Chapter 6: Unveiling the Prince's Mansion Bounty List

Ye Qianning slid down, pushed aside the legs in front of her with all her might, and ran toward the front.

Under the gaze of the crowd, she stood on her tiptoes, her chubby little hand barely reaching a corner of the notice. With a tug, the notice fell, landing right on top of her head.

After a brief silence, the crowd erupted into a clamor.

"My heavens..."

"Oh my, a child tore down the Prince's Mansion's notice."

"Whose child is so bold..."

The yamen runner was stunned at the sight. He stepped forward and grabbed the back of Ye Qianning’s collar. He couldn't lift her on the first try, so he braced himself and used all his strength to finally hoist her up, barking, "Whose child is this?"

Granny Si had thought she was just playing around; she hadn't expected the girl to actually run off and tear down the notice. It wasn't until the commotion started that she snapped out of it, hurriedly pushing through the crowd to run over.

"Officer, Officer, the child doesn't know any better..."

"Your child has a lot of nerve, daring to tear down a notice from the Prince's Mansion," the runner scolded angrily.

Granny Si was so frightened she knelt down on the spot: "Officer, please spare us. It’s all my fault for not watching the child properly. I beg you, Officer, let her go..."

"Let you go? If everyone follows suit, where would the Prince's Mansion's dignity be? Men..."

"Isn't a notice posted at the Prince's Mansion meant to be torn down?"

Before the runner could finish his angry outburst, Ye Qianning’s milky, childish voice rang out. The sound was so soft and sweet that the crowd was stunned once again.

Ye Qianning tugged with her small hand, and the notice covering her head slid down, revealing her chubby, delicate little face. Her clear eyes stared straight at the runner as she spoke again: "Since you posted a heavy reward, why are you afraid of people tearing it down? Do you not want someone to cure the Princess?"

"You... nonsense."

"Who's talking nonsense? I tore down the notice, but you didn't even ask if I could treat the illness; you just wanted to lock me and Granny Si up. Being this unreasonable, it boils down to you not wanting the Princess to get better." Ye Qianning pouted and chattered on.

The runner’s face was already flushed red from the effort of holding her up, and now, hearing this, he didn't know if he was angry or embarrassed; his face turned beet red.

"The little girl may be small, but her words make sense."

"That's right. Look at that guard, he's so fierce. Even if someone could cure the illness, who would dare tear down the notice and suffer like this?"

"Exactly, even if they knew medicine, they wouldn't dare."

The runner’s cheeks were burning. Listening to the crowd's gossip, he knew that if this reached the Prince's ears, his career would be over.

Ye Qianning didn't seem worried about being dangled in the air. Seeing the runner look at her, she grinned with her little mouth.

The runner felt even more awkward. He set her down, gave a light cough, and asked, "Can you cure it?"

Seeing her set down, Granny Si rushed over and pulled Ye Qianning into her arms, blurting out, "We can cure it, we can cure it."

Regardless of whether they could or not, saying they could was the only way to save their lives right now!

"Fine then, come with me." The runner gestured for them to follow.

The other runners surrounded them tightly, front and back, as if they were escorting dangerous criminals.

Granny Si pulled Ye Qianning up. Having never seen such a scene in her life, her face looked terrible.

"Granny Si, don't be afraid, I'm here," Ye Qianning said, squeezing her large hand.

"You girl, you really don't know the immensity of heaven and earth. The Prince's Mansion isn't a place we can just go to," Granny Si whispered a reprimand.

"We can't avoid going now, Granny. Just keep a calm heart. When they ask you, just tell them about Erbao getting a rash, but whatever you do, don't mention that Erbao is allergic to shuttle grass," Ye Qianning whispered instructions.

"I know, I know."

Granny Si was clever, too. If she didn't have some flexibility and wit, how could a woman in her fifties have easily brought a child all the way to Beili?