vrcanaries Chapter 1422 No Change
Chapter 1422 No Change
Just then, footsteps came from outside the garden, accompanied by the voice of Prince Xiao Ce of Dongping: "Rongrong, slow down! Your grandfather is here. Tell your grandfather who bullied you, and your grandfather will stand up for you!"
Xiao Rongrong quickly ran out from behind the flower branch. She pointed at Mo Ziyu and complained, "Grandfather, it was him! No matter what good things I offered him in exchange for the wood carving in his hand, he wouldn't agree!"
When the Prince of Dongping saw Princess Youyi and her son, his loving smile immediately faded.
He frowned and asked, "Why are you here?"
Princess Youyi quickly took the gift and stepped forward: "Reporting to Your Highness, Youyi has come to visit you. Aunt Wan has also personally prepared a century-old ginseng for you. She and Uncle Wan miss you very much!"
As soon as she finished speaking, she pulled Mo Ziyu over again: "Quickly thank your great-uncle for the birthday gift he gave you. Didn't you like that little pony very much?"
Mo Ziyu bowed respectfully to the Prince of Dongping: "Thank you, Grand Uncle. I extend my greetings to you!"
Seeing such a well-behaved and polite young master, the Prince of Dongping's expression gradually softened.
He said in a deep voice, "No need for formalities. It's cold and slippery, so don't stand outside!"
Princess Youyi was overjoyed, but she also knew that the little wooden carving that Ziyu had just been holding had made Princess Huian cry.
She should know when to quit while she's ahead!
She quickly said, "Ziyu still has homework to finish, so we won't stay any longer!"
Unexpectedly, just as she was about to leave with Mo Ziyu, the Prince of Dongping stopped her.
He frowned and said, "The two little ones are meeting for the first time, how can they go back empty-handed? Why don't we do as Rongrong just said and have them exchange gifts!"
Standing to the side, Li's expression changed drastically. She knew all too well what the Prince of Dongping meant by exchanging gifts.
Princess Youyi had obviously thought of this as well, and a serious expression appeared on her pretty face.
Mo Ziyu, however, remained neither humble nor arrogant, and refused without hesitation: "I don't want to exchange gifts!"
Upon hearing this, the wind in the corridor seemed to grow a bit colder.
Princess Hui'an was still sobbing, her small hands clutching the hem of Li's clothes, her swollen almond eyes staring timidly at the wooden carving in Mo Ziyu's hand.
The Prince of Dongping's face darkened. As a prince of the imperial family, when had he ever been so directly rejected by a six-year-old child?
His brows furrowed even more, but his tone was restrained, revealing neither joy nor anger: "Ziyu, you are a little man, so be more considerate of the little girl. She's just a toy; we can exchange her."
Mo Ziyu raised his eyes, his pair of dark, grape-like eyes were very clear, without the slightest trace of a child's timidity, but rather with a stubbornness that was not in keeping with his age: "Your Highness, this is not a toy, it was given to me by my most important friend. Besides, exchanging gifts should be a matter of mutual consent. As an elder, why should you force me?"
"You!" The Prince of Dongping was speechless for a moment, and didn't know how to refute it.
Li quickly stepped forward to smooth things over, her face beaming with a gentle smile. She reached out to touch Mo Ziyu's head, but Mo Ziyu subtly avoided her touch.
Li's hand froze in mid-air, a hint of displeasure flashing across her eyes, but her words remained gentle: "Ziyu is a very loyal child. Rongrong, look, Young Master Mo's things were given to him by a friend. Shall we keep them? Mother will carve an even better one for you later."
Princess Hui'an refused to comply, stamping her feet and crying, "No! I want this! Grandfather, you promised me!"
The Prince of Dongping was already annoyed by Mo Ziyu's refusal, and now, with his beloved granddaughter making a scene, he was even more embarrassed.
He looked at Princess Youyi, his tone carrying a hint of pressure: "Youyi, look at the fine son you've raised! He's just a little wooden sculpture. Is he more important than the face of the royal family?"
Princess Youyi's heart skipped a beat; she knew that the Prince of Dongping was using this as an excuse to make a fuss.
What happened today, at best, was just children fighting over toys; at worst, it was her disrespect towards the prince and princess.
But no matter what, she didn't want to force her son.
Her only regret was that she should have told him to put the wood carving down when she brought him out.
Mo Ziyu didn't want to put his mother in a difficult position, so he looked at the Prince of Dongping with a tense expression: "Princess Huian is of noble birth, she can have anything she wants, why do you have to take my things? Is this the rule of your Dongping Prince's Mansion?"
These words were extremely harsh, causing Princess Hui'an to cry even harder, and even Prince Dongping's face turned ashen.
Madam Li, fanning the flames from the side, sighed and said, "Princess, I'm not saying this to be mean, but Ziyu is too stubborn. Our Rongrong is just a child who likes a toy. Your protection makes it seem like our Prince's Mansion is abusing its power."
Princess Youyi felt a tightness in her chest from anger; she knew that Li was trying to provoke her.
She gritted her teeth, about to say something conciliatory, when she saw Mo Ziyu holding the wooden carving, walking up to the Prince of Dongping, and bowing respectfully: "Your Highness, I know you care about the Princess, but this wooden carving has extraordinary significance for me. If the Princess really likes it, I can ask someone to carve an identical one for her, or even a better one, but I cannot give her this one."
The Prince of Dongping looked at the small child before him. Although the child was not tall enough, his eyes and brows exuded a dignified and upright aura, which left the Prince speechless for a moment.
He had lived half his life and seen countless children, some obedient and well-behaved, some flattering and ingratiating, but he had never seen one with such backbone and independent thinking.
A hint of admiration flickered in his heart, but he maintained the air of a prince: "You child, you certainly have a sharp tongue. I'd like to see how long you can keep up this stubbornness!"
Princess Hui'an cried even harder when she saw that her grandfather was not helping her. She threw herself into Prince Dongping's arms and pounded his chest, crying, "Grandfather, you're bad! You won't help me! I hate you!"
The Prince of Dongping was annoyed by his granddaughter's antics. He glared at Mo Ziyu and said in a deep voice, "Fine! What a spirited young man! I will remember what happened today! Youyi, take your son and leave!"
Princess Youyi felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She quickly grabbed Mo Ziyu's hand and hurried towards the gate of the mansion. Only after she was seated in the carriage did she breathe a sigh of relief, patting her chest with a look of lingering fear on her face.
The carriage moved slowly, and Mo Ziyu sat to the side, still holding the wooden carving, stroking it gently.
Princess Youyi looked at him, feeling both heartache and helplessness: "Ziyu, why are you so stubborn today? The Prince of Dongping is a member of the imperial family, and our relationship had just improved a bit, but now it's going to drop to freezing point again!"
Mo Ziyu looked up at her, a hint of confusion in his eyes: "Mother, did I do something wrong? I just didn't want to give away the things Xueyi gave me. Besides, it was wrong of Princess Huian to cry and demand them back like that."
Princess Youyi gave a wry smile. She reached out and touched her son's head, saying softly, "You're not wrong, but not everything that's right can be done openly and honestly in this world."