Cold sweat began flowing down Li Guanwen’s forehead.

Though one mustn’t recklessly guess at His Majesty’s thoughts, Li Guanwen had followed by Li Qitian’s side day and night, and in his heart he understood some of Li Qitian’s ideas and decisions.

Though Li Guanwen knew of Li Qitian’s wariness toward Pang Xiao, he also knew that finding Madam Pang and sending her to Pang Xiao’s side might not necessarily have been done with good intentions.

This matter was not within his authority to comment upon.

However, he knew that His Majesty definitely would not want Madam Pang to be driven from the prince’s mansion like this.

Even if she were to be driven away, it couldn’t happen while he was present! Otherwise, if His Majesty became displeased and later settled accounts by taking his anger out on him, what then?

Li Guanwen smiled and said, “This slave understands Your Highness’s filial devotion. Surely Madam Pang can also comprehend your feelings. It’s just that while you understand, outsiders might not. If someone were to slander Your Highness’s good intentions as not serving your legitimate mother, what would that accomplish?”

Upon hearing this, Madam Pang secretly breathed a sigh of relief and agreed quite approvingly: “Your Highness, if you’re angry then be angry, but you cannot disregard the Pang family’s reputation. I am, after all, your legitimate mother. Are you unwilling to even serve at your legitimate mother’s side? If such words spread, wouldn’t it invite others to slander our Pang family?”

Li Guanwen had originally thought that after his speech, Pang Xiao seemed to show signs of wavering. But who would have thought that Madam Pang would suddenly interject with such unpleasant words!

This wasn’t dealing with a three-year-old child – where was the sense in immediately threatening and scolding? Speaking this way, what man with any spirit would submit? Moreover, Pang Xiao hadn’t even been born into the Pang family, and his mother had even suffered persecution at Madam Pang’s hands. That Pang Xiao hadn’t killed Madam Pang but instead, respecting the imperial decree, brought her back to provide for her was already quite beyond expectations.

Sure enough, Pang Xiao’s expression became increasingly ugly. He completely ignored Madam Pang, acting as if he hadn’t heard her words, and instead said to Li Guanwen:

“Thank you for Grand Manager Li’s kind intentions. It’s just that this prince’s sincere heart can be verified – I wholeheartedly wish for Madam Pang’s welfare, so I don’t care what others might say or think. As long as Madam Pang can live comfortably, that’s all that matters. This prince worries that if things continue this way, Madam Pang might be angered into an early grave.”

Having said this, Pang Xiao glanced coldly at Madam Pang.

Madam Pang’s heart felt as if someone had stabbed it several times with an awl. She could even sense in Pang Xiao’s eyes that cold look of a fierce beast that had targeted its prey and was preparing to strike.

She actually felt that if she didn’t obediently walk out “upright” this time, Pang Xiao had the capability to make her be carried out “horizontally” as a matter of course.

How had she failed to notice in the previous period that this person was actually a wolf cub!

His earlier filial devotion and compliance toward her had even made her think that if she had originally raised a son like Pang Xiao, it wouldn’t have been bad.

She didn’t understand Pang Xiao to begin with, and because she had let down her guard, what started as observation had become the current situation.

Had she known early on that this person’s true nature was so difficult to get along with, she wouldn’t have spoken this way.

Now if she were truly relocated from the mansion because of this, who knew how thunderously furious His Majesty would be – how could she bear such responsibility?

Madam Pang frowned tightly, the vertical lines between her brows pressed into even deeper furrows. Her fingers gripped her robe sleeves tightly, her lips moving, but constrained by face, she couldn’t speak soft words.

She felt that even if she did speak soft words, given Pang Xiao’s temperament, he probably wouldn’t let the matter rest peacefully with her. Since it would be the same result either way, why should she make pointless struggles?

Li Guanwen observed coldly from the sidelines and couldn’t help but shake his head.

He didn’t know whether His Majesty had privately contacted Madam Pang.

If Madam Pang truly was someone arranged by His Majesty, he could only say that this time His Majesty had chosen someone truly inadequate – she couldn’t read situations, didn’t know how to assess circumstances, and didn’t understand the principle of being able to yield when necessary. She only knew how to be unreasonably domineering, putting on the airs of a matriarch. Forget about Pang Xiao having to see this woman every day – even he, meeting her for the first time, had developed a distaste for Madam Pang.

Pang Xiao had by now instructed Huzi to prepare horses, then turned to Li Guanwen: “I must trouble Eunuch Li to serve as a witness before His Majesty, lest this prince’s one-sided account invite slander from behind.”

Things had reached this point – even if Li Guanwen felt internal resistance, what could he do? If he refused Pang Xiao to his face now, in the future he would have to live in an environment of constantly guarding against Pang Xiao’s retaliation.

Rather than that, better to form a good relationship.

“Prince Zhongshun is truly too courteous. Though this slave is dull, I can still distinguish right from wrong. If His Majesty asks, this slave will simply tell the truth.”

“In that case, I trouble you, Eunuch.” Pang Xiao courteously walked out together with Li Guanwen, and under the concealment of his cloak, slipped an exquisite brocade pouch into Li Guanwen’s sleeve.

Li Guanwen started, first feeling it – the contents weren’t gold or silver, but judging by the shape of the individual pieces, it should be a bag of gems.

Li Guanwen knew that someone like Pang Xiao wouldn’t be stingy when he made a move, and couldn’t help but feel pleased. He carefully tucked the bag of gems quietly into his sleeve pocket.

Madam Pang stood rigidly in place, watching as Pang Xiao and Li Guanwen left the inner residence chatting and laughing, then gritted her teeth and squeezed out from between them: “Ungrateful wretch!”

But regardless of what Madam Pang was thinking inwardly, Pang Xiao still brought his complaint before Li Qitian.

With his arm bandaged, upon seeing Li Qitian he immediately knelt down straight and stiff, first complaining about Ji Zeyu’s reckless attack on him, loudly declaring, “I’ve never been wounded so pathetically even when killing enemies on the battlefield.”

This was exactly the kind of scene Li Qitian most hoped to see in his heart, but in front of Pang Xiao, Li Qitian merely offered a few words of comfort without saying much more.

Pang Xiao sighed lightly, then spoke about wanting to move Madam Pang out of the mansion.

Li Qitian found this quite unexpected: “Wasn’t everything fine before? Why would you suddenly say such a thing?”

Pang Xiao then recounted the events in the mansion to Li Qitian and called Li Guanwen to serve as witness.

Li Guanwen dared not speak much on Pang Xiao’s behalf, but also dared not exert no effort at all. Therefore, when Li Qitian asked about the scene at the time, Li Guanwen very skillfully both stuck to the facts while thoroughly expressing Pang Xiao’s helplessness, while restraining himself from making any commentary or influencing His Majesty’s judgment.

For a moment, the imperial study was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

After a long while, Li Qitian weighed the pros and cons before nodding in agreement.

“Just choose a good residence. After all, she was legitimately wedded and carried through the gates by General Pang back then – it wouldn’t be good to slight her.”

“Yes. Your subject respectfully follows His Majesty’s instruction. Though living in a separate mansion, your subject will definitely not mistreat Madam Pang.”

“Good, that’s fine then.” Li Qitian comforted Pang Xiao with a few more words before instructing him to withdraw.

As soon as Pang Xiao left, Li Qitian called Li Guanwen to his side and said in a low voice: “Did you see whether Prince Consort Ji was as angry as Pang Zhixi?”