92. Make up, but then have someone else start the argument.
On the other side, Qu Zijin, holding the little dumpling and leading the little princess, finally found the little prince curled up in a secluded spot.
"Your Highness..." Qu Zijin put down Jin Lanyue and was about to step forward.
"Get away!" the little prince cried, his voice trembling with tears. "All of you, get away!"
The little dumpling timidly took two steps forward: "Your Highness, please don't cry..."
"Your brother is the worst!"
The little dumpling was startled by the shout.
Seeing this, the little princess softened her voice, a rare occurrence: "Jiayou, Jinli's other..."
"You're on his side too!" the little prince cried even harder. "You're all on his side! Just because I'm all alone... no one to stand up for me..."
He couldn't continue, buried his face in his knees, and sobbed uncontrollably.
Qu Zijin stepped forward, squatted down beside the young prince, and said softly, "Your Highness, I know you feel wronged."
The young prince raised his head, his eyes blurry with tears: "Grand Tutor..."
"But does Your Highness know that Kim Li-ji might be suffering even more than you right now?"
The young prince was stunned.
“He got carried away in his moment of triumph and accidentally hurt you. He must be regretting it now,” Qu Zijin wiped away his tears. “Your Highness, as a prince, you should be even more tolerant of others.”
The little prince sobbed, "But...but he said I..."
“If he is wrong, I will punish him,” Qu Zijin said seriously, “but if Your Highness holds a grudge because of this, wouldn’t that seem petty?”
The young prince lowered his head and remained silent.
Just then, the little dumpling stood in front of the little prince, clumsily bowed, and said in a soft voice, "Your Highness, Yue'er apologizes on behalf of my second brother. I'm sorry... Second brother didn't mean it. Don't cry. If Your Highness cries, Yue'er wants to cry too..."
The young prince looked up and saw her apologizing despite her red eyes. His heart softened: "It's not your fault... I won't blame you."
The little princess followed him over and patted him on the shoulder: "Jiayou, don't be sad. I'll take care of you from now on."
The little dumpling nodded vigorously, "And Yue'er! Yue'er loves Your Highness too!"
She thought for a moment, then added, "And the Grand Tutor!"
Qu Zijin looked at the three children with a gentle gaze.
He gently touched the top of the little dumpling's head: "Your Highness, look, everyone cares about you."
The little prince wiped away his tears and finally stopped crying: "Um... I understand."
The little dumpling stepped forward and took his hand: "We'll give His Highness the medicine!"
“I’m here to support you,” the little prince stood up, his tears turning into a smile. “How can you support me when you’re so young? But it’s alright, I’ll support you from now on.”
The little dumpling quickly defended itself: "The moon can be made into medicine! The moon will grow up!"
"But I'll grow up too. I'll always be two years older than you."
"Huh?" The little dumpling was stunned, its mind a bit blank.
Oh right, the little prince will grow up too, and it seems she can't grow bigger than him...
"Shall we go back?" The little princess took the little dumpling's other hand. "The Grand Tutor is going to teach us archery."
-
The four returned to the training ground and found their second brother still standing there, pacing back and forth anxiously.
Upon seeing them return, he immediately stood up straight, but then awkwardly turned his face away.
“Li Zhi,” Qu Zijin called out, “come here.”
The second brother dawdled over, head bowed, not daring to look at the little prince.
However, before Qu Zijin could even speak up and get the two to shake hands and make peace, the second brother had already spoken first—
"Your Highness..." his voice was barely audible, "It was my fault just now... I shouldn't have spoken like that..."
The young prince pursed his lips, then suddenly stepped forward: "I was wrong too... I shouldn't have argued with you..."
The two boys looked at each other and saw the apology in each other's eyes.
The second brother reached out his hand and said, "Then... let's make up?"
The little prince hesitated for a moment, then finally stretched out his little hand: "Mmm!"
The two little hands were clasped tightly together, and the previous misunderstandings seemed to have vanished.
"Grand Tutor," the second elder brother turned to Qu Zijin and said sincerely, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have disobeyed you."
The young prince chimed in, "I shouldn't have been so willful either."
Qu Zijin nodded with satisfaction: "To know one's mistakes and correct them is the greatest virtue. Come, let's start anew."
-
Marquis Beiding and Jiang Xiyue did not return home because they were attending a banquet. Qu Zijin escorted Jin Lanyue and Jin Lizhi home after school as usual.
Only the eldest brother, Jin Xizhi, was waiting in the front hall.
The ten-year-old boy already looks like a grown-up.
"Grand Tutor, please take care." Jin Qizhi respectfully escorted Qu Zijin to the gate. After the carriage had driven away, he turned to look at his younger brother, the gentle smile on his face gradually fading.
"Big brother!" The second brother, oblivious to the situation, rushed forward impatiently. "The Imperial Tutor taught us archery today! I was really good at it, even the little prince couldn't beat me!"
Jin Qizhi frowned and asked directly, "I heard you had a dispute with His Highness on the training ground?"
The second brother waved his hand dismissively: "It's nothing serious, it's just that the little prince didn't beat me, but the matter is already resolved..."
"Nonsense!" Jin Qizhi suddenly raised his voice, startling the little dumpling. "Do you know what a serious crime it is to offend a prince? It's only because the little prince is kind-hearted that you're here. If it were any other member of the royal family, you would already be in jail by now!"
The second brother was also startled, but quickly pouted indignantly, "Why are you shouting so loudly... Even the little prince didn't mind..."
"That's precisely why you should be even more careful with your words and actions! His Highness is so magnanimous, yet instead of being grateful, you're smug and proud? You've completely disgraced the Marquis's mansion!"
"Where did I lose face?" the second brother retorted, sticking his neck out. "I clearly won against the little prince and brought honor to the Marquis's mansion!"
"Bring glory?" Jin Qizhi sneered. "Insubordination and disregard for hierarchy—is this what you call bringing glory? If this gets back to Father's ears..."
"Don't try to intimidate me with our father!" The second brother's eyes reddened. "So what if he's a few years older than me? What gives you the right to lecture me?"
---
Mini-theater:
Second brother: (Overwhelmed with grief and indignation) (Takes out a small notebook) (Writes furiously)
Little dumpling: (Trying to jump up to see) (jump) (jump) (jump) Brother, what are you writing?
Second brother: (stubbornly) (wiping away tears) I'm writing this down! I'll give that bastard Jin Qizhi a big scare when the time comes!
Little dumpling: (tilting head) Giru? Is it a martial arts manual?
Jin Qizhi: Jin! Li! Zhi!
Second brother: (Throws book) (Runs away)
Little Dumpling: (Following the book with her gaze) Let Yue'er see the secret manual! Yue'er wants to be a hero too!
Jin Qizhi: Why did you run so fast? (Opens the book that was thrown into his arms) What did he write?
Little dumpling: (puzzling) (peeking out) Yue'er doesn't understand...
Jin Qizhi: (Looks) (Frowns) Hmph.
My second brother's little notebook is full of grudges, every page of it is filled with them!
---
The little dumpling has something to say:
Little Dumpling: Hey sisters~ Anyone want to see a short skit?
Little Dumpling: If you have any, please tell Moon in the comments!
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