However, before Lu Mingxuan could finish his lament, the crowd suddenly parted in the middle.
Immediately after, a tall man clad in bright silver armor, wearing a silver helmet and official boots, rode a horse from a distance.
Though this man was distinguished in appearance, he exuded a bone-chilling coldness, presenting an aloof and distant demeanor.
But unexpectedly, Lu Mingxuan recognized the person following behind the man!
Not only did he recognize him, but he could even say he was very familiar with him.
As the man rode up to Lu Mingxuan, it seemed the action of pulling the reins agitated his injuries. The newcomer, baring his teeth, asked,
“Little Xuanzi, where is the master?”
…
Lu Mingxuan’s mouth twitched violently. Before he could utter a sound, the newcomer continued speaking to himself,
“Never mind. Little Xuanzi, when you see the master later, make sure to put in a good word for me with my brother.
If that doesn’t work, just tell the master that I, Ye Shengxiao, am willing to work for him out of my own pocket!
In short, as long as I can be rescued from my brother’s clutches, I’ll do anything!”
“Who are you calling the clutches of?”
A chilling voice, devoid of inflection, suddenly sounded from behind, causing Ye Shengxiao to tremble inexplicably.
Lu Mingxuan remained stunned until he saw Ye Shengxiao being dragged away by the cold-faced man by the scruff of his neck.
Before long, another luxurious carriage approached from a distance.
Whether it was a hallucination brought on by recent complacency, Lu Mingxuan rubbed his eyes and was finally sure that the large wolfhound joyfully wagging its tail beside the driver, missing one left ear, was indeed Xiao Hei!
But how did Xiao Hei end up here?
He soon found the answer.
Besides Xiao Hei, the Madam, the young master, Elder Leng Shuang, and even Ling Han and Qin Ming were all in the carriage!
As they passed by, Xiao Hei, with its tongue hanging out, held its chin high.
Its valiant and spirited demeanor almost made Lu Mingxuan grind his teeth to dust.
Why on earth did he decide to follow the master out? Wasn't it better to stay at the Lin manor and cling to the Madam's leg?
As Lu Mingxuan regretted his decision, the surrounding officials also began to murmur amongst themselves.
The younger officials whispered in confusion, inquiring who was inside the carriage that the gate guards allowed to pass without even a glance.
After all, the Prince of Xiang’s carriage had been stopped just after passing the palace gates.
The older officials subtly pointed to the wet nurse who had half her head showing and explained in a low voice,
“See that? That wet nurse is no ordinary person. She was a dowry maid to the Empress Dowager, never married, and always served by the Empress Dowager’s side.
The Empress Dowager once said in person that she and this Wet Nurse Yu were like sisters, and seeing Wet Nurse Yu was akin to her personally arriving.
Moreover, it is said that this Wet Nurse Yu even served the late Emperor. Although the late Emperor had not yet ascended the throne at that time, her transcendental status was not something two mere gate guards could question.
However, I am also curious about who is riding in that carriage that it requires Wet Nurse Yu to personally come out of the palace to pick someone up.
Prime Minister Shangguan, you are the most well-informed. Do you know anything?”
Shangguan Hong, who was asked, stared at the departing carriage for a long time, shook his head, and felt an inexplicable unease.
On the other side.
Lu Mingxuan, standing alone, was about to head back when he heard someone calling him from a distance.
“Lu Xiaoming, Lu Xiaoming!”
Lu Mingxuan, who inwardly detested this rather unrefined name, turned and glared. He found that the one calling him was Yongning, or rather, Yongning Princess.
Feeling that he was the one with the least background among everyone, he quickly adjusted his expression and walked forward with a smile, “Princess Yongning, you called for this humble one?”
“Oh, I just met Master Lin and the others. Master Lin asked me to bring you a message, asking you to take care of the envoys from the Chilie Kingdom and the Khitan Kingdom. Remember to lead them into the palace for the evening banquet.”
The enthronement ceremony was internal, not external, so the foreign envoys would arrive at the palace one after another in the afternoon to pay their respects.
Suddenly entrusted with such an important task, Lu Mingxuan asked uncertainly, “Just me, leading two groups of envoys?”
But Princess Yongning suddenly raised her arm without any regard for her image and waved towards the distance,
“Si Yun, over here!”
“Si Yun, you’re finally here! You have no idea how bored I am alone in the palace!”
“By the way, Si Yun, I don’t need to attend the enthronement ceremony, and the banquet doesn’t start until tonight. Before that, why don’t you come to my sleeping quarters and keep me company?
Eh?
You blockhead, why are you here too?”
“Princess, didn’t you ask me to call Young Master Zhou along?”
Unexpectedly, Xu Si Yun said it so brazenly. Yongning glared at the former and, stubbornly denying it, retorted,
“Hmph, no men are allowed in the inner palace. How could I possibly call this blockhead?
It was Master Lin!
Yes, it was Master Lin who said Lu Xiaoming was too busy and asked me to call him over to help!”
As if satisfied with this explanation, Yongning nodded heavily and then linked arms with Xu Si Yun, heading towards her sleeping quarters.
Lu Mingxuan, his mood instantly balanced, cupped his hands towards Zhou Zeli, who had remained silent the entire time, and then they returned to the Lin manor together by carriage.
Standing with the three people left behind to be at the disposal of Prince Andrew and others, Lian Cheng Yi exchanged glances.
At the same time.
Having moved tables and chairs, chairs and vases, Lin Qing Ge genuinely felt that she was being retaliated against by a certain Prime Minister surnamed Feng.
Perhaps heaven had heard Lin Qing Ge’s grumbling, for the culprit who had been ordering people around actually appeared before her.
“Your subordinate greets Prime Minister Feng.”
“Master Lin, you have worked hard.”
One with a smile hiding a dagger, the other with a needle hidden in cotton.
Just a brief exchange of glances, and sparks seemed to crackle in the air.
Immediately after, Lin Qing Ge smiled and shook her head, saying,
“It is not hard. It is my duty as a subordinate to share the burdens of His Majesty and the court.
Constable Yan.”
“Your subordinate is here!”
“Don’t you have something to present to Prime Minister Feng?”
Hearing his lord’s words, Yan Ting Hao slapped his forehead, “Right, your subordinate had forgotten about this matter.”
Saying that, he took out an envelope from his bosom and handed it over familiarly.
Looking at the words ‘Leave Request’ clearly written on it, Feng Qing Chen suddenly smiled, “Good, good, good.”
Feeling that the Prime Minister’s smile was somewhat sinister, Yan Ting Hao directly stuffed the leave request into his hand and quickly retreated to the side.
His startled demeanor suggested he feared being bitten by the other party even a moment later that night.
With his objective achieved, Lin Qing Ge smiled and cupped her hands, saying,
“Prime Minister Feng, the enthronement ceremony is about to begin, and the arrangements here are almost complete. This subordinate and others will take our leave first.”
Feng Qing Chen, who had been outmaneuvered, crumpled the leave request in his hand and threw it towards the figure in dark purple who was sneaking towards the door, gritting his teeth fiercely,
“Xia Cheng Ye, if you take another step, I’ll… I’ll… shave my head and become a monk, and completely quit!”