Seeing Chi Liyin looking excited, Cheng Xiran knew that she had rushed out in such a hurry obviously because of Xue Lianyu.
Seeing that she was about to rush forward, Cheng Xiran immediately pulled her back to her side and advised, "Have you forgotten what I told you last time?"
Hearing this, Chi Liyin immediately slowed down her steps and started chatting with Cheng Xiran.
"Sister, do you think there's any difference between the food in the palace and that outside?"
Just as Cheng Xiran was about to answer, Xue Lianyu was seen running towards them. He tugged at Chi Liyin's ponytail and led her aside. It seemed as if he was scolding her. "Well, Chi Liyin, you've even learned not to go home! Even if you and Xiran enter the palace, shouldn't you send someone back to the villa to inform us? I almost thought you'd been abducted. I even got scolded by my father when I got home."
"It's okay. Anyway, someone doesn't care about my safety!"
Chi Liyin made a fierce face at him, then slipped back to Cheng Xiran's side and made a face at him. "Xue Lianyu, you'll never be able to use me to go out and play again. When I get back to the villa, I'll definitely tell Uncle Xue about you!"
Xue Lianyu intended to fool around with Chi Liyin, but this time Chi Liyin remembered what Cheng Xiran had taught her before. She didn't act recklessly anymore. Instead, she obediently accompanied Cheng Xiran and ignored him. Her unusual behavior naturally troubled Xue Lianyu.
"Was there anything interesting at the Qinxue Pavilion this morning? How many concubines did the emperor choose?"
All the way, Xue Lianyu kept initiating conversations with them. Cheng Xiran felt a bit sleepy after eating. She leaned on Chi Liyin's shoulder with her hand on Chi Liyin's arm and fell asleep. He Lianduo noticed this and told the coachman to drive slower to reduce the bumps.
As for Xue Lianyu's question, he answered casually, "The empress dowager chose three on her own initiative. But I think these people usually support the Prince of Qi in the court. So what she did was undoubtedly placing spies beside the emperor."
"Tsk tsk tsk..." Xue Lianyu sighed. "Being an emperor is really no easy job. It's so tiring to be involved in intrigues every day."
After taking a look at Cheng Xiran, who was already fast asleep, Xue Lianyu asked again, "Wasn't Xiran chosen? The empress dowager values talent so much. How could she be willing to let Xiran go?"
"She'll be chosen sooner or later. It's just that she didn't have the chance today."
He Lianduo's eyes shone with a cold light, which made Xue Lianyu move to the side.
Whenever you saw his deep - set eyes, it must mean that he had the desire to stir up a storm in his heart, and he might already be in action.
"I'll go out in a couple of days. You should keep an eye on things in the capital. You'd better take it seriously and don't let anyone take advantage of the loopholes."
When the carriage stopped in front of the prince's mansion, Cheng Xiran was still sleeping soundly. Chi Liyin, however, was a bit tired. Her shoulder was sore from being leaned on.
He Lianduo picked Cheng Xiran up. He deliberately moved very gently so as not to wake her up.
"Instead of sending her back to the Cheng Mansion, you're keeping her here?"
Xue Lianyu had some objections to this and then said, "Blockhead, isn't this a bit inappropriate? After all, Xiran is a young girl. Don't take advantage of her later."
This drew a barrage of criticism from Chi Liyin. "Do you think the prince is like you, with dirty thoughts in your head all day long?"
Xue Lianyu was speechless and could only watch as He Lianduo carried Cheng Xiran into the prince's mansion.