I Became the Eye Candy: Four Bigshots Claimed to be My Dad?-Chapter 45: The Framed Xiang Minghou

"Pangtuan, your dad looks so fierce," Nanxiang whispered.

Before Ye Qianning could speak, the Princess Consort interjected, "Pangtuan’s father is a Great General. He has to go to the battlefield and kill enemies. Xiang’er, you must remember that the peaceful life you enjoy now is all because many people like Pangtuan’s father are protecting Beili."

"Mm," Nanxiang nodded, only half-understanding.

"Your Highness, when does the birthday banquet begin?" Ye Qianning asked.

"It should be a little while longer. Come, I’ll take you to pay your respects to the Old Princess Consort first. The ladies should all be over there right now."

"Your Highness, I think I’ll sit this one out," said Ye Qianning. She hated kneeling and kowtowing to people more than anything and avoided it whenever she could.

"Let’s go together. The Helian Royal Mansion is crowded today. If we get separated, how will I explain it to your father?" Princess Changyang was worried.

"It’s alright. I’ll just wait out here in the front. You’ll see me as soon as you come out, Your Highness."

"Well..." Princess Changyang was in a difficult position.

"Mother, how about I stay behind and keep Pangtuan company?" Nanxiang suggested.

"The Old Princess Consort has been asking about you many times. It wouldn’t be right if you didn’t go."

"Your Highness, please just go on ahead. I’m still not used to these kinds of occasions. I get nervous in large crowds. Besides, I promise I won’t run off," Ye Qianning said, patting her chest in assurance.

Seeing that she was genuinely reluctant, Princess Changyang didn’t insist. Still worried, she added, "You absolutely must not wander off. I’ll just take Xiang’er inside to pay our respects to the Old Princess Consort, and then we’ll be right out."

"Okay," Ye Qianning nodded obediently.

Princess Changyang led Nanxiang toward the rear courtyard.

Although Ye Qianning disliked such events, since she was already here, she decided to just behave like a proper six-year-old. She found a relatively secluded spot and lay down on the ground.

She hadn’t slept well that morning, so this was a perfect chance to catch a ten-minute nap.

"Quick! Something’s wrong! Something’s wrong...!"

"Imperial Physician! Quickly, get an Imperial Physician!"

Ye Qianning had just closed her eyes when she was jolted awake by a flurry of panicked noise. Guards, maids, servants, and banquet guests were all in a state of chaos.

She opened her eyes, glanced to the side, and then tried to go back to sleep. ’Whatever is happening has nothing to do with me.’

"The Imperial Physician, quickly...!"

"Oh my, what on earth happened? Who’s hurt?"

"It’s Xiang Minghou! He tried to assassinate the Old Prince! Hurry up...!"

Ye Qianning, who had closed her eyes again, snapped them open. She leaped to her feet and vanished from the spot.

The rear courtyard was now completely surrounded by guards. Many people stood in the yard, craning their necks to see what was happening. Inside the room, guards had cornered Xiang Minghou.

"General Xiang, you’d best surrender without a fight."

"I have done nothing wrong. I was not the one who administered the poison. Are you sure you haven’t surrounded the wrong person?" Xiang Minghou was perfectly calm.

"Who else could it be? I personally heard you arguing with the Prince, and right after that, he was poisoned and collapsed!" a servant accused angrily.

When the Old Princess Consort arrived and saw the scene, she was so frightened she fainted on the spot.

"As I’ve said, I was not the one who administered the poison," Xiang Minghou stated, his expression unchanged.

"We’ll know if you’re the culprit after an investigation, General Xiang. Until then, please cooperate," the Guard Commander said.

"An investigation is fine, but everyone in this rear courtyard is a suspect. What are your intentions in singling me out?" Xiang Minghou hadn’t expected to run into such a mess right after returning to the capital.

’The person behind this planned it all perfectly. I walked right into their trap the moment I stepped into this rear courtyard today.’

"You..."

"All of you, stand down," Prince Helian said as he emerged from the crowd.

"Greetings, Your Highness," the guards saluted.