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"Mom?" Zhong Lishuang's furious roar startled Zhong Ling so much that she shivered all over, almost dropping the pastry in her hand.
She couldn't understand why her mother had returned so quickly.
If she wasn't seeing things, the woman in the white dress and veil beside her should be the Emperor, right?
"Oh no!" At this moment, Liu Yan finally realized what she had forgotten earlier.
She had forgotten to write a letter to the General.
"Young General, like Minister Zhong, I once misunderstood you and the Prince, and even wrote a letter to the General." Liu Yan hurriedly whispered in explanation.
"What?" Before Zhong Ling could react, Xiao Tian was already anxious, "Commander Liu, aren't you putting me in a tough spot?"
Liu Yan wrote a letter to Zhong Lishuang, and could the Empress Zi Ruoyan not know the contents?
"You little brat..." At this moment, Zhong Lishuang was already storming over in anger.
Zhong Ling turned pale with fright. She had always been fearless, except when it came to her own mother.
Without thinking, she quickly hid behind Xiao Tian.
This scene made Zhong Lishuang's blood boil.
Zi Ruoyan's delicate brows furrowed slightly, feeling a tinge of displeasure in her heart.
Yes, just a tinge.
"Kid, where are you hiding? Hide behind your Sister Liu, don't make things worse!" Xiao Tian's eyelid twitched as he scolded Zhong Ling.
Zhong Ling clung to Xiao Tian's back, shaking her head vigorously, "Your Highness, please help block her, with the Emperor here, Mom won't lay a hand on you."
"Are you sure?" Xiao Tian tugged at the corner of his mouth, looking at the imposing Zhong Lishuang who had already arrived in front of him, and smiled.
The tall and muscular Zhong Lishuang looked down at the slightly shorter Xiao Tian, "Your Highness, step aside."
"..." Xiao Tian stared at Zhong Lishuang for a long time without speaking.
This female general of the Great Yan Dynasty was indeed extraordinary in appearance; otherwise, she wouldn't have such a beautiful daughter like Zhong Ling.
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But her nearly two-meter-tall, muscular physique was astonishing.
She was like a Barbie among Barbies...
Incredibly fierce!
"Minister Zhong, you are truly a man." At this moment, Xiao Tian had a newfound respect for the Minister of Revenue.
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Tian didn't step aside, seriously looking at Zhong Lishuang, "General Zhong, hitting a child in public can easily leave a psychological shadow!"
"Your Highness, I'm reasoning with you out of respect for the Emperor, but that doesn't mean I won't make a move!" Zhong Lishuang's voice was grim, her clenched fists creaking.
As soon as Zhong Lishuang said this, Zhong Ling and Liu Yan both turned pale.
Make a move against Xiao Tian?
"No, Mom, you absolutely can't lay a hand on His Highness. If you need to hit someone, hit me instead." Zhong Ling was so frightened that she rushed out from behind Xiao Tian and hugged Zhong Lishuang.
Zhong Ling was genuinely terrified by her mother's words.
If her mother hit her, it would at most be a flesh wound.
After all, she's her own mother; she wouldn't beat her to death, right?
But if her mother were to fight with His Highness, Zhong Ling was very worried that if Xiao Tian lost his temper and didn't control himself, he might accidentally kill her mother.
"General Zhong, you mustn't, please... calm down and decide." Beside them, Liu Yan was also sweating with fear, quickly waving her hands.
If a fight broke out, given His Highness's strength, the entire Qingyan Town might just disappear.
"Zero, Liu Yan, you two..." Zhong Lishuang stared in disbelief.
She didn't know Xiao Tian's true strength, and in her eyes, these two were under Xiao Tian's spell.
Especially Zhong Ling, who was holding onto her, refusing to let go, looking at her with terrified eyes, almost crying.
Zhong Lishuang felt both pity for her daughter and immense anger, thinking to herself, "You silly girl, this... this is the Emperor's man, not someone you can covet."
But she didn't know that Zhong Ling wasn't trying to protect the Prince.
She was protecting her own mother!
Zhong Ling was really afraid that her mother, with her stubborn temper, would insist on fighting the Prince and then get slapped to death.
So, Zhong Ling was on the verge of tears.
Xiao Tian was even more anxious, his scalp tingling; this situation was not looking good.
"He's right, don't make a scene in public." Zi Ruoyan spoke softly, her gaze shifting as some of the townspeople of Qingyan Town began to look over curiously.
Many pointed and whispered, recognizing Liu Yan and knowing the identities of Xiao Tian and Zhong Ling.
"Your Highness, is there something wrong?" At this moment, a few people from the town approached, asking Xiao Tian and looking at Zhong Lishuang with both fear and caution.
These people gathered around Xiao Tian, seemingly to protect him.
They didn't recognize Zhong Lishuang, this high-ranking figure, only worried that Xiao Tian was being troubled.
The unexpected interruption made Zi Ruoyan's eyes flicker.
Zhong Lishuang was equally surprised, looking at the townspeople of Qingyan Town who were protecting Xiao Tian, extremely shocked.
Xiao Tian's charm was this great?
These townspeople were all men!
"Ahem, dear folks, this is someone I know, no need to worry." Xiao Tian cleared his throat, quickly cupping his hands to the townspeople around him, "Disperse, go about your business."
The townspeople of Qingyan Town, seeing Xiao Tian say this, could only nod lightly.
"In that case, we'll be off then."
"Your Highness, if there's anything, just call out."
"Sir, it's getting late, why not rest at my place?"
Facing the townspeople's chatter, Xiao Tian waved his hand cheerfully, gesturing to them, "Thank you, thank you, I have a banquet to attend, so I must be on my way."
Then, amidst the laughter and farewells of the townspeople of Qingyan Town, Xiao Tian and the five-person team with Zi Ruoyan left the town, heading towards the Imperial City.
Once out of the town, Zhong Lishuang, having calmed down, looked at Xiao Tian curiously.
In her eyes, this useless prince was so beloved by the townspeople of Qingyan Town, but why?
Meanwhile, Xiao Tian was quietly observing Zi Ruoyan.
"Honestly, this wife is really beautiful," Xiao Tian thought to himself, admiring Zi Ruoyan's graceful figure, even in her plain dress.
Even though her face was veiled, looking into her eyes, which seemed to sparkle like stars, was enough to captivate anyone.
Just then, Zi Ruoyan suddenly turned her head, her eyes meeting Xiao Tian's.
"..." Caught staring, Xiao Tian felt a bit awkward, but then he thought, she's technically his wife, so why worry?
Xiao Tian maintained a calm demeanor, openly continuing to look.
"What did you do to make the townspeople of Qingyan Town treat you this way?" Zi Ruoyan didn't shy away, meeting Xiao Tian's gaze, and asked, "I'm very curious!"
"Hmm?" Hearing this, Xiao Tian's eyes widened.
The next moment, a smile appeared on Xiao Tian's face.
When a woman starts to be curious about a man, it means she...
Has lost!
Zi Ruoyan looked at Xiao Tian, puzzled, "???"
She was asking him a question, and instead of answering, he was just smiling?
Zi Ruoyan's curiosity grew.
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