allonlinenovel Chapter 131 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (35)
Chapter 131 The Ruthless and Disabled Crown Prince (35)
He Pingyan was clearly confused by Ji Shumin, but in front of Lu Liruan, he couldn't just blurt out, "Are you crazy?"
This is an aggressive statement.
Zhuang Yuxun chuckled, "Ayan, your face looks so strange, hahaha!" She said very directly.
He Pingyan: ...
It feels like no one in this house has taken their medication before leaving.
He frowned, glanced at Lu Liruan, and was about to speak when Ji Shumin slowly interrupted him.
"What, you don't believe me?"
"No." He Pingyan denied it subconsciously.
Lu Liruan vaguely sensed that He Pingyan had a great deal of trust and respect for Ji Shumin, which didn't seem to be just because of their status.
He Pingyan was a man of exceptional skill and expertise in leading troops into battle. He was almost always victorious on the border, with countless battles in which he defeated the many with the few and the strong with the weak.
Regardless of which prince's faction he was on, he was always a candidate to be courted.
Some people tried to use their connections with the He family, but He Pingyan's father was a notoriously incorruptible judge who never stooped to the level of corrupt officials. Anyone who tried to coerce or bribe him ended up getting nowhere.
But no one dared to touch him. His son and father were practically carbon copies of each other; the whole family was tough as nails, and anyone who messed with them was doomed.
Lu Liruan remembered that in the original storyline, it was precisely because of the He family's attitude that even though no one could sway them, the thought that no one else could bring the He family under their control made them stop considering it.
The Emperor also felt that the He family was loyal and reliable because they had offended many people in the court but never engaged in factionalism or attacks. The Emperor had always been very at ease with the He family.
But unexpectedly, He Pingyan had a very close relationship with Ji Shumin in private.
Judging from their conversation, it must have been related to the shady dealings within officialdom.
Lu Liruan put on a calm face as He Pingyan looked her over, but she was very curious: what was the past between Ji Shumin and him?
Will Ji Shumin still have feelings for Zhuang Yuxun...?
"Miss Zhuang, what are you doing holding the Crown Princess's hand?"
Oh, probably not.
Ji Shumin glanced at Zhuang Yuxun with a cool expression, as if her holding his Crown Princess's hand was something more important than what He Pingyan had said.
Zhuang Yuxun not only held Lu Liruan's hand, but also lowered his head and brought his nose close to Lu Liruan's sleeve to smell: "Your Highness the Crown Princess is so fragrant and beautiful, I am naturally willing to be closer to Your Highness."
She smiled at Lu Liruan, who was attracted by her beautiful yet spirited appearance and smiled back.
Why is Miss Zhuang so close to me? Lu Liruan wondered.
Zhuang Yuxun's thoughts were simple. Ever since returning to the capital, she had never been used to it, especially the girls in the capital.
Different regions produce different people. The young ladies of the capital are like beautiful peonies, with outstanding looks and talents in music, chess, calligraphy and painting.
Zhuang Yuxun admired the girls, but couldn't fit in.
She was the wind of a desolate land, a horse on the wilderness. After arriving in the capital, she felt restricted and uncomfortable.
That day in the palace, she secretly slipped away, hoping to escape the complicated and polite social interactions. However, she bumped into Lu Liruan, who had also crawled in through the dog hole.
Zhuang Yuxun felt that she was somewhat similar to herself; she was witty, lively, and bright.
He had intended to befriend Lu Liruan, but just a few days later, Lu Liruan entered the palace and became the Crown Princess.
When Zhuang Yuxun heard the news, he felt a pang of regret and a sense of melancholy.
Unfortunately, I arrived the latest and didn't become friends with Lu Liruan. What's disheartening is that Lu Liruan would actually be imprisoned in a place like the palace...
In Zhuang Yuxun's view, living behind those solemn and imposing red walls all the time was a terrible thing.
If she herself is restricted in her freedom, unable to ride her horse freely and conquer the battlefield, it would be as if her very soul is imprisoned.
When Zhuang Yuxun saw Lu Liruan again, she had not become as dignified and rigid as the women in the palace. She smiled gently and her eyes were lively, which made Zhuang Yuxun feel a little relieved.
Zhuang Yuxun herself didn't quite understand why she cared so much about someone she had only met twice, but she was indeed happy.
Upon hearing Zhuang Yuxun's words, Ji Shumin raised one eyebrow, appearing somewhat sarcastic.
"The Crown Princess prefers to be close to me; I am the Crown Princess's closest person." He took a sip of tea and nodded as if affirming his own words.
Who said that? Who told you that?
How can you talk such nonsense!
Lu Liruan felt absurd. Putting aside why you suddenly became so competitive for no reason, the key thing is why you acted like you'd lost your mind and lied to my face!
"Ahem—" He Pingyan coughed twice, reminding them that the purpose of their gathering today was not to argue.
Ji Shumin withdrew his gaze, his face expressionless, but his hand under the table beckoned to Lu Liruan.
Lu Liruan didn't understand. Ji Shumin spoke to He Pingyan with a calm expression, pointing to the seat next to him under the table, emphasizing his meaning: sit closer.
Lu Liruan moved away from him, distancing herself a little.
Ji Shumin glared at Lu Liruan with a sharp look, as if he wanted to cut a gash in her, and said in a light but sinister tone, "Naturally, we should let them be smug first."
“Officials in the south are now living in fear,” He Pingyan said, frowning.
"It's good that things are getting out of hand. How lively! All sorts of demons and monsters will come out and put on a show. I want to see what interesting things they can stir up." Ji Shumin said casually, looking optimistic.
“There are quite a few people who have already secretly…” He Pingyan left the sentence ambiguous.
He dipped his finger in tea and sketched out the terrain of several places with a few strokes, pointing them out to Ji Shumin.
Ji Shumin glanced at it a few times, pondered for a moment, and said, "Don't worry about it, let them be. This is just the beginning."
“You now…” He Pingyan erased the map and hesitated, his expression slightly complicated.
"What? You're disappointed to find that I'm crippled after returning from the border?" Ji Shumin said sharply, a hint of obsessive anger showing in his expression.
"Your Highness!" He Pingyan was not intimidated by his anger; instead, he adopted a serious expression: "Please watch your words!"
Ji Shumin leaned back: "Isn't that what you think too?"
He Pingyan fell silent, his lips pressed into a straight line: "What I meant when I wrote that letter was not..."
"Alright, I don't want to hear it." Ji Shumin waved his hand: "I've just been crippled and I still have to listen to your letter and lecture."
He Pingyan fell silent.
Lu Liruan looked at the two of them and it seemed that there were many unfinished things to say.
"I want to go browse the pastry shop and come back later." Lu Liruan stood up.
Zhuang Yuxun sipped her tea listlessly, seemingly uninterested in the strange atmosphere between Ji Shumin and He Pingyan. Seeing Lu Liruan get up, she followed suit.
"Then I'll go with you."
Ji Shumin didn't stop Lu Liruan, but gave Zhuang Yuxun a sarcastic look, then snorted at Lu Liruan, turned around, and gave a cold smile under He Pingyan's gaze.
It was very aggressive, attacking three people in succession. Lu Liruan was astonished.
The main point is that no one should get away with anything.