she was doing. As she arrived, the carriage from the Governor Mansion stopped by a twist of fate.
The Governor’s wife alighted with poise, with Yan Mi standing behind her, her eyelids slightly lowered, the deanor of a noble lady ingrained in her very bones.
Soon after, soone strode over.
With a careless air, Ji Huo greeted, "Oh, you’ve arrived? Co on in."
Seeing Ji Huo, the Governor’s wife’s complexion slightly darkened; she still rembered how her own son was helpless under Ji Huo’s beating, ending up with a bruised nose and swollen face.
"Young Master Heir, what brings you here?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
"My Imperial Uncle doesn’t even concern himself with my whereabouts, Governor’s wife, when I invited you inside, it was just a formality. You seem to be overstepping your boundaries a bit."
The air was ripe with gunpowder at that mont. Sparks flew.
anwhile, Shen Hua winked at Yan Mi, eliciting a subtle smile from the latter.
Duchess Wei promptly stepped forward to smooth things over, jubilantly holding Yan Mi’s hand, "You’re finally here, Heng has been talking about you all morning, I just teased him about it. But truth be told, I’ve also been eagerly waiting."
While speaking, she nodded towards the Governor’s wife, "This morning I heard the magpie chirping, which is a good on."
Ji Huo casually joined the conversation, "Is that so? This Princely Heir actually heard those annoying crows cawing non-stop early in the morning. I thought to myself, can this be tolerated? After rushing over, it turns out, among all the young nobles in Shengjing, the one plagued by bad luck is Brother Wei! With him here, I’m sure to be safe."
Wei Yingying leaned towards Shen Hua, "Isn’t this too much? It’s quite unsettling to watch."
Shen Hua ’ah’ed in response.
"Is this... considered too much?"
Wei Yingying’s eyes rolled, "What would you do in this situation?"
Without hesitation, Shen Hua replied, "Not to ntion anything else, after he finishes that sentence, I’d pick up a stone and smash down the plaques on the gate of Duke Wei Mansion. This would prove the crows are real, and that Wei Xiheng is indeed needed as a scapegoat for protection. And it would thoroughly clarify, lest anyone misunderstands, that we’re not here just to pick a fight."
Wei Yingying: ???
Ji Ge: ???
Ji Huo overheard and turned around abruptly, "Why didn’t you say so earlier! How co I didn’t think of that!"
"Princely! Princely Heir!"
Seeing him about to look for a stone, Duchess Wei quickly intervened, "There are people coming and going on this street, let’s not make a scene. Why not co inside for a cup of tea?"
As expected, many onlookers had already stopped to watch.
Even though she was reluctant, she could only with a beaming smile and proper decorum invite everyone into the mansion. She also took the opportunity, while others were not paying attention, to whisper an order to the steward.
"Go, send a ssage to Prince Gong Mansion, I’m afraid only his father can handle him."
The steward hurriedly complied.
Prince Gong Mansion’s study room
Prince Gong was playing a ga of chess with soone.
"Speaking of which, I’m the one who taught you chess. The Crown Prince and Fourth Prince, their hypocrisy and greed annoy with just one glance."
That year, I taught Ji Teng chess to instill the virtue of ’endurance’ in him. And Cui Yang secretly trained Ji Teng in martial arts, just so he could survive in the vicious imperial harem.
Since falling into hardship at Prince Huai’an Mansion, those were the most difficult years. Yet Cui Yang and I, despite all our planning, never anticipated that Ji Teng would be sent as a hostage by Emperor He.
Ji Teng sat across from him, placing a piece; the crisp ’click’ echoed clearly.
"Strictly speaking, I should be calling you Master, my Imperial Uncle."
Prince Gong watched the lost ga but couldn’t muster a smile.
"Imperial Uncle here, Master there, why won’t you let win a few pieces? That youngster from the Cui family is just like you, all respectful on the surface but never easing up."
When it ca to Cui Yun, he could not help but show gravity.
"Right, Old Master Cui hasn’t been feeling well these past few days."
He glanced at him and sighed, "You!"
"When your uncle was alive, he respectfully called him ’Uncle’ in front of Old Master Cui. How could the Old Master be unaware of your return?"
Ji Teng lifted his gaze, his emotions not entirely committed: "Since returning to the capital these few months, I’ve given him plenty of ti. Yet, Old Master Cui persistently avoids seeing ."
Prince Gong felt a lump in his throat.
So, you resort to such tactics to provoke him?
Yet, in such matters, both sides have their reasons.
Ji Teng too, has endured quite long enough.
Just then, a servant hurried over, bringing news from Duke Wei Mansion and adding, "Miss Wei is also there."
Ji Teng furrowed his brow.
Prince Gong laughed, "Would you make a trip and take that brat back with you while you’re at it?"
"Clearly, Ji Huo led the trouble; it’s better for Imperial Uncle to intervene."
Prince Gong pondered for a mont: "It’s just a visit; why is the Wei Family making such a fuss? Could my son have dug up the Wei Family’s land?"
"You’re really not going?"
"I’m not."
"Fine, if you won’t go, soone will. Soone, make a trip to the Ministry of Justice."
After the servant left, the Wei Mansion’s steward was still waiting outside.
The servant approached swiftly, apologetically saying: "Unfortunately, our Prince is not at the mansion."
The steward worriedly asked, "Is the Princess Consort there?"
"She’s not either."
————
anwhile, Wei Xiheng deliberately changed into a new set of clothes and reclined on a couch with the help of a servant, waiting for Yan Mi’s visitation.
Instead, he awaited a room full of people.
Wei Xiheng’s swollen face twisted and contorted.
Yan Mi did not look at him.
His fiancée was peeling seeds from Shen Hua’s pouch at the farthest distance, feeding them one by one to the girl.
The Governor’s wife left the house this ti with a belly full of anger: "Yan Mi!"
Shen Hua was startled without warning, dropping the seeds from her mouth as she yelled back: "What are you yelling for!"
"I’ve tolerated you for a long ti!"
"Don’t think just because you’re older, you can act like the boss around here."
The girl staunchly supported her words with a nod towards Ji Huo: "Look, did Ji Huo say anything?"
Ji Huo: !!!
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