I Became the Eye Candy: Four Bigshots Claimed to be My Dad?

Sang Zhi shot a glare at Mr. Li.

Mr. Li felt deeply wronged. "Eighth Prince, Miss Xiang, we must hurry. It’s almost past midnight. By the time we reach the Imperial Palace, it will likely be one in the morning. The Emperor has been in discussions all day and has yet to rest."

Ye Qianning, having caught her breath, heard this and grumbled, "This is all your fault for the delay."

Mr. Li felt incredibly wronged. ’What a scapegoat I am!’ he thought. ’Miss Xiang has all those Hidden Guards, but they just had to pick on a lone eunuch like me. Who can I possibly reason with?’

Sang Zhi bent down and, with a bit of effort, lifted her into his arms. His footing was unsteady, and he wobbled for a moment before shakily carrying her onto the carriage.

Mr. Li was astonished. ’The Eighth Prince can actually carry her...’

It made him wonder if becoming a eunuch caused a man’s physical strength to decline.

Ye Qianning hadn’t expected that someone who looked so frail could actually lift her in one go. At ten years old, Sang Zhi was only a head taller than her, maybe around four-foot-three.

’He had no height advantage, and he was too skinny besides. With his pale skin, the first impression he gave was of an unhealthy, sickly boy. I don’t know where he gets all that strength from.’

The two boarded the carriage, and it slowly began to move.

The imperial carriage was spacious and luxurious. It not only featured soft divans but was also fully stocked with tea, pastries, and an assortment of candied fruits.

Ye Qianning helped herself to a candied fruit, popping it into her mouth. She sat on the divan and studied Sang Zhi. He was still in his academy uniform, and his posture was perfectly straight now that he was seated in the carriage.

"Brother, what are you doing here?"

"It was a coincidence."

"I heard my father say the palace gates were about to be locked for the night. Once they’re locked, no one from the palace can leave. So how could it be a coincidence?"

Sang Zhi fell silent.

"You didn’t come looking specifically for me, did you?" Ye Qianning’s eyes widened in sudden understanding.

"Of course not," Sang Zhi retorted, a blush creeping across his cheeks.

A smile played on Ye Qianning’s lips as she tilted her head, her eyes fixed on him. She watched his face turn from a faint pink to a deep crimson...

’This little fuddy-duddy is a terrible liar,’ she realized. ’So that’s why he just goes quiet sometimes when I talk to him.’

"I... guess so." After a long moment, Sang Zhi, face still red, managed to squeeze out those three words.

"Were you worried about me?" Ye Qianning asked.

"You’ve only just arrived in the Capital City, and you’re still young. There’s a lot you don’t understand. Prime Minister Gao is powerful and influential. How could you dare to lead people to storm his residence?" The blush still hadn’t faded from Sang Zhi’s face as he lectured her, his expression stern.

"But my father is a General. Doesn’t that count for something?"

"Of course not. Your father is a military general, while the Prime Minister is a civil official. Each holds a different kind of power. If you act so recklessly and my Imperial Father decides to punish you, your own father and the entire Xiang family will be implicated."

Ye Qianning tilted her head, looking as though she was half-listening and half-daydreaming.

"I took a look when I got out of the carriage. You only destroyed the plaque and the threshold. While serious, it’s not beyond remedy. When you see my Imperial Father, you must be the first to admit you were wrong," Sang Zhi instructed insistently.

"Why should I admit I was wrong?" Ye Qianning had been listening for a while but couldn’t quite grasp his logic. ’Admit I’m at fault? Not a chance.’

Sang Zhi was taken aback for a moment before replying, "Forcibly entering the Prime Minister’s residence is a major offense. But with the war on the border, my Imperial Father places great importance on General Xiang. If you admit you were wrong, he certainly won’t punish you, for your father’s sake."

"But why should I admit to something if I wasn’t in the wrong? Doesn’t admitting fault mean you believe you were wrong?"

Sang Zhi was stunned once more. He stared into her clear eyes, a strange light flashing in his own before he lowered his gaze. He pursed his lips for a long moment, then finally said, "Learning when to admit you’re wrong is how you survive longer."

Ye Qianning frowned and reached out to take his hand. Her expression was serious. "No. Brother, that’s not right."