The Crown Prince tilted his head and dodged the incoming slap. In response he grabbed his mother’s cold wrist and stared calmly at her.
The empress wasn’t expecting the always meek prince to have such a sharp gaze. She impulsively shuddered and pulled back her hand. She said slowly, "Do you believe your mother to be in the wrong?"
The Crown Prince frowned. "I wouldn’t dare."
The empress suddenly raised her voice, "Do you not know Fan Xian is meeting the Second Prince on his boat?"
The prince suddenly raised his head and stared directly into the empress’s eyes. He said calmly, "Mother, will you allow me to handle these matters? As a leading poet, it isn't unusual for Fan Xian to meet with Second Prince."
The empress was angry and frustrated, but she didn’t know how to respond.
The Crown Prince looked at her and continued: "I have often wondered; can you not be so sensitive? You will only chase my potential allies away to join my brothers."
