Help! The innocent prince always tries to seduce me clumsily

Chu Shitong immediately put down his bowl and chopsticks and said, "Give me the mirror."

Bishui handed over a mirror. Chu Shitong took a look and found that the color of the ointment had indeed become darker, which was inconsistent with his original skin color. It was obvious that he had applied something.

Thinking back to how Si Jingli had been staring at me for a long time in the carriage just now, I thought he must have noticed it too.

But he didn't say it.

Chu Shitong pondered for a moment. It seemed that the ointment would slowly change color. It must be because it was applied for too long today.

"Wipe off the ointment and apply it again tomorrow."

"Yes."

Chu Shitong tossed and turned that night and couldn't fall asleep.

Because it was a rest stop during the journey, basically no one went out and everyone just slept soundly in their rooms.

Chu Shitong's room was on the second floor of the inn, as were the other princes and royal relatives. Chu Shiyu and the palace maids' rooms were on the third floor.

Chu Shitong suddenly wanted to go out for a walk. It was already late at night and Bishui had been told to go downstairs to rest. Chu Shitong put on his coat and prepared to go out for a walk.

Just as I reached the door, Rushuang suddenly appeared in the room.

"Your Highness."

Chu Shitong stopped when he heard her voice and asked, "What's the matter?"

Rushuang half-knelt on the ground and reminded in a low voice: "Prince Si has been lingering at the door for a long time."

As soon as Chu Shitong's hand touched the door, he immediately withdrew it.

"Understood, let's go down."

Like frost disappeared into the darkness.

Chu Shitong guessed that Si Jingli wanted to ask about what happened that day. The discolored ointment on his neck was the most powerful proof. And it was unlikely that he would lie and cover up the matter with other words now, because if the scar was caused for no reason, there was no need to cover it up like this.

After all, Chu Shitong is a person who is not used to taking medicine when he is injured.

Covering it up with ointment is indeed an overreaction.

Chu Shitong stood at the door for a long time and could not think of a reasonable explanation. If he admitted it directly, he was afraid that this matter would affect Si Jingli's attitude towards him in the future.

Chu Shitong fell into deep thought. After all, Si Jingli now knew that he was a man. If he admitted it directly... Si Jingli might think that he was a person with some special fetish...

She didn't want to experience again the way Si Jingli looked at her in her previous life, treating her as a homosexual.

Chu Shitong hesitated again and again, but still did not open the door.

But she didn't know that the moonlight was too bright that night, and her figure was clearly reflected on the window paper of the wooden door.

......

The next morning, after breakfast, everyone continued to head towards Qingliang Villa.

Before leaving, Bishui asked while holding the ointment.

"Your Highness, do you want to apply the ointment now?"

Chu Shitong straightened his clothes and said without raising his head, "It was discovered last night. It doesn't matter whether I put it on or not."

Bishui stood there holding the ointment and waited for a long time, but Chu Shitong didn't ask her to apply it. In the end, she took the ointment back.

Before Chu Shitong invited him this time, Si Jingli had already boarded her carriage, even much earlier than she herself.

Chu Shitong walked to the front of the carriage and saw a group of people from Prince Rong's Mansion around her. She almost wondered if she had gotten on the wrong carriage.

It was not until Chu Shifan stuck his head out of the carriage that she was sure that this was her carriage.

"Xiao Qi, what are you standing there for? His Royal Highness and I have been waiting for you for a long time."

Chu Shitong smiled slightly and said, "My cousin and His Royal Highness are really enthusiastic."

Chu Shitong got on the carriage and felt a little unnatural when she saw Si Jingli, but she greeted him and said hello. Si Jingli saw the wound on her neck and his eyes stayed there for a long time.

But Si Jingli didn't ask any further questions, and Chu Shitong didn't mention it either.

The carriage started moving slowly, and because Chu Shifan was there, the atmosphere was very cheerful.

We walked until midnight before finally arriving at Qingliang Villa.

All the people originally stationed at Qinglian Villa came out to welcome the royal carriage, including the Fourth Princess and Master Wuji.

Because it was really late at night and he was tired from the long journey, Chu Shiyu gave some trivial matters to Wang Zexu and left.

Qingliang Villa is located at the foot of the mountain. It is a palace covering an extremely large area, divided into thirty-six small courtyards of different sizes, interspersed with ponds, gardens, Buddhist temples, music halls and the like.

The courtyard where the emperor lived was at the easternmost end, named Qinzheng Garden. Although he had come to Qingliang Villa, reports on state affairs would still be delivered as usual every day. He came to Qingliang Villa only to escape the summer heat, and state affairs could not be delayed for a moment.

For the rest of the people, except the queen, the courtyards were allocated according to their status. The concubines gathered in one place, the princes and princesses gathered in one place, the royal relatives and nobles gathered in one place, and the children of officials gathered in one place. Basically, they did not interfere with each other.

Wang Zexu had already divided the courtyards, and servants from each mansion received orders and took their masters there.

The courtyard assigned to Chu Shitong was named Cangfeng Pavilion. Thanks to Wang Zexu, the courtyard was very large and kept very clean and tidy everywhere.

There are quite a few maple trees in the courtyard, but it’s a pity that it’s not autumn yet, so we can’t see the sky full of golden maple leaves. There are only broad green leaves filling the sky, blocking out most of the sunlight, and the whole courtyard is very cool.

Chu Shitong sat in the yard, waiting for Bishui to clean up the house.

The moonlight was also largely blocked by the shadows of the trees. An oil lamp was lit on the stone table. Under the dim light, Chu Shitong, dressed in black, was reading a book.

Before Bishui had finished cleaning up, there was a knock on the gate.

The servant opened the door and Chu Shifan came in in one leap.

Chu Shitong raised his eyes and was a little surprised to see Chu Shifan.

"Cousin, what are you doing here so late at night?"

Chu Shifan ran to Chu Shitong in two or three steps and said earnestly, "Xiaoqi, let's sleep in the same yard, right? We are brothers, you can't kick me out, right?"

Chu Shitong was a little sleepy and asked in a daze: "Don't you have your own yard?"

Chu Shifan sighed and said, "Yes, in previous years I lived in the courtyard by myself, but this year my mother came and I had to live with her in the courtyard where we worship Buddha. I was almost caught copying Buddhist scriptures just now, luckily I ran fast!"

He grabbed Chu Shitong's arm and pleaded shamelessly, "Xiao Qi, you have to help me. If I live in the courtyard of the Buddha, I will definitely have to copy Buddhist scriptures and eat rabbit meals every day!"

Chu Shitong did have extra space for Chu Shifan to live in, but she did not agree directly.

"Does Aunt know about this?" Chu Shitong asked, "If Aunt doesn't know, it might not be a good idea for my cousin to make such a decision."

Chu Shifan smiled flatteringly and said, "It's okay. My mother likes you very much. As long as you agree, she will definitely let you."

"..."

Chu Shitong said: "You should ask first."

Although allocating a concubine room to Chu Shifan to live in was not a big deal, Chu Shitong intended to win over the eldest princess, so he did not want to offend her even with such a small matter.

After all, Chu Shifan's personality is all about having fun, and if he stays with him, it will only allow him to drink and have fun more unscrupulously.

Compared with Chu Shitong, Chu Shifan looked like a young man in the prime of his life. After sitting in a carriage for a whole day, he was still full of energy. He pulled Chu Shitong towards the courtyard where the eldest princess was.

Chu Shitong was a little sleepy himself, but he couldn't resist Chu Shifan, so he had to follow him all the way to the Buddhist temple.

Gods are enshrined in the Buddhist temple and the scent of incense can be smelled from far outside the temple.

Chu Shitong was pulled all the way to the door by Chu Shifan. In the dead of night, the sounds of their footsteps were clearly audible.

The door to the courtyard is open, and the Buddhist temple is usually not closed.

"Okay cousin, let me go. I can walk on my own."

Chu Shifan let her go, but couldn't stop begging, "Xiao Qi, we are brothers, you must help me convince my mother."

For some reason, Chu Shitong always felt a little uneasy every time he came to such a place of incense and worship.

"I will try my best."

The two of them entered the Buddhist temple, where the smell of incense was even stronger. Flowers were blooming in the night, and the sound of wooden fish was being tapped softly, but no one knew which room it came from.

Chu Shifan brought Chu Shitong to the door of a lighted house and whispered, "Mother is inside. Xiaoqi, have you thought about what to say?"

"What else can I say? Tell the truth."

Chu Shifan looked worried, "What if my mother doesn't allow me to do that?"

"Cold." Chu Shitong said, "The princess won't allow it, so I can't do anything about it. You're on your own."

Chu Shifan sighed and walked forward and knocked on the door.

"Mother, I brought Xiaoqi here."

The sound of the wooden fish stopped.

After a while, the eldest princess' voice came from inside, light and long.

"come in."

The room was very simple and tidy, with almost no gold or jade ornaments to be seen. The only decoration was a few wild flowers in a white porcelain vase on the table.

The eldest princess was sitting in front of the table in a simple green dress. There was a Buddhist scripture and a wooden fish on the table. The light was a little dim, but it was enough to illuminate the entire room.

To show his respect, Chu Shitong performed the usual ceremony.

"aunt."

The eldest princess nodded and said, "Xiao Qi is still awake so late, why did you come in the middle of the night?"

Chu Shifan immediately said, "Mother, I want to live with Xiaoqi, and Xiaoqi has agreed."

The princess glanced at Chu Shifan and said, "I'm talking to Xiao Qi, why are you butting in?"

Her voice was extremely calm and slow, but it was this unique voice that was able to mesmerize Chu Shifan with just one sentence.

After all, they are mother and son, and the suppression of blood still exists.

Chu Shifan shut up, pretended to be honest and stood aside with his head down.

The situation in front of me was like visiting a good friend's house, and suddenly the friend was scolded by his mother, while Chu Shitong stood aside awkwardly, not knowing what to say.

The eldest princess said, "Afan, go wait outside. I have something to say to Xiao Qi."

"Oh." Chu Shifan glanced at Chu Shitong, lowered his head and walked out.

The door was closed, leaving only Chu Shitong and the eldest princess in the room.

The eldest princess gestured to Chu Shitong to sit opposite her, and Chu Shitong sat down.

The eldest princess looked at Chu Shitong quietly. Chu Shitong lowered his eyes at first, but when he saw that the eldest princess was reluctant to speak, he raised his eyes and looked at her.

The two of them sat quietly, their eyes seemingly having a silent conversation.

The eldest princess' eyes were dark and unfathomably deep, yet surprisingly calm. Her unreasonable stare at people was somewhat frightening.

Chu Shitong's eyes were clear and bright, and the tea-colored eyes that made them more obvious concealed the wolfish ambitions within.

After a long while, the princess spoke:

"Xiao Qi has made a lot of progress in just a few days."

Chu Shitong said calmly, "Aunt, you are too kind."

The princess finally looked away, stood up and brought the teapot over, poured a cup of tea for Chu Shitong and one for herself, and said casually, "Have you made up your mind to fight for that position?"

This calm sentence was like a huge splash that made Chu Shitong pause in taking the teacup.

She lowered her eyes silently, and said in the same tone: "What is Auntie talking about? Why can't Xiao Qi understand it suddenly?"

The princess took a sip of the teacup slowly and said, "I am asking you, have you made up your mind to fight for the throne?"

"I'm not interested in that position." Chu Shitong said, "Besides, all the royal brothers are superior to me. Whether in literature or martial arts, Xiao Qi is no match for them."

The princess said, "What's the difference between civil and military? Those who are good at literature become civil officials, and those who are good at martial arts become military officials. They are all officials on both sides, and they are below others. The only people who can ascend to the supreme position are ruthless, ambitious, and strategic people."

Chu Shitong said: "Aunt sees things very clearly."

"Among these princes, you are the one I like the most."

Chu Shitong pursed her lips, not knowing what the eldest princess meant by suddenly speaking like this.

The princess said: "The eldest prince was originally the best choice for this position. He is the best in both talent and martial arts. Unfortunately, he has too many weaknesses, and they are all things that can kill him.

The Third Prince is not favored, and it is as difficult as ascending to heaven for him to succeed to the throne. The Fifth Prince is strong but lacks wisdom and strategy. The Sixth Prince is ruthless and cruel, but too heartless and vicious. Even the people around him may become stepping stones on his way to succession. After much thought, it seems that the Seventh Prince is still the best candidate among these princes."

The eldest princess agreed with the rest of the people's evaluations of Chu Shitong, but she was confused by the evaluation of the eldest prince, Chu Shixuan.

Is the eldest prince's weakness enough to kill him?

Chu Shitong didn't know the reason, but now that the topic had come to this, she couldn't remain silent any longer and had to speak.

"What does Auntie want to say?"

The princess no longer concealed her feelings and said, "If you are willing to be honest with me, I am willing to lend you a helping hand."

Chu Shitong laughed and said, "Aunt, you think too highly of me."

"Perhaps I didn't think you had anything special before."

The eldest princess said, "Until you cruelly severed the relationship between mother and son, I believed in your determination to seize the throne. After being controlled by others for so long, I think Xiaoqi has grown up overnight."

Chu Shitong was silent for a while, then asked, "How did my aunt know about this?"

The princess smiled and said, "If you don't want to be honest with me, why should I tell you the truth?"

Chu Shitong had always wanted to applaud the eldest princess, but now that this opportunity had inexplicably fallen from the sky, Chu Shitong was hesitant to take it.

Seeing Chu Shitong hesitating, the princess said.

"Don't worry, I'm not helping you for nothing. I have a request. You're so suspicious before you even grow up. I don't know who you inherited this personality from."

Chu Shitong asked, "What does my aunt want?"