Chapter 143: Little Smarty-Pants
Page 1 of 3
Besides, that woman was unbearably proud. She had always treated him with indifference, looking down her nose at him and remaining as cold as frost. If he went there in a fit of temper, would that not merely make the Crown Prince lose face again?
Therefore, finding someone to help was the proper course.
The moment Guli heard that Yuyang was staying at Lie Chang’an’s residence, she lost all interest in basking in the sun. It was not as though she did not know that Yuyang had ulterior motives toward Lie Chang’an. Since Yuyang had even rejected her Crown Prince Brother, she must surely be after Lie Chang’an. And now Lie Chang’an had actually allowed her to move into the Lie residence. Was he not simply giving Yuyang the perfect opportunity to take advantage of being nearby?
No, she had to seek justice for Jin’an!
At that moment, Guli had completely forgotten that she and Jin’an were hardly close enough to seek justice for one another. Her heart filled with fury, she declared with great authority, “Let’s go! We’re going to the Lie residence!”
The Crown Prince hurriedly grabbed his hot-tempered little sister. “Wait. If you go like this, you need to have a proper reason, don’t you?”
They could hardly march openly into one of their minister’s homes and say, “I just felt like coming over to have a look.”
“Of course I have a proper reason!”
Guli lifted her proud chin. “Lie Chang’an still owes me a bowl of noodles made by his grandmother. I’m going to collect it now!”
The Crown Prince thought this was an excellent idea and quickly said, “Then hurry inside and change your clothes. We’ll go together.”
Guli suddenly remembered an important question. “Would it really be appropriate for us to leave the palace like this? What if Father questions us?”
Page 1 of 3
Page 2 of 3
“I am the Crown Prince. Surely I have the right to take my little sister out of the palace for an excursion? Don’t worry. Father will not pursue the matter.”
Guli was reassured. Having a Crown Prince Brother really was useful—he could arrange everything properly and leave her without a single worry.
Cheerfully, Guli went inside to change her clothes. Then, just as cheerfully, she followed the Crown Prince out of the palace and headed straight for the Lie residence.
Lie Chang’an had returned home and was waiting. He knew the Crown Prince would be unable to restrain himself for long before storming into the residence, but he had not expected Guli to come as well.
Naturally, Lie Chang’an remembered that he had promised to bring her over to eat his grandmother’s noodles. Unfortunately, the two of them had never found an opportunity to meet afterward. They had finally exchanged a few words at the Empress Dowager’s birthday celebration, only for the encounter to end unhappily, so he had never had the chance to mention it.
Still, he was delighted that she had come today. Unfortunately, the long-awaited clear weather had proved inconvenient: seeing that the day was fine, his grandmother had taken several servants to Linghua Temple to pray for blessings.
When Guli heard that she would not be able to eat the noodles today, she was disappointed but not overly affected. After all, she had come entirely for Yuyang. As for the Crown Prince, upon hearing the news, he made a slightly regretful expression at the side.
“I had been hoping to come with the princess and sample your grandmother’s noodles. I heard they rival the dishes prepared by the imperial kitchen’s chefs. It seems we shall have to miss out today.”
Lie Chang’an naturally had no intention of exposing the Crown Prince’s ploy, so he followed his words and gave him an easy way out.
Unable to stand her Crown Prince Brother’s awkward, evasive manner, Guli strode inside boldly. After casting a sweeping glance around the residence, she went straight to the point.
“I heard Yuyang is staying here?”
Lie Chang’an followed behind her and nodded. “Yes. I arranged for her to stay in the Eastern Courtyard. It is quiet there and more suitable for her.”
“And you? Which courtyard do you live in?”
Page 2 of 3
Page 3 of 3
Guli stopped and turned back to ask him.
“I live in the Western Courtyard.”
Guli was fairly satisfied by this answer.
“Then take me to see where you live.”
In any case, she did not want to see Yuyang. She might as well leave that task to her Crown Prince Brother.
When the Crown Prince heard this, he thought his little sister truly was clever. This way, they could each have some time alone.
He quickly smiled and said, “Yes, yes. Chang’an, take the princess around the residence. She is merely curious about the place. I cannot be bothered to look around, so I shall go and pay Miss Yu a visit.”
Lie Chang’an saw that Guli had deliberately created an opportunity for the Crown Prince. How could he possibly interfere with such a wonderful chance? Besides, he had motives of his own. Hearing this, he respectfully nodded.
“Yes.”
And so, the three of them each carried their own private schemes. One headed toward the Eastern Courtyard to seek the beloved woman he had not seen in so long, while the other two went toward the Western Courtyard, each intending to enjoy this hard-won moment of solitude together.
Page 3 of 3