“A woman who keeps coming to make trouble for me every day.” Li Cheng’s lips secretly curved into a deep smile as he said, “Everyone in all of Gaoding City knows that I, Li Cheng, am a romantic rake. In my early years, I incurred quite a few romantic debts. A person can’t always have smooth sailing—there’s always the occasional stumble. Well, recently I’ve encountered just such a situation.”
Speaking of this woman, Li Cheng furrowed his brows in distress.
As if she were an enormous trouble.
And when he made things up, his face didn’t flush and his heart didn’t skip a beat!
Jingrong and Ji Yunshu, standing not far behind him, watched him quietly, wondering what kind of outlandish story this fellow could fabricate.
They listened curiously.
Li Cheng cleared his throat and continued with complete seriousness: “I don’t know what wind has been blowing through Gaoding City lately, but no matter where I go, there’s always a woman following me. And whenever she sees me, she cries—cries her heart out—constantly saying that I’ve wronged her! What’s even stranger is that when I ask her what her name is, she says her name is… Li Lianhua? Yes, it seems to be that name. But coincidentally, I have absolutely no recollection of this name whatsoever.”
Na Yan narrowed his eyes: “So what?”
“So what? Think about it—a woman constantly following you, crying whenever she sees you, only willing to tell you her name and nothing else. If the Third Prince encountered this, what would you do?”
Na Yan truly fell into his trap, feeling a pain between his brows. He immediately followed along with his words: “Of course I would find a way to investigate who this woman is.”
“Exactly! So I requested an imperial edict to come to the Ministry of Revenue, precisely to figure out who this woman is. I need to see what the whole story is so I can prescribe the right remedy! I can’t have a woman pestering me every day, can I?”
What nonsense?
He could spin this tale?
Na Yan suddenly realized he had fallen into a pit.
But he was still half-believing, half-doubting.
“Really?”
“Whether you believe it or not is up to you, Third Prince. In any case, I’ve explained the reason very clearly.” Li Cheng had an open and honest appearance.
Na Yan wasn’t stupid—he knew there must be more to it than that.
But he just wanted a reason, and Li Cheng had actually fabricated one.
And it was damned somewhat reasonable.
Leaving no holes to pick through.
For a moment, Na Yan felt as if he had swallowed a mouthful of mute medicine, stuck in his throat.
Li Cheng secretly sneered. Little punk, you want to fight with me?
I have a hundred reasons to fob you off, believe it or not?
“Well then, does the Third Prince have anything else you want to ask?”
Na Yan’s face turned greenish: “No more. I know what I wanted to know. It’s just that for the sake of one woman, you’ve made such a big fuss coming to the Ministry of Revenue to examine materials—isn’t that making a mountain out of a molehill? Young Lord Cheng, you’re now an official who can attend court. You should understand the importance of weighing priorities, shouldn’t you?”
“Of course I understand.” Li Cheng had a look of complete comprehension. “I also know this matter shouldn’t disturb the Ministry of Revenue, but I’m constantly bothered by that woman, which affects my work on proper matters, so I wanted to get to the truth of the situation!”
Na Yan snorted: “But no matter what, you shouldn’t enter the Ministry of Revenue archives for such a matter. This isn’t proper procedure.”
His attitude was firm.
Clearly he would not let Li Cheng enter.
And Li Cheng also understood the current situation. Right now, the most important thing was to find a way to leave quickly to prevent the Third Prince from discovering Jingrong and Ji Yunshu, not to enter the archives to investigate. If he missed this opportunity, there would be a next time.
He said: “Fine, if I can’t investigate, then I won’t.”
Truly obedient.
Na Yan was instead startled.
Wasn’t this kid the most difficult to deal with? How could he just leave when told?
Li Cheng waved his hand and called out: “Let’s go! Back we go!”
He strode away.
Quite carefree.
Jingrong and Ji Yunshu also hurried to follow.
But—
Just as Jingrong and Ji Yunshu passed by Na Yan, he seemed to notice something.
He shouted at the backs of the three: “Wait!”
The three immediately froze in place.
All broke into a cold sweat.
He walked toward Jingrong and Ji Yunshu and commanded: “You two, turn around.”
Uh!
Jingrong and Ji Yunshu had no choice but to slowly turn around.
Right at that moment, Li Cheng quickly stepped forward, blocking in front of the two, and asked Na Yan: “Does the Third Prince have something else?”
Na Yan looked at the two people behind him, feeling they were very familiar.
Just as he was about to speak—
“Marquis Nanguo has arrived.”
Marquis Nanguo?
Everyone’s gazes immediately turned in unison.
Landing on the approaching Marquis Nanguo.
Na Yan was extremely shocked, because ever since the Huyi civil war ended over twenty years ago, Marquis Nanguo had already withdrawn from court, becoming a businessman from then on, never again interfering in court affairs. In fact, over the years, he hadn’t even mentioned the three words “Marquis Nanguo.”
Ji Yunshu and Jingrong had long known this person’s identity.
So they weren’t surprised.
They just hadn’t expected him to come.
And taking advantage of this, the two quickly retreated to the side.
Marquis Nanguo came walking hastily in casual clothes.
Even though he was a merchant, the powerful aura emanating from him was in no way inferior to Na Yan’s.
“Marquis Nanguo?” Na Yan looked at him.
Marquis Nanguo: “So the Third Prince is also here.”
“Today is truly lively! The Marquis Nanguo, who usually only engages in commerce, has actually made a trip to the Ministry of Revenue.”
His expression was amiable as he glanced at Li Cheng: “I came to find Young Lord Cheng.”
Li Cheng asked: “To find me?”
“Things haven’t been peaceful at the manor recently. Some small matters have occurred, and I thought to ask Lord Li for help resolving them. I didn’t expect that when I arrived at the City Administration Department, I was told you had come to the Ministry of Revenue. Since the situation is truly urgent, I came over.”
Li Cheng immediately grasped at this lifeline.
He quickly pressed: “Is it very serious?”
Marquis Nanguo: “If it weren’t serious, I wouldn’t have rushed to the Ministry of Revenue to find you.”
“If that’s the case, then let’s return to the City Administration Department first to discuss it.”
“Mm.”
Li Cheng looked toward Na Yan: “The Third Prince has also heard, so we won’t stay longer. Farewell.”
He hurriedly led Jingrong and Ji Yunshu away from the place.
Marquis Nanguo was also about to leave when Na Yan stopped him, leaning in to say: “Marquis Nanguo, you’ve been at ease for over twenty years. Don’t bring trouble upon yourself at this time!”
Marquis Nanguo looked at him calmly, saying word by word: “Once a person has been at ease for too long, they find it utterly dull.”
Leaving behind these words, he departed.
Na Yan stood in disarray in the wind.
Having hurriedly left the Ministry of Revenue, Li Cheng finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He looked at the two “strangers” before him.
Each sporting two small mustaches.
Both with dark circles around their eyes.
Ji Yunshu had two thick, bold eyebrows. If one didn’t look carefully, one couldn’t tell it was him at all.
As for Jingrong, he was even more laughable.
With an extra black mole on his face, comical and amusing.
Li Cheng was simultaneously amused and amazed.
He extended his finger, waving it back and forth in front of the two: “When did you… transform yourselves?”
Jingrong: “If it weren’t like this, could we have gotten out?”
“You two are certainly clever!”
Soon, Marquis Nanguo also came out from inside.
His face was grave.
Li Cheng asked him: “Marquis Nanguo, what happened at your manor?”
But Marquis Nanguo’s gaze was fixed on Ji Yunshu as he said: “Master Ji, Young Master Jing, may I have a word in private.”
Uh! He had actually recognized them.