Xie Ming

Red Jade, yearning for love, lingers with the sound of flutes, while Long Ting, taking advantage of the breeze, jokingly asks for water.

With just a few words, the girl was so embarrassed that she blushed, while Xiao Lang followed her around, eating melons on either side.

I was at a loss for words, feeling both amused and exasperated, utterly helpless, speechless with a mixture of laughter and curses.

"Get out of here! Stop talking nonsense and get lost!"

Then, feeling awkward, they seized the opportunity when Changting turned around and kicked him again.

This provoked Hongyu to watch the spectacle, and she burst into a string of silvery laughter.

Just then, suddenly, Old Xing, the gatekeeper outside, turned back.

"Oh, sir—"

"Your Excellency, there are people from the palace outside!"

With that, Old Xing, his old legs bent low, rushed closer.

However, before the man could finish speaking, Xiao, Gu, and Hong looked in the direction of the voice and saw a eunuch in a round-necked blue robe hurriedly following behind him, entering in a rather impolite manner.

Seeing this, Xiao realized that something was amiss. Entering the room at this hour, in such a hurry, was definitely not a good omen.

So he frowned and composed himself, quickly stopping Changting and Hongyu from their playful antics, and waited quietly to observe.

"Oh, ouch, ouch."

"Oh, oh, Duke Jingguo, may Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings!"

"You have come to my residence late at night; this is quite abrupt."

"How presumptuous of me! I hope the Duke will forgive me."

The eunuch, forgetting to look carefully at the threshold, stumbled and panicked, quickly adjusting his crooked hat.

The ivory tokens jingled at his waist, the sash couldn't quite hold his big belly together, his black boots wobbled out in a pigeon-toed manner, and he unconsciously flicked his whisk, revealing an indescribable awkwardness and unease.

Xiao Sui stared at it and sensed something was amiss.

Upon seeing the newcomer's appearance, he remained calm and agreed without making a sound.

"Oh?"

"Hehe, I thought it was someone else, it turns out to be Eunuch Liu."

"It's alright, it's nothing to worry about."

"But look at me... I just came back from the camp outside, and my armor and gear are all messed up, not at all presentable. I hope you'll forgive me, sir." Xiao was very courteous, bowing to the visitor and looking him up and down repeatedly.

Judging from Xiao Jiang's sharp gaze, the eunuch surnamed Liu was clearly more reserved.

"Oh, not at all."

Even when he was in a hurry, he waved politely and it felt very unnatural.

After a brief search, Xiao Buluo noticed something amiss and, being worldly-wise, quickly made his move, raising his hand and turning his head to approach.

"Changting, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and pick it up, it's a mess."

"Oh, right, Hongyu, go and prepare the tea."

"My father-in-law doesn't come over often, so I hope he hasn't been neglecting us."

As he finished speaking, he turned back and stared at the person before him, his tiger-like eyes never leaving the person in front of him.

Perhaps he was a little uncomfortable being looked at with such a face.

He had a feeling that the eunuch surnamed Liu was shrewd and tried his best to remain calm.

"Hey, ho ho ho."

"Don't rush, don't rush, this old servant thanks you, thank you for your kindness, Duke."

"But I have come to your residence tonight on important business."

"You will be going to the palace with this old servant in a little while."

"No, let's not bother," the eunuch hurriedly replied.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Bai was surprised and asked questions in response.

"kindness?"

"This"

"But has something happened in the palace?" Xiao asked.

Upon hearing this, Eunuch Liu straightened up, eager to finish his task as quickly as possible so he could report back.

He then stepped back half a step, cleared his throat, and issued the edict.

"Uh, cough cough."

"The Duke of Jingguo listens to the announcement——"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ye could only raise an eyebrow, then stepped forward and promptly bowed.

At the same time, Hongyu and Changting, who were behind her, also lowered their bodies to follow the host in the ceremony.

"By order of the Empress Dowager."

"His Majesty caught a cold today, and by evening his fever suddenly spiked, and the fever did not subside despite medication. He also experienced convulsions."

"Having heard that the Duke of Jingguo has returned to the city, I earnestly hope that you will quickly enter the palace to discuss and decide on matters."

After finishing the chant, Eunuch Liu let out a long, subtle sigh.

He paused for a moment before bending down to help the Duke. "Ah? This..."

"How could the illness have suddenly progressed to this point?"

"Father-in-law, what exactly is going on?"

Xiao Yan's questioning manner made it impossible to discern whether his true feelings were genuine or feigned.

Eunuch Liu stared at Xiao's fierce eyes and felt intimidated, so he lowered his head by three points and retorted with words.

"Oh dear, Your Highness, this old servant was not serving you at the moment, so I... I don't know the specifics of the matter."

"But just before evening, several imperial physicians rushed in and all went in to take a look."

"Even now, no one has come out yet."

"It must be an acute illness, ah, yes, it must be an acute illness, and it's not serious."

"Uh, well, Your Excellency, please don't ask any more questions."

"Hurry up and put on your clothes, then come with this old servant."

"There's no time to lose, ah, let's not delay any longer."

The old eunuch's behavior was suspicious, and Xiao Jingchuan secretly pondered the matter.

His eyes flickered, and he realized that he shouldn't rush off like that. He then used Yu'e as an excuse, thinking that it wouldn't be too late to deal with the person in front of him first.

Even if the imperial edict is genuine, it won't take too much time to process.

So, he made up a story to deal with the situation.

"Oh, oh, yes, yes."

"Ah, that's it."

"Eunuch Liu, you should go ahead and report back first."

"I just got back, and I haven't even caught my breath yet."

"I just heard from the maid that my wife's baby is breech and she's having excruciating abdominal pain right now, which is exactly what's happening at this critical time."

"You go back first."

"I just went in for a quick look, slipped past you, wrapped myself in my clothes, and then left."

"It won't cause any delays," Xiao Xing said evasively, having already given the order to leave.

Upon hearing this, the eunuch's heart skipped a beat, his face panicked and he shook his head nervously.

However, he couldn't come up with a convincing rebuttal.

"Huh? This, this..."

Upon closer inspection, Xiao noticed that the eunuch's forehead was now covered in a thick layer of sweat.

This further confirms that there is definitely something fishy going on here.

Without elaborating, he got to work quickly and efficiently, giving instructions and assigning tasks, and promptly sending people away.

"Old Xing, go ahead and take a look. Tell two brothers to go back with Eunuch Liu first."

"Oh, yes, I apologize for the poor hospitality. Father-in-law, please go back first, I will follow shortly."

Xiao insisted on his own way and did not give him a chance to go back on his word.

Meanwhile, to complete the act, he glanced around the table and saw his own money bag next to the man who had taken off his armor. He grabbed it, pulled out some loose silver, and forcefully stuffed it into the eunuch's fat waistband.

This sudden turn of events left Eunuch Liu anxious and bewildered.

"Oh dear, this, this..."

"No, this... this won't do!"

Without needing to say anything more, Xiao turned his head and called out again.

"Changting, please see Eunuch Liu off properly."

Changting moved nimbly and took two steps forward.

"understood."

"Father-in-law, please."

Having said that, his gesture left no room for argument.

"Ah, this, this..."

"Hey, okay, okay."

"Then you may hurry up, Your Excellency."

Having no other choice, the eunuch surnamed Liu had no choice but to go along with it, not wanting to go too far, for fear of revealing something in front of others.

"understood."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao pretended to stretch Hongyu, lifted the curtain, and hid in the backyard.

Eunuch Liu kept turning back to look at Changting, pressing her against his side. Left with no other choice, Ye left the mansion in a daze.

When they reached the gatehouse, Changting followed them out, and the guards dared not complain or push them.

He then ordered two soldiers to hurry away, giving them a signal, and they left the mansion.

After settling down and observing outside the long courtyard gate, he hurriedly turned and went inside to report. (End of Chapter)