Chapter 60: Chapter 56: Little Green Tea? Throw Her Out~

“Exactly. If the gift is for me, then isn’t it mine? Since it’s my possession, can’t I give it to whomever I wish?!”

The Little Princess’s words were incredibly naive, and Song Yun’s eyes still shimmered with tears. At this moment, Shen Ming found himself in a predicament.

To talk about differences in status now would just make him seem heartless.

Shen Ming began to wonder how things had ended up like this. At the start, he prepared this gift to make a good impression in front of the Little Princess.

He had even prepared soft fabric to wrap the White Jade Horse before placing it in a box, to prevent it from getting broken.

But before he could close the box, Song Yun saw it. She lowered her head pitifully and said she had nothing to give Her Highness, so attending the event would just be inviting humiliation.

Feeling sorry for her, Shen Ming impulsively gave the gift to Song Yun to give away.

However, Song Yun only took the White Jade Horse, not the box. She said she wanted to hand it to the princess herself to show sincerity.

Song Yun also said this was the first time she had seen such a beautiful White Jade Horse and wanted to look at it a little longer, as she wouldn’t see it again in the future.

Only then did he comply with her wishes.

Looking back now, was it truly innocent?

Shen Ming grew up in a prominent family, exposed to many dirty tricks from a young age. But since Song Yun was brought into Prince Rong Mansion at a young age and always stayed by his side, he’d never doubted her before.

Today’s incident forced him to question things.

“Your Highness, this….” Shen Ming wanted to explain the effort he put into the gift to make the princess reconsider, but the Little Princess’s face suddenly changed, and she became angry.

“Is Ming Brother opposed to Yi Fen, that he keeps going against Yi Fen over and over? When I didn’t give the White Jade Horse to Song Yun, Ming Brother said I was unreasonable, implying I was bullying. Now that I want to give the White Jade Horse to Song Yun, Ming Brother stops me. What kind of logic is this?!”

The Little Princess’s voice gradually became aggrieved, and her gaze at Shen Ming was filled with reproach. This made Shen Ming feel incredibly guilty, and as he was about to console the Little Princess, she angrily said, “Does the Prince Rong Mansion not earnestly intend to attend my birthday banquet? Brother Ranchen also asked earlier, if it’s fragile, why was there no container when the so-called precious gift was handed directly by a concubine to me—was this Prince Rong Mansion mocking me?!”

Shen Jingxian finished in one breath, nearly out of breath.

Damn, it’s been so long since I heckled anyone, my old skills have rusted.

The fluctuations in children’s emotions are normal, and everyone just thought the Little Princess was so angry she was breathless, feeling even more sorry for her, not realizing it was due to someone’s lack of lung capacity from insufficient exercise.

Many of the ministers’ wives present had attended the princess’s birthday before, and such incidents had never happened before; the princess had always been gentle and courteous.

Even her self-reference was always “I,” showing no hint of the princess’s airs in front of her elders, just a cute little girl.

In their impression, the princess was like a delicately cared-for flower—innocent, blissfully unaware of the world’s harshness, needing protection.

But who knew that a royal flower would be armed with thorns?

Once you touched her roots, she would pierce you until you bled profusely.

In the past, the Emperor always said that the princess was like the Empress—smart, beautiful, sensible, and poised, but they never believed it.

Such an adorable, innocent princess—how could she resemble the Empress, who once faced a hundred adversaries alone?

Only now, as the princess’s reproach rang out, infused with an aura akin to imperial authority, they realized the Emperor’s words were indeed true.

The princess truly did resemble the Empress.

Seeing the princess’s anger was not a joke, Prince Rong immediately put on a stern face and admonished Shen Ming, “You unworthy son! Apologize to Her Highness at once!”

However, Shen Jingxian stopped Prince Rong. Prince Rong, a full brother of the Emperor, had greatly aided him during the struggle for succession and sincerely admired the Emperor, so she didn’t want to cross him.

“Uncle, this isn’t Brother Ming’s fault. The White Jade Horse is great, Yi Fen likes it a lot, just… is there someone who doesn’t wish for Yi Fen to receive this gift?”

Shen Jingxian subtly shifted the topic back to Song Yun. The culprit was here; how could she let her escape?

Prince Rong actually knew that handing the White Jade Horse directly to the princess from Song Yun wasn’t proper etiquette.

Knowing it was fragile yet failing to protect it, not ensuring the princess had secured it before letting go were serious failings, especially as Song Yun was a mere concubine.

However, Prince Rong knew Ming’er’s character and felt he wouldn’t do such a thing without reason.

Prince Rong looked at Song Yun, this young girl had saved him, and he genuinely didn’t want to suspect her.

“Minger, why wasn’t the White Jade Horse encased when handed to the princess?”

Song Yun tugged at Shen Ming, looking pitiful. Others only saw it as Song Yun worrying over Prince Shen, but Shen Ming knew she was asking for his help.

She wanted him to take responsibility for the White Jade Horse situation.

But how could he be so foolish? Normally insignificant matters he wouldn’t mind conceding to Song Yun since he quite liked the young girl. Yet now, with the reputation of Prince Rong Mansion at stake, and with his half-brothers eyeing the princely heir position hungrily, he couldn’t risk losing his father’s favor.

Yun’er, I’m sorry. This started with you; it should end with you.

Moreover, you saved my father, and no matter what, he will protect you.

With this resolved, Shen Ming finally made up his mind. He told Prince Rong, “Father, it was Yun’er who expressed her wish to personally deliver the White Jade Horse to the princess… as a more sincere gesture.”

Prince Rong had already guessed as much, but hearing it still left him disappointed with Song Yun.

He had once thought that although she was a concubine, after many years at Prince Rong Mansion, her small-mindedness would have faded. He even planned on making her Shen Ming’s concubine in the future.

But now it seemed she was still unfit for high society, and it would be better to send her back to Song Mansion.

Prince Rong sighed, bowed politely, then said to Shen Jingxian, “Your Highness, forgive my family’s lax discipline. I will remember this lesson and request your permission to first send Second Miss Song back.”

Shen Jingxian nodded; her uncle was indeed sensible.

She really couldn’t tolerate little backstabbers, so having her out of sight quickly would be best!!

“Yi Fen thanks Uncle!”

Seeing the Little Princess’s face light up with a smile again, the mood in the hall relaxed.

The Emperor led with compliments, “The Empress has taught the princess well. Her aura even surpasses mine, hahahahahahahahaha!”

The Empress glanced at Song Yun, whose face was ashen, and replied coolly, “Indeed, as my daughter, there’s no way she’d be bullied.”

Li Yan, wanting to catch the Little Princess’s attention, added, “Yunyi Country’s princess is elegant and outstanding.”

The Emperor laughed heartily, “Hahahahaha, Prince, the princess is still young. That’s not how you use ’elegant and outstanding!’”

“It’s Li Yan’s ignorance.”

“Haha, Prince, you’re being modest. Let me tell you how to properly describe my Yi Fen…”

The following content omitted, as the Emperor continued praising his daughter for a thousand lines.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep