Chapter 100: You Come to Help Me (Two Updates, Please Vote)

"Li Bo'an, you wait here properly. I am going to report to the Princess now!" Upon reaching the main entrance of the Princess's residence, Linlang coldly instructed Li Yi.

At the same time, she cast a glance at the guards standing before the gate. Her face darkened as she sternly commanded them, "You lot, unless I personally come to summon him, you are not to let him enter the residence on his own."

"Understood," the guards replied, nodding repeatedly.

Seeing this, Linlang snorted with satisfaction. She threw an angry, resentful glare at Li Yi and turned to walk into the residence alone, leaving him behind.

"..." Li Yi’s mouth twitched slightly as he chuckled to himself, *That girl Linlang really is a petty soul who holds a grudge.*

However, Li Yi had no intention of waiting obediently outside the Princess's residence as Linlang had ordered. Having fallen for her tricks before, he wasn't about to believe her nonsense. Watching her petty display, he guessed that she was likely brewing some new scheme to torment him. He absolutely could not let himself be fooled by her again.

Thus, the moment Linlang was out of sight, Li Yi reached into his waistband and pulled out the token she had given him earlier. He held it up before the guards and said with a smile, "I apologize for the trouble, but please take me inside to see the Princess immediately."

"..." The guards were stunned the moment they saw the token in Li Yi’s hand. Having served Li Lizhi for a long time, they were well aware of the immense authority this token commanded. It wasn't just the Princess's residence; even the Empress's quarters or the Imperial Study within the palace were places where the holder of this token could come and go without obstruction.

Looking at the token, then recalling Linlang’s strict orders, the guards found themselves in a difficult predicament. Their faces twitched with bitterness, not knowing what to do. There was something they wanted to say, but they dared not utter it... This was truly putting them in an impossible position!

After a brief moment of hesitation, one of the guards forced a smile and said, "Sir... please do not make things difficult for us. Lady Linlang just gave us strict orders not to let you enter on your own..." Even as he spoke, the smile on his face looked more painful than tears.

Seeing their distress, Li Yi smiled thinly and said, "Don't worry. There was a small misunderstanding between her and me. You only need to escort me inside, and I promise it won't cause you any trouble."

The guards exchanged glances. After some shuffling and hesitation, the guard finally compromised, nodding powerlessly and saying, "This way, sir."

"Many thanks," Li Yi replied, nodding before following him into the residence.

Sure enough, as Li Yi followed the guard through two or three corridors, he saw Linlang—the one who was supposed to be 'reporting to the Princess'—sitting in the walkway.

Her exasperated cursing could be heard clearly:

"Li Bo'an, you shameless rake!"

"Jerk!"

"You filthy scoundrel!"

Linlang punched the pillar repeatedly to vent her frustration, gritting her teeth as she sneered, "I’ll just leave you waiting out there for half the day. Let’s see how you explain yourself to the Princess later, hmph!"

"..." Seeing Linlang’s furious, venting display, Li Yi rolled his eyes, feeling both amused and helpless.

The guard beside him, however, felt his skin crawl. He realized the situation was dire and felt as if ten thousand wild horses were galloping through his mind. He finally realized he had been dragged into a trap by Li Yi. If Linlang found out, he was doomed.

"Uh, Master Li," the guard said, feeling the danger, "I shall escort you only this far. I must take my leave."

Having said this, the guard turned and fled as if his life depended on it—moving faster than a gust of wind.

"..." Li Yi was speechless.

Just then, Linlang, who was still throwing punches, heard footsteps and turned around, catching Li Yi's gaze directly.

Linlang: "..."

Li Yi: "..."

The air suddenly turned awkward, and an untimely cold breeze drifted through. After a long silence, seeing Linlang staring at him with a flushed face and gritted teeth, Li Yi felt helpless. He broke the silence with a dry cough. "Well... Linlang, do hurry and take me to see the Princess."

"Just! Follow! Me!" Linlang gritted out, her face dark as she turned and marched away.

"..." Li Yi gave a helpless smile and followed behind her. Neither of them spoke a word the rest of the way, and the atmosphere remained incredibly stiff.

When they finally reached the back garden and saw Li Lizhi, Li Yi let out a long sigh of relief, feeling his body and mind lighten.

"Princess, Li Bo'an is here," Linlang said, walking over to prompt Li Lizhi, who was currently playing *touhu* (pitch-pot).

"Oh? Li Bo'an is here? Where is he?" Hearing this, Li Lizhi turned around immediately, the arrow she had been preparing to throw frozen in mid-air. Her large eyes darted around.

"Over there, Princess," Linlang replied, pointing a finger with an expressionless face.

Li Lizhi followed the direction of Linlang’s finger and caught sight of Li Yi waiting outside the garden.

"Li Bo'an, hurry over here!" Li Lizhi waved at him, her face full of obvious excitement.

A man standing beside her frowned, tugged at her sleeve, and asked curiously, "Fifth sister, is that Li Bo'an?"

"That’s right, hehe..." Li Lizhi nodded, her white teeth flashing like a cute little rabbit’s as she beamed. "Crown Prince brother, just you wait. I’ll have Li Bo'an vent my frustrations for me in a moment."

"..." The Crown Prince, Li Chengqian, rolled his eyes in silence.

At that moment, Li Yi arrived before Li Lizhi and bowed slightly. However, he paused when he noticed Li Chengqian standing beside her.

Li Lizhi immediately introduced them: "Li Bo'an, this is my Crown Prince brother. You don't need to bow to him."

"..." Li Chengqian felt as if he had been struck in the chest by an invisible arrow. Playing along with his sister, he smiled and nodded, "My fifth sister is right. There is no need for such formalities."

Though both siblings insisted, Li Yi performed the bow anyway before standing straight.

Just then, Li Lizhi handed the remaining arrows to Li Yi.

"Here, Li Bo'an, you help me throw them." Li Lizhi tilted her head triumphantly at Li Chengqian and said with a laugh, "You must win against the Crown Prince brother for me. Later, we’ll split the prize between us, and we won’t leave him a single thing!"

Li Yi: "..."

Li Chengqian: "..."