The Real Young Master Was Sold as a Slave, The Obsessive Crown Prince's Forced Love - Chapter 55

Chapter 55: Developing Feelings Over Time

“Dad, I’ve already found a man. I can get married as soon as we get back. When we return to the capital, you must meet him!”

Song Jiao dismounted her horse, carelessly tossing her whip to a nearby maid. She eagerly rushed towards the main house of the residence.

“I’ve been riding all day. My butt is about to split into eight pieces. Mother has returned to the palace. The Emperor was assassinated, so the hunt ended early, but my trip wasn’t in vain. I caught a man. Dad? Where are you, Dad?”

Song Jiao burst into the room, excitedly planning to tell her father, Grand Tutor Song, about her hunting trip. However, when she entered, she didn’t find anyone.

The room was empty; let alone her father, there wasn’t even a dog.

“Dad, where are you, Dad? Dad?” Song Jiao bent down to look under the bed.

A young servant entered, half-laughing, half-crying, “Miss, the Old Master is not under the bed. He went to the forest behind.”

Song Jiao stretched her legs and stood up, rolling her eyes, “I thought he was playing hide-and-seek with me. What is he doing in the forest?”

The servant said, “The Old Master went to visit the Madam’s grave. Today is the Madam’s death anniversary.”

Song Jiao: …

Uh!

I was so focused on finding a man that I forgot my mother’s death anniversary.

I’ll go tell my mother the good news.

Song Jiao immediately ran towards the back forest.

“Dad!” As soon as she entered the back forest, she indeed saw her father crying in front of her mother’s grave. Song Jiao took a few steps forward, “Oh, why are you crying? You can go see her in a few more years.”

Grand Tutor Song was so angry that he raised his hand to slap her, “Nonsense all day long! Didn’t I tell you to accompany Consort Li? Why are you here?”

Grand Tutor Song slapped his daughter, then supported his old legs to stand up, wiping the tears from his face.

Song Jiao took out a small handkerchief and wiped the corners of her father’s eyes. “Both the Emperor and the Crown Prince were assassinated, so the hunt ended early. They’ve all returned to the palace. Consort Li took a knife for His Majesty. He was so worried about her that he held her in the carriage the entire way back to the palace. I didn’t want to get in the way.”

Grand Tutor Song frowned upon hearing this, “Then the Emperor and the Crown Prince?”

Song Jiao looked nonchalant, “They’re fine. It’s just the Crown Prince who had a tough time. I heard he was hit by seven or eight arrows and was unconscious on the way back. Many people are saying the Emperor deliberately tried to harass him to death. I don’t know if the rumors were too harsh, but on the way back, the Emperor specifically ordered them to go slowly. But enough about them, Dad, I have great news for you!”

Grand Tutor Song’s face was solemn, and he still wanted to ask about Qi Wang.

Song Jiao hugged his arm and said flirtatiously with a giggle, “Dad, I found a man!”

Grand Tutor Song’s eye twitched. He looked at his daughter in shock, “Which young master did you kidnap this time?”

Ever since Song Jiao reached marriageable age, she had been carrying young gentlemen home from the streets every now and then.

Grand Tutor Song was so worried that he was almost bald.

Fortunately, Consort Li was favored. Those who went to the Emperor to complain were all appeased by the Emperor at Consort Li’s urging. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have enough heads to be executed.

Song Jiao snorted, “Dad, stop slandering me. The man I found this time is someone I can marry. We’re a perfect match. I’ve already agreed with him that I’ll bring him to see you when we return to the capital, and we can get married right after.

“I asked Consort Li. He is without parents, so he is very suitable to marry me. No, very suitable to marry me.”

Grand Tutor Song: …

He was speechless and didn’t even want to ask for details. He just asked, “Who is this unlucky soul?”

Song Jiao rolled her eyes, “You should ask, who is this lucky person, hehe. He is…”

Bang!

Before Song Jiao could say the name, a loud thud suddenly came from not far away.

Following that, a flock of birds fluttered their wings and flew up.

Grand Tutor Song and Song Jiao immediately turned to look.

Grand Tutor Song’s personal attendant pointed his toe and flew over with his saber drawn. Then he exclaimed in surprise, “Master, it’s the Sixth Prince and a fair-faced young man!”

Hearing it was the Sixth Prince, Grand Tutor Song immediately walked over.

Song Jiao followed and instantly recognized Song Yu, who had fallen to the ground. She burst into laughter, “Dad, it turns out he and I are truly a match made in heaven. Look, just as I was introducing him to you, he showed up on our doorstep! This is the man I told you about, named Song Yu, an Imperial Physician from the Imperial Academy of Medicine!”

Grand Tutor Song glanced at Song Yu.

He had an impression of this young Imperial Physician. He had only just arrived in the capital and was already involved in several incidents.

However, how did Song Yu and the Sixth Prince end up here?

Shouldn’t they be following the main procession back to the capital? Did something happen along the way?

Seeing the two of them looking disheveled, both unconscious, and the Sixth Prince with a shoulder injury, Grand Tutor Song didn’t have time to ponder. He immediately commanded, “Jiao’er, quickly return to the residence now. Find a way to lure everyone in the residence to the front courtyard. Try to keep everyone occupied for half an hour.”

Song Jiao understood her father’s meaning. He wanted to save the people but didn’t want anyone else to know.

She agreed and left.

After she left, Grand Tutor Song supported Song Yu, and the attendant carried the Sixth Prince. They returned through the back gate.

He summoned a doctor to examine them. Without waiting for Song Yu and the Sixth Prince to wake up, Grand Tutor Song immediately ordered someone to return to the capital, “Go find the Crown Prince. Make sure you’re not discovered. Inform the Crown Prince that the people are here with us, and we await his instructions on how to proceed.”

The Emperor had always been intolerant of the Crown Prince, yet he favored Consort Li.

If the Emperor found out that he was harboring the Sixth Prince, it might harm Consort Li.

…

Song Yu had no idea how long he had been unconscious.

He only remembered trekking while carrying the Sixth Prince. In the end, he truly couldn’t take another step. His knees ached, his vision went black, and he collapsed directly from exhaustion.

Before passing out, he thought he heard people talking not far away.

He didn’t know if they were from Grand Tutor Song’s family…

He opened his eyes groggily—

“You’re awake!”

Before Song Yu could even clearly see where he was, an excited voice suddenly rang out by his ear.

It was a girl’s voice.

Clear, with a hint of familiarity…

Uh.

He turned his head.

Gah!

Consort Li’s cousin’s face was practically right in his own.

Song Jiao had been leaning by the bed for a long time. Seeing Song Yu’s eyelashes tremble, she knew he was about to wake up and excitedly stayed there, waiting for him to open his eyes.

This was the perfect match she had found for herself!

As soon as Song Yu opened his eyes, Song Jiao immediately smiled, “I’ll take you to see my father in a bit!”

Song Yu: !!!

He was incredibly shocked and disbelieving.

No!

Is this what I have to face as soon as I open my eyes?

“Miss, we are truly unsuitable!” Song Yu refused again.

Song Jiao sat by the bed, her face radiating proud nobility, “I am your savior. Saving your life means you must devote yourself to me. You have no choice. I’ve already told my father. I’m going to marry you.”

Song Yu was speechless, “But marriage requires mutual love.”

Song Jiao nodded, “Then we’ll develop feelings over time. Don’t worry, I will treat you well.”

Qi Wang, having received the news, immediately rushed over, heavy with injuries and covered in dust.

As he entered the door—

He heard that very sentence: Then we’ll develop feelings over time.