The Trick to Teasing a Noble Family's Son - Chapter 16

Lin Che was led by Wei Lan to meet the Crown Prince.

Although he often mingled with his brothers, this was the first time Lin Che felt something different. He occasionally stole glances at the person holding him. Wei Lan, with her calm demeanor, continued chatting and laughing with Wang Xi as if nothing were out of the ordinary. This left Lin Che feeling both embarrassed and annoyed.

He was indeed too beautiful.

Lin Che sighed inwardly.

When the three of them approached the Crown Prince, he was testing a bow alongside Xie Yulan, the eldest legitimate son of the Xie family. A servant stepped forward and quietly announced, “Your Highness, the heir of the Changxin Marquis has arrived.” Only then did the Crown Prince turn to look at Wei Lan.

Before he could look, Wei Lan and her companions had already knelt in greeting. When the Crown Prince finally saw them, all he could see were three bowed heads.

He raised a hand and said, “Rise.” Once the three stood, his gaze swept over Wei Lan’s attire. A smile broke across his face as he remarked, “I’ve heard that the Wei family’s heir once infiltrated enemy lines and assassinated their commander. How is it that today you’re dressed so elegantly? Are you planning to not go out?”

Hearing the Crown Prince speak, Wei Lan raised her head.

In that moment, everyone nearby fell silent, momentarily stunned. Even Xie Yulan, accustomed to the sight of Xie Zichen’s unparalleled looks, froze.

The Crown Prince was the first to recover. He sighed. “I thought Xie Si’s appearance was unmatched, but it seems the Wei Shizi is just as remarkable. I’ve heard Wei Shizi has an unmarried younger sister at home?”

Wei Lan’s expression stiffened slightly before she replied, “Indeed, I have a rather mischievous sister.”

The Crown Prince chuckled warmly. “If she has even half of Wei Shizi’s beauty, suitors would line up from the capital to the border of Chu, no matter how unruly she might be.”

“Your Highness jests,” Wei Lan replied with a polite smile, clearly unwilling to continue the topic. The Crown Prince, ever perceptive, shifted the conversation. “The weather is splendid today—a perfect day.”

Those nearby murmured their agreement, though Wei Lan only offered a faint smile and remained silent.

Meeting the Crown Prince during this spring hunt was an important matter for Wei Lan.

Her father not being favoured by the emperor was largely because he supported the other faction during his power struggle. With the emperor’s health now deteriorating, another battle for the throne loomed on the horizon.

The Crown Prince, currently out of favor, relied solely on the influence of his maternal grandfather, the Duke of Zhenguo. In contrast, the third prince, Su Cheng—the current empress’s son—was deeply valued by the emperor and enjoyed considerable support in court.

The State of Chu, founded two centuries ago, had already seen twelve crown princes perish, a testament to the precariousness of the crown prince title. Outside of the Duke of Zhenguo’s faction, few believed the Crown Prince had any real chance of ascending the throne.

As someone poised to align with the future ruler, Wei Lan could not afford to misstep. Her father had chosen poorly; she would not.

The Crown Prince, seated before her, had first struck her with his beauty.

He possessed an air of quiet dignity, his features calm and composed. His demeanor exuded warmth and righteousness, free from any hint of cruelty—he looked like a good ruler.

Though he had been at a disadvantage for years, he handled himself with remarkable composure, treating the noble sons with respect and humility. His ability to strike a balance between authority and leniency was masterful, far beyond what most could achieve.

While Wei Lan silently observed him, someone nudged her arm. She turned to see Xie Jie signaling to her from a shadowed spot.

Without a sound, she slipped away from the crowd and approached him. Together, they moved deeper into the forest. Once secluded, she clasped her hands in greeting. “Brother Jie.”

“Brother Lan, everything is prepared. We’re only waiting for the signal. Are your people…”

“They’re already waiting at the abandoned temple,” Wei Lan replied with a grin, clapping Xie Jie on the shoulder. “Brother Jie, don’t be so tense. Are you joining the hunt later?”

“No,” Xie Jie said, shaking his head. “I’ll first pretend to be ill and rest. This way, when I see Fourth brother in the afternoon, I will have an excuse for knowing that news. If I stay in plain sight of him all day and suddenly claim to have new information, I won’t be able to deceive him.”

“Very well.” Wei Lan clasped her hands once more. “Take care, Brother Jie. I’ll—”

Before she could finish, a sharp, coquettish cry pierced the air. “Your Highness, please don’t…”

Both of them instinctively ducked behind a tree. Xie Jie made a gesture to leave, Wei Lan nodded and watched him quietly crawl away. Wei Lan, with her curiosity piqued, scaled the nearest tree instead. From her perch, she had an unobstructed view of the scene below.

A young woman was pinned against a tree by a man dressed in red. He braced one hand against the trunk while using a fan to lift the girl’s chin. His voice, low and teasing, carried clearly. “Oh? Don’t what?”

The man’s voice was enchanting, tinged with a seductive charm that made Wei Lan’s knees go weak. After all these years, she had finally encountered a “real man” again.

Her eyes widened as she tried to take in every detail of the beauty before her.

The man’s crimson robes were loosely fastened with a belt, revealing a slender yet toned waist. His exposed hand was pale as jade, a stark contrast against the vibrant red of his attire.

A true beauty.

Years of experience in appreciating handsome men left Wei Lan certain of her assessment. The girl’s earlier address of “Your Highness” made her wonder which prince he might be.

It was impossible to imagine such a flamboyant prince as her husband, but it wasn’t impossible to have a fleeting romance.

Anyway, in this world a man’s chastity wasn’t highly prized, and they were often quite bold.

As Wei Lan mulled this over, she watched the young woman squirm in the red dressed beauty’s arms. “Your Highness, please leave quickly. It wouldn’t be good if someone saw us.”

“Wanqing,” the man sighed, his tone mournful. “Next year, your family plans to marry you off to that Xie Si. Can’t you let me see you just this once? Your coldness is breaking my heart.”

Wei Lan: “…”

As it seems, it takes no effort to find someone one hasn’t seen before.

She had planned to meet her eventually, though this scenario was far from expected.

The girl was so coy that it grated on Wei Lan’s nerves. From her perch, she watched the prince lean in to kiss her.

Wang Wanqing, appearing shy, stopped him. “Your Highness, don’t rush. There will be plenty of chances to meet. My father is already planning to cancel the engagement between me and Xie Si.”

Cancel the engagement?

Wei Lan latched onto the key words, her spirits lifting. If Xie Zichen was free, then she could pursue him again.

This realization made Wang Wanqing seem much more agreeable in Wei Lan’s eyes.

The man in red didn’t appear as thrilled. “That would be wonderful,” he said, his tone flat. “Wanqing, come now—let me kiss you.”

“Your Highness…” Wang Wanqing drew out the words, and the man chuckled, toying with her.

Wei Lan, unable to watch any longer, leapt down from the tree. Before either could react, she grabbed the man and pinned him against the trunk.

Indeed a beauty.

Skin like jade and features so refined, he fit perfectly into Wei Lan’s ideal of beauty, second only to Xie Zichen.

Her grin widened as she tilted his chin with her fan and said gently, “Your Highness, if she’s unwilling, may I take her place?”

“How dare you!”

The red clothed beauty’s outraged shout echoed through the clearing; and at this times, a cool voice followed from another tree.

“Wei Shizi, that’s the Third Prince. You’d better not go too far.”

Wei Lan: “…”

What should you do when your crush catches you flirting with someone else?