Sensing the suspicious gaze, Chu Tianze felt offended. Heaven and earth could bear witness that he was completely innocent and of impeccable character... Why did Xiaoxiao look at him like he was scum? It was all this person's fault... So he stared at the Crown Prince with a dark expression. A dignified Crown Prince who couldn't even control himself in this situation, what a waste...
Bai Chuxiao replied with a smile, "Your Highness, there's no need to worry. My second sister is doing well, but Father was so angry that he whipped her dozens of times, and she's still lying in bed."
Chu Tianyou's expression stiffened upon hearing this, and he smiled somewhat awkwardly, "This is my fault, it has caused Wan'er... I'll trouble Miss Bai to speak to Prime Minister Bai..."
Before he could finish speaking, Bai Chuxiao said with a half-smile, "Your Highness, there's no need to blame yourself. It's normal for an innocent young girl to be led astray and do some foolish things. After all, who hasn't encountered a few scoundrels when they were young? Father will understand eventually. Second Sister is, after all, the daughter of the Left Prime Minister. No matter what, she can still get married. She doesn't really have to become a nun."
Bai Chuxiao sneered inwardly. "You damn scumbag, why are you pretending..." She had initially thought helping the Crown Prince wouldn't hurt, but now she felt he was just as clueless as her. However, compared to Chu Tianling, the Crown Prince was at least gentler and kinder; it's just that his character... really wasn't great either.
Having been openly called a scumbag, Chu Tianyou's expression turned somewhat unpleasant, but he dared not say anything more, lest he truly offend everyone. Besides, it was indeed his own fault for losing control this time.
But Chu Tianze, standing to the side, took her hands, looked at her intently, and called out, "Xiaoxiao."
Bai Chuxiao raised an eyebrow and looked at him. "What's wrong?"
Seeing that he had finally spoken, the Crown Prince looked over with relief. Had the Seventh Prince had a change of heart and decided to speak up for him?
Then Chu Tianze said calmly, "I'm not scum, don't worry."
Upon hearing this, the crown prince nearly coughed up blood. "If you're not scum, then am I...?"
Bai Chuxiao couldn't help but chuckle, and said with a light smile, "Yes, I know you're not, I'm talking about someone else..."
So, are you referring to me when you say "other people"? Chu Tianyou suddenly felt a tightness in his chest, but Liu Shuyao's mood eased considerably, and she smiled slightly, "Sister Bai and Seventh Brother have such a good relationship."
The crown prince suddenly realized he had been neglecting his wife, and remembering the purpose of his trip, he quickly smiled and said, "Shuyao, there's no need to envy them. We're just as good as them."
Bai Chuxiao couldn't help but purse her lips. How good could it be to meet someone like you?
Liu Shuyao said calmly, "Your Highness, let's not disturb Seventh Brother and the others."
"Shuyao is right. Seventh brother, you all enjoy your time. I'll be leaving now."
After they left, Chu Tianze pulled out a hairpin from somewhere and stuck it in Bai Chuxiao's hair. "It looks beautiful."
When did you buy it?
Chu Tianze chuckled, "When I say I'm going shopping, I naturally mean I'm going to buy something. Unlike you, Xiaoxiao, who's so distracted."
Bai Chuxiao glanced at him guiltily. Come to think of it, Chu Tianze had given her quite a few things, while she hadn't given him anything in return. She'd have to find something else to give him another day.
Chu Tianze took her hand again and said calmly, "Xiaoxiao, you're not allowed to look at me like that again. I promise I'll never be like the Crown Prince and the Sixth Prince."
Looking into those deep, beautiful eyes, Bai Chuxiao felt a flutter in her heart. They're so beautiful… she really wanted to…
"Xiaoxiao, you're not trying to gouge my eyes out again, are you?" Chu Tianze said helplessly.
Having her thoughts exposed, Bai Chuxiao smiled awkwardly, "How could that be? I was just admiring it."
Then she smiled faintly and said, "I believe you, but if that's really the case, I won't be as good-tempered as Liu Shuyao."
Chu Tianze curled the corners of his lips. "What will happen to Xiaoxiao?"
Bai Chuxiao smiled knowingly, "Perhaps... I castrated you?"
Chu Tianze couldn't help but shudder; Xiaoxiao was not someone to be trifled with.
In the imperial study, Emperor Wenxuan listened with a gloomy expression to Zhang Yu's report. "Are you saying that Prince Qi was the mastermind, and Prince Xiang knew about it and took advantage of the situation to reap the benefits?"
Zhang Yu knelt on the ground, his head bowed low, "Your Majesty, after my investigation, it is indeed so."
"Zhang Yu, how dare you! Do you know the consequences of involving two princes?"
"Your Majesty, everything I have said is true," Zhang Yu kowtowed several more times.
Emperor Wenxuan stared at him with an inscrutable expression for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Alright, get up."
Zhang Yu stood up and cautiously asked, "Your Majesty, what should be done with Zi Yan?" He dared not mention the matter of what to do with Prince Qi and Prince Xiang; serving the emperor was like walking on thin ice, especially since they were his sons. It was best not to say anything more.
Emperor Wenxuan snorted coldly, "Just kill them."
After pondering for a moment, he instructed, "You may leave now. Remember, do not make a fuss about this."
Zhang Yu broke out in a cold sweat. His Majesty had shown some mercy after all. It seemed the Prince of Xiang and the Prince of Qi could still cause trouble. Luckily, he hadn't said anything out of turn. "As Your Majesty commands, I will take my leave now."
Emperor Wenxuan picked up a memorial and stared at it quietly, but he didn't really read its contents. He murmured to himself, "These sons of mine are all grown up now, and they've started to have some inappropriate thoughts..."
Then, looking at the middle-aged man who had been standing silently to the side, he said, "Cheng Song, what do you think should be done about this?"
Cheng Song was startled. After a moment's consideration, he said softly, "His Majesty will decide everything. However, in principle, the Prince should return to his fiefdom if there is nothing wrong."
Emperor Wenxuan raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "You are quite clever."
At this moment, a young eunuch entered and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine has sent someone to request your presence."
"Oh? You've come at just the right time."
The young eunuch immediately knelt on the ground, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, this servant did not know that I had disturbed Your Majesty..."
A cold glint flashed in Emperor Wenxuan's eyes. "Jinzhong, take him away and kill him."
The little eunuch immediately cried out, "Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, spare me!"
"Yes, Your Majesty," the loyal concubine replied, immediately stepping forward to gag him. She inwardly scoffed, "This Consort has certainly grown bolder, daring to place someone near His Majesty. Has she forgotten His Majesty's temperament? He was known for his ruthless killings back in the day."
Emperor Wenxuan's lips curled into a cold smile. "Cheng Song, do you think I'm getting old?" Otherwise, why would these people dare to outwardly comply with him while inwardly defying him? Did they think he didn't have many years left and deserved to step down?
Cheng Song immediately knelt down, "Your Majesty possesses the body of a golden dragon, and is now strong and vigorous..."
"Alright, get back to work, stop with the flattery."
Emperor Wenxuan's eyes were dim and uncertain. He was indeed getting old, and he had developed some affection for his sons. In the past, he had intended to temper the Crown Prince, which was why he had allowed the Prince of Xiang and the Prince of Qi to grow up. After all, how could they secure their positions without going through some bloodshed? But now it seemed that the Crown Prince hadn't improved at all, while the fifth and sixth princes had become bolder and more ambitious. After the two of them got married, he would send them back to their fiefdoms to save them from causing trouble in the capital every day. As for the Crown Prince, he would personally teach him more; perhaps he could succeed...
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