Did The Young Prince’s Kingdom Get Destroyed Today? Chapter 68

Looking at Ling Rui sitting on the ground, startled by his own actions, Ling Yi’s eyes twinkled with amusement.

“Little Seven, you’ve scared Third Brother so many times, and now that Third Brother has scared you once, you can’t cry.”

Ling Rui: “…”

Pouting, Ling Rui thought to himself, the more Third Brother tells him not to cry, the more he wants to cry.

“Third Brother is bad!”

Sitting on the ground with pursed lips, tears welled up in Ling Rui’s eyes as he looked at Ling Yi, feeling unfairly treated, “I haven’t scared Third Brother.”

Midnight knocking on the window, gifts at the door, Ling Rui as a dumpling…

These were things Ling Rui didn’t find frightening at all.

But Ling Yi was genuinely frightened.

“Alright, alright, don’t cry, be good.”

Ling Yi felt that Ling Rui on the ground wasn’t crying out of fear but rather out of anger at him. Helplessly, he crouched down and tried to comfort him.

He lifted Ling Rui up, patiently coaxing, “It’s Third Brother’s fault, I shouldn’t have scared you.”

“Are you not angry anymore?”

After comforting him for a while in the room, Ling Yi coughed lightly, prompting Ling Rui to stop crying and look up at him nervously.

“Third Brother coughed.”

Ling Rui blinked at him, asking, “Are you sick?”

“No.”

Even Ling Yi found it unbelievable that despite his weak constitution, after the recent activities, he hadn’t fallen ill.

“Little Seven, I feel like you’ve brought me great luck.”

Ling Yi pondered for a moment and realized that his body had indeed improved a lot compared to before.

In the past, he was often bedridden every few days. Although his eldest brother always comforted him with words and his mother kept giving him medicine to prolong his life, he had truly felt—

That he wouldn’t live to adulthood.

At that time, he still felt regretful. He didn’t want to die.

He hadn’t even seen his eldest brother get married yet.

“With you around, my body has improved quite a bit.”

Ling Yi lowered his head and kissed Ling Rui’s forehead.

Seeing him looking well, Ling Rui finally relaxed.

The two brothers played in the room. Ling Yi asked about Shui Shui:

“Where is Shui Shui now? If it’s inconvenient to place him where you are, I’ll ask Royal Mother to arrange it.”

“No need.”

Thinking about having the Empress arrange for Shui Shui, Ling Rui immediately shook his head and refused, “I told Daddy, Daddy will take care of it.”

Daddy said he wouldn’t harm Shui Shui, so he wouldn’t go back on his word.

“Will Daddy treat him badly?”

“No.”

Confidently, Ling Rui said, “Daddy will take good care of Shui Shui.”

Although Shui Shui’s medicinal soup was not very good, Ling Rui did feel much better after drinking it.

According to Ji Yan, the imperial hospital’s physicians also highly regarded Shui Shui.

He believed that keeping Shui Shui around and letting him continue to study medicine, he would definitely become an extraordinary little physician in the future.

After finishing talking about Shui Shui, they talked about other things.

“Has Royal Father restricted you from leaving the palace? After this big incident, will he limit your movements?”

“No.”

Ling Rui shook his head again. He squinted his eyes and happily said, “Daddy didn’t stop me from going out, nor did he stop me from playing with other kids outside.”

It’s just that Daddy said I couldn’t go out all the time.

He is a prince, and his identity is precious. If bad people find out his identity, he will encounter danger like this time.

He earnestly agreed to his daddy’s words, and most importantly, he accepted his daddy’s arrangement to assign additional personnel to him.

As a little one with a good sense of self-awareness, upon hearing that additional personnel would be assigned to him, the little one pouted with a serious expression and emphasized, “They need to be super strong!”

He is too young and must be protected.

Moreover, the guards his father arranged for him were usually very considerate. When he was playing outside, they wouldn’t show themselves. They wouldn’t even help him if he fell; only when he was truly in danger would these guards step in.

Ling Rui was very satisfied with how they handled things.

“I really didn’t expect Royal Father to let you go out,” Ling Yi said with a hint of envy. He used to be able to come and go freely from the palace because his mother wasn’t around.

But now that his mother had returned to the palace, it was nearly impossible for him to go out as freely as before.

His mother was very strict with him.

“Little Seven, next time you go out to play, bring something fun back for your Third Brother, or tell me about what you experienced outside when you return.”

“Third Brother should come too.”

“Third Brother needs to rest and recover.”

Unlike their eldest brother, who was growing up quickly and would be able to establish his own household in a couple of years, Ling Yi would have to continue living with his mother.

He didn’t dislike his mother; he knew she had sacrificed a lot for him.

But sometimes, he really felt stifled.

“Third Brother, going out to play can help you exercise,” Ling Rui said, squeezing his Third Brother’s arm. It felt a bit stronger than when they were in the palace.

Ling Rui wanted to take his Third Brother out to play, but Ling Yi knew well that he couldn’t actually go out.

“Let’s not talk about that anymore.”

Ling Yi didn’t want to bring up things that would trouble him. He took Ling Rui aside and started playing with him in the room.

“I have lots of storybooks here, perfect for reading stories to you and teaching you to recognize characters.”

Ling Yi spent most of his time alone, accumulating quite a collection of books to pass the time. There were serious academic texts as well as light-hearted storybooks.

He sat Ling Rui on his lap and held him close as they read together.

They spent most of the day together. In the evening, Ling Rui waved goodbye to Third Brother and left.

As he left, he encountered Ling Fu.

Seeing him, Ling Fu was silent for a moment, then ran over and hugged him tightly.

“Little Seven.”

Ling Fu hugged him so tightly that Ling Rui struggled to breathe.

“Sixth Brother, be gentler. I’m fine, don’t worry about me.”

While a short trip caused no harm, prolonged embrace from Sixth Brother might.

Ling Fu insisted on hugging him for a while longer before letting go.

After releasing him, he apologized guiltily, “Little Seven, I’m sorry I didn’t protect you again this time. I should have gone with you the day you left.”

He shouldn’t have written a challenge or fought with the other kids in the school.

He lost the fight and his younger brother was lost.

In summary, the losses were severe.

“Sixth Brother, I’m completely fine, so don’t say you’re sorry.”

Ling Rui patted his Sixth Brother’s shoulder, not wanting him to feel so guilty. “Let me tell you a secret—I went to save Third Brother at that time.”

“I wasn’t in any danger at all.”

Even if he appeared in front of the enemy as a small fluffball, the enemy would never guess that he was a little prince.

Though Ling Rui spoke convincingly, Ling Fu didn’t believe him at all.

The two stood facing each other, from dusk until dark, and by the end, Ling Rui was starting to feel a bit unsteady.

He shook his Sixth Brother’s hand and invited him, “Sixth Brother, do you want to come have dinner at my place?”

“Sure.”

This time, Ling Fu wasn’t drawn by the delicious food at Noble Consort Yi’s table; he just wanted to spend more time with his little Seventh Brother.

The two little ones, hand in hand, headed back to eat, and Ling Rui even invited Shui Shui to join them.

At the dinner table, Noble Consort Yi didn’t eat with them but instead arranged a separate table just for them.

The table was filled with foods that kids love, and the three of them ate happily.

After dinner, the three of them gathered to chat.

As they chatted, it’s unclear how, but two of them decided to send Shui Shui to Third Brother.

“Shui Shui, would you like to stay with my Third Brother?” Ling Fu asked, seeking his opinion. “I think my Third Brother is quite good at taking care of others, and since he lives alone, it’s rather pitiful. If you go, you can keep him company.”

Ling Fu’s feelings toward his Third Brother had improved a bit, thanks to Ling Rui’s influence.

He felt that his Third Brother, being under the strict control of the Empress, was quite pitiable.

If they could send Shui Shui to him, even though they’d have to do it behind the Empress’s back, it would at least give their Third Brother something more to do, adding a bit more excitement to his life.

Ling Fu talked for quite a while.

Shui Shui, sitting in front of him, slowly responded with two words: “I’m willing.”

Ling Fu nodded happily. “Then it’s decided. Little Seven and I will take you over there right now.”

Getting Shui Shui there wasn’t an easy task.

But the two little ones put in some effort and actually managed to sneak him in.

After they delivered Shui Shui, they didn’t worry about him anymore.

“Little Seven, see you at school tomorrow!”

Ling Fu happily arranged to meet Ling Rui at school the next day.

Now that Ling Rui was back at the palace, he naturally had to continue attending school.

He nodded and replied, “Okay!”

Last night, Ling Rui had slept with Noble Consort Yi, but today she seemed a bit tired, so after thinking for a few seconds, Ling Rui decided to sleep with the Emperor instead.

“Mother is tired.”

Ling Rui, holding his little pillow, sat on the Emperor’s bed and said, “Daddy, sleep with me.”

“Alright, but you close your eyes and sleep well. No mischief.”

The Emperor gently pushed his little body down and laid down beside him.

That night, Ling Rui slept fairly well.

The next morning, Ling Rui woke the Emperor, asked him to dress him and put on his little shoes, then ate breakfast by himself and went to find his Sixth Brother to go to school together.

Having missed several days of school, Ling Rui even reviewed some things in the carriage.

As he was studying, Ling Fu nudged his little arm.

“Little Seven…”

Ling Fu scratched his head, as if he had something to say.

His chubby face showed hesitation, and after struggling for a while, he finally had to tell his little brother, “Something happened at school while you were away.”

Ling Rui: “?”

Ling Rui’s little face was puzzled. “What happened?”

Ling Fu held back, his chubby face turning red.

With a tone full of frustration, he said, “I got into a fight with some other kids, and I lost. They didn’t play fair; they brought in kids who were even bigger than us!”

Big kids fighting little kids—there was no doubt about the outcome. Of course, they lost.

But Ling Fu had been the one to issue the challenge, and he had even promised on the challenge letter that he wouldn’t tell any adults about it.

So after losing the fight, Ling Fu kept quiet and didn’t tell anyone.

He had thought about getting backup, but at school, he couldn’t ask his Third Brother for help, and his Second and Fifth Sisters were girls who couldn’t be involved in such things.

He and his study companion had no choice but to endure the defeat.

Since he didn’t report it, the adults in the palace remained completely unaware of the incident.

“Sixth Brother, does it hurt?”

Hearing that Sixth Brother had been bullied, Ling Rui was furious. He clenched his small fists and, after consoling his brother, said angrily, “Sixth Brother, Little Seven will avenge you!”

His older brothers—all of them—were under his protection!

Third Brother needed protecting, and so did Sixth Brother!

“No need.”

Ling Fu sniffed, trying to calm down the impulsive little clenched fist. “We’re not in a position of advantage at school. Wait until the next rest day. We’ll call Zhu Zi and Third Young Master Li Fourth Young Master Li to confront them together.”

Ling Fu wasn’t one to take losses lying down.

He didn’t report it because he also wanted to fight back.

“It’s still several days until the break.”

Ling Rui had checked the dates when he arrived. It was just the beginning of the school year, and he didn’t want the kids who had hurt Sixth Brother to have a good time in the coming days.

He pursed his lips and remained silent. Ling Fu repeatedly warned him not to act impulsively.

However, despite Ling Fu’s warnings, as soon as Little Seven entered the school, he glared at the other children with what he thought was a fierce look in his eyes.

His eyes were round and bright, staring without blinking, his small face stern.

But the child he stared at frowned at him, “Are you trying to act cute? I’m not falling for it.”

“Your Sixth Brother has already accepted it. If you don’t accept it, you can see what happened to him.”

Since forming into two small teams at school, the children in both teams spoke with a hint of gunpowder in their voices.

Ling Rui’s reading companion behind him couldn’t hear such a conversation.

Especially Jiang Yan, who rolled up his sleeves and wanted to rush over on the spot.

Ling Rui held him back and said, “Not now.”

The teacher will be here soon. If they see them fighting, they will definitely punish them.

Ling Rui didn’t want to be punished heavily before he had even started fighting.

“Little Seven, you’re back.”

The teacher saw Ling Rui in class and was pleased.

Ling Rui, obedient in front of the teacher, even recited the book to the teacher, and made the teacher touch his beard and praise him: “Little Seven is improving.”

He was doing well in class, and when he finished class, he hadn’t gone to find anything, just heard the conversation across from him.

These children use voices that both he and Sixth Brother can hear to talk about their families, talking about their families, and actually showing off.

They show off their family background, and look at Ling Rui and Ling Fu from time to time.

Ling Rui listened to their show-off, looking at them with eyes like little fools.

That?

Is this worth showing off?

His mother’s aunt, the little uncle, and his mother and father are so powerful but he has never boasted!

These children are showing off their strength, and there is another child who says that his family is going to have a banquet and invite them all to come.

Seeing Ling Rui always looking at him, the child raised his chin and said, “You can come, too.”

Ling Rui: “…”

Ling Rui saw on the other’s face that he wanted to invite himself to come and continue to show off, and perhaps even bully him.

After all, they were big children and wrote down all their thoughts.

“Okay.”

Ling Rui accepted the challenge, and he stretched his face and said, “I will go.”

“It’s a rare opportunity for you to visit the Shen family’s home.”

One of the kids, seeing him agree, made a point to say, “Shen Tang is a distant relative of Lord Zhu from the capital!”

The mention of the capital and Lord Zhu immediately made the sharp-eared little one perk up in alertness. He asked, “How many Lord Zhu’s are there in the capital?”

“There are several, but the one with the highest rank is Shen Tang’s distant uncle!”

Ling Rui: “…”

Now, Ling Rui was even more eager to attend Shen Tang’s banquet.

Going to the banquet was one thing, but taking revenge right now was another. These two matters wouldn’t interfere with each other.

The little one spent an entire day preparing; except for bathroom breaks and meals, he sat at his desk grinding ink.

He filled an entire drawer with thick, black ink.

At one point, Ling Fu saw this and asked curiously, “Little Seven, what are you doing?”

Ling Rui’s little face was serious. “I’m working on something big.”

Ling Fu: “…”

Ling Fu was very curious about what big thing he was planning.

When school ended, and the teacher had just left, the well-behaved little one suddenly and viciously splashed the ink all over the other children.

Before doing so, he had made sure to send Ling Fu and his study companion out of the room.

“That’s for bullying my Sixth Brother!”

The little one shouted loudly as he splashed the ink.

The other children quickly reacted and splashed ink back at him.

The classroom turned chaotic, and Ling Fu, standing at the door, looked at the group of now inky-black children, almost unable to recognize his own Little Seven.

Dazed, he looked away and then turned to his study companion.

Finally, he asked in a daze, “Chen Zhou, didn’t the teacher say that the new ink we’re using is very difficult to wash off if it gets on our clothes?”

Chen Zhou was just as stunned.

After a moment of shock, he dashed into the room. “Little Seven, stop it now!”

This ink would be almost impossible to wash off quickly!

Chen Zhou didn’t mind the other kids getting covered in ink, but he was alarmed to see Little Seven also covered in it.

This method of revenge was like hurting the enemy a thousand times but suffering eight hundred times himself.

Although Chen Zhou rushed in quickly, he couldn’t manage to rescue the little prince.

Amid the screams and childish shouts, Chen Zhou could only pull out a little one with a face now streaked in black and white.

Seeing this black-and-white little rascal, Ling Fu was at a loss.