Chapter 11 This Crazy Thing Even Dares to Kick the Crown Prince!

Ji Ge, although not favored, still bore the royal bloodline and was flattered endlessly outside the palace. How could he not be infuriated under such circumstances?

Yet, this person was Cui Yun.

The Cui family was known for their integrity and loyalty. Nowadays, most of the men had sacrificed their lives on the battlefield, leaving only this dignified legitimate second son whom even Emperor He had to regard with some measure of respect due to his family background.

"How can you simply leave me to the side after I accompanied you in the carriage? Is this appropriate?"

The Cui family was known for strict discipline, and Cui Yun was personally taught by Grandpa Cui since childhood, following rules meticulously. However, the arrogance in his bones could never be hidden. So much so that Ji Ge never got any advantage in front of him.

"Perhaps the Seventh Prince forgets. You insisted on coming along. Such behavior..."

He pursed his lips, not showing any emotions. His voice remained cold.

"Cui Yun's person is insignificant, never dared to ask, nor dared to prevent."

Give me a break!!!

The moment you saw this Prince, you clearly wished to throw me out!!

You're just lazy!!

Too lazy to give orders, to waste time, too lazy to argue with him in front of the Cui family's house in Shengjing.

Ji Ge was so furious that smoke seemed to be coming out of his throat.

He and Cui Yun were the same age, one a mediocre prince, the other an exceptional heir of the Cui family.

Over the years, he heard countless comparisons that belittled him and praised Cui Yun.

Even when Emperor He claimed illness and appointed the Crown Prince as regent and the Fourth Prince to assist, there was not a mention of him.

He thus enjoyed a weightless existence.

Yet even the outstanding Crown Prince, who was the heir, was still inferior to Cui Yun!

So what if he was another man worse than Cui Yun?

Ji Ge's lips had cake crumbs, and his palm was greasy: "I don't like what you're saying, as if I'm clinging to you."

Cui Yun furrowed his brows. Lowering his eyes, he let his gaze fall on the scroll he had just read, which bore Ji Ge's five fingerprints.

He remained silent, didn't say a word, and Ji Ge saw no disgust on his face.

Yet, he wiped it three times, slowly!

Ji Ge: ...

He closed his eyes, slumped his body.

"Honestly, Ji Teng is rather pitiful."

The secret matters of the Imperial Family, Cui Yun naturally dared not discuss freely. So he quietly listened to Ji Ge's mutterings.

"The Second Prince is foolish, yet due to his powerful maternal family, he can ride roughshod over Ji Teng. Recklessly and deliberately colliding, no one dared to stop, and the spectators were countless, as if his life was worthless."

"Ji Teng was sent as a hostage at eleven, and it's been eight years now. His sacrifices are seen by outsiders as perfectly natural."

Cui Yun still appeared as upright and impeccable as ever in public, showing no sympathy, only cold-blooded indifference.

"The thunder and rain, all are gifts from the sovereign."

Tsk!

Ji Ge rolled his eyes dramatically.

If not for witnessing with his own eyes at age five when Cui Yun kicked the Crown Prince into the water, he might have believed it.

This crazy fool even dared to kick the heir apparent!

After kicking, he even pretended, using a bamboo pole to save the drowning one.

"Crown Prince, hold on."

The Crown Prince in the water desperately reached for it, and just as he was about to grip, the thing unsmilingly raised the pole an inch, as if teasing a cat or dog.

On top of that, he discreetly used the pole to poke the person a few times into the water.

The silly Ji Cong, hearing the commotion, rushed over and, seeing the little Crown Prince in the pool screaming and floundering, clapped and cheered, even picked up a stone to throw into the water.

One could see the resentment had been long-standing.

The young Crown Prince Ji Zhui did not know it was Cui Yun's heavy hand, believing until now it was the doing of the foolish Ji Cong.

After being rescued, perhaps frightened, he gave Cui Yun a heartfelt thanks, sobbing all over him, and then turned to punish Ji Cong.

Among the three, clearly, Cui Yun was the youngest, yet he played the two of them like a fiddle. He predicted that the Empress and Princess Consort Jing were at odds, and so too would their sons be in mutual enmity.

This little brat was only five years old at that time!

Ji Ge, watching from atop a fake mountain, felt his heart pounding, yet also saw his two brothers crazily clawing at each other.

"Seventh Prince, enjoying the show?"

A young voice startled him, causing a shiver. Suddenly, he met Cui Yun's eyes.

Clearly, it should be Cui Yun with a guilty conscience, yet it was he who turned and fled.

As soon as he jumped off the fake mountain, Cui Yun blocked his way.

Clad in a scholar's robe, he wore a neat round-collared lan shirt. That delicate face carried a touch of baby fat, looking quite harmless.

"Seventh Prince, did you see anything?"

He stuttered: "I saw everything!"

Soon, he regained his senses.

What's he panicking about?

He actually had a hold over Cui Yun.

He curled his lips, hands on his hips, threatening: "How dare you! To push the Crown Prince, you're doomed! I'll have someone chop your head off."

He was uninterested in academic progress, while Cui Yun could recite "Youxue Qionglin" in its entirety. He eagerly tried to trample the obnoxious Cui Yun underfoot.

Soon, the two wrestling Princes were pulled apart by Eunuchs.

He gleefully went before Emperor He to tattle, but no one believed him!

"How can I not trust Cui Yun's character? Instead, you, not achieving half of his academic prowess, recklessly slander him. I suppose those books went to waste."

Ji Ge: ?

The young Crown Prince, bruised and angry questioned him: "Seventh Brother, are you deliberately shielding Ji Cong? You think I'm too stupid to know who harmed me?"

Ji Ge: ??

And the Second Prince, Ji Cong, indeed foolish enough, snorted snot bubbles, threatening fiercely before Emperor He: "Yeah, I did it. I want to bash you. Bite me!"

Ji Ge: ???

In an instant, Emperor He turned livid.

The Empress and Princess Consort Jing swiftly rushed over upon hearing the news, each shielding her own child. Thus followed another grand scene.

The Crown Prince was the Empress's only child, cherished deeply since birth, terrified of any hurt. Now, humiliated by a fool.

She fumed, coldly said: "Princess Consort Jing, look how well you raised your Prince! Even daring to harm the Crown Prince?"

Princess Consort Jing wasn't one to eat humble pie either.

Without a word, she dragged Ji Cong to kneel before Emperor He. Exposing a vulnerable, snow-white neck, she wept bitterly.

"Your Majesty, why must the Lady repeatedly stab at my heart? Whose malicious hand left Cong'er like he is today? Others might forget, but how can Your Majesty forget? I have swallowed my grievances all this time for the sake of the Imperial Family's face..."

Two women Emperor He was wary of, he could neither offend capriciously, so he had no choice but to appease both.

Finally, punishing Ji Ge for sowing discord and inciting conflict among the Princes with two weeks of face-the-wall reflection as a reprimand.

Ji Ge lamented: It's always me who gets hurt.

And Cui Yun, for 'rendering meritorious service by saving the Crown Prince', was awarded. He sauntered up to the dumbstruck Ji Ge.

"Even though I stopped you, Seventh Prince, why didn't you listen?"

Back then, Cui Yun was really maliciously sly!

As for now...

Ji Ge sized up the unaffectedly smiling him.

Since his father and brother's demise in battle, Cui Yun's temperament had drastically changed. He became self-disciplined and courteous, acting like those old sticklers at the Imperial Censorate.

But Ji Ge was convinced that the twisted little brat inside had actually become a big jerk.