"County Princess Slop." Cui Yunchu smiled sweetly, took Cui Yunfeng's hand, and turned to enter the main hall.
Leaving Liu Wanting alone, stomping her feet in anger.
County Princess Slop?
The foul stench that had filled her nose and mouth seemed to strike again, and Liu Wanting leaned against a pillar, suddenly dry-heaving.
"Cui Yunchu, Cui Yunfeng, I won't let you off. Just you wait."
There were many officials and their families attending the banquet today. Prince An was, after all, a prince of the first rank, so to save him some face, the punishment was carried out at a palace gate not far from Consort Liang's palace.
Shen Xiabai stood with his hands behind his back, watching Xiao Yi's tall, broad figure as he cleanly lifted his brocade robe and lay face down on the wooden bench.
"Your Highness is sharp. Knowing today was a trap, why did you insist on walking right into it?"
Xiao Yi half-closed his eyes, a mocking smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "We seek different things. He thinks he has won, but little does he know that I am also reaping the benefits."
A look of realization surfaced on Shen Xiabai's handsome, refined face, and his lips pressed tightly together. "For a woman?"
"Is the Cui family's daughter really that good?"
"Begin," Xiao Yi closed his eyes, instantly concealing the myriad of emotions surging in those peach-blossom eyes.
"His Highness Prince An is truly mad enough." Shen Xiabai waved his hand, and the young eunuchs immediately stepped forward to carry out the punishment.
The dull thuds of the wooden staffs striking flesh sounded exceptionally harsh in this area.
Fifty strokes was no small number, yet the man on the bench did not utter a single sound, even as blood seeped through his robes.
His forehead was covered in sweat, and his thin lips were pressed tightly together, forming a sharp curve.
Shen Xiabai stood to the side, watching quietly. Only when the fifty strokes were finished did he slowly step forward, bending down to look at Xiao Yi's face. "Is Your Highness alright?"
Those peach-blossom eyes slowly and lazily opened. He gave a wicked smile, though it was somewhat forced. "A pity she couldn't see it with her own eyes."
"..."
Shen Xiabai's expression remained neutral. "Then you are fine. It seems His Majesty punished you too lightly."
Xiao Yi gave a cold snort. "It's because I have thick skin and sturdy flesh. If it were Lord Shen's delicate body, you wouldn't even survive thirty strokes."
"."
Shen Xiabai pressed his thin lips together and said in displeasure, "Although I am a civil official, I cannot be called delicate. While His Highness Prince An is broadly built, right now you cannot stand as straight as a frail scholar like myself."
"..."
Xiao Yi struggled to lift his body and shot Shen Xiabai a cold glare.
Shen Xiabai lowered his eyes and let out a low chuckle.
Just then, heavy footsteps sounded from behind. The young eunuchs nearby all knelt and bowed. "Greetings, Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Shen Xiabai restrained his emotions, turned around, and bowed.
Xiao Chen waved his hand to tell everyone to rise, then took long strides to Prince An, who was still on the bench. He asked with a concerned tone, "Is Second Brother alright?"
Xiao Yi's lips twitched, his voice slightly hoarse. "Thank you for your concern, Crown Prince Brother. I am perfectly fine. I won't die."
"However, Royal Brother actually has the free time to come watch my joke. What, did the Tang family's daughter not give you any trouble?"
The Crown Prince's expression froze slightly.
Xiao Yi continued, "That makes me quite disappointed."
He raised his hand, and several young eunuchs immediately stepped forward to help him up. However, his injuries were quite severe, and he could only barely stand while half-bent over.
The Crown Prince's face slowly turned cold. "What kind of words are those, Second Brother."
"I mean that I greatly admire you, Crown Prince Brother. You went to great lengths to ensure I took this beating. Even Miss Tang became a part of your plan."
"But I am not envious. I scheme for love, while you scheme for profit. The two of us brothers each get what we need, killing two birds with one stone. Today can be considered a win-win."
Having said that, supported by the young eunuchs, he slowly made his way toward Consort Liang's palace. His voice, however, drifted back from afar.
"I must also trouble Lord Shen to pass on a message for me. Whether this punishment was worth it or not all depends on Lord Shen's mouth."
"." Shen Xiabai frowned in disgust.
He ordered people to remove the wooden bench, then turned and bowed his hands to the Crown Prince. "I am heading to the main hall. Will Your Royal Highness join me?"
The Crown Prince was still in a daze, his mind full of Xiao Yi's words just now.
He schemes for love, and I scheme for profit?
"Crown Prince."
Xiao Chen suddenly snapped out of it, gave a faint response, and took the lead to walk toward the palace.
Did he scheme for profit?
As the Crown Prince, wasn't it right for him to seek the maximum benefit for himself while balancing the situation?
If he didn't do so, how could he sit securely on the Crown Prince's throne?
He was the Crown Prince, after all. He couldn't be like Xiao Yi, shamelessly making his romantic intentions known to the public without any scruples.
There was too much he needed to weigh and balance.
When Shen Xiabai and the Crown Prince arrived at the main hall, the palace banquet had just begun.
The Cui family's seats were at the very front, not far from the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince's gaze rested on Tang Qingwan for a long time, but he received no response whatsoever.
His heart sank slightly.
His royal mother and Xiao Yi both knew. As smart as she was, she must have figured it out too.
He couldn't tell if it was guilt or something else, but the Crown Prince suddenly felt a pang of regret. His hands tightened slightly within his sleeves, making him feel rather restless.
