Chapter 345 Your identity is extraordinary, are you willing?

No matter how many old rules the old minister listed, Qiuqiu did not argue with them.

Instead, when he says he's tired, he shakes his head and says something.

"The one who gave birth to you was also a woman."

The old minister, a rigid and inflexible man, was so angry that he glared and started to argue with the young girl.

The courtiers standing nearby dared not say a word. Just from the way Emperor Wusu looked at the child, they could tell that the child was no ordinary person.

But the old minister got so carried away that he didn't care about anything else, and even when he was foaming at the mouth, he still wanted to argue.

On the other hand, Chiu Chiu still had a smile on her face and calmly retorted with the same sentence.

Finally, at the emperor's signal, the old minister was pulled aside by Lu Juan and silenced by his own hand, and the matter was settled.

Yuan Heng, who was sitting at the same table, poured a cup of water and pushed it in front of Qiuqiu.

Chiu Chiu was a little thirsty at the moment, and her dark eyes crinkled with laughter. Yuan Heng chuckled softly as well.

However, she was thirsty, not because she talked too much, but because she ate too much sugar cake and her mouth was dry.

Emperor Wusu's attention was drawn to the little girl holding the cup, almost burying her face in it to drink water, and she didn't have time to pay attention to anything else.

After the court officials in the hall dispersed.

Yuan Heng then shifted his posture slightly. As soon as he looked up, he saw a black shadow appear at the entrance of the palace, beckoning to him before flashing past and disappearing from sight.

Yuan Heng paused for a moment. Judging from his attire, he seemed to be a hidden bodyguard accompanying him from the shadows.

He stood up casually, cupped his hands and said, "Father, I wish to go and change my clothes."

Emperor Wusu raised his chin, and Yuan Heng quietly withdrew from the hall.

The person who appeared outside the palace gate was Sihai. He explained to the person standing in front of him, "Eunuch Li, it was Miss Ji who ordered me to come and deliver a message to the young prince."

Li Yuzong's back ached from standing for so long, so he stretched and rubbed his back as the court officials dispersed.

He said casually, "You don't need to tell me. Didn't His Majesty give specific instructions a while ago? You've already been assigned to Miss Ji as her bodyguard. Just follow her instructions in everything."

Si Hai naturally understood this principle; being assigned to Ji Qingwu as her bodyguard was no different from changing hands.

Everything must be done according to Ji Qingwu's requirements. The secret guards only respect their master and not their authority.

He had learned from past mistakes; he just wanted to confide in someone beforehand so that he wouldn't be the only one punished when the emperor blamed him.

At this moment, Yuan Heng walked steadily to the door and stopped only when he was out of sight of the hall.

His dark eyes scrutinized Si Hai from head to toe. Despite his young age, he exuded great authority, though his voice still sounded childish.

"You were looking for me?"

Sihai respectfully replied, "Your Highness, it was Miss Ji who sought you out; I was merely following orders."

Upon hearing that it was Ji Qingwu who wanted to see him, Yuan Heng's eyes lit up, but he tried his best to remain calm.

"Really? What do you need me for? Tell me."

Sihai glanced at Li Yuzong, who was stretching his neck beside him, and changed his words, not directly saying "steal".

"Miss Ji said she wants to invite you over secretly."

Yuan Heng's eyes widened in surprise, and his handsome eyebrows were raised high.

After a long pause, he asked, "Where do you want me to go?"

Sihai replied, "The Wei family, the Xinyuan Hall where Miss Ji resides."

Yuan Heng lowered his head, deep in thought.

Li Yuzong was also greatly surprised. How could the young prince go outside the palace and even go to the Wei family? If the emperor found out, it would be a disaster for the whole country.

No, he knows now too.

Upon further reflection, Li Yuzong understood why Sihai had gone to the trouble of informing him.

He frowned, wanting to go into the hall to consult the emperor, but he had only taken half a step when someone stretched out an arm to stop him.

Sihai said, "Eunuch Li, you said that we don't need to ask the Emperor, we should just follow Miss Ji's instructions."

Li Yuzong glared at him and said, "You don't need to inform him, but I knew and didn't report it. When His Majesty found out that the young prince was missing, I was the first one to be reprimanded."

Even though he said that, Sihai did not withdraw his arm; instead, he stood in front of him with his entire body.

Si Hai said, "It's my duty. I must complete Miss Ji's orders, otherwise it would be dereliction of duty."

The two were locked in a fierce struggle for their master's favor, but how could the lazy and inactive Grand Eunuch possibly contend with the agile and nimble bodyguards?

Seeing that Yuan Heng kept his head down and didn't speak, Li Yuzong noticed that he seemed hesitant about the matter.

"Your Highness, please say something! It's too dangerous to leave the palace. The Emperor will definitely not agree if he finds out."

Emperor Wusu was strict with the young prince's upbringing. If he learned that the prince had left the palace without permission, he would inevitably hit the prince's palm with a ruler.

This young prince has always been a worry-free person for the palace servants. He is intelligent and eager to learn, and he usually does nothing out of line.

Li Yuzong had great confidence in the young prince: "Your Highness, why don't we wait until Miss Ji comes to the palace again, and then this old servant will send someone to deliver a message to you?"

Yuan Heng raised his head, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

He didn't hear a word of what Chief Steward Li said, and looked up at Sihai, saying, "Did she say I should stay for a few days? Should I go back to Qianyuan Palace first to pack some clothes?"

It turns out that he had been keeping his head down because he was planning these things.

Sihai thought for a moment and said, "Miss Ji didn't say that, she only said she would ask His Highness if he would like to come?"

Yuan Heng nodded vigorously: "I'm willing!"

Inside the Hall of Diligent Governance.

Emperor Wusu was holding the little girl with great interest, teaching her how to solve the nine-linked rings, when he seemed to hear Yuan Heng's excited voice.

He looked up and gazed in the direction of the doorway.

Chiu Chiu is intelligent, but lacks patience.

Seeing this nine-linked ring puzzle, you need to put the rest back together after solving one.

She pouted and said, "Couldn't we have just cut it open with a knife? It would have been untied anyway."

Zhao Mingyan withdrew his gaze, patted her head and said, "Using force is one way, but it's your bottom line. Before that, you need to have several, or even dozens or hundreds, ways to break the deadlock in mind."

Chiu Chiu understood a little, but it seemed like she didn't fully understand.

She picked up the nine-linked rings again, licked her lips, and said, "If only there were nine-linked rings made of sugar rings, I could eat them one by one, fill my stomach, and solve the puzzle at the same time."

Zhao Mingyan curled his lips and poked the little girl's chubby cheek with his index finger.

"Then it's not a problem, it's a reward."

*

The Wei family.

Ji Qingwu sent Xuemei and Lanzhi away.

She sat on the small couch by the window, propping her chin up and looking out the window.

I made that bold statement on a whim, and now I'm a little nervous. I don't know if Sihai can bring Yuanheng over.

Is he willing or not?

The last time I saw Yuan Heng was the night the emperor was assassinated and forced to return to the palace after offering sacrifices to his ancestors...