Xiao Hao looked at the three boys he raised.

All of them were proficient in fighting but there were other areas they needed to learn if they really wanted to aid the Xu Le.

"Chen, you were told to stay so you can grasp how to deal with the old foxes of the neutrals. And apply this political knowledge when you go back to the outer districts. We aren't always going to be at war. So you need to temper yourself and curb your eccentric personality. Words should be used in par with actions ."

In short, he should try not randomly beat people up after finding out their suspicious deeds. It was better to put people on trial under Suliang's law.

Xiao Hao started enumerating the reasons for wangye's decision.

He feared that if he didn't, more misfortunes would pile up the front door like what happened today. Turning to his son, his face was even more grim.

"A'Bao, you were given a bigger responsibility to see if you could take them on and inherit my position in the future. The way that you are now left too many things to be satisfied. You should reflect on the mistakes you made and report to me."

Xiao Hao sighed. "You know... you can't be in this place just because you're my son. If another person proves to be more capable, they can take the mantle no doubt."

At these words, Xiao Bao sat straighter. He couldn't complain because it couldn't be any truer.

Wangye looked at people's merits, not their connections. It was evident from the council she built. There were people from all walks of life. A foreigner, generals, merchants, there was even a former prostitute among them.

What was important to the King was the things they could bring to the table.

As long as someone was useful, they would be rewarded accordingly.

If Xiao Bao was confirmed to be a mistake, he doubted if he could even stay beside the Prince.

The young man felt a hand over his shoulder. Long Sangyu encouraged him. "It's alright, you can still make up for the mistakes."

But Xiao Hao also had a few things for the prince.

"Yu'er, what you need to find out now is how to choose the right people to trust and manage them. We will know in a few months if you three are successful in your assigned jobs."

The prince might have missed some important meaning behind those words.

Xiao Hao didn't halt and dragged Xiao Bao for a personal talk. Su Chen stood up and stationed himself just outside the King's chamber menacingly. It looked like he would personally keep vigil there for the rest of the night.

With the Governor-General there, Zhongqing suddenly looked like it was in a war camp.

Long Sangyu was left to his thoughts. On the way here, he was itching to see his sister and maybe land a few punches to that Adrina. But now, she was probably having a much needed rest.

And upon hearing the conversation between A'Bao and Feng Yanyan, he had something else to think about.

Feng Yanyan spoke of his sister like he'd known her forever. Some of these words were something not even he, the brother, could get out of his mouth.

"...in this world, the only person she could trust fully is herself."

Did that mean da jie couldn't even trust him, her brother, easily? Well, it was apparent that he didn't know what the King was up to all the time. He could barely read her next move.

And there were a lot of things shrouded in mystery regarding his sister.

"Friends and foes. There is no clear distinction."

Did Feng Yanyan think there was a possibility of even the Prince betraying his sister someday?

Long Sangyu shook his head. Maybe not necessarily like that.

Just take a look at Adrina. Junwang thought that person was a decent guy.

"What she needs is a person who will be genuine to her no matter what."

The Prince agreed with that. But in all of Dalong, he didn't think anyone deserved his sister or could even match up to her.

An image of a certain fairy prince in the people's tales entered his mind. He shook his head vehemently.

There was no way... no way that Feng Yanyan could match his sister.

It was true that he was grateful to the mei ren for interfering in time but that was it. Just thinking about him being his brother-in-law was enough to make him frown in distaste. It was only a while ago that the man was all over him.

It would be unthinkable to say that he fell in love with the King, right?

Long Sangyu found himself convincing.

---

JuZi was worried. Did the young master perhaps get in trouble again?

Every time young master Feng visited Zhongqing, his maids would only wait in the common area. But tonight, something was off about the King's courtyard.

Hearing a bit of the conversation with young master Xiao also didn't abate her worries.

The observant girl could glean that something was different with young master Feng. His strides were long and steady as opposed to the light and airy way of walking he always had.

His brows were in a perpetual frown and his lips were pursed as though he was holding back from yelling.

This was really odd but JuZi just followed him back to their humble courtyard.

The mood carried on to tomorrow. The only difference was today, Feng Yanyan decided to stay all day in Zhongqing.

To JuZi's surprise, the young master's maids were now allowed to follow him inside. Obviously. it wasn't all the way inside to the King's chambers, this was still a significant development.

Who would have thought that Beauty Feng could have access to Wan Li Wang's personal quarters? If the other Beauties from Tanglin heard this, JuZi wondered what kind of drama would occur.

The maid didn't even notice that she was starting to think more and more similar to the young master. Things like waiting for drama to ensue and laughing at other people's misery when all they ever wanted was to see someone down in the mud too.

In any case, how many maidservants in the wangfu wished to enter Zhongqing even for just a glimpse? JuZi found themselves lucky.

Not counting the time they stayed in the remote room in Zhongqing which was separate from the main hall, this was actually the first time that they could say they were really welcomed in the King's courtyard.

What mattered most was they had the freedom to go back and forth to serve the young master as though it was their own courtyard. This came straight from the mouth of Eunuch Cheng Li.

But as the leader of the three, JuZi decided not to overstay this welcome and just do the bare minimum so as not to seem like they were putting up airs. When she relayed this wish to the girls, Jiao volunteered to go back to the courtyard. Pu Tao would be the messenger between them if something was needed like a change of clothes or so.

Cheng Li approved of this arrangement.

The rest of the day in Zhongqing courtyard was tranquil.

Madam Lian gave the task of making sure that the King was taking the medicinal concoctions to Feng Yanyan. Although he was surprised at this outcome, he still took it.

He expected a struggle like it always was with patients. That was why Feng Yanyan rolled his sleeves and prepared to wrestle if necessary.

But he ended up looking like a clown when he saw her Highness gulp the evil concoction inside the bowl like it was rice wine.

Long Xu Le wiped the corners of her mouth as she placed the bowl back to the small table beside the bed. When her gaze went to Feng Yanyan, she was puzzled.

"What are you up to?" It was like there were gravels grating inside her throat.

She saw the man looking like he was gearing up for battle before he deflated.

"I... nothing. I was just warming up. I figured I should try to be healthier."

Feng Yanyan proceeded to stretch his limbs and do squats.

The King found him really odd but decided to ignore him.

"Open the windows. It's stuffy."

Like he was receiving amnesty, Beauty Feng bolted to the windows.

When he went back to her side, he opened his palm in front of her.

"What's this?"

Feng Yanyan was stunned by the question. Who didn't know what this heaven-sent snack was?

He couldn't believe his ears.

Looking at the dramatic widening of his eyes, Long Xu Le knew the man would probably prattle on and on about something again.

She leaned on the bed and waited for it.

"Wangye, you are seriously uncultured."

The King's eyes dimmed when she heard this. What kind of slander was this?

He opened the elegant looking little wrapper and looked as if he would give it to her Highness before popping it into his mouth. Long Xu Le opened her mouth to call him out on this rude behavior but she suddenly felt soft fingers on her lips.

A burst of sweet and tangy taste opened up her palate. Long Xu Le trapped the thing between her teeth and glared at the sly little fox who tricked her into opening her mouth like that.

Feng Yanyan waved the finger that narrowly missed being bitten. "Hehe..."

He straightened his back. "This is a state-of-the-art candied cherry that preserved its sweet and sour taste, perfect for alleviating the bitterness of medicine."

The man was now like a salesman from modern times. "This product sells well to rich madams who have a hard time feeding medicine to their naughty little kids. But it also serves as a good snack. I can say that the inventor is a genius!"

"I don't like sweet things." Wangye deadpanned.

She watched as the mei ren deflated and fake tears rolled out from his eyes.

Kneeling by the bedside, he looked up at her.

"But Wangye... I'm sweet." 

---

Happy weekends, everyone! I hope you're having fun. I'm once again promoting my youtube channel lmao go to https://www.youtube.com/@fourtunewriter

I'm planning more content about the kind of stories we like so much (transmigration, isekai, romance, rebirth) so stay tuned!