An eight-year-old kid emptied his scumbag father's warehouse and followed his grandparents into

Prince Jing had just been turned away outside the Qinzheng Hall and was unable to even step onto the white marble steps in front of the hall.

He looked up at the vermilion-lacquered and gold-painted palace door. The gilded copper nails gleamed coldly in the bleak winter sunlight, and the icicles hanging from the eaves of the palace looked like hanging swords.

Li Dewang and two young eunuchs blocked the middle of the steps. Li Dewang folded his hands in front of his abdomen. When he saw Prince Jing, he showed an extremely humble look, greeted him, but did not send a telegram to report.

When Prince Jing tried to step forward, Li Dewang calmly took half a step, and the toe of his boots embroidered with cloud patterns just touched the edge of the step.

"Your Highness, please forgive me." Li Dewang bent his neck in a perfect arc, and a few wrinkles appeared on the back of his neck. "Your Majesty has been tired all day. He rested after drinking the ginseng soup."

As he spoke, he raised his eyes, a few fine lines appearing at the corners of his eyes, and a flicker of light flickered in his pupils. Prince Jing noticed that his left thumb unconsciously stroked the jade ring - it was the Fourth Prince's item, which he had seen with his own eyes during the autumn hunt last year.

A faint cough came from the direction of the warm room. Prince Jing suddenly stepped forward, his boot soles crushing a thin layer of frost. "Since the dragon's body is not well, I should..."

"Empress Hua is serving the medicine." Li Dewang took a step sideways like lightning, and the gold tassels on the sachet swept across Prince Jing's cuffs.

He suddenly lowered his voice: "The Fourth Prince specifically instructed that the prince should not come to the palace again in the near future." The words stopped abruptly here, like a thread cut by scissors.

There was a crisp sound of porcelain touching each other in the distance, and Li Dewang's Adam's apple rolled.

Prince Jing suddenly burst into laughter, causing the snow on the eaves to fall down.

He deliberately pulled open his sable-lined cloak, revealing a casual suit embroidered with a golden python—a gift from the late emperor. The cuffs were still stained with last night's wine. "Eunuch Li, are you trying to get rid of me?" He reached out and patted the man's shoulder with such force that Li Dewang stumbled. "I'm afraid you've forgotten your identity..."

During the argument, Prince Jing caught a whiff of the agarwood fragrance wafting from Li Dewang's sleeves—the very incense the Fourth Prince was accustomed to using. When the other party mentioned "coming to the palace less recently," the ending tone trembled unnaturally.

Even after leaving Danchi, Prince Jing could still feel several gazes piercing the back of his neck, as if being licked by a poisonous snake.

……

It wasn't until he left the palace and boarded the carriage, sitting opposite Prince Jing, that Jing Chunxi truly relaxed. The carriage moved slowly, and a depressing silence permeated the carriage.

She calmed herself down, took a deep breath, and expressed her plan to return to Qingshan Villa as soon as possible.

"Xi'er will have breakfast with grandparents tomorrow, and then she'll go back first."

Jing Chunxi lowered his head, his voice was a little soft, but his tone was firm.

The purpose of her trip to the palace has been achieved, and she is unwilling to delay any longer. After all, there are still many things waiting for her to deal with at Qingshan Villa. If she doesn't go back, her father and mother may not be at ease.

Prince Jing nodded slightly, and after a moment's silence, he slowly spoke: "Go back and tell your father to pass the news to Prince Yan and the Crown Prince immediately. I'm afraid there will be chaos in the palace, so you must not return to the city."

Jing Chunxi originally thought that her grandfather would say something to persuade her to stay, but unexpectedly he gave her such news, which was actually urging her to go back.

She was slightly startled, but quickly regained her composure and replied firmly, "I understand!"

This news made her feel a little flustered, but she didn't know what to do. She looked at Prince Jing with some worry.

Prince Jing smiled helplessly, "Don't worry, grandfather and uncle have their own defenses."

Jing Chunxi gently pressed the couplet in her arms. It was an important item she brought out from the palace on this trip.

She hadn't intended to tell her grandfather about the couplet, mainly because Xu Zize hadn't told her how much he knew about it. The secret hidden in the couplet was of great importance, and if it were revealed easily, it might cause unnecessary trouble.

Although Prince Jing did not ask, his eyes were always fixed on Jing Chunxi's slightly bulging arms.

How could he not see that she was hiding something in her arms, but he already knew in his heart that Jing Chunxi's trip was probably about the matter of the Crown Prince and Prince Yan.

Since she didn't mention it on her own initiative, he didn't say anything. He just sighed slightly, leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes and said no more.

……

the next day,

During breakfast, Ling'er seemed a bit disappointed. When Sister Xi came home last night, she had already fallen asleep, so there was no chance for them to chat alone.

Now, early in the morning, her elder sister said she wanted to go back again. Ling'er felt aggrieved and pouted, mumbling, "Sister clearly said she would stay for a few days, why didn't she keep her word?"

She felt that the Dashunzhai cakes on the plate were no longer fragrant, and in anger, she picked up her chopsticks and fiercely smashed several pieces of cakes into pieces, scattering the crumbs all over the table.

"Ling'er! Where are all the etiquette you learned?" Prince Jing was a little angry. He put down his chopsticks abruptly, a stern look on his face, and scolded her sternly. Prince Hong also glared at her.

When Ling'er heard her grandfather's scolding, although she was not afraid, she calmed down a little and put the chopsticks on the table carefully.

However, her eyes were still fixed on Jing Chunxi, and she muttered unconvincedly, "That's right, sister, you said it last night, why are you going back on your word?"

There were few children in the mansion before, and Ling'er was the only legitimate grandchild, so she had long been spoiled. However, she was not the kind of spoiled person, otherwise she would have caused a big uproar long ago.

Jing Chunxi quickly smiled and comforted her, saying softly, "Ling'er, I really have something to go back for this time. Maybe I'll come back in a few days. Then I'll stay for two more days."

As she spoke, she put a piece of bright yellow pea yellow into Ling'er's bowl and said with a smile, "Eat it quickly, or I'll pack it up."

In fact, their grandfather had told them not to go into the city in the near future, and they might not even be able to visit secretly to wish them a happy new year. Jing Chunxi said these words just to comfort Ling'er.

After hearing this, Ling'er became even more unhappy. She pouted, pushed the pastries in the bowl out, and said angrily: "I don't want to eat it anymore. Pack it up for us to eat on the way." What she meant was that she wanted to rely on Jing Chunxi and wanted to go back to Qingshan Villa with Jing Chunxi.

"How can this be possible?" Jing Chunxi said hurriedly, with a hint of helplessness in his tone.

"No!" The voice of Princess Hongjun also sounded at the same time, her tone was equally unquestionable, and it was obvious that she also wanted to stop Ling'er.

Princess Hongjun felt a little conflicted. It was New Year's Day, so she naturally wanted her daughter to be with her family. However, she felt a little embarrassed facing Jing Chunxi, so she didn't immediately say why she wanted to stop him. She just looked at Jing Chunxi guiltily.

Jing Chunxi naturally guessed what the Princess was going to say, but he also knew it was not appropriate to speak in front of her, so he quickly spoke before her, "Dad, Mom, Sister, and Pu Ge'er should come back to spend the New Year with Grandpa and Grandma."

She paused, looking straight at Ling'er with a hint of pleading in her eyes, and her tone softened, completely different from her usual image of a responsible older sister. Instead, she sounded a bit like a pitiful little puppy. "But mother is pregnant and has severe morning sickness, so it's not convenient for her to go out. We can't celebrate the New Year together. Ling'er, can you show filial piety to grandparents on behalf of your sister and brother?"

Ling'er was a little overwhelmed by Jing Chunxi's pitiful appearance. She had never expected Jing Chunxi to beg her, and stammered, "You... I..." In the end, she still agreed reluctantly, but still added unwillingly, "Okay! But sister has to come back as soon as possible, and we will go to the City God Temple to celebrate the Lantern Festival together."

Jing Chunxi looked at Prince Jing and Prince Hong, who still had serious expressions. He felt a little uneasy, and then he said to Ling'er in an uncertain tone, "Okay."