Chapter 315
Chapter 315
Zhu Hanyu leaned against the window, watching Old Madam Zhou threaten Xu Heming with a pair of scissors. Initially, Zhu Hanyu had not intended to intervene, but he still ended up exposing Old Madam Zhou's little trick.
In the imperial palace, such dramatic antics would not even be worthy of his attention.
Besides, he only knew Xu Heming, so he would naturally take his side.
Without a second thought, Zhu Hanyu spoke up and interrupted Old Madam Zhou.
When Zhu Hanyu first entered, he noticed that there was surprisingly no one guarding the Zhou family's main gate; he only saw a young servant cowering and trembling to the side.
When he walked in, the servant did not utter a word to stop him.
Zhu Hanyu had no idea which courtyard Xu Qingshi was in, so he had to search blindly around the Zhou estate.
However, even after searching for a long time, no one paid him any mind.
Just moments ago, he had heard Xu Heming's familiar voice and followed it here.
Meanwhile, in Old Madam Zhou's courtyard, because she wanted to speak with Xu Heming, she had deliberately sent all the servants away.
Therefore, when Zhu Hanyu walked in with two young eunuchs, no one stopped them.
It was just that Zhu Hanyu had not expected to find this old woman threatening Xu Heming right as he was about to greet him.
Old Madam Zhou did not know Zhu Hanyu. Seeing that his age was similar to her grandson's, she simply assumed that he was Xu Qingshi.
You child, running around blindly like this, look how anxious you have made your father! Old Madam Zhou looked at Zhu Hanyu with displeasure, her words coming out as a cold reprimand.
Zhu Hanyu looked baffled. His father?
Was she talking about his Imperial Father?
His Imperial Father would worry about him?
Hearing this, Xu Heming laughed out of sheer anger. What kind of nonsense was this?
Could this old woman actually think that the Third Prince was Qingshi?
However, Xu Heming did not expose the misunderstanding; he wanted to see just how absurd this old woman could be.
Now, Xu Heming completely understood. All that talk about missing Xu Qingshi was nothing but a pack of lies to deceive him.
Yet he had foolishly thought that, no matter what, Xu Qingshi was still of the Zhou family's bloodline.
If Old Madam Zhou had actually seen Xu Qingshi, it would be impossible for her not to realize that the person before her was not him. The only explanation was that this old woman had never even laid eyes on Xu Qingshi.
At this thought, Xu Heming's expression darkened.
Seeing Zhu Hanyu's bewildered expression, Old Madam Zhou felt a surge of anger in her heart.
This child had just arrived at the Zhou family and was already stirring up trouble. Not only did he cause a scene in the kitchen, but now he had even burned down the Tingyun Courtyard.
Thinking of this, Old Madam Zhou looked at Zhu Hanyu with a face full of accusation and said, You child, you are already so old, how can you still be so ignorant? To think you deliberately set fire to the Tingyun Courtyard, making everyone think something had happened to you.
Hearing this, Zhu Hanyu felt completely lost in the clouds. What courtyard did he burn?
He had only just arrived, alright?
But why was this old woman so annoying?
Not only was she threatening Prince An, but she was even lecturing him?
And to top it off, he had not even done the thing she was accusing him of.
With this in mind, Zhu Hanyu looked at Old Madam Zhou with dissatisfaction and asked, Did you see me set the fire?
As soon as he said this, Zhu Hanyu felt a twinge of regret, thinking to himself, Could this fire have been set by Xu Qingshi?
Otherwise, why would Prince An be here, allowing himself to be threatened by her?
Thinking of this, Zhu Hanyu crossed his arms over his chest, glaring with dissatisfaction at the old woman before him who could not tell right from wrong.
You little brat, your mother is gone, and it is my fault as an old woman for not teaching you well! To think you have even started lying! In every word she spoke, Old Madam Zhou implied that Zhu Hanyu lacked proper upbringing.
She is saying that you lack upbringing, Xu Heming said, looking at Zhu Hanyu with a mocking smirk playing on his lips.
Whether I have proper upbringing or not is none of her business, Zhu Hanyu replied, his face turning sour at the words.
He had not even scolded this old woman for lacking manners, failing to bow when she saw him, and now she was actually blaming him for having no upbringing?
This was truly too laughable.
But she wants to make it her business, Xu Heming said. Although he was worried about his son's whereabouts, no bones had been found in the Tingyun Courtyard, so he believed that Xu Qingshi was likely not there.
After all, having handled countless cases, he knew very well that even in a massive fire, after a person died, their bones could not possibly be completely reduced to ash.
However, as to where Xu Qingshi had gone, that still required a thorough search.
He needed to confirm whether the boy was still in the Zhou estate.
Could this be a smokescreen set up by the Zhou family?
However, he also had not expected the Third Prince to show up.
Even less did he expect that this old woman of the Zhou family would not even recognize her own grandson.
Hey, old woman, you say I burned down your courtyard, but do you have proof? If you have no proof and falsely accuse me, that is a serious crime! Zhu Hanyu looked at Old Madam Zhou and spoke with righteous indignation.
You child, what is the meaning of this? I gave birth to your mother, can I not even say a few words to you? Old Madam Zhou was practically furious to death by his words. She never expected this Xu Qingshi to be so insubordinate.
Prince An, is this how you usually teach your child to disrespect his elders? Seeing that Xu Heming did not speak up to stop him, Old Madam Zhou could not help but look at him with dissatisfaction and accuse him.
You want him to respect you? I am afraid you are not qualified, Xu Heming said mockingly. After all, the Third Prince was the legitimate prince born of the Empress.
How could the wife of a mere second-rank official have the audacity to demand a prince's respect?
So, since you say I burned down your courtyard, are you trying to make me pay you silver? Zhu Hanyu thought to himself that this old woman actually dared to bully Xu Heming.
Should you not compensate for destroying someone else's property? Old Madam Zhou looked smug. She felt that Xu Qingshi was finally showing some sense.
Although that courtyard was dilapidated, would it not be wonderful to have it newly rebuilt?
What you say makes sense. Go tell my Imperial Father that I burned down someone's courtyard at the Zhou estate, and tell him to bring silver to ransom me! Zhu Hanyu nodded and spoke to the young eunuch beside him.
Yes! As the young eunuch left, he cast a glance at Old Madam Zhou.
Zhu Hanyu thought to himself that Prince An was his Imperial Father's right-hand man and must not be allowed to be bullied.
Furthermore, he was Xu Qingshi's father, so he should naturally look out for him even more.
Remembering how Xu Heming had been harmed by his own unscrupulous aunt and forced to wear a green hat, Zhu Hanyu looked at the rather unlucky Xu Heming with some sympathy.
For a moment, Xu Heming was a bit puzzled, not understanding why the Third Prince was looking at him like that.
Old Madam Zhou, however, being advanced in years, did not catch what Zhu Hanyu had said to the servant, simply assuming that Zhu Hanyu had sent someone to fetch the silver.
Thinking that the estate was about to receive an unexpected sum of silver.
Old Madam Zhou felt incredibly smug in her heart.
Standing to the side, Xu Heming watched the immensely smug expression on Old Madam Zhou's face and sneered inwardly.
Even if the Emperor truly brought the silver, the Zhou family would have to be alive to spend it.
Daring to extort silver from the Emperor, this Zhou family was certainly the first of its kind.
Zhu Hanyu, feeling tired of standing, directly sat down on a nearby chair.
Get up! Old Madam Zhou scolded upon seeing Xu Qingshi sit down so casually.