Qin Erya reached out to pull Qin Huai, but he shook her off forcefully.
It was unknown what Qin Huai was thinking about, but his eyes suddenly shimmered with sadness.
He directly dragged Hao Ren up from the ground.
Grand Tutor Qin saw this scene and raised his hand to slam the table.
Everyone was greatly shocked.
Xiao Pingfeng also slightly knitted his brows.
No matter what, Grand Tutor Qin was still a subject.
In any case, slamming the table in front of him, the King, was unacceptable.
This behavior was very inappropriate, probably provoked by his own younger son.
Seeing her grandfather slamming the table, Qin Erya knew he was truly angry, disregarding what Qin Huai thought, she forcefully grabbed his arm, "Uncle, you’ve drunk too much, let’s step outside."
She should not have brought Qin Huai here in the first place.
Her uncle had been unruly since he was young.
He had often done things that agitated their grandfather.
Today, in front of so many people, to openly defy their grandfather was something Qin Erya had never expected.
Seeing Grand Tutor Qin slamming the table, Qin Huai just laughed, "Father, is this really necessary, to see someone who barely made it high in the ranks be exiled from the Capital City for three thousand miles?" just like his poor, dear friend before!
"Erya, take this scoundrel away," Grand Tutor Qin said.
Qin Erya began to tug at him forcefully.
Qin Huai, losing his patience, shook off her hand, causing Qin Erya to stagger, almost falling.
"Rebel! Are you trying to infuriate me to death!" This was the first time Qin Jun spoke harshly.
Everyone was accustomed to his amiable and approachable nature, so seeing this other side of him was somewhat uncomfortable.
Including Xiao Pingfeng.
He had never seen his mentor angry before.
Chu Qi slowly rose, uninterested in the domestic affairs of another country’s subjects.
He would rather go back and get a good sleep.
"Crown Prince, Grand Tutor Qin, I shall take my leave first," he said as he got up and left immediately.
The ministers of Chu Kingdom, seeing their King leave, also found it inappropriate to stay any longer and followed him out, instantly reducing the number of people in the inner hall by half.
Without the people of Chu Kingdom watching the spectacle.
Grand Tutor Qin’s expression immediately turned gloomy.
"Qin Huai, take advantage of the fact that I have yet to call upon the family law, and leave right now, this instant!"
Qin Huai stood his ground, firm as a perennial pine, "Even if you beat me to death today, I must speak out!"
"Back then, when Song Lin disagreed with you, he was exiled three thousand miles away, contracted tuberculosis, and died on the road of exile at the young age of twenty. Are you planning to reenact this tragedy on this young man?!"
"Why must you be so harsh in everything you do? How was Song Lin at fault? Did you consider that he was your son’s only close friend when you sent him to exile?!"
Qin Huai’s accusations made everyone understand the reason behind the young master’s anger.
He must have been reminded of what Grand Tutor Qin did to his friend Song Lin when he heard that Hao Ren was to be exiled three thousand miles away.
His only close friend during his youth died due to his biological father’s arrangement.
This would be tough for anyone to endure.
No wonder Qin Huai was always at odds with Grand Tutor Qin, extremely rebellious, immediately requesting to be stationed elsewhere after becoming the Top Scholar. If it were not for the old man’s eightieth birthday this year, he would probably have defied a decree not to return.
In all of this, there was indeed such a sad story.
Qin Huai’s words undoubtedly exposed Grand Tutor Qin’s deeds in front of everyone.
"You all may leave," Xiao Pingfeng finally spoke, "I am not good with alcohol and have drunk a bit too much myself. I will return now. Hao Ren was brought here by me, and I will take him back." He got up to leave.
No one would stop him now.
After today’s events, before Qin Jun could make a move on Hao Ren, he would have to deal with his own rebellious son first.
Xiao Pingfeng left quickly, and Ding Dang took Hao Ren out the door, untying him as they walked.
He had not walked many steps when he heard the door behind him close.
Xiao Pingfeng stood in place, looking back at the door, deep in thought.
"Crown Prince, your humble servant..." Hao Ren had just had the cloth removed from his mouth when he started speaking.
Xiao Pingfeng raised his hand, and Hao Ren instantly fell silent.
"Back to the palace," he said.
As soon as everyone had passed the main gate, a carriage slowly appeared at the entrance.
As Xiao Pingfeng raised his eyebrows, he saw the carriage window being opened and Yan Wanqing’s stunning face revealed. He smiled and said, "Came to pick me up yourself?"
Yan Wanqing glanced at the unharmed Hao Ren behind him and also smiled, "Husband has been working hard outside, coming personally as your wife to pick you up and bring you back to the palace—why not?"
"Why not, of course."
Once inside the carriage, Yan Wanqing quickly noticed a strong smell of alcohol.
The Crown Prince stepped forward and directly embraced him, "Today, without Xiaoliu’s sobering medicine, it was quite uncomfortable."
"Right, Xiaoliu is still at the Qin Family!" This reminded Yan Wanqing. Just as she was about to lift the carriage curtain to have Cong Ge go and fetch her, someone pressed down her hand.
"Don’t worry, Hongzhao is there too. They won’t lose this little girl, and my carriage is behind, they can take that one," while saying this, the body leaned over, their breath mingling in the tight space.
"Get away, you reek of alcohol, it’s suffocating me." Unexpectedly, no tender kiss was received, but instead, her face was slapped.
The Crown Prince looked woefully aggrieved, "You’re scolding me!"
"Stinky!" Yan Wanqing succinctly retorted with one word.
The Crown Prince, annoyed, shouted, "Stop the carriage!"
She just saw the Crown Prince getting off the carriage, looking bewildered. Was this a fight, or was he driven out by his own lady?
Inside the carriage, Yan Wanqing covertly looked outside.
She saw him stop by a vendor, then consumed something in one gulp before re-entering the carriage.
He came in and took off his outer robe, throwing it in the corner.
"Now I don’t smell, take a sniff," he said.
Yan Wanqing leaned over and sniffed twice, indeed it wasn’t smelly anymore but even had a faint scent of osmanthus.
"What did you drink?"
"Osmanthus tea, made by the common people themselves." As he explained, his whole body leaned closer, his voice enchanting, "Darling, can I kiss you now?"
The grand Crown Prince, begging his own wife for a kiss so humbly— who would believe that!
Yan Wanqing hooked her red lips and moved in proactively.
Just as he intended to deepen the kiss, the carriage stopped suddenly.
A voice from outside could be heard shouting, "Xiao brother also came out from the old man’s house?"
Annoyance flickered in Xiao Pingfeng’s eyes.
This guy was supposed to have left earlier, right?
How come he’s here, blocking his carriage!
He had intended not to bother, but the person in his arms kept pushing him.
The Crown Prince sighed deeply.
He first opened the carriage curtain, shielding the person behind him with his robust body, "Aren’t you supposed to be home too? What are you doing wandering around at night?"
Chu Qi glanced at the faint silhouette behind Xiao Pingfeng.
"The weather is crisp and the moon and stars are sparse; naturally, it’s perfect for enjoying the sights," he replied.
Only then did Xiao Pingfeng notice that this fellow had actually stopped him right outside the Flower Building.
"Have a good time then, don’t call me. I’m not like you, brother Chu, I have a family and that’s not my cup of tea," he retorted.