Chapter 76

In fact, Song Li's appearance had not changed much since childhood, but the Fourth Prince clearly did not remember him. For someone like him, how could a former lackey attract his attention?

"The Fourth Prince is valiant and handsome; everyone says you resemble the wise and mighty Holy Emperor the most. Who in the capital doesn't know you?" Song Li smiled. "But the Fourth Prince's behavior just now might damage the Holy Emperor's reputation. If he knew that you, the Fourth Prince, liked to bully his palace maids, he would surely be furious."

Before taking action, Song Li already knew that this guy was the Fourth Prince. He deliberately slapped the Fourth Prince, partly to vent his anger for the palace maid and partly to vent his own childhood grievances. If not for such a situation, when would he have the chance to slap a prince so openly and justly?

He insisted that he acted because he thought the Fourth Prince was a lecher. What could you do to him? I only saw your back, how could I know who you were? Song Li was determined to give this guy a good beating. He was sure that the Fourth Prince would not dare to make a big fuss. If the Holy Emperor found out, the Fourth Prince's image as a good child would be completely ruined. The crown prince had not been decided yet, and each prince was secretly striving for the position. The Fourth Prince was one of the more powerful contenders. Would he expose his own shortcomings at such a critical moment? If the Holy Emperor found out about the daytime molestation of a palace maid, it was certain that the Fourth Prince's eligibility to compete for the crown prince position would be immediately revoked.

If you dare to hold me accountable for my insolence, I will make a big fuss and see who suffers more. Slapping a prince twice without knowing who he was is not a capital offense. Ignorance is no crime, at most a few lashes as a warning, but certainly not execution. Song Li would suffer a bit of physical pain, but Song Side would lose a lot. The eligibility for the crown prince position is no joke.

Sure enough, when Song Side heard Song Li say this, his expression immediately softened. He knew that this matter must not be known by the Emperor.

"What's your name? Why are you in the palace?" Song Side asked calmly, though he was still young, his depth of thought was already on par with adults. He knew that he could not deal with this detestable person today. If he insisted on taking revenge, he might alarm the Emperor, which would be counterproductive.

A gentleman avenges a wrong, but not until ten years have passed. If he found out his name and background, wouldn't there be plenty of opportunities to deal with him later? The whole world is the Emperor's land. As long as you are still in the Holy Lion Empire, you cannot escape my grasp.

Song Li understood that even if he did not say it, the Fourth Prince, with his shrewdness, would certainly find out his name through other channels. At the very least, the high eunuch would not dare to refuse him. So he smiled frankly and said, "Fourth Prince, you really forget things easily. I am Song Li. I used to study with you when I was a child."

Song Side clearly paused, frowned, and thought for a moment before remembering who Song Li was. His expression was slightly surprised and puzzled. "You are Song Li? Didn't they say you had a weak constitution and couldn't cultivate? How did you...?"

Song Side himself was at the peak of the Body Tempering stage, which was already quite good for his age. But just now, when Song Li grabbed his waist and slapped him twice, he had no chance to resist at all! This meant that Song Li was much higher in rank, at least at the Qi Induction stage! The difference between the Body Tempering stage and the Qi Induction stage was enormous.

Song Side had been staying in the palace recently and was not very aware of what was happening in the capital. He had lofty goals and did not pay much attention to these small matters, nor did he want to inquire about them. So he was not very clear about the changes in Song Li. He knew that Song Xinghai had been promoted to the Ming King, but as for Song Li, he had long forgotten about him.

"I suddenly recovered... I am now at the second level of the Qi Induction stage... The Fourth Prince is also quite good, your body is still so solid, even after two slaps, your face didn't change at all!" Song Li innocently clapped his hands, deliberately trying to irritate him.

"Cough, cough..." Song Side coughed a few times. Despite his deep scheming, he was thoroughly angered by Song Li, but he had no way to deal with this scoundrel. For a moment, he had the idea of killing Song Li and the palace maid to cover up the matter, but he quickly dismissed it. The gap between the peak of the Body Tempering stage and the second level of the Qi Induction stage was too great. Even ten Song Sides together might not be a match for Song Li.

From the fleeting murderous intent in Song Side's eyes, Song Li understood what he was thinking. But with his high skills, he was not afraid of Song Side's violence. He was more worried about the safety of the palace maid. If this guy found an opportunity to deal with the palace maid later, he could easily make her disappear without a trace, given his position in the palace.

"May I ask, Miss Palace Maid, can you tell me your name?" Song Li asked with a smile.

The palace maid had already stood up and, upon hearing this, lowered her head and replied, "I am Xiaoqing, An Xiaoqing."

Song Li snapped his fingers and smiled. "An Xiaoqing, that's a nice name. Don't worry, I will send someone to visit you in the palace from time to time. Take care of yourself. If you get sick one day and I can't find out, I will turn your story into a tale and tell it in three parts every day under the bridge on Chang'an Street. I believe your story will spread throughout the capital."

He was ostensibly speaking to the palace maid but was actually warning Song Side: don't have any bad ideas. If you dare to harm An Xiaoqing, I will expose this matter. He did this to protect An Xiaoqing. Since he had saved her, he wanted to do a good deed thoroughly. If he saved her virtue but ended up causing her death, what would be the point of what he had done? After all, life is more important than virtue.

"You may leave." Song Side regained his composure and indicated that the palace maid could go.

An Xiaoqing gave Song Li a grateful look and hurriedly left.

"Song Li, about what just happened..." Song Side hesitated.

"Just now? What happened just now? I didn't see anything, and I don't remember anything." Song Li innocently blinked.

Song Side nodded, stared at Song Li for a moment with a deep meaning, and then turned and left.

After realizing that this guy was Song Li, Song Side had a deeper understanding. This kid must have known who he was before taking action. Even if he couldn't see his face, he could recognize him from his attire. There was no other prince his age in the palace. Song Li was just pretending not to recognize him and took the opportunity to slap him. It seemed he had not forgotten the委屈 he suffered in the palace as a child, and Song Side had bullied him a lot back then.

On the surface, this matter was settled. Song Side would not hold Song Li accountable for his insolence, and Song Li would keep this shameful matter a secret. But in Song Side's heart, a seed of hatred had been planted! He had never been hit like this before! He would settle this score with Song Li sooner or later!

Song Li, of course, was not naive enough to think that Song Side would let him off so easily. In fact, he did not plan to let Song Side off either. Lord Song was always a person who clearly distinguished between kindness and enmity and would take revenge for any grudge. Song Side had made him suffer so many times in childhood, directly causing him to be driven out of the palace in disgrace. Song Li had always remembered this. The two slaps today were just a small interest; he would make Song Side pay a higher price sooner or later.

Although Song Li's father was a close and important minister of the Holy Emperor, and he and Song Side were actually allies in the same trench, for these two people, the seeds of hatred had been planted in their childhood, and they were destined to become rivals.

After Song Side left, Song Li put his hands behind his back and whistled as he strolled out of the garden. Seeing that the high eunuch was still trembling in the corner, he walked up and smiled. "Eunuch Gao, let's go."

The high eunuch peeked into the garden and found that the Fourth Prince and the palace maid were gone. He was surprised. "Huh... Where did they go?"

"What are you talking about? There was nothing at all..." Song Li said solemnly. "Eunuch Gao, when you serve in the palace, you need to know what to remember and what to forget. Forget all the things you shouldn't remember."

"Prince, you are right. I remember nothing." The high eunuch's face turned serious, and he respectfully said, "Let's go to the imperial study. The Holy Emperor is waiting for you."

The two walked through several corridors and arrived at the door of the imperial study. From a distance, they could hear the Holy Emperor's cheerful laughter. The high eunuch was secretly amazed. Since the Holy Emperor ascended the throne, he rarely laughed so happily. It seemed that the Ming King was indeed a favorite of the Holy Emperor, winning his favor so much that it was truly enviable.

"Your Majesty, the Prince of Ming, Song Li, is here." The high eunuch announced loudly at the door.

"Song Li is here. Let him in." The Holy Emperor's voice was very gentle, without any sense of authority, just like an ordinary uncle hearing that his nephew had come to visit.

"His Majesty has summoned you. Prince, it seems the Emperor really likes you. I am also happy for you." The high eunuch smiled flatteringly.

Song Li took out a dozen gold coins from his pocket and handed them to the high eunuch, smiling. "Eunuch Gao, you have worked hard. A small gift, please take it for tea."

The high eunuch's monthly salary was only ten gold coins, and Song Li's gift was more than a month's salary, which made him overjoyed. He verbally refused, "How can I accept this?" but his hands moved quickly, stuffing the dozen gold coins into his pocket. He felt a strong liking for the Prince of Ming. Look at him, noble and yet not arrogant, generous to subordinates, which servant wouldn't like such a master?