The Trick to Teasing a Noble Family's Son - Chapter 26.1

The sudden appearance of Xie Zichen left both Wei Lan and Su Cheng stunned. After a while, Su Cheng finally reacted, his voice turning cold, “You dare hit me?”

Xie Zichen stood up, realizing he had been reckless. However, since it was already done, he calmly stood his ground and said, “Your Highness, I had no intention of hitting you. I was merely correcting you, preventing you from straying down the wrong path.”

“Rubbish!” Su Cheng jumped up from the ground. “What wrong path have I strayed onto?”

“The harmony of yin and yang is fundamental. Your Highness, Wei Shizi is a noble heir after all.” Xie Zichen’s gaze was steady. Su Cheng remained silent, knowing he was in the wrong. As a prince, if everyone wisely kept quiet, it wouldn’t be a big deal. However, if things got serious, it could indeed lead to severe criticism from the Censorate for years.

Su Cheng fell silent, and Xie Zichen helped him up, his voice softening, “Your Highness, I was impulsive, but it was for your sake. Fortunately,” Xie Zichen raised his eyes, “Your Highness did nothing wrong.”

This statement subtly indicated his stance. He would keep quiet about today’s events.

After being helped up, Su Cheng punched Xie Zichen in the face. Wei Lan instinctively frowned and rushed to support Xie Zichen, who had fallen to the ground. She asked tenderly, “Are you okay?”

As she spoke, she looked up at Su Cheng.

Two men fighting for her, and both of them were beauties. This was quite a tricky situation.

Seeing the injuries on their faces pained her heart. She couldn’t help but sigh, “If you’re unhappy, why hit each other? If you have an issue, take it out on me. If you want to hit someone, hit me!”

Hearing Wei Lan’s words and seeing her concerned gaze on their injuries, both Xie Zichen and Su Cheng shivered. Xie Zichen was used to it, but Su Cheng clearly wasn’t. Looking at Wei Lan, he silently thanked Xie Zichen for the punch. He had almost lost his mind, thinking of kissing such a lunatic!

He waved his fan irritably, “Forget it. This Prince is leaving.”

With Xie Zichen around, he couldn’t say what he wanted to. He’d have to leave and think it over. As he reached the door, he suddenly turned back, “Xie Zichen, you don’t like him, do you?”

Hearing this, Xie Zichen stiffened, then raised his voice, “Your Highness, what kind of joke is that!”

Seeing Xie Zichen’s humiliated expression, Su Cheng nodded seriously, “Right, you like Wang Wanqing.”

With that, he lifted the curtain and left.

After everyone had left, the two injured parties immediately collapsed. Xie Zichen sat on a chair, and Wei Lan lay back on the bed. Seeing Xie Zichen struggling to sit, Wei Lan couldn’t help but say, “If you have nothing to say, you should leave. If you have something to say, come lie down.”

“No need.” Xie Zichen tried to stay strong. Wei Lan sighed, “If you mind, I’ll get up for you. Since I’ve promised to treat you as a brother, I won’t cross the line. If you’re uncomfortable, come lie down.”

Xie Zichen said nothing, so Wei Lan struggled to get up. Seeing her effort, Xie Zichen got up and lay down beside her.

The blanket still held Wei Lan’s warmth. Lying down, Xie Zichen was surrounded by her scent. As she lay on her stomach due to her injury, her downward gaze made him uncomfortable. Wei Lan quickly noticed and quietly adjusted her position to give him more space. She then turned her head to the pillow and said, “Brother Zichen, you’re here about choosing a master, right?”

“Yes,” Xie Zichen replied. “I’ve joined the Crown Prince’s side and came to persuade you.”

“Why the Crown Prince?” Wei Lan’s expression was calm. Xie Zichen analyzed seriously, “The Third Prince, protected by his maternal clan since childhood, is bold, resolute, and uncompromising, with a narrow mind and a tendency to repay every slight. As a lord, he’s hard to control.”

“Control?” Wei Lan laughed. “Brother Zichen has grand ambitions. And the Crown Prince?”

“The Crown Prince values reputation,” Xie Zichen was growing tired. He hadn’t slept the previous night, having been tense from the preparations. Now, lying in Wei Lan’s bed, speaking softly, he felt sleepy. “Reputation makes him soft-eared, giving his ministers more room to manoeuvre. Even if he’s not a great master, we can guide him to appear as one.”

Rulers often view highly capable ministers with suspicion, using them while also guarding against them. When choosing a master, it’s crucial to assess which ruler’s use and suspicion are more beneficial.

A ruler doesn’t need to be overly competent; they just need to be good at using people.

Having once held the position of Prime Minister and constantly navigating court intrigues, Wei Lan often wondered if her death was connected to her Lord. This time, she wanted to support a prince who was easier to control.

Su Cheng was too sharp, a blade hard to wield. In contrast, the seemingly gentle Crown Prince was more reassuring.

The right ruler strikes a balance between incompetence and capability. Too incompetent, and the game is lost; too capable, and one fears becoming their opponent.

“Brother Zichen, aren’t you worried that the Crown Prince’s mediocrity is a façade?”

If so, his grasp of human hearts would be terrifying.

Xie Zichen had no such worry. Having opposed the Crown Prince in his previous life, he knew him too well. If the Crown Prince could feign mediocrity, he wouldn’t have been driven to suicide by Su Cheng.

“If you trust me, take this gamble.” Xie Zichen’s voice was sleepy. Wei Lan said no more, pondering silently.

After a while, she heard even breathing. Wei Lan turned to see Xie Zichen asleep.

His sleeping face softened, revealing the youth of a fourteen-year-old. Wei Lan paused, then smiled.

She had her reasons for choosing Xie Zichen among so many.

Though most men here were charming, only Xie Zichen felt clean and pure.

His emotions seemed simple, like a blank slate. In his world, likes and dislikes were clear. He seemed naturally guarded—some never entered his eyes, while others gained his trust effortlessly.

Like her.

Though he resisted her, he showed small signs of trust.

Like now, falling asleep while talking to her.

Watching him sleep, Wei Lan’s heart softened. For such an adorable man, even as an ally, she couldn’t help but grant him special treatment. She tucked him in, and he suddenly opened his eyes, startling her. Her hand paused, afraid he was angry. Instead, he said seriously, “Don’t go around breaking sleeves. Being accused by the Censorate is no joke.” Then, he closed his eyes again

He was probably still asleep.

Wei Lan watched him turn over, curling up childishly.

Noble children were taught strict sleeping postures. Wei Lan, for instance, could sleep without moving, leaving a ring of rice around her undisturbed by morning. She thought the rigid Xie Zichen would be the same, but his sleeping posture was entirely relaxed, like a child.

Smiling, she gazed at him briefly, then lay down and slept beside him.