"What nonsense are you spouting?" Hongshi laughed in exasperation. "Are you still a virgin? Where did Fu Hui come from? Did she spring from a stone?"
Shan Xiu opened her mouth, wanting to explain, but... she didn't dare.
This was her deepest, most profound secret. If she were to reveal even a little bit of it, she would surely face the consequence of being utterly destroyed.
She dared not say it, but if she didn't, Hongshi wouldn't believe her!
If Hongshi knew that it was her first time with him, would he feel even more pity for her?
At this moment, Shan Xiu no longer had the mind to think about Hongshi's wives and princesses. All she could think about was that she must be different to Hongshi, otherwise why would Hongshi go to such lengths to please her and be with her?
"Alright! Go back now, or someone will find out!" Hongshi had completely lost his patience. He glanced at Shanxiu, whose face was covered in tears and snot and whose hair was a mess, and regretted his past actions even more.
He couldn't leave the palace and couldn't look for women, so he really acted impulsively and got involved with this woman.
Hesitation only leads to more trouble, but Hongshi didn't have the courage. He thought he should at least appease her and send her away first. Once she returned, he would lock the gates of Chengqian Palace, make up an excuse, and never see her again.
In this way, without anyone noticing, the relationship is over.
Hongshi secretly considered the situation, and seeing that Shanxiu was still crying, he took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down: "Okay, if you keep crying, I'll feel sorry for you."
The familiar tone brought Shan Xiu back to her senses. She sobbed and looked up at Hong Shi.
Hongshi gently tucked her hair behind her ear: "Alright, alright, stop crying. Look at all that dirt on you, did you fall?"
“Hongshi…” Shan Xiu’s eyes reddened again. It was only in bed that Hongshi would speak to her so gently.
“I went to those places purely for social obligations. You know how many men have no choice but to do what they want when they’re out in the world…” Hongshi said, taking her fair hand and gently kissing it. “Don’t be sad. Aren’t you enough for me? I don’t even want to touch the princess in my own room anymore, why would I go and touch those other women?”
"Really? Really?" Shan Xiu asked, sobbing. She desperately wanted to believe it.
"Alas, even you don't believe me? My father's reprimand has already filled me with sorrow. If you don't believe me either..." Hongshi said, closing his eyes in anguish, a tear rolling down his cheek, "Then I would rather be dead..."
Seeing him like this, Shan Xiu felt extremely sorry for him. She hugged Hong Shi's waist and said coquettishly, "I believe you, of course I believe you... it's just that I care about you too much..."
“I understand, you’re the best.” Hongshi pushed her away subtly, suppressing his annoyance as he gently kissed her lips, which were no longer as lovely as before, and then immediately said, “This is the Imperial Garden, there are too many people and too much gossip here, you should go back.”
"Then, when will you come to see me?" Shan Xiu asked reluctantly.
Hongshi could only promise to go see her that night, and after much coaxing, Shan Xiucai finally agreed to leave.
Watching Shan Xiu's figure disappear, Hong Shi breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't want to stay here any longer; who knew what might happen if he stayed any longer? He didn't dare take the main road, so he led the two eunuchs to turn and take a side path. Just then, he saw the backs of a group of people walking past not far ahead.
Instantly, Hongshi tensed up. He subconsciously took two more steps to catch up. When he saw who was walking in front, Hongshi felt as if he had been struck by lightning, and his whole body felt like it was about to crack open.
That's his youngest brother, Hongshan...
How could Hongshan have passed by on this road? He deliberately chose the most secluded corner with the fewest people, how could he have run into Hongshan by such a coincidence?
And... where was Hongshan just now? Did he hear his conversation with Shanxiu?
Hongshan is still young and may not understand anything, but what if he goes back and tells Consort Xi? Consort Xi is a shrewd person. Even if Hongshan can't remember a few words, she will definitely be able to guess what he means!
What to do! What to do!
For a moment, Hongshi had the idea of killing Hongshan so that he would never see anyone else again. But Hongshan was a prince, born to the Consort, and had an older brother named Hongli. He really couldn't think of any way to kill Hongshan quickly and without anyone noticing.
In the blink of an eye, Hongshan and his group had already traveled quite a distance. Hongshi gritted his teeth and decided to leave Hongshan behind for now, at least to find out if Hongshan had heard anything. If all else failed, they could make further plans later.
Before Hongshi could catch up with Hongshan, he saw Foerguochun run over from another direction, pick up Hongshan, pinch his nose and say something. The two siblings laughed together in the sunlight, so happy and bright.
In an instant, Hongshi felt like a rat in a sewer, forced to slink away and eke out a living in the shadows.
...It's all that woman, Consort Hua's, fault!
As the emperor's concubine, as the emperor's woman, how could she be so unreserved as to seduce him when he was still a prince!
Now, he's been caught red-handed by the younger brother of the person he hates most, and to keep this secret, he's forced to do even more shady things...
It's all that woman's fault!
Hongshi gritted his teeth, making a grinding sound, then slumped down, looking utterly listless. Jinzhong looked at him with concern: "Brother..."
"Let's go back." Hongshi sighed, thinking that he should stay in the courtyard for a few days and wait for his father to calm down, and also wait and see if Yongshou Palace would react.
If all else fails... then we'll consider the last resort.
Hongshi returned dejectedly, and Qian Shengyan was greeted by an enraged Yinzhen.
"Tell me about this Hongshi! He'll drive me crazy sooner or later!" Yinzhen slammed his hand on the small table, making the teacups on it tremble. "I thought he had changed for the better, but I didn't expect him to still be hanging out with that group of people! This time it's even worse, he almost caused a death!"
Qian Shengyan didn't know what to say. It was obviously useless to advise Yinzhen to take care of his health at this moment. She could only silently pour him a cup of lotus seed tea, hoping it would help cool him down.
"Those kids of the Ninth Prince are all no good! Sure enough, the father is to blame for not teaching his son properly. The Ninth Prince is ruthless and vicious!" Yinzhen continued cursing, "It's them who corrupted Hongshi!"
"Some time ago, the Ninth Prince allowed his servants to harass the common people. I ordered Commander Chu Zong to restrain him, but upon learning of Chu Zong's arrival, he failed to greet and pay his respects as one would when receiving an imperial envoy. Instead, he remained arrogant and disrespectful!" Yinzhen slammed his hand on the table again, then suddenly thought of Nian Gengyao. "And that beast Nian Gengyao! He's not a careless person, yet he deliberately wrote the congratulatory message like this! He refused to use the phrase 'working diligently day and night,' which shows his arrogance and disrespect!!!"
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