Chapter 101: The Foolish Confession

“Don’t rush. Once I become the Imperial Consort, then I’ll deal with them. For now, I need to rest.”

Yao Shuang immediately recognized that Hu Xiaocui was the daughter of Hu Yuji. Since they were in the city now, it wasn’t the right time to act rashly; the city was full of experts, and Li Xintian was also present.

“Let’s see if you dare to sneak into someone’s backyard to steal bamboo shoots again.”

Hu Xiaocui helped Wang Yuanfeng apply the medicinal powder on his neck. The pain made Wang Yuanfeng cry out, his neck reddened.

“I originally wanted to ask Young Master Wang to sell me some bamboo shoots, but when he refused, I had no choice but to sneak in,” Wang Yuanfeng gritted his teeth and said, still struggling to breathe after being choked earlier, almost feeling suffocated.

“You just want me to teach you how to play football. Stay in the study these days and focus on your studies,” Hu Xiaocui said as she finished applying the ointment.

“Is playing football really that much fun?” Wang Yuanfeng asked.

Hu Xiaocui put away the powder and turned to him. “Of course it’s fun! If you could make the ball obey you like I do, wouldn’t that be amazing?”

Wang Yuanfeng made a sudden movement that aggravated the injury on his neck, causing him to grimace in pain.

“Really? Alright then, I’ll start teaching you tomorrow. Now, be good and go to sleep.”

Hu Xiaocui said, lying down on the bed.

“You sleep on the floor,” she added, noticing Wang Yuanfeng was about to climb onto the bed.

“Alright, Xiaocui, remember to wake me up in the middle of the night,” Wang Yuanfeng said reluctantly, looking longingly at the bed before settling on the floor.

“Got it,” Hu Xiaocui smiled knowingly. Waking him up in the middle of the night would be foolish—she knew from experience that waking Wang Yuanfeng was like trying to rouse a dead pig.

The next day.

Hu Xiaocui had to wake Wang Yuanfeng again. He grumbled about not being woken in the middle of the night, and she had to coax him.

“Xiaocui, did you make this ball?” Wang Yuanfeng held a ball about the size of a football.

“Of course! This is way more fun than that old rattan ball. Watch this,” Hu Xiaocui said, tossing the ball upwards and kicking it high, nearly reaching the height of a floor. As it fell, she caught it in a split, steadying it perfectly on her front foot without a twitch.

“Xiaocui, what’s that move called?” Wang Yuanfeng watched, delighted.

“Well… let’s call it the ‘Colorful Ball Lion Dance.’ I’ve practiced for over twenty years,” Hu Xiaocui said unabashedly.

“Wow, twenty years? That means you started practicing even before you were born!” Wang Yuanfeng clapped, then suddenly looked puzzled.

“Ah? Something like that. Don’t worry about the details,” Hu Xiaocui wiped sweat from her forehead, almost revealing her true age—she could be Wang Yuanfeng’s great-grandmother.

They laughed and played for a while until the ball accidentally hit Wang Hongzhi on the head. Wang Yuanfeng was pretending to be a dog, barking at Wang Hongzhi.

Seeing the ball strike Wang Hongzhi’s head, Hu Xiaocui knew trouble was brewing.

“Yuanfeng, you idiot! You’re treating yourself like a dog!” Wang Hongzhi scolded furiously, grabbing Wang Yuanfeng.

“Xiaocui! You’re really something, letting Yuanfeng act like an animal!” Wang Hongzhi shouted at Hu Xiaocui, clearly angry.

After Wang Hongzhi finished speaking, Wang Yuanfeng continued barking at him, which was like pouring salt in the wound.

“Yuanfeng, have you lost your mind? Hmph! Xiaocui isn’t allowed to eat today. Kneel in the main hall,” Wang Hongzhi ordered, slamming his sleeve and leaving angrily.

At the dining table, Wang Hongzhi ate while Wang Yuanfeng kept his head down, avoiding his gaze. Madam Wang wanted to intervene but found it difficult—Hu Xiaocui had gone too far in play, but it didn’t justify such harshness.

“Father, just let Xiaocui eat. If you don’t say anything, I’ll get food for her myself,” Wang Yuanfeng said.

Page 2.

Seeing Wang Hongzhi ignoring him, Wang Yuanfeng picked up some food and tried to bring it to Hu Xiaocui.

“Sit down!” Wang Hongzhi snapped, still furious.

“Father, please don’t punish Xiaocui. She was only playing with me,” Wang Yuanfeng said obediently, sitting back down.

“I told you to sit here and eat!” Wang Hongzhi’s words even caused a few grains of rice to spray out.

“If you don’t let Xiaocui eat, I won’t eat either. If Xiaocui kneels, I’ll kneel too,” Wang Yuanfeng said, standing and kneeling beside Hu Xiaocui. Whether she ate or not, kneeling was fine; Hu Xiaocui couldn’t voice her thoughts.

“Child, come eat, stop kneeling,” Madam Wang said sympathetically, wanting to pull Wang Yuanfeng up but restrained by Wang Hongzhi’s anger.

“Father, if Xiaocui can’t get up, neither can I!” Wang Yuanfeng refused to listen to Madam Wang.

“Fine! If you like kneeling, both of you kneel outside! Don’t block my view while I eat!” Wang Hongzhi shouted, slamming his tableware down.

Wang Yuanfeng stood and knelt outside. Hu Xiaocui glanced at Wang Hongzhi, and Madam Wang signaled her to join Wang Yuanfeng outside.

They knelt until evening. Wang Yuanfeng rubbed his knees.

“Yuanfeng, enough. Go back inside. You don’t have to stay with me. Your father is punishing me, not you. Go and eat,” Hu Xiaocui said, unfazed.

“Father won’t let Xiaocui eat, so I can’t eat either,” Wang Yuanfeng said, stopping his knee rubbing.

“Oh, I know you well. You love to eat and hate being hungry. Missing a meal will make you weak, and who knows… maybe you’ll starve to death in the middle of the night,” Hu Xiaocui teased, recalling how she herself could go days without food without discomfort, unlike silly Wang Yuanfeng who needed to eat.

“Starve to death? Yeah, my stomach really hurts from hunger,” Wang Yuanfeng rubbed his belly, which growled loudly.

“Then why don’t you get up and eat? Stop keeping me company,” Hu Xiaocui urged.

“Why are you kneeling again?” Hu Xiaocui was speechless.

“If we play together, we suffer together. I can’t leave you alone,” Wang Yuanfeng said, still kneeling.

“You’re such a big fool!” Hu Xiaocui blushed, not expecting a confession from this fool. Her cheeks turned as red as apples.

“Fool? Which is bigger, a fool, a winter melon, or a watermelon?” Wang Yuanfeng asked with a puzzled look.

“Which one’s bigger? None of those melons compare to you, the biggest fool in the world!” Hu Xiaocui rolled her eyes.

“Haha, I’m the biggest fool in the world? Great, great, great!” Wang Yuanfeng laughed happily and clapped.

“Enough playing around. If you get too hungry, your father will punish me even more,” Hu Xiaocui said, exasperated but unable to change the fact that Wang Yuanfeng was a fool.

“No, my mother will plead for you,” Wang Yuanfeng said, thinking of Madam Wang who always defended him when he was punished.

“You two go inside and eat. Get up now,” Madam Wang came over and helped Hu Xiaocui up.

“But what about the master…” Hu Xiaocui hesitated, knowing Wang Hongzhi was still furious.

“Xiaocui, don’t worry. Mother will protect us. Come on, let’s eat,” Wang Yuanfeng pulled Hu Xiaocui inside.

“Yes, with mother on our side,” Madam Wang nodded approvingly.

“Stop right there!” Wang Hongzhi saw Madam Wang leaving and guessed she’d come to get Hu Xiaocui to eat. He shouted.

“Look at you. If you keep spoiling these two kids, they’ll be ruined,” Wang Hongzhi said, pointing at Hu Xiaocui and Wang Yuanfeng, glaring at Madam Wang.

“Go inside quickly,” Madam Wang urged when the children hesitated.

“No! Not allowed to go in!” Wang Hongzhi roared in anger.

“Master, if you insist on punishing them, then I’ll kneel with the two children,” Madam Wang said, preparing to kneel.

“Mother!” Wang Yuanfeng and Hu Xiaocui helped her up.

“Madam, if you kneel, that would be disrespectful as a daughter-in-law,” Hu Xiaocui said.

“You’re such a spoiling mother. Every time I want to discipline the children, you always oppose me!” Wang Hongzhi vented his frustration.

“I’m on the same side as you, Master, and only want what’s best for Yuanfeng—and for Xiaocui too,” Madam Wang argued confidently. She was almost as formidable as Li Xintian’s mother, Chen Shuxia, who was the real boss.

“Alright, alright, alright. Madam, you can do whatever you want. Go inside, go inside,” Wang Hongzhi waved his hand and turned away.

“You two, hurry inside,” Madam Wang smiled.

Hu Xiaocui and Wang Yuanfeng entered the house happily.

Wang Hongzhi watched them go, glanced at Madam Wang, sighed, shook his head, and left to sit in the pavilion.

“Master, you’re not young anymore. Getting angry over small things isn’t good for your health. You should know better,” Madam Wang followed and sat beside him.

“Say what you want,” Wang Hongzhi replied, sensing there was more to her words.

“Our Yuanfeng is a special child, you know that. Even though Xiaocui isn’t from a wealthy family, she’s clever and charming. You shouldn’t be so harsh on her,” Madam Wang continued.

“Sigh… I lost my temper today because I was humiliated at court,” Wang Hongzhi sighed.

“What happened?” Madam Wang asked with concern.

“Don’t mention it,” Wang Hongzhi raised his hand.

“Oh, Master, I know you well. If you say it out loud, you’ll feel better,” Madam Wang stood and patted his chest.