Kung Fu Baby with 17 Doting Brothers-Chapter 392: So Much Fun at Mealtime

The soft little Tuanzi insisted she wasn’t easily fooled. She put on a serious face, "Confess the truth!"

Ji Zhangzhuo laughed, half crying.

"Alright, alright, I’ll confess."

He didn’t exactly walk away empty-handed. After all, having rendered service, that father of his rewarded him with the title of Commandery Prince.

It sounded good, but not only was his fief poor, his father sent him straight there, effectively exiling him from the power center. It was a clear message: don’t even think about claiming the throne.

He had no intention of becoming emperor, but his mother’s vengeance was unavenged, and he couldn’t let it go.

Then the struggle continued.

While far away at his fief, he kept a close eye on the capital’s affairs, sometimes helping this prince, sometimes another.

"In the end, the outcome was," Ji Zhangzhuo smiled meaningfully, "the Crown Prince staged a coup, the Third Prince rallied troops in defense, and the emperor passed away."

Tuanzi widened her eyes, curious, "Did the Crown Prince or the Third Prince ascend? You were helping the Third Prince, so was it him?"

"Oh, neither. It was the Fifth Prince who ascended."

"Huh?!"

Ji Zhangzhuo shrugged, "I was truly helping the Fifth Prince. The Third Prince was just my decoy."

Most of his brothers looked down on him, and no one expected him to achieve what he did before the finale unfolded.

Tuanzi lifted her little head, trying to recall.

"Did the Fifth Prince show up earlier?"

Gu Cheng reminded her, "The son of a palace maid, the one not favored, unfavored and without titles, overlooked by others."

Only then did Tuanzi have a faint impression.

"So, wasn’t he the one you supported to power? Was he good to you?"

Ji Zhangzhuo coughed lightly. He was being hunted by the Fifth Prince’s emissaries, which brought him here.

Duan Xiayou murmured, "Kill the donkey once its work is done."

"I’m not a donkey."

Ji Zhangzhuo refused to be a donkey, "Do you think I didn’t know his nature when I picked him? I was prepared. If he made no moves against me, I would support him, consolidating support for him. If he did, he wouldn’t hold onto the throne for long." 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Though the Fifth Prince appeared gentle and low-key, benefiting from his help made him seemingly loyal. But he never trusted those of the imperial family and had contingencies planned.

"When the Crown Prince staged a coup, I also went to defend the throne, ready with two edicts for the old man to sign."

If dear father refused, I’d simply snatch the imperial seal.

One edict was naturally to bestow the throne upon the Fifth Prince, while the other was for the Thirteenth Prince, appointing several regents as well.

Tuanzi was utterly confused.

"If the Fifth Prince moved against you, your men would certainly bring out the second edict. But who even is this Thirteenth Prince?"

"Same as me, a child of Great Zhou and a foreigner."

Great Zhou annexed neighboring lands, and to placate the people, they employed some of their officials and brought some beauties into the palace, one of whom gave birth to the Thirteenth Prince.

If a pure-blooded prince of Great Zhou ascended, the former citizens of the conquered land might not have prospered. Not prospering well enough could incite rebellion, thus bringing more suffering. But if it were the Thirteenth Prince, perhaps the result might differ.

However, the Fifth Prince had also promised to treat the conquered lands’ people well.

He broke the first promise, so he might break the second.

Tuanzi just felt her little head wasn’t enough.

She held her aching head, gently bumping against Gu Cheng.

"Big brother, Miaomiao can’t wrap her mind around it. If the Thirteenth Prince was the best choice, why didn’t Second Senior Brother choose him from the start?"

"Probably because he was too young."

Listening to this thrilling palace intrigue from the direct participant, Gu Cheng gained a different perspective.

He noticed Ji Zhangzhuo was withholding some truths, but time was bountiful, and this Second Senior Brother would remain in modern times, providing plenty of chances to probe.

Just as Ji Zhangzhuo was gnawing on ribs, he suddenly felt a chill down his back.

He moved his neck, suspecting it’s just his imagination. When he glanced at Gu Cheng, he found nothing amiss.

"Big brother guessed right. This Thirteenth Prince is merely ten years old, perfectly positioned but not an ideal choice yet. However, the ministers I selected, some are still serving in the court, having gone through three reigns, loyal and faithful. Others, having faced marginalization, retired honorably. They’re people who value both the public and their reputation while also showing loyalty to the crown."

With such veteran officials around, they could assist the Thirteenth Prince while implementing beneficial policies, besides not fearing his reluctance to return power when he’s fit to lead himself a few years later.

They greatly cherished their reputation and wouldn’t want to be infamous.

"As for the Thirteenth Prince," Ji Zhangzhuo chuckled softly, "he’s a young wolf, and with ten years, he might unify the world."

If those constantly warring small states could truly unify, cease conflicts, and allow for genuine peace, the populace could rest and recuperate.

He highly regarded the Thirteenth Prince, but he’s now in this world and cannot return, so he’s oblivious to future developments.

Thinking of this, Ji Zhangzhuo continued gnawing on ribs, feeling slightly melancholic.

This sweet and sour food was indeed delightful.

Tuanzi was captivated by the atmosphere he created but panicked upon seeing him devour ribs.

"I want some too, save some for me~"

As the brother and sister wolfed down the ribs, they both eyed the braised pork. Learning it was made from pig, Ji Zhangzhuo was quite surprised.

As surprised as he was, Ji Zhangzhuo wasted no time in snatching the meat.

After finishing the braised pork, the brother and sister’s gazes met mid-air.

In the next second, their chopsticks aimed simultaneously at the potato stewed with beef brisket.

Their hands moved like lightning, leaving Gu Cheng dumbfounded as the food ended up in their mouths in a flash.

With a piece in their mouths not even chewed, they snatched another, stuffing their cheeks as full as a game.

Gu Cheng advised his sister, "Chew carefully, don’t rush."

Tuanzi was in a panic!

She hurriedly devoured what was in her mouth, exclaiming, "Big brother, didn’t you see? Second Senior Brother also loves meat. If we don’t hurry, there’ll be less for me!"

Among the people Tuanzi interacted with, except for Gu Mo’s love for sweets and the senior brother’s preference for veggies, everyone else had a balanced diet and no particular biases.

During meals, no one competed with Tuanzi for food, so she focused on the meat, eating so contentedly that she wished every meal could be like this.

Now discovering the new senior brother also loves meat, she felt the crisis emerging.

Clutching the bowl, she acted like a little tiger cub guarding her food, almost growling at Ji Zhangzhuo.

Ji Zhangzhuo half-jokingly, half-genuinely loved meat.

"There’s one last piece of chicken, yours or mine?"

Tuanzi rationally said, "Rock-paper-scissors."

Despite saying this, she was ready to cheat.

She would snatch the chicken at lightning speed as soon as Second Senior Brother raised his hand, hahaha!

Tuanzi worked hard to keep a straight face, not letting Second Senior Brother catch on to her plan.

They began rock-paper-scissors, both extending their left hands, while their right hands simultaneously gripped chopsticks, ready to grab the chicken.

Just then, another person quickly took the last piece of chicken.

Tuanzi and Ji Zhangzhuo: !!!∑(ﾟДﾟノ)ノ

Turning their heads, they saw Duan Xiayou casually chewing the chicken.