Chapter 90
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Unaware of it, Master Xiaobai would deliberately move his chair closer to Xie Duo each time. Xie An voluntarily adjusted his chair towards Han Jiao, blinking his eyes. “Master Xiaobai, will Seventh Brother no longer suddenly cry out in pain in the future?”
“Prince Duan is not yet fully recovered. We still need to be careful not to startle him.”
Xie Jing in the front row turned his chair around, and asked curiously, “Master, will Seventh Brother become like an ordinary person after recovery? I can’t imagine what he’d be like, laughing and talking with us.”
“Laughing and joking is impossible, even after recovery,” Han Jiao ruthlessly shattered Xie Jing’s illusion. “Your Highness, before starting the treatment, I already mentioned that I can restore Prince Duan’s nature from when he was eleven years old. That’s his true self. People have various personality types. Just consider him a serious person who doesn’t enjoy jokes. Don’t treat him as a strange person. It would make Prince Duan uncomfortable.”
Xie An quietly asked Han Jiao, “Master, why does Seventh Brother seem unable to distinguish between jokes and seriousness? I feel like he’s exceptionally clever at times, understanding everything, but at other times…”
Han Jiao looked at Xie An with a hint of helplessness, thought for a moment, and came up with an excuse, “Because the Heavens want to be a bit fair. They’ve already made Prince Duan so incredibly intelligent. So, they took away his ability to joke and amuse, making him more focused on his studies, dedicating his thoughts to benefiting the people.”
Xie An suddenly brightened up, thinking of how Seventh Brother, who usually appeared reserved, had become immensely towering.
Xie Jing also nodded in realization. “When Heaven bestows great responsibilities, Seventh Brother has to endure some hardships.”
Han Jiao nodded and smiled. “Yes, after Prince Duan recovers from his illness, he’ll be able to create many tools and devices that benefit the nation and the people.”
“You greatly admire Seventh Brother,” Xie Duo whispered but didn’t turn to look at the little child prodigy.
Han Jiao immediately turned to enlighten the big boss, “Indeed, I’ve seen some of the machinery sketches that Prince Duan has drawn. They’re truly amazing. I also have many ideas, and in the future, I’ll need Prince Duan to help me understand them.”
The big boss didn’t seem to be pleased with all the praise for Seventh Brother. Instead, he grew even more indifferent. “Great, Master Han, if you ever face difficulties in the future, go to Seventh Brother for solutions. We ordinary people, burdened with too much bragging and humor, don’t have enough brainpower to discuss ideas with you.”
Han Jiao was taken aback by this and didn’t know how to compliment anymore.
What’s going on with this brat today? Isn’t he supposed to be the closest to his Seventh Brother? Why is he now jealous of his brother’s mechanical talent?
Regardless, he needed to quickly shift away from flattery. Han Jiao grinned and said, “Didn’t the Heavens also grant Your Highness special talents? I haven’t seen anyone with better cuju skills than you.”
Xie Duo knew he had unbeatable cuju skills, but at this moment, he didn’t feel the least bit proud.
Because he remembered what his sisters said: Men who love playing cuju are fickle and unreliable.
This had become a downright flaw.
The big boss’ silence left Han Jiao feeling lost. Why couldn’t complimenting him on his soccer skills satisfy Xie Duo now? What more did he want?
Han Jiao had a bright idea. “Ah! That’s right, I happen to have an important matter to consult Your Highness about.” With that, he got up and hurried over to the lectern, retrieved a map that was tucked inside, and jogged back.
He couldn’t wait to unfold the map and placed it in front of Xie Duo.
“Your Highness, this is a map of Luozhou and its surrounding areas. Which mountain pass do you think would be most suitable for the first battle? Is there any unconventional strategy?” Even though he suspected Xie Duo might not fully understand, marching and warfare were the true talents of the big boss. Han Jiao felt it was his duty to guide this stinky little brother towards a more promising path and not waste his talents.
Xie Duo glanced at the map on the table and then looked at the little child prodigy.
Han Jiao nodded eagerly, his face filled with anticipation.
Xie Duo let out a slight, unintentional chuckle, but quickly lowered his gaze, returning to his cold demeanor.
Somehow, even with so many worries on his mind, seeing the bright and sparkling eyes of the little child prodigy could easily make him inexplicably happy.
Xie Duo couldn’t allow this kind of happiness to spread. The bizarre dream from the previous night had left him seething with frustration. After lying down, he found himself unable to drift off to sleep once more.
At first, he couldn’t figure out why he was so upset.
Was it because the little child prodigy in the dream accused him of taking off his outer robe?
It was just a dream.
It wasn’t until dawn that Xie Duo realized it was the look of rejection and distress in Han Jiao’s eyes from the dream that had made him feel very uncomfortable.
This made him realize something very unfair —
Seventh Brother’s behavior, every time he lost control and tried to take off someone’s clothes, was terrifying. But Han Jiao didn’t panic or push him away. Instead, he was so gentle and willing, even teaching Seventh Brother how to undress him.
Logic told Xie Duo that it was all for treatment, but he couldn’t help but wonder: What if Seventh Brother were replaced with himself?
What would happen?
Han Jiao would surely look at him with the same resentment and distress as in the dream, chase him away, just like he did outside Han Jiao’s house last night.
He wouldn’t even let Xie Duo inside.
Why could Xie Duo tolerate the provocations from the little child prodigy so easily?
A mere subject, for no apparent reason, shutting him out like that. He didn’t feel humiliated. Instead, he felt a strange excitement, as if Han Jiao was intentionally luring him into his territory.
Just like the day Han Jiao used his sleeve to cover his face, prompting Xie Duo to catch his hand.
It couldn’t be explained, but Xie Duo enjoyed this small thrill of advancing. That was why no matter how Han Jiao struggled and tried to avoid him, it never made him angry.
However, that dream from last night brought Xie Duo to his senses.
Perhaps from the very beginning, Han Jiao never had any intention of drawing him closer.
Retreat was simply retreat. Rejection was plain rejection. There was never any intention of playing games with him.
All the joy was something he had imagined all on his own. It was always Xie Duo alone who enjoyed this “chasing game,” while Han Jiao was genuinely running for his life and didn’t relish his closeness.
Comprehending this huge misunderstanding, the Ninth Prince was so infuriated that he couldn’t even manage to eat his morning meal.
“I don’t know,” Xie Duo replied to Han Jiao’s inquiry, his face icy and distant.
“Your Highness hasn’t even looked at the map yet.” Han Jiao grabbed the map and handed it to the big boss. “There’s been no consensus among the civil and military officials. If you can come up with a winning strategy, His Majesty will be very pleased, and it might even spare you from months of debates!”
Xie Duo raised his hand and took the map, then seriously examined it for a while. He turned his eyes aside and softly beckoned to Han Jiao. “Come here.”
Han Jiao’s eyes lit up. “Your Highness has come up with a solution so quickly?”
Xie Duo nodded and motioned for him to come closer.
Han Jiao eagerly brought his head close to Xie Duo’s lips.
Xie Duo whispered ever so softly, “Go seek counsel from Prince Duan, whom you admire the most.”
Han Jiao: “……”
“Old Ninth, what secrets are you whispering?” Xie Jing asked anxiously. “If you have an idea, share it with your brothers!”
“Yeah, that’s right!” Xie An expressed his discontent. “Master Xiaobai, what did Ninth Brother say?”
Han Jiao smiled and shook his head, “It’s nothing. His Highness was just joking. How could a plan be thought of so quickly?”
After class, the big boss didn’t follow him around as usual. Instead, he directly went with his two brothers to the next archery training session.
Han Jiao felt something was amiss.
Xie Duo must be upset.
Just because he didn’t invite the big boss inside for a cup of tea last night?
Wasn’t it because he was afraid the big boss would get punished for returning to the palace late?
He used to think the big boss was quite lenient, not as ruthless as in the novel.
Of course, he couldn’t be considered ruthless for ignoring him, but Han Jiao couldn’t help feeling aggrieved. He had helped Prince Duan with severe trauma-related stress last night, and today the big boss acted like they were strangers.
No wonder they say those from the imperial family have the least compassion!
In the evening, after school, Han Jiao diligently went to Prince Duan’s residence to continue the second treatment.
The change in Xie Xiu was truly remarkable.
Han Jiao finally understood Xie Jing’s description of Xie Xiu’s childhood personality —
This young man was not actually quiet and reserved. In fact, he was quite expressive, given that he could only understand verbal communication.
Xie Xiu led Han Jiao to another courtyard and explained in great detail about a new device he had made, an “automatic bird catcher.” Its controllability and sensitivity left Han Jiao impressed, but…
“Why do you want to catch birds?” Han Jiao expressed his doubt directly, as he had grown accustomed to Xie Xiu’s straightforward way of communicating.
Xie Xiu smilingly explained, “It’s not that I want to catch birds, it’s that Old Eighth and the others often use slingshots to shoot at birds.”
Han Jiao looked at Xie Xiu steadily for a moment, then finally spoke honestly, “Your Highness, I believe your brothers shoot at birds not to catch them but to have fun with slingshots.”
Silence for a while.
Xie Xiu’s face, previously filled with a smug smile, now turned into disappointment. “Is that so?”
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