Chapter 88: All Fascinated by Men
He shook his head and said, "Your Highness, there is no more. Go back and have a rest. Qin'er will bring the fish over right away when it's ready."
Unexpectedly, Jing Siye did not leave, but took a step forward, gently wrapped his arms around Zhu Wenqin's waist from behind, rested his chin on his shoulder, and said in a coquettish tone:
"No, I want to accompany Qin'er."
Zhu Wenqin muttered in annoyance:
Is there anyone so clingy? 】
Like a child,
[It seems like I will have to learn how to coax people in the future.]
[Alas, it is so difficult to be your husband...]
But despite his complaints, his eyes were filled with unconcealable satisfaction and excitement.
He gently patted Jing Siye's hand around his waist and said in feigned anger:
"Don't make trouble, just watch from the side." Jing Siye agreed with a smile, but hugged her even tighter.
Seeing this, the servants around quietly lowered their heads, smiled, and continued with their work.
After a while, the fish was cooked. Jing Siye helped to put the fish on a plate and brought it to the main courtyard. The two of them continued to feed each other.
Zhu Wenqin swallowed a piece of fresh fish meat, raised her eyes slightly, and asked with some doubt in her eyes:
"Your Highness, how long have Magistrate Zhai and his partner been in the side courtyard? How come Qin'er never knew about it?"
Jing Siye gently wiped the corners of his mouth with a handkerchief and explained:
"When we came back from Hangzhou Province, they were in the carriage behind us. They were far away from us to avoid attracting other people's attention and to keep under the surveillance of the secret guards."
Zhu Wenqin nodded slightly, but the doubts in her heart were not completely dissipated, and she continued to ask:
"Why didn't the prince kill them at the beginning? Was he... moved by Chu Heng? That Chu Heng... was so good to his master that he even risked his life."
After he finished speaking, he lowered his eyes unconsciously, with a barely perceptible bitterness in his tone.
Jing Siye: "This is also a reason."
When Zhu Wenqin heard this, she felt uncomfortable.
【What? Really? 】
[The prince was willing to even deceive the emperor for him...]
The more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt, and he subconsciously tightened the corner of his clothes.
Looking at him like this, Jing Siye almost couldn't help but hold his forehead with his hand. What on earth was this little guy thinking about? He quickly explained:
"There is another more important reason why I keep them."
When Zhu Wenqin heard this, a trace of anxiety flashed in his eyes, and he asked:
"Any other reasons?"
Jing Siye opened his mouth and wanted to explain, but the matter was too complicated to be fully explained in a few words. Anyway, the little guy doesn't need to worry about these court affairs on weekdays, so he just said perfunctorily:
"Qin'er will know later."
Zhu Wenqin became more anxious after hearing this.
[Any man will be moved by Chu Heng,]
[Later, ... it might be too late to know later. 】
[No, I must perform well and firmly grasp the prince's heart...]
After hearing the first two sentences, Jing Siye originally planned to patiently explain it to him slowly, but when he heard the last sentence, he couldn't help but become curious and wanted to see how the little guy would put it into action.
A hint of interest flashed across his face. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes full of anticipation, and looked at Zhu Wenqin with a half-smile.
——
The warm winter sun struggled to penetrate the thick clouds, shining on the glazed tiles of the imperial palace, refracting dazzling light.
Inside the Crown Prince's Palace, Jing Sixuan and Bai Zhuo sat opposite each other, with black and white chess pieces crisscrossing on the chessboard in front of them.
Bai Zhuo was holding a chess piece and was about to put it down, when Jing Sixuan suddenly grabbed his hand and deliberately squeezed it gently.
Bai Zhuo seemed to be used to it. He quickly slapped Jing Sixuan's hand with his other hand and said unhappily:
"Let go."
There was a hint of anger in his voice, but also a hint of helplessness.
Jing Sixuan seemed not to feel his anger, but chuckled lightly, with a playful arc at the corner of his mouth.
"Azhuo is getting bolder and bolder. He dares to speak to me like this."
Bai Zhuo frowned slightly and retorted in a neither humble nor arrogant manner:
"Azhuo doesn't dare. It's His Royal Highness the Crown Prince who cheats every time he's about to lose, deliberately trying to distract Azhuo."
Jing Sixuan raised his eyebrows and said nonchalantly: "Is this prince going to split your heart just by pinching your palm?" After saying that, not only did he not let go, but he held it even tighter, with a teasing look in his eyes, waiting to see Bai Zhuo's next reaction.
Bai Zhuo's face flushed red, and he was speechless for a moment...
"Xuan'er——"
An old but majestic voice suddenly broke the charming atmosphere in the Prince's Palace.
The Queen Mother suddenly appeared at the palace gate. The intimate posture of the two people fell into her eyes.
Bai Zhuo's whole body trembled, and his face instantly flushed with panic. His hand seemed to be burned, so he quickly retracted it and knelt down quickly and respectfully:
"I have met the Queen Mother. Long live the Queen Mother."
The Queen Mother narrowed her eyes slightly and glanced at him briefly. This glance made her gasp.
She thought to herself, no wonder the Crown Prince always ignored the Crown Princess on weekdays, the Bai Zhuo in front of her looked like Zhu Wenqin, and seemed to be a seductive guy.
The Queen Mother was displeased, her face becoming increasingly gloomy, and she did not let Bai Zhuo get up. She walked straight over and slowly sat in the upper seat.
The smile on Jing Sixuan's face froze instantly. He glared fiercely at the eunuch who was guarding the door and reporting. The young eunuch was so scared that he trembled all over. He quickly lowered his head, with cold sweat on his forehead.
The Queen Mother said slowly, "Don't stare at me. I ordered you to do this. I just want to see what you usually do."
Her eyes flickered between Jing Sixuan and Bai Zhuo, her tone full of reproach.
"You are all so obsessed with men that you don't care about the country at all."
Jing Sixuan quickly knelt on one knee and said respectfully:
"My grandson doesn't dare."
The Queen Mother glanced at Bai Zhuo who was still kneeling on the ground, her eyes full of disdain:
"Don't you dare? I've brought them to your main hall. It's a great time to spend here playing with others instead of studying the art of war and the way of governing a country."
She sighed and continued, "Xuan'er, you were not like this before."
Jing Sixuan knew in his heart that the Queen Mother was making an indirect attack on Bai Zhuo, but he also knew that if he disobeyed her at this time, Bai Zhuo would definitely be the one in trouble.
Thinking of this, he took a deep breath, considered his words, and bowed:
"My grandson will follow your instructions in the future."
The Queen Mother nodded with satisfaction, and the expression on her face eased a little:
"Well, that's more like it. I have selected twenty beauties from all over the country for you. They are now in the Chuxiu Palace. Go and choose a few to be your concubines."
Jing Sixuan: “…”
Waiting here.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but closed it again helplessly.
After a moment, he slowly stood up and said, "Grandson obeys your order."
After saying this, he walked out of the hall without looking back.
The Queen Mother looked at Jing Sixuan's departing back, then turned her head to look at Bai Zhuo who was kneeling on the ground, and said coldly:
"See? Don't think about things you shouldn't think about."
When Bai Zhuo heard this, he subconsciously clenched his hands hanging at his sides. In the end, he suppressed his emotions and bowed, saying:
"The Queen Mother taught Bai Zhuo to know his guilt."
The Queen Mother snorted, "Get up."
After saying this, he was supported by his personal maid and swaggered out of the Prince's Palace.
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