As the call "Godfather Emperor, Feifei!" echoed, the Emperor had already leaped onto the rooftop of the Imperial Study.
Princess Ata, who was recuperating from her injuries in the Side Palace of the Imperial Study, suddenly adopted a defensive posture. "Whoâs there?"
After a moment, she narrowed her eyes.
Since Iâm in a foreign Imperial Palace, anyone sneaking in now must be either an enemy or an ally.
Acting on this principle, she left her room and jumped onto the roof.
On the rooftop, a figure leaped a few times before disappearing from her sight.
This direction leads out of the palace!
The thought suddenly struck Princess Ata. Taking a deep breath, she immediately followed!
"Suisui! Slow down, slow down! Godfather Emperor canât keep up with your Feifei speed!"
Having exited the Imperial Palace, the voice of the Emperor of Da Han could be heard from above.
Princess Ata was greatly startled. It was astonishingly the Emperor himself sneaking out of the palace late at night!
What should she do now? Turn back the way she came? Or audaciously follow them?
Just as she was hesitating, she heard a childlike voice.
"Okay, Godfather Emperor! You wait here for a bit. Iâll go ask someone where the nearest Gambling House is!"
A smirk tugged at the corner of Princess Ataâs mouth.
The Grand Princess and the Emperor, sneaking out of the palace in the middle of the night just to find a Gambling House?
As she thought this, she inadvertently revealed her presence and was immediately detected by the Emperor and Xiaosuisui.
"Whoâs there?" the father and daughter asked in unison.
Xiaosuisui darted forward, carrying her Godfather Emperor, and appeared before Princess Ata.
"I... Iâm not a bad person!"
Princess Ata, trembling with fear, was astounded that the Emperor of Da Han possessed such profound Martial Artsâit wouldnât be an exaggeration to call them miraculous. Terrified, she hastily tried to prove her innocence.
"Princess Ata!" Xiaosuisui asked doubtfully. "Why are you here?"
"I... If I said it was a coincidence, would you... believe me?"
Of course, they didnât believe her, though they didnât say so. Both Xiaosuisui and the Emperor simply stared at Princess Ataâs face.
"Alright, Iâll tell the truth! I thought it might be an assassin or a spy from another country. I am currently seeking Your Majestyâs protection, am I not? I figured if I could capture a foreign spy and hand them over to you, it would be a way of repaying your kindness. So, I followed."
Princess Ata appeared very sincere as she spoke. However, neither Xiaosuisui nor the Emperor believed her. The Emperor, in particular, bluntly exposed her.
"If there really were a spy from another country here, Princess Ata, wouldnât you more likely be forming an alliance with them to assassinate me?"
Princess Ataâs true intentions were mercilessly exposed by the Emperor, and her face paled. The Emperor ignored her, gave a cold laugh, took Xiaosuisui in his arms, and turned to leave.
"Wait!" Princess Ata called out, stopping them.
The Emperor turned his head, glancing at her sideways. "What is it now?"
Princess Ata pointed to the Dragon Robe on the Emperor. Even in the dead of night, its bright yellow was strikingly conspicuous.
"I just heard the Grand Princess say youâre going to a Gambling House. Your Majesty, donât you plan on changing your clothes?"
Her reminder made the Emperor and Xiaosuisui realize their oversight. In their haste to leave the palace, they hadnât changed into plain clothes.
"This subject, Dugu Xiao, pays his respects to Your Majesty and the Grand Princess!"
From the darkness, several people stepped forward and bowed in unison.
Xiaosuisui cried out happily, "Uncle Dugu!"
The Emperor, however, frowned deeply.
"General Dugu, why are you here?" Before Dugu Xiao could answer, the Emperor continued, "And when did you become the Grand Princessâs uncle?"
The young girl already has so many biological uncles; how did another Uncle Dugu pop up?
"Your Majesty! Which question should this subject answer first?"
Dugu Xiao chuckled to himself. Becoming this young girlâs uncle not only makes the Ji Family brothers jealous, but unexpectedly, their Emperor is also getting jealous!
"Speak! Why exactly are you here?"
Grinding his teeth, the Emperor shot Dugu Xiao a fierce glare that promised future retribution.
Dugu Xiao, facing the Emperorâs murderous gaze, reported formally.
"Earlier today, I saw the Grand Princess win so much silver with just a few games, so my hands got itchy too. I thought Iâd try my luck at a nearby Gambling House, and thatâs how I happened to run into Your Majesty here!"
Dugu Xiao relayed what Ji Youze had written in his letter.
He was inwardly astounded. How on earth did that black-hearted Ji Youze know they could encounter His Majesty nearby? He even told me to bring a change of plain clothes as a backup!
"Your Majesty! I have two sets of plain clothes here, newly bought and never worn. If you donât mind..."
"Then bring them over at once! As for you abandoning your post without permission, We will settle that account with you later!"
Dugu Xiaoâs trusted aide immediately handed over the bundle he was carrying.
The Emperor put Xiaosuisui down and instructed Dugu Xiao.
"Protect the Grand Princess. If anything happens to her, We will roast you alive!"
Hearing His Majestyâs words, Dugu Xiaoâs mouth twitched, and he inwardly roared with laughter.
With the Grand Princessâs martial arts prowess, does she really need protection?
So, while he verbally agreed, "Yes, Your Majesty," he secretly decided to follow the Emperor to protect him covertly.
Once the Emperor had changed his clothes, Dugu Xiao led the way directly to the nearest Gambling House.
The atmosphere in the Gambling House today was unusually tense.
This tension emanated from the Gambling Houseâs enforcers.
It was solely because they had heard that earlier in the day, their competitor, Li Ji Gambling House, had been raided.
Its doors were sealed shut.
The Gambling Houseâs owner had sent people to inquire. Some said the Emperor was raising funds for disaster relief and had therefore ordered a crackdown on Gambling Houses.
Others claimed that Li Ji Gambling House had offended someone powerful and was now facing retaliation.
However, outsiders had no way of knowing the truth.
Consequently, everyone entering the Gambling House was closely scrutinized by the enforcers, who feared suffering the same fate as Li Ji Gambling House.
"Stop! What do you want?"
An enforcer blocked the Emperor and his party.
"Isnât this a Gambling House?" Xiaosuisui tilted her head, looked at the enforcer questioning them, and asked in confusion.
"This is a Gambling House, true, but we donât serve people like you!"
The enforcerâs words puzzled Xiaosuisui even more, and she quickly asked, "Why?"
The Emperor also frowned. "You run a Gambling House yet donât allow people in? What kind of reasoning is that?"
That enforcer sneered, "Your group has women and children. You donât look like youâre here to gamble. Be smart and scram! If you donât, donât blame me for being impolite!"
The enforcerâs attitude made everyoneâs expression darken, especially Dugu Xiaoâs. He shot out his hand and grabbed the manâs neck!