Rumors

"Don't move!"

As Xie Guifan struggled and twisted about, Xiao Yu grabbed him by the collar,

and warned, "Move again, and I can't guarantee what happens next!"

Riiip-

No sooner had he spoken than the front of Xie Guifan's robe tore open, falling apart to reveal his underclothes.

Xiao Yu had not expected this either and froze.

Wait, isn't this robe way too flimsy? I only gave it a little tug... and it tore?

Surely Xie Guifan isn't trying to scam me on purpose?

Xie Guifan stared at the torn front of his robe, his pupils trembling in shock as his face suddenly turned deathly pale.

Once he recovered, he glared at Xiao Yu.

Humiliated and furious, he snapped, "You damned libertine! Shameless! Filthy!"

Xie Guifan had never imagined anyone in this world could be more shameless than he was.

How dare he do that to him, to him... right in the street!

How was he supposed to show his face in the Capital City now?

He had lost all dignity...

"Bastard-"

The more Xie Guifan thought about it, the angrier he grew. A sudden burst of courage seized him, and he shoved Xiao Yu away, pulled his robe closed, and fled in a panic.

"Young master! Young master, wait for us!"

Seeing their young master leave, the servants hurried after him.

"Your Highness, shall I have my men bring the heir back?" the commander of the Imperial Guards stepped forward and asked.

Xiao Yu stared blankly at Xie Guifan's retreating figure as he fled in panic.

He waved a hand. "No need. Thank you for your efforts, everyone!"

Catching the eager, gossip-hungry expressions around him out of the corner of his eye, Xiao Yu felt his eyelid twitch.

I'm done for. Not even jumping into the Yellow River could wash away this misunderstanding.

Everyone must think I was trying to force myself on Xie Guifan... Heaven knows I really wasn't!

...I've sacrificed far too much for Sister Yuzhu.

He turned around to find Shen Zhijie and Shen Yuzhu staring blankly at him.

He cleared his throat and explained, "It's not what you think."

Shen Zhijie looked at him reproachfully.

"Your Highness, what does Xie Guifan have that I don't? Why do you like him and not me?"

The corner of Xiao Yu's mouth twitched.

What on earth made Shen Zhijie think I liked Xie Guifan? I was only giving him a taste of his own medicine to scare him.

"Shut up, you. I don't want any more ridiculous romantic rumors going around tomorrow."

Shen Zhijie: "..."

After that spectacle you made, the rumors won't even wait until tomorrow. They'll be everywhere.

Shen Yuzhu came to her senses and stepped forward. "Thank you for helping me out, Your Highness."

"It was nothing."

Xiao Yu asked, "Sister Yuzhu, what do you intend to do about the Marriage Contract?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

Shen Zhijie stepped forward and answered, "Sister Yuzhu absolutely cannot marry Xie Guifan! I'll tell Father and have him call off this engagement!"

"Well, after the scare I gave Xie Guifan, he certainly won't dare come out and harass Sister Yuzhu for a while."

Xiao Yu looked at Shen Yuzhu. "Sister Yuzhu, take some time to think it over. It would be best to settle the matter with Second Uncle Shen as well. If there's anything you can't resolve, you can ask me for help."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Shen Yuzhu looked at Xiao Yu and pressed her lips together.

Then she suddenly asked, "Your Highness, do you also believe a woman must marry once she comes of age? That for someone my age, remaining unmarried means disregarding moral obligations and defying the natural order?"

Xiao Yu paused.

After considering it for a moment,

he answered earnestly, "Sister Yuzhu, I've always believed marriage should be a matter of mutual affection, something that happens naturally.

If there's no one you love yet, you can set it aside for now. It won't be too late to marry when the right person comes along."

"And while other people's opinions do matter, they matter far less than your own happiness."

"What do you think, Sister Yuzhu?"

Shen Yuzhu suddenly saw things clearly.

She smiled faintly. "Your Highness sees things so clearly. I was the one being narrow-minded."

Seeing her happy made Shen Zhijie happy too, and he cast Xiao Yu a grateful look.

"Your Highness, after all that talking, you must be hungry. Shall I cook you a bowl of noodles before you return to the palace?" Shen Yuzhu asked.

Xiao Yu replied, "Sorry for the trouble, Sister Yuzhu."

The imperial palace

"Crown Prince? What are you waiting here for?"

As soon as Xiao Yu arrived, he saw the Crown Prince waiting at the palace gates.

The Crown Prince walked over to him. "Little Imperial Uncle, why did you leave the palace again?"

"I went to right an injustice," he replied.

The Crown Prince looked at him, his gaze wavering.

Then he lowered his head and pressed his lips together.

"If you have something to say, just say it," Xiao Yu said first, seeing his hesitation.

The Crown Prince raised his eyes.

"Little Imperial Uncle... do you truly like Xie Guifan?"

He was finding his little imperial uncle harder and harder to understand.

Only a few days ago, he had said he liked the Southern Zhao Hostage. Now he had taken a fancy to the Heir of the Marquis of Pingxi.

Xiao Yu's foot slipped at those words.

Feeling guilty, he asked, "Word reached the palace that quickly?"

"Does my Elder Imperial Brother... know?"

Seeing that he did not deny it, a trace of bitterness flashed through the Crown Prince's eyes.

"Little Imperial Uncle, you made such a fuss about mobilizing the Imperial Guards... How could Emperor Father possibly not know?" he said helplessly.

Xiao Yu abruptly stiffened.

True, my Elder Imperial Brother has always been suspicious... Surely he doesn't think I'm planning a rebellion?

The Crown Prince: "..."

You're overthinking it. Emperor Father wouldn't go so far as to suspect you.

He's just a little angry right now.

He warned, "Little Imperial Uncle... when you see Emperor Father, try not to act impulsively. He's in a bad mood today."

"The Marquis of Pingxi just came to the palace. He keeps telling Emperor Father that you violated his grandson and demanding an explanation..."

Xiao Yu's foot slipped.

What did he mean, violated?

Couldn't he choose another word... I didn't do anything!

It seemed a great battle awaited him in the Imperial Study.

The Imperial Study

Dequan had been waiting by the door for some time. When he saw Xiao Yu arrive,

he stepped forward and said, "Your young Highness, you're finally back. His Majesty has been waiting most impatiently..."

Xiao Yu replied, "Well, here I am."

The Crown Prince stepped forward to follow Xiao Yu inside.

But Dequan stopped him at once.

Dequan said, "Your Highness, His Majesty has instructed you to keep the Empress and the little princess company in Changqiu Hall. Without his permission, you are not to leave..."

The implication was clear: no one was to come plead for Xiao Yu today.

"It's fine. Emperor Father won't hold it against me."

The Crown Prince stepped forward,

and Dequan said anxiously, "Oh, please, Your Highness, don't make things difficult for this old servant..."

"Enough. Go back first, Crown Prince. What can my Elder Imperial Brother possibly do to me?" Xiao Yu said.

The Crown Prince stopped.

True.

If Emperor Father grew even angrier at the sight of him, it would be awful if his little imperial uncle suffered for it.

He replied, "Then I'll wait for you by the door, Little Imperial Uncle."

Yes, if things went wrong, he would fetch Mother.