This time, Shang Xize felt as if his knees had been shattered, and he let out another miserable howl in pain, involuntarily collapsing to the ground.

Ji Fengyao seemed to realize her mistake and quickly grabbed Shang Xize's arm and pulled it upwards, while loudly asking, "Little Fourth, are you alright? Your Ninth Imperial Aunt has never seen you before. Aunt didn't mean it."

Xiao Si? Ninth Imperial Aunt, Auntie?

Shang Xize: "..."

I was the one who was beaten for no reason.

Hearing all these titles, I felt like a beast, deserving to be beaten.

Looking at Shang Xize, who had struggled for a long time without getting up, covered in wounds and completely disheveled, the Empress Dowager silently clenched her fists, feeling extremely frustrated.

Shang Xize was originally (in the Empress Dowager's eyes) a handsome young man, a completely different type of man from Shang Xiye; she originally planned to have Shang Xize use his good looks to coax this bandit with sweet words, but who knew that he would be beaten into a big pig's head as soon as he came out!

Now that Shang Xize has a pig's face, what's the point of using his good looks to his advantage?

What kind of mess is this every single day!

Even so, the Empress Dowager was still unwilling to give up and said loudly, "Someone, quickly take the Fourth Prince away to wash up and change his clothes before coming back."

"Yes!" Immediately, two maids and two eunuchs agreed and came over to help Shang Xize away.

A while later.

Shang Xize, fresh-faced and dressed, but still bruised and battered, re-entered the room.

Shang Xize glanced at Ji Fengyao cautiously first, and seeing that she had no intention of making a move, he then greeted the two of them with peace of mind: "Grandson greets the Empress Dowager and Princess Chonghe."

"Hmm, get up and sit down," the Empress Dowager said calmly, pointing to the chair behind Shang Xize.

Ji Fengyao stood up and pulled Shang Xize aside, then stuffed a rough-looking medicine bottle—clearly a cheap, low-quality product—into his hand with a face full of guilt: "Little Si, good nephew, this is a bruise and sprain medicine that we Bald Vulture Village developed ourselves. It's quite effective. Take it and use it."

Please don't blame your aunt. Look at your two older brothers, the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, they both look much older than you are. How was I supposed to know you haven't even fully developed your figure and features yet? I genuinely didn't recognize you just now."

Shang Xize: "!!!"

He hadn't even fully developed his physique and facial features yet.

Empress Dowager, are you sure she wasn't indirectly calling me a "greenhorn"?!

Empress Dowager: "..."

This bandit's choice of words is truly... as uncultured as ever, leaving one speechless.

Xi Que also stepped forward with utmost sincerity and said, "Your Highness, the medicine from our Vulture Village is really good. Your minor injury will be healed in three or four days after applying it."

"Yes, yes, what the Princess and Sister Xique said is right," Bailu nodded quickly to confirm, and kindly said, "Just now, I think I kicked the Fourth Prince's shoulder. You may not be able to apply the medicine yourself. How about I help you? Consider it my apology to you?"

Shang Xize's face was ashen, but he couldn't show it in front of the Empress Dowager and Ji Fengyao, so he suppressed his anger and said, "No need! I will have my servant apply it for me."

Once your master enters my residence, I will get my revenge on you two maids sooner or later!

"Alright, all of you, go outside and stay there." The Empress Dowager's patience had been worn thin, and her expression and tone became somewhat unfriendly.

Ji Fengyao knew that this old hag was probably planning to force a marriage between them.