Help! The innocent prince always tries to seduce me clumsily

"Why are you here so late, brother?"

Chu Shitong tried to act as natural as possible and walked towards him with his back to the moonlight.

Chu Shixuan stared at her thoughtfully for a few seconds, then said, "I came to see you for something, of course I have something to ask. If I had nothing to ask, I wouldn't dare to bother you."

Chu Shitong deliberately found a place where the moonlight could not reach and sat down, trying his best to keep his whole body in the shadow so that Chu Shixuan would not notice anything wrong with him.

"Brother, if you have anything to say, just say it directly."

Chu Shixuan took out a semicircular jade pendant and placed it on the table.

The jade pendant is a rare milky white color with a hint of gold in the middle, like gilded smoke, and a lifelike hibiscus flower is carved on the semicircular shape.

"Look, this is yours, right?"

Chu Shitong reached out to take it and took a look. She knew at a glance that it was hers, but she hadn't thought of how to explain it.

Because this white hibiscus jade pendant was a token of trust exchanged between Song Nian and Zhan Qing when they became sworn brothers.

It was inconvenient for Chu Shitong to take out other things on him at the time for fear of exposing his identity, so he took the jade pendant and divided it into two, with Song Nian and Zhan Qing each holding half.

Chu Shixuan suddenly took out this half jade pendant, which surprised Chu Shitong.

"This is my stuff, where did you get it, brother?"

Chu Shixuan said casually: "Some time ago, something happened in Jiangzhou, and I was sent by my father to Jiangzhou. On the way, I saw a man playing with your jade pendant in an inn, so I asked him where the jade pendant came from..."

Chu Shitong interrupted, "What does that person look like?"

Chu Shixuan looked at Chu Shitong in confusion and said, "He is wearing a white silk and gold robe, and he looks handsome. He looks like a young master from a wealthy family."

Chu Shitong breathed a sigh of relief. The person Chu Shixuan met was his second brother Song Nian.

The three sworn brothers were ranked according to age, and since she was the youngest, she could only be ranked third.

"Has my royal brother ever made things difficult for him?"

"Why should I embarrass him? I just asked him where the jade pendant came from, and he said it was given to him by his sworn brother."

Chu Shixuan stared at Chu Shitong, and his calm tone inexplicably carried a sense of pressure, "Xiaoqi, do you have anything to say?"

Chu Shitong thought about hiding this matter for a moment just now, but since Chu Shixuan happened to see it, he really had nothing to hide.

Becoming sworn brothers is not a shameful thing. Chu Shitong was just afraid that he would tell Song Nian his true identity.

Chu Shitong said calmly, "Last year, I went to Jiangzhou and met two interesting gentlemen. They helped me a lot when I was investigating a case. They saved me several times in critical moments. Maybe we felt it was fate, so before leaving, the three of us became sworn brothers. I cut off the jade pendant and gave it to them."

Seeing Chu Shitong being so frank, Chu Shixuan didn't know how to say what he wanted to say.

Chu Shitong asked: "Brother, I used a fake identity to make friends with them. You didn't tell them my real identity, did you?"

"I'm not stupid."

Chu Shixuan said, "I just said that the jade pendant belonged to my younger brother and I wanted to take it back to confirm it, and then he gave it to me."

"Oh."

Chu Shitong leaned back in the chair, but she actually didn't really believe Chu Shixuan's explanation.

With Song Nian's thoughts, it would definitely not be so easy to give the jade pendant to Chu Shixuan, but since Chu Shixuan said so, he didn't dare to ask any more.

Chu Shixuan sensed something and added, "You are really willing to give it up. This jade pendant is a full moon jade. If I hadn't brought my full moon jade with me to show him, I might have fought with him."

The origin of the full moon jade is that when the prince is full moon, a jade pendant is carved according to the calculations of the imperial teacher to ensure his safety. Basically, the jades of the princes are similar, only the patterns are different.

The jade pendant of Chu Shitong is a hibiscus flower, while that of Chu Shixuan is an orchid.

Chu Shitong took this piece of jade because it was the only piece of jade that did not have any patterns or characters of the Beiqing royal family carved on it.

"I really didn't expect that my brother would meet my second brother. I was not thinking properly about this matter. Please leave the jade pendant with me. I will give it to him when I meet him another day."

Chu Shixuan raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at him, then said word by word, "Second brother?"

Chu Shitong didn't notice that he had said it so he could only pretend to laugh heartlessly.

"I'm the youngest, so I'm the last one."

Chu Shixuan said nothing more.

Chu Shitong asked: "By the way, my brother, do you know where he is going later?"

Chu Shixuan's voice suddenly turned cold, "How should I know?"

"..."

The yard was quiet, and the two of them just sat there quietly.

Until the night watchman walked past the courtyard wall, the sound of the bell echoed in the night.

Chu Shitong couldn't sit still any longer. She was really a little sleepy and was thinking about seeing the guest off when Chu Shixuan stood up.

Chu Shixuan had his back to Chu Shitong, so his expression could not be seen.

But I did hear him sneer with some ambiguous meaning and whispered.

"I've never heard you call me..."

"Ok?"

Chu Shitong stood up and asked, "Brother, what did you say?"

"nothing."

Chu Shixuan walked towards the gate of the courtyard and said, "It's getting late, go to bed early."

Chu Shitong felt that Chu Shixuan was acting strange. Normally, he was the best at pretending to be a decent person and being considerate in everything, but what happened today?

She sighed, not wanting to think about it any more.

"Clear water, boil water for bathing."

-

Royal study room.

After the morning court session, Chu Shitong was called to the imperial study.

When Wang Zexu saw Chu Shitong coming, he quietly pulled her aside and whispered, "The Western Regions envoy wanted Princess Linglan to marry His Royal Highness Prince Yuan, but His Royal Highness Prince Yuan refused. The Queen just left and she cried to His Majesty for a long time because of this matter, and His Majesty is angry about it."

Chu Shitong asked, "Why did Father ask me to come?"

Wang Zexu's expression was a little bitter, "Perhaps... because Princess Linglan originally wanted to marry you and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Chu Shitong understood.

However, she also didn't think that Chu Shiyu would let Princess Linglan marry him.

In her previous life, she was still unmarried at the age of 22. Whenever someone proposed marriage to her, Yun Xiangrong would stop them. If Chu Shiyu had any intention of getting her married, Yun Xiangrong would immediately persuade him and everything would be fine.

If Princess Linglan wants to get married, the worst that can happen is that Yun Xiangrong goes to talk to her.

Chu Shitong was really ruthless. She had not looked for Yun Xiangrong for more than two years. Yun Xiangrong had sent people out of the palace to call her several times, but she had never gone once.

If I were to look for Yun Xiangrong at this time, I would probably have to endure several pounds of flesh being cut off from me.

Chu Shitong has been looking for something for the past two years. He found it some time ago, but it is not suitable to be used in the current situation, so he can only put it aside for the time being.

If Chu Shiyu really wanted Princess Linglan to marry him, he would have to use that thing in advance.

Chu Shitong entered the hall.

Familiar scene, familiar concentration fragrance.

Chu Shitong bowed and said, "Greetings, Father."

Chu Shiyu sat at the table, facing a mountain of memorials. He looked a little haggard, but his majesty was not diminished at all.

"Get up."

Chu Shitong stood up, lowered his head and said nothing.

Quiet and well-behaved, just as always.

Chu Shiyu was also silent, and the hall fell into a strange silence for a moment.

It was not until the incense in the incense burner burned out and went out that Chu Shiyu began to ask.

"What do you think of Princess Lily of the Valley from the Western Regions?"

Chu Shitong said: "My father, the princess is lively and lovely, and has extraordinary talents."

Chu Shiyu sneered and said, "Then who do you think is the best person to marry Princess Linglan in the Western Regions this time?"

In the past, when Chu Shitong had not yet entered the court, he would have definitely directly declined the matter. But now that Chu Shitong had entered the court and was involved in this matter, it was difficult for him to decline the matter when asked by Chu Shiyu.

"I think this depends on your father's decision. The rest of 'who thinks' will not affect this matter."

Chu Shiyu seemed quite satisfied with this answer. He pondered for a moment and said, "I originally intended to let the prince marry Linglan, so that the Rong Palace could be promoted to a prince of the first rank, which would qualify him for marriage."

Chu Shitong knew that what Chu Shiyu said and did yesterday was just because that was what he thought in his heart.

"But the Western Regions clearly only allow marriages between princesses and princes. For a moment, I don't know which of you would be more suitable to marry Linglan."

Chu Shiyu rubbed his brows in annoyance. Seeing that Chu Shitong hadn't responded for a long time, he said, "Xiao Qi, are you willing to marry Linglan to share my worries?"

Chu Shitong knew that he said all this just to trap himself step by step.

Chu Shitong stepped forward and saluted respectfully.

"Xiao Qi is willing to share father's worries."

Chu Shiyu's movements paused noticeably. He raised his head and looked at Chu Shitong with a frown, as if he couldn't believe that Chu Shitong agreed so quickly and easily.

Chu Shitong continued, "However, Father, I am willing to do this, but Princess Linglan and the Western Regions envoy may not agree. I feel that... the Western Regions seem to have been prepared this time, and this matter cannot be resolved just because I am willing."

Chu Shiyu fell into deep thought again, but this time it was only for a short time.

"What you said does make sense, but I will at least leave this matter between Princess Linglan and you to you. After all, Princess Linglan is optimistic about you now."

"My son, I obey."

When Chu Shitong was about to leave, Chu Shiyu spoke again.

"Whether this matter succeeds or not, you are willing to share my worries. I am aware of your filial piety."

Chu Shitong just smiled, took his leave and left the imperial study.

By the time he walked out, Chu Shitong already had an idea in his mind.

The meaning of Chu Shiyu's last words was that this matter could succeed or fail, and he asked Chu Shitong to come just to at least have a prince who could give some face to Princess Linglan, that is, the Western Region.

What he probably wanted to say was that Chu Shiyu had already tried to bring Princess Linglan together with the person she liked, and if the matchmaking failed, the matter would have to be discussed again.

The Western Region has raised a lot of soldiers in recent years. I heard that an army was established with a voodoo master as its leader. This army is extremely good at using poison weapons. Even if you win the battle against them, there will be countless casualties due to the poison.

Beiqing is now far from the point where it can simply ignore face for the Western Regions.

As soon as Chu Shitong walked out, Wang Zexu immediately came to greet him.

"Your Highness Prince Qi, I hope His Majesty is not making things difficult for you."

Chu Shitong smiled and said, "No, it's my blessing that my father trusts me. There's no way I'm embarrassed about it."

Wang Zexu lowered his head, then smiled helplessly and said.

"I will be on leave in a few days. I wonder if I can have the honor to visit His Royal Highness Prince Qi at his residence."

"Of course." Chu Shitong said, "Prince Qi's Mansion welcomes you, Eunuch Wang, to visit at any time."

-

The invitation was sent in the afternoon.

Si Jingli came to the door at night.

Chu Shitong was talking to Han Zijun in the study. Han Zijun was thirteen years old this year and had been living in the villa of Prince Qi's Mansion. Although he lived under someone else's roof, fortunately, Chu Shitong basically never asked him about his daily life, so he was quite free.

"You did well in the Tongsheng exam and became a scholar at the age of thirteen, but I have no intention of letting you take the provincial exam at the moment. You have to wait at least three years."

Han Zijun asked: "Why?"

He was a little anxious because in the past few years, Chu Shitong had not told him anything about his sister.

When he arrived at the palace, he knew Chu Shitong's identity, and he believed that with Chu Shitong's identity, he would be able to find his sister, but Chu Shitong never did so, and Han Zijun never dared to ask.

He studied hard and took the exam in order to pass the exam as soon as possible and see his sister as soon as possible.

Chu Shitong didn't seem to hear the urgency in his words, and said nonchalantly: "It's too early. If you want, you can participate. Just be prepared to fail."

"I won't fail the exam!" Han Zijun wanted to explain urgently, "I will definitely pass the exam and get the top scorer!"

Chu Shitong just smiled and said, "Then you can try it out."

Before the joint examination of this year's imperial examination, Chu Shitong remembered who were the top three and second place winners of the imperial examination. She had read Han Zijun's essay, but it was still not experienced enough.

It’s not that I lack talent, it’s just that I’m not old enough and I don’t have enough experience, so when it comes to articles on certain topics, my insights are not up to par.

Han Zijun breathed a sigh of relief. "Since His Royal Highness Prince Qi has agreed to my request, I will give it a try in this year's examination. Your Highness, rest assured, I will not let you down."

Chu Shitong didn't know what to say, he just thought this kid was very interesting.

Just as he was about to speak, the door was kicked open with a bang.

Chu Shitong's face turned cold instantly. She didn't know who dared to be so rude in her house?

But the moment he turned around and saw the person coming, the dark clouds on his face disappeared without a trace.

"His Royal Highness?"

Si Jingli's clothes were as red as blood, he was furious, holding a long sword in his hand, and his handsome face and peach blossom eyes were flashing with indelible rage.

When he saw Chu Shitong, he immediately pointed the sword at her.

"Chu Shitong! What do you mean!"

Han Zijun was so frightened that he stood there in a daze.

Although he had been in Prince Qi's mansion all year round, he had always been in the villa. Apart from going to school every day, he stayed in the villa. He had never come into contact with any officials or royal relatives and nobles.

When he heard Chu Shitong call Si Jingli "His Royal Highness", he guessed Si Jingli's identity without even thinking about it.