Although Zhang Fengxi spouted harsh words in front of Xie Jianyu, he regretted his actions the moment he climbed the back of his spiritual mount and headed back to Longjing Palace.
It was not because he feared retribution. A duel between two -- allegedly -- alphas was normal. Besides, Xie Jianyu had his Winter Frost and Zhang Fengxi did not have any weapons with him.
It was because, despite everything that happened in the past, he hit Xie Jianyu again. Unable to think about what to do to repay the omega who gave birth to their child in his past life, Zhang Fengxi wanted to leave Xie Jianyu alone. Xie Jianyu should be safe and sound as long as Zhang Fengxi did not interfere with his life.
But look at what happened.
They fought from the first day they met.
Sigh.
"You should apologize," Zhang Fengxi's inner voice whispered to him, full of reproach. "So what if Xie Jianyu reported the matter to the Golden Dragon Palace? He slandered neither you nor Liu Wenyuan."
The one who issued the decree to punish Liu Wenyuan was not the Crown Prince, but the Heavenly Emperor.
The Heavenly Emperor was wise. He did not punish Liu Wenyuan because he favored Xie Jianyu.
...
Heavens.
Just what had he done?
Arrrrghhhhhh.
Anyway, a man must concede his wrongdoing. Reluctant he might be, but Zhang Fengxi decided to swallow his spit and apologize to Xie Jianyu the next day at Crystal Jade Pavilion.
He only forgot one thing.
Xie Jianyu had one avid follower, who was determined to protect his little uncle from Zhang Fengxi's evil schemes.
Jiang Muchen gave Zhang Fengxi the stink eye throughout the class. He quickly dragged Xie Jianyu away as soon as the class ended, not giving Zhang Fengxi any chance to redeem himself.
Xie Jianyu himself acted as if Zhang Fengxi did not exist.
Dear gods.
It all went wrong.
Zhang Fengxi dragged his sorry self back to Longjing Palace. As soon as he arrived, he heard a familiar melodious voice.
"Prince Fengxi!"
Zhang Fengxi widened his eyes.
Was it a dream?
Liu Wenyuan, his Wenyuan, was running toward him like the beautiful fairy he was.
Zhang Fengxi took him in his arms and squeezed him lovingly.
What a wonderful surprise. But wait.
"Wenyuan, why are you here? What happened? Weren't you grounded?"
"I was!" Liu Wenyuan confirmed. He raised a hand and caressed Zhang Fengxi's cheek fondly. His eyes were sparkling with gratitude when he asked, "Didn't you beg the Emperor to pardon me?"
"..."
No?
No, he didn't.
How could he?
He did not have such access to the Heavenly Emperor.
Heck, he was just one of the insignificant princes of the nine palaces!
Before Zhang Fengxi opened his mouth to say no, Liu Wenyuan already flooded him with a wave of praises.
"I am so relieved. That woman Shi Qingyue has been holding a grudge against me because I won the Ethereal Beauty title. She must be so happy that she got to report my misconduct to the Empress."
Dear gods in heaven.
Shi Qingyue.
The Empress.
But of course.
The Empress was one of Shi Qingyue's aunts!
The person who reported Liu Wenyuan was not Xie Jianyu. It was Shi Qingyue!
Zhang Fengxi was half deaf when he continued listening to Liu Wenyuan's happy rambles.
"Anyway, I am so happy."
Liu Wenyuan gave Zhang Fengxi another squeeze.
Behind them, Liu Wenyuan's chaperone cleared her throat.
"Prince Wenyuan, we should go back," she said. "Your father only allowed you one shichen to go back and forth."
"Oh, yes, of course!"
Liu Wenyuan beamed at Zhang Fengxi.
He stood on the tip of his toes and kissed the other young man on the cheek.
"Thank you, Prince Fengxi. Thank you for clearing my name."
Zhang Fengxi was frozen on his spot.
The servants in his palace giggled, thinking that he was just too happy after getting one kiss on the cheek.
No, that was not it.
Zhang Fengxi felt terrible.
He not only accused Xie Jianyu of doing something he did not do, but he also attacked him!
The only person who could reverse a decree was the Emperor.
Zhang Fengxi did not need to be a genius to know who exactly went to the Golden Dragon Palace to beg for Liu Wenyuan's release.
There was no mistake this time. It was Xie Jianyu.