Though he spoke thus, Pang Xiao’s heart was clear as a mirror. Li Helan indeed had feelings for him, but Li Helan was just a young girl – without someone backing her from behind, how could she have the confidence and audacity to be so direct?

Pang Xiao knew that Li Qitian was trying to sow discord between him and Ji Zeyu in various ways.

Because Li Qitian was deathly afraid that he and Ji Zeyu would unite against him.

Actually, if he were in Li Qitian’s position, he would certainly also worry about two subordinate generals who commanded heavy troops joining forces. However, he probably wouldn’t do it as crudely as Li Qitian.

People could use schemes, but they shouldn’t abandon moral principles.

However, Pang Xiao also knew that currently Li Qitian could only use such methods to scheme against him – he couldn’t openly break ties with him. Not only had his Yining helped him think of ways to avoid risks and successfully enter the cabinet, he had now also become Li Qitian’s only confidant within the cabinet.

If Li Qitian wanted to make any decisions, he still needed his vote within the cabinet – how could he go to extremes?

Thinking this way, Pang Xiao immediately felt that his precious girl was simply his lucky star. Just thinking of her filled his heart with joy.

While Pang Xiao was speaking with Li Qitian inside the imperial study, Li Helan stood in the courtyard outside the study, expressionlessly staring at the tightly closed palace doors.

Eunuch Li led the attendants standing under the corridor eaves, eyes watching nose, nose watching heart, as if they couldn’t see Li Helan’s presence.

But who could fail to see Li Helan’s melancholy appearance?

Eunuch Li, following beside Li Qitian, saw and knew much more than others, only keeping everything buried in his stomach. Now seeing Li Helan so sorrowful, Eunuch Li couldn’t help but sigh inwardly for this Princess Imperial.

Once caught in His Majesty’s schemes, one could only survive by being a qualified chess piece – otherwise there would be no good outcome.

How had he, a minor eunuch from the previous dynasty, managed to become the current Chief Eunuch of the Ceremonial Directorate? Wasn’t it because he understood that the first priority in following His Majesty was loyalty, the second was obedience? Princess Anyang’s current state looked like she might defy the imperial will at any moment – truly dangerous.

Just as everyone was lost in their own thoughts, the sound of Pang Xiao bowing and taking leave came from within the hall.

Eunuch Li hurriedly led the young eunuchs to open the doors. Another young eunuch brought forward Pang Xiao’s gray squirrel fur-collared brocade cloak.

Pang Xiao took the cloak and casually draped it over his shoulders. After exchanging pleasantries with Eunuch Li, he walked straight ahead without looking sideways, descending the vermillion steps and departing directly.

When passing by Li Helan’s side, he didn’t even spare her a proper glance.

Li Helan’s gaze remained fixed on Pang Xiao throughout, staring foolishly at his figure until his tall and handsome silhouette turned out of the courtyard gate and disappeared from her sight. Only then did Li Helan suddenly snap back to awareness.

Pang Xiao had just left like that!

He hadn’t even looked at her once!

Li Helan burned with anger and lifted her skirts to chase after him.

But Pang Xiao was tall with long legs, and noticing Li Helan following behind him, he quickened his pace even more.

Li Helan, accompanied by her palace maid He Xiang, pursued him all the way. Just as she managed to close some distance, Pang Xiao’s steps became even faster.

Only then did Li Helan realize that Pang Xiao was deliberately walking so fast, deliberately avoiding her!

“Brother Xiao!” Li Helan called out softly, not believing that Pang Xiao would ignore her.

But Pang Xiao acted as if he hadn’t heard, not turning his head back.

The grievance in Li Helan’s heart burst like a flooding dam, nearly drowning her!

Why!

Why treat her this way!

Ji Zeyu was cold to her, Imperial Brother didn’t care about her happiness, Mother Empress also advised her to listen to Imperial Brother more – as if she weren’t a person but someone else’s accessory, a tool!

Now even Pang Xiao was treating her this way!

“Brother Xiao!” In anger and grievance, Li Helan raised her voice, shouting so loudly that the melting ice and snow on the corridor eaves shook and fell to the ground. The eunuchs and palace servants on the pathway were also startled. Seeing it was Li Helan, they all hurriedly lowered their heads and quickly withdrew, unwilling to look closely.

But Pang Xiao still strode forward, refusing to acknowledge her.

Li Helan lifted her skirts, running and shouting: “Brother Xiao! Pang Xiao! Stop!”

She ran until she was out of breath, her hair disheveled and hairpins loose, but her voice grew louder with each cry.

Pang Xiao’s brow furrowed into a knot. In the imperial palace, Li Helan was actually so unrestrained and improper!

If she had no shame, he still had to consider his relationship with Ji Zeyu!

Pang Xiao suddenly stopped, turned around, and looked coldly at Li Helan.

Li Helan ran until she was gasping for breath, her hair and the golden bead tassels at her temples tangled together, sweat visible on her face, looking extremely disheveled.

But her eyes, due to grievance and anger, appeared even brighter than usual.

“Brother Xiao! Why won’t you acknowledge Lan’er!”

Pang Xiao suppressed his urge to roll his eyes and bowed respectfully: “In response to Your Highness, just now your subject was contemplating the matters His Majesty assigned, lost in thought, and did not hear Princess Imperial’s voice.”

This excuse left Li Helan speechless to scold him!

“Good! Very good!” Li Helan gritted her teeth, and after a long while said: “Then this princess now commands you to take me to a restaurant, accompany me for a drink. Do you hear me?”

Pang Xiao smiled: “Your subject hears, but Princess Imperial must surely be joking. If Princess Imperial wants to drink, naturally you should seek Prince Consort – that would be appropriate. What am I? Please don’t make fun of your subject, Princess Imperial.”

“What are you? You tell me what you are to me!”

Pang Xiao stepped back several paces, as if avoiding a plague: “Princess Imperial, please don’t jest. Your subject has no connection whatsoever with Princess Imperial. Speaking and acting this way is truly too improper. If others were to see, wouldn’t there be misunderstandings? Even if Princess Imperial doesn’t care about your own reputation, your subject must still consider his own reputation.”

“You! What have I done to you to make you avoid me like a flood or wild beast!”

“Princess Imperial, please don’t be unreasonable. The tasks His Majesty assigned your subject are urgent. Your subject takes leave.”

Pang Xiao cupped his hands without sentiment and turned to leave.

Li Helan was about to continue pursuing when He Xiang quickly held her back: “Princess Imperial, please don’t be impulsive. This is a palace pathway with many people coming and going – loose lips sink ships. What if someone with ulterior motives spreads this to Prince Consort’s ears? Wouldn’t that cause misunderstandings? Princess Imperial, please think thrice!”

Li Helan’s tears fell like rain as she sobbed and wiped her eyes: “What do I still care about? One after another, none of them care about me! Even if I died now, probably no one would shed a single tear!”

“You must not say such things. You are a princess, of noble blood, the precious jewel of the Empress Dowager and His Majesty – how could anyone not care about you?”

“Get away! Don’t meddle in this princess’s affairs!” Li Helan flung off He Xiang’s hand and walked forward covering her face and crying.

He Xiang frowned as she watched Li Helan’s retreating figure, sighing and shaking her head.

Some things were clear even to her, a mere servant – why didn’t Princess Imperial understand? Making such a scene now, wouldn’t this spread to everyone’s knowledge again?

Perhaps this was also His Majesty’s intention?

Just as she thought this, He Xiang quickly shook her head, driving all inappropriate thoughts from her mind. She was merely a servant – how could she have the fate to question her master’s affairs? It was better to keep to her proper place to preserve her life.

However, where in the world were there walls without cracks?

The news that Princess Anyang had cornered Prince Zhongshun on the palace pathway, crying and pulling at him to express her feelings, spread throughout the city like wildfire within half a day.