Chapter 345: An Extraordinary Identity, Are You Willing?
No matter how many old rules the elderly minister listed, Jiu Jiu refused to argue with him.
Instead, she waited until he was exhausted from speaking, then offered a single sentence with a shake of her head.
"The one who gave birth to you was also a woman."
The old minister, a pedantic and rigid man by nature, was so incensed he began to sputter, locking horns with the little girl.
The other court officials dared not say a word. Just from the way Emperor Wu Su looked at the child, they could tell her status was anything but ordinary.
But the old minister, caught up in his tirade, threw all caution to the wind. He argued until he was foaming at the mouth, yet he still wanted to continue.
Jiu Jiu, in contrast, maintained a dimpled smile, calmly countering him with the very same line.
Finally, at a look from the Emperor, Lu Juan pulled the old minister aside and physically silenced him, putting an end to the matter.
Yuan Heng, who was also sitting by the imperial desk, poured a cup of water and pushed it toward Jiu Jiu.
Jiu Jiu happened to be a little thirsty just then. Her sparkling dark eyes curved into a smile, and Yuan Heng let out a soft laugh in response.
Her thirst, however, wasn’t from talking too much, but from eating too many sweet cakes, which had made her mouth dry.
Emperor Wu Su was captivated by the adorable sight of Jiu Jiu clutching the cup, looking as if she were about to bury her whole face in it to drink, leaving him no attention for anything else.
「Once the court officials had dispersed.」
Yuan Heng shifted his sitting position slightly. The moment he looked up, a black figure appeared at the hall’s entrance, beckoning to him before vanishing in a flash.
Yuan Heng’s expression faltered. From the person’s attire, it appeared to be one of the Hidden Guards who accompanied him from the shadows.
He rose, acting as if nothing was amiss. Cupping his hands, he said, "Father Emperor, your son wishes to be excused to relieve himself and change his robes."
Emperor Wu Su gave a slight nod of his chin, and Yuan Heng quietly withdrew from the hall.
The person who appeared outside the hall door was indeed Si Hai. He explained to the man standing before him, "Eunuch Li, Miss Ji ordered me to pass a message to the Young Master."
Li Yuzong’s back was aching from standing for so long. Now that the court officials had dispersed, he took the chance to stretch and knead his lower back.
"You don’t need to report to me," he said casually. "Didn’t the Holy Emperor make it clear not long ago? You’ve been assigned to Miss Ji as her Hidden Guard. All you need to do is follow her orders."
Si Hai, of course, understood this. Being assigned to Ji Qingwu as her Hidden Guard was no different from serving a new master.
Ji Qingwu’s wishes now took precedence in all things. A Hidden Guard honors their master above any official rank.
He was simply being proactive, hoping to get someone else in the know. He didn’t want to be the only one taking the blame should the Emperor become angry.
Just then, Yuan Heng emerged with a steady gait, stopping only when he reached a blind spot out of sight from within the hall.
His dark eyes scrutinized Si Hai from head to toe. Despite his young age, he projected an impressive authority, though his voice still betrayed his youth.
"You were looking for me?"
Si Hai said respectfully, "Young Master, it is Miss Ji who seeks you. I am only here on her orders."
Hearing that it was Ji Qingwu who wanted to see him, a light shone in Yuan Heng’s eyes, but he struggled to maintain his composure.
"Is that so? What for? You may speak."
Si Hai glanced at Li Yuzong, who was rolling his neck beside them, and chose his words carefully, avoiding the term "smuggle."
"Miss Ji says she wants to invite you over... secretly."
Yuan Heng’s eyes widened in astonishment, his well-defined eyebrows shooting high up his forehead.
After a moment, he asked, "Where does she want me to go?"
Si Hai replied, "The Wei Family residence, to Xinyuan Hall where Miss Ji is staying."
Yuan Heng lowered his head, pondering something.
Li Yuzong’s old eyes also widened in shock. How could the little prince possibly leave the palace, and to the Wei Family residence no less? If the Emperor found out, Si Hai would be in for a world of trouble.
’Wait, I’m in on it now, too.’
In a flash, Li Yuzong understood why Si Hai had bothered to inform him.
Frowning, he started toward the hall to request the Emperor’s guidance, but he was stopped by an outstretched arm before he could even take a full step.
Si Hai said, "Eunuch Li, you were the one who said it. No need to ask the Emperor, just listen to Miss Ji’s orders."
Li Yuzong glared at him. "You may not have to report it, but if I know and fail to, and the Holy Emperor finds the Young Master missing, I’ll be the first one to get a dressing-down."
Despite his words, Si Hai didn’t lower his arm. Instead, he moved to block Li Yuzong’s path completely.
Si Hai said, "I’m only doing my duty. I must complete Miss Ji’s order, otherwise I would be failing in my responsibility."
The two were deadlocked, each arguing on behalf of their master. But how could a sedentary Chief Eunuch possibly contend with a nimble, athletic Hidden Guard?
Li Yuzong saw that Yuan Heng had been looking down without speaking and seemed very hesitant about the matter.
"Young Master, please say something! Leaving the palace is too dangerous. His Majesty will never agree if he finds out."
Emperor Wu Su was strict about the little prince’s upbringing. If he learned that he had left the palace without permission, he would at the very least get his palms struck with a ruler.
The Young Master had always been a relief to his attendant palace staff. Bright and studious, he never did anything out of line.
Li Yuzong had faith in the little prince. "Young Master, why don’t we wait for Miss Ji to visit the palace again? This old servant will have a message sent to you then."
Yuan Heng lifted his head, his eyes glittering with excitement.
He hadn’t heard a word of Chief Li’s advice. Tilting his head up at Si Hai, he asked, "Did she say how many days I’m staying? Do I need to go back to Qianyuan Hall first to pack some clothes?"
So all that time with his head bowed, he had been plotting this.
Si Hai thought for a moment. "Miss Ji didn’t say. She only said to ask if the Young Master was willing to come."
Yuan Heng nodded vigorously. "I am!"
「In the Diligent Governance Hall.」
Emperor Wu Su was holding the little girl with great interest, teaching her how to solve the Nine Linked Rings puzzle, when what sounded like Yuan Heng’s excited voice reached his ears.
He lifted his eyes and looked toward the entrance.
Jiu Jiu had plenty of intelligence, but little patience.
She looked at the interlocking Nine Linked Rings. To free one ring, you had to loop the others back on.
She pouted. "Can’t I just chop it open with a knife? Wouldn’t that solve it, too?"
"Breaking it with force is a solution," Zhao Mingyan said, pulling his gaze back and patting her head, "but it must be your absolute last resort. Before you resort to that, you should have several, even dozens or hundreds, of other strategies in mind."
Jiu Jiu sort of understood, but not completely.
She took the Nine Linked Rings in her hands again, licked her lips, and said, "It would be better if the Nine Linked Rings were made of candy rings. I’d eat them one by one. That way I could fill my tummy and solve the puzzle!"
Zhao Mingyan smiled and poked the little girl’s chubby cheek with his forefinger.
"Then it wouldn’t be a puzzle, it would be a reward."
*
「The Wei Residence.」
Ji Qingwu sent both Xuemei and Lan Zhi away.
She sat leaning on the daybed by the window, her chin propped in her hand as she gazed outside.
She had been impulsive earlier when she made her bold proposal. Now she felt a little apprehensive, wondering if Si Hai could actually bring Yuan Heng here.
’Would he even be willing to come?’
The last time she had seen Yuan Heng... was on the night the Emperor had been attacked during the ancestral rites...