I Became the Eye Candy: Four Bigshots Claimed to be My Dad?

"Hey? Steward, what kind of talk is that?" the eunuch asked, displeased.

"What kind of talk? The kind people speak. She’s just a child, so what if she’s a little slow? If you’re that bothered by it, why don’t you send your own people in to pack for her?" The steward had changed a lot recently; he had even learned how to throw his weight around.

The eunuch’s face darkened. "Enough of this nonsense," he snapped. "If you delay Her Ladyship the Imperial Consort, your petty General’s Estate won’t be able to bear the consequences."

"You..."

"Insolent! To talk back to me time and again! Guards, slap—"

"Steward Grandpa."

Before the eunuch could finish his furious command, Luo Wen walked out carrying Ye Qianning.

"Young Miss," the steward said, rushing forward to greet them.

"Mm," Ye Qianning acknowledged with a nod, her eyes lifting to meet the eunuch’s.

The eunuch’s face was still flush with anger, but the moment he saw the little girl looking his way, he plastered on a smile. "Miss Xiang, it’s getting late. We mustn’t keep Her Ladyship the Imperial Consort waiting."

Ye Qianning merely glanced at him for a moment before looking away, saying nothing.

Seeing this, the eunuch’s eyes darted slyly as he took two steps forward. "Miss Xiang, we should hurry. Her Ladyship the Imperial Consort is..."

"Steward Grandpa, slap him," she said, her soft, childlike voice tinged with a hint of languor.

The eunuch froze.

The steward was also taken aback for a moment, but he reacted instantly. Rolling up his sleeves with surprising speed, he swung his hand and landed a heavy slap across the eunuch’s face.

The sound was incredibly loud. The blow left the eunuch completely dazed. He cupped his face, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"You dare to strike me."

"You’re lucky all you got was a slap for causing a scene in the General’s Estate," Luo Wen said, his gaze cold.

"You... Aren’t you afraid Her Ladyship the Imperial Consort will punish you? I am merely conveying her orders!" the eunuch stammered, trembling with rage.

"If Her Ladyship would punish the distinguished General’s Estate over a mere dog, then I fear no one in Beili would want to become a military official. They might as well all enter the palace to become eunuchs," Ye Qianning said with a smirk that wasn’t quite a smile.

Hearing this, the eunuch’s arrogance instantly deflated. "Miss Xiang, please calm your anger. It is all my fault."

"Even a dog basking in its master’s glory should see who it’s barking at. How could a dignified court official of Beili tolerate being bossed around by a mere eunuch? ’Petty General’s Estate’? Hmph. It seems you’ve been thoroughly steeped in the consort’s way of thinking."

Terrified, the eunuch’s legs buckled and he knelt on the ground. "Spare me, Miss Xiang! It was this lowly one’s own loose tongue! I... I deserve to be hit."

As he spoke, the eunuch raised his hand and began slapping himself across the face, each blow landing with a loud smack.

’The steward watched with excitement, his admiration for the Young Miss soaring. Ever since her return, he felt like the General’s Estate had finally gotten its backbone back.’

"Steward, prepare the carriage," Ye Qianning called out softly.

"Yes, Young Miss. One moment." The steward turned and instructed a servant to hitch the carriage.

The eunuch, still slapping his own face, didn’t dare to stop.

A short while later, the steward returned, leading the horse.

Luo Wen lifted Ye Qianning into the carriage before seating himself at the front and taking the reins.

"Let’s go."

Luo Wen steered the horse away, leaving the group from the palace to stare at one another in dismay.

The eunuch was still kneeling on the ground, his hand frozen in the act of slapping himself.

The steward walked up to him. "Our Young Miss has already left. Aren’t you going to follow, Eunuch?"

The eunuch’s face was already badly swollen. He snapped to his senses, scrambled to his feet, and hurried to his own carriage. "Let’s go! Follow them!"

The palace carriage turned around. With panicked looks on their faces, the eunuch and the palace maids departed in a great, flustered procession.

’The steward stood at the entrance, shaking his head slightly. No matter how splendid the people from the palace are, none of them have the presence of our Young Miss. She may be young, but her aura is formidable. She’s the perfect cure for those palace folk who look down their noses at everyone.’

「About two hours later, the carriage arrived at the palace gates.」