"Who’s fighting?" Sang Zhi asked, confused.

"The young master of the Zhan family, Boss Gu, Minister Qian, and our General! Oh, it’s a huge ruckus..." The butler had never seen such a chaotic scene.

Sang Zhi’s eyes widened in surprise. Minister Qian was famous for using his words, not his fists. Whatever provoked him to fight couldn’t be a trivial matter.

"Pangtuan, hurry and go see what’s happening."

"Nah, let’s go listen to the tutor’s lecture first." Ye Qianning had heard the commotion. ’What a lively fight,’ she thought.

’It sounded like the elders from both sides were still in a war of words. So chaotic.’

"Young Miss, if you don’t go soon, they’re going to draw blood!" ’This is an emergency! How can she still be thinking about lectures?’

"This is grown-up business. I’m just a kid; I don’t want to get involved." Ye Qianning said, pulling Sang Zhi along. "Come on, let’s go listen to Master’s lesson."

The butler sighed and slapped his thigh in exasperation, then hurried to follow.

「In the courtyard.」

Dean Chen was lecturing Sang Qi on the ’Great Unity.’ Throughout the lesson, Sang Qi behaved just as he had last time, periodically sipping milk tea and constantly eating pastries during breaks.

Having stayed in the General’s residence for several days, Dean Chen was well aware that its meals, pastries, and teas were second to none. Thus, he wasn’t as displeased as he had been last time to see Sang Qi eating and drinking.

Forget the Crown Prince; even the Emperor himself would find his mouth watering.

"Master."

"Dean."

Ye Qianning and Sang Zhi walked into the pavilion.

"Mm," Dean Chen acknowledged with a nod. "The lesson is over. Why are you two just now arriving?"

"The Eighth Prince accidentally burned his eyes with steam," Ye Qianning explained.

Upon hearing this, Dean Chen and Sang Qi both looked at Sang Zhi’s eyes. The skin around them was bright red.

"Pfft, how stupid," Sang Qi burst out laughing.

"Is it serious?" Dean Chen asked, alarmed. He hadn’t expected the little girl to do such a number on the Eighth Prince’s eyes.

"It’s nothing serious. I’ve already given it some basic treatment. He’ll be fine once he gets back to the palace and finds some good ointment from the Imperial Physicians." ’It looks alarming,’ Ye Qianning thought, ’but it’s more amusing than anything.’

’Sang Zhi’s skin is so fair and delicate, which is why the marks are so obvious. They’ll be gone by morning.’

"That’s good. Since the Eighth Prince has injured his eyes, we’ll end today’s lesson here. Tomorrow is the Emperor’s birthday, so both the Crown Prince and the Eighth Prince should head back to the palace early." Seeing his task was complete, Dean Chen didn’t press them to stay.

"Yes."

"But... it’s already noon. It wouldn’t be too late to return to the palace after lunch," Sang Qi said, his mind fixated on one thing: food!

Dean Chen was speechless.

"My father, Young Master Zhan, Minister Qian, and Boss Gu are beating each other bloody in the front hall. I’m afraid we won’t be able to host the Crown Prince for lunch today," Ye Qianning said with a pained expression.

...

"I did hear some noise just now. What’s happening?" Dean Chen asked in surprise.

"It’s a very important matter, in any case. I doubt anyone in the residence is in the mood for lunch. Your Highness the Crown Prince should probably return to the palace for your meal."

"Fine, back to the palace it is!" Sang Qi’s face hardened, and he puffed out his cheeks in a prideful sulk.

Sang Zhi bowed to the Dean, then turned and walked out of the pavilion.

Only after the two had left did Dean Chen ask, "How are the Eighth Prince’s eyes?"

"There are Gu worms and poison in his eyes. The worms can be dealt with in a month or two with medicine, but the poison is not so simple." ’Ye Qianning suspected that someone in East Shu must have sealed something in Sang Zhi’s mother’s eyes, which then transferred to Sang Zhi after her death.’

"Gu worms and poison?" Dean Chen was horrified. "Who could be so heartless as to inflict such a vicious curse on a child?"

"The Gu worms entered Sang Zhi’s eyes while he was in the womb, and the poison seems to be hereditary as well."

"In that case, the poisoner must be someone from East Shu."

The Eighth Prince’s mother, the imperial consort, had also been colorblind since childhood.