Chapter 173: Ye Qianning is a Little Drama Queen
"That’s good, then," Elder Gu nodded.
Zhan Yi relaxed a little upon hearing this, but his gaze fell upon Elder Gu and Mr. Li with a hint of disdain.
’Money really is a wonderful thing...’
"Let’s go, Mr. Li." Ye Qianning walked out from the main hall.
Mr. Li glanced back inside the room. "The Emperor’s verbal decree was to summon Miss Xiang and Prime Minister Gao. But now, Prime Minister Gao is..."
"Why don’t we just carry him there?" Ye Qianning suggested.
Mr. Li wouldn’t dare. There was blood all over the floor, and it was impossible to tell if the man was still breathing. Even if he was, he probably couldn’t speak.
"Forget it. Let’s go."
"Mm," Ye Qianning said, taking the lead.
The Hidden Guards all followed.
As Mr. Li was about to follow, his arm was grabbed again by Elder Gu.
"Mr. Li, you must take good care of her." Elder Gu raised his hand and stuffed a silver note into his robe.
"Don’t worry, Elder Gu. I will do my best." Mr. Li didn’t dare accept it.
"When the Emperor asks about Prime Minister Gao later, you must answer carefully, Mr. Li," Elder Gu said, forcing the note on him.
"I understand, I understand! Elder Gu, the Emperor is still waiting. I must be going, I must be going!" Mr. Li fled in a panic as if escaping for his life.
"Even silver notes have lost their appeal." Elder Gu silently tucked the note back into his robe. "Eh? Fan Ji, are you going to the palace as well?"
"I’m returning to my residence," Qian Fanji replied without stopping.
Zhan Yi shot him a cold look. "No one may enter the palace late at night without a summons. Elder Gu, has your advanced age made you forgetful?"
"You..." Elder Gu was about to scold him, but then he remembered the little girl was from the Zhan family. He instantly tempered his anger, reached for the silver note he had just put away, and tried to stuff it into Zhan Yi’s hand. "I’ll have to ask for your care and consideration in the future."
"I’m busy cleaning up my granddaughter’s mess. Who has time to look out for you? Besides, with your seniority, can’t you already do whatever you want in the Capital City? Why would you need my help?" Zhan Yi pushed the silver note away and strode out of the front courtyard.
’Even if I can’t enter the palace, I can at least find out some news.’
Elder Gu followed closely, clutching the silver note. He couldn’t help in any other way; all he had to offer was this pile of useless paper—
And they didn’t even want it!
Ye Qianning exited the Prime Minister’s residence, where a carriage from the palace had long been waiting.
"Miss Xiang, after you." Mr. Li hurried over and lifted the carriage curtain.
Ye Qianning didn’t move. Instead, she held out both her hands.
Mr. Li immediately understood and bent down to lift the little one. He could tell from her size that she was heavy, but he hadn’t expected this—after pulling for a good while, Ye Qianning’s feet still hadn’t left the ground.
"Mr. Li, you’re too weak." It wasn’t that she looked down on eunuchs, but for him not to be able to budge her at all—despite her weight—was a bit ridiculous.
Mr. Li was embarrassed; it had been many years since he’d done any heavy lifting.
"Allow me." A voice sounded as the curtain was pulled aside, and Sang Zhi stepped down from the carriage.
Ye Qianning had sensed someone was in the carriage, which was why she’d put on this act, but she hadn’t expected the person who emerged to be the little traditionalist.
"Eighth Prince, please, allow me." Mr. Li tried to lift her again. His face turned beet red from the effort, but Ye Qianning’s little feet finally left the ground.
The palace carriages were rather high. An adult could just use a step stool to get in, but Ye Qianning was short, chubby, and had stubby legs...
Mr. Li’s face grew redder and redder, and Ye Qianning’s cheeks, squeezed by his grip, also grew redder and redder...
"Mr. Li, put her down! She can’t breathe!" Sang Zhi exclaimed, startled.
Hearing this, Mr. Li quickly put her down. He looked closely and saw that the little girl’s face was indeed flushed red and she was struggling to breathe. A wave of fear washed over him. If he had actually choked the child to death, General Xiang would have undoubtedly cut him down with a single slash.
"It’s alright, it’s alright," Sang Zhi said, patting her on the back.
"COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..."
Ye Qianning put on a pitiful act, playing the part of a little drama queen to perfection.