Chapter 539 - 542: He Was Mean to Me
Once Li Ji arrived, he refused to leave.
So, another person joined them at the dinner table.
Li Xun sat next to his mother as usual.
Hua Manman’s hand was injured, making it difficult for her to use chopsticks. So, Jiao Gui had specially instructed the kitchen to prepare rice porridge.
Hua Manman used a spoon to bring the porridge to her mouth.
Li Xun thoughtfully placed some food in his mother’s bowl.
"This lamb is delicious. Mother, you have to try it."
Just then, however, Li Ji placed a piece of fish into Hua Manman’s bowl and said to his troublesome son...
"Red meat like beef and lamb isn’t good for healing wounds. Your mother should eat less of it."
Li Xun could only sulkily drop the piece of lamb into his own bowl.
Then, he picked up a piece of braised pork.
"Mother, have this. This pork is so flavorful."
As Hua Manman was about to lift her bowl to accept the food, she heard Li Ji say coolly...
"Pork that fatty will definitely make you gain weight."
Hua Manman: "..."
Li Xun puffed out his cheeks and declared, "Even if Mother gets fat, she’ll still be the most beautiful mother in the world!"
Li Ji placed a piece of chicken in Hua Manman’s bowl.
"Chicken and fish won’t make you gain weight. They’re also very nutritious, so you can eat more of them."
Li Xun was furious with his father.
’His father was so manipulative!’
Refusing to be outdone, Li Xun immediately added some vegetables to his mother’s bowl.
"Mother, don’t just eat meat. Have some vegetables to balance out the richness."
This time, Li Ji didn’t make any more sarcastic remarks.
He simply ladled a bowl of soup and placed it beside Hua Manman’s hand.
"Have some soup. It’ll warm your stomach."
The father and son, as if in a competition, kept piling food into Hua Manman’s bowl.
In just a few moments, the food in Hua Manman’s bowl was piled high.
She quickly covered her bowl with her hand.
"No more, please! This is more than enough. You two should eat."
Having lost his chance to dote on his mother, Li Xun was very displeased.
He glared indignantly at his father.
Li Ji let out a soft, disdainful laugh.
Hua Manman quickly polished off the porridge and vegetables, then set her bowl down on the table.
"I’m full. You two, carry on."
Seeing that she was done eating, Li Ji and Li Xun lost their appetites as well.
The father and son hastily finished their dinner.
Hua Manman mercilessly told them to leave.
"It’s getting late. You two should head back and rest. I won’t see you out."
Li Xun was reluctant to leave.
He grabbed his mother’s sleeve, pleading.
"I want to stay and keep you company, Mother."
Hua Manman stroked his head, her voice exceptionally gentle.
"I’m afraid not."
Li Xun started to squeeze out tears, trying to use a pity ploy to change his mother’s mind.
Hua Manman said, "If you keep crying, you won’t get to see me tomorrow."
Li Xun had no choice but to force his tears back.
In truth, Li Ji was also reluctant to leave.
But he knew some things couldn’t be rushed.
Pushing too hard would only be counterproductive.
Li Ji led his son out.
On their way, they ran into Mr. Du and Ban Ren.
Mr. Du clasped his hands and bowed. "I didn’t expect Your Highness the Regent Prince to grace us with your presence. Please forgive me for not welcoming you properly."
Li Ji glanced at him and asked casually, as if it were an afterthought.
"How was the Heir of Prince Yu’s hand injured?"
Mr. Du knew the Regent King paid special attention to matters concerning the Princely Heir, so he wasn’t particularly surprised by the question.
He explained in a calm, unhurried manner.
"The Young Master caused trouble outside. Your Highness, the Regent Prince, was merciful enough to spare him.
But the Yu Royal Mansion has its own rules. Mistakes must be punished, and that applies even to the Princely Heir."
Li Xun tilted his head up to look at the man standing before him.
’So he’s the one who hurt Mother!’
Li Ji nodded slightly.
"You have a point. Nothing can be accomplished without rules. You seem to be a man of great learning, Mr. Du.
As it happens, my Prince Mansion is in need of a Tutor. If you wouldn’t mind, perhaps you could spare some time to come to my residence and teach my son?"
Upon hearing this, Li Xun’s immediate reaction was one of repulsion and disgust.
’I don’t want this man teaching me!’
Just then, Li Ji raised his right hand and placed it on his son’s shoulder, squeezing lightly.
The unspoken understanding between father and son made Li Xun realize what was happening at once.
’Dad is going to lure him in, and then teach him a good lesson to get revenge for Mother!’
Li Xun’s eyes lit up.
’Bullying tutors is what I do best!’
Mr. Du had no idea what the father and son before him were plotting.
He was flattered beyond belief to hear that the Regent King wanted to hire him as a Tutor.
"To have earned Your Highness’s favor is the honor of a lifetime."
Li Ji said, "Come over tomorrow morning. I’m entrusting my son’s education to you. I hope you won’t disappoint me."
He left the Yu Royal Mansion with his son.
To prepare for Mr. Du’s arrival, Li Xun began getting his "tools" ready as soon as he got back.
「The next morning.」
Mr. Du arrived at the Regent Prince Mansion on time.
Although he didn’t understand why the Regent King had suddenly invited him to be a Tutor, it was an excellent opportunity for him.
If he could truly win the Regent King’s favor, his future would be brilliant.
The Regent Prince Mansion had several studies, and Li Ji had one specifically cleared out for his son’s lessons.
When Mr. Du entered the study, he saw Li Xun already seated obediently and felt quite pleased.
’It seems the Heir of the Regent King is quite well-behaved.’
The very next moment, however, he felt his foot slip.
He pitched forward!
Fortunately, he knew martial arts. His reflexes were quick enough to grab a nearby bookshelf for support.
But the seemingly sturdy bookshelf suddenly began to topple.
It came crashing down on him!
Mr. Du tried to dodge.
But the floor was so slippery he couldn’t even keep his footing, let alone dodge.
In the end, the entire bookshelf crashed down on him, burying him under an avalanche of books.
By the time Mr. Du struggled out from under the pile of books, he saw that the young prince, who had been sitting so obediently just moments before, had run to the doorway.
Li Xun yelled to the people outside.
"Help! Something’s happened to Mr. Du!"
Servants immediately rushed in and helped Mr. Du to his feet.
Mr. Du was a complete mess. His clothes were in disarray, his hair had come undone, and the corner of a book had gashed his forehead, which was now bleeding. Every inch of his body ached.
’He knew perfectly well that Li Xun was behind this!’
He glared daggers at Li Xun.
But Li Xun, looking as if he had nothing to do with it, asked with an innocent expression.
"How could you be so careless, Mr. Du? To fall on such a flat floor... I heard from Daoist Feihua that people who are always tripping on flat ground might have something wrong with their heads."
’Mr. Du desperately wanted to curse.’
’You’re the one with something wrong with your head!’
’Your whole family has something wrong with their heads!’
"Your expression is so scary, Mr. Du! WAAAH, I’m so scared!" Li Xun began to fake cry.
Seeing this, the servants who were tidying up the books and bookshelf immediately crowded around, all talking at once to comfort the young prince.
Just then, Li Ji, having heard the commotion, also hurried over.
The moment he entered, he heard his son crying and immediately asked.
"Gou Dan, what’s wrong? Who’s been bullying you?"
Li Xun pointed at Mr. Du and tattled in a loud voice.
"He broke my bookshelf, and he was mean to me!"