Old Lady Ji was flustered, her eyes fixed unwavering on Ji Youyuan, her face riddled with worry.
"What doctor are we looking for? Isn’t my second son upstairs? Quickly, bring my eldest son to my second son’s room and let him take a look!" Lord God Hunter Ji Youzhi quickly interjected.
Ji Youlin, disguised as a beggar, hoisted Ji Youyuan onto his back and sprinted towards Ji Youran’s room.
The Ji family was in an uproar, anxiously following Ji Youlin. Only Xiaosuisui remained rooted to the spot, momentarily unable to react.
In an instant, Lotus Hall became empty, leaving only her standing alone in the vast private room.
As a four-and-a-half-year-old, she couldn’t sit still for long. After waiting in the private room for a while without anyone appearing, her mind, working a beat slower, finally prompted her to go find her Second Uncle.
Xiaosuisui exited the private room and headed upstairs. Just as she reached the corridor, a tall figure blocked her path.
The little girl looked up and blinked. "Big Brother, you’re blocking my way."
The young Emperor, who was blocking Xiaosuisui’s path, bent down, an ingratiating smile on his face, like the Big Bad Wolf trying to fool Little Red Riding Hood.
"Little friend, what’s your name? Which Sect are you from?"
"A Sect? What’s that? Is it a door in the middle?" Xiaosuisui tilted her little head, looking at him.
The little girl’s face was still veiled, so the young Emperor couldn’t see it. But he understood the confusion in her bright, clear eyes.
"A Sect isn’t a door in the middle. Let me... Ahem... I’ll rephrase. Who are you learning your skills from? Do you have a Master?"
"A Master?" Xiaosuisui asked. "What’s that? What does a Master do?"
The young Emperor grinned, almost baring his teeth. Damn it, was he overthinking this? Could her earlier words really have been sleepy nonsense? Or had his identity been exposed, with someone deliberately setting this trap? For a moment, the young Emperor considered various possibilities.
"Big Brother! What exactly is a Master? Can you tell me?"
The little girl persisted with her questions, not having received an answer. Her Eldest Uncle had told her that when studying, if she didn’t understand something, she must ask. Otherwise, it was just a waste of time.
"A Master is someone who teaches you skills. Those things you told Big Brother earlier, did your Master teach you them? Who is your Master?"
The young Emperor, now suspicious of the little cherub before him, tried to coax more information from her. Who on earth had the gall to try and trap him?
Xiaosuisui then asked, "What words is Big Brother talking about?"
The young Emperor smiled coaxingly. "You know, when you said that a big golden snake with a horn on its head follows Big Brother."
Without a moment’s hesitation, the little girl replied, "Nobody taught me! Suisui saw it herself."
No one taught her? She claims she saw it herself?
"Big Brother! Can you please move aside?"
The young Emperor remained standing there, inwardly weighing whether the little girl was telling the truth or lying.
Seeing him unmoved, Xiaosuisui reached out, intending to push him aside.
As she reached for him, the young Emperor seized her wrist.
"Little friend, children who lie aren’t good children, you know! Be good now, and tell Big Brother: who really told you those things you said earlier?"
Xiaosuisui had never had such contact with a stranger. Frightened by the young Emperor’s grip, she instinctively yanked her small hand away with all her might.
THUMP! Something heavy hit the floor.
Xiaosuisui blinked. She hadn’t done anything! How did Big Brother fall downstairs? And even break a large wooden table?!
"Big Brother, are you okay? Why did you fall down there?"
Xiaosuisui stood on the corridor looking down, her eyes wide with bewilderment!
The moment her voice fell, the SHING, SHING, SHING of swords being drawn echoed around.
Quickly, several men in black surrounded her, one even pressing a curved blade to her neck.