Chapter 32
Chapter 32: Win Over the Capital’s Top Talented Lady
Shi Zhi’s heart hammered so hard it felt like it might split his ribs.
Jia Tian Gan’s sobbing confession still rang in his ears like a death sentence: “They aren’t the prince’s biological children!”
Boom—something in Shi Zhi’s mind blew apart.
He and his sister… weren’t his father’s children.
The bloodline they’d clung to like a crown was a lie.
Their mother was a lunatic capable of swapping babies.
And now that boy—A Dai—stood there like a living guillotine.
If A Dai lived, everything Shi Zhi had would vanish.
Wealth. Status. The heir’s position. Even his life.
No.
He couldn’t let him live.
Killing intent washed away the last shred of reason.
Shi Zhi’s eyes flashed. With a sudden motion, he drew a dagger from his sleeve and lunged like a cornered beast.
“Die, bastard!”
A Dai was still dazed, staring at Prince Gong’s red-rimmed eyes, trying to make sense of the words he’d just heard.
My… father?
Before that truth could settle, cold light slashed toward him.
The dagger.
“Watch out!”
Prince Gong moved on instinct. His huge body surged forward, trying to throw himself between A Dai and the blade.
But in that lightning instant, A Dai’s eyes snapped sharp—an instinct carved into bone, fierce and simple: protect the one who matters.
He didn’t hide behind Prince Gong.
He shoved Prince Gong away with all his strength.
“Prince—move!”
The blade hit.
A sickening thud sounded as the dagger drove into A Dai’s chest.
“No!”
Prince Gong’s roar tore out of him like his heart had been ripped in half.
Guards rushed in, slammed Shi Zhi to the ground, and dragged him away. Prince Gong didn’t even look.
His whole world narrowed to the boy in his arms.
“A Dai! A Dai! My son—how are you? Don’t scare your father!” His hands shook as he tried to cover the “wound,” but he didn’t dare press, as if one wrong touch would shatter him. “Imperial physician! Get the imperial physician—now!”
A Dai was being squeezed so tightly he could barely breathe. He stared at the man’s frantic terror, and something inside him—soft and sore—twitched for no reason.
“I… I’m fine,” he managed, voice muffled. “I’m… really fine…”
“How could you be fine? The dagger—”
A Dai gulped air, then awkwardly tugged open his collar.
There, against his skin, was a tightly woven golden-silk soft cuirass, glinting with dark gold.
The dagger tip was wedged in its threads, unable to pierce even a hair’s breadth.
Not a drop of blood.
Prince Gong froze.
The grief that had swallowed him whole flipped into a dizzying surge of disbelief, relief, and aftershock.
His hand trembled as he touched the armor—once, twice—confirming A Dai truly wasn’t hurt. Then he yanked the boy into a crushing embrace, as if he could fuse him into his bones.
“Thank heaven,” he rasped, voice breaking. “Thank heaven… you’re alive.”
A Dai’s face turned red from the squeeze. He wheezed, “It was… Tian Tian… she insisted I wear it. She said… she was afraid I’d be in danger…”
Prince Gong’s body jolted.
Chu Tian Tian.
That little girl had seen danger coming before anyone else.
Gratitude hit him like a wave. He released A Dai and strode straight to Chu Tian Tian. Without hesitation, he pulled out a heavy black jade command token carved with a coiling dragon and pressed it into her small hands.
The token was warm to the touch, weighty, engraved with a single character rendered in ancient style: “Gong.”
“Ninth Princess,” Prince Gong said, voice firm enough to cut stone, “today you saved my son and protected him. I, Chu Yu Ming, will never forget it.”
“Hold this token. From this day on, Prince Gong Manor will go through knife-mountains and seas of fire at your command. This vow is witnessed by heaven and earth—until death.”
Chu Tian Tian’s eyes sparkled. She stuffed the token into her sleeve like it was the world’s greatest treasure.
Then Tong Tong’s voice chimed in.
[Ding!]
[High-Risk Alert!]
[Redemption Mission: The host’s behavior has grown violent. Social isolation detected. Death progress accelerating!]
[Immediately win over “Capital’s Top Talented Lady” Chen Wan Er. Make her your number-one fangirl and closest friend! Reverse the deadly situation of “no one dares come near.”]
[Reward: Divine Skill — Top-Tier Calligraphy.]
Chen Wan Er?
Chu Tian Tian lifted her brows and swept her gaze over the chattering cluster of children.
So many faces.
Which one was she?
Whatever. She’d roll with it.
The victory banquet resumed. The troupe the Empress had arranged began to sing and perform, voices rising and falling like silk.
Children gathered in little knots, and the center of every conversation was the same.
“Princess Tian Tian is amazing!”
“She chased off the bad guy—so heroic!”
Then a sour voice slid in, sharp as a needle.
“Hmph. What’s so special? She’s just relying on her princess status. Who knows if she has any real skill?”
A girl in a water-blue dress stood with her chin lifted, her expression full of disdain.
Chen Wan Er.
Qin Rui sidled up and whispered, “Boss, ignore her. She’s Shi Mei You’s lackey—Chen Wan Er. She’s definitely here to vent for that wicked woman.”
Chen Wan Er?
Chu Tian Tian’s eyes lit up.
Target acquired. Luck really was on her side.
Seeing Chu Tian Tian look over, Chen Wan Er didn’t back down—she raised her voice higher, her words dripping with challenge.
“I heard Your Highness the Ninth Princess entered Sun-Chasing Class by breaking the rules with a single qin performance? I may not be much, but I have studied the qin since childhood, and I barely carry the empty title of ‘Capital’s Top Talented Lady.’”
“Since today is such an auspicious occasion, I dare to seek Your Highness’s guidance in a friendly match. Does Your Highness dare accept?”