Xie Liwei's older sister is the late Empress Xie Wanqing, who is the eldest prince's legal mother. Given this line of seniority, the eldest prince should indeed call him "little uncle".
But he wouldn't even deign to call his own uncle "little uncle," so how could he possibly be happy to call him "little uncle"?
Besides, Xie Wanqing has been dead for so many years, he doesn't even need to call her his stepmother, let alone his uncle!
"Your Highness is too kind." The eldest prince awkwardly retracted his "Thank you, brother," truly infuriating!
But in my memory, Xie Liwei before Xie Wanqing died wasn't this annoying. Back then, he was gentle and refined, and he would study with Xie Wanqing and her younger brother, bringing them little trinkets from the common people whenever he went to the palace.
After Xie Wanqing's death, Xie Liwei became a completely different person. He became irritable, cruel, and his mouth was like a scabbard, spewing out blades with every word.
"Your Highness, why don't you add a prize for the Princess? If she wins, she'll be happy too."
Xie Liwei glanced at him again, "I want that hot spring estate outside the city."
The eldest prince: "..."
That hot spring resort is very famous in the capital. Except for summer, it earns him a lot of money in spring, autumn and winter. Moreover, the scenery is beautiful, the climate is mild in winter and cool in summer, making it a good place to escape the heat.
Many people covet this estate, but everyone knows who's behind it, so none dare to even consider it. Xie Liwei's suggestion is truly insightful.
"If the Princess loses, how about the Prince handing over Nanshan Academy?"
He had barely finished speaking when he met Xie Liwei's expression of looking at an idiot.
"No, the princess said she has only ridden a pig, not a horse, so the competition is already unfair."
The eldest prince: "..."
His phoenix eyes glared at the scene, where he saw Song Yaozhu holding the saddle, one foot on the stirrup, and with a flick of her other leg, easily mount the horse. Looking at Yongle beside her, he saw a servant supporting her waist as she mounted.
This is what you call not knowing how to ride a horse?!
"Then, would it be alright to give up the position of headmaster of Nanshan Academy?"
As long as he can place people in Nanshan Academy, it's only a matter of time before Nanshan Academy falls into his hands.
Xie Liwei pondered for a moment and nodded.
"Alright." He turned to the chief secretary beside him and said, "Did you hear that? Your Highness's word is law, so you can't go back on your word later."
The chief clerk was ashamed; he spoke as if he had already won.
On the riding track, at a command, two swift horses shot off like lightning. Initially, Yongle's reddish-brown steed took the lead, with the black and white horse close behind. By the third lap, the reddish-brown horse was clearly tired, but the black and white horse maintained its speed.
By the fourth lap, the black and white horse had accelerated and surged forward, leaving the red and brown horse far behind.
Seeing this, Yongle was so anxious that he whipped the horse hard. The red-brown horse neighed violently and galloped away, but instead of running along the track, it ran wildly through the racetrack.
Chaos erupted, and even the eldest prince, watching from the stands, panicked. If something happened to his cousin in his residence, he was finished!
"Go and save them!" the eldest prince roared, leading his men to rush to the scene.
Chaos had begun on the racecourse, with the young masters and ladies who were originally inside scrambling to scatter to the sides, fearing they would be trampled by the enraged red-brown horse.
Several horse trainers immediately mounted their horses to chase after the red-brown horse, but unexpectedly, Song Yaozhu had already caught up and kept pushing the red-brown horse towards a less crowded area.
Several horse trainers hurriedly followed, "Your Highness, please leave quickly, we'll take care of things here!"
Upon hearing the sound, Song Yaozhu slightly turned her horse's head and spurred it to slow it down. Several horsemen quickly moved forward, sandwiching the red-brown horse between them, and soon the red-brown horse came to a stop.
Yongle was carried back by his servants, crying miserably, clearly terrified.
"Who prepared Yongle's riding whip? Why is there a barb on it!" The eldest prince was furious.
The red-brown horse went berserk because it was scratched by barbs.
As Song Yaozhu approached from afar, she recalled the astonished expression on Caiyin's face when her whip tore through her clothes; clearly, Caiyin herself hadn't known that the whip had barbs.
Is someone trying to harm this princess?
The eldest prince punished some servants and ordered a thorough investigation into the matter. When he saw Song Yaozhu coming over, he had no choice but to go up and appease her.
"I'm sorry to have frightened my sister-in-law."
Song Yaozhu stroked the horse's head. "It was indeed frightened. Give me this horse as a consolation prize."
"......"
Seriously, do these two have any shame?
It was just a crossbred horse, though. The eldest prince generously said, "I'm honored that my sister-in-law has taken a liking to it!"
Before he could finish speaking, the Crown Princess and Xie Liwei walked past together.
The Crown Princess was clearly still shaken, but she maintained a calm demeanor.
"Is the Princess alright?" she asked with concern.
"It's all good, but I wonder how the princess is doing."
"I have already summoned the imperial physician to examine him. The superficial wounds are nothing to worry about, but I'm afraid he may have been too frightened."
Song Yaozhu understood; it wasn't uncommon for people to die from shock.
After they finished speaking, Xie Liwei slowly said, "Your Highness, according to seniority, you should address my Queen Consort as Aunt."
The eldest prince: "......" When will this ever end!
The Crown Prince's Consort: "..." Last time Song Yaozhu came to the Prince's residence, she called her "sister" countless times...
Song Yaozhu suddenly realized, "Oh, right!"
The chief secretary silently took out a handkerchief and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
"Your Highness, remember to keep your bet."
The eldest prince said unhappily, "The competition isn't over yet."
“I’ve run five laps already.” Song Yaozhu stroked the black and white horse’s head. “I only went to chase after the princess after I finished five laps.”
A girl in red cycling gear raised her arm and said, "I can vouch for her, I saw her finish five laps!"
When the Crown Prince's wife heard about the prize the Crown Prince had offered, she was so angry that she vomited blood—it was her dowry estate!
Those spendthrift men!
After this farcical incident that ended without serious injury, everyone lost interest in playing around and said their goodbyes to go home.
Song Yaozhu was in a good mood after getting a fast horse. Xie Liwei immediately contacted the richest man in the capital after obtaining the land deed for the hot spring resort, and sold the resort for 300,000 taels of silver.
When Song Yaozhu found out, she felt she had gotten a huge loss. An ordinary estate could be bought for 100,000 taels, while those with good feng shui could cost 200,000 to 300,000. But a place like the Hot Spring Resort, with everything exquisitely furnished, could easily sell for 500,000 taels!
"Wouldn't it be better to keep your money so it can generate more money?"
"Do you think I can keep you here?" Xie Liwei counted the silver notes, then pulled out two thousand taels and gave them to her. "Here, take it and spend it!"
"Your Highness is so magnanimous!"
After saying that, she felt she had been too obsequious. At that moment, Qin Yu entered, and Song Yaozhu sat up straight again.
"Your Highness, someone from the palace has come. They say the Emperor requests your presence for a talk."
Xie Liwei gave Song Yaozhu a "you see" look and closed the money box.
"Your Highness, please return soon!"
Xie Liwei paused for a moment, hummed in agreement, and then walked away.
Go early and come back early.
It feels good to have someone waiting for you at home.
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