Li Tong walked out of the duty office and encountered two clerks carrying scrolls toward him.

“Master Li,” they quickly greeted him with smiles.

Although Li Tong hadn’t been here long, firstly he was Elder Li’s grandson, and secondly the emperor seemed quite satisfied with him. Everyone in the palace survived by reading the situation, so Li Tong’s popularity was growing.

However, Li Tong hadn’t forgotten his status as a concubine’s son. Accustomed to not getting things or losing what he got, he was filled with awe and gratitude for his current life. He worked diligently and respectfully, which came across as neither arrogant nor impatient, but naturally magnanimous. This disappointed the jealous brothers and sisters at home who were waiting to see him make a fool of himself.

Li Tong returned the courtesy.

“These are defense maps sent by the Ministry of War. Please submit them to His Majesty,” the clerk said, handing over the scrolls.

Ministry of War? Li Tong’s heart stirred. He naturally knew what the Ministry of War had been busy with recently.

“Are these defense maps from the Young Lord of Marquis Dingxi?” he asked.

The clerks confirmed it was so.

“Didn’t His Majesty say one month would be fine? How are they done in just ten days?” Li Tong asked with a smile.

“The Young Lord worked without eating, drinking, or sleeping to rush them out,” the clerks said, speaking well of Chang Yuncheng.

Chang Yuncheng was generous and straightforward, so he had good relationships. More importantly, the emperor valued him too.

Adding flowers to brocade was something everyone could do without harm.

Li Tong smiled, his heart increasingly confirming Fan Yilin’s words—this man was indeed cunning and two-faced.

“Leave them here. I’ll deliver them shortly,” he said with a smile.

The clerks thanked him, happily placed them on the duty office desk, and took their leave.

When Chang Yuncheng learned they had been delivered, he breathed a sigh of relief while waiting for the emperor’s opinion and packing his luggage.

In fact, his luggage had been packed long ago. He even wished he could wear the same clothes for days so he wouldn’t need to unpack, just waiting for the emperor’s approval to set off immediately.

But by the second evening, there was still no word.

Based on his understanding of the emperor, this shouldn’t be happening.

Chang Yuncheng asked the clerks to inquire—whether good or bad, the emperor should give some response. If good, he would take his leave and depart; if bad, he would immediately revise it urgently.

At this time, the scroll Chang Yuncheng was anxiously waiting for was still sitting on the duty office desk.

“Master Li, should this be delivered?” someone asked.

Li Tong already had two documents in his hands. Hearing this, he turned to glance back.

“There’s too much in front of His Majesty. Let’s wait until tomorrow,” he said.

Tomorrow was pushed to the day after, and then Li Tong stopped pushing because the emperor personally came to ask for it.

When Li Tong entered carrying the scroll, he saw a man standing in the great hall. Being in the emperor’s presence, Li Tong only kept his head lowered and briefly glanced up. Compared to when he saw him at the restaurant last time, this man looked very haggard.

Serves him right, he said quietly in his heart. So this man was Lady Qi’s former husband. If he had known that day, he definitely would have helped Fan Yilin take action.

“This man first abandoned Lady Qi at home for three years, then when he returned, started making trouble about taking a second wife, then wanted to divorce her. Fortunately, Lady Qi had noble assistance and managed to obtain an amicable separation,” Fan Yilin said indignantly with his arm around Li Tong’s shoulder. “She has no father or mother and is helplessly alone. Fortunately, she has medical skills to rely on, otherwise she would only have had a dead end. Tell me, shouldn’t such a man be scorned?”

Yes! Of course he should be! Moreover, this Lady Qi was his own benefactor! What did benefactor mean? She had shown him kindness, so he must repay it. Her friends were his friends, her enemies were his enemies!

This Chang Yuncheng was now Li Tong’s enemy.

“Your Majesty, the defense maps you requested,” Li Tong said quietly with his head lowered.

Although many people would play tricks with memorials, such as placing them earlier or later in order—don’t underestimate this order, sometimes it could determine a person’s life or death, the success or failure of a matter. So minor officials in duty positions weren’t easily offended; on the contrary, people would secretly slip them silver.

Elder Li had already explained these matters to him, but this was truly Li Tong’s first time doing it, so he couldn’t help feeling anxious.

The emperor said nothing, and Chang Yuncheng said nothing either. However, Li Tong felt this man was staring at him with very unfriendly eyes…

Well, although no one spoke of such things, who wasn’t clear about them in their hearts?

“So you are Li Tong, Master Li,” Chang Yuncheng suddenly spoke.

In front of this person, he absolutely couldn’t show cowardice, or it would shame Lady Qi!

“Yes, so you are the Young Lord of Marquis Dingxi,” Li Tong straightened up and said with a smile.

Two eunuchs had already unrolled the scroll, and the emperor stood up and walked closer to look, seemingly completely absorbed and not hearing their conversation.

After this exchange, neither spoke again. Chang Yuncheng looked at him, Zhou Maochun’s words echoing in his ears.

“Looks presentable…”

Where was he presentable? Never mind comparing him to Wang Qian—he couldn’t even compare to that chatterbox Hu San…

“Very honest…”

How dare he use his position for personal revenge, suppressing his urgent documents! At such a young age he dared to do this—who knew what he’d do in a few more years!

What kind of judgment did that old man have!

Chang Yuncheng snorted and looked away.

Li Tong naturally wouldn’t lose in terms of momentum either. He also snorted lightly and looked away.

The great hall was quiet and silent.

After the time of one incense stick, the emperor finally finished reading.

“Very good, excellent,” he turned and said, rubbing his forehead.

Chang Yuncheng bowed.

“It is thanks to Your Majesty’s wise guidance,” he said.

The emperor smiled, took the warm towel offered by a eunuch and gently wiped his forehead and eyes, while slowly pacing back to the dragon throne.

“Good, this matter is completed. You may…” he began.

These words had been awaited too long—so long that Chang Yuncheng’s body couldn’t help but tremble slightly.

“Thank you, Your Majesty. Then this subject will take leave and return to Gansu,” he bowed again.

The emperor looked at him, threw the towel to a eunuch, seeming to smile but not quite, though ultimately he nodded.

“Good, you may go,” he said.

Chang Yuncheng was overjoyed, responded affirmatively, and slowly withdrew.

Just as Chang Yuncheng stepped over the threshold, the emperor suddenly laughed.

“Want to make a bet?” he said.

Li Tong was stunned by this, but the eunuchs all laughingly responded.

“Oh wonderful! We can win Your Majesty’s silver again,” several said flatteringly.

“As if you’ve ever won,” the emperor laughed, while looking at Li Tong. “Will you play?”

Though he didn’t know how to play, Li Tong quickly agreed.

“However, this subject doesn’t have much money, so I can’t bet large amounts,” he said honestly.

The emperor was amused by him.

“No money? Ask your grandfather for some,” he laughed. “Ten taels of silver minimum—I won’t play if it’s smaller.”

The great hall became lively.

“We’re betting on how many steps before the Young Lord of Marquis Dingxi starts running,” the emperor said.

What kind of bet was this? Li Tong was confused. Who dared run wildly in the palace?

“I’ll bet first—five to ten steps,” the emperor said.

Immediately the other eunuchs also placed bets, though quite cleverly everyone bet differently.

“One hundred to two hundred steps,” Li Tong finally had to randomly join in.

The emperor smiled as he rested his chin watching everyone bet. When finished, he sat up straight.

“Summon the people outside,” he said.

A eunuch immediately passed the word, and two eunuchs respectfully entered from outside.

“Just now, how many steps before the Young Lord of Marquis Dingxi started running?” the emperor asked.

The eunuchs were stunned, exchanging glances with lowered heads.

Young Lord, forgive us—it’s not that we won’t help cover for you. It’s just that in front of His Majesty, nothing can be hidden.

“Replying to Your Majesty, after seven steps,” one answered.

The emperor laughed heartily, slapping the dragon throne.

“Pay up, pay up,” he laughed.

Li Tong walked out of the great hall still somewhat dazed, completely unable to understand what had just happened.

Chang Yuncheng had lost his composure before the emperor, yet His Majesty had predicted it and wasn’t even angry.

He shook his head. Never mind, he wouldn’t worry about it.

The great hall had returned to quiet, with the emperor sitting with closed eyes and crossed legs in the dragon throne, seemingly asleep.

Cai Zhong directed two eunuchs to organize the documents and memorials covering the desk.

“They say those two fought at a restaurant?” the emperor suddenly asked.

Cai Zhong quickly turned and bowed.

“Yes. The children inquired and learned that when the Young Lord first arrived in the capital, Master Li and that Fan family boy were eating at a restaurant. Somehow something was thrown from upstairs, hitting the Young Lord, and they had quite a fight upstairs,” he said.

The emperor laughed.

“What trivial nonsense, how boring,” he said. “Look at that jealous, petty behavior.”

“Your Majesty, should this old servant go warn Master Li?” Cai Zhong quickly asked.

“Everyone walks their own path—who can control whom? Don’t meddle in other people’s business when you have nothing better to do,” the emperor waved his hand.

Cai Zhong smiled and agreed.

“Is Chang Yuncheng’s mother ill again? Why is he so urgent? And after Zhou Maochun spoke with him, he also hurriedly headed south with people, not even bothering to inform me,” the emperor thought of something, changed his sitting position, and asked.

“This old servant doesn’t know,” Cai Zhong replied.

He didn’t say “this old servant will investigate immediately” because he knew that sometimes the emperor was just talking to him, not seeking any answer or result, just like ordinary families. It was just that in this palace great hall, the emperor really had no one he could speak with casually.

Indeed, the emperor didn’t tell him to investigate, but reclined with some relaxation and ease.

“Whatever the reason, at least that old thing has been lured away, saving me from his daily nagging,” he laughed.

“Exactly! Master Zhou has been making more of a fuss these days. No wonder people often say ‘old child, old child’—when people get old, they become like children,” Cai Zhong laughed.

The emperor found this interesting.

“Back then, the Empress Dowager said the same thing about the Emperor Grandfather,” he said with a smile.

“Oh my, the Founding Emperor and Empress Xiaoci were truly wonderful together. They could say anything to each other, as close as one person,” Cai Zhong also laughed.

“Back then, it wasn’t easy for the Emperor Grandfather to marry the Empress Dowager,” the emperor laughed. “However, in this world, precious things have always been rare and difficult to obtain, but no matter how hard, they’re worth it.”

The light conversation echoed in the great hall, making it seem even more spacious.

At this time, Chang Yuncheng, who had rushed out of the palace, had already mounted his horse.

“Order immediate return to the northern frontier. I’m leaving first—have them follow,” he threw out this sentence and galloped away wildly.

The guards behind him hurriedly scattered into action—those gathering people went to gather and send messages, while others rushed to chase Chang Yuncheng.

Chang Yuncheng had already run out of sight.

Yueniang, Yueniang, I’m coming.