Qi Yu unconsciously shrank upon meeting Li Mingjue's cold gaze.
But upon second thought, this white lotus was coming for him, what did she have to feel guilty about?
"Reporting to Prince," Li Bo reported in detail, "Princess Consort's maid, Hong Xing, has been unruly in the residence, causing a ruckus."
Li Mingjue frowned deeply at the sight of the disheveled Hong Xing, who looked like a madwoman, "Drag her out and give her twenty heavy beatings."
"Yes."
After Hong Xing was taken away, Qi Anran resumed her previous gentle and pleasant demeanor, stepping forward and softly calling out, "Prince."
Her tone was so much gentler than towards anyone else, Qi Yu couldn't help but click his tongue, no wonder she could deceive Princess Jiahe so thoroughly.
However, Li Mingjue remained indifferent, and only when he approached Qi Yu did he respond lukewarmly, "What is it?"
Seeing him turning his back to her, Qi Anran's hands nearly crumpled the hem of her skirt, but she had to forcefully suppress her anger and slowly said, "Sister has been married into the Prince's Residence for some time. Our father and mother miss her deeply, and they specifically sent me to bring sister back home today."
Miss her?
Qi Yu nearly rolled his eyes; it was more like they were coming to assign blame.
Just a few days ago, she had tricked Qi Wei, that old fox, and it was probably time for post-autumn settling of accounts.
Li Mingjue turned around, his eyes scrutinizing Qi Anran without mincing words, "If they miss her, why wait until today? If I remember correctly, it has been over half a month since the Princess Consort married into the Prince's Residence."
Qi Anran didn't expect him to be so unaccommodating, and her face paled for a moment.
But with Qi Wei having given the strict order before she came, she had to keep urging with a stifled heart, "Father refrained from coming too soon after sister returned to the Prince's Residence. Today happens to be sister's birthday, and father sent me specially to fetch her home to celebrate together."
Birthday?
Qi Yu was taken aback, was today the original owner's birthday?
In the original owner's memory, every birthday was spent alone in the back garden.
Everyone in the Prime Minister's Residence turned a deaf ear, never remembering this day.
If that was the case, why not return to the Prime Minister's Residence today and seek redress for the original owner?
Li Mingjue glanced at Qi Yu and only reluctantly agreed when he saw her nod.
Before leaving, he even arranged for Guan Bei to order ten sets of clothes for Qi Yu from Mingyue Pavilion.
"I also want Wanchun Building's pastries and Xilai Fu's crab roe buns!" Qi Yu quickly added.
Who cares about clothes from Mingyue Pavilion, she wanted delicious treats!
Li Mingjue was speechless for a moment, not sure whether to say she didn't appreciate the finer things or she was just frugal, considering a hundred catties of pastries couldn't even compare to clothes from Mingyue Pavilion.
But if Qi Yu liked it, he had no choice but to indulge her.
The steward answered affectionately, quickly sending people to get ready.
Today was the Princess Consort's birthday, and the Prince was taking special care; he couldn't afford to drag his feet.
Suddenly, the entire Prince's Residence began bustling with preparations, all lest they slight the Princess Consort and incur Li Mingjue's wrath.
If Qi Anran had previously harbored any hope, thinking that it was all Qi Yu's one-sided account, how could the Prince possibly care for an idiot?
But now, witnessing with her own eyes Li Mingjue's and the entire residence's tolerance for Qi Yu, her jealousy twisted her face.
A single garment from Mingyue Pavilion costs over a thousand silver, how could that idiot deserve them!
Even she had to plead with her mother every year just to purchase one, to maintain appearances at important events.
Yet Li Mingjue's hand was ten outfits in one go, casually spending tens of thousands of silver like it was nothing.
Indeed, this foolish girl who didn't know any better had lucked out.
Qi Yu didn't know that Qi Anran had been so angered that she had stomach pain. She had never thought that you could get so many benefits from just having a birthday, and her mood brightened considerably.
"Sister, let's go back early, I'm sure father and mother are waiting anxiously," Qi Yu urged.
Right now, all she wanted to do was to quickly slap some faces and return to the Prince Residence to enjoy her pastries.
Qi Anran tugged at the corner of her mouth, forcing a smile: "Fine."
Thinking of what awaited Qi Yu at the Prime Minister Residence made some of her anger dissipate.
She didn't believe that Qi Yu could leave the Prime Minister Residence unscathed today!
In the carriage, Qi Yu lifted the curtain and looked outside curiously.
The capital city was bustling, but she had never been out in it before.
"Why are we going back?" Li Mingjue looked at her, unknowing of the danger, with a somewhat ugly expression.
Although he was certain he could protect Qi Yu, traps must be set in the Prime Minister Residence. What would he do if something actually happened?
Qi Yu didn't think so much. She waved her hand nonchalantly, "That old fox Qi Wei just wants to vent his anger, right? Even if we don't come today, he'll always find a reason to drag me back."
"Besides, it's better to take initiative rather than be at someone's mercy." Qi Yu winked at him, a mischievous smile on her face.
Li Mingjue's expression was shocked; his Princess always had a way of casually delivering such powerful words that one couldn't help but...look at her in a new light.
"And," Qi Yu suddenly leaned closer, looking at his devastatingly handsome face with a serious tone, "I'm not unable to protect you."
Li Mingjue seemed to have been scorched by her gaze and quickly shifted his eyes away, saying lightly, "When have I ever said I needed your protection?"
Qi Yu poked his face, feigning a sigh, "Ah, even if the sky falls, there's no need to worry, we have our Prince's mouth to uphold it."
"Stop fooling around!" Li Mingjue reprimanded in a low voice, prying her fingers away.
Qi Yu pretended not to hear and continued to lean on the curtain, smiling as she watched the scenery outside.
Li Mingjue touched the spot where she had poked him just now, a faint unusual redness appearing on his face as he glared angrily at the instigator.
Upon arriving at the Prime Minister Residence, Qi Wei and Madam Wang were already waiting in the front hall.
Qi Yu sauntered along, pulling Li Mingjue leisurely as if they were out for a stroll, not in a hurry at all.
Qi Anran followed behind, trying several times to urge them on, but was blocked by Li Mingjue with just a glance.
"Sister, this is the home you grew up in, what's there to see?" Qi Anran could only hint indirectly in a reminder.
Qi Yu blinked, looking at her somewhat pitifully, "But I was always locked in a dark room, I've never seen such beautiful places before."
Li Mingjue's gaze grew cold, sweeping over the people of the Prime Minister Residence.
The maids who had previously looked down on Qi Yu couldn't bear his intimidating presence and lowered their heads one after another.
Qi Anran's heart skipped a beat, and before Qi Yu could reveal more truths, she quickly interrupted: "Sister must be mistaken, we used to play here a lot when we were little."
But Qi Yu kept causing trouble, refusing to let up, scaring Qi Anran half to death.
"Yuyu, stop making trouble!"
Qi Wei and Madam Wang had been waiting in the front hall for quite a while and got a little anxious not seeing anyone.
As soon as they came out, they heard Qi Yu spouting outrageous things, and Qi Wei rebuked her loudly.
Qi Yu acted as if she had been scared, hurriedly hiding behind Li Mingjue.
Qi Wei frowned, and Madam Wang immediately stepped forward to apologize: "You must find it amusing, Your Highness, Qi Yu has been simple-minded since childhood, often speaking nonsense."
Li Mingjue, however, was not amused. He shielded Qi Yu behind him, looking at them coldly, "How dare you, can you presume to speak about my Princess?"