Those subordinates could only wait outside. When they heard the heir’s explanation, he left someone to look after the Crown Prince and the heir, then hurried into the palace to report to His Majesty and Her Highness the Xuan Empress.
“This Prince of Second Rank — is he someone of considerable standing? And he won’t let this go??” Yan Yunning asked with a furrowed brow.
Everyone studying at the imperial academy was supposed to be Xiaoxiao’s study companion, wasn’t that right?
How did this young lordling have the audacity?
Ye’an explained respectfully, “Your Highness, the Prince of Second Rank currently oversees the former Qilan territories. His standing is equivalent to what the Qilan Emperor’s once was. More critically, the Prince of Second Rank is well-acquainted not only with the former Qilan but also with Xuanzhao — and that has made him rather arrogant.”
With His Majesty having abandoned everything and spending most of his time at Chaxi Town, the Grand Emperor could not possibly manage it all on his own, and Crown Prince was still too young. There had been no choice but to hand over the newly-submitted Qilan to the Prince of Second Rank to help administer.
Over the past year, the Prince of Second Rank had shown a growing tendency to disregard the Grand Emperor.
If the Prince of Second Rank had the ambition, five years was more than enough time to quietly win people over and secretly gather troops.
If it had been Crown Prince who had injured the young lordling today, the Prince of Second Rank might have swallowed his pride. But this was the Princess Imperial’s heir who had injured the young lordling — the Prince of Second Rank would never let that pass.
He would certainly demand an explanation.
“I’ll go have a look.” Yan Yunning’s voice turned faintly cool.
Xuan Yanyu took Yan Yunning by the hand. “I’ll go with you.”
Yan Yunning nodded. The two left the inner chamber together and boarded a carriage headed for the imperial academy.
Inside the main hall of the imperial academy, the Prince Consort was speaking in gentle, conciliatory tones, apologizing to the Prince of Second Rank.
“Momo, come over here and apologize to the young lordling.” The Prince Consort gave Xu Mochen a meaningful look.
“My older cousin didn’t do anything wrong — why should he apologize? He’s the one who should apologize to this Crown Prince.” Xuan Yuncheng’s small face was taut, his expression thoroughly displeased.
“Is Crown Prince using his position to bully a subject?” A woman’s voice, soft and coy, poured tea for the Prince of Second Rank as she shot a contemptuous glance at the small figure.
“Watch your words, Madam. Don’t you dare slander this Crown Prince.” The small figure picked up the piece of writing paper that had been marred with ink, then flung it directly at the Prince of Second Rank’s face. “The heir deliberately knocked this Crown Prince’s arm and caused this Crown Prince to waste all that time writing this for nothing. Give this Crown Prince an explanation.”
Pei Shutong clenched her fists tight, her eyes bearing a venomous glare as she fixed it on Xuan Yuncheng. So what if he looked just like His Majesty — deep down he was just as irritating as Yan Yunning. That he could look at her stunning face and call her “Madam” instead of “Honored Lady” — his eyes were clearly blind.
The Prince of Second Rank’s expression darkened. He let the writing paper fall to the ground and stamped on it hard with one foot. “Crown Prince, don’t come to us waving a piece of paper and demanding an explanation from this Prince.”
“Father, the Crown Prince and his cousin ganged up to bully your son.” The young lordling pouted and tugged at the Prince of Second Rank’s sleeve. “Father, get justice for your son.”
Before the Prince of Second Rank could speak, Pei Shutong cooed sweetly, “Young lordling, rest assured — His Lordship will definitely get justice for you.”
“Your Concubine is right — Father will absolutely get an explanation for you.” The Prince of Second Rank scooped up the young lordling. Whether by coincidence or intention, the young lordling’s feet landed squarely on the writing paper that the small figure had worked so carefully on.
The Prince Consort’s expression turned grim. This Prince of Second Rank was openly bullying Xiaoxiao, without a shred of regard for Xiaoxiao’s status.
Xuan Yuncheng did not shout or make a scene. He turned, walked calmly to the young lordling’s seat, swept every one of his books and scrolls onto the floor in one go, then casually pointed at two guards. “Trample them.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” The guards stepped forward and trampled the young lordling’s scrolls, even deliberately grinding the tips of their boots into them for good measure.
“Father!!” The young lordling’s small face flushed crimson with fury. He wailed, “Did you see that?! The Crown Prince is bullying your son — go teach him a lesson, go teach him a lesson!”
“Always running to daddy to tattle — Xiaoxiao never ran to Prince Xuan’s uncle to complain,” Xu Mochen muttered under his breath.
“Insolence!” The Prince of Second Rank slapped the table. The scalding tea sloshed and splattered onto Pei Shutong’s arm, making her wince with pain.
“Someone, come — slap his mouth. The Prince of Second Rank, a subject, has shown disrespect to this Crown Prince by saying ‘insolence,'” the small figure declared, his soft, childlike voice carrying a note of distinct displeasure.
“Yes, Your Highness.” Without hesitation, the guards stepped forward. One of them yanked the young lordling aside. The young lordling lost his footing and fell to the ground — his chubby little belly pressed flat against the floor, his round little body unable to push itself back up.
Pei Shutong was also dragged to the side. Seeing this, the Prince of Second Rank’s personal guards moved to block him. For a moment, the atmosphere in the main hall grew tense.
Xuan Yuncheng found himself a good vantage point, sat down, crossed his little legs, and said in a soft, unhurried tone, “Why haven’t you started yet? What are you waiting for?”
“Crown Prince, even your imperial grandfather doesn’t dare lay a hand on this Prince — how dare you?” The Prince of Second Rank’s cold eyes narrowed, his gaze settling on the small figure. He had originally held back out of consideration for the child’s young age, but now it seemed there was no need to hold back any longer.
“Stand aside.” Xuan Yuncheng’s guards gave no thought to consequences — they only obeyed his commands, and every single one of them had been handpicked by the Grand Emperor as the finest guards available, their combat ability without exception the strongest of the strong.
The guards shielding the Prince of Second Rank were no match for them. Even if they could hold their own against them, there were also highly capable shadow guards concealed in the shadows — when it came to Xuan Yuncheng’s safety, the Grand Emperor did not dare be the slightest bit lax.
Crack. A sharp slap landed, and the Prince of Second Rank’s face immediately swelled red.
“You dare—”
Crack. Another slap cut off his unfinished words.
Since Xuan Yuncheng had not specified how many slaps, the guards naturally had no intention of stopping.
Xu Mochen deliberately ran to the small figure’s side and engaged him in idle chatter about this and that, diverting his attention — the better to let the Prince of Second Rank receive a few extra rounds.
He simply couldn’t stand watching someone bully Xiaoxiao. Getting beaten was exactly what he deserved!
“Father!!” The young lordling struggled to his feet and tried to grab the guard’s leg — but before he could manage it, he stumbled and was knocked back down to the ground.
“Young lordling.” Pei Shutong suppressed her exasperation and helped him up.
“Xuan Yuncheng, you dared to have someone beat my father — you deserve a beating yourself!” The young lordling’s eyes reddened. He grabbed a sharp-edged ruler and hurled it at the small figure’s face.
The small figure curled his lip. Without moving from his seat, he watched as one of his guards caught the ruler and, in a single motion, flung it back across the young lordling’s arm — with considerable force. The young lordling howled in pain. “Father, save your son…”
The Prince Consort’s mouth gave a twitch. He barely managed to hold back the thought: Your father can’t even save himself right now — how is he supposed to save you.
Pei Shutong crouched down and, feigning affection, rubbed the young lordling’s arm. “Does it hurt?”
“It hurts.” The young lordling cried until his eyes were red all around, his tears and runny nose both streaming down to his mouth.
Pei Shutong took a deep breath, suppressed her revulsion, and used a handkerchief to wipe his nose and dab at his tears.
The guards’ hands had gone numb from the slapping, and yet they had not heard their Crown Prince call for a stop. They stole a glance behind them — and found their Crown Prince huddled close to the heir, the two of them talking about something, while their Crown Prince was, in a most undignified display, gulping down saliva.
The guards resigned themselves to their duty, turned back, and continued slapping in accordance with their Crown Prince’s orders. Without needing to think too hard, it was clear the heir had said something to Crown Prince about some delicious food.
The sound of the Prince of Second Rank’s increasingly garbled curses filled the air, along with the sight of a tooth that had knocked loose and fallen to the ground. It was only then that Xuan Yuncheng seemed to remember the Prince of Second Rank’s existence at all. Magnanimously, he told his guards to stop.