"My lord, please don't be angry. Miss is not intentional. Should Miss not apologize to my lord?" Suoxin said.
"There's no need for your crocodile tears here," Li Yaoqin said coldly to Suoxin.
"Yao'er, how can you speak to Suoxin like that?" Li Sinian was furious.
"My lord, please don't be angry with Miss. Miss is still young and doesn't understand many things," Suoxin said.
"Doesn't understand? She's already so old and still doesn't understand?" Li Sinian was truly angry.
Suoxin quickly comforted Li Sinian, "My lord, some things can be discussed back at the manor. Let's not give outsiders a chance to gossip."
As she spoke, her gaze swept towards the second floor. She clearly remembered the person on the second floor who had pulled her down with such a haughty air.
Li Sinian called for the waiter. "Why haven't the people on the second floor been asked to leave? Was the payment not enough?"
Li Sinian gestured with his eyes, and someone stepped forward, pulling out a large sum of silver and throwing it into the waiter's embrace.
The waiter did not catch it, and the silver fell to the ground from him. Li Sinian's gaze turned cold upon seeing this.
The waiter said, "My lord, the patrons on the second floor arrived at Chafulou from the very beginning. I truly don't know what reason I could use to ask them to leave. If my lord can, please persuade them yourself!"
Li Sinian's face completely darkened. There was nowhere in the capital he, Li Sinian, could not go. Could the dignified Minister of Personnel, the head of the six ministries, be bullied?
"Father, your daughter advises you not to provoke the people on the second floor."
"Miss, you are praising others and dampening your father's spirit. Look around, how many in this capital can stand shoulder to shoulder with my lord?" Suoxin said smugly.
Li Yaoqin shook her head, "Father..."
Li Sinian didn't even look at her and walked straight towards the second floor. Suoxin also hurried to follow.
At the corner of the second floor, two men stepped forward to block Li Sinian. "Retire."
Suoxin said from behind, "My lord, these are the two who pushed me earlier."
Li Sinian said coldly, "Move aside."
"Retire," one of the men said coldly.
Li Sinian sneered, "No one here can make this official retire." As he spoke, he took out his official token and said coldly, "I am Li Sinian, Minister of Personnel."
The man didn't even look at the official token in his hand and said coldly, "No one is allowed to enter. Retire."
Li Sinian also became angry and said coldly, "Call your master over."
Hua Yunjin, watching Xue Zining who was still calmly drinking tea, smiled and said, "Your Majesty, aren't you going to handle this?"
Xue Zining looked at Shi Lang beside her. Shi Lang nodded, "Your subject will handle it."
As he spoke, Shi Lang walked towards the stairs on the second floor. Li Sinian saw a familiar figure appear there and couldn't help but frown, "Lord Shi?"
Shi Lang bowed respectfully, cupping his hands. "Lord Li."
"So it's you," Li Sinian said.
Shi Lang knew that the Empress would definitely not like others to know she was here, so he nodded, "It is indeed your subordinate."
Li Sinian's anxious heart settled. Seeing the two people guarding the entrance earlier, he had felt a sense of unease. Someone who could book out the entire place would surely not be a minor official.
It was not impossible for him to be the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. "Lord Shi is quite formidable, to have booked out the entire second floor."
Just hearing stories didn't cost too much, but booking out the second floor was not something a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice could afford.
Shi Lang bowed his head, cupping his hands. "Lord Li flatters me. It's just that some distinguished guests wanted to listen to stories, and I accompanied them. I apologize for disturbing Lord Li's pleasure. Tomorrow, I will personally visit Lord Li's manor to apologize."
Before Li Sinian could consider the meaning of Shi Lang's words, Suoxin, standing beside him, became displeased. "My lord, is Lord Shi's rank higher than yours? How can he go to the second floor, and you cannot?"
Li Sinian's face reddened with embarrassment. "What do you know?" Da Feng Novel Network
Angered by Li Sinian's scolding, Suoxin became even more displeased. "My lord, I was just almost pushed down. Aren't you going to do anything about it?"
"I wondered who it was. So it's the Minister of Personnel, Lord Li. Lord Li is quite majestic!"
Li Sinian froze. He looked up and saw a man in dark robes. The golden thread patterns embroidered on his chest displayed his noble status. He wore a jade coronet, and his face was exceptionally handsome and refined. It could only be Prince Hua, Hua Yunjin.
Li Sinian quickly bowed. "Your subject greets His Highness Prince Hua."
Hua Yunjin raised his hand slightly. "Lord Li, there's no need for such formality."
"My lord, who is this?" Suoxin asked, her eyes shining as she looked at the impossibly handsome man before her.
Li Sinian glared at Suoxin and said in a low, cold voice, "Why aren't you paying your respects?"
"My lord, is his official rank higher than yours?" Suoxin asked.
For the first time, Li Sinian felt a desire to disappear into a crack in the ground. He said angrily, "He's a prince."
Suoxin looked envious and quickly bowed. "Your subject greets His Highness."
"Lord Li, your concubine is quite spirited," Hua Yunjin said calmly.
Hua Yunjin had heard the entire conversation between Suoxin and Miss Li from the Li manor earlier, and he had a deep impression of this Suoxin.
Upon hearing this, Li Sinian smiled. "Your Highness, you flatter me."
"Flatter? When have I, this prince, said anything to flatter you? I am clearly being sarcastic," Hua Yunjin said calmly.
Li Sinian's gaze paused slightly. "Your Highness, this joke is not amusing."
"A joke? Who told you I was joking with you? Lord Li, you are the head of the ministries after all. Can you not tell a joke from a serious matter?" Hua Yunjin sneered.
Li Sinian's expression turned unpleasant. He looked up at Hua Yunjin and asked, "Your Highness, what do you mean by that?"
"Father, since His Highness is here, we should not disturb His Highness's enjoyment," Li Yaoqin stepped forward and pulled Li Sinian's sleeve.
While Li Sinian hesitated, Suoxin spoke up. "My lord, since His Highness is also here, why not listen to the stories with His Highness?"
Li Yaoqin frowned and said coldly, "Aunt Xin, what nonsense are you talking about? How can a noble person like His Highness listen to stories with us?"
"Why not?" Suoxin asked.
At this moment, Li Sinian also wished he could kick Suoxin away. Why had he never realized this Suoxin was so unreasonable?
"Retire," Li Sinian said angrily.
Suoxin bit her lower lip and was about to walk downstairs. Li Sinian bowed and said, "We have disturbed His Highness's enjoyment. We shall take our leave now."
Li Sinian and Li Yaoqin left the place, naturally taking the unwilling Suoxin with them.
Hua Yunjin shook his head and returned to his seat. "It seems that among Lord Li's household, only Miss Li has a clear mind."
"You seem to have a good impression of Miss Li?" Xue Zining asked.
Hua Yunjin said, "She seems decent. Does Your Majesty not seem to agree with Miss Li?"
"Your Highness seems unaware. This Miss Li wants to compete with our Majesty for the position of Emperor Yun," Xue Yan appeared and said coldly.