Duke of Tang Mansion.
Dou Shi ordered the maids to brew tea and pour a cup for each of the officials. Then she took her leave and cleared everyone out from around the room, making sure no one could hear the conversation inside.
Except Verdant Green Maiden.
There was no need to exclude her. She wasn't human.
Verdant Green Maiden sat cross-legged on the roof. Li Xiu Ning, Li Jiancheng, and Li Shimin, the three siblings, were all beside her.
Li Jiancheng lowered his head to look down and asked in a quiet voice, "Master, we're eavesdropping on Father and the other officials here. Isn't that a little inappropriate? If Father catches us, you'll be fine, but we'll be in trouble!"
"Elder Brother!"
Li Xiu Ning called out from beside him.
She looked at Li Jiancheng with scorn and said, "What are you so afraid of? You're twenty-three years old, a grown man! Even if something happens, Jia Lan and I can plead with Father for you, can't we?"
"...?"
Li Jiancheng froze at her words.
He looked at Li Xiu Ning in surprise. For a moment, he even felt that there was some sense in what she was saying!
But when he thought about it carefully, it was complete nonsense!
If he got punished, wouldn't the two of them be punished too? They were all eavesdropping together!
Li Jiancheng pointed this out to Li Xiu Ning.
Li Xiu Ning froze.
Well... that was true.
"So what do we do?"
"Tsk..."
Verdant Green Maiden clicked her tongue and said, "What are you afraid of? Look at Jia Lan. He isn't scared at all, is he?"
Li Shimin shook his head and said, "I believe Father won't punish me, because I'm young. Even if he does punish someone, he'll definitely punish