Chapter 63 Heartbreak

After Qingchen returned, he relayed Xiao Ling's words to Xie Yunyu.

Xie Yunyu thought for a moment and replied, "Let me think about it, and I'll say it when I've made up my mind."

The next day, Xie Yunman was on her way to the academy when she came to Xie Yunyu's courtyard to warn her to stay away from Xiao Ling.

Seeing that her brother had caught her red-handed, Xie Yunyu awkwardly nodded in agreement.

Over the next month, Xiao Ling tried to meet Xie Yunyu twice, but Xie Yunyu refused to see him both times.

They didn't even mention whether or not they should attend Princess Yongning's birthday celebration.

Xiao Ling couldn't figure out what she meant either.

It was already June 25th, and the deadline was just two days away, but Xie Yunyu still hadn't responded.

After leaving his post, Xiao Ling had no choice but to go to the Eastern Palace.

When the Crown Prince saw Xiao Ling arrive, he smiled and said, "Oh, what a rare guest! What brings the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel to your court?"

Seeing his nonchalant attitude, Xiao Ling said in an annoyed tone:

"If His Majesty sees you like this, you're in big trouble."

"Isn't this the Eastern Palace? Nobody knows."

Xiao Ling rolled her eyes and said, "Then how did the First Prince know about your instructions regarding the Ministry of Justice's old and backlogged cases?"

The crown prince waved his hand, dismissing all the servants.

He scratched his head and said, "I've already pulled out the nails he planted."

“You’re always trying to fix things after they’ve gone wrong. When will you ever be able to prevent problems before they occur?” Xiao Ling said.

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince smiled faintly:

“Brother, you don’t understand this. As the art of war says, ‘When you are capable, pretend you are incapable; when you are ready to use something, pretend you are not.’”

Xiao Ling continued with a cold laugh: "You even said that I learned some military strategy to use against my mother."

"I see you've only learned a little military strategy, and you've used it all to deal with His Majesty."

The Crown Prince led Xiao Ling into the house, saying as they went:

"A strong father and a healthy son might be a good thing in folk culture."

However, this is not a good thing for our royal family.

I cannot appear too capable; I must always rely on my father, for that is what he wants to see.

If I were like my eldest brother, Father would consider changing the heir apparent.

Xiao Ling listened without saying anything, because the Crown Prince was right.

After a long pause, he asked, "So you're just going to watch him provoke you step by step?"

"As long as it's not too excessive, I'll ignore him for now."

My elder brother is already an adult and has made great military achievements. My father both relies on him and is wary of him.

This is why he cannot marry the daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo; only he himself cannot see this clearly.

Xiao Ling nodded in agreement: "But he is determined to have the Ninth Lady of the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion."

They've already conspired with Wei Ningyan to drug Xue Jiu Niangzi at Yongning's birthday banquet and force her to submit.

Upon hearing this, the crown prince frowned deeply.

"The Duke of Zhenguo has always been neutral, and Father will not allow him to side with my elder brother."

"How did you know about this?"

"Never mind how I know, I just know."

Should we inform Yongning about this?

The prince replied, "Alright, I'll tell her later."

Princess Yongning was the Crown Prince's younger sister, three or four years younger than him, and a naive and innocent young lady.

"By the way, what brings you here?" the Crown Prince asked.

Xiao Ling listened in silence.

The crown prince, observing his expression, tentatively asked, "Is it related to the third daughter of the Xie family?"

Xiao Ling nodded.

"You haven't won them over yet, have you?" the prince asked in surprise.

Xiao Ling nodded again.

"Hiss~, aren't you supposed to be the man that all the unmarried young ladies in the capital want to marry the most?"

"How could she disagree?" the Crown Prince asked in surprise.

Xiao Ling sighed and said, "I just happened to run into someone who didn't want to marry me. What could I do?"

The Crown Prince sighed and said, "That's true. You've used your charm, but it's had very little effect."

This shows that the young lady from the Xie family is indeed a very clear-headed person.

Xiao Ling scratched his head and said, "Actually, it's not like there's been absolutely no progress."

Our relationship has improved somewhat; she doesn't seem to mind being around me.

But she just doesn't want to marry me, and that makes me very upset.

The crown prince frowned deeply upon hearing this: "What do you mean?"

She's only after your good looks, but doesn't want to marry you?

Xiao Ling hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

The prince was overjoyed: "Interesting, very interesting!"

It's usually the man who's attracted to the woman's beauty but doesn't want to take responsibility.

This woman is attracted to your good looks but doesn't want to marry you.

"Brother, you have a really good eye! You've actually taken a liking to such an interesting person."

Xiao Ling looked at the Crown Prince and said, "I came to you to ask what to do, not to hear you praise her."

I know better than you whether she's a good person or not.

The Crown Prince looked at Xiao Ling innocently and asked, "Then tell me, what's going on now?"

"She has been avoiding me."

Xiao Ling was quite troubled.

“Hey bro, I’m having the same problem as you, she’s avoiding me too.”

Xiao Ling said, "Shouldn't people avoid you?"

You're about to marry her older sister, is it appropriate for her to come see you again?

The Duke of Wei's family cannot allow two sisters to share a husband.

The Crown Prince's principal wife is Zheng Luoqiong, but the Crown Prince met a woman in the suburbs and fell in love at first sight.

Upon further inquiry, it turned out to be Zheng Luoqiong's younger sister, Zheng Luoxia.

The crown prince couldn't forget the person after meeting him just once.

Later, when he wanted to meet her, she refused to see him, saying that she was already engaged and it was inconvenient for her to meet other men. The prince was very worried about this.

The two brothers in the same boat exchanged a glance.

They both picked up the teacups on the table and took a sip.

The crown prince grew increasingly unhappy, so he ordered wine to be brought over, and the two began to drink together.

Xiao Ling has been in poor health since childhood and rarely drinks alcohol, only occasionally having a small drink or two.

I was in a bad mood today, so I drank a couple more glasses.

Slightly tipsy, Xiao Ling asked, "It's Yongning's birthday, and she neither said she'd go nor that she wouldn't. What does that mean?"

The prince, still confused, asked, "Who? Third Madam Xie?"

Xiao Ling nodded.

"So, do you want her to go, or don't you want her to go?"

"She and Xue Jiuniang of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion are very close friends, so she should be invited, but Yongning will definitely not invite her."

Besides, given her family's current situation, she'd probably be bullied if she went. Forget it, I'd better not let her go.

"I see..."

"Then I'll tell Yongning to send an invitation to Third Sister Xie, and ask her to take care of her when she goes."

Xiao Ling nodded drunkenly and said:

"Alright."

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince instructed his men to immediately inform Princess Yongning.

Two people who were heartbroken in love drank a few more glasses of wine together, and then lay drunkenly in the courtyard of the East Palace looking at the stars.

"Ling'er, look at the starry sky in this palace, it's all square, so boring."

Xiao Ling nodded blankly: "Yeah. It's not as beautiful as the night sky over Wan'an Mountain."

The prince, drunk, said, "The view is vast from a high place. Let's go up to the roof and take a look."

The two went up to the roof and lay on the ridge to look at the stars together.

After finishing his meal, the emperor prepared to go to the inner palace and casually asked:

"What is the Crown Prince doing today?"

Wang Degui replied, "The Prince of Shou'an entered the palace today and dined with the Crown Prince in the East Palace."

"Oh, Ling'er is here."

Upon hearing this, the emperor said, "Let's go and take a look at the Eastern Palace."

When the emperor arrived, Xiao Ling and the crown prince were sitting on the roof of the main hall, drinking and complaining.

"Sigh... I can't stand this damn crown prince position for even a day longer."

"What's the point of being trapped in this palace every day, dealing with state affairs all the time..."

As soon as the emperor entered, he saw the two men on the roof, drunk and slouching, neither sitting nor standing properly.

He then stepped forward, hands on his hips, and stood in the courtyard, shouting:

"You two brats, get down here right now!"

The crown prince, standing on the roof, heard the emperor's shout, turned around groggily, and looked down at the emperor, saying:

"Brother, am I hallucinating? How come I see Father?"

Xiao Ling suddenly woke up with a start and quickly pulled the Crown Prince away:

"That is His Majesty, please pay your respects."