"Really, Crown Prince Cousin?" Kong Bo put on the kind of expression a child might wear when he saw a big brother he got along with. "Crown Prince Cousin, if I come here to visit you, please don't tell my parents. They'll give me a real scolding. His Highness the Crown Prince is busy with state affairs every day. How could I possibly keep him from his work? Kong Bo, we can't do that."
"Don't worry," Xu Tianran said. "A brilliant young genius like you is a matter of national importance. If they come looking for you, just come to your Crown Prince Cousin. I care about my little brother. What's wrong with inviting you to the Crown Prince's Mansion to chat with your cousin?"
"That's wonderful, Cousin," Kong Bo said.
"However," Xu Tianran said, suddenly changing tack, "your cousin here treats you like a real little brother, so you should treat me like a real big brother, too. (Kong Bo thought: Of course. I'll follow the Xu Family's tradition of brotherly love.) I've been around the block and seen plenty. If something happens and you can't tell your parents, you can tell your cousin. After all, I'm the Crown Prince."
Then Ju Zi chimed in to help Xu Tianran. "Kong Bo, your cousin and your cousin-in-law have both heard about it. You're so young, so why aren't you focusing on the right things? Your cousin oversees the Royal Soul Engineer Academy, and I heard you've got a pretty girl you like. You even got her into our Royal Soul Engineer Academy. Not just one, either—two."
Ju Zi's tone grew more serious. "Your cousin-in-law is a Soul Engineer herself. Kong Bo, even if you're talented, you can't neglect your studies at such a young age. You have so much potential. What a shame it would be if you let it go to waste!"
Hearing Ju Zi say that, Kong Bo knew the real business had begun.
"Oh, Ju Zi, you can't put it like that," Xu Tianran said, playing the good cop again. "Elder Kong is looking after Kong Bo. Maybe his great-grandfather gave him permission. Cousin, your cousin-in-law is only worried about you. She's a woman, and we're men. (Kong Bo thought: I don't believe a word of it. Do you even count as a man anymore?) Does your great-grandfather know about this? If even Elder Kong doesn't know, your cousin can put in a good word for you. Ah, men—especially capable men."
Kong Bo realized Xu Tianran was trying to draw him out. In Xu Tianran's eyes, Kong Bo was just a child. If he asked whether Kong Bo had learned anything from Kong Deming, the boy wouldn't know how to embellish it. He would surely repeat what Kong Deming had said.
"Cousin, Cousin-in-law, my great-grandfather definitely knows. He agrees," Kong Bo said.
"How could that be!" Ju Zi said. She had to play the bad cop while Xu Tianran played the good one. It seemed they had planned this conversation together.
"Why couldn't it be?" Kong Bo retorted. "Cousin-in-law, I'll show you how my great-grandfather talks. 'Kong Bo, all you do at school every day is draw designs, and in the afternoons you train with your master. You're still just a child. You might not understand this, but people need a little warmth in them. Since you like those two girls, Great-Grandpa agrees.'"
Xu Tianran had dealt with Kong Deming before, and the things Kong Bo said really did sound like him. Xu Tianran also knew that Kong Bo spent every day at school drawing designs. That dispelled his suspicions about Kong Deming. In Xu Tianran's view, Kong Bo was hardworking and talented, but studying Soul Tools couldn't become an obsession that turned him into a training maniac. After all, Kong Deming held an official position in the Sun Moon Empire, and Kong Bo would inevitably inherit it someday. Since Kong Bo liked girls, then let him spend time with them. It would put a little warmth in him.
Still, Xu Tianran had one lingering concern: who had told a child like Kong Bo to go after pretty girls? So he asked, "All right. Since your great-grandfather agrees, your cousin-in-law and I won't say anything. But, Kong Bo, your cousin is older than you and has dealt with plenty of people. Someone with your status will attract a lot of attention, so don't let anyone take advantage of you. Has anyone been saying things to you?"
"Cousin, no way. My master keeps an eye on things, and Long'er likes the two of them, too. As for me... Cousin, please don't tell anyone or do anything. I know you oversee our academy," Kong Bo said.
Xu Tianran's expression turned serious. He thought the truth was finally about to come out. Then Kong Bo took several comic books out of his Storage Bracelet. "Cousin, I saw it in my classmate's comics. They said it's perfectly normal to like girls. Cousin, please don't send the Royal Inspection Squad to investigate. Otherwise, they'll know I was the one who let it slip."
"Uh..." Xu Tianran wore a helpless expression. So that was it—it had all been over nothing.
"Fine, fine. Your cousin promises. I'm the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince's word is as good as gold. If I said I wouldn't investigate, then I won't." Xu Tianran understood now: he really had been too suspicious. The whole thing was that Kong Bo had taken a liking to two girls while training with the Evil Emperor. The Evil Emperor and Kong Deming had decided Kong Bo needed a little warmth in his life, and the girls didn't come from prominent families, so they let him spend time with them. That was all there was to it.
Kong Bo then improvised on the spot. "Cousin, in the storybooks I read, the Crown Princes always have lots of consorts. Why don't you find a few more? When I grow up and become a powerful Soul Master, I'll make you marry eight or ten. Anyone who refuses, I'll drag her over myself!"
"Kong Bo!" Ju Zi and Xu Tianran cried, alarmed by his words. Xu Tianran put on an angry expression. "You're so young, and already you're learning the wrong things! I'm the Crown Prince, and I have to ease His Majesty's burdens! I was going to let you stay and play at the Crown Prince's Mansion. You wouldn't have had to train this afternoon, but now your cousin and cousin-in-law are angry. Go back and train!"
"Cousin, I came all this way to the Crown Prince's Mansion, and now that I don't have to train, you're sending me back to train?" Kong Bo said.
"Go back," Xu Tianran said. "Someone, take Young Master Kong back to the mansion!"
After sending Kong Bo off, Xu Tianran immediately went to report to Xu Cong. He recounted the entire conversation, and Xu Cong nodded when he heard it. "Mm, it seems you were overthinking it, Tianran. This is just a great-grandfather doting on his great-grandson."
"That's right," Xu Tianran said. "But Kong Bo's taste, tsk, tsk. When the time comes to arrange a marriage for him, we probably shouldn't send Tianzhen. It'd be better to find someone from a collateral branch."
Xu Cong waved a hand. "Kong Bo's still young. We can talk about that later."
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