The mistress has no feelings, why do you provoke her?

Inside the restaurant.

The table was laden with all sorts of fruits and snacks, which Xiao Qi devoured.

Although he was the heir apparent, the Dowager Empress had extremely high expectations of him and required him to always pay attention to etiquette.

There are also requirements regarding the foods one likes; one cannot eat too much of them.

With Consort Chun absent, Xiao Qi unleashed his true nature.

As he devoured his food, he said to Su Rongrong, "Sister-in-law, please don't tell me that if my mother finds out, she'll beat me to death."

Su Rongrong smiled and repeatedly assured, "Okay, I promise I won't tell, but the Dowager will definitely be worried if you leave the palace like this. You should go back quickly."

"I don't want to," Xiao Qi said with a dissatisfied look. "My mother only knows how to make me study all day long. I have no personal freedom at all. I don't want to go back."

Su Rongrong's eyes darted around, wanting to know what was going on.

She said to Xiao Qi, "Your Highness, you have misunderstood the Empress Dowager. If the Empress Dowager hadn't lost face at the palace banquet, why would she have forced you to study?"

Xiao Qi paused in his eating: "You mean, Mother Consort treated me this way because of the Princess Consort of Chu?"

"The Dowager Consort was targeted by the Prince of Chu's residence at the palace banquet. Even I felt indignant on her behalf. The Princess Consort of Chu really went too far. No matter what, she is still her imperial aunt. How can the Dowager Consort maintain her standing in the capital if she shows such disrespect to her imperial aunt?" Su Rongrong sighed softly.

Secretly, she glanced at Xiao Qi's face and, sure enough, saw that his expression had changed.

"Young Master, you don't need to take my words to heart. Logically speaking, I shouldn't have said these things. If Princess Chu knew, she would definitely think I was trying to sow discord."

Xiao Qi's eyes flickered, and he said, "Don't worry, sister-in-law. We've never even met, so how could I possibly sow discord between us?"

Su Rongrong's face showed a smug look: "Thank you, Your Highness."

She was humble and never used her status as the emperor's sister-in-law to intimidate anyone, giving Xiao Qi plenty of respect, which made him very happy.

His feelings for Su Rongrong increased dramatically.

Seeing that he had almost finished eating, Su Rongrong offered, "Your Highness, let me escort you back to your residence. The sun is getting stronger now; be careful not to get heatstroke."

"No need, I know the way myself." Xiao Qi stood up and then asked, "How do I get to the Chu Prince's residence?"

"Go east across Ping'an Street for 500 meters, and you'll reach the Chu Prince's Mansion. Your Highness, do you want to go to the Chu Prince's Mansion?" Su Rongrong asked knowingly.

Xiao Qi shook his head: "I was just asking casually."

"Oh." Su Rongrong smiled gently, but there was a sinister look in her eyes.

She was looking forward to seeing what surprises Xiao Qi could bring her.

After leaving the restaurant, Xiao Qi followed the direction Su Rongrong pointed out and headed towards the Chu Prince's Mansion.

Upon arriving at the Chu Prince's residence, Xiao Qi's mouth gaped open.

The Chu King's Mansion was magnificent and imposing.

Especially the two stone lions at the entrance, which are as tall as two people.

The gates of the Chu King's mansion were heavily guarded, making it virtually impossible to sneak in.

Xiao Qi hid in a corner, dejected.

He didn't dare to openly confront Song Wenjun; he could only mutter curses from a corner.

Just as he was about to leave, a woman's voice suddenly came from behind him: "Your Highness, what are you doing here?"

Xiao Qi turned around and saw a round-faced maid.

He was somewhat curious that the other person knew his identity, but also a little guilty and dared not meet the other person's gaze.

He mumbled, "I...I came out for a walk."

Xiao Qi turned to leave, but Xiao Tao stopped him: "Since Your Highness is here, why don't you come and sit down in the mansion?"

Without giving Xiao Qi a chance to refuse, he dragged him into the mansion.

Xiao Qi's heart was pounding. He had come to pick a fight with Song Wenjun, but he had been dragged into her mansion by her people.

Disgrace, absolute disgrace.

Xiao Tao escorted Xiao Qi to Song Wenjun's place. As she went in, she gave Song Wenjun a knowing look, and the latter nodded in understanding.

As soon as Xiao Qi entered, a cool breeze wafted towards him, making him squint his eyes in comfort.

It's so cool and spacious in this room.

What puzzled him was why there was a draft inside the house.

Looking up, I saw two huge fan blades spinning on the roof beam inside the house, and the wind was blowing out from those fan blades.

Xiao Tao explained to him, "Your Highness, this is a windmill. It turns by the water in the palace and can generate a breeze. It's the coolest thing to use in the summer."

"Wind, windmill?" Xiao Qi's eyes widened in surprise. He stared at the windmill in shock, his little head filled with big question marks.

Is this the difference between the Chu Prince's Mansion and the Chun Prince's Mansion?

He had never seen anything so useful in his entire life.

Song Wenjun had already received the news when Xiao Qi was hiding at the entrance of the Chu Prince's mansion.

She wanted to figure out why Xiao Qi was here, so she had Xiao Tao bring him in.

"Your Highness, please sit down." Song Wenjun instructed, "Bring up some chilled yogurt and plum juice for Your Highness."

Xiao Qi sat down in the chair, feeling somewhat uneasy.

He came here to seek revenge on Song Wenjun, so how did she manage to lead him by the nose?

Before long, chilled plum juice and sour cream were served.

Xiao Qi looked at these wonderful things with surprise in his eyes; they were all new and exciting things he had never tried before.

He carefully picked up the spoon and scooped up a spoonful; it was sweet and sour, and delicious.

A mouthful went into my stomach, and the icy sensation was incredibly comforting.

He squinted and sighed, "It's so cool."

"If Your Highness likes it, I'll eat more." He was still a child at heart; a few snacks and treats made him forget the purpose of his visit.

Song Wenjun smiled calmly and instructed Xiao Tao, "When His Highness leaves, pack him some extra yogurt."

"Yes, Your Highness," Xiao Tao replied respectfully.

While eating, Xiao Qi secretly glanced at Song Wenjun.

Seeing her serene appearance and bright, generous smile, she was not at all like a vicious woman.

He even wondered to himself, if Consort Chun hadn't provoked her, how could he have been bullied by Song Wenjun?

He was there at the time, and he witnessed his mother provoking Song Wenjun.

The latter could no longer tolerate it and retaliated.

Xiao Qi felt extremely guilty, and his hesitant manner made Song Wenjun look at him with confusion: "Is it that the pastries don't suit Your Highness's taste, or that the plum juice doesn't suit Your Highness's taste?"

"No, none of that is true." Xiao Qi hurriedly waved his hand, feeling guilty and not daring to look Song Wenjun in the eye.

Song Wenjun looked at her with understanding: "Your Highness, rest assured, I won't say anything to the Dowager Consort. You can eat as you please."

Xiao Qi watched as Xiao Tao busied herself packing him fruits, snacks, and yogurt.

Throughout the entire process, Song Wenjun did not show any dissatisfaction.

Although Su Rongrong and Song Wenjun served delicious food, Princess Chu was not as talkative as the Crown Prince's wife.

Looking back now, I realize she was just trying to sow discord.

She's using him as a scapegoat; what a scheming woman.