Chapter 10: Auntie Invites You to Eat Tangerines

"What are you smiling about?" The smile that should not have appeared at this moment, and even less on a ten-year-old child's face, made Consort Ding feel very uncomfortable.

"Because I have confirmed that you are a vicious woman with a heart as venomous as a snake or a scorpion, which makes me very happy." The innocent look on Zhu Zhen's face vanished, and he became as sharp and incisive as Conan after shooting Kogoro, but his voice was a bit deeper.

"This means that my mother, at that time, must have been deceived and framed by you!"

"And for her to slap such a wicked woman as you, I would only say she hit you well, and even too lightly! I am proud of her!"

"You..." Consort Ding looked at the sixth prince, who seemed like a different person, and after a while, she regained her composure and said, "Is this your true face?"

"Mutual, since Your Majesty has shown me your true face, I cannot be stingy either." Zhu Zhen no longer stood there foolishly and walked to a chair to sit down, but feeling he was still shorter, he decided to stand.

It looked even stranger...

"You, Sixth Prince, have hidden your true self deeply. No wonder, Fuer could scare you so much." Consort Ding finally understood and smiled again.

"But what's the use of that? No matter how cunning you are, you can't change your age. No one will believe a ten-year-old child, and they will only think you are lying!"

"Perhaps my words alone are not convincing enough." Zhu Zhen nodded and said, "But I have a witness."

"Oh, you mean Liu Bowen?" Consort Ding covered her red lips with her hand and giggled, "If you hadn't mentioned this, I wouldn't have been sure you were lying. Do you know why the famous Liu Bowen is hiding in the palace? Do you know his relationship with the Emperor?"

"If you knew, you would understand that he absolutely won't meddle in other people's affairs." Consort Ding subconsciously looked at the door; Hou Lixie should be back soon.

"Is Your Majesty waiting for Hou Lixie?" Zhu Zhen sat down, relaxed, and said, "Since you have already sent him to verify with Mr. Liu, why not wait for him to come back before we continue?"

"Hmph, fine." Consort Ding nodded and ordered, "Bring some snacks for the Prince of Chu."

"No need to trouble yourself, I'll eat this." Zhu Zhen reached out and picked up a bright yellow tangerine from the plate on the table.

He was unwilling to risk eating the pastries and tea in Changyang Palace, but if he didn't eat anything, it would make him seem too timid. Eating a fruit that needs to be peeled is both safe and hygienic.

While checking if the tangerine skin was intact, Prince Chu also taunted, "I didn't expect you, Your Majesty, to still have tangerines to eat. In our palace, we only have oranges."

"Who are you calling old?!" Consort Ding, who had maintained her dignity, was finally provoked by this remark.

"Having given birth to three children in the palace, and they are all over ten years old, do you still think of yourself as a delicate flower?" Zhu Zhen sent a piece to his mouth, and his cheeks trembled in satisfaction.

So sweet and refreshing.

"Who are you calling a 'second-time entrant'?" Consort Ding was furious, and the part about Chen Youliang was a dark history she could not mention.

"Isn't this something even the old lady in the cave in Ninghe County, Shaanxi, knows?" Zhu Zhen widened his eyes and said, "Do you still think it's a secret? No way, no way?"

"You, you..." Consort Ding's chest heaved with anger as she slammed her hand on the table and stood up, "Do you believe I will tear your mouth apart!"

"Go ahead, if you touch me, I'll faint right in front of you. I'll even spit blood, do you believe me?" Zhu Zhen leaned forward, deliberately provoking her.

"Calling a ten-year-old child into the palace alone is extremely foolish! If I pretend to be hurt, you won't be able to explain yourself!"

"You damned Sixth Prince..." Consort Ding's raised hand hung in the air for a while before she finally let it fall dejectedly.

The Sixth Prince was right; he could indeed extort her.

This was the consequence of letting him come alone.

But who could have thought that a ten-year-old child could have so many schemes in his heart?

She couldn't hit him, and she couldn't scold him, making Consort Ding almost explode with frustration.

Fortunately, at this moment, Eunuch Hou came back, panting.

"Did you see him?" Consort Ding perked up.

"I saw him." Hou Lixie nodded and looked at Prince Chu, who showed no intention of leaving.

Hou Lixie had no choice but to walk to the side of the Empress and quietly report the conversation with Liu Bowen.

~~

Earlier.

In the duty room at the east end of the main hall's library, Hou Lixie found Liu Bowen reading a book.

Eunuch Hou first apologized to Liu Bowen for the early departure of Prince Qi.

"Understood." Liu Bowen flipped a page and nodded, "The Prince's condition at the time was indeed unsuitable for returning to the academy. So this time, I won't deduct points from him."

"Thank you, sir." After thanking him, Hou Lixie lingered, unwilling to leave.

"Is there something else?" Liu Ji asked without looking up.

"Yes, my Empress wants to ask if you know who harmed our Prince?"

"It was Prince Chu. I have already punished him." Liu Ji answered straightforwardly.

"Why did he bully our Prince?" The old eunuch probed.

"Prince Chu believes that on the sixth day, Prince Qi pushed him into the water." Liu Ji said bluntly.

"Ha ha, how could that be?" Hou Lixie laughed dryly, "Children's words are not reliable. Sir, you didn't see that day, did you?"

"From here," Liu Ji finally looked up and pointed out the window, "it would be hard not to see."

"Ah..." Hou Lixie followed Liu Ji's gaze and indeed saw the lotus pond behind the artificial hill clearly from the window.

"Sir, did you really see our Prince... involved in Prince Chu's fall into the water?" The old eunuch asked with difficulty.

Liu Ji nodded.

"Oh, please, sir, keep it a secret." Hou Lixie knelt before Liu Ji and bowed repeatedly, "Please, sir, consider the teacher-student relationship and protect our Prince!"

"Is Prince Chu not also my student?" Liu Ji asked coolly.

"This..." Hou Lixie was momentarily speechless, wanting to offer a heavy bribe, but Liu Bowen was known for his integrity and would surely reject it.

He could only keep bowing and pleading, and only when his forehead was bruised did he hear Liu Ji sigh:

"You are asking the wrong person."

"What do you mean?" Hou Lixie was a smart man and understood immediately.

~~

In the main hall of Changyang Palace.

Hou Lixie whispered to Consort Ding, "Mr. Liu's meaning is that this matter can be big or small. As a teacher, he will not actively report his students out of consideration for the teacher-student relationship."

"But both hands are flesh, if Prince Chu decides to ask him to testify, as a gentleman who distinguishes right from wrong, he cannot refuse." Hou Lixie continued, "So it all depends on whether Prince Chu wants to cover up for his family or report to the Emperor."

Consort Ding's face changed several times, and after a long while, she managed to force a dry smile and flatter the Prince of Chu, who had peeled tangerines all over the floor:

"I still have two baskets of tangerines. If Your Highness likes anything else, Auntie will send it to you..."

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