Granny Gao emerged, holding a handkerchief.
She walked straight ahead, her gaze fixed forward, not noticing Xiao Xitian and Du Tieshan.
Behind her followed a young girl wearing a veil and a purple silk skirt.
This was Xiao Xinling, who intended to sneak out of the palace to have some fun.
As soon as she crossed the palace threshold, Xiao Xinling’s beautiful eyes darted around.
“Stop! Where do you think you’re going?” Commander Lin shouted, hands on his hips. “Don’t you know the Emperor decreed that no one is allowed to enter or leave the palace freely?”
Xiao Xinling’s steps faltered, her brow furrowed. Just as she was about to curse him, she spotted a little bun standing at the entrance.
Upon closer inspection, the little bun was as exquisite as a carved jade, and incredibly cute. It was none other than the long-unseen Sweet Treasure!
Xiao Xinling was overjoyed. Without bothering with Commander Lin, she rushed to Xiao Xitian and exclaimed excitedly, “Wow, Sweet Treasure? What are you doing here?”
Haha, she was feeling bored, and Sweet Treasure had come to play with her.
Primarily, Xiao Xinling felt a special connection to the Yun family. Seeing anyone with the surname Yun brought her a sense of warmth.
“Sister Xinling!” Xiao Xitian lifted her small head, looking at Xiao Xinling, who had removed her veil. Her expression was equally excited.
Commander Lin took a closer look and recoiled in fright, covering his mouth and daring not to speak.
Good heavens, he had just offended a princess. Would she have him executed?
Also, judging by the close relationship between the little bun and the princess, would the little bun report his rudeness?
Xiao Xinling greeted Du Tieshan, then crouched down in front of Xiao Xitian, pinching her chubby cheeks. “Tell me, why did you suddenly come to the capital?”
Could it be to see the little crybaby?
That brat had been listless ever since returning to the palace, lacking spirit in everything he did.
It was obvious he missed Sweet Treasure.
Xiao Xitian lowered her head and fiddled with her sleeves. “Sister Xinling, I have an urgent matter and wish to see Uncle Huang. Can you take me to him?”
Xiao Xinling was taken aback.
Good heavens, it seemed Sweet Treasure already knew their identities, otherwise, she wouldn’t have come to the palace.
“What happened?” Xiao Xinling asked.
Could Yun Siman have been crippled? That wouldn’t do. As a princess, she absolutely could not marry a cripple.
Xiao Xitian sniffled and recounted how Yun Erman had been captured by soldiers and forced into service. Finally, she grabbed Xiao Xinling’s hand. “Sister Xinling, Second Brother was taken to the military camp. If he goes to the front lines, he’ll be cannon fodder, so we must rescue him quickly!”
Cannon fodder?
Xiao Xinling was a little confused. She had never heard such a term.
Furthermore, her father had already issued an order that even if the northern border war was critical, civilians must not be forced onto the battlefield to die. Who dared to defy her father’s command so brazenly?
“Alright, I’ll take you to see Father,” Xiao Xinling said, standing up with a smile.
At this point, she no longer needed to call Emperor Cheng "Daddy." Directly calling him "Father" should be understandable to Sweet Treasure.
Just as Xiao Xitian was about to step over the threshold, Commander Lin suddenly called out, “Stop! Unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter the palace! Get out quickly!”
Xiao Xinling: “……”
Is this person brainless?
Granny Gao glared at Commander Lin, her face turning cold. “How dare you! Sweet Treasure is the Princess’s younger sister. Try blocking her again!”
You have no foresight. How did you become the commander of the Imperial Guards?
If Kong Xingzhuo hadn’t accompanied the young prince to live in the countryside, would this commander position have fallen to you?
Commander Lin looked troubled. “But… but the Emperor has ordered that, apart from ministers and royal family members, no one else may enter the palace without authorization. If anything goes wrong, I cannot bear the responsibility!”
“Just shut up!” Xiao Xinling retorted, stamping her foot in anger. “Sweet Treasure and Sister Shan are well-behaved people. What could possibly go wrong? Even if something happens, this Princess will take full responsibility…”
With that, she took Xiao Xitian’s and Du Tieshan’s hands and walked inside without looking back.
Commander Lin, seeing this, felt as if facing a great enemy. He lunged forward and blocked the three of them. “N-no, that’s still not allowed. The palace is heavily guarded; it’s where the Emperor and his consorts live. How can people from the countryside just enter as they please?”
Xiao Xitian: “……”
Do you have a serious illness?
The Princess has already spoken, so why are you still babbling?
As expected, Xiao Xinling, who was already hot-tempered, was now completely enraged. She let go of Xiao Xitian and Du Tieshan’s hands, slapped Commander Lin twice, and yelled, “You dog slave! If you don’t get out of the way, this Princess will break your legs! Scram!” httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
The other guards exchanged glances, all thinking Commander Lin was seriously ill.
Who would you provoke if not the Princess? You were just asking for a beating.
Commander Lin, covering his face, retreated to the side sullenly, not daring to say another word.
“Hmph, remember this, Princess. From now on, if Sweet Treasure wants to enter the palace, none of you are to stop her. If you dare to refuse her entry, this Princess will punish you by making you run a hundred laps around the palace. You dogs will run yourselves to death!”
After speaking, Xiao Xinling led Xiao Xitian and Du Tieshan into the palace.
Only a group of guards and Commander Lin were left standing there, looking extremely panicked.
The palace was so vast. Running a hundred laps would surely make them vomit blood from exhaustion.
The scenery within the palace was beautiful. Although it was winter, the palace corners and watchtowers were faintly visible among the bare branches, possessing a unique charm.
The imperial garden was planted with winter plum blossoms. Buds, on the verge of blooming, swayed gently in the cold wind. The rockeries and corridors were reflected in the pond, shimmering with a special light amidst the scattered ice.
Xiao Xitian was dazzled. In her previous life, she had often seen palace scenes in romance novels and television dramas. Now, walking here, her heart felt unusually calm.
“Sweet Treasure, Father is holding court in the Golden Throne Hall. The court hasn’t adjourned yet. I’ll take you to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to wait!” Xiao Xinling said with a smile.
“Okay, thank you, Sister Xinling, no, thank you, Your Highness!” Xiao Xitian said, her eyes curving into crescent moons.
Xiao Xinling heard this and rubbed her bun-shaped hair. “Sweet Treasure, you should still call me Sister Xinling. It sounds more pleasant…”
She didn’t want to have too much of a hierarchical distinction with the Yun family, as it would create too much of a generation gap.
“Mhm, I understand, Sister Xinling!” Xiao Xitian replied.
Meanwhile, in the Eastern Palace.
Xiao Jinheng picked up a bronze mirror and touched his eyes with his hand.
It was strange. His eyelids had been twitching non-stop since he woke up this morning, as if something were about to happen.
Just then, Kong Xingzhuo hurried in.