Chapter 85: Crown Prince’s Concubine – 13

The entire Xie Family had mobilized, heading out in a grand procession to stay at their country estate. Meanwhile, the rumors in the streets grew more intense by the day. Whispers began to circulate that Xie Liangchen was taking the fall for the Crown Prince, that the Crown Princess was meddling in government affairs, and that the Emperor was becoming muddled in his old age.

When these words reached the palace, the Emperor was shocked and afraid, but mostly, he was furious.

He first summoned the Crown Prince and gave him a harsh dressing down, then signaled the Empress to take the Crown Princess in hand.

Regardless of the outcome, this incident left a lasting mark on the Emperor’s heart. As for how the Crown Prince treated the Crown Princess after returning to the Eastern Palace, that remained a mystery to outsiders.

Ren Xin, meanwhile, had already taken little Qingfeng to the estate to let loose.

This was far more entertaining than staying in the manor. Between climbing mountains and playing in the water, there was fun to be had everywhere.

While Xie Liangchen was back at the house, straining his brain to come up with names for the children, Ren Xin was leading Qingfeng up the mountain to hunt.

“Little Qingfeng, just you watch your Little Aunt’s heroic grace. I’m definitely going to bring home a massive haul in a bit.”

Qingfeng was no longer the easily fooled child he once was. He had grown up, and he wasn’t in the mood for flattery. He simply gave a soft “Oh” to show he had heard her.

Ren Xin: “???” Not getting the expected adoration left her feeling a bit slighted.

“I said, I’m going to catch some really big prey in a bit!”

“Mhm, then you’re pretty amazing,” Qingfeng praised her perfunctorily.

Ren Xin: “…”

The guards couldn’t help but stifle their laughter, only to be met with a glare from Ren Xin. What the hell are you laughing at!

The men immediately wiped the smiles off their faces, looking solemn.

Hmph! Anyone who hung around Xie Liangchen couldn’t be a good person!

Xie Liangchen: “???” Was this guilt by association?

A long time later…

Ren Xin returned with the large group in tow. Xie Liangchen happened to be stepping out and asked with a smile, “How was the harvest?”

Ren Xin looked fearless. “Oh, the harvest was plentiful. I learned a lot of hunting knowledge, and some of the rules of the forest…”

Lacking any sense of the atmosphere, Xie Liangchen pressed on. “How so? Where’s the prey? Is it still in the back? Was there too much to carry back all at once?”

Several guards desperately winked at the General, but who could have known the General was so intent on brown-nosing that he ignored them completely, continuing his praise.

A localized frost had already begun to form on Ren Xin’s face.

Little Qingfeng, ever the helpful soul, tore the veil of pretense to shreds. “Little Aunt didn’t catch anything. She even tripped and took a massive faceplant. Thump! And then all the animals ran away…”

Xie Liangchen: “…”

Ren Xin: “…” That year, the apricot blossoms fell like rain¹…

The scene was awkward. Since Xie Liangchen, that useless man, couldn’t be relied upon at all, she would just have to build her own dam to hold back the flood of embarrassment. A mere face-saving exit wasn’t going to save her now.

“Actually, hunting isn’t necessarily about how much you catch. Those little animals have a hard enough life as it is. We must have a heart of compassion!”

Xie Liangchen was just about to agree when he was cut off by Qingfeng. “But Little Aunt, you were the one who made a vow saying how awesome you were. What do all those words count for now?”

Ren Xin: “…” What do they count for? They count as hot air. Forget the dam; she was ready to jump off it!

The matter ended in silence. Qingfeng didn’t understand, but he was tolerant. He decided to go back and write a letter to ask his teacher; his teacher knew everything.

Ren Xin followed Xie Liangchen back to their room. The little ginseng was the literal definition of “unhappy,” and she asked suspiciously, “Do you look down on me?”

Xie Liangchen begged for mercy. “No, how could I ever look down on you? You are the most incredible…”

“Fine. Just remember, it’s not that I lack the ability to hunt; it’s that I’m kind-hearted, you hear me?”

Xie Liangchen: “…” You can lie to yourself, but there’s really no need to lie to him.

This empty-handed trip extinguished Ren Xin’s passion for hunting. She began to slack off without any burden of conscience. Every morning, Xie Liangchen would hold “meetings” with others in the study, yet he still hadn’t decided on names for the three children. Every time she asked, he would make excuses.

“No rush. I want to think of a few more that are absolutely perfect.”

Ren Xin curled her lip. If you’re incompetent, just say so. All this rambling was just extra!

Little Qingfeng was exactly like Xie Liangchen, which made Ren Xin feel that everyone in the Xie family suffered from procrastination.

Grandmother hovered around the three children every day as if she could never see enough of them. At the dinner table, she would always share the fun things the children had done that day, but the conversation always ended with the same demand: the names needed to be settled quickly.

Xie Liangchen had become completely immune to the nagging. He would soothingly agree, but then nothing would happen.

Following in his uncle’s devilish footsteps, little Qingfeng was also starting to stray from the righteous path.

Translator’s Notes