Chapter 215: Loyal Since Childhood

1:15 PM.

The official desk was temporarily turned into a dining table, with Ding Suian and Lin Hansu sitting on opposite sides.

“The Princesss Residence has good food and good living conditions, so you don’t need to worry about Zhao Yan and Ruan Ruan.”

Since it was just the two of them eating, there was no rule about not talking while eating.

“Hmm, can they manage to finish 5,000 large characters every day?”

“Hehe.”

Speaking of this, Lin Hansu paused her chopsticks, unable to stop a soft chuckle, “Ruan Ruan is doing fine, but it’s as if Zhao Yan has fire on her bottom; sitting for half an hour is more agonizing for her than death. Fortunately, Waner is loyal; she imitates Zhao Yan’s handwriting and helps her copy the characters every day, so they can barely complete the task.”

“Can Your Highness not tell?”

“How could Your Highness not tell? She is just taking the opportunity to temper their tempers; she didn’t really expect Zhao Yan to practice good calligraphy in just ten days.”

While speaking, Lin Hansu, who didn’t have a large appetite, finished her meal, wiped her mouth, and sat opposite him, resting her chin on her hands, quietly watching him eat.

Ding Suian lowered his head and shoveled rice. That was close, he thought.

After entangling with Xu Jiuxi for half the night, there must be some lingering scent on him.

He hadn’t expected to run into Lin Hansu in the office. Just now, if he had taken one more step forward, he feared he would have been exposed.

If he had gone to change clothes or bathe at that time, given her sensitive nature, she would have definitely become suspicious.

Fortunately, he had used the excuse of going out to patch things up.

Just as his mind was wandering, he suddenly saw a slender, porcelain-white hand holding a handkerchief reach out in front of his Face. Ding Suian looked up, “What is it?”

Lin Hansu smiled slightly, her fingertips holding the handkerchief as she gently touched the corner of his mouth, pinching away a grain of rice, “You’re such a grown man, yet you still eat like a child.”

Perhaps because of the moment of suspicion she had felt towards Ding Suian just now, she felt a great deal of guilt in her heart, and both her actions and tone were exceptionally gentle.

Lin Hansu withdrew her hand and returned to her posture of resting her chin on her hands, her clear Phoenix eyes filled with smiles as she stared at him steadily.

A guilty Ding Suian felt somewhat uncomfortable being watched, “What is Elder Sister looking at?”

“Looking at my Young Master.”

Lin Hansu’s voice was steeped in satisfied sweetness, the corners of her eyes curving into a gentle arc, and she said generously, “No matter how much I look, it’s not enough; the more I look, the more I like you.”

End of the 7 PM hour.

Ding Suian took a jade Qilin paperweight from the gifts confiscated from Prince Anpings Estate, carried it with him, and went out to the Linping Commandery Princes Residence.

“Duke of Chu County… Hahaha.”

“Heir… Hahaha…”

I don’t know what kind of problem these noble children have; every time they meet, they always have to pretend to be hearty and let out a burst of ‘old money’ laughter after greeting each other.

I don’t get it either, so I just follow along and laugh.

Han Jingru, who was specially waiting at the second gate of the Linping Commandery Princes Residence, enthusiastically took Ding Suian’s arm and went together to the flower hall where the banquet was located.

“Duke of Chu County has graced us with his presence, this Prince failed to welcome you from afar, hahaha…”

“Prince, you are too polite, hahaha…”

Chen Hong, sitting in the seat of honor, said he had failed to welcome him from afar, but when they met, he only slightly bowed his body.

“Duke of Chu County, please sit.”

“Thank you, Prince, for the seat.”

There were only four guests at the banquet tonight: Chen Hong in the main seat, and Ding Suian, Han Jingru, and Yu Bowen in the lower seats.

Perhaps to imitate the famous figures of ancient times, the banquet adopted a separate dining system, with each person having a small table and the guests kneeling behind the tables.

As a result, the three of them, Ding Suian, seemed to be naturally a head shorter than Chen Hong, who was sitting in the seat of honor.

On the tables were some melons, fruits, and dishes.

Beside each of them were two pretty maidservants serving them.

After some meaningless pleasantries, the Prince of Linping imitated the’sitting like a general’ posture often used by military commanders, leaned forward slightly, and pretended to be majestic, “Duke of Chu County, I heard that your family members encountered some unpleasantness at my Paternal Aunt’s residence a few days ago?”

Hearing this, Ding Suian raised his eyes to look at Yu Bowen sitting opposite him, who was stealing a glance; seeing the former’s gaze sweep over, he hurriedly lowered his eyes to avoid eye contact.

“The Prince is well-informed.”

Ding Suian was noncommittal.

Chen Hong laughed, “It’s a coincidence; Young Master Yu is on good terms with this Prince. Since it’s just a small dispute between the women of the two families, as a man, Duke of Chu County, you shouldn’t be so narrow-minded.”

Who the hell do you think you are?

Can you even talk properly?

What do you mean I’m narrow-minded?

It was clearly his Yu family woman who left the final remark, ‘Is it really worth offending my Central Heaven Yu Clan just to protect that Southern Zhao woman of unknown origin?’

Oh, since protecting my Zhao Yan means offending your Yu Clan, then we might as well offend you to death.

Over there, Han Jingru, who probably noticed that Ding Suian’s expression was not quite right, hurriedly spoke up to smooth things over, “Brother Prince doesn’t know, that Southern Zhao lady accompanied the Duke of Chu County to our Great Wu, abandoning her country and home. She is all alone and has shown deep affection and righteousness toward the Duke of Chu County. The Duke of Chu County cherishes her dearly, so naturally, he couldn’t suppress his anger upon hearing that she had a dispute with others. Hehe, the Duke of Chu County is also a man who values affection and righteousness!”

Listen to that, now that sounds like human speech.

Speaking-wise alone, Han Jingru is countless times better than that stupid, fat Chen Hong in the seat of honor.

Seeing Ding Suian’s expression soften slightly, Han Jingru hurriedly greeted Yu Bowen, “Bowen, everyone here is a brother. Today, the Prince organized the gathering because he didn’t want any rifts to arise between us brothers over small matters. You shouldn’t waste the Prince’s painstaking efforts.”

The implication of these words was to let Yu Bowen take the initiative to apologize.

But at this moment, Chen Hong exerted his subjective initiative as the host again. He laughed and said, “Duke of Chu County, give this Prince some Face. Let this matter end here. You cannot seek revenge on Young Master Yu in the future, how about that?”

Originally, Ding Suian had no intention of dealing with Yu Bowen, but upon hearing Chen Hong applying pressure to his Face, he changed his mind.

He just laughed and cupped his hands, “It’s just a small matter. Young Master Yu and I are old acquaintances. Even if the Prince hadn’t stepped in, I wouldn’t have really done anything to Young Master Yu. To show my sincerity, I even prepared a gift for Young Master Yu when I came this time.”

“Really?” Han Jingru said in surprise.

But Chen Hong in the seat of honor looked displeased.

That phrase ‘Even if the Prince hadn’t stepped in’ had offended him.

Only by him stepping in to mediate between the two could his importance be shown!

Ding Suian had negated his role in one sentence. If the Nobel Peace Prize wasn’t awarded to him this year because of this, who could bear the responsibility?

Yu Bowen, who had been like a puppet throughout the process, also looked over with hopeful eyes.

“It is naturally true.”

Ding Suian took a jade Qilin paperweight from his pocket and handed it to the maid beside him, pointed his chin at Yu Bowen, and said, “Go, return this paperweight to Young Master Yu.”

The maid held it with both hands and bowed towards the opposite side.

Chen Hong’s gaze involuntarily fell on it, and he felt confused. The Qilin is one of the nine sons of the Dragon; according to regulations, only Princes and Commandery Princes could use such images. How could he, Ding Suian, have one?

It violated regulations!

But when Yu Bowen on the opposite side saw this object, his expression stiffened, and he glanced at Chen Hong nervously.

Subsequently, Ding Suian said, “The day before yesterday, while raiding Prince Anpings Estate, I accidentally saw the gift list that Young Master Yu sent to the rebel Prince last year. I can’t help you with that three-foot-long red coral, but fortunately, this jade paperweight is small, so I brought it out to return it to its owner. Hehe, Young Master Yu, am I not loyal?”

“…”

A layer of fine sweat quickly appeared on Yu Bowen’s forehead.

At the seat of honor, Chen Hong’s reaction was even greater than his. His fat Face quickly flushed red, his eyes filled with hatred, staring fixedly at Yu Bowen.

Lin Hansu had told Ding Suian that the Prince of Linping was narrow-minded, lustful, and had no strategy.

Narrow-minded people cannot tolerate betrayal the most.

Yu Bowen was clearly his dog, but he had secretly befriended Chen Duan; in his eyes, this was undoubtedly a huge betrayal.

Clang~

Yu Bowen, who stood up in a panic, knocked over the wine pot. He didn’t even care to steady it as he walked in terror to Chen Hong and knelt down with a thud.

“…”

Chen Hong wanted to be angry, but because Ding Suian was present, his Face turned the color of a pig’s liver.

Ding Suian was composed, picked up a slice of cut honeydew melon, and leisurely put it into his mouth.

I’ve been loyal since I was a child!