Help! The innocent prince always tries to seduce me clumsily

Chu Shitong had nothing to pack, so he handed it to Bishui and left the school early, waiting in the yard for Chu Shifan and Si Jingli to come out.

Chu Shifan also reads very quickly. He doesn't like reading and sometimes he can't even get all the books.

Si Jingli was much slower, as the place where he was had to be exquisite and comfortable, and it would take the servants half a day just to pack things.

Chu Shifan acted like a student who didn't like going to class. He said, "Great! We have two days off tomorrow. I almost forgot about it! Xiaoqi, why don't we go to the horse race tomorrow?"

Chu Shitong was about to speak when he heard a voice suddenly coming from the side.

"Your servant pays respects to His Royal Highness the Seventh Prince and to the Young Master."

I don't know when a person appeared beside me, and Chu Shitong recognized this person.

In the previous life, after the Grand Eunuch of the Imperial Palace retired and returned to his hometown, he passed the position to his apprentice. The new eunuch was named Wang Zexu, and at this time he should have just taken office not long ago.

At first, many people in the palace did not think highly of this eunuch Wang and found fault with him everywhere. But after all, he was brought up by the former chief steward. Although he looked young, his methods were experienced and vicious. In less than a year, he taught everyone in the palace a lesson and made them obedient. He was also very useful in the eyes of the emperor.

Chu Shitong almost forgot about this person.

Chu Shifan saw that he looked unfamiliar, so he asked, "Which palace are you from?"

Chu Shitong calmly pressed the back of his hand, signaling him not to ask any more questions, and turned to Eunuch Wang to speak.

"Father-in-law, please get up."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Eunuch Wang stood up. He looked to be no more than twenty years old. Apart from his attire, one could not tell that he was a eunuch if one only looked at his face. He had a delicate and handsome appearance, without the feminine air of ordinary eunuchs.

Eunuch Wang smiled and spoke very modestly, "I am a new servant who has been transferred to serve the emperor. This is my first time to receive the emperor's order to pick up His Royal Highness the Seventh Prince. It is normal that you do not recognize me."

Chu Shitong was afraid that Chu Shifan didn't understand, so he explained: "Cousin, this should be the new eunuch in charge of the palace."

Eunuch Wang looked at Chu Shitong with some surprise and said, "Your Highness the Seventh Prince has a really good eye. I admire you."

Chu Shitong asked, "Eunuch Wang, are you here to tell me something?"

Eunuch Wang said, "His Majesty has summoned you to the palace, and has specifically ordered a carriage to pick you up at the gate of the Imperial Forest Academy and take you directly to the palace."

Chu Shitong and Chu Shifan looked at each other.

Chu Shifan felt it was a pity to waste this opportunity. "Eunuch Wang, does His Majesty have any important business? If not, can we go tomorrow?"

Eunuch Wang smiled awkwardly, "Your Majesty is the Emperor, and everything Your Majesty orders is important."

Chu Shitong knew what he meant, so he consoled him, "Forget it. I can't keep the appointment today. You and I can go to the horse race tomorrow. It doesn't matter. It's the same thing."

Chu Shifan then said, "Well, then you go first, I will explain to Prince Si."

"Thank you very much, cousin."

Chu Shitong followed Eunuch Wang out of the Imperial Academy, and sure enough, the carriage was outside the door.

Chu Shitong guessed that Zhou Hengchuan's father, Lao Deng, must have done something good, otherwise the emperor would not have sent someone to pick her up directly, which made it clear that she had to go.

"Your Highness the Seventh Prince, please."

"Excuse me, father-in-law."

Chu Shitong said something polite and got on the carriage.

Inside the Imperial Library.

There was almost no one in the library when Si Jingli walked out of the school.

Seeing only one figure standing under the eaves against the setting sun, Si Jingli couldn't help but ask, "Chu Shifan, didn't you say Chu Shitong was going with you today?"

Chu Shifan heard the voice and looked over. The light of the setting sun shone on Si Jingli, as if coating his handsome face with a layer of gold.

"Prince Si, I'm so sorry." Chu Shifan said with a smile, "Xiao Qi was called away by His Majesty."

Si Jingli laughed with an ambiguous tone and said, "Really? Why did His Majesty call me away just when I was traveling with him?"

Even though Chu Shifan realized it later, he could sense that Si Jingli was a little angry. He originally wanted to take this opportunity to get Chu Shitong to have a good relationship with him. If this didn't go well and ruined the relationship, what would Chu Shitong do in the future.

Thinking of what Chu Shitong said before he left, Chu Shifan immediately said, "Your Highness, please don't be angry. Xiaoqi also feels that it is very presumptuous to break the appointment this time, so I invite Your Highness to go to the hunting ground in the south of the city for horse racing tomorrow! Please give Xiaoqi a chance to explain and apologize. If His Majesty hadn't specially sent a carriage to pick me up at the entrance of the library, Xiaoqi would really not break the appointment with Your Highness."

As Chu Shifan said this, he also felt that Chu Shitong was very smart. Tomorrow was a day off, and if he could use the excuse of apologizing to make an appointment with Si Jingli, wouldn't their relationship be further improved?

Si Jingli snorted coldly and said, "If His Majesty personally sent a carriage to pick me up, then there is really nothing we can do. But why does Chu Shitong believe that I will agree to give her a chance to apologize tomorrow? My time is very precious."

Chu Shifan couldn't think of any reason for a moment, so he could only say, "Well... Xiao Qi treats people sincerely. It doesn't matter if His Royal Highness doesn't come. Xiao Qi will find a way to apologize to His Royal Highness for breaking the appointment this time."

"Oh." Si Jingli glanced at Chu Shifan and said, "Then let's talk about it tomorrow."

As he spoke, he started walking out.

Chu Shifan immediately followed, but after a few steps, Si Jingli suddenly stopped and looked back at Chu Shifan strangely.

"What are you doing following me?"

Chu Shifan was confused, "Aren't we going to listen to storytellers under the overpass together?"

"..."

Si Jingli frowned and said, "I was stood up today and I'm very unhappy, so I won't go. Let's talk about it tomorrow. Which word of my words did you not understand?"

Chu Shifan thought that he did not agree to tomorrow's horse racing, but it turned out that he agreed to tomorrow's horse racing but did not agree to today's storytelling. Si Jingli is really moody and has a weird temper.

Chu Shifan changed his words and said, "I see. Then, take care, Your Highness."

Si Jingli responded and left without looking back.

......

Royal study room.

After Eunuch Wang brought Chu Shitong in, he went to guard the palace gate.

The emperor, Chu Shiyu, was reviewing memorials when Chu Shitong stepped forward and saluted, saying, "Your son pays respect to the emperor. Long live the emperor."

Chu Shiyu didn't even raise his head. The quiet atmosphere in the room became depressing because of his presence.

He didn't say anything, and Chu Shitong knelt on the ground.

After kneeling for about half an incense stick of time, Chu Shiyu slowly spoke.

"Get up."

"Thank you, Father."

Chu Shitong stood up and stood where he was without asking any more questions.

Chu Shiyu raised his head and saw Chu Shitong's humble appearance, and his anger subsided a lot.

"Snapped--"

A memorial was thrown at Chu Shitong's feet.

Chu Shiyu's majestic voice followed.

"Xiao Qi, take a look at what is written in this memorial."

Chu Shitong pretended to say, "This memorial concerns state affairs, I dare not do it."

Chu Shiyu said: "Just watch if I tell you to."

"My son, I obey."

Only then did Chu Shitong pick up the memorial and take a look at it.

It turned out to be Zhou Hengchuan’s father, Zhou Qixiang, that old man.

Zhou Qixiang complained in the memorial, twisting the story that spread throughout the capital last night into two parts, describing Zhou Hengchuan as an innocent victim who was deceived by Chu Shitong into going to a brothel to take pictures of the most beautiful courtesan. He even accused the emperor of how the prince of the Duke of Qing had harmed Zhou Hengchuan and beaten him to the point where he could not get out of bed. He also said that he was so angry at the women in the brothel that he suffered from palpitations and was frightened and fell ill in bed.

He asked His Majesty to give his Zhou family justice.

The so-called justice he wanted was nothing more than punishing Chu Shitong, punishing Zhao Heng, the prince of the Duke of Qing, and punishing the madam and the women of Hua Xilou.

Chu Shitong put the memorial back on the table. Chu Shiyu asked, "I didn't know you could do such a thing to instigate others at the age of fourteen."

Chu Shitong knelt on the ground and said calmly, "Father, please calm down. I have never done this."

"Then tell me why Zhou Qixiang made such a report?"

"Forgive me for being rude. I'm afraid that the names mentioned in Lord Zhou's memorial are real. The truth of the matter has long been known to everyone by the woman in the brothel. I don't need to say more. If your father wants to know what happened, he will send someone to investigate the matter. It will also give justice to me and the son of the Duke of Qing. However..."

Chu Shitong said, "Master Zhou is an important official in the court after all. He is just confusing right and wrong because he loves his son so much. He is afraid that those women in the brothel will ruin Master Zhou's reputation, so he wants to ask the emperor for protection."

Chu Shiyu pondered for a moment and said, "After not seeing you for a few months, Xiaoqi has made a lot of progress."

Chu Shitong said nothing and kept his head down.

Chu Shiyu asked, "What happened that day? Tell me everything."

"Father, after school that day, Master Zhou suddenly came to me and said mysteriously that he wanted to take me to a place. I wanted to refuse, but Master Zhou said that his birthday was next month. I didn't know what he meant by that, but I couldn't refuse because of the relationship, so I followed him."

"As a result, Master Zhou took me to a brothel. Master Zhou seemed to be a frequent visitor to the brothel. As soon as he came in, a bunch of women surrounded him. I was not interested in sex, so I asked all the women to go to Master Zhou. Seeing that Master Zhou seemed unhappy, I offered to treat him to a drink, and then Master Zhou gave up.

"Later, the courtesan was auctioned off, and Master Zhou repeatedly hinted that he wanted to buy the courtesan as a birthday gift. Naturally, I didn't have that much money, so I pretended not to understand.

Mr. Zhou also said that he wanted me to take the photo and make that courtesan his concubine..."

Hearing this, Chu Shiyu's face changed.

Instigating the prince to take a woman from the brothel as a concubine is not only instigating the prince to make a mistake, but also ignoring the royal dignity.

How could the royal family take a prostitute as a concubine?

Chu Shitong noticed that Chu Shiyu's breathing had become heavier, and continued, "I refused. In order not to reveal my identity, I said that my elder brother had never taken a concubine, so how could I get ahead of him? Then Master Zhou gave up and did not mention it again."

"When Master Zhou saw the price being raised again and again, he mentioned his birthday next month and said that Master Zhou would definitely not agree to him bidding for the courtesan. I was so uncomfortable sitting on the table that I couldn't stand it anymore. So I said I would help persuade Master Zhou when Master Zhou brought his people back to the mansion. Then Master Zhou let people bid.

“At the end, I heard that the person competing with Master Zhou was the prince of the Duke of Qing, so I reminded him. But Master Zhou seemed to be drunk and started to speak rudely to the prince of the Duke of Qing.

"After my son persuaded him for a few words, Master Zhou finally shut up. But the prince of the Duke of Qing's residence seemed to have recognized Master Zhou's voice, and rushed in angrily and beat Master Zhou.

"Mr. Zhou didn't dare to offend His Royal Highness, so he wanted me to help him stop the Prince of the Duke of Qing. I didn't want to be involved anymore, so I refused. As a result, Mr. Zhou turned the tables and said that I bought the courtesan and gave it to him. But the women in the surrounding brothels all testified to my innocence. Mr. Zhou was furious, and His Royal Highness was also angry, so they started fighting. I had a hard time trying to stop them from fighting, but I didn't dare to stay any longer because my identity was exposed, so I paid the money and went back to East Fifth House."

After these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall became extremely heavy.

Chu Shiyu said in a bad tone: "Are you telling the truth?"

Chu Shitong said: "Father, you can send someone to investigate. Everything I did and said was witnessed by witnesses."

Chu Shiyu sneered, "I will naturally send someone to investigate this matter. If it is true as you said, Zhou Qixiang's son dared to instigate the prince to take a prostitute as a concubine, this crime is enough for me to remove the official hat on his head!"

"Father, please calm down." Chu Shitong pleaded, "This was only done by Master Zhou. It has nothing to do with Lord Zhou. Lord Zhou just loves his son so much that he is confusing right and wrong and wants Your Majesty to give justice to Master Zhou."

Chu Shiyu slammed the table violently, making a loud noise.

"Justice? His son did such a thing, and he still wants to plead for me to give him justice? Can he bear the crime of deceiving the emperor!?"

Chu Shitong deliberately said that Zhou Qixiang deceived the emperor with false information in order to charge his family with the crime of deceiving the emperor.

After all, there was no fact about instigating the prince, but the crime of deceiving the emperor must be convicted. Hua Xilou is basically made up of Zhao Heng's people. Zhao Heng now regards the Zhou family as a thorn in his side, so he will naturally let his subordinates exaggerate the matter.

What Chu Shitong said was all true, except that she added some personal feelings that could not be verified. Who knows whether she followed in meekly and chose to suffer the loss, or followed in deliberately to set a trap for Zhou Hengchuan?

What she said was the same as what she did, except that the order was reversed. Everything that can be verified in this matter can be verified by witnesses, and nothing that cannot be verified can be verified by anyone.

In this way, everything she said was true.

"Father, calm down."

Chu Shitong knelt on the ground and said, "Lord Zhou's incident has affected the reputation of all officials and deceived my father's trust. If my father is injured because of this, it would be the greatest disgrace."

After hearing this, Chu Shiyu calmed down and suppressed his anger.

Chu Shitong knew that His Majesty would not convict the Zhou family now, because the people His Majesty sent out to investigate had not yet returned to give the results of the investigation, but the basic results of the investigation should be no different from what he said.

The Zhou family's demotion was inevitable, it was just a matter of time.

"I will investigate this matter thoroughly before making a decision, but this does not mean that you have never made any mistakes."

It seemed that Chu Shiyu still had some anger in his heart that he wanted to vent, so Chu Shitong let him vent and went along with him.

"Father is right. I know I am wrong."

Chu Shitong's respectful and submissive attitude made Chu Shiyu stop blaming him.

Chu Shitong knelt like this, and he didn't know how long it took.

Until Chu Shiyu asked.

"I heard that you saved the prince of Rong Palace that day?"

Chu Shitong knew that this was what the emperor really wanted to ask.

The Rong Palace is a powerful family with extensive connections in the court. The late Princess Rong's mother's family is the legitimate daughter of the Zhenguo Marquis family. The Zhenguo Marquis holds a large number of troops. Now, in Chu Shiyu's eyes, the Rong Palace has long become a taboo in a sense.