Pampered by the Toughest Man After Divorce
Chapter 997 - 797: Brother Ye’s Identity (2)

Chapter 997: Chapter 797: Brother Ye’s Identity (2)

Impossible? The birth mother of the Fourth Prince is Noble Consort Shu, and she only had him.

"Crown Princess?" The Empress reminded her again, and Nangong Nini then came to her senses and looked at the Empress, "This is... Once, the Fourth Prince heard that I could paint portraits, so he asked me to paint one for him. This has been put off for a long time, and now I just remembered it."

The Empress was not so easily fooled. "Aren’t there painters in the Palace? Why must you do the painting?"

"He finds the palace painters too dull, having to sit for an entire day. I’m different; I can paint from memory. Mother, do you think my painting looks like him?" Nangong Nini asked with a smile, regaining her composure and smiling quite naturally.

The Empress looked again carefully and then said, "The age is very close, but this nose and mouth don’t quite resemble him; the nose is too straight, and the lips are too thin. The painting is actually more handsome than the Fourth Prince."

Then, the Empress narrowed her eyes, "I’ve heard that love beautifies the beloved. Crown Princess, why have you made the Fourth Prince look so attractive in your painting?"

Nangong Nini grew nervous inside, but she quickly came up with a clever response, "This is why the Fourth Prince doesn’t want the palace painters to paint his portrait. He says the palace painters lack subtlety, and though some features can be flatteringly altered, they simply do not understand. I’m different; I can make slight adjustments to his appearance."

"Oh?" The Empress still looked at Nangong Nini with suspicion. As a mother-in-law, one’s worst fear is the daughter-in-law’s infidelity. If Nangong Nini were really to flirt with the Fourth Prince, what then?

"Mother, I think the Fourth Prince likes to deceive himself and not face his flaws. Despite being unattractive, he insists others paint him handsomely, but such behavior is not commendable. Forget it, I won’t give him the painting," Nangong Nini pretended to casually take the painting from the Empress’s hand, crumpled it up, and then sat down, looking at the Empress, "Mother, why don’t I paint one for you instead? I guarantee you’ll be pleased."

...

By the time the Empress left the Crown Princess’s Palace, it was already evening.

And just then, at the entrance, she happened to meet the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince, who had returned from outside.

The Crown Prince, who was unaware of the Empress’s visit, quickly paid his respects, and the Fourth Prince hurried to do the same.

"Rise, Crown Prince," said the Dowager Empress.

The Fourth Prince was about to get up but was stopped by the Empress with a frown, "Did I bid you to rise?"

The Fourth Prince, confused and unclear where he had offended the Empress, was not her biological child. He naturally had to be wary of her, usually keeping his distance. He was aware the Empress disliked him, worried he might compete with the Crown Prince for the throne, so she always gave him cold looks.

After kneeling for a while, the Dowager Empress finally spoke, "Fourth Prince, what brings you to the Crown Prince’s Residence?"

The Fourth Prince replied, "My royal brother summoned me. He said there was something he wanted to give me."

"What is it?"

The Crown Prince interjected from the side, "A precious sword, a tribute from Persia. I thought to gift it to my fourth brother."

"You could have sent a servant to deliver it; why make him come personally? You may go back now, Fourth Prince. Tomorrow, the Crown Prince will have someone send it to you."

"Yes," knowing the Empress did not like him, the Fourth Prince did not linger and turned to leave.

The Crown Prince could not help but reproach the Empress: "Mother, why do you target him like that? He will soon be granted a fief and titled as a king; he won’t threaten my position. And he has no desire for the competition, only wishing to be a tranquil lord."