Chapter 187
Chapter 187
The Ninth Prince said nothing when the Eighth Prince appeared, but his small hand secretly tightened around Shengsheng Zhou’s sleeve.
Shengsheng stroked his head and looked at the Eighth Prince. “Imperial Sister wants to know how Xiaohe is doing at the Imperial Academy. This child refuses to tell me anything.”
At the immediate question about the Ninth Prince, the Eighth Prince’s face stiffened for an instant before quickly returning to normal. “Him… He’s doing all right.”
“Really? Eighth Imperial Brother, you must be sincere with me.” Shengsheng beamed at him.
The instant she finished speaking, A-Pang, who had been sleeping in Shengsheng’s hair, suddenly jolted. His body flew out of control and hovered in midair.
Naturally, only she could see this.
Before she had time to be surprised, A-Pang spoke stiffly as though something were controlling him. *Host has met the current activation requirements for “Broadcast of a Sincere Heart.” Three mission targets detected. Binding complete.*
Shengsheng: ????
What the hell??
Had the Broadcast of a Sincere Heart, long forgotten at the back of her mind, suddenly returned to attack her?
“Imperial Sister?” Seeing her stare at empty air, the Eighth Prince could not help calling to her.
Shengsheng waited for a moment. When nothing happened, she became puzzled. “Ah, it’s nothing. What did you just say?”
The Eighth Prince lowered his eyes and said obediently, “The Ninth Prince performs very well at the Imperial Academy, but this younger brother isn’t close to him, so I know little else.”
*Don’t listen to his bullshit. The Eighth Prince is thinking he can say whatever he likes because that little fool wouldn’t dare contradict him.*
Shengsheng: “…?”
The Eighth Prince shot to his feet in terror and roared, “Who said that?!”
The entire room fell silent. Everyone stared at him in confusion. The Eighth Prince stood there, shocked and furious, his face filled with embarrassment.
The Second Princess jumped in fright and tugged at him. “Little Eighth, what is wrong? Sit down. The dancers have just reached the best part. Hurry and enjoy it with Second Sister.”
*The Second Princess is thinking: Please, stand a little longer. I’m going to throw up from watching these women dressed like feather dusters. Would it kill them to bring out some handsome men with eight-pack abs for a striptease? I want hot men!*
The Eighth Prince looked at the Second Princess very differently.
The Second Princess also shot to her feet. “Who is spouting that nonsense?!”
Everyone grew even more baffled. Had anyone said a word?
The Fifth Princess, now drawing attention simply because of the strange behavior of the two people beside her, ducked her head.
*Leave the Fifth Princess alone. The poor child only wants to return to her palace.*
Feeling the Eighth Prince and Second Princess’s gazes land on her in unison, the Fifth Princess lowered her head even farther.
*I want to go back. I want to go back. I want to go back. I want to go back. I want to go back, the Fifth Princess is thinking.*
Shengsheng: “…”
Ah. So that was how it worked.
The Ninth Prince also stared at the three strange people beside him in confusion. He whispered, “Imperial Sister, what is wrong with them?”
Shengsheng replied with profound mystery, “Their uteruses probably hurt. Ignore them.”
The Eighth Prince and Second Princess finally sat down. The Eighth Prince asked, “Second Sister, did you hear that strange voice too?”
The Second Princess nodded.
*The Eighth Prince is thinking: Damn it! So I’m not the chosen one after all. You received this honor too?*
*The Second Princess is rolling her eyes so hard inside that she has launched an entire flurry of punches at the air. She’s cursing, “You want this blessing? Take it!”*
*The Fifth Princess is thinking: Will you two please put away this supernatural power already? She wants to return to her palace.*
The three of them: “…”
The Second Princess took a deep breath and turned to the Fifth Princess. “Little Fifth, do you not want to attend Little Eighth’s birthday banquet? Is that why you want to hurry back?”
*The Second Princess thinks her flurry of air punches cannot have been for nothing. Since that blackhearted brat Little Eighth already knows, you don’t get to escape either. Come sink into this filthy mire with me!*
The corner of the Eighth Prince’s mouth twitched. “So this is what Second Sister usually thinks.”
*The Eighth Prince is thinking: You shameless old pervert. Just wait until I report you to Imperial Father!*
The Second Princess panicked. “I did not!”
*The Second Princess is horrified. What? You’re going to tell Imperial Father? Then the twelve exquisitely handsome lovers I’ve hidden in my palace, and the naughty books under my bed, will all be exposed!!*
Shengsheng Zhou sucked in a sharp breath.
She was genuinely bold.
Twelve of them?!
*The Fifth Princess suddenly looks up, thinking: No wonder Second Sister still hasn’t been able to marry. So that’s why.*
The Second Princess snapped, “What the hell do you know, you mute little gourd!”
The Fifth Princess’s eyes instantly reddened.
*You shameless woman! How could you speak to the Fifth Princess like that?*
The Eighth Prince folded his arms and watched the two women quarrel.
*Oh, my dear Eighth Prince, don’t think you’re getting away so easily. Right now you’re cheering, “Fight! Fight! Fight! Liven up my birthday banquet!”*
The Second Princess and Fifth Princess directed twin death glares at the Eighth Prince.
Shengsheng grabbed a handful of sunflower seeds and stuffed them into the Ninth Prince’s hands. One large spectator and one small spectator cracked seeds as they watched.
Thus, when Weiqing Song–who had prepared snacks and tea, opened his book to the first page, and was promptly summoned to break up a fight–entered with a dark expression, he witnessed the most spectacular scene the imperial family had produced in years.
The Second Princess was yanking the sobbing Fifth Princess’s hair. The crowning touch was the Eighth Prince trapped between them, his face twisted in agony.
The palace attendants surrounded them but did not dare approach rashly.
Meanwhile, Weiqing’s beloved imperial sister sat off to the side, cracking sunflower seeds with great relish and occasionally offering commentary.
He happened to walk over just in time to hear the most lethal line.
*Goodness. A turtle eating a tortoise–no recognition of family at all.*
Weiqing rubbed his forehead and thought, *The one showing the least family loyalty here is you, sitting off to the side and enjoying the spectacle!*
“His Highness the Crown Prince is here!”
No one knew who shouted it, but everyone in the melee finally seemed to find their pillar of support and looked visibly relieved.
“What is going on here?” Weiqing asked with a dark expression.
The three people at the center of the war froze at once.
“Crown Prince Brother!” Little Eighth, ever the most socially adept, instantly burst into two streams of tears.
*The Eighth Prince is thinking: You two old bitches are dead! My backer is here!*
Weiqing paused.
What the hell was that?
He looked at the dazed A-Pang floating in midair, then glanced at Shengsheng, who stared back with innocent eyes.
*Folks, I’ve solved the case.*
The culprit, Shengsheng, noticed him looking and reluctantly led the Ninth Prince over. “Imperial Brother, you’re here.”
Weiqing smiled with perfect gentleness. “Indeed. If I hadn’t come, Imperial Father would wake tomorrow to discover that he had lost three children overnight.”
Shengsheng glanced at Weiqing, who was clearly furious, and said pointedly, “It could be four.”