Chapter 99: Even a Prince Cannot Act Recklessly

“Since she’s not the lady you’re pursuing, then forget it!” Yuanbao said. “Leave her to someone else. I heard from my informants that the Ninth Prince has been running around busily, all to please Lady Ba.”

What?

Wang Yunzhi’s expression darkened as he looked at Yuanbao.

Yuanbao thought, See? I told you—the cold-hearted man finally has someone he cares about, but he won’t admit it.

“Sir, do you want to ask me something?” Yuanbao added. If he didn’t ask, Yuanbao wouldn’t say a word.

Wang Yunzhi knew that Xiao Yi was staying at the Xue residence; he had seen him twice when others were present. He also noticed that Xiao Yi recognized him as the assassin who tried to kill Prince Shou, yet Xiao Yi hadn’t said a word or questioned him. This reminded him that if it hadn’t been for Xiao Yi ordering the men to chase him that night, he might not have escaped.

A clever man doesn’t need to hear things spelled out to understand—they were letting him off, and in truth, he owed Xiao Yi a tremendous debt of gratitude.

But Xiao Yi also liked that inscrutable girl, didn’t he?

Hmph!

What was so special about that girl? She was only a little prettier and unlike other girls, she didn’t cry easily.

Yes, and she had a bit of a mischievous streak and kept her lips tightly sealed.

See? Not many virtues.

Yet, he was so curious about what exactly was going on between her and Xiao Yi. Isn’t that strange?

Wang Yunzhi glanced coldly at Yuanbao, then feigned casualness as he looked up at the sky. “Life is dull these days. Tell me, what news is there about the Ninth Prince? What… has he done with Lady Ba?”

Yuanbao recounted the events of the previous night, then added, “There’s something nobody else knows. One of my men reported that just as you were about to meet Lady Ba, he saw Lady Ba and the Ninth Prince talking in the backyard. They were discussing last night’s matter. It turns out the Ninth Prince was meddling because of Lady Ba.”

“Tsk, tsk—who would’ve thought? Lady Ba is so young, and the Ninth Prince is like a noble and refined gentleman. How could he be fond of her?”

What, is Lady Ba not good enough?

Wang Yunzhi trusted Yuanbao’s information implicitly because when he came to the Xue family, they assigned him secret guards under Yuanbao’s control. Gathering information, even about princes, was easy.

But he wasn’t so keen on Yuanbao’s commentary.

He glared at Yuanbao once again.

Yuanbao: “...”

The young master is growing up—his thoughts are turning to women more and more. He’s harder to serve and less easy to talk to.

---

“Sir, actually I’ve heard something else!” Yuanbao lowered his voice mysteriously.

Wang Yunzhi’s face darkened further. “Is it about the Ninth Prince?”

Yuanbao nodded.

The thought that it might involve Xue Fanzhi made Wang Yunzhi uneasy, but he forced down his anger and said with his hands behind his back, “I don’t mind. Tell me.”

Go ahead and brag then!

Yuanbao chuckled inwardly but spoke cautiously, “My men say the Ninth Prince has invited Lady Ba to go boating on the lake tomorrow. Sir, will you go?”

“What?” Wang Yunzhi knitted his brows tightly. “Boating?”

After a moment, he realized how sour his tone sounded. “What kind of weather is fit for boating? Which lake?”

“Just the Qinhuai River pleasure boats. Really, it’s all arranged!”

“Even if he’s the Ninth Prince, how dare he? How could he be so reckless!” Wang Yunzhi said angrily.

The Qinhuai River is full of pleasure boats. Though it’s a scenic spot, it’s hardly a proper place. Everyone knows what goes on on those boats.

They’re places where courtesans gather. He himself had been there for social reasons.

But he’d never seen a respectable young lady go there. Has the Ninth Prince lost his mind, letting a little girl go to such a place?

Wang Yunzhi felt something was off. The Ninth Prince was already seventeen or eighteen, and surely he understood things. Yet he arranged for the girl to meet him on the river—he must have ill intentions.

Think about it. A pleasure boat is small, surrounded by water, no solid ground. If anything happens, shouting won’t help; even if another boat passes by, they might not be able to dock. Such a place is perfect for a young man to abduct an unsuspecting girl.

“Despicable!” Wang Yunzhi clenched his fists in anger. “Even a prince shouldn’t act so recklessly!”

Yuanbao thought to himself that in recent years, princes have become more and more brazen, no longer caring about the Wang family’s feelings.

He quickly nodded in agreement.

At this moment, Wang Yunzhi turned and headed back.

But that “back” meant the residence of Madam Xue.

Yuanbao hurried to stop him. “Sir, where are you going?”

How could Wang Yunzhi allow the woman he favored to go boating with another? He said coldly, “Of course, I’m going to warn that girl. What’s a girl doing boating with some young man? She should stay home!”

Uh!

Who does he think he is to control her?

The master might be confused, but this servant was perfectly clear—there’s no place for the young master to interfere.

But to be honest, their young master has been spoiled by the princess. He’s bound to get scolded. Yuanbao scratched his head. “But sir, didn’t you just offend Lady Ba? She’s ignoring you now. If you go again, won’t she just snub you? Isn’t that just making a fool of yourself?”

Wang Yunzhi: “…”

He didn’t mean to; he regretted it. Besides, it was her fault for not valuing him.

He tapped Yuanbao lightly, confident. “She’ll understand my good intentions. After all, I’m her savior. I don’t think she’d be ungrateful and ignore me.”

Half an hour later, a servant informed Wang Yunzhi, who was waiting in Madam Xue’s courtyard, that Lady Ba had fallen asleep and would not be receiving visitors.

Wang Yunzhi: “…”

That stubborn girl actually dared to give him the cold shoulder.

Since she wouldn’t come out, Wang Yunzhi couldn’t force his way in. Climbing over the wall would be too abrupt—not his style. He wasn’t a petty man.

So what now?

Wang Yunzhi was at a loss. Back in his guest room, he glared at Yuanbao in frustration. “You usually have plenty of tricks, butI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.