The Grand Tutor's endless "thee-thou-thus" droned on for nearly four hours. Lin Feng's eyelids were drooping; his soul felt like it was being waterboarded with classical Chinese. In his previous life he would've kicked the door open and bolted. Here, he had no choice but to suffer.
Finally the bronze bell rang—class dismissed. The princes rose and filed out. The Crown Prince paused beside him.
"You just got back. If you're not feeling well, take a couple days off. No need to force it."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I'm fine."
"Mm. Good." The Crown Prince left without another word.
Lin Feng bowed. "This subject sees Your Highness off."
The Grand Tutor lingered. "Lin Feng, you seemed off today. Everything all right?"
Old Tutor Xiao Feng and Lin Tianhe had been lifelong friends. Seeing the once-mighty Lin clan reduced to this, he could only look after the last sprout in whatever small ways he could.
"I'm okay, Grand Tutor. Just a little dizzy," Lin Feng lied smoothly.
"You're not a child anymore. You know what's dangerous and what isn't. Be careful. If your head still hurts tomorrow, don't come."
After seeing the old man off, Lin Feng headed home. While cutting through the imperial gardens, he spotted her again—the consort who had escorted the Ninth Prince. Instantly the image of those stormy waves and that perfect, swaying ass flashed across his mind.
"F∗∗k. Can't touch, can't fight—fine, I'll avoid her."
He started to take a detour.
Too late. The little Ninth Prince's eagle eyes locked on him immediately.
"Lin Feng! Stop right there! Get over here!"
Lin Feng sighed. Dodging was no longer an option; refusing would only bring more trouble.
Fine. You think I'm still the same spineless loser? He strode over confidently.
Grand Tutor Xiao had only walked a few dozen paces when he saw the scene and knew things were about to go south. He hurried back.
Lin Feng reached them and bowed politely. "This subject greets Your Ladyship and His Ninth Highness."
"Kneel!" the childish voice ordered.
Lin Feng froze.
A man's knees are worth more than gold—make me kneel? In your dreams.
He cupped his fists. "May I ask why?"
"All land under heaven belongs to the sovereign; all who live on it are his subjects. I say kneel, so you kneel!" The kid proudly quoted today's lesson.
The consort smirked. "Exactly. All under heaven belongs to the imperial house. Why aren't you kneeling, servant?"
Lin Feng gave a cold smile. "Correct—the land belongs to the imperial house. Since when did it belong exclusively to the Ninth Prince? Your Ladyship teaches well. Such grand ambition in one so young. Perhaps we should report this to His Majesty?"
He turned to the approaching Grand Tutor. "Don't you agree, Grand Tutor?"
The faces of both mother and son changed color instantly. In two sentences Lin Feng had dug a pit deep enough to bury an emperor.
Xiao Feng's heart pounded. The old honest Lin Feng suddenly had a tongue sharper than a blade? If those words reached the emperor's ears, the Ninth Prince's faction would be done for. Pretend he hadn't heard? But he had heard. A gentleman is open and aboveboard—how could he cover it up?
Before the old tutor could speak, the consort panicked. "That's not what Ninth Highness meant!"
"Oh? So he didn't mean it… but he was thinking it?" Lin Feng smiled like a little demon.
"You insolent slave, how dare you twist this consort's words!" she snapped.
"First, I am a subject, not a slave. Second, I didn't twist anything—every word came from Your Ladyship and His Ninth Highness. Looks like this 'insolent slave' has been terribly wronged and needs justice."
Inside he was laughing his ass off.
Want me to kneel? I'll kneel on your damn face.
Play schemes with me? You're still in diapers.
The consort forced a smile. "Grand Tutor, it seems there's a small misunderstanding between Lin Feng and me. Please return first. I'll take him to Western Moon Palace to clear things up."
"Your Ladyship… Lin Feng is still a child. Please go easy on him," Xiao Feng pleaded.
"Leave!! Lin Feng, follow me." She grabbed her son's hand and stormed off.
Lin Feng called after the tutor loudly, "Grand Tutor, I'll be fine. But if anything happens to me, I'm sure you'll remember whose empire this really is. A matter this big… you wouldn't want to take it to your grave, would you?"
The consort's legs nearly gave out. Her pearly teeth ground audibly. The threat was crystal clear: harm one hair on his head, and Xiao Feng would report the "treasonous" remark to the emperor—even if it cost the old man his life.
Xiao Feng stared, stunned. "Go on, then. This old official… understands."
He watched the three disappear, then turned and hurried toward Cloud Emergence Palace as fast as his old legs could carry him. That was Lin Tianjiao's residence. He prayed he wasn't too late.
Western Moon Palace.
The consort dismissed every maid and eunuch. "Take Ninth Highness out to play. No one is allowed to enter without my order."
Once the doors closed, Lin Feng casually strolled to the tea table, poured himself a cup, and drank like he owned the place.
"Hmph. Insolent slave, what exactly are you playing at? You think I'm afraid of you?" the still-nameless beauty hissed.
"Why would Your Ladyship be afraid of little old me? No reason at all," Lin Feng said lazily, savoring the tea.
"Then pretend you didn't hear Ninth Highness's words today. Understood?"
"Pretend I didn't hear? A gentleman is open and upright—how could I pretend not to have heard, Your Ladyship?"
He stood, walked right up to her, and looked straight into her eyes. "I heard it loud and clear. What are you going to do about it? Kill me? Half an hour ago you could've crushed me like an ant, and my aunt might've been annoyed but nothing more. But now? I dare you. Go ahead, kill me."
He leaned in until their faces were less than six inches apart. "I'm not afraid of dying. But Grand Tutor Xiao has a big family to protect—he's definitely afraid. One word from him and your precious son becomes a traitor before he's even weaned off milk."
The consort's beautiful face flushed crimson with rage and humiliation. "Just what do you want?"
Lin Feng's grin turned positively demonic.
"What do I want? We'll talk about that… very soon."