Chapter 64: The Peculiar Old Man

Invisible in his state, Xuanhuan Hongyu felt a surge of irritation. Why must he sneak around like a common thief? He was bringing shame upon the Xuanhuan family!

*Cuckoo, cuckoo.* The call rang out crisp and clear. The young man grew even angrier, flicking his wrist to send whatever was making the noise tumbling down from outside the window. He glanced back at the couch, frowned, and vanished once more.

Zantai Lingwei was jolted awake by a commotion. Following the sound, she stepped down from the couch and walked straight out the door. She saw a white-bearded elder standing with his back to her, while everyone in the General's Estate knelt on the ground in total, breathless silence.

"Are you all rehearsing again?" Her crisp, childish voice made the elder turn around. His white eyebrows twitched. "You must be Zantai Lingwei? Come here, let me have a look at you."

Lingwei walked over, tilting her head up to look at the old man. "Old grandpa, why are you looking for me? Can you let them stand up? Kneeling must hurt their knees."

"Audacious..." A shrill voice bellowed before cutting off with a muffled gasp as the elder waved a long sleeve. "Shut your mouth and throw him out."

The one sent flying through the air was a minor eunuch dressed in pink. His mouth hung wide open, yet he was unable to utter a sound. It was only when several burly men in imperial bodyguards' uniforms approached that he realized his life was coming to an end.

Lingwei had crossed paths with this boot-licking little eunuch a few times before, apparently within the imperial palace, trailing closely behind someone she despised.

The elder picked up the little girl's hand, tapped a few points along her body with his fingers, and looked at her with a pitying shake of his head. "Little Princess, I truly am sorry. Guards, take her away."

Two of the tallest and strongest men among the straight-standing bodyguards stepped forward. They reached their hands out toward Lingwei, but she maintained her composure, gazing steadily at the elder. "Old grandpa, where are you planning to take Lingwei?"

"Reporting to the Princess, His Majesty misses you dearly and has specially sent this old man to invite the little princess to the palace for a visit." The elder nodded in satisfaction. This child possessed the bearing of her father. Just look at this poise! It was a pity that cruel fate had intervened; why were the meridians of such a fine child entirely blocked, rendering her unable to cultivate?

"Imperial Uncle? If he wants to see me, why didn't he come himself?" Lingwei cast a disdainful look at the old man. She was no gullible fool. He shouldn't think a few smooth words would be enough to abduct her. She had promised her mother and father that she would stay put in the estate and wait obediently for their victorious return!

The elder had not expected this little one to possess such daring. "Little Princess, if you refuse to believe this old man, I am afraid I have no other choice. Men! Escort the little princess."

Zhao Meng was holding back a frantic Mother Wang with all his might. This elder was no ordinary man; even if the entire garrison of the General's Estate fought to the last, they would still be powerless to stop him.

Zantai Lingwei looked at the tearful, grief-stricken faces of the uncles, aunts, brothers, and sisters around her, then flashed a cute smile featuring deep dimples. "Old grandpa, His Majesty sent for me, is that correct? Are you planning to defy His Majesty's decree then? Tell them to back down. I am, after all, the dignified Little Princess of the Nanbao Kingdom and the daughter of the Pacifying General. Do you really believe these people are qualified to step within three paces of me?"

The white-bearded elder's eyes held not only appreciation, but a growing, fervent fanatical gleam. Throwing his head back, he burst into laughter. "Ha! Who on earth claimed the General's Estate's little princess was a waste? Those people deserve to die a thousand deaths. Little Princess, please forgive me; this old man has merely come to pay his respects to you by the Emperor's command."

Zantai Lingwei felt utterly bewildered. What kind of farce was this? Deciding to remain silent, she simply stared straight at the laughing, wildly raving old man who had completely abandoned his dignity.

"Old grandpa, are you still going to take me to see my Imperial Uncle?" Lingwei asked earnestly, her little face pulled taut.

The elder abruptly ceased his frantic laughter and dropped gracefully onto one knee in a gesture of utmost respect. "Little Princess, please favor us with your presence."

Lingwei glanced at little Yutou, who wore a look of utter anxiety. "I must bring my maid along, or I am not going."

The elder laughed heartily. "As the Little Princess pleases."