LOT – Chapter 135 The Third Prince Treats Lin Mo as His Idol

“I’m not! I didn’t! I really didn’t!”

The palace maid knelt on the floor in panic. She truly hadn’t used that much force—she’d just wanted to create some physical contact with the Third Prince. How could she have possibly knocked him down?

“You still dare to say you didn’t!”

With a sudden motion, the Third Prince sprang up from the ground like a carp leaping out of the water. He frowned and pointed at her dramatically. His sudden gesture startled the poor maid half to death.

“You’ve already knocked me down like this, and you still say you didn’t? Serving before the Emperor and you don’t even know the basic rules? You’re lucky it was me you ran into—I’m strong and healthy. But if you’d bumped into one of the imperial concubines or, heaven forbid, my father the Emperor, would you be trying to overturn the heavens themselves?”

The people watching: “…”

Emperor Xuande closed his eyes helplessly. Tsk! Was this fool really his son? Could he just disown him? This was utterly humiliating!

If you’re going to pretend to be injured and pitiful, then lie there and don’t get up! That flip you just did—were you afraid people wouldn’t notice how strong you are?

Eunuch Li’s lips twitched as he bowed his head. The Third Prince’s personality had become more and more unrestrained lately—perhaps because of a certain someone.

Back when Lord Lin first began attending court, everyone still maintained some dignity, at least on the surface. After all, everyone wanted to save face.

But ever since Lord Lin appeared, everyone’s become far less restrained. As for “saving face”—well, since there’s someone around who has none to begin with, no matter how shameless they act, they’ll never surpass Lord Lin.

“Father, why don’t you have this palace maid reassigned elsewhere? Haven’t the Imperial Consorts been complaining lately about a shortage of attendants? Let’s send her over to help them.”

The Third Prince spoke righteously, as if he was deeply concerned for the well-being of the dowager consorts in the harem.

The late emperor had indeed left behind quite a number of concubines.

When Emperor Xuande ascended the throne, he had already sent many of them away. After all, he couldn’t afford to support that many “stepmothers.” The few consorts still living in the palace numbered fewer than five.

Everyone knew life in the palace wasn’t easy—who would willingly stay in such poverty? The ones remaining had no family outside the palace and figured their lives here might still be better than living in hardship beyond the palace walls.

Given their seniority, the Emperor had to show them some degree of respect. Of course, that “respect” didn’t amount to much—just one or two more servants and a slightly higher allowance. Only slightly.

Emperor Xuande looked at his solemn-faced youngest son, then at the terrified maid kneeling on the floor. He found the suggestion… surprisingly reasonable.

He had gone through this himself. When he was still a prince, there had also been palace maids who tried to get close to him—especially after he became emperor. Those seeking to climb the social ladder grew even bolder.

He had seen all kinds of schemes—maids and concubines using every trick in the book to win favor. Compared to those, simply “falling” into someone’s arms was child’s play. He’d even seen women dancing from tree branches to get attention.

But this little maid’s taste was rather poor—she had actually picked the Third Prince.

What’s so good about that airheaded boy? Sure, he was handsome—but there were no ugly ones in their royal family! If she’d set her sights on the Crown Prince or the Second Prince, he could at least understand. But the Third? What was she thinking?

“Your Majesty, please spare me this time!”

The maid panicked at the mention of being sent to serve the dowager consorts.

She had originally worked in the imperial gardens, though the work there was tiring. That was why she’d gotten the foolish idea to “climb higher.”

Now she’d rather go back to tending flowers than serve those consorts.

The Third Prince sneered, curling his lips in a mocking smile. “No one’s taking your life. Why so scared? What’s wrong with serving the consorts? Didn’t you want to rise in status? Who in the harem ranks higher than them?”

By the time the maid was dragged away, her expression had already turned blank and lifeless.

The remaining dowager consorts were all eccentric. They didn’t physically torment their servants, but mentally? That was another story. They were elderly, plagued by ailments, and often demanded constant attention—complaining about every ache and pain.

Even though the harem no longer revolved around them, they still had the privilege of seniority, and that made them difficult to serve.

“Are you satisfied now?” Emperor Xuande sighed. “As a prince, can you at least maintain some dignity? Rolling around on the floor—what’s that supposed to be? You can’t just copy everything Lin Mo does!”

He was utterly exasperated. The Third Prince had become more and more unruly lately. He’d have to ask his daughter-in-law to discipline him properly—embarrassing himself at home was one thing, but not in public!

The Third Prince’s face fell instantly.

“Father, are you prejudiced against Lord Lin? I think she’s incredibly clever—and lucky! Ever since I started learning from her, even my luck has improved!”

He even looked proud as he said it. In the past, he’d often been troubled by persistent nuisances—people who refused to back off.

But ever since he’d “learned from” Lord Lin, those people had stopped pestering him—because now, he was even more shameless than they were.

If it was a contest of thick skin, he always won!

Seeing the smug look on his son’s face, Emperor Xuande couldn’t hold back anymore—he kicked him.

“You insolent brat! Now, report your recent studies—immediately!”

The Third Prince’s grin froze in an instant.

What?! We’re still talking about studies? He thought this whole incident would distract his father! When that maid tried to bump into him earlier, he’d even felt a bit pleased—if he made a big enough scene, maybe his father would forget about the homework issue.

Unfortunately, while the scene had indeed escalated, the Emperor hadn’t forgotten at all.

One look at his son’s expression told Emperor Xuande exactly what he was thinking.

He knew his three sons like the back of his hand—he could tell what each one was plotting just by the way their eyes shifted.

A quarter of an hour later, loud slapping noises echoed from the Imperial Study, accompanied by the Third Prince’s miserable wails.

“I was wrong, I was wrong, Father! I’ll study properly next time! Please stop hitting me!”

Watching Emperor Xuande chase his son around the study with a shoe in hand, Eunuch Li sighed softly and bent down to pick up the memorials scattered on the floor.

Every time the Third Prince came to see His Majesty, it ended like this. He was long used to it.