Chapter 184: Chapter 184: His Majesty wants to save A’Mo

The Lord Protector took the chance early next morning to flee the house before his little brother woke up. He ran all the way to the palace, preparing to express his gratitude to Ning Xiaoyao. By the time he reached the gates, the skies were just beginning to get light. He assumed that he’d only be waiting a short while at the entrance, but the gatekeeper shook his head and said, “His Majesty isn’t at the palace.”

“His Majesty didn’t return to the palace last night!?” the Lord Protector said, startled. Did something happen in the capital yesterday?

The gatekeeper wore a strange expression on his face before he said, “If the Lord Protector has urgent business, you can find His Majesty at the Grand Preceptor’s estate.”

“The Grand Preceptor’s estate!?” Now the Lord Protector’s thoughts went wild. Did that old geezer Xie Wenyuan die finally?

The gatekeeper continued, “This one doesn’t know what happened.”

The Lord Protector wasn’t expecting to find out anything from the gatekeeper either, so he turned and mounted his horse. Now he was heading for the Grand Preceptor’s estate to see what the fuss was all about. Once the gatekeeper saw him leave with his guards, he turned to his fellow guard and muttered, “I thought I was having hearing problems.”

His companion couldn’t help but involuntarily recall His Majesty’s words when he ran out of the palace gates.

‘I have to save A’Mo ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh～‘

“Supreme Commander couldn’t even catch up to His Majesty on his horse,” another guard sighed with great feeling. When all of them recalled how His Majesty could run faster than any horse, their mouths twitched.

“Supreme Commander looked like he was about to die from rage,” another guard piped up. Once again, everyone’s mouth twitched. It was rare to see Supreme Commander Lou so absolutely livid.

“I’m curious, who could this A’Mo be?” a guard taller than the rest asked. All of the guards exchanged glances. A’Mo sounded like a man’s name, but they didn’t know any of the specifics.

“It must be very lively over at the Grand Preceptor’s estate now,” the gatekeeper who’d spoken to the Lord Protector remarked raptly.

“You don’t call that ‘lively.’ His Majesty’s going to do something to the Grand Preceptor again,” the superior of this particular batch of guards opened his mouth to speak.

“........” said everyone else.

--

Over at the Grand Preceptor’s estate, Ning Xiaoyao was speaking to Xie Anji, who was blocking the door to the study.

“If you keep on acting like this, I’m going to get physical.”

Xie Anji’s face stiffened at the threat, but he still didn’t budge. Ning Xiaoyao next tried to grab him by the collar, but their height differences were too much, so she only caught the front of his shirt and threw him behind her. Xie Anji used to oversee the military, so he knew some skills of his own, but he hadn’t expected this move from someone so ordinary-looking. Under the eyes of everyone present, he was sent flying into the air. Meanwhile, Lou Zigui silently withdrew his hand. Miss Ning’s superhuman strength left him no chance to take action.

“Windy,” Ning Xiaoyao said next, “I’ve been looking at the Grand Preceptor’s estate and its people, they’ve seemed like they’re plotting a rebellion. Guard them all well!”

“......” went the members of the Grand Preceptor’s estate. Is there any logic to this?! You’re accusing us of rebellion just because we’re walking around our own estate hunting for ant colonies?!

Shadowgale didn’t say a word. He brought his Dragon Guards to cause trouble for the Xie Clan stewards. Ning Xiaoyao kicked open the study door and strode inside, making everyone’s heart clench in suspense Can our Grand Preceptor survive this?

Lou Zigui followed her inside and was assaulted by the strong stench of medicine. He gave a start. Grand Preceptor Xie really has fallen ill?

A few doctors were kneeling by the Grand Preceptor’s bed, but now they bowed to Ning Xiaoyao.

“All of you may rise,” Ning Xiaoyao ran to Grand Preceptor Xie’s bed to peer at the man lying on the bed. The doctors rose to their feet and raised their heads to see Lou Zigui. In their fright, they quickly ducked their heads back down again.

“Aiya, who’s this?” Ning Xiaoyao exclaimed loudly. Lou Zigui reached the bed next and had a fright after seeing Grand Preceptor Xie.

“Tsk,” Ning Xiaoyao clicked her tongue. “This face and those eyelids are as swollen as monkey butts. My God, the lips are nothing more that a pair of sausages now. Grand Preceptor, you’re nothing but this now, but you’re still alive?”

Both the doctors and the people outside the door were rendered speechless at Ning Xiaoyao’s sharp tongue. Your Majesty, do you have to be so vicious with your tongue?

Grand Preceptor Xie’s eyes were so swollen that he could only squint. When he saw Ning Xiaoyao, his chest heaved violently, his throat acting like a bellows to expel his huffing breaths. Ning Xiaoyao raised a hand to lift the covers over his body. Currently, Grand Preceptor Xie was dressed in nothing but his undershirt, so her action caused him to cry out. Lou Zigui quickly pulled Ning Xiaoyao behind him. You’re not allowed to look at old men’s bodies, either!

Ning Xiaoyao only stood behind Lou Zigui while grinning. She proclaimed loudly, “Aiyamaya, Grand Preceptor, why are you so swollen? Your entire body’s swelled up.”

Grand Preceptor Xie was shuddering all over. The doctors suspected that if he could move right now, he’d fight to the death against His Majesty. Lou Zigui covered Grand Preceptor Xie up again and asked the doctors, “What’s happened to the Grand Preceptor?”

One doctor answered, “To reply Supreme Commander, Grand Preceptor seems to have been bitten by some kind of insect.”

Ning Xiaoyao gave a snort. “First bitten by a mouse, now bitten by insects. Grand Preceptor, tell me the truth, just how did you offend the Heavens?”

Grand Preceptor Xie strove to open his eyes, but all he could see was reduced to a thin line. “How did Your Majesty find out that this subject was ill?” Grand Preceptor Xie asked Ning Xiaoyao. He’d been bitten by insects and just called for a doctor, so the news hadn’t be publicized yet. When did Ning Yu find out?

Ning Xiaoyao gave a snort. Of course it’s all because Cousin Magpie told me that the Grand Preceptor’s estate was going to exterminate all of the ant nests. He found me to save all the ants.

“Your Majesty!?” Grand Preceptor Xie intoned heavily.

“Oh,” Ning Xiaoyao said. “I was sitting around in the palace when I suddenly felt restless and sensed that you were in trouble, Grand Preceptor. Then I came to take a look.”

“.......” said everyone outside. Do you even believe your own words, Your Majesty?

Grand Preceptor Xie closed his eyes.

“Eh?” Ning Xiaoyao asked. “Did he faint?”

“Father!” Xie Anji picked himself up from the ground and rushed into the study.

“Impudence!” Lou Zigui roared. “Get out.”

Xie Anji looked at Ning Xiaoyao and Lou Zigui, his eyes bloodshot.

“They weren’t ants,” Grand Preceptor Xie opened his eyes again.

“Mm, I don’t think they were ants, either,” Ning Xiaoyao agreed.

Grand Preceptor Xie said, “Whether it thunders or rains is all up to the sovereign’s grace. Your Majesty, this subject can take it.”

Ning Xiaoyao blinked. We’re talking about ants, so why are you rambling about thunderstorms now? How do they have any relation to each other?

Lou Zigui’s voice was ice cold. “Grand Preceptor certainly shows discretion with your speech.”

“Right,” Ning Xiaoyao nodded seriously despite having no idea what the Grand Preceptor meant. “Grand Preceptor, you’re great at making up nonsense.”

Grand Preceptor Xie said, “Then does Your Majesty wish this subject dead?”

Ning Xiaoyao reached out a hand to check the Grand Preceptor’s injuries, then withdrew it halfway after some thought. She asked the doctors, “How is the Grand Preceptor doing with his illness? Is it fatal?”

The same doctor who’d spoken up before answered again, “To reply Your Majesty, the Grand Preceptor’s injuries won’t take his life.”

Dammnit! Highly disappointed, Ning Xiaoyao pursed her lips and said, “Oh, so it’s like that. Then I’m very happy, heheh.”

“.......” said everyone else. This is what you look like when you’re happy?

Grand Preceptor Xie had just convinced himself that Ning Xiaoyao poisoned him, but he was now doubting his guess since he wasn’t fatally ill. If she had really decided to poison me, why wouldn’t she pick one that killed me?

Ning Xiaoyao next asked the doctor, “Then when will the Grand Preceptor get well? He’s swollen all over.”

“This commoner doesn’t know,” the doctor replied.

Grand Preceptor Xie stared from Ning Xiaoyao to Lou Zigui. Military power, he decided, Ning Yu is forcing my Xie Clan to the brink, which is why she hasn’t killed us yet. This is a warning from her that it’d be simple to end my life. (Author: Grand Preceptor, you’re overthinking things. o(╯□╰)o)

“Father,” Xie Anji spoke up, “His Majesty ordered people to sweep and confiscate items from our estate!”

“Hey, hey,” Ning Xiaoyao turned towards the man. “Don’t speak nonsense. When did I say such a thing?”

“Did not Your Majesty order watches on all the members of the Grand Preceptor’s estate?” Xie Anji knew the differences between sovereign and subject, but he was risking everything to flare up at Ning Xiaoyao now.

“Heheh, are you stupid?” Ning Xiaoyao asked.

All of the doctors quietly backed away, suspecting His Majesty would drive Second Young Master Xie mad. Lou Zigui looked coldly at the heaving, seething Xie Anji. Xie Wenyuan wants to recommend this piece of garbage for the Nine Gates Infantry Commander post? Supreme Commander Lou felt like he was looking at a joke. Meanwhile, Grand Preceptor Xie was staring coldly at Ning Xiaoyao. Last night, I sent troops to encircle Iron Buddha Temple, so Ning Yu ordered someone to poison me in retaliation. In the end, she’d still after the Zhou Clan soldiers...

Ning Xiaoyao was simply baring her fists at Xie Anji. “Are you going to walk out on your own, or do I have to make you leave myself?”

Xie Anji figured that a scholar accepted death over humiliation, so he decided on a life and death struggle with Ning Yu, the ungrateful wretch.

“Get out,” Grand Preceptor Xie spoke up just then. “His Majesty is here, so you mustn’t be impudent.

“Father!” Xie Anji couldn’t believe his ears. We still have to endure even when things have come to this?

“Get out!” Grand Preceptor Xie roared.

“Hear that?” Ning Xiaoyao said cheerfully. “Daddy told you to get out. You have to listen to daddy’s words.”

Xie Anji slammed the door as he stalked outside. Ning Xiaoyao asked Grand Preceptor Xie, “Why is he so temperamental? Grand Preceptor, you’ve spoiled your son rotten.”

The doctors were all wondering whether or not they could leave. We really want to get out of here, ah!

Grand Preceptor Xie said, “Anji has a very blunt personality. Your Majesty, you should know your second uncle’s temper.”

“The heck you’re talking about?” Ning Xiaoyao glared.

Grand Preceptor Xie said, “Your Majesty called Anwu your fourth uncle once, so wouldn’t Anji be your second uncle?”

Ning Xiaoyao stared at the monkey’s butt that was the Grand Preceptor’s face. Even like this, he doesn’t forget to annoy me. Is he really the type who fights until their dying breath?

Grand Preceptor Xie laughed. “This subject understands Your Majesty’s views. However, this subject cannot abide by them.”

“......” said Ning Xiaoyao. In other words, this bastard’s not letting A’Mo and the rest off?

(Author: How do I put it? The two of you are thinking about completely different things ah, ╮(╯▽╰)╭ )