The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!

Chapter 539: I’ll Beat You Up

Prince Li, the three of the Left and Right Vice Ministers of the Ministry of Rites stayed together.

They certainly didn’t act like those other officials. Even if they were in a tea house, they carried their own air of nobility, the image of scholar-officials.

"Gurgle"

"Gurgle gurgle"

"..."

The three were originally chatting, but as they talked, their stomachs began to sing.

The three of them felt a bit embarrassed.

Prince Li, noble as a prince, used to be absorbed in poetry and painting in the Capital City, elegant and amorous, usually such a dignified and refined individual.

The Ministry of Rites is most particular about various etiquettes, speak no evil, see no evil, do no evil...

But now?

They wished to maintain their demeanor and image, but couldn’t control their stubborn guts.

Finally, Left Vice Minister Song Bing awkwardly said, "This official is a bit hungry, losing propriety, I hope Your Highness doesn’t mind!"

Right Vice Minister Xiong Wenbai also said, "This official too, truly cannot control the gut!"

Prince Li chuckled and said, "Man is iron, rice is steel, skipping a meal makes you hungry, I too am hungry."

Immediately, the Left Vice Minister instructed the attendant nearby, "Go ask the tea house owner to prepare some more food."

Come to think of it, it’s quite embarrassing, they clearly rejected the previous preparations, and now asking again isn’t that a slap in their own face?

But hunger was overwhelming.

The attendants were also hungry, they rushed to find the tea house owner, but the kitchen was cleaner than the owner’s face, there was nothing to be found.

The tea house owner hadn’t prepared much initially, a batch was wasted before and what was left was taken by those who came early.

After the attendant reported back, the three of them exchanged glances, feeling somewhat helpless.

Actually, they had been hungry for a while, restrained by their status, holding back from saying anything, by the time someone spoke, others had already taken the lead.

They were all officials here to welcome Prince Cheng, even if a few hadn’t shown respect to the highest-ranking three, they couldn’t be blamed.

Prince Li looked at the vast night scene, a dim lantern swayed above the tea house, waiting here meant the possibility of meeting the Fifth Imperial Brother’s convoy, but waiting with an empty stomach, possibly all night, made him feel bleak.

He also had attendants, thought for a bit, and said to them, "Go see if there might be hunting nearby!"

He was so hungry that unless he found something to fill his stomach, he feared he wouldn’t see the sun tomorrow. Then he would be the first prince to starve to death in this dynasty.

One can survive without food for three days, but the hunger was truly unbearable, Prince Li felt his stomach was about to wear through, sensing deep crisis.

The guards responded and went.

Everyone sent their guards out.

Thus, about twenty miles from the Capital City, there appeared a peculiar hunting party.

Xiong Wenbai drank several more mouthfuls of plain water, the tea at the tea house was hard to swallow, plain water was better, but plain water doesn’t fill the stomach, he sighed and said, "Hope Prince Cheng’s convoy arrives soon, maybe they have food!"

Prince Li also brightened up, yes, they traveled far, surely they prepared some dry rations along the way.

Hence, they eagerly awaited Prince Cheng’s early arrival.

Most hunting guards returned empty-handed, which was not surprising, they had no bows or hunting dogs, and this was not a place where wild beasts roamed, eventually only one guard caught a small rabbit.

Everyone endured hunger until late in the night when finally they heard the sound of horse hooves.

Prince Li happily said, "It’s the Fifth Imperial Brother, it must be the Fifth Imperial Brother!"

Never before had he been so eagerly anticipating meeting the Fifth Imperial Brother.

When this brother left the Capital, he was only thirteen or fourteen years old, their relationship was not deep.

As the sound of hooves drew closer, the convoy arrived, five carriages, several hundred elite cavalry, a grand spectacle coming in.

As the people at the front were only about a hundred meters away, Prince Li and the others were already outside the tea house, pairs of eyes eagerly watching, Prince Li stood at the front, with an elegant pose, a composed demeanor, still carrying the noble air of an Imperial Family prince even under the dim light of the tea house lantern.

The leading horse came to a halt, Prince Li glanced sideways, and his guard immediately stepped forward to ask, "Might the carriage ahead be the entourage of Prince Cheng?"

"Indeed it is!"

"Prince Li, along with the officials from the Ministry of Rites, under the Emperor’s command, are here to welcome Prince Cheng!"

"Permit us to report!"

Shortly, the carriage in the middle of the convoy moved forward, came nearer, the curtain opened, revealing Prince Cheng’s face.

Prince Cheng and Concubine Cheng alighted from the carriage.

If Prince Zhuang was here, he would definitely be astonished, this was the appearance he saw a few days ago.

Under the moonlight, everyone looked at Prince Cheng and Concubine Cheng standing together, truly a pair of jade people.

The man was like pine bamboo in the canyon, clean and upright, with an awe-inspiring character, whole being like a sword, calm and quiet when sheathed, sharp and exposed when drawn.

The woman like orchids and chrysanthemums in the secluded valley, fresh and elegant, yet composed and graceful throughout. Whole being like a lake, serene and calm with no wind, fierce and unstoppable with wind!

Both their faces did not look very good, heavy, carrying suppressed anger and sorrow. However, even so, their aura was like a deep sea, vast and boundless, seemingly merging with the dark night.

Everyone greeted, "Greetings, Prince Cheng, Concubine Cheng!"

Prince Cheng and his wife returned the greeting.

Prince Li said, "Fifth Imperial Brother!"

He didn’t address Concubine Cheng, a woman from Jianghu, how could she be worthy of the noble status of the Imperial Family?

But, as he carelessly ignored, Prince Cheng’s face darkened: "Old Nine, your eyes are big enough, can’t you see your Fifth Sister-in-law? Do you believe I’ll beat you up?"

Prince Li: "..."

A boor is indeed a boor, speaking with a bandit’s tone.

However, according to etiquette, he was indeed at fault. With officials from the Ministry of Rites present, though unwilling, Prince Li had to greet again, saying, "Fifth Sister-in-law!"

Lu Qianxue glanced at him, her voice carrying a few notes of sorrow and scrutiny, "Old Nine, how much do you know about the assassination attempt on my son Jingchen?"

Prince Li was stunned, still on the road and already asked about this matter?

Oh right, the Fifth Sister-in-law is from Jianghu, doesn’t hide or suppress feelings, unable to restrain her temper now, naturally less courteous to the culprit. He said, "I’m not very clear about the details, but the Capital Governor knows most about it. Anyway, Fifth Brother and Fifth Sister-in-law are back, the Emperor will definitely make a decision for Fifth Brother and Fifth Sister-in-law regarding Jingchen’s matter."

Lu Qianxue quietly said, "Old Nine, you’ve been in the Capital City all along. The Third wanted to kill my son, with your ability, it’s impossible to have absolutely no information, right?"

Prince Li’s eyelid twitched, was the focus turning on him?

He smiled wryly, "Fifth Brother, Fifth Sister-in-law, the hardest thing to predict in this world is the human heart, how could I have that ability?"

Prince Cheng patted Prince Li’s shoulder, saying, "Don’t feel like your Fifth Sister-in-law is making things difficult for you, when your child hasn’t encountered trouble, you can’t understand a parent’s heart!"