Chapter 55

Xiao Xixi is Xiao Lingfeng's first child. Logically, he should have doted on her.

However, due to her destiny, she was sent away from a young age and only returned when she was fifteen.

They were nominally father and daughter, but in reality, they were no better than strangers.

Xiao Lingfeng stepped forward to pay his respects.

"Your servant greets Consort Xiao."

Xiao Xixi asked curiously, "Why are you here, Father?"

Xiao Lingfeng hesitated for a long time before finally deciding to tell the truth.

"It's your mother and your sister who are ill. Yesterday afternoon, they accidentally fell into the river while crossing a bridge. By the time they were rescued, they were already unconscious. I invited all the famous doctors in Shengjing City to our home, but it was no use. Not only did they not improve, but their conditions worsened. I have no other choice but to come to the palace to seek an audience with the Crown Prince and ask for his permission to bring the imperial physicians home."

Xiao Xixi blinked. "Is that so?"

Xiao Lingfeng frowned. "Why do you look so unsurprised? They are your own mother and sister. Shouldn't you be worried and sad to know they are in such trouble?"

Xiao Xixi had divined for Xue Shi and Xiao Zhilu. They would suffer a bit, but their lives were not in danger.

Since they wouldn't die, Xiao Xixi didn't think there was much to worry about.

But she couldn't tell Xiao Lingfeng that.

In response to her father's questioning, Xiao Xixi just smiled awkwardly and asked, "Have you seen the Crown Prince, Father?"

Xiao Lingfeng was very dissatisfied with her reaction, but she was now the Crown Prince's consort. No matter how dissatisfied he was, he had no right to scold her.

He frowned and said, "No, the Crown Prince is busy. I have to wait until he is free to enter."

He noticed the food box in Xiao Xixi's hand and asked tentatively, "Are you going to bring food to the Crown Prince?"

Xiao Xixi admitted frankly, "Yes."

Xiao Lingfeng took two steps forward and said urgently, "Can you take me in with you? Your mother and sister are very ill. We can't afford to delay any longer. I must bring the imperial physicians back as soon as possible."

"No, I can't."

Seeing her straightforward refusal, Xiao Lingfeng was instantly furious: "They are your own family. Would you rather watch them die than lend a hand? How can you be so heartless?!"

Even though she was scolded, Xiao Xixi was not angry. She explained seriously.

"It's not that I don't want to help, but I can't be sure that I will be able to see the Crown Prince. I am just as new here as you are, and no one has reported my arrival yet. Moreover, you just said that the Crown Prince is busy and may not have time to see me. If he refuses to see me and I have already promised you, wouldn't that make me a liar?"

Her words were reasonable, and Xiao Lingfeng could not refute them.

He knew he had been too impulsive and had spoken without thinking, but as an elder, he couldn't bring himself to apologize to a junior.

So he could only say sternly, "If the Crown Prince refuses to see you, then consider what I said as nothing."

At that moment, Eunuch Chang came out.

He didn't expect Consort Xiao to be here and quickly paid his respects.

"Why is Consort Xiao here today?"

Consort Xiao was the woman in the Eastern Palace who least liked to go out. Unless necessary, she rarely left, so it was a rare sight to see her today.

Xiao Xixi smiled. "I am here to bring soup to the Crown Prince. Please help me announce my presence."

"Of course, I will announce it for you."

Eunuch Chang turned to leave, and Xiao Lingfeng quickly called out, "Eunuch, has the Crown Prince finished his business and is available to see me?"