Chapter 20 The Fox's Pout: "The Palm Printer is really quite lucky with women..."

As the year draws to a close, the palace is bustling with activity, but all of this has nothing to do with the fox.

The fox sat on the soft stool next to the desk, leaning on the table, casually poking at the paperweight with his hand, watching Tinglan write intently with his head tilted to the side.

My good friend's handwriting seems to be a bit prettier than mine, wow, that's amazing!

My best friend's hands are beautiful too, with long, slender fingers, they're really lovely!

Tinglan blushed as he looked at him, and her hand trembled, causing a drop of ink to fall onto the scroll with a soft thud.

Unable to continue writing, he reluctantly put down his pen, lowered his head, and asked, "Would Your Highness like some snacks? The small kitchen still has chestnut cakes, which Your Highness likes."

The fox shook its head. "We'll eat together after you finish writing."

Tinglan's heart skipped a beat, her face flushed even more, and after a moment of stunned silence, she turned her head to the side.

Heaven have mercy on him. He entered the palace at the age of fourteen and had never experienced love. After more than ten years of being abstinent from love, he was now entangled by a vixen and had fallen for her.

After flirting with him, the vixen didn't seem to realize anything was wrong. He still propped himself up on his arm, leaned on the table, and grinned as he tilted his head to look at Tinglan.

Chen Yu pushed open the side door and entered with his head down. "The Minister of Revenue requests an audience."

"Let him in."

The fox jumped off the stool with practiced ease and walked out with Chen Yu.

Just then, he bumped into the Vice Minister of Revenue standing outside the door waiting. It was freezing cold outside, and the official was rubbing his hands in the wind.

When the Vice Minister of Revenue saw two figures appear at the door, he narrowed his eyes in confusion. He recognized the one next to him as the eunuch surnamed Chen, but who was the other one?

I don't know him.

Those who entered and exited the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs were undoubtedly high-ranking officials and nobles, so to be on the proper footing, he still performed a bow.

Chen Yu stopped and ignored the man, saying only to Ji Qing, "Your Highness, please go to the side hall to warm yourself by the fire." There's a roasting chicken still warming up for you on the stove.

He then turned around, bowed, and said, "Lord Li, please grant me the seal."

But this person's mind had already wandered far away with the fox, and he was squinting, lost in thought.

Reminded by Chen Yu, he turned around abruptly, his smile carrying a hint of obsequiousness, "Could this be His Highness the Thirteenth Prince?"

Chen Yu nodded slightly.

"I had heard rumors outside the palace, but I always thought they were exaggerated. Only after seeing them today do I realize that the rumors are true." He said some polite words, patted his sleeves, and went into the house.

The young prince had just left, and Tinglan's fever hadn't even subsided yet. He simply stood up and walked to the window, enjoying the cool breeze as he listened to the people below recount their stories.

After he finished speaking, Tinglan walked back to the table and said, "Go down."

But the people below merely shifted their feet, showing no intention of leaving.

When the Prince of Wei spoke with him, he mentioned that the Thirteenth Prince and Tinglan had an unusual relationship... Now, looking at it again, no wonder the Prince of Wei's words were full of hints.

He had already noticed a soft stool placed next to the Ninth Prince's desk, very close to the main seat, and then he thought about the handsome young man who had just walked out.

It seems like I've discovered some big secret.

"Is there anything else you haven't said?" Tinglan raised her eyes and looked directly at the other person.

"The palm print is really... quite the ladies' man." The man looked up and laughed, trying hard to suppress his excitement.

The practice of having sexual relations in the palace is not new, but it is truly the first time that a prince has been involved with a eunuch. Even if he is a bastard who cannot be brought into the palace, he is still a prince. How could he be so degrading as to associate with a eunuch?

"I wonder what such a big secret can be exchanged for from the palm print?"

Upon hearing this, Tinglan smiled. He had just been by the window and the wind had made his face look a little pale, which made his lips appear even redder and his hair even blacker.

His expression remained unchanged; in fact, his smile softened even more as he slowly said, "Then what does Lord Li wish to do?"

"Such a big matter, I must think it over carefully. Your Highness really knows how to enjoy life, having a prince as your male concubine. I wonder if the Thirteenth Prince, who is still young, is capable of serving others? Is Your Highness satisfied?"

Tinglan shook his head. "Does Lord Li know why, among so many people in the Directorate of Ceremonial, not a single one dares to gossip?"

Upon hearing this, the man's smugness vanished instantly, and he looked panicked. "Why?"

"Because they are smart, and you are a rare kind of fool."

Tinglan turned around and said, "Guards, seize him! Li Xunwen, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, is guilty of embezzlement, bribery, and corruption. The evidence is irrefutable."

Imperial guards with swords poured in from outside the door.

Tinglan took off the jade thumb ring from his thumb and placed it on the corner of the table. He picked up a stick of ink at random. He knew how to ride and shoot, and although he was not skilled in martial arts or swordsmanship, his strength was greater than that of ordinary scholars.

The people standing below made a gesture as if to shout, "The Ninth Prince and the Tenth Prince..." but the rest of their words were blocked by the ink stick.

What a pity, such fine Huizhou ink.

"You embezzled disaster relief funds. We originally intended to keep you around for a while to lay a long-term plan, but who knew you would seek your own death."

Tinglan waved his hand, and the well-trained Imperial Guards immediately dragged the man away.

The fox had just turned out of the side hall when he was shocked to see the Imperial Guards dragging people away.

They had just left, how could such a big thing have happened?

I should have known better than to eat the chicken leg; I missed out on such a great event.

He peeked into the room, holding two roasted chicken wings in his hand. The fox had only eaten the drumsticks and the rest of the chicken, intending to save the best and crispiest wings for his good friend.

Tinglan stood in the hall with his hands at his sides and saw the little prince behind the door, with the dog peeking out furtively.

"What is Your Highness doing standing at the door?"

The fox blinked, cautiously poked its head out, and trotted over. "I brought you some chicken wings, do you want some?"

He placed the plate on the desk, tilted his head to look at Tinglan, and asked, "Did that person make you angry just now?"

Tinglan sat back down at the table, looked at the two golden-brown, crispy chicken wings on the plate, and couldn't help but laugh out loud. She shook her head and said, "I'm not angry."

"Then let's have chicken wings. They're brushed with honey and grilled, crispy and delicious." The fox breathed a sigh of relief and pushed the plate over.

"good."

After hesitating for a moment, Tinglan finally spoke, "Your Highness's closeness to me may damage your reputation."

The fox was staring longingly at the chicken wings on the plate, drooling. When he heard him say that, he looked up blankly. "Bamboo shoots? What bamboo shoots? Bamboo shoots are delicious in spring. Now they've all grown into bamboo and can't be eaten."

Tinglan was both amused and exasperated. "It's easy for people to gossip if Your Highness stays with me."

"It's none of their business, what's there to say?" The fox curled its lip, wondering why anyone would interfere with someone else's meals.

The fox grabbed Tinglan's arm, pressed its face against hers, and started to act spoiled and coquettish, "I don't care, I don't care, let them say whatever they want, I'm going to stay with you anyway."

Tinglan's heart skipped a beat, his breathing suddenly became heavy, his eyes reddened, and he bent down to gently hug the little prince back.

"Even if Your Highness is just saying this to coax me, I'll accept it willingly."

The fox blinked, looked up at Tinglan, and nudged him with its head. "I'm not lying to you. If you're sad, I'll lend you my fox to pet. Foxes are nice to pet. Now he won't bite you. You can touch his ears... and his tail too."

"Thank you, Your Highness." Tinglan straightened up and turned her head to the side.

He rarely lost his composure, but he truly couldn't control himself.

However, there is still one thing that Li Xunwen is sure of. Even if he is a rare idiot, he wouldn't make such a bad move.

After he reformed the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs, it was like an ironclad fortress; news wouldn't leak out from there, so it's easy to guess...

It was still King Wei.

He lowered his head and gently pinched the little prince's earlobe, his gaze lingering.

*

Tinglan seemed particularly busy, so the fox simply went to visit Zhou Yiqing in the afternoon.

He climbed over the wall with practiced ease and crept closer, where he saw Zhou Yiqing busily preparing tea and arranging snacks in the courtyard.

The fox sat down with delight, "How did you know I was coming? Hehe, you even prepared something delicious for me."

Zhou Yiqing gasped and whispered, "Amitabha, my ancestor, you are truly my ancestor. Does Tinglan know you came to find me?"

That high-ranking official is someone I really can't afford to offend. Did you make it clear to him that we have no relationship whatsoever? Why would he be jealous of me?

The door to the alchemy room was opened a crack, as if blown open by the wind.

The fox's eyes were sharp; it quickly turned its head to look. "He saw me. Is that alright?"

He gestured with his fist to Zhou Yiqing, indicating that he could punch him at any time and knock him unconscious.

A hint of embarrassment suddenly appeared on Zhou Yiqing's face. "It's okay. You actually know this person too."

The next second, the door was fully opened, and a familiar figure appeared inside.

"Thirteenth Brother, what are you doing here?" Pei Yue walked over quickly and looked the fox up and down.

His face suddenly showed the same fear as Zhou Yiqing's. "Um, does the Master Seal know you're here?"

The fox shook its head.

Pei Yue waved his hand, "Never mind, it's nothing." Anyway, with the three of them here, even if Ting Lan is suspicious, she shouldn't doubt anything.

"Seventh Brother, why were you released?" the fox asked, munching on a snack.

"What do you mean I've been released... Okay, I have been released, but don't go around telling everyone. I can't be in the palace right now." Pei Yue rubbed his forehead.

The fox immediately covered its mouth and nodded vigorously, saying, "You can trust me, little fox, to do things right."

Zhou Yiqing poured Pei Yue a cup of tea. "Alright, just stay here with me and don't think about anything else for now."

The fox tilted its head to look at the two of them, then took another piece of pastry and chewed on it.

Pei Yue gave a cold laugh. "The Prince of Wei is nothing to fear. Let's get rid of him first. The Crown Prince is similar to that old fox; he's too good at acting. We'll deal with him slowly later."

Then, without warning, Ji Qing jumped up and looked around. Old fox? Where is the old fox?

They're probably not talking about me, I'm not even that old yet...

Zhou Yiqing was clearly used to it, and calmly smoothed things over, flicking his whisk, "His Highness the Thirteenth Prince... choked on the snack." As he spoke, he pretended to pat the fox's back vigorously.

Kids are just silly, what can you do? Just spoil them.

I've tried all sorts of medicine, but I'm still stupid.

A note from the author:

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Start chanting; this kind of dull-witted child, no matter how you try to develop him, with either traditional Chinese medicine or Western medicine, it won't work.