Imperial Advisor's Residence.
Knock, knock, knock—
Jiang Ning lightly rapped on the main gate, the sound carrying with piercing clarity through the quiet early morning.
A moment later.
The patter of small, quick footsteps came from behind the gate.
Then came the sound of the door bolt being dropped.
Click, clack—
The door hinge turned, not smoothly at all; clearly, it had not been maintained much.
"Marquis?!!" As the main gate of the Imperial Advisor's Residence slowly opened, revealing a crack, a young and tender little face appeared in Jiang Ning's line of sight. The person who had come was precisely Qing He.
Looking at the familiar face, Jiang Ning smiled.
Then Qing He stretched out her slender arms, braced them against the left and right sides of the gate, and pushed hard to force it open.
The main gate of the Imperial Advisor's Residence was already heavy to begin with, and with the grinding sound coming from the gate's bearings, it was obvious they had not been maintained much.
Seeing Qing He straining with effort, Ji Mingyue stepped forward and gave the left side of the gate a forceful push.
With Ji Mingyue's help, the gate was opened easily.
"Thank you, Seventeenth Princess!" Qing He said. "Greetings, Seventeenth Princess!" She then bowed to Ji Mingyue again.
"How have things been these days?" Jiang Ning asked.
"Replying to My Lord, all has been well!" Qing He watched Jiang Ning step over the threshold and hurriedly followed behind him as she spoke.
"How is the Imperial Advisor?" Jiang Ning asked again.
"My Lord is still the same as before. There hasn't been much change," Qing He said.
At the same time.
Ji Mingyue followed at Jiang Ning's side, while Immortal Crane followed behind the two of them.
"Little brother!!" Jiang Ning