Chapter 70 The Fool

Qin Yuan accompanied Xiao Yuxuan to the Imperial Garden.

The garden at this time of year is filled with countless rare and exotic plants. Xiao Yuxuan originally only intended to take a short walk and then go back, but after walking a few steps, she was overwhelmed by the sights and became reluctant to leave.

There was still almost an hour before the banquet was to begin. As she walked deeper into the palace, she suddenly saw several figures dressed in fine clothes among the snow-white paulownia blossoms.

A young man dressed in an apricot-colored brocade robe, surrounded by several eunuchs, watched the little boy squatting on the ground diligently picking up pastries and burst into laughter:

"Look at this idiot, picking up things that have fallen on the ground. He's hopelessly stupid."

"Qi You, why are you just picking at the food and not eating it? Do you want your brother to feed you?"

Upon hearing this voice, Xiao Yuxuan paused slightly.

They are the fourth prince Qi Huan and the seventh prince Qi You.

If she goes there now, she probably won't get away with it.

"Miss, it looks like the Seventh Prince has been bullied by the Fourth Prince again. You'd better not go over there. It would be a loss if you offended the Fourth Prince."

Qin Yuan knew many secrets about the palace, and at this moment she cautiously tugged at Xiao Yuxuan, afraid that she might intervene and help those in need.

Although the Seventh Prince was born to the Empress and held a noble position, when Princess Minying went missing when he was five years old, he seemed to be possessed. When he woke up, he started talking nonsense, shouting things like "It's all over, it's all over" and "I want to go back."

When asked where he was going, he just looked at the sky and wept silently. The imperial physicians concluded that the seventh prince had become an idiot.

Later, he would always stare blankly, looking like a fool. Except when he was eating, he would just smile at people and occasionally say things that others couldn't understand. People respected him on the surface, but in reality, some were afraid of him and others disliked him.

The fourth prince is the son of the imperial concubine, and his status is second only to the crown prince. He often bullies Qi You in the palace, but Qi You just silently endures it and never complains.

"I won't go over there, I want to listen first."

As Xiao Yuxuan said this, she was thinking that if Qi Huan were to try to hurt someone, she would definitely have to stop him.

In his previous life, Qi You was tortured to death by Qi Huan after he ascended the throne.

At first, Xiao Yuxuan thought that Qi You was really mentally impaired and that's why he was stupid.

But later, during an autumn hunt, Qi You was made a live target by having his flesh cut off and his blood drained, yet instead of fleeing, he charged headlong into the beast, shouting excitedly:

"Mom and Dad! I can finally go back to my death!"

Looking back now, it seems that Qi You knew all along that Qi Huan would ascend the throne, so he gave up struggling and resisting, and no matter how Qi Huan bullied him, he just accepted it and waited to die.

Xiao Yuxuan always felt that Qi You might have some kind of special opportunity, just like herself.

The idea of ​​being reborn was too absurd for her to mention to anyone, for fear of being burned at the stake as some kind of monster.

"Guards, hold that idiot down and stuff all the fallen pastries into his mouth!"

Qi Huan's wicked laughter rang out, and several tall and burly eunuchs obeyed his command, about to step forward and restrain Qi You.

"Smack—"

A small pebble was thrown from a distance, hitting one of the eunuchs. He groaned and stopped in his tracks.

"Who is it?!"

Through the dense shadows of the paulownia blossoms, Qi Huan squinted and looked over, unable to make out the other person clearly.

The eunuchs exchanged glances. Although they were used to doing this, if someone caught the Fourth Prince bullying his younger brother and caused the Fourth Prince to be punished, they would also be held responsible.

At this moment, one of them said in a tactful, low voice:

"Your Highness, there are many young masters and ladies attending the palace banquet today. Why don't we go back first? We can teach the Seventh Prince later."

Qi Huan was still not giving up. He silently gestured, signaling two eunuchs to go and see who the meddlesome person was.

Anyone who dares to disturb his interest will be punished; he'll see who's the fool.

Unexpectedly, Qi You, who was picking up pastries on the ground, suddenly stood up and grabbed the legs of the two eunuchs.

"hey-hey--"

He chuckled and pinched the tender flesh on the inside of their thighs, causing the two burly eunuchs to gasp in pain.

Without the Fourth Prince's permission, they dared not make a move and could only stand there, baring their teeth in defiance.

Qi Huan frowned. What was Qi You doing now?

"Fine, fine, I'll settle the score with you another day!"

Although he enjoyed bullying this fool, he wasn't completely unrestrained. The fool might not complain if he was beaten or scolded, but that didn't mean others wouldn't complain if they saw it.

Qi Huan led a few people and left in another direction.

Qi You sat on the ground, finally letting out a sigh of relief.

"This humble woman, Xiao Yuxuan, greets the Seventh Prince."

A melodious female voice sounded behind him. Without asking, he knew it was the person who had been hiding on the other side of the paulownia flowers, the one who had "acted bravely."

However, the name Xiao Yuxuan sounds somewhat familiar.

Qi You turned to look at her. Right, it was the little girl he'd seen in the Empress's palace earlier—

The female lead's real heiress sister will also become a major cannon fodder in the future.

He was numb inside, but a simple, honest smile appeared on his face:

"Hey hey, hello big sister~"

Xiao Yuxuan didn't miss the fleeting understanding in his eyes. Doubts arose in her heart, but she quickly gave the order:

"Qin Yuan, quickly help the Seventh Prince up."

Qin Yuan readily agreed, helping the man up, straightening his clothes, and taking the plate of pastries from his hand that was already filthy before quietly stepping aside.

"Your Highness, why are you here all alone? Where are your servants?"

She bent down to be level with Qi You and asked earnestly.

Upon seeing the blades of grass in his hair and the dirt and dust on his fair, chubby face, she took out her handkerchief again and said:

"Your Highness, I have been disrespectful."

As she spoke, she carefully picked off the grass leaves and wiped the dirt clean.

Even though the Seventh Prince looked no different from any ordinary ten-year-old boy, Xiao Yuxuan did not dare to be careless and did not omit the proper etiquette.

Qi You sighed inwardly. The original text never mentioned that she would have any interaction with the Seventh Prince.

Moreover, these two are both down on their luck, and now that they've met, they're just a bunch of weaklings banding together. Trying to turn the tide of the story will definitely be as difficult as climbing to the sky.

"Thank you, sister~"

He continued to maintain his dazed expression, hoping that this little cannon fodder would quickly realize he was an idiot, despise him, and then leave as soon as possible.

"Let me take Your Highness to have some snacks. The ones that fell on the ground are dirty and can't be eaten."

Xiao Yuxuan used a handkerchief to hold Qi You's soft wrist, trying to lead him away from the paulownia grove.

But Qi You didn't buy it.

"I'm not going, I'm not eating, I'm staying here, hehe~"

"Isn't Your Highness bored because there's no one here to keep you company?"

Xiao Yuxuan squatted down again, gazing peacefully at the young prince.

Qi Jun had just arrived when he saw this scene.

To accommodate Qi You, the girl squatted down to be level with him, her expression gentle and her eyes pure.

A gentle breeze caressed the scene, and the paulownia petals fluttered down, a few landing on smooth strands of hair. At this moment, all things in the world came together to form a beautiful picture.