In the corner of the West Wing, the green-painted door was ajar.
Inside, a silver needle was pulled out from a dish on the table, shiny and spotless.
The youth's eyes alternated between clarity and darkness for a moment and said, "Give it to Elder Feng for a thorough inspection."
As the words fell, within a few blinks of the eye, the table was empty.
The youth asked with lowered eyes, "How is the Princely Heir's injury?"
"It should not be a major issue, only these days the wind outside is tight, the Imperial Secret Guards have been deployed, and the Princely Heir can only temporarily lay low, but the hiding place is very secure, even the Imperial Secret Guards cannot find it, so the Young Master can rest assured."
The youth's refined eyebrows slightly furrowed, and he said, "The Palace may send someone to investigate, I need to return for two days, you all handle things here carefully."
"If the County Government sends someone again—"
"They won't come again." The youth said.
Everyone in the Capital City knows Miss Tang's temperament.
Today, that constable surnamed Yao privately questioned Second Miss Tang, touching Miss Tang's reverse scale, and even if the Capital Prefect sent someone to her door, Miss Tang would not permit it.
Unless it disturbs the Palace, no one will keep an eye on him again.
However, the hardest to guard against is not those outside the Mansion—
"Be careful of Second Miss Tang." The youth whispered.
That young girl is really enthusiastic towards him, willing to even commit perjury to cover for him.
If he temporarily leaves the Duke Yan Mansion, others can be handled, but he's afraid this young girl will wake up excitedly at the crack of dawn to find him the next day…
…
The youth, who has always been thoughtful, misjudged Second Miss Tang this time.
Second Miss Tang didn't even wait for the next morning, she eagerly came to find her little ancestor as soon as she woke up from her nap that day.
Before her nap, Tang Xiaobai thought it over carefully and felt Qin Xiao's outstanding aura was still easy to notice, so she came up with a good way to conceal it! She couldn't wait to find Qin Xiao to give him a big surprise!
Just at the moment Second Miss Tang happily turned right out the door, a whole lot of eyes noticed, and the news quietly spread among the pavilions and flowers.
When Tang Xiaobai reached the entrance of the West Wing and was about to step inside, a familiar voice called out from behind her—
"Tang Xiaobai!"
Full name included, tinged with annoyance and anger.
Tang Xiaobai turned around in surprise and called out, "Sister," and asked, "What are you doing here?"
Tang Jiaojiao walked up to her quickly, frowned, and glanced at her, slightly rephrased her question, and threw it back: "What are you doing here?"
Tang Xiaobai thought for a moment and replied, "Guess."
Tang Jiaojiao almost slapped her on the head, but seeing the people coming and going, she left Second Miss some face.
Even so, Tang Xiaobai was still frightened by her sister's gaze and shrank her neck, muttering, "Who told you to ask knowingly…"
What could she be doing here? Besides looking for her little ancestor, what else could she be doing?
Tang Jiaojiao frowned deeply, pulled her to the side, and said through gritted teeth in a low voice: "You're a young lady of the Duke Mansion; don't keep running to the West Wing. Such a messy place, is it where you should be?"
Tang Xiaobai thought about it and felt it made sense, so she said, "Sister, you should get Ding Shiqi to stay somewhere else; the West Wing's environment is too bad for his recovery. Move him closer to me, it's more convenient for me to, uh... put him to use!" This place is indeed unworthy of her Little Qin.
Tang Jiaojiao glared, "Are you deliberately trying to annoy me?"
Tang Xiaobai feigned surprise, "He saved me, didn't you teach me to know gratitude and repay it?"
Tang Jiaojiao was taken aback, "I taught you? When did I teach you such useless things?"
"Of course you taught me; otherwise, whom would a child like me learn from?" Tang Xiaobai insisted on passing the blame.
Tang Jiaojiao thought about it but couldn't figure it out, so she simply dismissed it: "We'll talk about this later!"
Tang Xiaobai nodded obediently, "Then I have one more thing—"
"Also later!" Tang Jiaojiao interrupted her indisputably, "Anyway, you're coming with me!" she said, pulling her along.
"Where are we going?" Tang Xiaobai asked while looking back at the West Wing, feeling oddly like someone was deliberately intercepting her, "Oh right, Sister, what are you doing here…"
…
Soon, Tang Xiaobai knew why Miss Tang was there.
South of the West Wing, through two moon gates, there is an open space where the mansion's managers usually gather or reprimand servants.
At this moment, dozens of people stood scattered on this open ground; Tang Xiaobai took a quick glance, and they were all males, aged from ten to thirty.
"Bring a chair for Second Miss," Tang Jiaojiao instructed while rolling up her sleeves and taking a seat, gesturing to Tang Xiaobai, "Pick one!"
Tang Xiaobai was momentarily confused, "Pick what?"
"Didn't you want an attendant?"
"I want Ding Shiqi, don't I?" Tang Xiaobai was even more confused.
Tang Jiaojiao frowned, her eyes showing a mix of slight dissatisfaction, slight helplessness, and ninety-four percent disdain, "You specifically come to ask, and you just want one? Who taught you to be so shabby? Leaving Duke Yan Mansion, everything must be in pairs!"
This…
Alright then, she didn't mind having one more.
Tang Xiaobai nodded, "You can handle these things, I'm okay with anything!" she said and was about to leave.
She didn't take half a step before being pulled by Miss Tang again—
"Okay with what?" Miss Tang wouldn't allow her to be so dismissive, "Aren't you quite capable? Pick yourself!"
Tang Xiaobai thought, as an adult, what's the point of bickering with a little girl? Fine, I'll pick!
She scanned the crowd, pointing to a familiar face: "That one!"
Tang Jiaojiao looked in the direction she pointed, seeing a boy of about twelve or thirteen, thin and with a small face.
"Are you trying to rob the rich to help the poor?" Tang Jiaojiao asked with a frown.
"Huh?" Tang Xiaobai didn't understand.
"Why do you always pick the weaklings?"
The remark wasn't very harmful, but it was extremely insulting!
"This is called being refined! Refined!" Tang Xiaobai's face suddenly turned dark, "He's the one I told Sister about!"
Apparently teasing children has always been a delight throughout the ages; after provoking Tang Xiaobai, Miss Tang happily became more agreeable: "Alright! Let it be that refined one then!"
Tang Xiaobai snorted, shook off her hand, "Anything else? Then I'll go—"
"Go where? Stay put!" Tang Jiaojiao pulled her back again.
Tang Xiaobai felt a little suspicious: "Why do you keep stalling me? Is there some conspiracy?"