Chapter 50

The Crown Prince walked into the study room carrying Qiao Jiaojiao, and Prince Xi bounced over.

“Brother, let me see the little sister!” He tugged at the Crown Prince’s hem, hoping to get a closer look at Qiao Jiaojiao.

The Crown Prince smiled indulgently and shook his head, then crouched down.

“Wow, little sister has grown up! Last time I saw her, she was this small!”

Prince Xi stretched out his hands, smiling brightly.

“Greetings to Your Highness,” came a low voice from beside them.

Qiao Jiaojiao immediately turned her head to see a middle-aged man who appeared to be in his mid-thirties kneeling nearby.

Although there were traces of age around his eyes and forehead, his face was still as fair as jade, giving off an elegant and dignified air.

[“Whoa! Isn’t this Di Zaiying?”]

[“No wonder he’s Princess Yuliu’s beloved. He didn’t lose to my big brother when he was young!”]

[“But isn’t he from the Northern Kingdom? His features should be more distinct. Why does he look similar to people from the Great Yong Dynasty now?”]

“Mr. Di, please rise. Little Xi has visitors today. Can you let him have some fun?” the Crown Prince said gently, as Mr. Di was invited by the Emperor himself.

Mr. Di nodded respectfully. “Your Highness, of course, but Little Xi has homework due to present to His Majesty this afternoon, so…”

The Crown Prince nodded understandingly. “This is Miss Qiao from the Qiao family. She won’t stay long. Let Little Xi play with her in the study room for a while.”

Hearing this, Mr. Di’s hand trembled slightly under his sleeve.

The Qiao family!

There was only one prominent Qiao family in the entire capital, the same Qiao family whose hands were stained with the blood of his fellow countrymen from the Northern Kingdom!

If it weren’t for Qiao Zhongguo, the killing god, it would have been unknown if the Great Yong Dynasty would have fallen under his Northern Kingdom’s control!

If it weren’t for Qiao Zhongguo, his Yuliu might not have…

Thinking of this, even though he had been dormant for many years and had long cultivated the ability to remain calm, Mr. Di couldn’t help but tremble slightly at the corner of his mouth, unable to conceal the burning sensation in his chest.

This baby in front of him was Qiao Zhongguo’s daughter!

It was widely rumored in the capital that Qiao Zhongguo loved his daughter dearly. If he killed Qiao Zhongguo’s daughter, would Qiao Zhongguo be heartbroken and unable to bear the pain?

“Your Highness, let Little Xi and Miss Qiao go to the inner room,” Mr. Di said.

The inner room of the study room was equipped with a bed specifically for the princes, fully furnished.

The Crown Prince also had this in mind. He carried Qiao Jiaojiao into the room, and Prince Xi followed happily behind.

Mr. Di clenched his hands, looking at the tender figure of Qiao Jiaojiao. An extremely malicious thought flashed through his mind.

He suddenly turned and walked to his book box, took out an inconspicuous white packet from a very hidden compartment, and carefully tucked it into his waistband.

Originally, this was meant for Little Xi to use during the Dragon Boat Festival, but now it seemed that Miss Qiao from the Qiao family would enjoy it first.

Hearing the innocent laughter coming from the inner room, Mr. Di took a deep breath and decided to take a risk!

He walked to the window and lightly whistled.

During his time in the palace, he had spent a lot of money to buy some people, originally intending to use them during the Dragon Boat Festival.

But if he didn’t act now, he was afraid he would never have the chance to contact the Qiao family again!

Soon, a young eunuch hurried over and whispered outside the study room, “Your Highness!”

The Crown Prince heard the voice and stepped out.

“What’s the matter?”

The young eunuch bowed his head respectfully. “Your Highness, His Majesty summons you to the Imperial Study Room immediately.”

The Crown Prince was somewhat surprised. Why would Father summon him at this moment?

“Does His Majesty specify the matter?” The young eunuch shook his head fearfully. “This servant does not know.”

The Crown Prince looked somewhat troubled and glanced at the inner room. At this moment, Di Zaiying immediately stepped forward.

“Your Highness, since His Majesty has summoned you, please go. I will take care of Prince Xi and Miss Qiao here.”

The Crown Prince couldn’t have imagined that someone in the palace would dare to falsely convey the Emperor’s orders, let alone that someone would send him away to deal with Qiao Jiaojiao.

The Chunwei examinations had just concluded today, and Father must want to discuss the matter of the palace examination with him.

Everything followed the old rules, so he should be back soon.

Thinking of this, the Crown Prince nodded slightly. “In that case, I trouble Mr. Di. If there’s anything, send word to Yikun Palace.”

Di Zaiying respectfully nodded. Watching the Crown Prince stride away, he was so excited that his shoulders began to tremble.

As soon as the Crown Prince’s purple figure disappeared around the corner, Di Zaiying immediately turned and entered the study room.

When he walked into the inner room, Qiao Jiaojiao was sitting on the couch, and Prince Xi was sitting cross-legged next to her, trying hard to make her happy.

Hearing footsteps, Qiao Jiaojiao and Prince Xi both looked towards the door, only to find that the person who entered was not the Crown Prince, but Di Zaiying.

Prince Xi looked puzzled. “Mr. Di, where is Brother?”

Di Zaiying smiled gently as he approached step by step. “His Majesty summoned the Crown Prince to the Imperial Study Room. The Crown Prince asked me to stay here to watch over Your Highness and Miss Qiao.”

“Okay.”

It was common for the Emperor to summon him, so Prince Xi was already used to it, but Qiao Jiaojiao couldn’t help but shiver all over.

[“Wait a minute! The Crown Prince has left, and there’s no one to serve in this inner room. Isn’t that leaving her and the silly Prince alone facing the big bad wolf?”]

[“Back then, it was my father who fought outside the capital of the Northern Kingdom, forcing the old Northern King to give up Princess Yuliu. Wouldn’t Di Zaiying hate the Qiao family to the bone?”]

[“This… the situation is not going as expected!”]

Just as Qiao Jiaojiao was thinking this, she suddenly saw Di Zaiying taking out a small white packet from his waistband right in front of her.

[“Ah! Is he going to make a move?”]

Sitting on the couch, facing outward, with Prince Xi facing her back, Qiao Jiaojiao saw Di Zaiying taking out a suspicious object right in front of her.

Qiao Jiaojiao’s eyes widened in fear, pointing at Di Zaiying and yelling.

[“A needle! It’s a needle! Is he going to stab me?”]

[“Silly Prince, don’t fool around! Turn around and look at it!”]

Di Zaiying held the black needle in his hand behind the white cloth, approaching the bed step by step.

Seeing it clearly, Di Zaiying’s elegant face was distorted due to excessive excitement.

His eyes gleamed with ferocity, and the hatred accumulated over more than a decade erupted in an instant, revealing a hint of madness!

Seeing him approaching the bed, Qiao Jiaojiao knew she couldn’t rely on anyone else.

She urgently summoned the Merit Mall, and the products unlocked inside were already familiar to her.

“Your current merit points are – 140 points. Do you want to exchange?” Qiao Jiaojiao nodded frantically.

[“Exchange! Quick, exchange for the Rebound Talisman!”]