Pampered by the Toughest Man After Divorce
Chapter 1468 - 1290: Xiao’ai, Dabao, Xiaobei

Chapter 1468: Chapter 1290: Xiao’ai, Dabao, Xiaobei

Uncle Ye was right; two people not being together would inevitably drift apart, and he only hoped Xia Dabao could understand his actions.

He still had feelings for Xia Dabao, his first love, and an unattainable one at that. No matter what other ladies he met in the future, his heart would still be preoccupied with the one he couldn’t have.

...

The Third Prince’s Mansion was also in the suburbs of the Capital City.

When Pang Yanyan and Tian Xiaobei arrived, it was already pitch dark. Tian Xiaobei got out of the carriage first and then helped Pang Yanyan down. Although his manners seemed polite, Pang Yanyan could feel a distinct coldness emanating from him.

But that’s how all scholars are, right? A bit aloof, but it didn’t matter to Pang Yanyan; she didn’t mind.

The celebration dinner for the Chongyang King’s young prince’s birthday should, in principle, have attracted many people, but upon their arrival, they found that even though the mansion was festooned with lights, not many guests were present. Pang Yanyan explained that the birthday feast had taken place during the day, and now it was a private affair hosted by the young prince, who had only invited some young people.

That made sense, and it was even better. Tian Xiaobei thought he would meet many nobles, but now it seemed he would just be mingling with the children of the nobility instead.

He didn’t mind. He would talk if there was conversation to be had, and if not, he wouldn’t.

There were already quite a few people seated in the Banquet Hall. Since he and Pang Yanyan had attended many such events before, he recognized the majority of the attendees.

However, whenever Tian Xiaobei arrived, these people would welcome him and tease, "Ah, Divine Doctor Xiaobei has come again!"

But this time, as soon as he and Pang Yanyan entered, he felt the atmosphere was off. Everyone was looking at him in silence, and their gazes were somewhat strange, as if he shouldn’t have come.

He casually glanced around the room and quickly understood the problem—it was the young prince sitting in the center.

This young prince, named Yin Cheng, had just turned seventeen, and the mansion belonged to him. He was now staring at Tian Xiaobei, his eyes ablaze as if he were about to breathe fire at any moment.

No wonder, on the carriage ride, when Tian Xiaobei asked Pang Yanyan if this prince was hospitable, she hesitated and simply told him to stick by her side when they arrived and not to worry too much about anything else.

Although Yin Cheng kept staring at him, Tian Xiaobei still bowed and said, "This humble one is Tian Xiaobei, and I am honored to meet the young prince."

Pang Yanyan also paid her respects to Yin Cheng and then smiled, "Young Prince, this is my friend, Tian Xiaobei!"

Yet there was a hint of implication in her tone.

Yin Cheng understood it, the other young nobles in attendance understood it, and though Tian Xiaobei did not initially grasp it, he now did.

Pang Yanyan was signaling to Yin Cheng in this way that the one she now favored was Tian Xiaobei, not him, Yin Cheng.

The main reason Pang Yanyan dared to bring Tian Xiaobei so brazenly was that the Chongyang King had no real power in court.

The Chongyang King was the Emperor of Dajin’s brother. Back then, Minister Qin Kun supported the Emperor and not him, for which he was grateful, as the Emperor was but a puppet. The Emperor could only watch from a distance, afraid to offer any help and risk offending Qin Kun. After the Emperor overthrew Qin Kun, the Chongyang King tried to curry favor, but it was not so easily done.

Besides, the relationship between them was inherently sensitive. The Emperor feared sibling rivalry for power, so he stripped the Chongyang King of his authority, allowing him to be only a leisurely prince with neither too much nor too little pension—the extent of his power was even less than that of a Fourth-rank Minister.