Sang Qi strode toward Ye Qianning, and Sang Rui hurried to follow.

Ye Qianning put a hand to her forehead. ’Have I become a pariah? Why does everyone who sees me look so aggressive?’

"Let’s go," Sang Zhi said, tightening his grip on her hand.

Ye Qianning had thought he would lead her away, but to her surprise, he walked right up to them. ’In the past, the little stick-in-the-mud would have done anything to avoid a confrontation. If he couldn’t, he’d have been the one getting bullied.’

’This little guy really is different today.’

"Fatty, what do you think you’re doing?" Sang Qi’s furious voice roared out before he even reached them.

"..."

Ye Qianning couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge him.

Getting no response made Sang Qi even more furious. He threw all etiquette to the wind and broke into a jog.

Seeing this, Sang Rui gloated inwardly. ’It seems the Crown Prince hates Ye Qianning too. If that fatty gets taught a lesson, then sneaking out today won’t have been a waste of time.’

"Crown Prince," Sang Zhi said, bowing slightly.

Ye Qianning tilted her head, staring at the fuming prince.

"Sang Zhi, let her go!" Sang Qi snapped.

Sang Zhi did not let go. Instead, he gripped her hand even tighter. "Crown Prince, I must go see Father Emperor. If there is nothing else, please step aside."

Sang Qi was taken aback. "You’re going to see Father Emperor?"

"Yes."

Sang Qi suddenly remembered that Sang Zhi had been expelled by imperial decree, and the anger on his face twisted into a sneer. "Still want to attend Lou Mountain Academy? Dream on."

’No one can defy Father Emperor’s decree, least of all Sang Zhi. Father Emperor doesn’t care about him in the slightest.’

"You needn’t trouble yourself with that, Crown Prince," Sang Zhi said coolly. He glanced down at Ye Qianning. "Let’s go."

Ye Qianning was in an excellent mood, her eyes crinkling with amusement.

The two of them started to walk past Sang Qi before he snapped out of it.

"You’re not going anywhere!" Sang Qi shouted, spinning around.

Sang Rui immediately blocked their path.

"Seventh Brother, have you been well in the Cold Palace?" Sang Zhi asked, standing ramrod straight with one hand clasped behind his back.

Sang Rui met his gaze and instinctively took a step back. He averted his eyes, the taunt echoing in his ears and making him angrier by the second.

"The Crown Prince said you are not to go."

’A tiger on flat plains gets bullied by dogs,’ he fumed inwardly. ’Even a little bastard like Sang Zhi dares to look down on me now.’

"Sang Zhi, I told you to let her go! Who said you could hold her hand?" Sang Qi demanded, blocking their path again.

"Is there a problem, Crown Prince?"

"She is my future Crown Princess Consort!"

"As you said, Crown Prince, ’future’ Crown Princess Consort. She isn’t one yet. Besides, no one knows who the Crown Prince’s consort will be in the future," Sang Zhi replied, perfectly composed and with none of his former meekness.

"You..." Sang Qi was seething. He glared down at the smiling Ye Qianning. "Fatty, what are you smiling at? Get over here now!"

Ye Qianning didn’t say a word, just made a "Tch" sound that sent Sang Qi’s anger flaring.

"They’re showing such contempt for you, Crown Prince! You can’t let them get away with this," Sang Rui whispered, seizing the opportune moment to stir up trouble. "That fatty is your Crown Princess Consort, yet they’re holding hands in public. They’re utterly shameless!"

Sang Qi was choking on a knot of anger he couldn’t swallow. His eyes, as they fell on Ye Qianning, filled with killing intent. His things—even something he had smashed and thrown away—were not to be touched by anyone else.

Ye Qianning felt the killing intent. ’For an eight-year-old to have such intense killing intent... he’ll probably be even more terrifying than the Beili Emperor in the future. A monarch who kills in a fit of rage is the most dangerous ruler to serve.’