What was I Thinking when I Ditch the Second Male Protagonist Chapter 51

Chapter 51

<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>

“Sixth Brother sent you?” Xie Duo’s expression changed as he asked the shadow guard, “Does Han Jiao know?”

If Han Jiao knew, it was likely that he had already discussed it with Prince Yan, and their parting of ways was just a show.

But two days ago, Han Jiao told the Ninth Prince on the cuju field that he was kicked out by Prince Yan.

Did he lie? Did he lie to the number one cuju master of Great Chu?

The shadow guard knew about the close relationship between the Ninth Prince and Prince Yan but wasn’t sure if he should conceal it.

Xie Duo narrowed his eyes and threatened in a low voice, “If Han Jiao is unaware, and there’s no one here to confirm your identity, then I’d take action right here. Do you have any objections?”

After speaking, he drew his sword.

The sound of the sword and blade ringing sharply frightened the shadow guard, who quickly begged, “He knows! Master Han knows it all! Your Highness can wait for his return to testify for me!”

After revealing the truth, the Ninth Prince’s eyes became even colder.

Believing that Ninth Prince was skeptical, the shadow guard hastily reassured, “Everything I said is the truth. Your Highness, please understand!”

Xie Duo became even angrier.

To support the little child prodigy and make things right, he got involved in political disputes for the first time, facing the hidden and unsavory activities for the first time.

Unexpectedly, all of this was a lie known to Sixth Brother and the little child prodigy.

Clutched in his arms, the evidence proving the innocence of the little child prodigy had turned into Xie Duo’s foolish certificate.

“You… Are you a prince?” Mrs. Han finally grasped a part of it. This blue-clad youth turned out to be a Prince of Great Chu!

Mrs. Han didn’t dare to ask him to repeat it ten times. She respectfully approached with her child, and saluted, “Your Highness, this humble servant pays her respects.”

Xie Duo sheathed his sword with an expressionless face, lowered his gaze, and softly said, “No need for formalities.”

A’Mo, still choking up, heard this term and suddenly triggered a reflex from playing “Bow to the Emperor” with friends. A’Mo opened his mouth and replied, “Thank you for your benevolence, Your Majestymmp!”

Mrs. Han tightly covered her little son’s mouth and whispered, “This person is His Highness!”

Xie Duo paid no attention to the child’s slip of the tongue. He pointed to the large hole in the roof that he had caused and instructed the shadow guard, “Repair it as soon as possible.”

The shadow guard nodded in obedience.

Mrs. Han was nervously considering how to host the royal guest when she saw the prince had already turned and silently left the main hall.

Was he really leaving like this?

Fearing her earlier offense, Mrs. Han hastily approached, worried that the young prince might return and seek retribution. “Your Highness, since you’ve come, please come inside and take a rest!”

The Ninth Prince, feeling deceived, turned gloomy.

Before he could politely decline, A’Mo timidly asked, “Are you the Prince of Thousand Years? Can you really live for a thousand years?”

Mrs. Han quickly covered her little son’s mouth!

Xie Duo’s gaze slowly shifted to the child’s face, and he coolly replied, “I could have, but your brother cost me nine hundred years.”

“Really?” Han Mo excitedly clutched his chubby hand, calculated carefully, and after a moment, lifted his plump face with delight. “So, you can live for one thousand nine hundred years!”

Xie Duo nodded and said, “No wonder you’re Han Jiao’s brother.”

“Hahahahaha…” Mrs. Han didn’t know why she suddenly couldn’t hold back her laughter.

The prince was obviously not in a very good mood. He certainly didn’t say this to lighten the atmosphere. She quickly restrained her laughter and said, “Your Highness, if you have important matters to discuss, please come inside for some tea. A’Jiao should be back soon.”

Making this visit must have a reason. After a brief hesitation, Xie Duo followed Mrs. Han into the hall.

Fortunately, Han Jiao had recently received a substantial reward, and although he had advised against displaying their wealth, Mrs. Han had secretly purchased a variety of expensive pastries, hoping to treat her husband and sons to some delicacies.

Now that the prince had arrived, it was a perfect occasion. Mrs. Han presented a tray of tea and sweets on the table, inviting the His Highness to enjoy them. They had an appealing appearance.

However, Mrs. Han observed for a while from the side. The prince hadn’t taken a single bite. He appeared continuously displeased.

Mrs. Han grew anxious and entered the inner chamber, searching throughout the room for something that might cheer up the young prince.

A moment later.

Xie Duo, out of the corner of his eye, noticed Mrs. Han tiptoeing closer. She reached out and gently placed an object next to him on the coffee table, alongside the snacks.

Lowering his gaze, he saw a small tiger plush toy.

Did the prince look like he was at the age to play with plush toys?

Xie Duo cast an annoyed sidelong glance and then saw Mrs. Han, who was looking down, feeling quite uneasy.

To prevent any issues with Mrs. Han’s well-being, Xie Duo reluctantly picked up the small plush toy and started playing with it, his expression cold and distant.

It was at this moment that Han Jiao returned.

The courtyard had already been tidied up by the shadow guard, so Han Jiao didn’t notice anything unusual. Without entering the house, he loudly called out, “A’Mo, there’s a temple fair on Changning Street. I’ll take you…”

The moment he stepped across the threshold and saw the person sitting in the main hall, Han Jiao nearly bit his tongue.

How could the big boss be in his home!

Why did the big boss have such a murderous expression!

Why was the big boss strangling the little tiger plush toy!

Was this some kind of veiled threat!

“Greetings, Your Highness Prince Ling!” Han Jiao quickly stepped forward, saluting with a puzzled expression. “I apologize for not welcoming you from afar.”

Xie Duo stood up and stated the reason for his visit that he had just thought of, “I can now control the new cuju ball. Kicking it into the goal is no problem.”

After saying that, there was a long pause with no further explanation.

Han Jiao looked bewildered. “Your Highness graced my humble home just to inform me of this… this tremendous piece of good news?”

“Oh, I almost forgot, Master Han isn’t interested in this trivial matter of mine,” Xie Duo muttered quietly, “I apologize for the intrusion,” and then he bypassed Han Jiao, heading for the door.

Mrs. Han quickly stepped forward to persuade, “Your Highness, please stay a while longer!”

Xie Duo halted, intending to turn around and bid farewell formally when his right index finger was suddenly gripped by someone.

He looked down and saw Han Jiao’s little brother gazing up at him with his chubby head.

“Your Highness, have you ever been to a temple fair?” A’Mo tightly held the finger of His Highness.

Xie Duo tried to shake off the chubby hand gripping his index finger, but it didn’t work. He replied mildly, “I haven’t been.”

A’Mo’s eyes lit up. “Then may this humble one take Your Highness to see it?”

Han Jiao lifted his brother, who had suddenly become a sweetheart for the big boss, into his arms and said with a smile, “Since Your Highness rarely leaves the palace, why not visit the temple fair? I’ll guide you.”

Sensing that the big boss was acting unusual, how could he have come to his house just to discuss cuju? Han Jiao couldn’t afford to be negligent and sought an opportunity to extract more information.

“Mmm mmm mmm! Mmm mmm! Mmm mmm mmm!” A’Mo, with his mouth covered, used his eyes to extend a warm invitation to His Highness.

The young prince’s special visit to their home, solely to discuss cuju with her son, led Mrs. Han to perceive him as quite similar to ordinary children. She stepped forward and said, “Indeed, Your Highness, the temple fairs in the capital are quite lively. Since you’ve coincidentally arrived, why not go and enjoy the festivities? Our whole family will accompany you and ensure your safety.”

“Come on, come on!” A’Mo excitedly broke free from his brother’s hand to extend the invitation.

Through the family’s persistent efforts, the Ninth Prince was finally persuaded to join them at the marketplace to visit the temple fair.

Mrs. Han, holding A’Mo, walked ahead to watch the lion dance.

Han Jiao, acting as the tour guide, diligently introduced the Ninth Prince to the surrounding stalls.

“Why are all the ladies lining up at that stall?” Xie Duo, caught up in the lively atmosphere, began to take an interest in the surroundings.

“That’s the matchmaking sign stall,” the tour guide, Master Han, finally received a query from the big boss and eagerly explained, “They first need to get a matchmaking sign from the fortune teller. If it’s a good sign…”

Han Jiao turned and raised his hand, pointing to a towering tree in the distant temple. He was about to continue explaining but was bumped into by passing pedestrians.

Luckily, he kept his footing and didn’t mind. He raised his hand again, pointing to the large tree in the distance. “Do you see that big tree, Your Highness? They will go to the temple and hang their signs on the marriage tree. It’s said that within three months…”

At the same time, behind Han Jiao, Xie Duo grabbed the short man who had bumped into Han Jiao earlier and now collided with him.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…” the man lowered his head and quietly apologized to Xie Duo, attempting to free himself, but he didn’t expect the grip on his arm to tighten, making his bones creak!

“Ah! You…” The man looked up at the young man in terror, about to scold, but he was silenced by the cold, stern gaze of the young man.

“Hand it over,” Xie Duo ordered in a low voice.

“Hand over what… Ah!” The sudden increase in pressure made the man unable to bear it. He quickly presented the beige purse he had just stolen from Han Jiao to Xie Duo.

Xie Duo took the purse, released his grip, and the thief instantly darted into the passing crowd, disappearing from sight.

Xie Duo gave the purse a little shake. It felt quite heavy. He lifted his eyes and saw that Han Jiao was still gazing at the distant tree, narrating a poignant love story.

Xie Duo had no intention of letting Han Jiao know that he had retrieved the wallet for him.

He had silently resolved not to meddle in Han Jiao’s affairs in the future.

So, Xie Duo raised his hand and flung the purse to the tip of the little child prodigy’s foot, pretending it had fallen from him.

Han Jiao felt like someone had stepped on the tip of his foot, causing a slight pain. He lifted his foot to rub the back of his leg and continued with the myth.

Xie Duo: “……”

Finally, Han Jiao finished narrating the poignant myth, his face beaming with erudite confidence, completely oblivious to the lonely beige purse lying at his feet.

“Thankfully, it had a happy ending,” Han Jiao turned and asked the big boss, “What do you think, Your Highness?”

Xie Duo remained expressionless. “I think it’s best for someone to avoid temple fairs. The meager salary from Hanlin Academy can’t withstand such expenditures.”

“Not at all, things at the marketplace are quite affordable. On regular days, I only buy two candied haws for my little brother, and it only costs a few coins, so it’s within budget.”

Xie Duo, with a look of despair, remained silent for a while and finally admitted defeat. He lowered his head, bent over, and personally picked up the beige purse from the ground near the little child prodigy’s foot.

“Huh? Isn’t this…” Han Jiao reached into his pocket and only then realized that his wallet was missing. He quickly reached out to retrieve it. “Your Highness, why didn’t you let me pick it up myself?”

Xie Duo withdrew his hand, preventing Han Jiao from taking back the wallet.

The prince surely wouldn’t want to appropriate this small pouch of coins.

Seeing that Xie Duo was focusing on the wallet in his hand, Han Jiao also lowered his head to look. He saw Xie Duo using his bare hands to break the several loops of cord fastened to his wallet. Afterward, he raised the wallet and offered it to him.

Han Jiao reached out to take it, but then heard Xie Duo whisper, “Don’t move.”

Han Jiao, confused, withdrew his hand. Suddenly, Xie Duo took a step closer, circling his arm around Han Jiao’s head.

In an instant, Han Jiao was enveloped by the cool aura in Xie Duo’s embrace…

What… what’s going on?

What did this hug mean? It didn’t seem like a hug because the big boss’ arms were just hanging there, not touching Han Jiao’s body.

What was this posture of a young person’s first, shy embrace, filled with youth and inexperience?!

The novel definitely wasn’t like this!

What just happened, ahhhh!

A blush quickly spread from his cheeks to the tips of Han Jiao’s ears. He felt dizzy, stumbling over his words as he began, “Your Highness… Your Highness, you…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Xie Duo suddenly let go, stood upright, and resumed a “safe distance.” He lowered his gaze to the masterpiece he had fastened.

Han Jiao, with a beet-red face and a racing heart, only now felt a slight weight on his neck. When he looked down, he discovered that the white purse was hanging around his neck!

Xie Duo lifted his eyes and looked at the child prodigy, whose face had turned crimson. “What’s wrong with your face?”

***

It’s a date!

If you enjoy this novel, support the Translator ginevre on her ko-fi account :))

<Previous Chapter<Table of Contents>Next Chapter>