Chapter 0014: The Second Prince Who Dislikes Male Charm, Xie Chengze With Ulterior Motives

“Beauty, drinking tea alone here?”

The chubby fellow plopped onto the stool, propping his chin as he leered at Xie Chengze with lustful eyes. “Here for sightseeing in Zhuolu? My father’s the county magistrate—I’m his son and know this place inside out. How about being my guest at the mansion? I’ll take you hehehe… show you around, what do you say?”

The chubby lad seemed to have imagined some delightful scenario, breaking into a series of “hehehe” chuckles mid-sentence.

Xie Chengze set down his teacup, feigning interest. “You’re the county magistrate’s son?”

Seeing his curiosity, the chubby lad immediately straightened up, boasting proudly, “Of course! Ask anyone around—hey, you, tell him! Am I not Zhu Xiaobiao, son of Magistrate Zhu?”

He kicked a tea drinker at the neighboring table.

The tea drinker hurriedly responded, trembling, “Yes, sir truly is the magistrate’s son.”

The Yamen Runners with swords gathered around, standing behind Zhu Xiaobiao as they laughed boldly at Xie Chengze. “Little beauty, come back with our young master! You’ll enjoy fine food and drinks—a life of luxury awaits!”

Xie Chengze appeared frightened, standing up somewhat awkwardly. “I’ve made plans with someone and will be leaving the city tonight. Thank you for your kindness, sir.”

Hearing the refusal, the chubby lad’s face instantly darkened. He slammed the table and stood. “Thought you were sensible, but it seems you’re asking for trouble! Men, tie him up and take him to the mansion!”

The Yamen Runners, already eager, stepped forward and restrained Xie Chengze. When their hands touched his waist, they couldn’t help but marvel inwardly—this guy’s waist was damn soft, even more enticing than a woman’s.

Struggling in vain, Xie Chengze glared angrily at Zhu Xiaobiao. “Let me go! Do you have any idea who I am? How dare you bind me?”

“Hmph! I’m the county magistrate’s son, and the prefect of Jizhou’s wife is my aunt! Judging by your clothes, you’re at best a merchant’s son. Commoners don’t challenge officials—don’t you know that?” Zhu Xiaobiao lifted Xie Chengze’s chin triumphantly, patting the long whip at his waist with a slightly menacing expression. “I advise you to behave—you might suffer less later!”

Xie Chengze paled. “If you dare lay a hand on me, you’ll regret it!”

“Regret?” Zhu Xiaobiao scoffed, waving for the runners to take him away. “I, Zhu Xiaobiao, have never known how to write the word ‘regret’ since I was a child!”

…

“Father! I regret it—!”

In the county office, Zhu Xiaobiao knelt on the ground, weeping bitterly, his tears forming the characters for “regret” on the floor.

Xie Chengze sat behind the magistrate’s desk, leisurely savoring the aroma of tea and watching the spectacle below.

Magistrate Zhu trembled as he knelt to the side, cautiously observing Xie Chengze’s expression. “Your Highness, this humble official has failed in teaching his son! I beg Your Highness to spare his life, considering his youth!”

He then kicked Zhu Xiaobiao fiercely, scolding angrily, “You fool! How dare you bind the Second Prince! Hurry and beg for His Highness’s forgiveness!”

If the Second Prince hadn’t failed to appear at the scheduled meeting time, and Wuhen hadn’t suddenly shown up saying the Second Prince was in Zhu Xiaobiao’s room, Magistrate Zhu would never have known that his son, usually just a ne’er-do-well, had now committed a capital offense!

Kicked to the ground, Zhu Xiaobiao sobbed pitifully, “Second Prince, I know I was wrong! I truly didn’t know you were a prince! I wouldn’t have dared even with a hundred times the courage!”

“Oh?” Xie Chengze took a leisurely sip of tea, glancing at him with an ambiguous smile. “So if I weren’t a prince, you would have dared to forcibly take me as your beautiful concubine?”

Zhu Xiaobiao hastily shook his head. “No, no, no, I wouldn’t dare! Didn’t we agree in the room that only you are worthy of the position of principal husband—Ow!”

Before Zhu Xiaobiao could finish, Magistrate Zhu slapped him hard on the back of the head, exclaiming in terror, “What nonsense are you spouting!”

Was he trying to get himself killed? Every scholar and official in the empire knew that the Second Prince detested male beauty and hated being told he looked feminine.

Clutching his head, Zhu Xiaobiao whimpered, “Second Prince—I know I was wrong! I’ll send all my beautiful concubines back home right now, wuwuwu—”

“I don’t believe you. How do I know you won’t repeat your offenses after I leave?” Xie Chengze set down his teacup, his smile growing more mischievous. “However, there is one way to make me believe you’ll never dare to abduct common women again.”

Zhu Xiaobiao’s lower abdomen tightened in fear, and he prostrated himself on the ground, wailing, “Your Highness! Your Highness, I don’t have a son yet! I haven’t had any children! Can you delay it? Let me… let me at least have a daughter before I die—”

Xie Chengze: …

Wow, he’s really noisy.

No wonder the original owner had him executed directly.

Xie Chengze rummaged through the command token container beside him, pulled out a red token, and tossed it to the ground. “What to do? I trust only the dead to keep their promises.”

Zhu Xiaobiao’s legs gave way, and he crawled forward weeping. “Your Highness, spare me! Although I abducted common women, I never mistreated them! They all stayed willingly in the end! Those who weren’t willing, I didn’t force to stay—”

Xie Chengze raised an eyebrow.

Seeing Xie Chengze seemed to soften, Zhu Xiaobiao quickly wiped his snot and spoke rapidly, “Your Highness—if you don’t believe me, go ask them! Although I detained them for several months, it was only to build feelings. During that time, I never laid a hand on them—I even provided them with good food and drink!”

“All those beautiful concubines in my household stayed willingly. You know that—didn’t they even try to persuade you…” Zhu Xiaobiao abruptly stopped and cautiously glanced at Xie Chengze. Seeing no anger, he continued, “I know my looks aren’t great, so I wanted to win them over with sincerity…”

Magistrate Zhu nearby looked up at the sky in despair.

“Hmm…” Xie Chengze propped his chin on his hand, watching the father and son kneeling on the ground with interest.

Zhu Xiaobiao wasn’t lying—those women had indeed been treated well.

Moreover, the Jian’an Dynasty had liberal customs and didn’t place much importance on female chastity. Though they were abducted, they were well provided for, which was why so many were willing to stay.

And even…

Remembering the original plot, Xie Chengze’s eyes flickered. Zhu Xiaobiao didn’t deserve death, but he couldn’t escape punishment.

“If you want to live, it’s not impossible.” Xie Chengze cupped his face in his hands and looked at Zhu Xiaobiao mischievously. “I’m heading south to Yi Province and need someone who knows how to serve. If you can return alive, I’ll spare your life.”

Zhu Xiaobiao stared blankly.

Magistrate Zhu immediately panicked and pleaded, “Your Highness, this humble official was blessed with a son late in life, and he is my only child. He has never known hardship since childhood, let alone how to serve others…”

“Are you implying that this Crown Prince has known hardship?” Xie Chengze’s expression abruptly turned icy, his authoritative gaze piercing through Magistrate Zhu. “If this Crown Prince can govern Yi Province, can your son not even set foot in Yi Province?”