Xiao Zhihong also lifted the curtain and looked outside, seeing Su Fan and smiling at him.
"Su Fan, could you possibly become my brother-in-law?"
Xiao Zhihong found the thought amusing.
Su Fan felt that he was finished. He was definitely being noticed by the Emperor, and by Xiao Zhihong too.
"You're a princess, why can't you be more reserved?"
Su Fan muttered to himself.
"Brother, you're amazing! To actually gain the princess's favor!"
The people around Su Fan immediately looked at him with envy.
"Heh heh."
Su Fan forced a smile at them.
"Where do you work, brother? I am Tang Jie. May I have the honor of inviting you for a drink?"
Someone wanted to seize the opportunity to befriend Su Fan.
This might be the future consort! If they could connect with him, wouldn't they soar to success?
Su Fan knew he couldn't stay there any longer. He quickly squeezed through the crowd and ran home faster than he ever had in his life, making sure no one was following him.
"What's wrong? You're panting so hard."
Long Die, who was practicing in the courtyard, asked with a smile upon seeing Su Fan.
"Don't even mention it. I ran into a foolish woman and almost got myself killed!"
Su Fan said speechlessly.
"Foolish woman?"
Long Die immediately became alert.
"Where did you go?"
Long Die asked Su Fan.
"Today was the royal ancestral ceremony. I went to take a look."
Su Fan explained.
"Then how did you encounter a woman?"
Long Die asked with a hint of displeasure.
"I..."
Su Fan suddenly realized something was amiss.
"Are you jealous?"
Su Fan asked Long Die with amusement.
"Who's jealous of you! Impossible!"
Long Die stubbornly denied it.
"Really?"
Su Fan stared into Long Die's eyes and asked her aggressively.
"Hmph!"
Long Die snorted and turned her head away, unable to meet Su Fan's gaze.
Su Fan found it amusing and didn't press the matter further with Long Die.
"Do you know that Xiao Yan is the Crown Prince?"
Su Fan felt it was time to reveal Xiao Yan's identity to Long Die.
"What? The Crown Prince?!"
Long Die was shocked.
"With his demeanor, how could he be the Crown Prince?"
As expected, Long Die's reaction was the same as Su Fan's at first. She simply didn't believe that Xiao Yan could be the Crown Prince.
But that was the reality.
"He is indeed. Xiao Yan was injured yesterday and is currently recuperating in the palace."
Su Fan explained.
Although Long Die found it hard to believe Xiao Yan was the Crown Prince, the facts were undeniable.
"Whatever his status, in my eyes, he's just a junior disciple from Baiyue Villa."
Long Die didn't care about Xiao Yan's identity. Whether he was the Crown Prince or the Emperor, it had nothing to do with her.
"Is Young Master Su here?"
At this moment, a sharp voice suddenly came from outside the door.
Su Fan was slightly startled, and then a bad premonition struck him.
"Young Master Su, this old servant is Eunuch Li."
Seeing that no one was responding, Eunuch Li spoke again.
Su Fan slapped his forehead. What was meant to come had come, and there was no escaping it.
"Coming!"
Su Fan responded and went to open the door.
"Why has Eunuch Li come to my place?"
Su Fan asked knowingly.
"Young Master Su, you performed a great service by rescuing the Crown Prince yesterday. His Majesty has specifically sent this old servant to inform you to enter the palace to receive your reward."
Eunuch Li said to Su Fan with a smile.
It was as if he was happier than Su Fan about Su Fan receiving a reward.
"Forgive my presumption, but may I ask when His Majesty sent you to notify me?"
Su Fan asked cautiously.
"This morning, before the ancestral ceremony."
It's over!
Su Fan immediately threw his hands up.
He was done for. The Emperor didn't know he knew the princess this morning. After what happened on the street, this time it wouldn't be a reward, but a punishment!
"Eunuch Li, I'm feeling a bit unwell. Can I come another day?"
Su Fan immediately feigned weakness.
"This..."
Eunuch Li looked troubled.
"Young Master Su, defying an imperial decree is punishable by death."
Eunuch Li reminded Su Fan with a guilty conscience.
Su Fan was speechless.
It seemed he couldn't avoid this ordeal.
"Alright, lead the way."
Su Fan could only reluctantly head to the palace.
He hoped that for Xiao Yan's sake, the Emperor would spare his life.
Long Die shook her head.
She had no idea what Su Fan was busy with all day. She had intended to bid him farewell, but it seemed there was no opportunity.
It was time for her to return.
Leaving a letter for Su Fan, Long Die embarked on her journey back to Baiyue Villa.
Meanwhile, Su Fan followed Eunuch Li to the palace. The Emperor had also just returned.
Upon receiving Eunuch Li's report, he summoned Su Fan.
"Su Fan, Qian'er has woken up. The imperial physicians said it was thanks to your healing medicine, otherwise Qian'er would have been in danger."
To Su Fan's surprise, the Emperor did not bring up the matter of the princess. Instead, he expressed his goodwill regarding Su Fan's help in saving Xiao Yan yesterday.
"You can ask for any reward you desire."
Xiao Yuan said to Su Fan.
Su Fan's eyes darted, and he pondered for a moment.
"Your subordinate doesn't expect any reward. I only hope that if I make any mistakes in the future, Your Majesty will be more lenient."
Su Fan kept a safeguard. Although the Emperor wasn't holding him accountable now, it didn't mean he wouldn't in the future. Moreover, Su Fan didn't believe the Emperor would be so indifferent to the princess's affairs, so he preemptively laid the groundwork.
"Hmph! You're quite astute!"
Xiao Yuan saw through Su Fan's intentions and snorted coldly.
"Then tell me, what exactly is going on between you and the princess?"
Xiao Yuan asked Su Fan with a stern face.
Su Fan's heart sank. What was meant to come had come.
"Your Majesty, there is truly nothing between the princess and me. A few days ago, when I entered the palace, the princess mistook me for an assassin and had me apprehended. Later, the misunderstanding was cleared, and that's how we met. You can ask the princess yourself if you don't believe me."
Su Fan hastily explained.
"It better be so!"
Xiao Yuan glared at Su Fan with an unfriendly expression.
"You may go. Since you don't want a reward, this matter ends here. It's your own choice not to accept a reward, not because I am stingy."
Xiao Yuan waved Su Fan away.
Su Fan breathed a sigh of relief.
As long as he wasn't punished, the reward was irrelevant.
"Your subordinate takes his leave!"
Su Fan immediately retreated.
He deeply understood what it meant to be near a ruler was like being near a tiger. The Emperor had the power to kill you at any moment, and you never knew when you might offend the Emperor's authority for some reason. You might be glorious one moment and lose your head the next.
"Young Master Su, what is this?"
Eunuch Li saw Su Fan emerge empty-handed and hadn't received any imperial decree for a reward, which he found strange.
"Oh! I understand now. Young Master Su must have been promoted! This old servant dares to ask, what is your current official rank?"
Eunuch Li asked, as if he had suddenly realized.
"Heh."
Su Fan let out a cold laugh.
This made Eunuch Li feel utterly bewildered.
What rank? It was good enough to be alive.