Lao Fan scolded, but still didn’t feel relieved, stamping his feet in frustration and stomping on the pillow again and again, as if the object Xia Zheng had used as a disguise was truly Xia Zheng himself.
Watching Lao Fan’s furious, fuming state, the man next to him with an innocent expression, though appearing calm, was clearly very anxious. He quickly stepped forward, gently grabbed his arm, and persuasively said, "Elder Zhen, don’t be angry anymore. Ah Zheng must have had some urgent matter, that’s why he left without saying goodbye. Please calm down, it’s not good to let anger damage your own health."
The moment he was tugged at the sleeve, Lao Fan suddenly looked up, seized his hand, his eyes almost popping out with anger: "You! Did you conspire with that little brat? He left so suddenly, you must know, don’t you? Hmph! I knew it, the two of you have been inseparable since you were kids. There’s no way he would run off without telling you! One by one, you all deceive an old man like me, all of you!"
Having said this, he actually pouted, sitting on the ground with the petulance of an old child and refused to move.
Zhao Hongde bit his lip with a bitter smile and quickly crouched down. His voice was already soft, but now it became even more coaxing, truly like a Gentle Little White Rabbit, as he comforted, "Elder Zhen, this time, you’re really wronging me. I truly didn’t know about Ah Zheng leaving suddenly. If I had known, I definitely wouldn’t have let him go. You know, before coming here this time, my aunt repeatedly instructed me to make sure to bring back Ah Zheng. Ah, now I’m going back on my word again."
Thinking of his aunt’s eager anticipation for her son’s return, Zhao Hongde felt uneasy, and his resentment towards Xia Zheng grew deep. They had agreed to return to the Capital city before heading together to Jiangnan. Yet, for some reason, this guy decided to join them in Dingzhou Province in haste, never even considering a trip to the Capital city.
No wonder the aunt was so worried she could hardly close her eyes for several days. Her eldest son was always at the military camp and didn’t come home, and her youngest son ran around outside all the time. Anyone with such sons would be displeased.
Zhao Hongde frowned, and remembering his uncle’s domineering face that rarely smiled, he couldn’t help but shiver.
"Hmph! Don’t you lie to me, you little rascal." Lao Fan clearly didn’t believe him at all, turning his mouth sullenly. These two kids had grown up together, one as mischievous as a lion, and the other as gentle as a Little White Rabbit. It’s strange how their roles seemed to have reversed when it should be this one acting every inch the domineering Prince.
"I remember it very clearly. Once, when Zhao Hongsheng bullied you, the two of you ran into my room and secretly took some croton seeds to spike his food, causing him to suffer from diarrhea for half a month." As he brought up the incident, Lao Fan became even more irate and couldn’t help but pat Zhao Hongde’s head, scolding, "You tell me, it would have been enough for him to suffer with just one seed, but you two put in a whole handful! It’s a wonder it didn’t kill him with how much he was purging!"
In principle, Zhao Hongde was a Prince, apart from his Emperor father, who would dare to pat him? But unexpectedly, when Lao Fan slapped him, he had no reaction at all and even chuckled awkwardly, scratching his head, "Elder Zhen, those were things from the days of wearing split pants, how can you still remember that?"
"How can I forget? Your father scolded me fiercely because of it, how could I forget?" Lao Fan raised his hand, ready to pat him on the head again.
"Ay yo yo, Old Master Zhen, please don’t hit anymore." The youngster watching hurriedly wrapped his arms around Lao Fan’s hand, his face pleading, "The Third Prince is naturally simple-minded. If you keep hitting him, he’ll turn genuinely foolish!"