Chapter 182: Getting Back on Track

He felt revitalized.

The old prince looked at the little girl holding Di Rongjing’s hand, blinking in astonishment. He tried to feel it out—indeed, his head no longer hurt!

Moreover—

He could even prop himself up with his arms.

What was this??

The old prince burst into tears, “Ah Bao, so it was you, it really was you.”

“Grandpa, you’re… crying? Why?”

[The old prince, at his age, cries just like a child.]

[They say the older one gets, the more childlike their temperament becomes. Having an elder in the family is like having a treasure, and it’s really true.]

After more than a decade of suffering from a stroke, the old prince was now sitting up.

And the excitement wasn’t just for the old prince alone.

“This dream, it’s so similar… It turns out…” The dream visitation was real.

He had originally forgotten last night’s dream, but now that his headache was gone, the dream came vividly back to him.

The late emperor had held him and cried loudly, not out of sadness but excitement.

He said that tomorrow, a little lucky star would bring him fortune, and that he must treat her well. If she were harmed, it would damage the thousand-year foundation of the Tiansheng Dynasty, and the ancestors would be angered.

This lucky star was clearly the little princess.

What kind of luck had he stumbled upon? He was already halfway through death’s door, yet now he could sit up properly, something he thought he’d never do again.

After a life of military service and years of suffering from a stroke, he had been living in torment.

But since the little princess arrived, everything had changed.

“Grandfather, Grandfather!” Rong Yimeng ran in, clearly focused on complaining to his grandfather, completely unaware that his grandfather was already sitting up.

“Grandfather, someone bullied me.”

The old prince awkwardly withdrew his gaze, “Who dares to bully the young heir of Prince Rong?”

“It was… Ah! Tenth Princess, what are you doing here! Fine, I wasn’t looking for you, but you came right to me. Grandfather, it was her, Di Jiaoyang bullied me, bit my hand, and tore off a layer of skin. Look, the doctor just applied medicine, and it hurt so much I cried. Grandfather, you must teach her a lesson.”

“What on earth happened?” The old prince asked.

Rong Yimeng pouted, trying to play the victim.

Ah Bao looked at Di Rongjing and then scratched her head.

[If I don’t tattle, Ninth Brother won’t speak up either. Now that the old prince’s mind isn’t muddled, he shouldn’t only listen to this little troublemaker, right?]

“Grandpa…”

Rong Yimeng was just about to speak when the old prince ordered, “Big Fatty, come in here and explain what happened.”

The guard came in and explained everything in detail, leaving nothing out.

Rong Yimeng lifted his little head, “Grandfather, you see, I was bullied by the Tenth Princess.”

Smack

The old prince slapped the side of the bed.

Rong Yimeng made a face at Ah Bao, looking pleased with himself. See, see, my grandfather is angry; you’re in trouble now.

Ah Bao chuckled, “Get ready for a spanking.”

“Hmph, if you beg me, I won’t let Grandfather spank you. How about that?”

Ah Bao blinked, “Beg you? Dream on!”

[Oh dear, this little troublemaker is about to get spanked.]

“Rong Yimeng!!” The old prince’s voice was full of energy. If it weren’t for his slightly numb legs, he wouldn’t have seemed like someone who had suffered from a stroke for so many years.

Rong Yimeng was dumbfounded, “Grandfather…”

“Take the young heir and give him a good lesson. Give him three lashes to teach him a lesson.”

Rong Yimeng wasn’t having it. His eyes widened in fear. “Grandfather, why are you punishing me? It was Ah Bao who bullied me! Why aren’t you punishing her? Wait, hold on, Grandfather, how come you’re sitting up?”

The old prince nearly spat out blood in anger. Look at that—his precious grandson, so spoiled, didn’t even notice that he was sitting up! How pathetic…

He had been wise his whole life, yet when it came to raising his grandchildren, he had somehow lost his way.

“What’s going on here?” Rong Taifei rushed in, her steps quick. “Oh my heavens, husband, you’re sitting up! You’re no longer suffering from a stroke? This is a miracle!”

Rong Taifei was overjoyed. “Husband, your recovery is wonderful news! Why the sour face?”

“That brat has become a little tyrant in the capital. How could I possibly be happy?” The old prince was fuming.

“Uh…”

Rong Yimeng started wailing loudly, but the old prince ignored him, hardening his heart. He waved to the guards. “Take the young lord out and give him a proper lesson. All this crying will disturb Ah Bao’s peace.”

Rong Yimeng was so scared he wet his pants. “Grandfather, I’m your own flesh and blood, your legitimate grandson!”

“If I don’t whip you today, tomorrow you’ll think you own the place.” Grandchildren need to be disciplined strictly, the old prince thought. He had been bedridden for so long that he hadn’t had the chance to properly manage Rong Yimeng, but things were different now.

Rong Taifei wanted to speak up but was silenced by a single glance from the old prince.

“This…” Rong Taifei pointed at Ah Bao. “Where did this little girl come from? She’s so pretty.”

“What little girl? That’s the Tenth Princess.”

“Uh…” Rong Taifei finally understood. So, this was the girl who had fought with her son.

But why was the Tenth Princess at the Rong Prince’s mansion?

The old prince whispered something into Rong Taifei’s ear, and she was utterly shocked. She then walked over to Ah Bao with a smile, bending down. “Little Princess Ah Bao, Meng’er was being naughty. We’ll give him a good spanking for you. Don’t be upset, okay?”

[These two are quite adorable. They both have a lot of blessings and are people with good karma.]

Ah Bao grinned and nodded.

Before long, the Princess Rong arrived. Outside in the courtyard, Rong Yimeng was getting whipped, crying out in pain.

The Princess Rong acted like she didn’t hear it, walking right past her son and muttering under her breath, “Keep whipping him.”

Inside the house, she saw Ah Bao. “This is… the Tenth Princess, right?”

The Princess Rong happily picked Ah Bao up.

Ah Bao: ???

“Ah Bao, I’m the Princess Rong, that little idiot’s mother. I know your mother, Concubine De. I’ve even heard people talking about you outside the capital—you’re absolutely adorable.”

[The Princess Rong… She’s quite the beauty. I remember now, she’s someone who loves daughters dearly. But… her first child turned out to be a boy, which made her miserable for years.]

Di Rongjing twitched his mouth. So that’s how it is.

He thought it was odd how the Princess Rong had become so affectionate with his sister at first sight. It turns out she just really likes girls.

But then again, who could resist his adorable sister? Everyone wants to hold her.

After entering, the Princess Rong learned why Rong Yimeng had been whipped.

“I knew it. That boy never gets whipped for no reason.”

He was an expert in fighting and causing trouble, earning himself the nickname “Little Tyrant” in the capital. If he got any older, he’d probably be even more out of control.

“Father, you did the right thing! Brats like him need a good beating.”