Help! The innocent prince always tries to seduce me clumsily

Chu Shitong looked at Si Jingli calmly, "Your Highness, are you forcing me? I've already said that the fan has nothing to do with me."

Si Jingli suddenly looked behind her, said just one sentence, then turned around and got on the carriage.

"It seems that this carriage of the prince has been reserved for His Royal Highness the Seventh Prince."

Chu Shitong didn't know what was going on. She was originally preparing to turn around and leave, but she suddenly heard the noise from Hua Xilou getting closer behind her. The sounds of Zhou Hengchuan and the madam arguing became clearer and clearer. She was afraid that Zhou Hengchuan would stick to her like a dog-skin plaster after seeing her. She instantly understood the meaning of Si Jingli's words and got on Si Jingli's carriage helplessly.

Once he got on Si Jingli's carriage, Zhou Hengchuan wouldn't dare to chase after him even if he had ten thousand guts.

Inside the carriage, the walls on both sides were inlaid with glazed candlesticks, a mahogany low table was placed in the center, on which were placed exquisite tea sets and cakes, the soft couch was covered with priceless silk, and the waist pillows were embroidered with patterns in silver thread.

The carriage was very spacious and filled with the scent of jasmine from the sachet. After getting on the bus, Chu Shitong consciously sat next to the door, the farthest away from Si Jingli.

Si Jingli took a look and said, "Your Highness the Seventh Prince is sitting so far away. Do you dislike my carriage or me?"

Chu Shitong said: "Your Highness, you are worrying too much. I just think it is convenient to get off here."

"is it?"

Si Jingli poured himself a cup of tea and told the driver, "Go to the palace."

The carriage started slowly, very steadily and very slowly. It was estimated that at this speed it would take at least a quarter of an hour to reach the palace.

"Don't blame me, Your Highness the Seventh Prince. I don't like the carriage to go too fast."

Chu Shitong also knew Si Jingli's habits, so he just responded and said nothing more.

The carriage was silent for a while. Si Jingli drank his tea, but he couldn't wait for Chu Shitong to speak.

He looked up and saw Chu Shitong sitting on the couch with his eyes closed, concentrating, with no intention of talking to him at all.

Si Jingli waited and waited, but Chu Shitong just sat there like a stone without moving. A nameless anger started to burn in his heart, and he put the teacup heavily on the table.

The noise also made Chu Shitong open his eyes.

Si Jingli said: "Go ahead."

His incoherent words made Chu Shitong a little puzzled.

"What does His Royal Highness want me to say?"

"Tell me what you want in return."

Si Jingli's words revealed an air of almsgiving, as if the gods had generously granted a mortal a wish.

Chu Shitong took a deep breath and said patiently, "I have done nothing to help His Royal Highness, so how can I repay you?"

Si Jingli snorted coldly, "I am tired of hearing your rhetoric."

Chu Shitong looked at him, his eyes under the light revealing a hint of pity for some reason.

In the previous life, Si Jingli told her.

Because of his status since he was a child, no matter what happened, there were always people rushing to help him.

When I was young and ignorant, I thought those people were kind-hearted, so I became friends with them and treated them with all my heart in order to repay them.

But later, he accidentally overheard the conversation of those so-called "friends". It turned out that those people were only helping him for the sake of his family's power. There were even a few who deliberately sent people to create trouble for him just to be friends with Si Jingli and then stood up to sell out the favor.

After this incident, Si Jingli's sincerity and enthusiasm were instantly extinguished like a raging fire by ice water, and he looked at everyone with a hurt perspective.

It seemed as if everyone who helped him did so in exchange for something in return.

Si Jingli is not familiar with himself now, so it is normal to imagine himself as someone with the same purpose as those "friends". After all, with his identity, it is hard not to think too much.

If we continue to pull it off, it will only make things worse, Chu Shitong spoke slowly.

"If His Royal Highness insists on repaying me..."

He suddenly stopped talking halfway through his words, as if he was asking for something in return.

Si Jingli lowered his eyes, a smile that could not be told whether it was mocking or self-mocking flashed across his face, and then he stood there as if he had never been there, waiting for Chu Shitong to state her conditions.

Chu Shitong said, "Then please don't attend the Second Princess' birthday banquet next month, His Royal Highness."

Si Jingli was stunned when he heard this. Seeing that Chu Shitong had nothing to say, he asked, "Is that it?"

"Ah."

Si Jingli stared at Chu Shitong suspiciously.

This man saved him, and the only reward he offered was to not have him attend a party. This was so strange, he had never seen it before.

Could it be that this banquet has something to do with him?

Thinking of Chu Shitong's identity, Si Jingli said coldly: "I can agree to your request, but I will make it clear in advance that I will not attend only to repay your kindness in saving me. It has nothing to do with other things. This matter is between you and me, and has nothing to do with the Rong Palace. This matter will end after I agree to your condition. If I knew what you were going to do with this matter, even if you saved me, I would never let you off easily."

Chu Shitong felt that her ears were going to be numbed by Si Jingli's repeated calling of "this prince", she said helplessly.

"understood."

Si Jingli seemed to have some paranoid complex, once bitten by a snake, he would be afraid of ropes for ten years. Chu Shitong knew that this was just a shadow outside his fragile heart.

Others would find his arrogant attitude hateful, but Chu Shitong just felt a little distressed.

Seeing that Chu Shitong agreed readily, Si Jingli did not emphasize it any further.

The night was long and the carriage moved slowly.

Si Jingli flipped through the homework assigned by the teacher today out of boredom. After a while, he felt bored and looked up at Chu Shitong.

Chu Shitong was resting with his eyes closed again.

Originally he just glanced at it casually, but he seemed to have noticed something interesting, and the first glance turned into several glances. Seeing that Chu Shitong didn't react, he simply closed the book, and boldly stared at Chu Shitong with his chin propped up.

Everyone in the capital city said that he, Si Jingli, was more beautiful than a woman, but now when he saw Chu Shitong, Si Jingli felt that Chu Shitong's appearance was also very feminine.

Men are rough and usually start growing beards when they are twelve or thirteen years old. If they don't shave for several days, their beards will look very rough.

Si Jingli is very clean, so he always makes himself clean after taking a bath.

Chu Shitong did not seem to be like that. Her skin was smooth and delicate, white and flawless like jade, her eyebrows and eyes were picturesque, her nose was high, and her cherry mouth had two thin lips. She looked like someone who paid attention to being outgoing.

But there was a faint blue color under her eyes, which seemed to indicate that she often stayed up late and slept very late. She was wearing a formal black dress, without a single piece of jewelry on her body. Her long hair was tied up with a long black ribbon, and she didn't even have a jade crown.

A closer look reveals that he looks rough and poor, which ruins his naturally beautiful face.

Although Chu Shitong closed her eyes, she could feel that Si Jingli had been staring at her for a long time.

It lasted so long that I started to feel uncomfortable all over.

Si Jingli's gaze was like scorching fire, enough to burn a hole in her closed eyelids.

Chu Shitong couldn't sit still anymore, so he opened his eyes and looked over.

"But what's wrong with me that His Royal Highness has been looking at me for so long?"

Si Jingli looked away unnaturally after hearing what Chu Shitong said, "I just didn't expect that you, as a prince, would live such a poor life."

Chu Shitong: “…”

Rough words are not rough.

He was indeed poor now. Although he was a prince, he was a prince who had never entered the court and had no power. His mother was of humble birth and he himself had no status. His annual allowance of silver was 600 taels, which was 50 taels per month. If he had not secretly opened a jewelry shop in the capital with the rewards he had received over the years, he would probably have starved to death with this little allowance.

Although this amount of money is a lot for an ordinary family, it is still not enough for someone of my status and spending.

It was normal for Si Jingli to feel poor. Not to mention anything else, the bracelet on Si Jingli's hand was equivalent to ten years of his salary.

"Your Highness is right. The national treasury has not been full in recent years. Disasters have occurred frequently across the country, and the people are suffering. Father has ordered the palace to save money. We, the princes, should set an example."

Si Jingli suddenly realized, "So that's how it is. I made a mistake."

Chu Shitong said: "Your Highness is a straightforward person, and he speaks his mind. If it were someone else, they would just keep their words to themselves, but Your Highness gave me a chance to explain myself."

"His Highness the Seventh Prince is quite interesting." Si Jingli said, "Although he looks poor, he is not bad looking. I wonder if he knows that he has been listed in the top five of the list of handsome young men by the women in the capital?"

Chu Shitong: “…”

Apart from Si Jingli, no one else dared to say that the prince was poor.

However, the "Handsome Young Masters List" simply silenced Chu Shitong.

She frowned and said with disdain: "What list?"

Seeing her disgust, Si Jingli raised a sly smile like a little fox, "These are the five most handsome young men in the capital city selected by the women in secret voting. Speaking of this, I have to congratulate Your Highness on being on the list."

Chu Shitong was in mixed feelings.

I am a woman who has made it onto the list of handsome young men. What is there to be congratulated about? Is it because there are no more good-looking men in the capital?

Seeing that Chu Shitong was very disgusted with this topic, Si Jingli deliberately became interested and kept talking to Chu Shitong.

It turns out that this list has always existed in the capital like an unwritten rule.

For example, Zhou Hengchuan's reputation as a "talented scholar in the capital" was spread thanks to the reputation of this kind of folk list.

However, there are many talented people, but it is difficult to distinguish the handsome men.

According to Si Jingli, Chu Shitong ranked fifth among the top five because of his clean and pure appearance like a god, and a pair of amber eyes as light as glass, which made him adored by a group of young ladies from aristocratic families.

The reason why she ranks fifth is related to her figure. Chu Shitong is shorter than a normal man and her shoulders are narrower, not as broad as other men.

The first one is naturally Si Jingli. In the words of Chu Shitong, there is no one who can not like such a handsome and charming man. His androgynous face combines all the advantages of men and women. He has sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes, which are a pair of affectionate peach blossom eyes. There is a cinnabar mole between his eyebrows, which is bright red like blood. His eyelashes are long and thick, like butterfly wings. He is as gorgeous as a fairy, and is simply breathtaking.

The second one is the eldest prince, the only one that Chu Shitong did not kill in his previous life, Chu Shixuan, who was known for being a modest gentleman and gentle as jade.

The third is the third prince, Chu Shihan, who is known for his cold and handsome appearance. He is seventeen years old and has been in the court for a year, but has no power or influence. This is probably related to the fact that his mother is in the cold palace.

The fourth is Feng Yang, the legitimate son of the mighty general. Chu Shitong had dealt with him in his previous life, but the relationship did not go well. Fearing that he would hinder his succession to the throne, he had a bad idea and asked the emperor to send him to the border to guard the city. In his impression, Feng Yang was a romantic, suave and unruly young man.

Chu Shitong couldn't listen any longer, so he lifted the curtain and took a look. He happened to be at the palace gate, so he immediately turned around and said, "Thank you, Your Highness, for seeing me off. Bye."

After saying that, he swiftly got off the carriage and left quickly.

Si Jingli had just said half of his words when he saw Chu Shitong running away. After being stunned for a moment, he couldn't help but burst into laughter.

I never thought that Chu Shitong was afraid of these things.

In his impression, although he had little contact with Chu Shitong, he had heard some things about him. This person seemed to have some hidden ambitions. He had already established good relationships with many young masters before entering the court. He also seemed to be timid and cautious, and never willing to get too close to anyone.

After seeing him today, Si Jingli felt that rumors were just rumors and there was little truth to them.

Chu Shitong never asked for too much for such a favor, nor did he refuse his request to repay him by becoming friends with the intention of repaying him in the future. Such a person is quite interesting.

……

East Fifth Institute.

East Five is located to the east of Chaoyang Palace and north of Qianying Gate.

In fact, it refers to five south-facing courtyards, which are called Dongtouso, Dongersuo, Dongsanso, Dongsiso, and Dongwuso from west to east.

This area is where the princes live. They live with their biological mothers or wet nurses before they are five years old. After that, they will move to Dongwuso. After they are seventeen years old, they will officially enter the court. They will then be granted titles as kings and have their own mansions or territories outside the palace.

To be crowned a king or given a title of nobility, one must be married. The eldest prince has never married or taken a concubine, so he has not been crowned a king, but he has his own residence outside the palace.

There are also some who still stay in Dongwu Palace after adulthood. They are basically heirs who are not valued by the emperor, such as the third prince Chu Shihan.

There are currently five courtyards in the East Five Houses, called "the First House", "the Second House", etc. Chu Shitong ranks last among the princes, so naturally he is in the last fifth house.

As soon as he returned to East Fifth Institute, Chu Shitong saw Bishui pacing back and forth at the door, looking very anxious.

Chu Shitong vaguely guessed the reason, but pretended to know nothing and walked away.

Upon seeing Chu Shitong, Bishui immediately stepped forward as if she had found a life-saving straw.

"Your Highness, you are back. The Queen has sent for you to go to Luhua Palace several times. I heard that you haven't returned to the palace. The Queen is very angry. Please come to the palace as soon as possible!"

Yun Xiangrong was like this in her previous life. From time to time, she would summon Chu Shitong to the palace at night. There was nothing serious, but she just felt that she had been humiliated somewhere and summoned her to the palace to scold her and vent her anger.

Chu Shitong remembered that in her previous life, Yun Xiangrong summoned her to the palace and became even angrier when she heard that she had spent three thousand taels to buy the courtesan and gave her to Zhou Hengchuan. She was beaten with a whip and she could hardly get out of bed the next day. She also confiscated her monthly salary for half a year. In order not to reveal that she had other income privately, Chu Shitong had to eat only vegetables and rice for half a year.

"Since mother is angry, let's wait until she calms down."

Chu Shitong said something and, ignoring Bishui's surprised look, turned and walked into the hall.

She will never be bound by the so-called foolish filial piety in this life. Yun Xiangrong and she are in a mutually beneficial relationship. Chu Shitong needs a favored mother concubine in the harem to help him win over forces.

Without Chu Shitong, Yun Xiangrong had no power or influence and no foothold in the palace.

There is no need to be afraid of her.

Bishui begged Chu Shitong several times, but Chu Shitong turned a deaf ear to her and went to sleep after taking a bath.