Prince Ning was an unconventional person, and before Xie Tingzhou could answer, he spoke up again.
"I originally said I'd take you to the hot spring this afternoon, but I heard your mother is unwell, so we can't go."
Just then, the horse farm outside the city acquired a batch of fine horses, and my second brother and I wanted to go and take a look.
However, the Queen Mother has asked us to visit the Old Madam on her behalf. My second brother and I cannot go directly; you will accompany us. After we've seen her, I'll leave the city. It'll be too late; all the good horses will be gone.
He finished speaking all by himself, clearly treating the old lady's visit as a task.
Xie Tingzhou stepped out of the door. "Your Highness, I will accompany you there."
He knew very well that the Empress was doing this to save face for her two sons.
News of the old lady of the Marquis's mansion's deteriorating condition spread in the palace and would soon reach the capital.
Although the Marquis's mansion has caused quite a few troubles, in the eyes of outsiders, the old lady is still the mother of the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery.
The fact that the two princes personally visited the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence demonstrates the royal family's high regard for it and also shows the princes' respect for their virtuous officials.
As a child, he often convinced himself that the emperor was not his biological father. Giving him the title of crown prince, letting him live, and not mistreating him was already a sign of benevolence.
It's understandable that the emperor treats his son better than him, since they are father and son.
He forced himself not to be jealous or resentful, but instead protected his younger brother, because they shared the same mother.
In this way, he can please his mother, and if she sees that he is sensible, she will not abandon him.
But later, he discovered that in the Empress's eyes, he was different from his two sons.
The Empress would meticulously plan for the second and third sons, but would sternly demand that they find their own solutions.
Xie Tingzhou's mind was filled with thoughts, but his expression remained unchanged.
The Cloud King, who had been silent all along, finally spoke, "Would you like to change your clothes?"
He remembered that Fu Guang had just said that Xie Tingzhou had gone back to the hospital to change his clothes, and Xie Tingzhou was still wearing the same clothes he wore in the morning.
Xie Tingzhou scoffed, "Let's go with you first, so we don't have to change when we get back."
Prince Ning looked at him suspiciously, and asked in a low voice, as if whispering, "You despise her to this extent now?"
Even after entering the old lady's room, she had to change her clothes before leaving.
Xie Tingzhou remained silent.
Prince Ning didn't mind his rudeness, and only muttered to Prince Yun, "This guy is still the same as when he was a child, not likable. Only the Crown Prince can control him."
"The prince is just like he was when he was a child; he doesn't even know how to speak ill of others in private."
Xie Tingzhou responded calmly.
Prince Ning retorted, "I am telling the truth, and I am saying it for you to hear. There is no need to avoid it."
I said, "You were taken to the border by the Marquis of Zhongyong for many years to be taught, how come your temper hasn't improved at all?"
"I'm a prince, after all. Can't you show some respect as a subject and give way to me?"
He had never won an argument with this person since he was a child.
"The prince didn't show the demeanor a prince should have."
Another retort was thrown at him.
Xie Tingzhou thought to himself, "The Empress has been teaching you for so many years, but she hasn't made any progress in your education."
Prince Ning was unwilling to admit defeat, and the two continued their verbal sparring all the way to the old lady's courtyard.
Yun Wang acted as if it were commonplace, his expression remaining indifferent. Only when Ning Wang couldn't win the argument and was about to roll up his sleeves, or when Xie Tingzhou angered Ning Wang to the point of a fit of rage, would Yun Wang offer a few words of appeasement.
Upon reaching the old lady's room, he closed his folding fan and tapped Ning Wang and Xie Tingzhou's arms in unison, saying, "Alright, let's not waste any more time."
Reminded by him, Prince Ning remembered the important matter that was to come. He took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.
However, the stench emanating from the room, mixed with the smell of medicine, almost made him gag.
He quickly covered his mouth and glared at Xie Tingzhou, who hadn't said the old lady smelled bad.
It was definitely intentional; no wonder he said he wanted to change his clothes when he got back.
Xie Tingzhou looked at him like he was an idiot. It was summer, and with such a large area of burns, the smell was naturally unpleasant.
Still so thoughtless.
Prince Yun frowned as well. Both princes were delicate and precious, having never been on the battlefield or done anything dangerous, and had never been exposed to any strange smells in their daily lives.
Holding their breath, they went inside, went through the motions, and then left the old lady's room again.
Prince Ning took a deep breath of fresh air. "Your father hasn't returned yet. Don't kill him, or you won't be able to explain it to him later."
The news about the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion had already spread throughout the capital, and he naturally knew about it as well. He felt that based on his understanding of Xie Tingzhou...
Xie Tingzhou was definitely involved in the old lady's burns. He's not one to suffer a loss easily. The old lady had tried to kill him several times, so why would he still go into the fire to save her?
Xie Tingzhou said irritably, "Do you need to remind me? If it weren't for the old man's blind filial piety and his instructions to keep an eye on the house before he left, do you think I would have been happy to save her?"
His resentful and aggrieved appearance made Prince Ning wonder if he had guessed wrong.
Was the fire unrelated to Tse Ting-Chow? Did he only save people because he had promised to be a loyal and brave marshal?
That being said, this person may be annoying, but he is indeed an extremely trustworthy person.
Immediately, he shook his head, thinking, "What does it matter to me whether it's related or not?"
Judging from Xie Tingzhou's expression, he seemed to have felt much better after losing the argument.
He then strode outside, saying, "Alright, I've seen the person, I'll be leaving now."
Yun Wang asked Xie Tingzhou, "Shall I pick one out for you?"
Xie Tingzhou didn't stand on ceremony, "Then thank you very much, Your Highness. Two or three horses are not too many."
King Yun chuckled, displaying his exceptionally good temper, "Alright, here are two for you."
Prince Ning grinned, "Bandits."
After seeing the two off, Xie Tingzhou returned to the Mo Courtyard to change his clothes before going to find Ye Zhen.
Just then, Yin Yue overheard Ye Zhen talking about Xie Lanzhou, saying, "The person who went out did bring medicine into the mansion, and there's a high chance they really got infected."
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