Chapter 151: Two Little Girls Make a Crowd

"Hmm?"

As soon as Princess Taiping uttered those words, Li Xian's expression instantly darkened. In Li Xian's view, who Shangguan Wan'er was had not the slightest connection to Princess Taiping. Even if this were only the first formal meeting between brother and sister, let alone if their bond were already deeply rooted, there was certainly no justification for interfering in each other's domestic affairs. Such a line of questioning was a blatant disregard for Li Xian's dignity. No matter how deep Li Xian's composure might be, he found it difficult to swallow this. However, with all the court officials present at the moment, Li Xian could not openly rebuke Princess Taiping for her rudeness and rashness. He could only let out a feigned cough to indicate his displeasure. Unfortunately, at that moment, Princess Taiping had eyes for no one except Shangguan Wan'er. Clearly, Li Xian's expression was completely wasted on her. Yet, while it failed to awe Princess Taiping, it startled Li Xulun standing nearby, causing his lips to twitch as if he wanted to say something. In the end, however, he dared not force himself forward and instead shrank his neck, retreating to the side with utmost awkwardness.

Princess Taiping's question had been loud enough, and Shangguan Wan'er naturally heard it. Yet Shangguan Wan'er clearly had no intention of submitting to Princess Taiping's overbearing dominance. Without a sound, she walked to Li Xian's side, extended a fair and tender little hand, and, as if making a show of force, grabbed Li Xian's arm. Blinking her distinct, black-and-white eyes, she gazed at Princess Taiping with an expression of pure innocence.

"You..."

Princess Taiping had never been one to willingly suffer a loss. Seeing that the sixth brother she had managed to see with such difficulty was being snatched away just like that, she was hardly about to let it rest. Gritting her teeth, she opened her mouth to scold Shangguan Wan'er for her audacity. But as the words reached her lips, she changed her mind. With a twitch of the corner of her mouth and a mischievous smile, she walked with poised grace to Li Xian's other side and, showing an equally unyielding spirit, stretched out a small hand to grab Li Xian's other arm, before making a triumphant, playful face at Shangguan Wan'er.

"Boom..."

Watching the two little lasses engage in a battle right on the spot, the surrounding officials could not help but burst into uproarious laughter, leaving Li Xian with a forehead covered in frantic, dark veins.

Good grief, what were these two little creatures up to? They really were a pair of sworn enemies from a past life! With his memories of a past life, Li Xian naturally knew that Shangguan Wan'er and Princess Taiping had never gotten along particularly well, frequently tripping each other up in secret. He had thought that such a scenario would not repeat itself in this lifetime, yet never had he imagined that the two little ones would start clashing the very first time they met—and actually use him, Li Xian, as a stake in their rivalry. It was thoroughly unenjoyable. To make matters worse, one was his blood sister, and the other his lover from a past life; neither could afford to be offended. Their little skirmish left Li Xian utterly depressed.

"Wan'er, come, pay your respects to the Prince of Yin."

After all, Li Xian was no ordinary person. Depression was one thing, but it was not enough to leave him utterly helpless. Ignoring the sparks flying from the direct collision of the two girls' gazes, he smiled, waved a hand, and gently guided Shangguan Wan'er, who was still clinging to his arm, right before Li Xulun.

"This humble maiden, Zhang Wan'er (Shangguan Wan'er had once used the alias of Zhang Yaoxian, the former Senior Clerk of the Prince of Zhou's Manor, as her adoptive father, and thus used the surname Zhang externally), pays her respects to Your Highness the Prince of Yin." Playful as she was, Shangguan Wan'er was not some uncultured country girl ignorant of manners. Hearing the gentle tone of Li Xian's words, which carried an undeniable weight beneath them, she naturally dared not indulge her willful temper any further. Releasing Li Xian's arm, she curtsied gracefully to Li Xulun.

"No need, no need. You are too polite, Lady Wan'er. Please rise, please rise."

Li Xulun was unclear about the exact relationship between Shangguan Wan'er and Li Xian, but seeing her emerge from Li Xian's carriage and behave with such casual familiarity in his presence, he certainly dared not underestimate her. Seeing her bow in respect, he hurriedly retreated half a step, waved his hands haphazardly, and nervously told her to stand.

"Seventh Brother, what about your little sister?"

Li Xian had intended to play the peacemaker, but Princess Taiping was clearly unwilling to let the matter rest. Without waiting for Shangguan Wan'er to straighten up, she relentlessly shook Li Xian's arm, whining in a spoiled, dainty voice.

Tsk, this damned girl really is not an easy lamp to extinguish! How could Li Xian not know that Princess Taiping was deliberately making trouble? Yet he had no recourse; given Princess Taiping's status, reason and propriety dictated that Shangguan Wan'er ought to pay her respects. Especially with so many officials present, proper etiquette could not be neglected, lest endless complications arise.

"Wan'er, this is Lonely's little sister, Taiping. You are both of the same age, so you can keep each other company." Li Xian's worldly wisdom ran deep. Though inwardly fed up with Princess Taiping's relentless pestering, his face maintained a spring-breeze smile. Raising a hand, he beckoned Shangguan Wan'er closer and casually introduced Princess Taiping to her.

"Wonderful, wonderful! Wan'er has long heard of the Princess's orchid-like heart and clever mind, and has been yearning to meet her. Wan'er even prepared a special gift for the Princess. Come, Wan'er will take you to see it." Small in stature yet grand in ambition, Shangguan Wan'er understood Li Xian's intent that she pay her respects, but she had no desire to yield. Her bright eyes rolled around as a scheme took shape in her mind. Feigning ecstasy, she clapped her hands, offered a few flattering words to the Princess, and then abruptly shifted the topic to the "gift." With an air of innocent childishness, she took Princess Taiping by the hand and made to walk toward the carriage.

Princess Taiping was, after all, still a child. Initially intending to put Shangguan Wan'er in her place, her eyes lit up the moment she heard there was a special gift to be had. Hesitantly, she looked up at Li Xian, appearing torn between wanting to go and having her reservations.

"Taiping, go ahead."

Seeing Princess Taiping's hesitant little expression, Li Xian could not help but chuckle inwardly—Shangguan Wan'er had no special gift; it was merely some soap, handkerchiefs, and other small trinkets Li Xian had helped her pick out. The reason Shangguan Wan'er was bringing it up now was simply to avoid bowing to Princess Taiping in public. However, Li Xian had no intention of exposing the ruse, and instead offered an encouraging, smiling word.

"Mm."

Princess Taiping's heart had already been won over. Hearing Li Xian's nod, she grew excited, nodded vigorously, and, bouncing and skipping, ran off with Shangguan Wan'er toward the carriage parked nearby.

"Thank you, gentlemen, for coming out to welcome me. Little King is unworthy of such an honor. The hour is late, please all return."

Having finally managed to dispatch the two troublesome little lasses, Li Xian let out an inward sigh of relief. With a self-deprecating smile, he stepped forward a few paces, cupped his hands in a greeting toward the assembled officials who had come to welcome him, bowed in a full circle, and exchanged a few polite pleasantries.

"Your Highness is too modest. We subordinates dare not. Please, Your Highness, lead the way."

The officials who had come to greet him were not very numerous. Aside from veteran ministers like Hao Chujun, most were local officials of Luoyang Prefecture, whose status and standing naturally could not compare to Li Xian's. Now that Li Xian, the principal guest, had not yet moved, none of them dared to step forward first. Aside from offering repeated polite declines, they could only respectfully urge Li Xian on.

"Seventh Brother, Father and Empress Mother are already waiting in the palace. You see..."

Seeing that Li Xian showed no sign of departing immediately, Li Xulun grew somewhat anxious and stepped forward to offer a quiet reminder.

"Very well, let us enter the city first. Eighth Brother, would you care to share a carriage with your older brother?"

Entering the palace to pay respects was an inherent duty. Even though Li Xian had no real desire to look upon Empress Wu's hypocritical face, there was no reason to refuse. Hearing Li Xulun's words, he immediately smiled and agreed. However, before going to pay his respects, Li Xian intended to extract some information from Li Xulun, and thus issued the invitation with a smile.

"Good, good, good! Seventh Brother, would you be willing to ride in little brother's carriage?"

The person Li Xulun admired most in his life was his older brother, Li Xian. However, because he frequently stayed by the imperial chariot, he rarely had the chance to get close to Li Xian. Hearing the invitation, he was overjoyed, his little face flushing red with excitement as he repeatedly cried out in agreement.

"Mm, lead the way, Eighth Brother."

What Li Xian wanted was information; as for whose carriage they rode in, he cared little. Accepting with a smile, Li Xulun disregarded the officials trailing behind and proudly led Li Xian toward the nearby carriages as if presenting a rare treasure.

"Seventh Brother, you might not know this, but Father holds you up as little brother's role model every single day, telling me to learn well from you. Heh, previously I never had the chance, but now that Sixth Brother has come, little brother finally has the opportunity. Sixth Brother, you simply must teach little brother properly." Sharing a carriage with Li Xian, Li Xulun was evidently too excited. Barely had he boarded and seated himself before words came tumbling out in a continuous stream.

"Eighth Brother flatters me. Your older brother is actually just a martial man; other things aside, I do have some meager insights into the martial path. If Eighth Brother can endure hardship, your older brother certainly won't keep his treasures hidden. Oh, by the way, this time Father summoned me to Luoyang and mentioned marriage. I wonder if this matter is being personally planned by Father?" Li Xian mused that in this lifetime he had no major entanglements with Li Xulun, and he truly found it hard to stomach such enthusiastic hero-worship. Yet he was not foolish enough to dampen Li Xulun's enthusiasm, so after offering a few humble smiles, he steered the conversation toward the marriage arrangements.

"As long as Seventh Brother is willing to teach, little brother will naturally strive hard. Ha, wonderful, wonderful!" Hearing that Li Xian had not refused his uninvited request, Li Xulun grinned from ear to ear with joy. After reveling in his triumph for a moment, he suddenly seemed to snap back to reality and continued, "Ah, I haven't congratulated Seventh Brother yet! This time, in order to find Seventh Brother a fine family's daughter, Father and Empress Mother have discussed it several times. Seventh Brother, you just wait for the good news to arrive!"

Good news? Good news my foot! Li Xian could find no joy in this whatsoever. Not only was he unable to rejoice, but he also felt an urge to curse aloud. Unfortunately, the timing was wrong, and no matter how much resentment Li Xian harbored, he had no choice but to swallow it down.

"Heh heh, good news indeed. Um, I wonder if a candidate has been selected yet?" Li Xian forced out a dry laugh and immediately pressed on to the most crucial question.

"This... little brother hasn't heard. Perhaps soon, I suppose."

Li Xulun blinked, rubbed his hands awkwardly, and replied with an embarrassed expression.

"Oh?"

Hearing that a candidate had not yet been finalized, Li Xian's tensed heart relaxed slightly. However, the sharp glint in his eyes grew brighter, with a hidden murderous intent quietly surging...