"Your Highness." Xiao Qi softly curtsied, but her lips suddenly froze when she saw Cheng Xiran.
"What's the matter?" Helian Duo looked at the broken carriage in front of him and frowned even more tightly.
"My carriage is broken, and I'm afraid I can't go on. I didn't want to bother Your Highness at first, but I sprained my ankle while climbing the mountain a few days ago and it's inconvenient for me to walk. I wonder if Your Highness's carriage could give me a ride?"
Xiao Qi lowered her eyes. Her pitiful look even made Cheng Xiran, a woman, feel pity for her.
"Get in the carriage."
Helian Duo nodded. Xiao Qi's face lit up with joy. After thanking him, she was helped into the carriage by her maid.
Cheng Xiran took a look. Wasn't she walking quite fast?
"Your Highness has quite a lot of romantic luck." Cheng Xiran blinked. Looking at the fact that this place wasn't too far from the Prime Minister's Mansion, she could walk back by herself. But before Cheng Xiran could speak, her stomach growled first.
Cheng Xiran was a bit embarrassed. She had only eaten a little snack in the morning. It was already good that she was only hungry now.
"Are you hungry?" Helian Duo shifted his gaze. Cheng Xiran naturally nodded bravely.
"Then let's go eat." Helian Duo took a step and walked away, which caught Cheng Xiran off guard.
"Aren't you going to send your childhood sweetheart home?" Cheng Xiran looked back. The carriage was still there.
"She wanted to take the carriage. What's wrong with me letting her take it?" Helian Duo said it as a matter of course, even making Cheng Xiran think he did it on purpose. "Are you coming or not?"
"Coming, coming. I'm starving." Hearing this, Cheng Xiran quickly followed. Who would say no to a meal?
Silently sympathizing with Xiao Qi in the carriage, Cheng Xiran went with Helian Duo to eat and drink to her heart's content.
After a sumptuous meal, Cheng Xiran was personally sent back to the Prime Minister's Mansion by Helian Duo. Perhaps such an honor was the first for her.
"Thank you, Your Highness. I will definitely praise your greatness a lot in my articles." Cheng Xiran showed a very obsequious smile.
Helian Duo gave Cheng Xiran a very aloof look, responded slightly, and then turned around and left.
"Arrogant." Cheng Xiran muttered and then turned around and entered the Prime Minister's Mansion.
Cheng Xiran originally wanted to go straight back to her own courtyard, but as soon as she entered the mansion, she was directly taken to the main hall.
Looking at the posture of these people in the main hall, Cheng Xiran felt a headache. How could she have forgotten about these people?
"You still know to come back!" Father Cheng scolded. He sized up Cheng Xiran, but didn't see any injuries on her.
"My lord, Ran'er has always been impulsive. It's already a blessing that the Regent Prince hasn't blamed the Prime Minister's Mansion." Liu Shi beside him quickly spoke up. It was obvious that she was adding fuel to the fire. After a few words, Father Cheng became even more angry.
Cheng Xiran originally wanted to say something, but then thought that Father Cheng was in a fit of anger now. It would be better for her to shut up and listen to the scolding.
At this time, the old lady, who had been extremely anxious, immediately rushed to the main hall as soon as she heard that Cheng Xiran had come back. "Ran'er, you're finally back. Did the Regent Prince make things difficult for you?"
"Don't worry, Grandmother. I'm fine." Seeing the old lady's anxious and worried expression, Cheng Xiran felt warm in her heart. "Moreover, the Regent Prince really asked me to talk about business. He wasn't blaming me."
"Ran'er hasn't had dinner yet, right? Hurry up and rest." The old lady still seemed worried. She pressed on Cheng Xiran's shoulders and sized her up carefully.
"What to eat! You've caused such a big trouble and you still have the nerve to eat? Even if the Regent Prince isn't angry, the Empress Dowager has already inquired about this matter. Who can guarantee that there won't be any blame!" Father Cheng smashed the teacup in his hand on the table and said sternly, "Sooner or later, the Prime Minister's Mansion will be ruined by you!"
"What are you shouting at the child for!" The old lady immediately protected Cheng Xiran.
"Grandmother, don't be angry. The Regent Prince has already stopped pursuing this matter." Cheng Xiran said with a smile. "Moreover, the Regent Prince not only invited me to dinner today, but also personally sent me back."
"Truly so?"
The old lady asked with concern. Seeing Cheng Xiran nod, she finally breathed a sigh of relief and kept saying "Amitabha".