Embarrassing Incident
"Hahaha...!"
At the Prince of Qin's Manor, Su Li—the mastermind behind the little yellow book incident—let out a raucous, bell-like laugh, pounding the table as she wiped away tears. She said to Xiao Yun, "Charles Chu cursed out the head constable. And then?"
"And then? Charles Chu got so mad he fell ill!" Xiao Yun replied, clutching his stomach as he laughed.
"He—he got sick from anger, hahaha!" Su Li laughed even harder. "Oh my, this guy is hilarious. He got sick from anger!?"
"Yep, and he even coughed up blood! I heard from the doctor who treated him—pfft, pfft—blood just kept coming out, it was wild." Xiao Yun exaggerated Charles Chu's blood-spitting, making everyone laugh, then patted his own butt and added, "Charles Chu can't even lie down now—he's stuck with his butt in the air, spitting blood. I heard the doctors tried to treat his backside, but he absolutely refused to let them look, insisting on applying medicine himself."
"But he's the Crown Prince of Chu—how could he let the doctors see him like that?" Su Li laughed, nudging the solemn Xiao Zetian beside her. "Who would've thought our Prince would have such wicked tastes, sending the dignified Crown Prince of Chu to the Rabbit House, ordering all those men, and even feeding him medicine! Hahaha!"
Xiao Zetian spread his hands innocently. "He tried to drug my wife and slander her with rumors about other men. Tsk, since he loves chasing men so much, I just helped him out—gave him plenty of men and fed him his own medicine."
"You're so bad!" Su Li teased, but she was still grinning. "Charles Chu is something else. What was he thinking, suspecting Princess Lily Hayes and Professor Jade Evans of having an affair? His brain must be scrambled. How could I have an affair with myself?"
Alexander Hayes shook his head. "Charles Chu's actions aren't baseless. He must've heard something from somewhere to act like this."
Su Li's smile faded a little. "You mean someone is watching Princess Lily Hayes or Professor Jade Evans?"
Alexander Hayes nodded. "Very likely. Otherwise, with Charles Chu's cautious nature, he wouldn't recklessly drag those two into this mess."
Su Li lowered her head, absently tracing the rim of her teacup as she mulled things over. "If you look at it from the outside, Princess Lily Hayes and Professor Jade Evans shouldn't know each other at all. Every single day when I leave and return to the Prince of Qin's Manor, I'm extremely careful. The Hayes Family Shadow Guard is stationed all around, so there's no way anyone could tail Professor Jade Evans's carriage and track it all the way here... So how did Charles Chu even come up with this wild theory?"
"Don't worry, my dear," Alexander Hayes said, his tone reassuring as he shifted gears. "I'll have the Hayes Family Shadow Guard investigate this right away. As for Charles Chu, with his backside so battered, he'll be stuck in bed for a month—he won't be stirring up any drama for a while. Now, tell me, how are your overseas trade goods coming along?"
Su Li's eyes lit up. "Everything is set! Besides the silk, tea leaves, and porcelain I sourced with Aunt Charlotte's family, I've also packed up the dowry and betrothal gifts I got from Princess Mira to take overseas. The quality is superb, the craftsmanship absolutely beautiful—those French buyers have never seen such treasures before. Selling them will make a killing! Hehehe, all thanks to Princess Mira, really. If she hadn't been so foolish as to pawn off her royal trinkets, I would've never had the chance to gather so many rare palace treasures from both kingdoms in one go!"
Alexander Hayes laughed. "You're sharp as ever! Princess Mira trying to cross swords with you? She really doesn't know her own limits—she's practically begging for trouble."
Su Li blinked playfully at Alexander Hayes. "Your Highness, about that little invention Edward and I showed you last time—in the middle of the mountains, late at night—do you still want it?"