Chapter 60 Parroting Others

Pan Yueqing sat upright beside the Princess of Anbei. The princess reached out and patted Pan Yueqing's hand. "I originally thought of letting you stay with me for a few days. It would be better than being cautious and careful everywhere in your own home, and you could be more relaxed. But you can't stay still!" Her smile was faint, tinged with a hint of helplessness.

The Dowager Zhao raised her eyes slightly and looked at Pan Yueqing. "Now that she has her own ideas, it's not that she doesn't understand your kind intentions. But there are still countless difficulties in life. If she hides now, it will be even harder for her in the future!" The Dowager Zhao reached out and covered Pan Yueqing's hand. Her kind smile was filled with expectations for the young life. "I have great faith in my granddaughter. Even if there are difficulties ahead, she will surely be able to turn danger into safety."

Pan Yueqing raised her eyes and met her grandmother's aged gaze. Her heart skipped a beat involuntarily. She always felt that her grandmother was hiding something from her.

"Your Highness, Mr. Shen is here." The maid at the door bowed slightly, her voice soft.

"Please invite him in quickly." The Princess of Anbei raised her eyes. Although she was a bit puzzled, she still calmly gave the order.

"From the Shen Censor's family?" The Dowager Zhao held the tea cup. Pan Yueqing quickly stood up and stood behind the Dowager Zhao.

The Princess of Anbei nodded slightly and said softly in surprise, "It's that troublemaker from Lord Shen Xinchang's residence." After saying that, she took a sip of tea, slightly gathered her deep purple long robe, adjusted her posture, and raised her eyes. She saw Shen Ping'an coming in with a parrot in his hand. She slightly suppressed the smile at the corners of her mouth, looking dignified and calm. She accepted Shen Ping'an's salute. "What important matter brings you here today, Young Master San?"

"Haha, I'm just doing something entrusted to me. Prince Xiangyang got such a blue-crowned parrot. He said that although this little thing isn't worth much, it can make people happy, so he asked me to bring it to you, Your Highness." Shen Ping'an straightened up, bowed to the Dowager Zhao as a junior, and then, with the permission of the Princess of Anbei, gracefully took his seat. He picked up the tea cup, blew on it, and added, "His Highness also asked me to apologize to you. He didn't come to celebrate your birthday a few days ago."

"It's just a small birthday, and it's not a big deal. It's just that they like to be lively," The Princess of Anbei waved her hand, put down the tea cup, and took the golden birdcage handed over by the maid. "How is His Highness's injury?"

"It's already healed a long time ago. But a few days ago, he was indulging among beautiful women and missed the morning court for three consecutive days. The Emperor caught him and was so angry that he gave him a flogging and had all those female slaves beaten to death." Shen Ping'an's gaze was casual. When he raised his eyes and met the Princess of Anbei's, he couldn't help but laugh. "Now he's lying in bed, moaning and unable to move!"

Pan Yueqing lowered her eyebrows and deliberately avoided Shen Ping'an's gaze. In her heart, she sneered: Presumably, Qi Sian was using the Emperor's hand to deal with the people around him! "Young Master Liu is here!" The maid guarding the door announced loudly outside. Everyone raised their eyes and saw Qi Liulang coming in, wearing a scarlet round-collar robe with square patterns. His silver arrow sleeves were shining brightly in the sunlight. He lowered his head slightly as he entered. When he saw Shen Ping'an at a glance, the smile on his face froze. When he learned that the parrot in the Princess of Anbei's hand was actually brought by Shen Ping'an, he couldn't hold back the anger in his heart. He took a step forward and directly grabbed Shen Ping'an's collar, his voice extremely cold: "What do you mean?!"

"What do I mean?" Shen Ping'an didn't show the slightest bit of anger when his collar was grabbed. Instead, his gaze towards Qi Liulang carried a hint of amusement.

Qi Liulang clenched his fists, lifted Shen Ping'an off the mahogany chair by the collar, and raised his fist, about to give a heavy blow to the face that had lost its smile and was slightly closed.

Shen Ping'an's eyelashes covered his eyes, and it was slightly dark in front of him. Qi Liulang's figure blocked the light in front of him. His whole expression didn't seem to have the spirit of a real man at all. Instead, from his tense face and the clearly visible veins on his forehead, it could be seen that he was very scared.

"Liulang! Stop!" The Princess of Anbei saw that the situation was not good and quickly shouted to stop Qi Liulang's action. Seeing that Qi Liulang turned his back to her and didn't respond at all, she said sternly, "Don't you even listen to your mother's words?"

Qi Liulang tightened his grip on Shen Ping'an's collar. Finally, under the Princess of Anbei's scolding, he angrily released Shen Ping'an. Shen Ping'an leaned on the armrest and sat down with a thud, his face pale and full of shock. Pan Yueqing looked at this young man and couldn't help but frown. He looked so similar to Qi Sian and had been by Qi Sian's side for a long time. Why didn't he have the slightest bit of Qi Sian's "poisonous snake" temperament?

In Pan Yueqing's opinion, Shen Ping'an was too cowardly. He couldn't even force a smile while sitting on the stool, and the cold sweat on his forehead glistened slightly in the sunlight.

"Mr. Shen, are you all right?" The Princess of Anbei looked at Shen Ping'an with concern. She raised her hand and motioned for the maid to step forward and gently massage Shen Ping'an's shoulders. After Shen Ping'an let out a long sigh and said he was okay, she turned to Qi Liulang and scolded, "What's with your hot-tempered personality? Is it because your father isn't in the mansion these days that you think you can do whatever you want?!"

Qi Liulang didn't dare to stand any longer. He lifted his robe and knelt down in front of the Princess of Anbei. The Princess of Anbei pointed at Qi Liulang's silent appearance and trembled with anger. "Go and apologize to Mr. Shen!"

Qi Liulang knelt on the spot, avoided the Princess of Anbei's gaze, and without the slightest hesitation, blurted out two words in response: "No."

"No need, no need," Shen Ping'an caught his breath, stood up, and bowed deeply to the Princess of Anbei. Then, ignoring the Princess of Anbei's attempt to persuade him to stay, he got up and said goodbye. He left without looking back, and his back looked a bit like he was running away in a hurry. After Shen Ping'an had gone far, the Dowager Zhao stood up with a smile. Pan Yueqing was quick-eyed and reached out to support the Dowager Zhao's hand. The dowager walked to Qi Liulang's side, bent down slightly, and pulled Qi Liulang's body. "All right, our Liulang isn't an impulsive child. Get up and tell me what this is all about."

Qi Liulang seemed to be rooted to the ground, kneeling straight on the floor. It was only when the Princess of Anbei let out a helpless sigh and said, "All right, get up and tell us what happened."

"Prince Xiangyang asked Shen Ping'an to send the parrot. It wasn't to amuse you at all!" Qi Liulang gritted his teeth, speaking with a bit of resentment and grievance. "He's using the parrot to mock Father and me... Prince Xiangyang indulged in women, and I mentioned it to Father. Father told the Emperor about it, and that's why His Highness was punished by the Emperor. He's using the idea of people repeating what others say, like a parrot imitating voices, to mock us for meddling in his business!"

"You talk too much! You talk too much!" The parrot suddenly squawked.

Qi Liulang was so angry that he stepped forward and was about to grab the parrot's neck. The Princess of Anbei softly called out to stop Qi Liulang: "Liulang, don't let your father know about this."