Whose servant is dressed so elegantly and extravagantly? Is the general's wife trying to fool him by thinking he's blind?
"Madam General, His Majesty has only invited you. It would be inappropriate for you to bring your entourage."
After regaining his composure, the minister decisively rejected Zheng Quchi's request.
He was a high-ranking official in the capital, and he considered himself superior. Even when facing Zheng Quchi, the wife of a general, he was only superficially polite, but his words and actions were all forceful and oppressive.
He had assumed that a woman like her, who had never seen much of the world, would be timid and submissive in front of him, but the reality was quite different from what he had expected.
Zheng Quchi turned around and said to Wang Zebang and Wei Yao, "You don't need to come to the palace with me. Do what you need to do, and those who need to go home should go home. I..." She then turned her gaze to Yuan Xingzhou's direction, "I will protect myself."
Wang Zebang and Wei Yao both understood what their wife meant. They had discussed the situation they would encounter in Shengjing beforehand and made corresponding arrangements. They looked at their relatives who were waiting expectantly ahead and nodded gloomily.
The two men also looked at Xing Yuanzhou, their actions and expressions identical, and said, "We thank you for protecting Madam earlier."
This bowing and respectful gesture seemed somewhat abrupt and strange to others. Wasn't this person supposed to be the general's wife's attendant? Shouldn't the act of saving someone be within the scope of his duties?
The two men straightened up: "We hope you can continue to protect our General's wife on the journey ahead. We beg you."
Yuan Xingzhou was amused by their public "entrustment" of their orphan.
"You guys are quite adept at seizing opportunities..." Yuan Xingzhou's expression changed abruptly, his face still as pale as snow, but the look in his eyes as he turned to Zheng Quchi was like a calm black sea: "However, since I am her attendant, her safety is my responsibility. Why should I need others to ask me to protect her?"
Zheng Quchi, Wang Zebang, and Wei Yao: "..." He really gets into character very quickly, finding his place in the role in no time.
The minister's words were like a stone sinking into the sea. He saw that they were talking to themselves and completely ignoring him. His expression changed repeatedly.
He knew the other party was doing it on purpose, and having spent years navigating the treacherous waters of officialdom, he had long since honed the skill of concealing his emotions. He lowered his eyelids, his voice sharp and intimidating, and said coldly, "General's wife, you..."
Zheng Quchi interrupted his affected official tone first, speaking arrogantly and domineeringly: "I can leave the others behind, but I absolutely must bring this attendant. Without him, who will be responsible for my safety? You? Ha, I've only just entered the city and I've already encountered assassins. How can you expect me to be at ease? Either you go to the palace right now and request the Imperial Guard to protect me, or I will take an attendant to see the King. There is no other choice."
Sometimes, being docile, polite, and moral doesn't automatically earn you respect. When you have a certain status and position, you can confidently state your demands and bottom lines.
Listening to her keep talking about personal safety and assassins, where did this assassin come from? Isn't she just a hot-blooded young man throwing stones?
The minister's face turned a deep, liver-colored red.
He couldn't explain what had just happened. As soon as he arrived in Shengjing, he encountered an incident of violence caused by chaos. It was indeed a dereliction of duty on their part, along with that of the city guard. Seeing that she insisted on pursuing their mistakes and questioned the reliability of the Shengjing guards, he had no words to refute her.
The minister had no desire to engage in a verbal battle with her, especially since she had the Wang and Wei families protecting her, and the Four Symbols Army as her backing. In terms of strength, he was no match for her on the surface.
Thinking that since the Wang and Wei families did not accompany her to the palace to support her, this little follower who came from who-knows-where, even if he were to stay by her side, should not be a big problem.
Moreover... at first glance, this attendant's features do indeed resemble those of the young King Ye. He and the King Ye grew up together, from his study companion to his current close advisor, and he has witnessed the changes in the King Ye's appearance step by step.
For a moment, he thought this attendant really resembled the King of Ye, but upon closer inspection, he realized they didn't quite look alike.
It's similar in form but not in spirit; that's the feeling.
However, he still had doubts and kept a watchful eye on things, planning to bring the person into the palace to investigate their background.
“Since you insist on bringing this attendant along, then so be it. We’ve already wasted quite a bit of time, and it would be a sin to keep the King waiting any longer. Let’s go.”
He finished speaking in one breath, then, without pausing, flicked his sleeves, turned around, and led the way, suppressing his anger.
Zheng Quchi separated from Wei Yao and Wang Zebang. Wei Yao and the others took the bandits and the army with them, while she and Yuan Xingzhou boarded a carriage and continued their journey.
Zheng Quchi's carriage did not travel with Princess Sheng'an; she was picked up by people arranged by the ministers.
Yuan Xingzhou, who was demoted to her "attendant," naturally could no longer ride in a carriage; he followed behind the carriage on foot.
Zheng Quchi lifted a section of the curtain, thought for a moment, and then called out, "Xiaozhou."
She didn't call him Yuan Xingzhou; that name was too shocking. She just used a name she made up on the spot.
Hearing her call out, Yuan Xingzhou, who was behind, had a strange expression for a moment before stepping forward to approach the carriage: "What are your orders, Madam?"
There were no palace guards following their carriage; they were all in front protecting the ministers, so the area around the carriage was very quiet.
She whispered, "When you meet the Prince of Ye, don't reveal your identity yet. I'll test his attitude first, and then you can decide whether to show yourself or not, understand?"
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