Xiao Jinfeng, laughing speechlessly, felt a surge of exasperation within him.
What kind of bizarre individuals were the Crown Prince's hidden guards, to dare tickle his private parts, and with such exaggerated movements at that.
Old Man Yun was laughing so hard, tears streamed down his face. He casually tossed away the half-burnt incense stick and, clutching his stomach, said, "No, Xiao Ying, you're all grown up, and you're still pulling on your little brother to eat? Are you an idiot? Hahaha..."
Xiao Ying pouted. Idiot or not, as long as it helped Lord Gu win the competition.
Outside the window, Qing Lan also twitched her lips, wishing she could rush in and strangle Xiao Ying.
Gu Mingyan said calmly, "Young Master Xiao, it's clear you've lost. Can I state my conditions now?"
Though Heng'er's two subordinates usually seemed dim-witted, they possessed a peculiar talent for pranking people. He wondered where they learned such skills...
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinfeng scrambled to his feet and shouted indignantly, "No way! You clearly colluded. These two are Young Master Xiao's men. Of course, I'd lose!"
"Oh dear, Young Master Xiao, you can't go back on your word, can you?" Old Man Yun pointed at the incense on the ground. "Didn't we agree that whoever laughed first loses? It was you who kept giggling..."
"Exactly!" Xiao Jinheng added, "A promise is a promise, and it's only right to accept defeat. If you can't handle losing, you shouldn't have asked us to be the judges in the first place!"
Xiao Jinfeng: "..."
He could tell they were ganging up to bully him.
How could the dignified Prince Ming be so framed and insulted?
Xiao Jinfeng chuckled lightly and hopped off the heated kang. "This round doesn't count. If Young Master Gu wants to be convinced he lost, let's switch ticklers!"
"Switch with whom?" Gu Mingyan narrowed his eyes.
Xiao Jinfeng waved his hand and pointed. "I'll have Er Longzi tickle you. Conversely, you can have Qing Lan replace that simpleton!"
Xiao Ying: "..."
Your Highness Prince Ming, who are you calling a simpleton? I'm just naturally humorous.
Gu Mingyan agreed without a second thought. "Alright, that's fine!"
It was evident that Prince Ming wasn't afraid of tickling either. Today's competition was about their willpower and endurance...
"Qing Lan, come in!" Gu Mingyan called out the door.
A moment later, a pale-faced Qing Lan slowly walked in.
Gu Mingyan instructed, "You help Young Master Xiao with the tickling. Make sure you're not 'polite'!"
He emphasized the word "polite" with particular force. Qing Lan understood immediately and nodded. "Y-yes!"
She really didn't know how long these two would keep this up.
Last time, their competition to eat sticky bean buns had left the Marquis sleepless all night, his stomach bloated like a giant ball.
Old Man Yun brought another incense stick and lit it. Seeing both young masters lying on the kang, he announced, "Begin!"
As soon as he spoke, Er Longzi, as if possessed, began vigorously tickling Mingyan's ribs and armpits, emitting a series of 'hee-hee' sounds...
Qing Lan was a girl and naturally didn't dare to use too much force when dealing with Xiao Jinfeng. However, the Marquis had given her a clear signal: today, she absolutely had to make Prince Ming a laughingstock.
With their combined efforts, they tickled his soles and nuzzled his neck, yet Xiao Jinfeng and Gu Mingyan remained as still as wooden figures, showing no reaction at all...
Xiao Ying and Xiao Jun were both extremely anxious. If the Marquis lost, it would be detrimental to their young master.
Prince Ming might not kill the Crown Prince, but if Lord Gu was driven out of Dashui Village, Xiao Jinheng's situation would inevitably become very dangerous.
With just Xiao Ying and Xiao Jun, they wouldn't be able to stop a master like Er Longzi...
Xiao Jinheng also watched the scene on the kang with a solemn expression, a hint of worry in his heart.
Old Man Yun stared at the burning incense, contemplating if the two young masters would end up in a draw, when suddenly, a loud farting sound echoed from the room.
"Pfft, pfft..."
Everyone's expressions froze. Even Qing Lan and Er Longzi paused their tickling, turning their heads in unison towards Xiao Jun, who was standing at the doorway...
Before they could react, another long and distinctive fart sound erupted.
"Pfft pfft, bang!"
Xiao Jun's trouser hem from his backside was practically blown up.
With an embarrassed look, he quickly covered his backside and grinned sheepishly, "This morning... I ate a bit too many soybeans this morning, so, so I couldn't hold it in and it just came out!"
"Pfft, boom!"
Qing Lan clearly felt Xiao Jinfeng suppressing his laughter, his face turning red and his stomach jiggling.
Seizing the opportunity, she placed her hands on his armpits and gave a gentle scratch. A moment later, a thunderous burst of laughter erupted, "Hahahaha, oh my, I'm dying of laughter, hahaha!"
Everyone: "..."
Laugh all you want. The more you laugh now, the more miserably you'll lose later.
Old Man Yun blew the ash off the incense and shouted, "Young Master Xiao, you lost again, haha!"
Xiao Jinfeng, who was still in fits of laughter: "..."
So, what kind of monstrous beings were these two hidden guards of the Crown Prince?
Were they here to be the comedians?
Xiao Jinfeng, furious, scrambled to his feet and gritted his teeth, "You, you're cheating! We agreed on tickling, why are you making me laugh?"
Xiao Jinheng sneered, "Young Master Xiao, all's fair in war. How were we to know if it was Xiao Jun who made you laugh, or Sister Qing Lan who tickled you? As long as Young Master Xiao laughed first, you lost the entire match. Even in a best-of-three, you've already lost two rounds!"
Xiao Jinfeng: "..."
You people are treacherous, cunning, calculating, and utterly wicked.
Gu Mingyan smiled and said, "Young Master Xiao, how about it? Can I state my conditions now?"
He wanted to ask if Xiao Jinfeng was convinced.
Xiao Jinfeng, enraged, waved his fists, his starry eyes nearly spitting fire, and asked in a furious tone, "What are your conditions?"
He couldn't help but wonder if they wanted him to leave Dashui Village immediately and return to the imperial palace...
The thought of his mother's furious and incandescent rage made him feel a pang of unease.
Xiao Jinheng also looked at Gu Mingyan with confusion, unsure of his uncle's intentions.
"Young Master Xiao, as far as I know, you're not married yet, are you?" Gu Mingyan asked casually.
Xiao Jinfeng: "???"
"You, what do you mean?"
"No other meaning!" Gu Mingyan crossed his arms, his smile deepening. "I just feel a bit sorry for you being all alone when you've reached marriageable age. So, I plan to arrange a matchmaking event for you. Many young ladies will come to meet you then. If Young Master Xiao truly finds someone he likes, then I'll have done a good deed. What do you think, Young Master Xiao?"
Xiao Jinfeng: "..."