CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER 38: THE CROWN PRINCE REFUSES TO RELEASE HER

Prince Jin listened to these childish words with a slight smile and said, "Duke Yan is a pillar of the state; his beloved daughter cannot be taken lightly—" he paused, a playful expression in his eyes, "even if His Highness wishes to marry the young lady, you must wait until you grow up to discuss it!"

The Young Crown Prince’s pale cheeks instantly turned red, feeling both ashamed and annoyed, he retorted, "I, I do not!"

Prince Jin chuckled again and said, "Don’t be naughty, Your Highness. First, send her back home to avoid worrying her family elders."

The Crown Prince furrowed his brows in anger: "I am the Crown Prince; I do not need Prince Jin to tell me what to do!" With that, he turned around, flicking his sleeve. "Someone escort Prince Jin out!"

Despite having visited the Crown Prince Mansion many times, this was the first time Prince Jin was angrily sent away by the Young Crown Prince, leaving him momentarily stunned, unable to retaliate.

Only after walking a short distance from the Crown Prince’s bedroom did he come to his senses and suddenly chuckled.

It was Miss Tang who sought him out, and he casually mentioned it, not expecting such a reaction from the Young Crown Prince.

The Duke Yan and his son’s military achievements are illustrious, and naturally, the daughters of the Tang Family are highly esteemed.

Miss Tang is, in his eyes, the most suitable candidate for Princess Jin; could it be that Li Mu is also intrigued by the Duke Yan Mansion’s influence and wants to get close to the young Tang sibling of compatible age?

Even if Li Mu is still young and hasn’t thought about marriage, that sly old fox, Wang Maozhao, might very well have such intentions.

Thinking of this, a trace of a disdainful cold smile appeared on Prince Jin’s lips.

They dare to have such thoughts.

With Li Mu being such a frail, sickly character, coughing thrice whenever he speaks, it’s likely that the beloved daughter, treasured by the Eldest Princess of Ji Country, the Gu Family, and Duke Yan Mansion, would not even deign to glance at him!

Prince Jin couldn’t help but mockingly laugh, casually summoning an attendant from the Crown Prince Mansion, asking, "Where is Second Miss Tang?"

Even if Li Mu was unwilling, he would take her from the Crown Prince Mansion.

Just as he asked, before the attendant could respond, Prince Jin heard a soft, gentle girl’s voice: "I’m here..."

He looked up in the direction of the voice and saw, standing demurely on the corridor not far away, a girl of eight or nine years old.

Clad in pink ru white skirt, a little girl as delicate as a budding flower, her small face exquisite as carved from jade, with a pair of bright, lively black eyes.

Noticing his gaze, the little girl performed a polite curtsy: "Prince Jin."

So she recognized him.

Prince Jin had a change of heart and slightly nodded towards the little girl, saying, "Your older sister was so anxious about your disappearance that she pleaded with me. In the spirit of sibling affection, I agreed to search for you at the Crown Prince Mansion, but since the Crown Prince won’t release you, there is little I can do—" Seeing the surprise on the little girl’s face, he added with a smirk, "Perhaps the Crown Prince, shocked by the assassins today, is being stubborn. I’ll come again another day to persuade him. You, in the meantime, just stay put."

The little girl seemed shocked, staring at him dumbfounded, without response.

With a nod towards her, Prince Jin turned and left, unable to suppress a slight smile at the corners of his mouth.

The Crown Prince’s attempt to keep the youngest of Duke Yan’s daughters by his side would certainly backfire.

Which of this little girl’s family members are easy to deal with?

If this Jiaojiao gets frightened...

...

Tang Xiaobai was truly frightened.

There was still more than a year from the original novel’s plot, so her main focus was on Little Qin, paying little attention to Tang Jiaojiao’s progress.

She never expected the eldest sister to seek out Prince Jin so quickly!

Prince Jin is the cold-hearted and ruthless villainous Crown Prince from the original novel, who tormented both the secondary female lead and the main female lead!

After confirming that the Crown Prince in Yongfu Village was not the one from the novel, Tang Xiaobai seriously inquired about the Emperor’s sons.

It was fairly easy to determine.

The Crown Prince in the novel’s biological mother was Consort Zheng, and there was only one son from Consort Zheng here, which was Prince Jin, Li Shu.

You claim to be powerless against the Young Crown Prince, a mighty and potent ultimate antagonist?

I don’t believe you!

It’s not enough to bully the Young Crown Prince yourself, and you must incite me to join in bullying him, despicable!

How did Tang Jiaojiao fall for such a vile person?

In the original plot, Tang Jiaojiao was ennobled as the Crown Princess in the thirteenth year of Taixing. A month or two after being granted the title, the main female lead, Ye Qingrong, entered the capital and snatched Tang Jiaojiao’s title of "Capital City’s First Beauty" along with Li Shu’s affection.

Ever since, Tang Jiaojiao stood at the forefront of persecuting the main female lead, becoming a qualified malicious secondary female lead.

However, it wasn’t the main female lead who ultimately led to Tang Jiaojiao’s devastation, but her love-sick pursuit of Li Shu.

No matter how you look at it, Tang Xiaobai didn’t want the eldest sister to misplace her affections.

There had been no such signs before! How did her sister come into contact with Li Shu while she wasn’t paying attention?

Could it be because of her?

No way! She must hurry back!

If she doesn’t return soon, Li Shu will have another chance to seduce her foolish older sister!

In panic, Tang Xiaobai, regardless of falling into Li Shu’s scheme to sow discord, grabbed an attendant from the Crown Prince Mansion behind her, decisively saying, "I request to see His Highness the Crown Prince—"

...

"I’m tired, no visitors." The Young Crown Prince said with a stern face and a cold tone.

Deng Liao was stunned: "Does His Highness really intend to keep this little girl?"

Li Mu replied coldly, "Since she has been provoked by Prince Jin to make a fuss, how can I allow it?"

Originally, he had planned to send the little girl back home after Prince Jin left.

But he didn’t expect Prince Jin to take the initiative to propose taking her home.

Without thinking, he refused.

He didn’t need Prince Jin’s help to send her home!

Wasn’t it all about coveting the power of Duke Yan Mansion, resorting to using a little girl?

He would not allow it!

He especially didn’t anticipate Prince Jin meeting the young Tang girl at the Crown Prince Mansion and stirring trouble.

And the girl, usually quite clever, ended up falling for Prince Jin’s instigation and refused to get along with him!

Thinking about it made Li Mu feel extremely frustrated.

"Alas..." Deng Liao sighed, "With Duke Yan not having been in the capital for long, naturally, the family’s second daughter lacked discipline—"

"She’s merely young and naive!" The Young Crown Prince suddenly raised his voice, "Prince Jin intends to deceive, how can a child distinguish?"

Deng Liao was taken aback and hesitantly agreed, inwardly amazed.

How many days has the Crown Prince stayed at the Duke Yan Mansion? He’s already so attached to this little girl? Doesn’t allow any criticism at all?

"Your Highness—" Cao He, who had just gone out to deliver a message, returned, "Second Miss Tang refuses to leave..."

"Let her be!" Li Mu replied coldly.

Cao He hesitated, "But the sun outside is scorching..."

The young Crown Prince gave him a cold glare.

Cao He was suddenly enlightened: "I’ll go fetch a parasol!" With that, he hurriedly left.

Deng Liao frowned slightly, "Keeping her isn’t a solution either."

Of course, it wasn’t meant to be indefinite.

"If she’s still outside in a quarter of an hour, convey my words to send her home!" Li Mu instructed.

Allowing the little girl to cause a fuss outside for a bit might make Prince Jin believe his scheme succeeded.

Deng Liao was a bit skeptical: "Only a quarter of an hour? Isn’t that too short?"

The Young Crown Prince cast him a chilly glance.

Deng Liao quickly changed his tone: "A quarter of an hour might be about right..."

...

Actually, Tang Xiaobai originally only intended to stand briefly before leaving. She didn’t expect the old eunuch to bring a large parasol to shield her from the sun.

This now became awkward...