Chapter 620 I Am Your Sweetheart, the Little Third One

**Chapter 620: I’m Your Darling Little Third Son**

After the midday meal, Wei Shiqing smiled and invited Xingxing to stop by the Eastern Palace to take the Crown Princess’s pulse once more.

Xingxing glanced at Empress Nie, who chuckled and said, “Go ahead. I didn’t summon you for anything urgent—it’s just been a while, and I missed you. Having you chat with me and share a meal is more than enough.”

Xingxing replied earnestly, “Then if Your Majesty misses me again, just summon me to the palace.”

A glimmer of delight flickered in Empress Nie’s eyes.

She could see Xingxing meant it.

However, just as Wei Shiqing was about to take Xingxing back to the Eastern Palace, an urgent matter arose in the imperial study. Emperor Jiazheng sent a eunuch to summon Crown Prince Wei Shiqing.

Wei Shiqing had to assign one of his personal guards to escort Xingxing back instead.

Wei Shiyu piped up eagerly, “I haven’t seen my sister-in-law in a while either, and I miss her! Plus, I’d like to visit my unborn nephew. I’ll take the Lady of Blessed Peace—it’s perfect timing.”

Empress Nie’s headache intensified.

Was this little devil really taking a liking to Xingxing?

Though it was perfectly natural for a boy his age, just discovering romance, to fall for such a special girl like Xingxing… but Xingxing was his second brother’s girl!

Empress Nie’s expression darkened. “Speaking of which, have you finished the assignments your tutor gave you?”

Wei Shiyu’s face twisted in dramatic misery.

Why did his mother have to bring up something that would ruin the mood?!

Abandoning his offer to escort Xingxing, Wei Shiyu turned and dashed off. “Mother, I just remembered something extremely urgent—I’ll take my leave first!”

Empress Nie smirked.

Little imp.

In the end, one of Wei Shiqing’s personal guards was sent to escort Xingxing to the Eastern Palace.

Empress Nie wasn’t particularly worried.

In this vast palace, anyone who dared provoke the Crown Prince’s personal guard might as well have a death wish.

Still, she never expected that her youngest son—the mischievous third prince—would still manage to cause trouble later.

While passing through the imperial gardens, Consort Bai stopped Xingxing.

Xingxing looked at Consort Bai, who was standing right on the path leading out of the palace.

Though Consort Bai pretended she was merely enjoying the scenery and hadn’t been waiting specifically for Xingxing, the faint beads of sweat on her forehead and the untouched fruits in the pavilion told Xingxing everything she needed to know.

If this was a “chance encounter,” she’d swallow the guard’s sword whole.

Staying calm, Xingxing asked, “Did Consort Bai need something?”

Consort Bai, meanwhile, was also discreetly studying Xingxing. She put on a sweet smile. “Nothing in particular. It’s just that I’ve long heard of the Lady of Blessed Peace’s reputation but never had the chance to meet you, which I’ve always regretted. Since we’ve met now, would you do me the honor of joining me for tea?”

Xingxing studied Consort Bai, finding the woman completely baffling.

She harbored inexplicable hostility toward her, yet now she was faking this sudden “kindness,” inviting her for tea.

She wasn’t some little kid—she was already thirteen or fourteen!

How could she not see right through this?

Xingxing refused without batting an eye, "I appreciate the offer, Consort Bai, but I’ve already agreed to examine the Crown Princess at the Eastern Palace. My apologies—maybe next time for tea."

After speaking, Xingxing simply waited for Consort Bai to step aside.

But Consort Bai stuck to her like glue. "In that case, why don’t I walk with you for a while, Township Lady? They say you bring good fortune. If I stay close enough, maybe I’ll end up pregnant like the Crown Princess too."

Xingxing didn’t know how to reply to that.

And she couldn’t exactly stop a palace consort from walking the same path as her either.

She just gave a tight-lipped smile. "As you wish, Your Highness."

Consort Bai then sidled up next to Xingxing, trying to make small talk.

"I’ve heard your family is quite large. How many siblings do you have?"

Xingxing shot her a look. "If Consort Bai is truly interested in my family, perhaps you could ask one of the scribes from the Ministry of Personnel. After all, both my eldest and third brothers serve in court—our family matters are probably best known there."

Consort Bai’s smile froze at the polite brush-off.

Just as she was racking her brain for another question, a snake suddenly fell from a tree. By sheer luck, Xingxing seemed to sense it and stepped back just in time. The snake landed squarely on Consort Bai’s head.

Consort Bai stood frozen for a moment before the limp snake head dangled down in front of her eyes—

"AHHH!!!" Her shriek echoed through the imperial gardens as her face turned pale.

...

Xingxing wound up back at Zhaoyang Palace.

There was no helping it—Consort Bai had fainted from fright, and Zhaoyang Palace happened to be the nearest and most convenient place.

The culprit—the third prince, Wei Shiyu, who had been hiding in the tree dropping a fake snake—was dragged out by the Crown Prince’s guards and hauled off to Zhaoyang Palace along with them.

Empress Nie was at her wit’s end at the sight of her troublemaking third son!

Her eldest son had never given her any trouble; her second son had sacrificed himself for the country, which often left her feeling guilty. And this third one? He was nothing but trouble.

"Wei. Shi. Yu!"

Xingxing heard Empress Nie—who was usually so gentle—snarl his name with barely restrained fury.

Wei Shiyu hit his knees like a pro, clearly no stranger to kneeling.

He threw his arms around Empress Nie’s legs, whining, "Mother! I was wrong! I only meant to give Township Lady a little scare. She looks just like those fancy dolls from the Western Regions—I wanted to see her jump! That was just a dried-out snake I swiped from the imperial physician—it can’t hurt anyone! I didn’t expect Township Lady to dodge so quickly, or that Consort Bai would be so easily frightened..."

He tacked on the last part under his breath.

A vein pulsed visibly at Empress Nie’s temple.

The audacity of him making excuses!

She gave his cheek a sharp pinch. "A royal prince, skulking in trees to scare a girl—how noble! Just wait until your father and elder brother finish their business. We’ll see what they have to say about this!"

Empress Nie was seeing red.

This little troublemaker!

What if Xingxing really got scared?!

Hearing that Emperor Jiazheng and the Crown Prince were about to gang up on him, Wei Shiyu finally got frightened and clung even tighter to Empress Nie's leg: "Mother! Save me! I'm your darling youngest son!"

Empress Nie gave a dismissive smirk: "Tch, I don’t have a darling son like you."

Wei Shiyu was practically on the verge of tears!

Empress Nie signaled with her eyes to the nearby guard, who stepped forward and mercilessly dragged Wei Shiyu away.

Once freed, Empress Nie walked over to Xingxing, took her hand, and looked her up and down: "That little brat didn’t scare you, did he?"

Xingxing shook her head: "Just Consort Bai got scared."