Little Jie Kong peered closely, then his eyes widened, and he cursed, "It's you, you dog! What bad luck..."
Little Xi Tian's face also turned grim, her gaze fixed on the person before them, her eyes flickering with a mix of coldness and warmth.
Xiao Jin Heng habitually pulled Little Xi Tian behind him, then puffed out his chest, exuding an icy aura...
The newcomer was none other than Yang Jing Rui, who had come to the Yun Manor to cause trouble and was thrown into the pond by the little monk.
After being beaten at the Yun Manor, he was hung up and thrashed again by Prime Minister Yang upon returning home...
So, Yang Jing Rui, having just recovered from his injuries and intending to pick out some gifts for Miss Murong at the general store, ran into Little Xi Tian head-on.
"It's... it's you?" Yang Jing Rui was also a bit dazed, a flicker of distress flashing in his eyes.
Especially that little boy named Jie Kong; the moment Yang Jing Rui saw him, he remembered the terror of his backside being dominated by turtles that day...
"Hey, Yang, move aside! Even a good dog doesn't block the way!" Little Jie Kong shouted, hands on his hips.
Hmph, if he dared to act up again, the little monk would strip his clothes and hang them on the city gate tower...
Yang Jing Rui let out a dry laugh and quickly cupped his hands in a salute, "Your Highness, what a coincidence! I was just planning to go to the Yun Manor to apologize to you, but I didn't expect to meet you here!"
If he wasn't mistaken, the boy standing next to the little princess was the Crown Prince...
The backing of the Yun Jin River was truly formidable, no wonder he dared to oppose him, and even Dean Qian favored him so much.
Xiao Jin Heng sneered upon hearing this, "How sincere is your apology? If Jie Kong hadn't taught you a lesson, would you dare to harass the princess again next time?"
Because Little Xi Tian was bullied by Yang Jing Rui, the little monk would tease him all day...
Saying he couldn't protect Xi Tian well, and that he wasn't worthy of being by her side, and so on.
Therefore, Xiao Jin Heng was determined to regain his dignity today.
Yang Jing Rui's face paled with panic, and he quickly bowed to Xiao Jin Heng, "Your... Your Highness, I... I already know I was wrong. You are magnanimous, please... please forgive me this once!"
Alas, why couldn't this matter be over?
It seemed that if he encountered Yun Jin River in the Imperial Academy again, he would have to take a detour to avoid bringing trouble upon himself...
"You shouldn't be apologizing to me!"
Xiao Jin Heng narrowed his eyes, stepped aside, and pushed Little Xi Tian forward, "Come, sincerely apologize to the princess until she is satisfied!"
Yang Jing Rui: "..."
What, do you guys think I'm easy to bully?
My father is the Prime Minister and the head of all officials, and you're publicly humiliating and bullying me on the street?
"What, you're still unwilling?" Little Jie Kong clenched his fists, his eyes glaring with anger.
Yang Jing Rui trembled, then came back to his senses, looking at Little Xi Tian with a smile, "Your... Your Highness, I was wrong. I shouldn't have bothered you, nor should I have fought with Jin River. You are a princess, so... please don't hold it against me, okay?"
After saying this, Yang Jing Rui felt a surge of anger within him.
He had never felt so ashamed in his life.
During this brief conversation, a large crowd of pedestrians had already gathered, pointing and gossiping about him...
Yang Jing Rui would come of age in another year, and the people standing before him were merely three little tots.
He, an adult, had to apologize to these three children.
Where was his face, where was his self-respect?
"Xi Tian, are you satisfied?" Xiao Jin Heng asked.
Little Xi Tian pouted. The more she looked at Yang Jing Rui, the more displeased she became. She simply remained silent, letting him continue to make a fool of himself...
Seeing this, Xiao Jin Heng's lips curved into a mischievous smile, and he glanced at Yang Jing Rui, "The princess feels your attitude is insincere. Come, continue apologizing to her!"
Yang Jing Rui: "..."
Will this ever end?
Do they have to make him lose all his face and shatter his self-respect before they're satisfied?
"Oh dear, it seems this young man must have done something bad to be lectured like this..."
"Exactly! I thought he looked handsome with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, but I didn't expect his character to be so poor!"
"That's why you can't judge a book by its cover. Even if he's as handsome as Pan An, if his character is bad, it's all for naught!"
"..."
Hearing these discussions, Yang Jing Rui was furious and enraged, feeling as if he was falling apart.
"All of you, shut up, get lost, and scram!" Yang Jing Rui roared angrily.
The onlookers were startled and stared blankly at Yang Jing Rui. After a two-second pause, they began to gossip even more animatedly...
"See, see? Young people nowadays have no manners at all, daring to scold elders like this!"
"Who says not? There's a saying, 'If the beam above is not straight, the planks below will be crooked.' If his character is so bad, his parents are probably not good people either!"
"He just needs to be taught a lesson. Beat him soundly, and he'll behave!"
"..."
The murmurs buzzed like flies in Yang Jing Rui's ears.
Seeing this, Xiao Jin Heng gently asked Little Xi Tian, "Are you satisfied now?"
As long as he could thoroughly humiliate him and prevent the little village boy from feeling upset, his goal would be achieved...
"That's enough!" Little Xi Tian nodded.
Although she was very angry, she couldn't push things too far; she had to leave some face for Prime Minister Yang.
Little Xi Tian stood on the steps, munching on a crisp pear and giggling, "Hey, Yang, if I were you, I would have already smashed my head against a wall. How dare you come out and embarrass yourself? Aren't you disgusting?"
Yang Jing Rui: "..."
If there were a crack in the ground before him, he would immediately burrow into it.
After being bullied to this extent, how could he ever show his face in public again?
His father expected him to study diligently, pass the imperial examination, and inherit his position as Prime Minister in the future...
Now, it seemed unlikely.
"Since the princess has nodded, it means she will not pursue this matter!"
Xiao Jin Heng, with his hands behind his back and chin raised, said, "Young Master Yang, I advise you to behave yourself in the Imperial Academy and stop causing trouble for Jin River, otherwise, your father will be very embarrassed..."
Prime Minister Yang, who was working in the palace, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
He wondered if that rebellious son of his had caused trouble for him outside again.
Yang Jing Rui gritted his teeth in hatred, but he couldn't do anything to the Crown Prince. He could only swallow his anger for now and cupped his hands, "I understand..."
As the saying goes, a gentleman's revenge is never too late; these brats had made him lose so much face today, he would definitely repay them tenfold in the future.
"Xi Tian, let's go. Aren't we going to visit Auntie at the General's Manor?" Xiao Jin Heng said.
"Okay!" Little Xi Tian's eyes curved, and she clumsily climbed into the carriage.
Little Jie Kong did not get in. Instead, he turned back to look at Yang Jing Rui, as if he had something to say...