The Crazy Emperor's Pampered Cousin

Shen Tinghe knew what he meant. After hesitating for a moment, she stood on tiptoe again and pressed her soft lips to his.

The kiss was initially very light, tinged with a young girl's shyness.

But Xie Yanzhao was clearly not satisfied with that; he cupped the back of her head with one hand and deepened the kiss.

He only released Shen Tinghe when she was almost out of breath, looking at her with a smile in his eyes as he gazed at her moist eyes and slightly swollen lips.

Xie Yanzhao carefully straightened her slightly disheveled clothes and tidied her stray hairs before calling out, "Come in."

The voice regained its usual coldness and authority, as if the man who had just been indulging in tenderness was just an illusion.

Wang Xude then pushed open the door and entered.

Upon entering the study, one sees Crown Prince Xie Yanzhao sitting upright in a large mahogany chair, calmly handling official business on the table.

Miss Shen stood quietly beside His Highness, holding an ink stick in her hand and grinding ink.

However, there seemed to be a trace of lingering redness in the corners of her eyes and brows, as if she had been crying.

"What is it?" Xie Yanzhao raised his eyes, his gaze falling on Wang Xude, his tone revealing neither joy nor anger.

Wang Xude glanced at Shen Tinghe beside him, seemingly hesitant, and then said tentatively, "This..."

Xie Yanzhao: "Speak."

"Yes," Wang Xude said in a deep voice, composing himself.

"Your Highness, the eldest son of the Prince of Qi has raped and murdered a woman in Xingzhou. The woman's father is a well-known upright official in Xingzhou. He has returned to the capital all the way seeking justice. Your humble servant is foolish and does not know how to judge the case, so I have come to ask Your Highness for instructions."

Upon uttering the words "rape and murder," Shen Tinghe's hand gripping the inkstone tightened suddenly, the black ink rippling across the inkstone.

Her brows furrowed tightly, and a hint of barely concealed anger and reluctance flashed in her eyes.

Xie Yanzhao took in her subtle reactions, held her hand, and felt a soothing strength in his palm.

He looked up at Wang Xude, his thin lips parted slightly, and his voice was as cold as ice: "Uncle, you have become increasingly presumptuous these past two years."

"Handle it according to the law, there's no need to hold back."

This matter has escalated quite a bit. Handling it according to the law will not only appease public anger and increase the Crown Prince's prestige among the people, but also provide an opportunity to curb the arrogance of the Prince of Qi.

He's not like his father; he doesn't have that much mercy.

"Who is the person who went to the capital to file a complaint?" Xie Yanzhao asked.

Wang Xude: "Lin Qizhang, the Prefect of Xingzhou."

"Let him stay in the capital; he doesn't need to go back," Xie Yanzhao instructed calmly.

"Yes."

Wang Xude understood that this meant they wanted to keep Lord Lin in the capital as an official.

This is both a comfort and a form of protection for him.

After all, once Lin Qizhang returns to Xingzhou, given the ruthlessness of the Prince of Qi, his life will likely be in danger.

Upon receiving the instructions, Wang Xude bowed and withdrew.

As soon as the study door closed, Shen Tinghe threw down the ink stick in her hand. The ink stick made a dull "thud" on the inkstone, splashing out a few drops of ink.

"It's so unfair!" she said, biting her lip, her voice filled with a hint of grievance and resentment.

Seeing this, Xie Yanzhao was not angry at all. Instead, he reached out and pulled her over, letting her sit on his lap.

With one arm around her waist and the other gently stroking her long hair, his tone carried a hint of helplessness.

"Haven't I already ordered someone to handle this according to the law? Why are you still so angry?"

Shen Tinghe looked at him: "It was clearly the fault of the Prince of Qi's son, but because of his status, he had to go to the palace to ask for your permission before he could be punished. If it weren't for a pitiful father risking his life for his daughter, the evildoer might have been let off the hook."

The implication is that if Lin Qizhang hadn't made a big fuss, Xie Yanzhao might have considered things more carefully and wouldn't have acted according to the law.

Xie Yanzhao raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone neither too loud nor too soft: "Insolence."

Shen Tinghe hugged his neck tightly, burying her face in the crook of his neck: "Don't be mean to me!"

Xie Yanzhao wasn't angry at all; this little girl had done even more outrageous things in front of him.

He gently patted her back, patiently comforting and guiding her.

"Yuan Yuan, there is no absolute fairness in this world. Those with power and influence can easily decide the fate of many people; their life, death, fortune, and misfortune often hinge on a single word from us."

"The higher one's position, the more considerations one must have. The power in one's hands cannot allow us to do whatever we want, nor can it allow us to act on impulse or do good deeds. In many situations, we must prioritize the overall situation."

He raised his hand and gently stroked her face, his tone solemn yet tender: "My darling is a kind girl, which is good. But remember, kindness needs an edge, otherwise it will only be exploited. I promise you, I will make sure the wicked are punished as they deserve, and give Lin Qizhang and that poor woman an explanation."

Shen Tinghe knew he was right, but she still felt a tightness in her chest.

The thought of the suffering endured by that woman she had never met filled her with a mixture of heartache and anger.

Rape and murder—that was the cruelest and most hateful thing she could imagine.

Born into a prestigious family, she was not an innocent and naive girl, but she was well protected by her family and had never so truly felt the helplessness and despair of ordinary people in the face of power.

"Brother, I just... I just feel so angry and sad."

She buried her face deeper, absorbing his warmth and strength.

Xie Yanzhao held her, gently kissing her face and forehead repeatedly, silently comforting her.

He knew that his darling still needed to grow.

He would slowly teach her, teaching her how to maintain her integrity in the treacherous court, how to become a crown princess who could stand shoulder to shoulder with him, a future empress.

When Shen Tinghe returned to the mansion, she did not go back to her own courtyard, but instead headed towards Mingzhan Courtyard, which was located in a secluded part of the mansion.

This is the residence of her grandfather, Prince Shen Jun of Dingshan.

King Dingshan rarely left his home, and apart from major festivals, few people could see him.

Shen Tinghe would come here from time to time to play chess with her grandfather.

Under the pavilion in the courtyard, a chessboard was set on a stone table.

Shen Tinghe played white pieces, and Shen Jun played black pieces. A complex game of chess had been set up amidst the alternation of black and white pieces.

Shen Tinghe held a smooth, white chess piece between her fingers, hovering it above the chessboard, her brows slightly furrowed.

"If your mind isn't calm, you can't play chess well." Shen Jun's voice wasn't loud, but it carried a penetrating calmness.

He held a black chess piece in his hand, not placing it, but simply watching his granddaughter quietly.

Upon hearing this, Shen Tinghe gently placed the white piece down and sighed.

She looked at her grandfather and told him about the son of the King of Qi.

"If His Majesty had not indulged him all these years, Prince Qi... would not have been so arrogant."

Shen Jun picked up the celadon teacup on the stone table, took a slow sip, and said in a calm voice, "A-Yuan, be careful what you say."

Shen Tinghe: "My granddaughter only dares to say that in front of her grandfather."

Shen Jun put down his teacup, smiled faintly, but his gaze drifted into the distance.