Old Lady Ji sighed inwardly. Her granddaughter was still too young; there was so much she couldn’t yet understand.
After a moment’s thought, she said, "Let your pretty sister accompany you into the Palace first. Once I return home, I’ll have Nanny Zhang and the others go to the Palace to look after you."
Xiaosuisui nodded. She didn’t understand these matters; whatever her grandmother said, went.
"Alright then, Suisui will go to the Palace with Pretty Sister first. Grandmother, you must take good care of yourself! Suisui will only stay in the Palace for a few days and then come back."
The old lady stroked her head, then saw her off into the carriage heading to the Palace.
「In a corner outside Zhiwei Restaurant」
Xie Pan’Er and Xie Si were bidding each other farewell.
"Don’t overthink it," Xie Pan’Er said. "Rumors stop with the wise. Once you, Big Brother, achieve great success and bring honor to our ancestors, they won’t dare to speak so recklessly anymore."
Xie Pan’Er nodded gently, her gaze fixed on the Princess cradled in Nanny Xiao’s arms, a faint smile gracing her lips.
"As long as Father and Mother are well, and you can focus on your studies, just let those baseless rumors be," she continued.
"Big Brother, don’t dwell on it or feel pressured. Rest assured, this won’t affect me. I just need to accompany the Princess, and the Ji Family will certainly not treat me unfairly.
"As for those who concocted these rumors, they’d better pray that word of this doesn’t reach the Ji Family’s ears!"
When Xie Pan’Er first heard those baseless rumors about herself, she was deeply upset.
She even felt an urge to find the people spreading them and make them pay.
However, the moment she saw the Princess, her agitation inexplicably subsided.
Later, during the meal, she had managed to think things through more clearly.
That was why now, when Xie Si offered her comfort, she could comfort him in return.
"I understand. Be careful once you’re in the Palace, alright?" Xie Si said.
Xie Pan’Er nodded. After exchanging a few more words of caution with Xie Si, she departed.
Just as Xiaosuisui was entering the Palace, Ji Youran, on the other side of things, was leading Zhao Fei away.
Yes, Ji Youran was practically dragging him away.
This was because earlier, at the dining table, they had inquired Xiaosuisui about why she had suddenly flown off the painted barge.
She had recounted the incident of going to the Li Family Pharmacy to save someone, and Ji Youran had latched onto a key piece of information: the young man before him knew how to gather medicinal herbs!
"Sec-Second Young Master! Wh-what are you dragging me off for?"
"I... I’m just a little beggar, I’m very dirty!"
Zhao Fei was trembling, feeling the Second Young Master’s intense gaze burning into him.
Heavens! He’s handsome, alright, but surely his... preferences... aren’t skewed, are they...?
The way this young master was looking at him made his skin crawl.
"Aren’t you done with begging for food now?" Ji Youran retorted without a second thought.
Then he added, "You are indeed a bit filthy, but that’s no issue. Come back to the Mansion with me, and a good wash will set you right."
Dragged into the carriage by Ji Youran, Zhao Fei couldn’t help but shiver, his face paling dramatically.
"Sec-Second Young Master, I... I’m really not that kind of person!"
Zhao Fei scrambled to his knees, kowtowing repeatedly towards Ji Youran. THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!
Ji Youran was completely baffled. He stared at Zhao Fei, who was kowtowing non-stop, utterly perplexed.
"You’re not what kind of person?"
"Second Young Master, you’re the benefactor’s second maternal uncle! If you just let me go right now, I promise, I’ll keep my lips sealed! I won’t tell a soul... what kind of person you are!"
Ji Youran was even more bewildered. "And what kind of person might that be?"