Chapter 364: Better Behave

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

The Song family’s faces turned pale, realizing they weren’t being acknowledged. They found an excuse and reluctantly left.

After sending away the Song family, Qiao Mai personally went to the imperial palace.

Their family had the freedom to come and go in the palace. No one dared to trouble them.

Upon hearing that Qiao Mai had entered the palace, the emperor put down his work and went to the empress’s chamber. Eleven also found it unusual; his mother-in-law had never taken the initiative. There must be something important.

Father and son thought alike. Though Qiao Mai’s expression remained unchanged, a hint of displeasure could still be discerned.

She was discussing this matter with the empress when she saw them entering. Ignoring their presence, she continued speaking. The emperor and the Crown Prince had no choice but to sit and listen.

“I came to discuss something with both of you.”

“In-law, please feel free to speak if there’s anything.”

“Xuan’er’s maternal relatives came to my house today. They said it’s been long since they’ve seen him and asked me to pass a message or bring them into the palace.”

Upon hearing this, the emperor became somewhat annoyed. “I shouldn’t have let him bring the Song family back. Now, look what’s happened.”

Eleven felt awkward. “I thought the Song family might have changed somewhat after all these years. Who would have thought they’d still be the same?”

“Don’t worry. After the wedding, I’ll send them back to their hometown.” “Keep an eye on them. Don’t let them cause trouble in the capital.”

Qiao Mai snorted. “I heard that during their time in the capital, they’ve been running up debts everywhere in the name of the Crown Prince. Eleven, you better investigate. I don’t know what they’re up to.”

“Mother-in-law, rest assured. I’ll look into it immediately.”

The emperor waved his hand at him. “Hurry up. The Song family just returned to the capital and are already causing trouble. When you inherit the throne in the future, they won’t know their place.”

The Crown Prince left, embarrassed, and Qiao Mai glanced at the emperor. “Eleven looks good, but his temperament is lacking.”

“I’ll teach him. After all, he grew up in the palace and experienced a lonely childhood. He also yearns for family deep down.”

“The Song family’s treacherous methods should not be used on my daughter.

Otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

“If they dare, I’ll be the first to spare them no mercy.”

At that moment, the Crown Prince and his men quickly arrived at the Song family residence. He wasn’t as enthusiastic as when he first met them. Seated in the living room, the Crown Prince wore a grim expression.

“Why did you go to Lucky Garden to find Ling’er?”

“We haven’t seen you for a long time. Firstly, we missed you, and secondly, staying home is boring.”

“I’ve given you silver notes. Couldn’t you establish a few shops in the capital and do some business?”

“Hehe, we couldn’t think of a suitable business now. However, we went to your mother-in-law’s family. The shops on both sides of their door are making money. Can you talk to your mother-in-law and see if she can let us join in?” “Forget about it. I can’t even join, let alone you.”

“Xuan’er, we can’t just sit idly, right? We can’t always rely on you for support.”

“Rely on me? Weren’t you well-fed in your hometown before you came to the capital?”

“That’s not the case. We were barely scraping by. Now that we’re in the capital, everything is too expensive. We’re your relatives. We can’t embarrass you.”

The greedy faces of the Song family emerged at this moment.

The Crown Prince frowned. “So, what do you suggest?”

“If your mother-in-law’s family can’t help, there are many prosperous shops in the capital. There’s no place not under the king’s rule. If you give the word, they will surely let us join in.”

The Crown Prince sneered. “Truly, a leopard can’t change its spots. Why did

Father expel you from the capital back then?”

The Song family members, sitting in the living room, turned pale upon hearing his words.

“You’re engaging in blatant robbery, haven’t contributed a bit, and yet want to reap rewards without effort. What’s the difference between you and bandits? I brought you back out of consideration for my mother, but if you continue as before, you can get lost to wherever you came from.”

“Xuan’er, don’t be angry. We were wrong. We won’t do it again.”

“Hmph.’

“How about this? We’ll buy two shops. You talk to your mother-in-law and ask her to sell us the goods at a lower price. We’ll open a similar shop. Having just one shop is not enough; many people are already lining up.”

“I’m warning you not to harbor any ideas about my mother-in-law’s family, let alone my wife. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being impolite.”

“This won’t work; that won’t work. Are we just supposed to sit idly in our house?”

“You’d better behave, or else you won’t even know what happened to your heads.”

The Crown Prince was frustrated. He regretted pleading for them in front of his father. It only created trouble for him.

He was infuriated. If he had known this would happen, he wouldn’t have bothered with such efforts.

Outside the living room, several eligible young ladies from the Song family peeked through the window. From the moment they laid eyes on the Crown Prince, they felt an affectionate attraction.

During their stay in the capital, they gathered information. The Qiao family was not to be trifled with. Despite aspiring to become the Crown Princess, being a concubine would also suffice. They envisioned a splendid future as a concubine of the harem once the Crown Prince ascended to the throne.

This desire was not exclusive to these young ladies; it was a shared sentiment among the Song family. From the outset of their arrival, they harbored such ambitions.

Upon arriving in the capital, the Song family showered their young ladies with new clothes and jewelry with the Crown Prince’s silver notes. However, Eleven paid little attention to them each time he visited.

Having grown up in the palace, he had witnessed enough palace intrigues. He remained vigilant against the intentions of the Song family, especially the way their daughters looked at him.

He didn’t drink a single cup of tea in the Song family’s residence and didn’t even stay for a meal.

He didn’t want to do anything regrettable, and with his status, no one dared to force him.

He had said what needed to be said. If the Song family didn’t understand, he would no longer care.

He would only acknowledge his birth mother, the empress, and the empress’s family.

The Crown Prince left, but the Song family didn’t settle down.

Several Song family girls of marriageable age went to Qiao’s Small Eatery together. They intended to enjoy a free meal from the Qiao family but had restrained themselves due to the Crown Prince’s warning.

The Song family had no power, no influence, and no money. They weren’t yet in a position to be ostentatious, but it was only a matter of time.

The girls watched the long queue of people. When would they get a chance to taste the snacks from this place?

So, they had an idea and squeezed into the line. Many people, seeing them trying to cut in, angrily scolded them.

“Shameless! Why don’t you go to the back of the line?”

The Song family girls acted as if they hadn’t heard. Someone shouted, “Is anyone going to enforce the rules? These people are cutting in line. Is anyone going to do something?”

Upon hearing this, Shopkeeper Niu came out with two assistants.

“What’s happening? Why the loud shouting?”

“They’re not queuing up and cutting in line.”

Shopkeeper Niu looked at the girls dressed up in a flashy manner, thinking they might be from a brothel.

He approached them with a stern expression.

“Go to the back of the line, or we won’t sell to you.”

“What? You won’t sell to us? Do you know who we are?” “Who cares? Even if a prince comes, he has to wait in line. This is the rule.”

“Oh, who are you? How dare you speak so arrogantly?”

“I am the shopkeeper of Qiao’s Small Eatery.”

“Ah, a mere shopkeeper. We are the Crown Prince’s cousins. This shop is from the future family of the Crown Prince. Hurry up and serve the best food and drinks from your shop, or I’ll have my cousin dismiss Princess Tianshui.”

Shopkeeper Niu respectfully addressed the surrounding people, “Have you all heard? These girls claim to be the Crown Prince’s relatives, trying to get free food from our shop. They even say they can speak for the Crown Prince.”

“We’ve heard it. These Song family girls lack manners, boldly making arrogant statements just after arriving in the capital. They are only distant relatives; it’s audacious to go this far..”