“Oh?” Mr. Walker craned his neck to look, and sure enough, he saw his own silly Little Highness bouncing and skipping along behind.

“Ah, Little Master, you finally came out! You nearly worried this old servant to death.” David Walker hurried forward, carefully examining James Johnson from head to toe. Only after confirming he was unharmed did he finally relax.

“Mr. Walker, you worry too much. Would I ever eat your Your Highness?” The stunningly beautiful Lady Diana had actually come out to see them off in person.

“This old servant was out of line. Please, Your Majesty, punish me.” David Walker quickly knelt to beg forgiveness.

“It’s nothing. You were just worried.” Diana had never been so polite before. “Mr. Walker, please rise.”

“Really, Your Majesty just dotes on Your Highness and kept him a little longer, that’s all.” Mr. Howard pointed at the boxes, baskets, and cases in the hands of the palace attendants and said:

“These are all gifts from Your Majesty to Your Highness.”

“Yes, yes, thank you, Your Majesty. Your Majesty is truly a good person.” James Johnson looked absolutely delighted, his thick eyebrows arching with his smile, the corners of his mouth nearly reaching the back of his head.

“Hehe, you’re welcome…” Seeing him act the fool again, Diana could hardly resist swallowing him whole. Yet she still had to maintain a dignified smile and said, “Your Highness, come play with your two younger brothers often.”

“Mm, I will.” James Johnson nodded, beaming. “We agreed on this, so you can’t go back on your word, okay?”

“Don’t worry, I won’t.” Diana smiled, though it looked more like she was about to cry.

After bowing once more, he bounced away with David Walker, leaving Changyang Palace.

The child was overjoyed.

Chapter Twelve: Diana’s Self-Control

As soon as Prince of Chu left, Diana dropped her smile and entered the hall with a face like frost.

“Your Majesty, why did you agree to everything?” Richard Howard couldn’t help but ask.

The outrageous conditions that boy proposed—he himself couldn’t accept them, let alone the always proud and lofty Your Majesty.

“What else could I do if I didn’t agree? Do you think the things he said today could come from a ten-year-old child?!” Diana smashed plates and bowls in a fit of rage, gritting her teeth as she spoke:

“Especially when he later framed Henry—the skill and cunning he showed, even many officials would be ashamed!”

“Your Majesty, do you mean someone is coaching him from behind the scenes?” The old eunuch understood.

“Exactly!” Diana, having vented her anger, slumped back into her chair, exhausted.

“Who could be teaching him? Benjamin Lee? Or someone else in the palace? Could it be the Empress using this as an excuse to warn me?”

“I don’t think any of those are likely.” The old eunuch shook his head.

“In any case, no matter who it is, this matter can’t be allowed to escalate, or the consequences will be unimaginable.” Diana held her head, racking her brains but unable to figure out who was targeting her.

But one thing she knew for sure: whoever was behind Prince of Chu, she was no match for them.

Those who have survived troubled times know the rules of survival well. When it’s time to yield, you yield. Endure for a few years, and you’ll always find a chance for revenge…

So what if you lose a little face? It’s better than losing everything.

“Tomorrow morning, go to Qianqing Palace and report that I want to make dumplings and invite Your Majesty for dinner.” Lady Diana gave her final instruction.

“Yes, ma’am.”

…

Some rejoice while others grieve. Over at Changyang Palace, plates and bowls were being smashed, but at Wanan Palace, it was like New Year’s.

It was shift change time—those coming on night duty had just arrived, those going off were still there, so this was the time with the most people present.

The eunuchs and palace maids, following Mr. Walker’s orders, swarmed to the front of Wanan Gate, greeting the heavily laden group from Changyang Palace with friendly restraint.

“You didn’t have to bring so many gifts! You’re too kind!”

“Haha, weren’t you all looking down your noses at us not long ago? Why are you all so deflated now?”

“Don’t look so downcast, or people will think your Your Majesty is stingy and can’t bear to part with these things!”

The people from Changyang Palace were fuming. In their eyes, with Your Majesty’s abilities, she could make Prince of Chu, a ten-year-old, wet himself with just one hand. So they really couldn’t understand why Your Majesty had suddenly changed and was now swallowing her pride.

Could it be that Your Majesty wanted to become a Noble Consort and was repaying evil with good to show her magnanimity?

Sigh, that must be it.

So, for the sake of the bigger picture, they dared not talk back and could only endure in silence, swallowing their anger. They dropped off the gifts in the courtyard and, under the full barrage of mockery from the Wanan Palace crowd, slunk away in embarrassment.

Luckily, it was already dark, so no one could see how red their faces were.

…

Once the people from Changyang Palace had gone, those from Wanan Palace who had been ordered to mock them all bowed and took their leave from Your Highness.

Standing on the steps, James Johnson didn’t dismiss them, but instead beckoned with his finger.

David Walker hurried forward, bowing low.

After hearing Your Highness’s instructions, Mr. Walker was first a little surprised, then deeply gratified. He stepped forward, cleared his throat, and announced in a sharp voice to everyone:

“Your Highness has decreed: with the Double Ninth Festival approaching, and everyone’s service being hard work, all the gifts received are to be distributed among you! Why aren’t you kneeling to thank him for his grace?”

The palace maids and attendants were overjoyed at these words, immediately kneeling and kowtowing, shouting their thanks for Your Grace’s great kindness!

“You may rise.” James Johnson put on a stern face, hands behind his back, feeling quite pleased with himself.