“Hurry up and make up for it, don’t trouble Your Highness to urge you again.”

“Yes.” Well, now not only did I lose my wife, but also my army, and I even have to pay out of my own pocket.

But these are just appetizers; the main course is yet to come.

“And also, about my mother…” Only to hear James Johnson speak slowly.

Diana and Chief Steward Howard exchanged a glance, finally understanding that everything that happened today was orchestrated by this ten-year-old young prince, meticulously planned!

The purpose, of course, was to exchange not pursuing Prince of Qi for the freedom of Charlotte Hill.

For a mother, there’s really no choice—the answer is always the same.

“Uh, thinking about it now. Your mother and I were as close as real sisters. That day she drank too much, and her behavior after drinking can’t be taken seriously…” Diana was halfway through when she remembered those two hard slaps, and her cheeks burned with pain.

She was unwilling to surrender so easily and still wanted to pressure Sixth Brother, saying, “As long as you apologize to your seventh brother in the main hall, and have your mother admit her fault to me, I can be magnanimous.”

“Bullshit.” James Johnson immediately pulled a long face.

“What did you say?!” Diana’s almond-shaped eyes widened in disbelief.

“Sorry, ‘bullshit’ is too crude, I should say ‘thanks for your generosity’!” James Johnson despised this kind of sore loser who couldn’t accept defeat.

Mr. Howard’s lips twitched, thinking, what does this have to do with me?

But with the atmosphere so tense, how could he dare say a word?

James Johnson was truly angry. He had thought that, like in palace dramas, everyone would stop at the right moment and save face.

He hadn’t expected the other side to be so shameless—clearly defeated, yet still trying to save face and disgust others with their stubbornness.

Well, then he’d just have to help her save face.

“I finally understand now. The reason Seventh Brother turned out this way is all because of a foolish mother like you who thinks she’s clever!” James Johnson slammed the table and shouted sternly:

“He’s already in grave danger, and you’re still bargaining here—do you think this is a vegetable market? This is your son’s entire life!”

“Stop trying to scare me.” Diana had lived through troubled times and wouldn’t be intimidated by a child. “Mr. Lee already said, this matter can be big or small. At worst, I’ll take Prince of Qi to confess to Your Majesty, and just say he was trying to play a joke on you!”

“I don’t believe your Father King would think the worst of his own son!” As she spoke, she stood up, gathered her wide sleeves, and declared domineeringly, “Richard Howard, we’re not giving you anything!”

“Madam, Your Highness, please think carefully.” Chief Steward Howard knew both sides were making outrageous demands and bargaining hard. His job was to mediate and prevent the talks from collapsing.

“How do you know Father King won’t think the worst of your son?” But James Johnson calmly pulled a piece of paper from his sleeve, unfolded it, and read aloud:

“In addition to this incident, there are other reports of his impropriety. A pigeon flew from the east quarters to the west, and he pointed at the pigeon and said indecent words, then drew a soldier’s sword and slashed at it.”

“As for his cruelty, there was a fledgling sparrow under the eaves. Someone had already caught it, but Prince of Qi ordered it to be burned alive—such cruelty shows no compassion.”

“Also, it is said that this past May, Prince of Qi kicked and broke a palace servant’s ribs for no reason, showing his violent nature is not a coincidence…”

“If all these charges were presented together, do you think Your Majesty would believe Seventh Brother was just a child acting on impulse, or that he is inherently frivolous and cruel, utterly inhuman?”

James Johnson’s rapid-fire accusations forced Diana to retreat step by step, finally collapsing into a chair.

She knew Mr. Johnson had many sons, and most of his fatherly love went to the Crown Prince. The other princes probably didn’t mean much to him.

That’s why she had always been strict, hoping he could earn more of his father’s affection.

But if Henry Johnson was branded as inhumane, his life would be over…

“Nonsense, you’re slandering…” Only now did Diana realize she absolutely couldn’t admit to anything.

“These things are known to everyone in the palace—only Father King is kept in the dark.” James Johnson took two steps forward, his gaze sharp as a sword, stabbing right at Diana’s weak spot:

“Whether it’s fabricated or not, you know better than I do. And so do Mr. Howard and everyone in Changyang Palace.”

He clapped his hands and grinned foolishly, “By the way, aren’t many palace servants from Changyang Palace still being questioned and haven’t returned yet? If Father King just has them questioned, it won’t be hard to tell truth from lies. I’m sure no one would cover for Seventh Brother over such a small matter, right?”

“That’s all I have to say, Your Highness, please think it over.” After finishing, James Johnson bowed formally and turned to leave.

At the same time, he silently counted ‘one’, ‘two’…

Before he reached ‘three’, he heard Diana’s defeated voice behind him.

“I admit defeat. Whatever you say goes…”

James Johnson’s cheeks stretched into a victorious smile.

……

Outside the main hall of Changyang Office, as night fell, Mr. Walker was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

Seeing Mr. Howard leading a team of palace servants carrying things out, he finally couldn’t help but jump and shout:

“Richard Howard, where is my Your Highness? If he so much as loses a single hair, I’ll fight you to the death!”

“David Walker, what are you yelling for? Isn’t Prince of Chu, Your Highness coming out now?” The other’s orchid fingers were almost poking his face, so Mr. Howard naturally replied with annoyance.