Chapter 406: Likes Flattery
"Didn’t you say that all concubines are bad news? Aren’t you afraid..." Ye Qianning made a slicing motion across her neck with her small hand, sticking out her tongue and rolling her eyes back.
"...Why would they harm me? I’m no threat to the Xiang family." Helian Chen understood the situation perfectly.
Ye Qianning rubbed her chin with her small hand, falling silent for a moment as if in thought.
"I want to visit your father’s concubines to help you see if they truly have malicious intentions." Seeing her silence, Helian Chen thought she was upset.
Ye Qianning looked up, her beady eyes staring at him seriously. "Can you even tell?"
Helian Chen met her beady eyes and subconsciously blinked several times. "I’m a pretty good judge of character."
He sighed inwardly. ’The more I look at her big head, the more it resembles a pig’s head.’
"Fine," Ye Qianning nodded. "Luo Wen, take him to see the concubines."
Luo Wen stepped forward. "This way, Your Highness."
"I’ll leave this painting here for now and come back for it later." Helian Chen reluctantly put the scroll down.
"Take it with you. My father’s concubines love flattery. The sweeter your words, the more they’ll like you."
Helian Chen was displeased upon hearing this. "Do I look like that kind of person?"
Despite his words, he picked the scroll he had just placed on the table back up and cradled it carefully in his arms.
Watching him leave, Ye Qianning shook her head and chuckled softly. ’Kids these days are so proud.’
She twitched her ears, listening to the situation in the main hall. It was nothing more than fawning and flattery. Mo Geluo hadn’t entered the hall; he was taken directly back to the posthouse by Xi Yan’s Shadow Guards.
The Third Prince, Sang Yan, was unaware of what had transpired at the General’s manor and was making small talk with the other guests.
Ye Qianning retracted her special ability. With the Third Prince’s arrival, there likely wouldn’t be any more trouble. She couldn’t use her ability too frequently, or her small body would suffer for it.
"Luo Xuan, bring another plate of pastries." Ye Qianning sat back down at the table. This mouth of hers just couldn’t stop eating.
There was a reason she was fat; she always felt hungry.
Luo Xuan left and returned a short while later with a plate of pastries.
The General’s manor never ran out of pastries. Everyone in the household knew Ye Qianning had a huge appetite, so the concubines or the main chef would always make plenty first thing in the morning.
"Any news from the Imperial Palace?" she asked while eating.
"Du Yi hasn’t sent any word."
Ye Qianning was a bit confused. Her little honeyeater was watching Consort Yuan’s palace. After the palace was ransacked, the Emperor had visited Consort Yuan’s chambers, and the maids had also gone in to clean.
With so many things missing, neither the maids nor the Beili Emperor had acted strangely. ’That shouldn’t be right.’
Consort Yuan, the Sixth Princess, and the Ninth Princess were still kneeling in the "little black room" as punishment. They were to kneel for three days, and no one was allowed to enter without the Beili Emperor’s permission. For now, they were unaware of what had happened to the palace.
"Eldest Miss, the person we arranged for last time has passed the Imperial Palace guard assessment. In another half a month, he can take over for Du Yi," Luo Xuan said.
"No rush. Let Du Yi come back after the people from East Shu leave the Capital City." Ye Qianning felt that East Shu was brewing a major plot. Things seemed calm now, but their first move would likely be very difficult to handle.
"Yes. This subordinate will send word to Du Yi shortly."
"Mm," Ye Qianning nodded.
Sang Zhi’s power was weak and his influence limited. The royal family’s Hidden Guards were all appointed by the Emperor. If any guards were active in the shadows without the Emperor’s permission, the consequence would be equivalent to treason.
’If I raise some people for him outside the palace and establish an organization, it will be more convenient for him to act once he comes of age.’
"I heard there’s a black market that trafficks people sixty *li* outside the Capital City. Do you know the specifics?"
Luo Xuan shook his head. "This subordinate has only heard of it but has never been."
"You and Du Ying go check it out tomorrow."
"Eldest Miss, are you thinking of buying people from the black market?"
