Did the Seventh Prince attend court today?

The midday sun was blazing, making people irritable and restless. Even the gentle breeze blowing from the river could not alleviate the heat in the slightest.

Her already unpleasant mood worsened, and Su Yan'an couldn't stay a moment longer. She raised her chin and asked, "Shall we go?"

The eldest prince hesitated.

This is his uncle's pleasure boat, and he is practically a half-owner. Now that his uncle is not here, it would be extremely impolite for him to abandon these people and leave without a care.

As the two were talking, people below began to board the ship one after another. Ying Tingfang, the second young lady of the Ying family, lifted her skirt and ran to the two of them, hugged Su Yan'an's arm, blushed and said coquettishly, "Brother Yan'an, why didn't you come to pick me up? Fang'er has been waiting for you for so long."

Su Yan'an subtly withdrew his hand, his tone distant: "Miss Ying, please have some self-respect and do not be impolite in front of His Highness."

"This humble woman greets the Crown Prince." Ying Tingfang reluctantly withdrew her hand and bowed slightly in a perfunctory manner.

Ying Shu'er, the third young lady of the Ying family, also came over, glancing shyly at the eldest prince, and gracefully curtsied: "Greetings, Your Highness, and Young Master Su."

The eldest prince nodded slightly.

As soon as Yan Ci boarded the ship, he looked around for any sign of deer. After circling around without finding any, he ran over to Su Yan'an and asked, "Wasn't it said that the Seventh Prince was coming along too?"

There was a hint of disappointment in his tone.

Just as Su Yan'an was about to reply, Ying Tingfang snorted and said, "It's better that he doesn't come. Aunt is being punished with confinement, but he only cares about his own carefree life. He's an ungrateful wretch, not even as good as Brother Yunshu. I don't want to play with him."

The Crown Prince and Su Yan'an both changed their expressions, and even Yan Ci couldn't help but frown.

"Don't you dare insult my brother!"

"How dare the daughter of a mere ninth-rank official speak ill of a prince? Who gave you the audacity?"

"Second Miss should be careful with her words."

The last sentence was spoken by Yan Ci, and his tone was not very pleasant.

Ying Tingfang was stunned. Why were all these people speaking up for that ingrate? Hadn't he just returned to the palace? Logically, the First Prince should dislike him, so why were they protecting him instead?

She had a hundred questions in her mind, and she couldn't help but tremble when she met the Crown Prince's angry gaze.

Ying Shu'er quickly pulled her panicked elder sister to kneel down, her face pale as she repeatedly kowtowed: "Your Highness, please forgive her! My sister was just being blunt and said the wrong thing. She didn't mean it. Please forgive her this time!"

Knowing she had made a mistake, Ying Tingfang lowered her head tremblingly, not daring to say another word.

The eldest prince flicked his sleeve, "Let's not go swimming in this lake!"

Su Yan'an snorted coldly: "Damn it, Ah Li, let's go."

The two left without a second thought, not caring about being impolite, as they really didn't want to stay with the Ying family.

The others, who had intended to step forward to pay their respects to the eldest prince, quickly retreated upon seeing this, fearing they might get into trouble.

After the eldest prince and Su Yan'an had walked away, the two young masters of the Ying family stepped forward to help their sisters up, asking with concern, "Are you alright?"

Ying Shu'er shook her head, while Ying Tingfang stamped her feet and complained, "If it weren't for Brother Yunshu not being here, we wouldn't have to suffer this humiliation. It's all that Xiao Yunlu's fault, why doesn't he just die..."

"Second Sister!" Ying Shuer raised her voice, stopping her from continuing.

Yan Ci frowned, not wanting to stay any longer, and said, "I have important matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."

Ying Tingfang grabbed him, shouting spoiledly, "You're leaving no matter what! Yunshu sent you to keep us company, you can't leave!"

Disgust flashed in Yan Ci's eyes. "I'm only showing you some leniency because of the Sixth Prince. Don't push your luck!"

After saying that, he flung her hand away and walked away.

Aside from the eldest prince, Su Yan'an and Yan Ci were the most distinguished among these people. Now that they had left, the young masters and ladies who had come for them all looked disappointed.

Fearing that these people had all left, Ying Tingfang hurriedly said, "Everyone, please come inside the cabin for tea. I imagine the Duke of Zhenguo will arrive soon."

Upon hearing this, many who had been considering leaving changed their minds and all put on smiling faces to flatter Ying Tingfang. Only a few people quietly left.

However, no one saw the Duke of Zhenguo even after the ship set sail. But no one left, since just getting on the ship was enough for them to brag about.

After getting ashore, the eldest prince did not return to his residence, but instead wandered aimlessly along the riverbank.

He felt terrible and didn't know how to face Youlu in the future.

Su Yan'an stayed by his side and gently comforted him, "Xiao Lu won't hold it against you. You're looking so dejected here; he's probably already forgotten about it."

The eldest prince looked dejected. "Just because my seventh brother forgot doesn't mean I didn't do anything wrong. I'm not a good older brother."

He had thought that the Ying family was his seventh brother's maternal family. Although they came from a lower social class, blood was thicker than water. It would be a good thing if more people could love his seventh brother. However, he did not expect the Ying family to have such an attitude.

Ying Tingfang cannot represent the Ying family, but a glimpse into her reveals the whole picture, and the Ying family's attitude is self-evident.

"You shouldn't have acted on your own." Su Yan'an couldn't help but sigh. "Luckily, Xiao Lu didn't come. Otherwise, seeing the Ying family's attitude, they probably would have started a fight on the spot. If it really came to that, I'm afraid he and the Sixth Prince..."

Halfway through his sentence, a clear and melodious voice drifted across the river.

"Hey there, everyone across the way!"

The two turned around in surprise and saw a young man in red standing against the wind, one hand on his hip and the other on the gunwale, looking majestic.

"Seventh brother!" The eldest prince was overjoyed.

Su Yan'an chuckled, "What did I say again?"

Returning to the South Street Wharf, the First Prince and Su Yan'an were in a completely different mood. Previously, they had only felt the scorching sun and were irritable, not even noticing the crooked willow tree on the shore. Now, however, they felt refreshed and walked with a spring in their step, even having the leisure to admire the willow tree as they passed by.

The willow tree is still the same willow tree.

Once aboard the painted boat, Su Yan'an pounced on You Lu and grabbed his neck, laughing heartily, "I thought you'd really gone back to the palace, but it turns out you've gone on some important business! Where did you get such a magnificent boat?"

He pressed Youlu down with a barrage of questions until a steady cough sounded behind him.

"Ahem!"

Su Yan'an turned around abruptly and saw Emperor Wulong and Empress standing behind him. He hurriedly stood up straight and bowed respectfully, saying, "Yan'an greets Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress."

Emperor Wulong glanced at him with disdain, "You have none of your grandfather's composure. You've almost strangled my son." The second half of the sentence is the key point.

Su Yan'an blushed.

The eldest prince stepped forward and bowed: "Father, Mother."

The Empress smiled and helped him up, saying, "There's no need to stand on ceremony when you're out and about."

Emperor Wulong asked, "Didn't you go boating on the lake? Why are you strolling along the riverbank?"

The eldest prince glanced at Youlu and said with shame, "Your subject did something wrong and was not in the mood for sightseeing, so I did not go with them."

Emperor Wulong scoffed mercilessly, "Serves you right."

The eldest prince: QAQ

The Empress patted her husband, then turned and sternly criticized the eldest prince: "He misjudges people and is self-righteous; he truly deserves it."

Now the eldest prince couldn't even cry anymore.

Youlu patted the eldest prince's head and comforted him, "Don't cry, your jade crown will fall off."

The eldest prince was moved to tears. Although he didn't quite understand, he felt comforted.