Chapter 181: Big Apples from the Space
Sang Zhi seemed to only half-understand.
"It’s fine if you don’t get it. School starts at the academy tomorrow. I’ll teach you all about it once we’re there." Ye Qianning patted his shoulder on her tiptoes.
’This isn’t the place to talk, anyway.’
"I’ll see you out of the palace," Sang Zhi said.
"No need. You should hurry back and get some sleep. I’m off." With that, Ye Qianning turned to leave.
"Eighth Prince, you should go rest as well," Mr. Li urged before hurrying to catch up with the little girl.
’He felt a sense of relief. The Eighth Prince and Miss Xiang seemed to get along well. In the future, the prince would have some support, especially since Miss Xiang was currently in the Emperor’s favor.’
’If nothing else, she still had General Xiang backing her. With that extra support, the Eighth Prince’s life in the palace might become a little easier.’
Sang Zhi stared at the figure skipping away in the distance, a profound darkness in his eyes.
’Today had been full of surprises. Was this what it meant to turn the tables completely?’
’A complete reversal?’
A ripple spread through his heart, expanding outward.
By the time Ye Qianning left the Imperial Palace, it was already the Hour of the Rabbit. The sky was brightening, and the palace gates had just opened. Her carriage had barely gone any distance when someone blocked its path.
Gu Lao and Zhan Yi had been waiting at the palace gates ever since she went inside. They hadn’t slept a wink, and the long wait had been agonizing.
The longer it took, the more they feared the worst. But with the palace gates closed, they couldn’t get in.
Just when they felt they couldn’t wait another moment, they saw the gates swing open and a carriage slowly emerge.
"Gu Lao." Mr. Li stepped down from the carriage.
"Is the little lass in the carriage? Did the Emperor have her beaten? Was the punishment severe?" Gu Lao asked, his face etched with worry.
Mr. Li simply smiled at his words.
"Mr. Li, what is the meaning of this?" Zhan Yi asked anxiously.
"What are you smiling about? I asked you if the little lass is in the carriage!" Gu Lao craned his neck, trying to see inside.
"Please, you two, calm down. Miss Xiang is fine. Not only is she fine, but the Emperor was so pleased he even gave her a reward," Mr. Li said with a laugh.
Zhan Yi and Gu Lao exchanged a surprised glance. ’She beat Prime Minister Gao half to death, and the Emperor was pleased enough to give her a reward?’
’The Emperor usually seems to value Prime Minister Gao highly. The man is on death’s door, and the Emperor is happy about it?’
"Mr. Li, you’re not pulling our leg, are you?" Gu Lao said, snapping out of his daze, clearly skeptical.
"How would I dare deceive you, Gu Lao? Miss Xiang is right here in the carriage. If you don’t believe me, take a look for yourselves. Not a single hair on her head is out of place." If Mr. Li hadn’t witnessed it himself, he wouldn’t have believed it either.
Just then, Ye Qianning lifted the carriage curtain and poked her small head out. "Gu Lao, Old Master Zhan."
Seeing the little girl’s happy smile, Gu Lao and Zhan Yi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Little lass, are you really alright?" Gu Lao asked, walking up to the carriage window.
"I’m fine. Do I look like I’ve been beaten?" Ye Qianning leaned halfway out of the carriage.
"Sit properly, or you’ll fall out," Zhan Yi said, raising a hand to steady her.
’Ye Qianning looked at the two of them—one nearly sixty, the other over eighty—and realized they had waited at the palace gates for most of the night. Even though it wasn’t a cold spring, the night wind was still biting.’
’Though she didn’t want to get too entangled with them, she couldn’t help but be moved by the sight.’
’After all, she wasn’t made of stone. She could tell who was truly good to her, and she knew life wasn’t easy for these old men.’
"Gu Lao, Old Master Zhan, here... apples." Ye Qianning took two large, bright red apples from her space and handed them over.
’They weren’t some rare treasure, but they had been grown in a single day, watered by the Spiritual Spring in her space. Eating them would nourish the body and boost one’s immunity.’
Both Gu Lao and Old Master Zhan were dumbfounded.
"I had some delicious pastries and fruit in the palace. I secretly saved these two for you. They’re really sweet," Ye Qianning said, holding one in each hand and offering them again.