Xi Xizhi expressed all her emotions through her eyes.
When Dongfang Youyu saw Miss Xi suddenly appear again, he showed no surprise on the surface, as if he had become accustomed to her appearance.
Slowly taking out a jade pendant from his pocket, Dongfang Youyu first handed it to Lin En, then slowly said, "Your Majesty, this matter concerns the safety of Grand Preceptor Xu. Please do me the favor."
Upon hearing about Old Man Xu, Xi Xizhi blinked, her eyes filled with surprise.
Everyone knows the status that Grand Preceptor Xu holds in the Kingdom of Luyun.
The Kingdom of Lüyun places great importance on divination, and each generation of national advisors is specially selected.
Xu Guoshi was the best among them, and he never failed to predict anything.
Xi Xizhi and Old Man Xu were on good terms, and when she heard that he was in trouble, her heart was in her throat. "What happened to Grand Preceptor Xu?"
Dongfang Youyu turned to look at her and saw that Xi Xizhi was full of anxiety, and it didn't seem like she was faking it. Could it be that this young girl had a relationship with the Imperial Advisor?
For a moment, Dongfang Youyu’s thoughts wandered, but he quickly came back to his senses. Regardless of whether they knew each other or not, the most urgent matter was the safety of the Imperial Preceptor.
An Honghan, cold as ice, remained expressionless, seemingly unmoved by what Dongfang Youyu had said.
Dongfang Youyu was starting to lose his composure. "That jade pendant is something that Grand Preceptor Xu always carries with him. It was a gift from his deceased wife, and he never takes it off. Yesterday, the spies I sent found it outside the city. There were messy marks around it, so I suspect that someone is trying to harm the Grand Preceptor."
After hearing Dongfang Youyu's description, Xi Xizhi's heart tightened.
Old Xu had been missing for so long without a word, and I never expected that the next news I heard from him would be bad.
"My Kingdom of Lüyun and my Kingdom of Fengze have always maintained good diplomatic relations. Your Majesty, how can you sit idly by while our Grand Preceptor is in trouble?"
Having said that, it would be really unreasonable not to help.
However, compared to the anxious Dongfang Youyu, An Honghan showed absolutely no expression, not even a trace of anxiety.
"I know Your Highness is anxious, but the world is vast, and finding someone is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Where do you expect me to help you search?" An Honghan opened the memorials, seemingly reviewing them carefully, but only An Honghan knew whether he was actually reading them.
What appears to be a refusal actually contains a hidden meaning.
Dongfang Youyu had known An Honghan for a long time, so he immediately understood what he meant. "Our country is willing to double the tribute, only asking that Your Majesty first find a national advisor for us."
Seemingly not satisfied, An Honghan still did not nod in agreement.
Xi Xizhi, nestled in his arms, could no longer contain herself. Old Man Xu was a close friend to her despite their age difference, so how could she possibly stand idly by!
"I'm willing to help you." Xi Xizhi jumped out of An Honghan's arms and hurriedly ran towards Dongfang Youyu. "Where did Old Man Xu disappear to? Shall we go and see him right now?"
Xi Xizhi's unauthorized actions left An Honghan feeling helpless; this child was too impatient. If he continued to probe Dongfang Youyu further, he might be able to multiply the value of the tribute items several times over.
Now that Xi Xizhi has caused trouble, it's clearly impossible for this to happen.
"Miss Xi, are you willing to help me?" Dongfang Youyu seemed a little skeptical, as he felt that Xi Xizhi's words were too confident.
In Dongfang Youyu's view, although Xi Xizhi was favored by An Honghan, she had no power whatsoever. So how could she help?
Moreover, judging from An Honghan's demeanor, it's obvious that he intends to trick the Lüyun Kingdom.
"Am I not good enough?" Xi Xizhi retorted.
“It’s not that it’s impossible, but this search requires a lot of manpower. Even if Miss Xi goes alone, it probably won’t be of much help.” Dongfang Youyu spoke the truth. Judging from Xi Xizhi’s appearance, he knew that she was spoiled. If they had to spare people to take care of her when searching for the Imperial Advisor, wouldn’t that be more of a hindrance than a help?
Xi Xizhi didn't think too much about it. All she wanted was to find Old Man Xu as soon as possible. Old Man Xu was already quite old and probably couldn't withstand much more hardship. What if something really happened to him...?
"An Honghan, can you lend me some people first?" Xi Xizhi said as she turned around. An Honghan was the only person she could ask for help from.
Such a straightforward request left everyone stunned on the spot.
Everyone secretly thought, "Even when His Highness the Crown Prince asked His Majesty for help, His Majesty refused. If His Majesty agreed as soon as you asked, how would His Highness the Crown Prince feel? Isn't that clearly showing that he doesn't take the Crown Prince of Luyun Kingdom seriously?"
Dongfang Youyu's expression changed, as if he also felt that Xi Xizhi's words were inappropriate.
If An Honghan were to agree to this, it would be a real disrespect to him.
If he agrees, wouldn't that mean that because of his status and prestige as the crown prince of a country, he is not as important as this little girl?
"You won't agree?" Xi Xizhi asked uncertainly when An Honghan remained silent for a long time.
An Honghan remained silent for a long time before finally speaking helplessly: "How could I refuse? Since you and His Highness the Crown Prince are so eager to rescue Grand Preceptor Xu, I certainly cannot stand idly by."
He turned his gaze to Dongfang Youyu, "Furthermore, regarding the matter of the last trip to Yunshan, we owe a great deal to His Highness the Crown Prince. Consider this my way of repaying you a favor."
An Honghan's words, spoken with ease, once again gave Dongfang Youyu face and fulfilled the little girl's wish.
Although those present still had doubts about the question, no one dared to ask it aloud, because everyone knew the answer, and arguing about it would do no good for anyone.
Having spent many years in officialdom, Dongfang Youyu was very adept at reading people and would never seek to humiliate himself. "It's good that Your Majesty has agreed. Then, could you please send someone over immediately? I'm worried that the longer the Imperial Preceptor stays, the greater the danger he will face."
Xi Xizhi was also a little anxious, afraid that Old Man Xu's old bones would not last until they arrived. She ran back and tugged at An Honghan's clothes, "Saving lives is like putting out a fire, we can't delay."
Seeing the child's anxiety, An Honghan had no choice but to compromise, "Dispatch three thousand Imperial Guards to the outskirts of the city to search for the whereabouts of Grand Preceptor Xu. As for the portrait? Your Highness should have prepared it by now, right?"
"It's all ready." Dongfang Youyu had been searching for the Imperial Advisor for quite some time, so he always kept the Imperial Advisor's portrait on hand, just in case.
"I want to go look for them too," Xi Xizhi said again. How could she have the patience to stay in the palace and wait for news?
“No.” An Honghan refused immediately. “You stay in the palace and don’t even think about going anywhere else.”
An Honghan was worried about sending Xi Xizhi out of the palace to search for someone. There were many servants in the palace, and they were only able to keep an eye on the child to prevent her from causing trouble.
If we go outside the palace, wouldn't she cause a huge uproar?
Moreover, with Dongfang Youyu by her side, An Honghan was even more worried.
As for why he was worried, An Honghan was not sure.
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