The villain prince is three and a half years old

Is that all? Just hit one leg!

This rebellious grandson!

Empress Dowager You put her legs away and looked in the direction of the boy. It turned out that it was the eunuch who came to deliver the after-meal snacks.

The eunuch had already learned from his companions that the Queen Mother was in a good mood with the arrival of the Ninth Prince. He walked in with ease, but saw the Queen Mother looking at him coldly. He was so scared that he got goose bumps and cursed his companions' ancestors in his heart.

Fortunately, Empress Dowager You rarely took her anger out on others, so the eunuch was able to escape unscathed.

"What are you busy with?" asked Empress Dowager You.

Xia Jing did not hide anything and started from the time when he left the palace and ran around for his third brother.

Empress Dowager You squinted her eyes and lay sideways on the Arhat bed, listening to the boy's words and commenting from time to time.

She felt a sense of peace that she hadn't felt in a long time. Long ago, when Ning Wanjun was a child, every night when he had some free time, he would like to tell her about his day.

How did she respond at the time? —Education and examinations.

Xia Jing talked about the pleasure boat.

"That's a big boat, but it doesn't move much. It would be nice to be able to ride on it and cruise along the river."

"Humph. The upper reaches of the Qingshui River are the imperial city. If you dare to swim there, the imperial guards will chop down those ignorant people! Don't say such stupid things next time!"

"The pleasure boat was so lively and fragrant. I wondered where the fragrance came from, and I looked everywhere. I found that the smell was slightly different in every place. Finally, I found that it came from those sisters."

"At such a young age, you're already a scoundrel! Instead of studying this, you should study hard! How can our ancestors rest in peace that the Ning Dynasty's prince is such a scoundrel?"

"In addition to playing the piano, the show also includes singing. The courtesan will give questions and ask people to write the lyrics, which they then sing!"

"Oh? Then let me test you. What words have you memorized? If I ask you to write them down, what would you write?"

"..."

Xia Jing closed his mouth and stared at Empress Dowager You.

He hadn't noticed it before, but after hearing these three sentences, he realized that the old lady's words were really unpleasant!

Thankfully, Weibo and Xiaohongshu don't exist these days, otherwise he wouldn't be able to resist and would have blamed the old lady on them. Later, whenever he mentions his own personality issues, he'd bring up his family of origin and lash out at the old lady. — This is a joke.

Did Ning Wanjun live in this kind of environment as a child? Xia Jing observed a three-second silence for his eldest sister.

"Go on, why are you silent?" Empress Dowager You was still not satisfied. "You can't even recite a single poem? I know your level, but forget it this time. I'll test you again when you go to the study."

Xia Jing turned around, facing away from Empress Dowager You, and said nothing.

Queen Mother You raised her foot, thought for a moment, then put it down again, reaching out and pushing the boy's shoulder.

"What else? What's behind the pleasure boat?" she urged.

"There's no more!" Xia Jing moved away. "Grandma's words are not nice. I don't want to listen."

Yuhe's shoulder twitched. When Empress Dowager You looked over, she immediately lowered her head and pretended to be a statue.

"Good medicine tastes bitter, and good advice certainly doesn't sound good either," Empress Dowager You said again.

"I don't care, I won't listen!" Xia Jing jumped off the bed and ran to sit on the chair.

"You are the prince of the Ning family, how can you be so willful!"

Xia Jing ignored him.

"When your eldest sister was young, she was very receptive to advice. Her talent..." Empress Dowager You was halfway through her speech when she remembered the last time she was scolded. "Let's not talk about her. When your third brother was young, he knelt down to accept my teachings!"

Xia Jing started eating the snacks on the table.

"You kid, you don't listen to my kind words. Do you want me to take action?" Empress Dowager You began to threaten.

Xia Jing took a sip of tea and found the snack a bit choking.

Empress Dowager You muttered a few more words, but seeing that the boy had no reaction, she was at her wit's end.

"Alright, I won't say that anymore. Come back here!"

Queen Mother You had no choice. The longing in her heart was too strong. She regretted chatting with the boy, which brought back some thoughts.

Chapter 113 Please forgive my unfilial behavior!

Empress Dowager You gave repeated assurances and finally allowed Xia Jing to return to the Luohan bed.

The boy continued to talk about the pleasure boat, then mentioned Sun Jingzhu, and from Sun Jingzhu, he talked about Ning Shouxu, while looking at Empress Dowager You's reaction.

Empress Dowager You raised her eyebrows and looked at Xia Jing: "You told me your third brother's secret just like that?"

"Eldest Sister said that we can talk to Grandma about anything," Xia Jing brought up Ning Wanjun. Ning Wanjun had indeed said something similar, but not so bluntly.

Unless it was a matter of great importance to the dynasty's safety, Empress Dowager You was just an ordinary, grumpy old lady. How could an old lady not love her grandson? Besides, Ning Shouxu had a good impression in her mind, having just mentioned him.

Empress Dowager You's expression was calm. Having lived for so many years, she had heard and seen far more than even Old Lady Xue. The mere fact that the prince was attracted to the daughter of a guilty minister did not stir the slightest ripple in her heart.

"You just listen to your eldest sister and believe whatever she says. Why don't you believe what I just said?" Empress Dowager You pinched the boy's cheeks, venting her anger.

"I only listen to what I like to hear!" Xia Jing said confidently.

"Only listen to what you like to hear? If I let you become the emperor, you will become a tyrant!" Empress Dowager You poked the boy's forehead hard. Although she spoke harshly, there was a smile in her eyes.

Yuhe saw the Queen Mother's mood and didn't know whether the Queen Mother's joy was due to the Ninth Prince's willful words, or because the Ninth Prince's words contained the meaning that he wanted to trust the Queen Mother.

Regardless of which one it is, the only ones who can influence the empress dowager's mood now are the eldest princess and the ninth prince. Even Emperor Kangning is not among them.

"Grandma said that again!" Xia Jing turned his head, leaving Empress Dowager You with the back of his head.

He didn't like to hear that either.

"Okay, okay, you are a wise ruler." Empress Dowager You coaxed him awkwardly.

Yuhe pressed herself against the wall, wishing she could bury her face in its chest. If she were Xiao Yue, she might really be able to do it.

The tyrant emperor's assumption just now was already very exciting and unbearable to listen to. Now the emperor's words are even more terrifying. If these words were not said by the queen mother, she would be arrested and punished!

"What about that girl?" Empress Dowager You asked Xia Jing about his attitude towards Sun Jingzhu.

"I think she's very nice, quiet and pretty." Xia Jing leaned closer to Empress Dowager You and raised her head. "Grandma, do you want to go and see her? Let's go to the pleasure boat together next time."

Yu He's hands trembled, but luckily she didn't hold anything, otherwise she would have been in big trouble. She glanced at the boy cautiously with the corner of her eye, and her heart was filled with turmoil.

My little ancestor, it’s fine if you go to the pleasure boat by yourself, but you actually let the Empress Dowager go to visit the pleasure boat?

Empress Dowager You was startled, amused by the suggestion. The thought of her, as the Empress Dowager, going to a place like that was quite exciting.

"Who am I to go there?" Empress Dowager You wanted to make a sarcastic remark, but was afraid of driving the boy away, so she had to endure it.

Having said that, Empress Dowager You took note of the name Sun Jingzhu. If she wanted to see the girl Sun, she didn't need to go to the painted boat. She could just wait for Concubine Xian to bring the girl into the palace and then go to Fuqing Palace for a stroll.

Looking at her expression, Xia Jing was sure that the plan was successful.

He mentioned Sun Jingzhu to give him a heads up in advance in case something went wrong later and he couldn't find anyone to help.

Anyone who has heard the plan is an accomplice. Empress Dowager You is happy to hear it now, but she will not ignore any problems in the future.

After talking about Sun Jingzhu, Xia Jing talked about Ning Xuenian.

"How can a princess go to that kind of place!" Queen Mother You frowned.

Ning Shouxu and Xia Jing could go to the Qingshui River pleasure boat, but Ning Xuenian shouldn't go. This wasn't directed at Ning Xuenian. If a prince visited a pleasure boat, he would at most be accused of being a playboy, which wouldn't be a big deal. But if the princess visited a pleasure boat, it would affect her reputation.

When Xia Jing mentioned the Xue family, Empress Dowager You frowned even deeper.

She sneered, "The Xue family may not be well-off, but they're quite arrogant. If it weren't for the Third Prince, the three of them would have been stripped of their official positions long ago."

This is a bit exaggerated, but if it weren't for Ning Shouxu, the Xue family's situation would definitely be worse than it is now.

Xia Jing finally talked about his little study partner and his sensible little sister.

"Deeply scheming," Empress Dowager You commented on Xue Zhixi. She had a very negative impression of the entire Xue family, as she hated the whole family.

Xia Jing didn't care. The impression before meeting was not reliable. "Scheming" and "shrewd" have the same meaning, just like "beauty is a disaster" and "beauty is a natural beauty" have the same meaning, it's just that the standpoints and emotions when said are different.

After telling the story of his little study companion, it was already dark outside. Xia Jing said goodbye to Empress Dowager You, ran out of the Cining Palace, met up with his little palace maid, and returned to Jingyixuan.

Rendong had already requested leave for Xia Jing, saying that the Ninth Prince had been left behind for dinner. When Xia Jing left Jingyixuan, he said he wanted to go to Yanghexuan to take a look. Xiao Yue didn't think much of it, assuming that the young man had dined there.

……

Ning Shouxu was quite satisfied with Xue Zhaoju's performance. He returned to the harem that morning and informed Empress Xian. Thus, it was decided that Xue Zhaoju would be the ninth prince's companion.

In the past few days, Xue Renli, following the orders of the old lady, has been watching Xue Zhaoju learn etiquette.

Xue Zhaoju was confused and wondered which academy was so particular that it required him to learn etiquette before admission.

At the beginning of the month, the sound of the gong at dawn had not yet faded away when the servants woke up Xue Zhaoju, helped him change his clothes, and sent him to the old lady's courtyard.

Breakfast was on the table. In addition to the old lady, there was also Xue Renli. The three of them were eating at the table. The old lady spoke and gave detailed instructions.

Only then did Xue Zhaoju realize that he had been sent there to be a study companion.

He felt a little disappointed, but he quickly cheered up. Studying with his teacher is also studying, even if it is hard, the knowledge he gains is his own.

"Originally, this errand belonged to Brother Yuan," the old lady emphasized the importance of the matter. "Brother Yuan wasn't destined for it, so it fell into your hands. You absolutely must not neglect it."

"Grandson knows." Xue Zhaoju thought to himself, Xue Huaiyuan is the legitimate son, how could he possibly go to be a companion? The old lady is just coaxing him.

After finishing his meal and packing up his things, he followed Xue Renli into the carriage and asked who he would be studying with and which academy he would go to. Xue Renli did not answer and changed the subject.

The carriage jolted for a while, then stopped. He lifted the curtain and got out, stunned.

The towering walls of the imperial palace stood before him, dominating his vision and blocking out the entire sky. Beneath the walls, in front of the palace gate, stood two brave guards wearing silver armor, holding sharp spears, their eyes cold.

The guards spotted them and strode over.

"Brother Li, we've taken the wrong path. This is the imperial palace. Let's leave quickly!" Xue Zhaoju hugged Xue Renli's legs and said anxiously.

Xue Renli was happy, but did not answer. He took out a piece of letter and handed it to the guard.

After seeing this, the guards nodded and held Xue Zhaoju on the left and right.

Ignoring Xue Zhaoju's confused look, Xue Renli turned around, got on the carriage, and drove away.

Xue Zhaoju stared at the shadow of the carriage, his mind a jumble of thoughts. Wasn't it said he was going to the academy? Wasn't it said he was going to be a study companion? Why did they bring me to the palace? Was the palace a place where a person like me could enter and exit?

Could it be... Could it be...

“Mother, I am an unfilial child!” Xue Zhaoju trembled all over and then burst into tears, frightening the guards at the gate.

Chapter 114 The Ninth Prince's Bad Taste

As soon as Ri Lun jumped over the high wall of the harem, Xia Jing was called up. He followed Yi Qiu out of the bed, but Hun'er was still lying on the bed.

Yi Qiu fiddled with the Ninth Prince's washing and felt like she was playing with a puppet. In addition to manual operation, she could also control it with voice, but the puppet would not move on its own.

Putting the Ninth Prince puppet on a stool beside the dining table, Yi Qiu opened the breakfast box, and he and Xiao Yue, one on each side, added fuel to the Ninth Prince brand semi-automatic puppet.

Xia Jing squinted his eyes and chewed mechanically.

Xiao Tianzi ran from the yard, knelt under the dining table, and glanced at the dazed Ninth Prince.

"Young master, your study partner has arrived at the upper study room," he said.

Xiao Yue nodded and asked Xiao Tianzi to leave. Xue Zhaoju arrived early, and there was still some time before class started, so he was waiting there. There was a room next to the study room specifically for them as study companions.

"Young Master," Xiao Tianzi hesitated, "Xue Zhaoju... that's his study companion. There's something wrong with him!"

Xiao Yue was stunned. The white fungus soup that she was about to put into Xia Jing's mouth poked the boy's nose.

Xia Jing woke up with a start and rubbed his eyes: "What's wrong?"

Odazi repeated what he had just said.

"Something's wrong?" Xia Jing thought about it, but couldn't think of anything wrong with Xue Zhaoju.

I opened the interpersonal interface and took a look. Everything was normal.

He took the spoon, quickly ate a few mouthfuls of the bird's nest and white fungus soup, put the bowl aside, jumped out of Xiao Yue's arms, and walked out of the house.

"Let's go and take a look."

Xiao Tianzi hurriedly followed and called two young eunuchs to carry out the sedan chair from the warehouse for the ninth prince to ride.

The group rushed out of Jingyixuan's door in a hurry.

The time around sunrise is the busiest time in the harem.

Before sunrise, while the master was still asleep, the maids and eunuchs tiptoed about, preparing the expenses for her return. Their rustling movements were like whispers in a dream. After sunrise, when the master awoke, the whispers became louder, like a thousand sparrows descending, chirping and chattering.