Chapter 1261: Rule 25 for Raising a Loyal Dog

Something big has happened at the Prince's mansion!

All the servants in the Prince's mansion were trembling with anxiety, worried in their hearts.

Their young Heir Apparent is refusing to eat!

The Prince is away; the steward could only hurriedly send someone to find Xu Wangyue, who is still doing business in the neighboring county.

"Not good, not good, Madam!"

The Prince's mansion guards raced to find Xu Wangyue on horseback, dismounted and clasped their fists to report: "The young Heir Apparent is angry and refusing food; from this morning until now he hasn't eaten a single grain!"

Xu Wangyue startled: "What's going on! Hurry, back to the Prince's mansion!"

On the way, when asked the reason, the guards couldn't answer, only saying: "The Heir Apparent won't see anyone; only Da Hu can go in and say a few words, and even Lord Yajiu has been driven out of the courtyard."

"Could he be throwing a tantrum?" Xu Wangyue muttered, though a bad guess arose in her mind.

As the facts prove, what you fear most tends to happen.

Even if she traveled as fast as possible, by the time she reached the Prince's mansion it was nearly sunset; calculating that, her Chen'er had truly been starving for two days!

This worried Xu Wangyue greatly; upon entering the Leisure Summer Pavilion, she saw Yajiu standing in the courtyard, his expression desolate and pallid.

"Yajiu, what's going on?" Xu Wangyue asked.

Yajiu pressed his lips, anxiously glancing into the inner chamber: "The master… has learned my true identity, and also the emperor's plans."

"Indeed!"

Xu Wangyue sighed, not knowing what to do for a moment, she hurried inside, took the porridge from the maid and entered the bedroom.

"Chen'er."

Jin Chen had long heard his cheap mother and Yajiu talking; he quickly stuffed the mung bean cakes all into Da Hu's hands, telling him to keep them safe and hide.

Then he wiped his mouth and hid back under the covers, his expression changing to one of full grievance and sorrow.

Da Hu honestly thought the young master was formidable, turned to greet Xu Wangyue: "Madam, please come and see, the young master… he… hasn't eaten anything for two days."

Just saying that made Da Hu fear divine punishment.

Xu Wangyue shouted from the heart: "Chen'er, it's your mother, you won't even see your mother?"

Jin Chen turned over, hid his face and refused to turn his head, sullen and unhappy.

"I won't see liars! No liar at all!"

"Why wasn't I told about the matter of the Crown Prince!"

Xu Wangyue was anxious inside, hurriedly coaxing: "First get up and eat something, Mother will slowly explain it to you, okay?"

Jin Chen, hidden under the covers, rubbed his stomach.

He couldn't eat.

"No! You speak first, otherwise I'll starve to death and blame you!"

Da Hu's mouth twitched; he hurriedly turned away, silently chanting "Amitabha Buddha".

Xu Wangyue had no choice but to first set down the porridge, pull back the blanket covering Jin Chen's face, and say: "Okay, okay, Mother will explain."

"You also know that your imperial uncle now has only three sons; the eldest prince made mistakes in his youth and still bears guilt; if he were made heir, the entire court of officials would likely not agree."

"The third prince spent time as a hostage in another country, so he cannot inherit the great line, and besides he has barbarian blood. As for the sixth prince, he is weak and sickly; surviving to adulthood is already a problem, let alone being cultivated as heir."

That was said very reasonably and with evidence.

Jin Chen didn't want to hear a single word.

He sat up sullenly, eyes downcast, muttering: "So just let me be this unlucky wretch!"

"Chen'er! Watch your words!"

Xu Wangyue gave him an angry look, then coaxed: "Being heir is mighty; thereafter no one will dare utter even half a word of opposition against you."

Jin Chen covered his ears and shouted: "Whoever wants to do it can do it; anyway I won't do it!"

He glanced out the window at the square courtyard, then suddenly made up his mind.

"I want to run away from home!"

Xu Wangyue: "..."

She slammed the table: "Jin Chen!"

Jin Chen startled: "What are you doing! You're still scolding me… I'm clearly the wronged one… I, I'm leaving now!"

He rolled out of bed, still shouting.

"Da Hu! Get the carriage ready, I want to wander the world!"

That scared him to death! Bloodline suppression is indeed not just for show.

Jin Chen covertly patted his chest, then regained his bravado.

"When you all stop letting me be the Crown Prince, I'll come back as your son!"

Xu Wangyue stepped back: "If Chen'er wants to go out and play, why not go to Lu Prefecture to find your father? It's lively there too."

Jin Chen shook his head again: "No, no, I won't seek anyone, not even my father—he's a liar too!"

Xu Wangyue had a terrible headache, and didn't intend to persuade further, she said bluntly: "You should at least eat something tonight, and leave tomorrow morning, okay?"

Her tone turned stern, her aura very intimidating.

"... Okay."

Jin Chen simply dared not provoke further.

How formidable my dear mother is!

Xu Wangyue raised her hand: "Someone, lay out the dishes."

Jin Chen rolled his eyeball: "Will you eat together with me?"

Xu Wangyue replied unhappily: "What, am I a goddess who can abstain from grain?"

Jin Chen remained silent.

The problem is…… he can't eat anything now.

If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have had the extra mung bean cake just now.

Xu Wangyue isn't unaware of this child's temperament; if this matter isn't settled, I'm afraid they'll truly grow apart from him and his wife later on.

Nothing more than the Xu Family's shops and influence spreading across all provinces; even if Chen'er goes out to play, without needing the Heir Apparent's identity, there's still the identity of the young master of the Xu Family's merchant house to rely on, so he won't suffer.

Upon thinking of this, Xu Wangyue served Jin Chen some vegetables, speaking gently: "Chen'er, Mother doesn't stop you from going out to play, but you must promise Mother to bring Yajiu and the other guards; right now Yangzhou is not peaceful."

Jin Chen nodded unwillingly.

【Host, why are you insisting on leaving Wanling City? Where are you going?】

0731 doesn't quite understand.

Jin Chen picked at the vegetables in his bowl, 【Establishing a bargaining chip for negotiations with the Emperor.】

【Oh~】

Didn't understand.

Jin Chen piled a bowl full of food, tapped the table, "Dahu, take it to the courtyard."

Dahu: "Young master, you... okay, I'll go."

Really awkward.

Dahu resignedly took the bowl out, "Yajiu! Don't just stand there foolishly, this is what the young master personally picked for you—hurry up and eat while it's hot."

Yajiu finally moved, receiving the porcelain bowl as if obtaining a treasure.

Right, tomorrow the young master will leave the prince's mansion; you also need to prepare well tonight, the madam said she wants you to follow along.

Dahu glanced furtively at the room, speaking softly: "Don't worry, according to the young master's temperament, he'll probably get over his anger by tomorrow."

Yajiu lowered his head, the fingers holding the bowl tensed until they turned bluish, after a moment of Silence he slowly nodded.

As long as I can still follow beside my master, that's fine.