Duan Yufei happened to be walking over from the other side of the pebble path when he saw the elegantly dressed girl gradually disappearing into the distance. He had already guessed her identity in his mind. Before he even stepped into the Guanyun Pavilion, he raised his voice and bowed to An Honghan to greet him.
"Your Majesty, was that the Fourteenth Princess just now?"
An Honghan glanced at him, picked up his teacup and took a sip of tea, "That is indeed my fourteenth imperial sister."
Duan Yufei feigned a puzzled expression and asked suspiciously, "Since the Fourteenth Princess came, why did she leave? Is there something I did wrong that displeased her?"
There was a hint of anxiety in his eyes, as if he was afraid of leaving a bad impression on the other party.
This demeanor was completely different from An Yunyi's earlier behavior.
However… no matter how convincingly Duan Yufei pretended, An Honghan knew in his heart that he was just acting. The other party was only trying to make him believe one fact: that he had fallen in love with the Fourteenth Princess, and it was an incurable love.
“Your Highness Duan is overthinking it. My sister was overjoyed to hear that you wanted to see her. She even asked me just now how she looked at her outfit. It’s clear that she has some feelings for you.” An Honghan lied without batting an eye, as if stating the truth. “I only said that her makeup wasn’t good today, and she immediately got up and went back to Yunping Palace to touch up her makeup.”
An Honghan uttered these words casually, then slowly placed the teacup in his hand on the stone table. His every movement was graceful, elegant, and proper, leaving no room for criticism.
Now it was Duan Yufei who didn't know how to respond. However, over the years, Duan Yufei had dealt with many cunning old foxes in the imperial court. Sometimes silence speaks louder than words and can gain the other party's trust more effectively, so he chose to remain silent, letting silence replace a conversation between the two.
Inside the Guanyun Pavilion, An Honghan and Duan Yufei were having a pleasant conversation, while inside the Panlong Hall, Xi Xizhi was restless. Every time she sat down for a while, she would suddenly sit up again, as if there were needles pricking her on the cushion.
Lin En held a plate of grapes in her hands and stood beside the table. Looking at the little ancestor's worried expression, she felt terrified, fearing that she would soften her heart and let her out of Panlong Palace.
"Little ancestor, please sit down obediently. If you don't want to sit, you can lie down and take a nap. Once you wake up, I think His Majesty will be back at Panlong Palace by then." Lin En placed the grapes on the table and instructed two palace maids to peel the grapes for Xi Xizhi.
Xi Xizhi pursed her lips, still really wanting to go see An Yunyi and Duan Yufei's 'blind date banquet'.
Having stayed in the palace for a long time, spending her days eating and sleeping, the most attention-grabbing event recently has been the wedding of Duan Yufei and An Yunyi. Xi Xizhi naturally wanted to join in the fun, but unfortunately... someone just wouldn't let her go.
Why can't she go!
She won't cause trouble!
"Uncle Steward, Panlong Palace is so stuffy, shall we go for a walk? We'll be right back." She blinked her big, bright eyes at Lynn.
Xi Xizhi's expression, which seemed to say, "I'm very well-behaved and obedient," made people feel sorry for her.
But... Lin En has served in the palace for so many years, how could he immediately surrender just because of Xi Xizhi's coquettish expression?
When he saw Xi Xizhi's lovely face, the image of His Majesty's unchanging icy face immediately flashed into his mind, and he shook his head in fright.
"My little ancestor, please don't make things difficult for this old servant. You may go out, but when you come back, I'm afraid you won't see this old servant anymore. If you insist on going out, this old servant will not stop you. I only ask that you burn more paper money for this old servant next year on Qingming Festival."
Lynn spoke with tears streaming down his face, his wrinkled eyes brimming with tears.
They say old ginger is spicier, and when Xi Xi saw the head steward crying, she felt a little guilty. She took out her handkerchief and handed it to Lin En, "Uncle, I won't go out... I promise I really won't go out, so please don't cry."
Sitting dejectedly on the cushion, Xi Xizhi raised her hand to wipe away Lin En's tears.
It is said that the tears of the elderly are the most helpless.
"This...this is what you said, my little ancestor, you have to keep your word." Lynn's tears dried up instantly, and there was not a trace of crying in her clear eyes.
Knowing that it was just a trick the steward was using against her, Xi Xizhi couldn't feel the slightest bit of resentment. After all, he was doing it for her own good. Just thinking about it, risking her safety to anger An Honghan was an unwise decision.
Xi Xizhi nodded solemnly, reminding herself to suppress her curiosity and not to think about going to Guanyun Pavilion to watch the excitement.
Even though the two people reached a consensus, there were still people who did not want to see this situation.
Wu Jianfeng lingered outside the Panlong Hall, thinking hard, and finally came up with a way to get Lin En away.
If Xi Xizhi doesn't go to Guanyun Pavilion, how will he carry out his subsequent plans?
A fleeting glint of ruthlessness flashed in Wu Jianfeng's eyes as he stepped into the Panlong Hall.
Lin En was wondering why Wu Jianfeng, who had been demoted, had suddenly come in. The next second, Wu Jianfeng opened his mouth and said, "Steward Lin, I just passed by the Imperial Garden and I think I saw a Phoenix Cloud Sable. Haven't you been looking for the Phoenix Cloud Sable lately? I believe it shouldn't have run out of the Imperial Garden yet."
When the Phoenix Cloud Sable was mentioned, Lynn frowned.
He hadn't seen a pheasant since the last time he went to the royal hunting grounds.
While marveling at how quickly the emperor's favor changed, they were also worried for the little ferret wandering alone.
So many days have passed, and the Phoenix Cloud Sable has still not appeared. I wonder if it encountered an accident while it was out.
Even though it was His Majesty's pet, Lynn harbored a selfish motive and didn't want to see the little ferret suffer. With His Majesty's favor, things were alright; but without it, one could only imagine what good fate awaited a pet.
Lin En looked at Xi Xizhi with a troubled expression, his brows furrowed into a deep frown.
We've been eagerly awaiting the appearance of the Phoenix Cloud Sable; if we miss this opportunity, who knows when the next one will come...
Xi Xizhi was initially shocked, but then, as if remembering something, she suppressed her doubts and speculations about Wu Jianfeng and said, "Uncle Steward, if you want to go find the Phoenix Cloud Sable, go ahead. I promise you, it won't run away."
Despite saying that, Xi Xizhi was waiting to see what Wu Jianfeng was really up to.
Who knows better than her where the Phoenix Cloud Sable is?!
There's definitely something fishy going on!
The look in Wu Jianfeng's eyes was rather unfriendly.
Lynn hesitated for a moment, but ultimately could not overcome his worry for the Phoenix Sable.
“Miss Xi…you absolutely cannot leave Panlong Palace, or my head will be in your hands.”
Xi Xizhi repeatedly assured him, "Yes, yes, yes, go quickly. I will definitely save your head."
After being urged a few times, Lynn left with trepidation.
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