Why does she hate Lin Xiuxue? This question goes back to a long time ago, and she doesn't want to talk about it now, nor does she intend to take her life right now, just like with Gu Chongxuan.
It wasn't that she had forgotten everything from her past life; rather, she wanted them to watch the crown prince they supported ascend to the throne step by step, to see the world truly unified, instead of one king ruling over a region and another family dominating a territory.
Then, let them remain unsuccessful, forever unsuccessful!
Recalling her past life, she took a deep breath and smiled freely. "Just now, Sun Ying said that gentlemen befriend each other based on shared principles, while petty people befriend each other based on shared interests. I am not a gentleman, but I admire the way gentlemen make friends."
Wei Tingsi felt a stomachache; this was not the answer he wanted at all! He didn't care whether Lin Xiuxue was a villain or a gentleman; he only cared why you rushed over as soon as you heard that Lin Xiuxue was seducing Huo Baichuan!
Seeing that his face had turned red again, Zhao Shu stepped on the branch under her feet and found that it was not very sturdy, so she said, "Brother, if it is inconvenient to take me back, could you please put me down?"
The tree trunk was straight, and there was nowhere to grab onto from the roots to the branch she was standing on. She could have slid down the tree while holding onto it, but that would have gotten her clothes dirty. She wondered what people would say about the Prince Yong's residence.
"I'll take you back." Wei Tingsi was so frustrated with himself that he felt like he was about to burst. He had finally gotten a little better, but now he felt even more aggrieved.
Although he felt extremely wronged, he didn't show it at all. He quickly put his arm around Zhao Shu's waist, and led her over the artificial hills and tree canopies as if he were very familiar with the place. He skillfully avoided everyone and soon sent Zhao Shu back to Xuefang Pavilion.
Upon reaching a secluded spot in front of Xuefang Pavilion, Zhang Chang rushed out from a corner and stood beside Wei Tingsi, pretending to have been following him the whole time. Xiao Guozi and Xiao Zhuzi also followed behind him, arriving together to stand on either side of Zhao Shu.
Those who don't know the situation would assume that they had always been by Zhao Shu's side.
Upon entering Xuefang Pavilion, Zhao Shu found that there were even more people in the courtyard, including the Sun family members, including Old Madam Sun and Zhao Bi. Chu Chun and Sheng Xia had already been bandaged up and had changed into spare clothes they had brought. When they saw Zhao Shu come in, they rushed to her side and supported her on either side.
Sun Yun stood with Qiu Tong, Yan Ruyu, and others, with Prince Yong and the Crown Prince standing nearby, their camps clearly divided. Xie Yun and Huo Baichuan were behind them, playing chess on a stone table, oblivious to everyone else.
When Madam Sun saw that Wei Tingsi was indeed there, she immediately snorted coldly and turned her head, "You brat!"
Her cold snort silenced everyone. Apart from a handful of people, including Prince Yong and the Crown Prince, who thought Wei Tingsi was a worthy friend, everyone else kept their distance from him. Therefore, no one dared to speak up for him.
Prince Yong glanced at Zhao Shu, then shifted his gaze to Wei Tingsi. This boy was actually appearing with his precious daughter! How could this be? As a fellow man, he knew all too well what the boy's eyes meant. He turned his head away arrogantly. This was intolerable, and he would not speak up for him!
The Crown Prince, who had been looking down at his toes, raised his head and a bright smile appeared on his face. "General Wei, I heard that you captured the notorious bandit. This villain had committed many evils, and I had long heard of him. I must thank you for capturing him and ridding the people of this scourge!"
He emphasized the words "to rid the people of harm," which sounded particularly grating to the Sun family.
Immediately, someone jumped out, acting like a mother hen protecting her chicks, and said in a sarcastic tone, "The general has come to Jingxin Garden to catch thieves, what a skill you have."
The Crown Prince then looked directly at the man. "General Wei is indeed very capable. I still have a question for you, Madam Sun." He turned to Madam Sun. "How did a notorious bandit end up in Jingxin Garden? Could it be that her accomplices are in the courtyard? Fourth Brother, I've heard that this place is part of Fourth Sister-in-law's dowry. You should know about this, shouldn't you?"
After he finished speaking, he looked at the fourth prince, Zhao Bi.
Zhao Bi was already frustrated enough by Sun Yun's scheme today, but now the Crown Prince publicly brought up the matter of Sun Si's dowry. Wasn't that a slap in the face?
Although as a prince he not only hoped that his principal wife's family was powerful, but he also wished that even his concubines were daughters of first-class noble families, as a man, he felt that he had no status if his wife's family was too powerful.
Most of the time, he tried to pretend that he and Sun Si were deeply in love, rather than that he valued her family background.
But it was clear that the Crown Prince didn't want to engage in a war of words with him; a single sarcastic remark would suffice. He was mainly speaking up for Wei Tingsi. After speaking, without waiting for Zhao Bi's reply, he smiled and asked Wei Tingsi, "General Wei, I've heard that some of the thieves' accomplices are on the run?"
"Your Highness, there are accomplices on the run." He gripped his sword, his attitude extremely polite, unlike his coldness towards others, which he displayed rather gently.
Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment at this scene. They had never heard of any relationship between the Crown Prince and this fellow. Why did these two seem to have been close friends for many years?
"Hmph, just because you say he's a notorious bandit doesn't mean he is!" The Sun family members were unconvinced. At this moment, the speaker changed. Zhao Shu happened to recognize him. His name was Sun Binli, Sun Yun's uncle.
"Grandson." Huo Baichuan suddenly stepped out from behind the crowd, stood in front of the noisy Sun Binli, and stared at him with a fake smile.
"Who are you calling a grandson!" Sun Binli roared in anger. If it weren't for the principle of 'a gentleman uses words, not fists' still in his mind, he would have already started fighting with Huo Baichuan.
Huo Baichuan pulled the licorice root from his mouth and stuffed it into his belt. "I'm talking to you, what's wrong?"
"You!" Faced with Huo Baichuan's typical playboy smile, Sun Binli was speechless. He might be able to fight back by quoting classics, but he couldn't bring himself to use such vulgar insults.
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