Li Qingxian stepped out of the carriage and called loudly, "May I ask, Eunuch, are you from the Inner Factory?"
The moment Li Qingxian appeared in his Principal Seventh Rank Fortune Official uniform, Mao froze for a moment and asked suspiciously, "I am not."
"Then are you from the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs?" Li Qingxian asked again.
"I am not."
"Are you from the Imperial Horse Directorate?"
"I am not."
"Can you come and go within the Imperial Study?"
"No." Mao grew even more puzzled.
"Are you by the Empress Dowager's side?"
"I am not."
"Are you by the Empress's side?"
"I am not."
"Then hurry home. Don't stand in the street making a spectacle of yourself." Li Qingxian looked utterly sincere.
Mao was stunned. Song Yunjing looked at Li Qingxian with a smile.
The two guards behind Song Yunjing stared at Li Qingxian in surprise.
"What a fine youngster. This family has fallen like a tiger stranded on the plains today; now even every little cat and dog dares to take a bite."
Yet Li Qingxian sneered. "A dignified Fourth Rank expert throwing tantrums, shamelessly pestering people, and cursing in the street before the Prefect of the Capital—do you deserve to be called a tiger? You're nothing but a mangy dog. Come bite me, then."
The two guards suddenly understood. This youth was returning the other man's way unto himself. Wasn't Mao relying on his lower rank to throw tantrums before a Third Rank high official? Now someone of an even lower rank had come along—let them see who could out-tantrum whom.
Mao's face darkened. He glanced at Song Yunjing, then turned toward Li Qingxian and barked impatiently, "Where did this cat or dog come from? Get lost at once."
Li Qingxian smiled, took out the Night Guard token