Chapter 17 Pleading for Mercy

"Fourth Prince, take a look, is there anyone you like?"

Huang Guiquan, the chief steward of the Imperial Household Department, arrived at Yixianzhai with a group of well-trained servants, showing exceptional respect to Hongli. It was impossible for him not to be respectful; not to mention Hongli's current powerful position, just considering the favor he received from his superior, Consort Hua, Huang Guiquan could not help but serve him with utmost care.

Looking at the string of eunuchs and palace maids in front of him, he saw that some were experienced and calm, and could be kept and used, while others were still young and suitable to be trained into confidants. It could be said that all aspects had been considered, and each one was outstanding.

Hongli smiled gently, "Thank you for your trouble, Chief Eunuch Huang. I don't need too many people. Two eunuchs and one maid will suffice."

"This..." Huang Guiquan was somewhat surprised; there were far too few people. But seeing the Fourth Prince's insistence, he didn't say much. "Then, Fourth Prince, who do you think should be kept?"

Hongli's gaze swept over the expectant and calm faces before him. He smiled slightly and said casually, "Let's have the two eunuchs on the far left and the maid on the right."

The three people who were called out reacted quickly and immediately knelt down, saying, "This servant greets the Fourth Prince."

With the candidate chosen, Huang Guiquan didn't linger. He simply told Hongli to feel free to give him any instructions, and then left with his men. He was in a hurry to report back to Consort Hua. It wasn't that he didn't want to give him the person; it was that the Fourth Prince didn't want him, and he couldn't force him to.

"Get up," Hongli said gently, glancing at the three people who were still kneeling respectfully on the ground.

"Thank you, Fourth Prince."

"What are their names?"

Faced with Hongli's question, the fair-skinned, somewhat cunning eunuch on the far side spoke first, "This servant Wang Qin greets Your Majesty."

The young eunuch in the middle, with his delicate features, red lips, and white teeth, bowed respectfully and said, "This servant, Li Yu, greets Your Majesty."

At the very edge, a young palace maid, though not very old, with a gentle and dignified demeanor, bowed and said, "This servant, Lianxin, greets Your Majesty."

Hongli raised an eyebrow and smiled; he had deliberately chosen these three people.

It's a kind of perverse pleasure of his; he just enjoys seeing how the characters in the original story change after the plot is disrupted.

Take Wang Qin, for example. Even though he's not very old now, you can tell he's quite clever. He was the first to speak, and his title alone showed his loyalty. No wonder he rose to become the chief eunuch by the original owner's side. It's just a question of whether he'll still be blinded by power in the future, or if things will change.

"From now on, Wang Qin and Li Yu will follow Wang Ren, and Lianxin, you will follow Granny Qin."

"yes."

At this moment, the three people, who knew nothing, still wore the joy of successfully staying behind, and respectfully obeyed Hongli's orders.

"Fourth Prince, Fourth Prince..."

“An Yingying, An Yingying, you can’t go in.”

Suddenly, a commotion arose outside the courtyard. Lianxin's first reaction was to stand in front of Hongli. Wang Qin and Li Yu were alerted by her action and also stepped forward to protect him. Wang Qin even declared his loyalty, "Master, don't worry, this servant will protect you."

Hongli glanced at Lianxin, smiled slightly, and made no comment on Wang Qin's behavior.

Just then, An Lingrong burst in, looking rather disheveled.

"Fourth Prince, please help me."

An Lingrong, her eyes red, wanted to kneel down when she saw Hongli, but Li Yu rushed over and stopped her. Wang Ren, who was following behind, was also shocked and, disregarding the offense, quickly took her hand to control her.

If An Lingrong were to kneel down, with a stepmother kneeling before a prince, their master's reputation would be ruined.

"This servant failed in his duty and failed to stop Consort An."

Wang Ren apologized with a pale face. If it weren't for An Lingrong's status, how could he have let her barge in? He also didn't expect An Lingrong to be so reckless and actually force her way in.

Meanwhile, An Lingrong was restrained by Qin Mama and Lianxin, who had rushed over. Unable to struggle, she knew her actions were wrong, but she truly had no other choice. "Fourth Prince, I..."

Hongli sighed, seemingly reluctant, "Please come in, Consort An. It's not appropriate for you to stand in the courtyard."

Qin Mama helped An Lingrong to sit down in the reception room. To avoid suspicion, the doors were left wide open. Qin Mama stood guard to An Lingrong's side, Lianxin was in charge of serving tea, and Wang Ren, along with Wang Qin and Li Yu, stood guard at the courtyard gate.

Lianxin served a cup of hot tea. Seeing that An Lingrong had calmed down considerably while holding the teacup, Hongli asked gently, "May I ask what brings Your Highness here?"

"I..." An Lingrong, having calmed down, met Hongli's bright eyes and was momentarily speechless. She didn't understand why she had come to see the Fourth Prince; it was clearly going to have a negative impact on him. "I'm sorry, I..."

"Your Highness need not be troubled. I think Your Highness would not do this unless it was something important."

Listening to Hongli's gentle reassurances and seeing his consistently kind eyes, An Lingrong suddenly understood why she wanted to find the Fourth Prince. Because the Fourth Prince was the only one who didn't look at her differently, who didn't despise her, show her no disdain, no pity, no sympathy, but simply treated her like everyone else.

This kind of "equal treatment" is what she wants most. That's why she unconsciously reached out to him for help during her lowest point.

Having come this far, An Lingrong gripped her cup tightly. Meeting Hongli's gentle, tender gaze, she suddenly found a surge of courage and whispered, "I'm here for my father. He was escorting silver and grain to the Northwest with the army when he was robbed by bandits, resulting in the loss of the silver and grain and his imprisonment. I..."

"I've also heard about the loss of grain supplies in the Northwest. I suppose Lady An is doing this to plead for your father."

“My father is of low rank and has little influence; he is also timid. This matter could not possibly be related to him,” An Lingrong explained anxiously.

Hongli seemed to sense something and sighed, "Empress An must have a very deep affection for your father, which is why she is in such a hurry..."

An Lingrong was taken aback. For some reason, feeling Hongli's understanding and respect, An Lingrong suddenly wanted to tell him everything.

"Actually, my relationship with my father wasn't good. He was originally a small spice merchant..."

An Lingrong's eyes dimmed as she slowly told Hongli the story of how a spice merchant who rose to power spoiled his concubines, neglected his wife, and mistreated his legitimate daughter.

After listening to her story, Hongli remained silent for a long time. An Lingrong realized she had said too much and lowered her head uncomfortably.

Hongli suddenly asked, "Your Highness, what if your father is released after being found innocent?"

"What?" An Lingrong looked up blankly, not understanding what he meant.

"Your Highness, please forgive Hongli for speaking out of turn, but after hearing your story, I imagine your father won't treat your mother well after his release. It's even quite possible that he'll abuse your power as a concubine and act recklessly in the future. How will Your Highness save her then?"

An Lingrong had to admit that what the Fourth Prince said was a possible future. She was somewhat at a loss. "I don't know, I haven't thought that much about it..."

Hongli smiled at her, his eyes still gentle, yet carrying a silent allure, and then slowly opened a door to a new world for her.

“Your Highness, your mother’s suffering stems from the fact that your father is the pillar of the An family. He wants her to live well and be free from constraints in the future. Can this pillar be changed? Your Highness, if the An family can only listen to one voice, why can’t it be yours…”