Chu Qianli was brought into the Emperor's Qianming Palace.
The Emperor, under the service of Eunuch Qing, was drinking tea.
Upon seeing Chu Qianli, he immediately smiled, his face full of kindness and peace.
"Is Li'er finally here?"
The address "Li'er" sent a shiver down Chu Qianli's spine.
"Greetings, Your Majesty." Chu Qianli remained composed and bowed.
The Emperor smiled, "You are excused. Be seated."
Eunuch Qing immediately ordered someone to prepare a seat for Chu Qianli, along with tea and snacks.
Chu Qianli pursed her lips, knowing the Emperor's deep cunning.
She wouldn't mention her grandfather's affairs, and the Emperor likely wouldn't bring it up either.
"Your Majesty, I heard you brought my grandfather into the palace for treatment. Li'er thanks you. I am worried about my grandfather and wonder if I can go see him?"
The Emperor's tea-drinking paused slightly.
Then, he put down his cup, looked at her, and still wore a kind smile.
"The Duke just took his medicine and should be resting now. Li'er, there's no need to be anxious. Later, Eunuch Qing will take you to see him."
Chu Qianli's eyes darkened.
The Emperor indeed had something to say to her.
But he wouldn't mention it, and she was the one anxious.
Not wanting to waste any more time, Chu Qianli calmly asked, "May I know why Your Majesty summoned Li'er to the palace?"
The Emperor finally put down his cup and smiled faintly, "I heard Li'er possesses the ability of foresight? Many people witnessed it during the battle at Phoenix Mountain!"
As expected, they wanted to use her.
Chu Qianli remained composed, "Li'er is merely a weak woman, how could I have the ability of foresight?"
"At that time, I was just eager to see Prince Xuan, and my courage grew, so I ran around a bit."
"The one who led everyone in eradicating most of the Black Tiger寨 forces was Leng Ji. After the matter was concluded, Prince Xuan personally praised Leng Ji. The brothers in the army all know this."
"Oh? Is that so?"
The Emperor's long fingers landed on the cup again.
He curved his lips into a smile, but the smile was chillingly cold.
"Then, does Li'er mean that the news I heard is incorrect?"
"Li'er dares not."
"Heh." The Emperor suddenly threw the cup onto the table.
It wasn't heavy, but the tea spilled.
The smile on his face also vanished. He looked at Chu Qianli, a hint of gloomy coldness in his eyes.
But his tone remained gentle, "Eunuch Qing, since Li'er is so concerned about the Duke, take her to see him."
Chu Qianli's heart sank.
She knew that letting her see her grandfather wouldn't be a simple visit.
This Emperor was a schemer, deeply calculating!
Eunuch Qing nodded, "Yes!"
He then smiled at Chu Qianli and said, "Miss Li'er, please follow this old servant."
Chu Qianli immediately stood up and followed behind Eunuch Qing.
However, as soon as they left the main hall, Eunuch Qing said to a young eunuch, "Miss Li'er is going to see the Duke. Go and have someone attend to her."
"Yes." The young eunuch scurried away.
Chu Qianli's heart tightened, wanting to follow.
Eunuch Qing's instructions to the young eunuch were definitely problematic!
She wanted to see her grandfather immediately!
But Eunuch Qing stepped forward and blocked her path.
"What is it? Miss Li'er, do you not know that the palace is a restricted area, and you cannot wander around on your own?"
"Eunuch Qing, I will go with the young eunuch to see my grandfather. There's no need to trouble you."
"Heh." Eunuch Qing stepped forward again, still blocking her completely.
His expression turned serious, "The Emperor ordered this old servant to escort Miss Li'er. Miss Li'er must follow this old servant."
"Does Miss Li'er not know that the Emperor is heaven, and no one is allowed to disobey his words?"
Chu Qianli remained silent.
Eunuch Qing was warning her that disobeying the Emperor was a sure path to death.
She clenched her fists hidden in her sleeves, forcing herself to calm down, "Then, please lead the way, Eunuch Qing."
"Good." Eunuch Qing then resumed his smiling demeanor.
But this smile, in Chu Qianli's eyes, was unspeakably hypocritical and sinister!
Eunuch Qing smiled, "Miss Li'er, please follow this old servant."
... Although she had been mentally prepared, seeing her grandfather's bloody head still enraged Chu Qianli to the point of wanting to kill!
They were too much, too malicious!
"Grandfather! How are you?" She rushed over, immediately snatching the gauze from the imperial physician's hand and bandaging her grandfather's wound herself.
Eunuch Qing ignored them, gave a look to the imperial physician, who then retreated, moving far away.
Chu Qianli finally managed to bandage Chu Buqu's wounds.
Her grandfather was in the palace. No matter how angry she was, she had to suppress it.
"Grandfather, what happened?"
Chu Buqu hesitated to speak, finally forcing a weak smile to comfort her, "It's nothing. I just bumped into something when I got out of bed."
"I'm truly fine, Xiao Qi. The palace... is not suitable for you. Hurry back, back to Prince Xuan's manor. From now on, if there's nothing important, stay in your chambers and serve Prince Xuan well. Don't run around anymore."
Chu Qianli felt a pang of sadness.
Grandfather knew the cause of his injuries, he understood it clearly.
But Grandfather was powerless.
Did he think Feng Yexuan could protect her? That's why he told her to stay at Prince Xuan's manor and not come out?
Chu Qianli, being a transmigrator, was not yet clear about the current political situation.
But if Grandfather believed Feng Yexuan could, it meant Feng Yexuan indeed had the ability to contend with the Emperor.
However, Grandfather didn't know that even at Prince Xuan's manor, she was restricted in her movements.
In Prince Xuan's manor, there were many who wanted her dead.
Chu Qianli held Chu Buqu's hand and smiled, "Alright. After I return, I will stay at the manor and serve the Prince well. I won't run around anymore."
... From Chu Buqu's current residence to the Emperor's side hall, Chu Qianli's clenched fingernails had drawn blood from her palm several times along the way.
Grandfather's injury was a fresh wound, it had just happened!
It was Eunuch Qing who instructed that young eunuch, and that young eunuch immediately created the "accident" for Grandfather!
In the palace, one's life was not their own.
The Emperor was heaven; if he willed your death at the third watch, you would surely not live to the fifth.
This was why the Emperor didn't want to talk to her directly and wanted her to see her grandfather first.
The Emperor wanted her to know that her grandfather was in his hands. With just a word, her grandfather could die from any kind of accident!
"Miss Li'er, the Emperor's grace is vast. As long as Miss Li'er can speak well with the Emperor, this old servant believes the Duke can be cured and return home to enjoy his twilight years."
Before entering the side hall, Eunuch Qing smiled, "Miss Li'er, what do you think?"
Chu Qianli merely glanced at him indifferently, her palm tightening again.
She didn't speak and walked directly into the side hall.
The Emperor was indeed still drinking tea in the side hall, waiting for her.
Chu Qianli asked expressionlessly, "I don't understand the magic of foresight, but I do understand reconnaissance. May I know what Your Majesty wants me to do?"