Chapter 152: Should Be Happy, Right?

The next morning, then.

At the Xiyue Crown Prince's Residence, Shen Hao awoke amid warmth and softness, looked at the two slender beauties beside him, felt a surge of heat in his heart, and his gaze gradually took on a different meaning as he thought of lingering a while longer.

He reached out, intending to pull one of the beauties into his arms.

The moment his arm encircled her waist, his brows knit slightly.

This touch felt wrong—why was it so stiff?

And a little cold, too.

With a forceful push from his hand, the beauty in the purple gauze dress flipped over, and a face—blackish-purple in complexion, with black blood at the corner of her mouth—suddenly appeared before his eyes.

"Ah!"

The Crown Prince's face changed drastically. He let out a shout, hastily let go, his two legs scrambling rapidly backward until he shrank into the foot of the bed, and in panic shouted toward the outside.

"Someone! Someone!"

The page and the guards rushed in.

"Imperial Prince!"

The page shouted as he ran.

"Quick, quick, quick, protect the Imperial Prince!"

The Crown Prince didn't even bother with his shoes, stumbled and staggered behind the guards, pointed at the two people on the bed, his eyes darting everywhere, not daring to look even once.

"Quick, quick, drag these two people out!"

Once the guards had dragged them away, the Crown Prince, frightened beyond endurance, rolled his eyes and fainted on the spot.

"Imperial Prince? Imperial Prince!"

The page hurried to support him.

"Someone! The Imperial Prince has fainted!"

"Imperial physician, go fetch the imperial physician!"

Early that morning, the Xiyue Crown Prince's Residence was thrown into utter chaos.

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace, upon receiving the news, the Empress flew into a towering rage; with a sweep of her wide sleeves, she sent the morning meal on the table crashing to the floor.

The sound so frightened the palace attendants serving inside that their faces went white, their legs trembled, and their bodies shook like sifting chaff.

The palace maid Hua Ru waved at the others, signaling the rest of the attendants to leave.

The attendants, as if granted a great reprieve, hurried out without stopping and shut the palace doors tightly behind them.

"Useless, truly useless!"

The Empress shot a glare at Hua Ru standing beside her.

"What kind of people did you find? They can't even handle such a small matter?!"

"Since you succeeded, why couldn't you do it cleanly and neatly?!"

Hua Ru hurriedly knelt on the ground to beg forgiveness.

"Imperial Consort (Gongzhu), please forgive me. After the deed was done, the people this servant sent truly intended to bring those two beauties out. It's just that the Imperial Prince suddenly made a sound and alarmed the guards. Our people, afraid of being discovered, had no choice but to leave quickly."

In truth, Hua Ru was also quite speechless.

It had clearly gone quite smoothly, but who could have expected the Imperial Prince to suddenly talk in his sleep?

And even drew the guards over.

Hearing her explanation, the Empress opened her mouth, closed it, opened it again, and could only sigh helplessly in the end.

"Enough, rise for now."

"How is Hao'er's situation? What does the imperial physician say?"

After rising, Hua Ru continued.

"The Imperial Prince has already woken. The imperial physician also says it was only excessive fright, nothing serious."

Hearing this result, the Empress's expression eased considerably, and she breathed a sigh of relief in her heart.

As long as he's fine, that's good.

But at this moment, how could the Empress have imagined that sometimes the wound is not necessarily on the body.

In any case, after waking, the Crown Prince, sensing the abnormality in his body, had a face so dark it could drip ink.

Let us set aside, for the moment, this little farce in the Capital.

Outside Beihuang City.

A horse carriage moved slowly along the road.

Inside the carriage, Yi Jiang lay on a fur blanket, his eyes full of grievance as he watched his shameless Grandfather, who was engrossed in reading a Little Booklet.

He puffed out his cheeks.

"Grandfather!"

"Hm? What is it?"

"The swelling ointment is right beside you. If your bottom hurts, apply the medicine yourself."

Chen Delin replied absently.

Yi Jiang grinded his little tender teeth in anger.

"Didn't you say you'd help me get my Story Book back?"

Chen Delin shook the Little Booklet in his hand.

"Yes, I got it back. Isn't it right here?"

Yi Jiang gritted his teeth, speaking word by word.

"I thought when you said you'd help me get it back, you meant returning it to its rightful owner!!!"

"Oh!"

Chen Delin raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Not bad, my dear grandson — you used the idiom correctly this time."

He stroked his chin.

"Looks like my decision was the right one."

Now Yi Jiang couldn't be bothered to stay angry anymore; he blinked in confusion.

"What decision?"

"Letting you stay at the Cheng Family for a few days."

Yi Jiang: "!!!"

"But you've grown up without ever leaving home, and you've never stayed out overnight either. We don't know if you can adapt — your father and I are still a little worried."

As he spoke, a look of worry and reluctance appeared on Chen Delin's face.

And seeing his dazed little grandson, his loving heart instantly reached its peak.

He quickly stuffed the Little Booklet in his hand into his grandson's hand and gently comforted him.

"Don't be like that. We're just sending you off to study. If you miss home, you can come back anytime. Grandfather and your father will visit you often too."

Yi Jiang held the Story Book, blinked a few times, and finally showed some reaction this time, but still said nothing.

Seeing his grandson hanging his head in silence, Chen Delin was frantic with worry inside.

Oh no!

Could his eldest grandson think they were abandoning him?

At that moment, he suddenly felt that his idea had been a rotten one.

But Yi Jiang was simply overjoyed, too surprised to speak.

Stay at Yu'an's house?

Such good luck could really happen?!

"Or maybe, forget it after all?"

"No way!"

Yi Jiang suddenly raised his head, his gaze burning bright, his eyes shining.

"A word once spoken, a team of four horses cannot chase it back. As the head of the family, how can you go back on your word? I'm staying at Yu'an's house!"

Then he nodded to himself.

"Mm, that's decided!"

Seeing him in this state, Chen Delin also caught on.

Truly, concern clouds the mind.

Yi Jiang pressed down the curled-up corner of the page while pressing his lips together hard to hold back a laugh.

Haha, my acting is really not bad.

Even Grandfather was fooled.

Today is really a good day — the Story Book is back, and he can stay at Yu'an's house for a few days.

Watching a certain little fellow secretly delighted, hugging the Little Booklet as if it were a treasure, Chen Delin smiled and shook his head.

Oh well, he'd already finished reading it anyway.

……

Cheng Jia Xiaoyuan.

Yu'an sat on a chair, holding a small bowl and drinking porridge.

Thinking of last night's dream, the little fellow's big eyes rolled around, and he sneakily glanced at his own little uncle.

Then he pressed his little lips together, putting on a thoughtful expression.

Thinking carefully, every time little uncle mentioned Fairy Sister, his face would turn red.

He hadn't understood before, but now he was a little one who had watched plenty of cheesy TV dramas with Fairy Sister.

He already knew — that was shyness!

And a few days ago, when he mentioned little uncle in front of Fairy Sister, Fairy Sister's expression had also been a little strange.

Suddenly, Yu'an's big eyes went wide as saucers, and he clenched his little fists.

He figured it out — little uncle must be here to, to……

What was that word again?

The little fellow annoyedly patted his own head.

Right!

He was here to steal someone's sweetheart!

That won't do — Fairy Sister is his!

Sensing the little fellow's gaze, Cheng Chengxuan turned his head to look, and met a certain Small Dumpling's accusatory and angry little eyes.

Cheng Chengxuan was completely baffled: "???"

What's going on here?

Tian Qin at the side asked softly.

"Yu'an, why are you looking at your little uncle? Eat your food."

"N-no, it's nothing."

Yu'an's little head shook like a rattle-drum. He picked up his spoon, scooped up a mouthful of rice, and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing vigorously.

He was going to eat lots and lots, and grow up quickly!

Seeing this, Tian Qin found it rather amusing and shook her head.

"You've really grown up — you've got your own little secrets now."

"Yu'an!"

Hearing that voice, Yu'an was momentarily stunned.

Why did it sound like Yi Jiang's voice?

The next moment, he saw a cheerful figure dash into the courtyard.

Yi Jiang waved at him as he ran.

"Yu'an, I've come to play with you again!"

Yu'an quickly hopped off the chair and ran out the door.

"How did you get here?"

Having pulled his injury when jumping down from the horse carriage earlier, Yi Jiang rubbed his backside with a wince, but it didn't dampen his good mood — his tone was still full of excitement.

"My grandfather said I can stay at your place for a few days, so we can play together for a long time!"

"Huh?"

Hearing this, Yu'an hurriedly asked,

"Don't you still have homework? And didn't Lord Chen hire you a tutor? If you're here, how are you going to attend lessons?"

The key thing is — if you're staying here, how am I supposed to go find Daddy and Fairy Sister?

But Yi Jiang completely missed his little friend's anxiety; instead, he was delighted that Yu'an cared about him so much.

He gave a small wave, stuck out his thumb, and pointed at himself.

"Ah, don't worry! A little homework? This Little Master can handle it with ease!"

"I finished it ages ago!"

Ahem!

That last line came out a little guilty.

Actually, he'd only finished it two days ago.

But that didn't matter — as long as the result was good, wasn't that enough?

Yi Jiang grinned broadly, baring his teeth.

"Yu'an, I'm so happy — are you happy?"

He could play with Big Yellow and the others again!

Yu'an pressed his little mouth into a pout, on the verge of tears, and forced the corners of his lips upward.

"I guess… I should be happy?"