“He came quite quickly.” Pang Xiao’s voice carried laughter as he looked back at Qin Yining, “Want to watch a good show?”

“We’ve already watched one act just now—wouldn’t it be a shame not to continue watching?” Qin Yining smiled. “However, I don’t think Governor Yang is entirely innocent either. His Majesty ordered military funds to be self-raised locally. As governor, could he be completely unaware of military funding matters? I imagine he knew about Lu Zhang’s actions and should have heard about the exact amounts. But he’s been keeping quiet and ignoring it all along, just waiting for someone to come to the old capital to take the blame so he could extricate himself.”

Thinking about Governor Yang’s actions, then considering his vastly different behavior before and after gaining power, as well as that extraordinarily beautiful young lady dressed in men’s clothing they saw at the Yang residence that day, some thoughts flashed through Qin Yining’s mind, but she couldn’t quite grasp them clearly.

Seeing her slow her steps, Pang Xiao asked, “Have you thought of something?”

Qin Yining shook her head, “Nothing much. Where will you meet Governor Yang?”

“Let’s go to the front hall. There’s a screen there.”

Qin Yining smiled again and followed Pang Xiao to the front hall.

Pang Xiao personally placed an armchair behind the screen, added thick cushions, and even removed his own cloak to wrap around her. Only then did he walk to the center of the hall and say, “Please invite Governor Yang.”

“Yes.” Outside the hall, Huzi immediately had someone invite Governor Yang.

At this moment, Governor Yang’s face was flushed red, his brow furrowed with anger, his entire body seeming to burn with fury.

The time spent waiting outside the Qin mansion hadn’t calmed him—instead, it had further inflamed his anger.

Even if Pang Zhixi was the commander-in-chief of the Pingnan Army, the renowned War God Prince known to all, in his eyes, he was merely someone in a precarious position. He himself was already feared by His Majesty, full of vulnerabilities, yet still didn’t know restraint and continued to flaunt himself in the old capital. Wasn’t he afraid that he would file a complaint against him and His Majesty would directly arrest him?

Because of this confidence, Governor Yang’s contempt for Pang Xiao was even greater, and his confidence in this visit grew.

So when servants came to escort him to the front hall, Governor Yang kept his back straight, suppressing his anger, his footsteps so forceful it seemed he wanted to shatter the green bricks on the ground to vent his fury.

“Your Highness, Governor Yang has arrived.”

Huzi announced inside, then beamed as he lifted the door curtain for Governor Yang.

Governor Yang strode in, and seeing Pang Xiao lounging lazily in the main seat drinking tea, he didn’t bow in greeting but opened with direct accusation: “How could Your Highness be so devious, trapping me like this!”

Pang Xiao seemed oblivious to Governor Yang’s anger and stood up with a smile, “Ah, Governor Yang, please sit down. Don’t be angry—anger harms the body.”

Behind the screen, Qin Yining watched through the carved openings and saw Governor Yang’s face turn even redder, making one wonder if he might faint from anger at any moment.

Governor Yang was furious but forced himself to sit in the guest seat. Seeing servants bring tea, he picked it up and gulped it down, only to discover the tea was scalding hot. The pain made him spit the tea back into the bowl. He wanted to blow and fan air to cool his tongue, but mindful of his dignity, he had to maintain his composure here and could only endure it with a stern face.

Pang Xiao seemed not to notice Governor Yang’s embarrassment and hurriedly said with concern, “Is the tea too hot? How are these fools serving!”

Pang Xiao scolded toward the outside, and the maids all quickly knelt to apologize.

Governor Yang had no mind for such matters. He waved dismissively, saying, “It’s nothing,” then continued, “This prefecture has never met Your Highness nor harbored any grudges—why did Your Highness trap me so today!”

“What trap?” Pang Xiao looked genuinely puzzled, “Does Governor Yang have some misunderstanding? When have I ever trapped you?”

“Then what does Your Highness mean? Today, in broad daylight before everyone, you threw such a difficult problem at me—if that’s not a trap, what is!”

Pang Xiao said helplessly, “Isn’t Governor Yang’s thinking somewhat misguided? Shouldn’t preparing military funds for the Pingnan Army be your responsibility?”

This statement left Governor Yang speechless. When His Majesty ordered self-funding, he had already assigned the Pingnan Army’s financial problems to local administration.

“But Your Highness, don’t forget—the old capital currently has no tax revenue!”

“Ah, what can be done about that? The northern war situation is tense. His Majesty is now busy fighting the Tatars and can’t reach the south—he’s powerless to help. Since we serve in court and receive the emperor’s salary, shouldn’t we share his worries?”

“You!” Governor Yang said angrily, “Your Highness, don’t change the subject. You know very well that’s not what I’m talking about! Your Highness is now the Grand Marshal of Pingnan, responsible for the entire Pingnan Army. Should I still handle military provisions? Moreover, the Pingnan Army owes three million taels of silver—I didn’t borrow this money, so why should I repay it? If this isn’t entrapment, what is?”

“Ah, so Governor Yang also thinks this is entrapment.” Pang Xiao spread his hands, looking quite helpless, “This is exactly how Sitong Company trapped me.”

Governor Yang’s face turned purple with rage, his lips trembling. For a long moment, he couldn’t speak.

“So because you were trapped, you’re trapping me!”

Pang Xiao shook his head and sighed, expressing helplessness, even leaning forward to offer advice: “Governor Yang, don’t be angry. Today in front of the people, you’ve already taken on the responsibility. Even if you won’t consider the Pingnan Army soldiers, shouldn’t you consider your own reputation? You promised to repay those three million taels of silver. If you abandon your duties now, who knows what people will say about you.”

“When did I promise? You forced me!”

Pang Xiao pretended to think, then smiled, “Why don’t you go find Sitong Company’s manager? Governor Yang should be quite familiar with Sitong Company’s people, right?”

At these words, Qin Yining behind the screen also leaned forward, carefully watching Governor Yang’s expression.

Governor Yang seemed startled, but immediately recovered, “What do you mean by that?”

Pang Xiao smiled, “Don’t be nervous, Governor Yang. I’m just speculating. As governor, you wouldn’t be unaware of how many merchants there are locally and what they do, would you? If you truly don’t know, wouldn’t that be dereliction of duty?

“I believe in Governor Yang’s loyalty to His Majesty—you would never allow such things to happen. And with Governor Yang’s talents, such dereliction wouldn’t occur. So you must have thoroughly investigated Sitong Company inside and out before allowing Pingnan Army personnel to borrow money from them.

“I’m new here and unfamiliar with Sitong Company’s people, but you’re different. Why don’t you negotiate with Sitong Company—delay repayment a few years until the government is stable and the treasury full?”

Governor Yang’s hands trembled with anger.

What a Prince Zhongshun—he was waiting for him here all along!

For a moment, Governor Yang’s emotions were turbulent. He was somewhat worried but suppressed all concerns, becoming even more disgusted and angry with Pang Xiao. He said through gritted teeth, “I don’t know anyone from Sitong Company! Your Highness shouldn’t make assumptions!”

“Don’t know them? I don’t think that’s quite right.” Pang Xiao shook his head regretfully, “Then I have no other solutions. The matter of repaying the money still depends on Governor Yang. I’m still confident in your abilities.”

Governor Yang stood up abruptly, glaring angrily at Pang Xiao: “It’s not money that this prefecture owes—why should this prefecture repay it!”

Pang Xiao also lost his patience for playing with children. He stood up leisurely and said lazily, “I also want to ask—it’s not money that I owe, so why should I repay it? Why doesn’t Governor Yang go ask Sitong Company’s manager for me?”

Governor Yang’s heart skipped a beat, but his face showed no expression except anger: “If being governor means being treated like this, then this prefecture won’t do it anymore!”

He was a local official whose appointment wasn’t decided by a mere prince. If he insisted on not doing it, Pang Xiao would be helpless, and if word spread, he couldn’t explain it to His Majesty either.

So Governor Yang was very confident in this move, waiting to see how Pang Xiao would submit. Then the pressure of three million taels would return to Pang Xiao, and he wanted to see where this legendary War God Prince had the ability to repay debts.

However, what Governor Yang never expected was that Pang Xiao agreed without hesitation.

“Very well. Since Governor Yang finds performing your duties so difficult, I won’t force you. Governor Yang, please hand over your official seal. I’ll find a way to explain this clearly for you.”

Governor Yang immediately stood there in a daze.

Stop being governor?

He had burned the midnight oil and struggled for so many years, finally managing to get ahead and become governor, accumulating connections along the way. Should he give up this hard-won power because of such a matter?

Not to mention power—just the people behind him wouldn’t forgive his actions.

Pang Xiao smiled and walked to Governor Yang, adding, “Is Governor Yang too pleasantly surprised? Should I send someone to fetch the official seal? That way we won’t trouble Governor Yang’s family.”

Governor Yang’s eyelid twitched. After a long while, he squeezed out, “No need.”

Hearing his stiff, stone-like voice, Pang Xiao couldn’t help but laugh: “That’s right. I knew Governor Yang was a responsible good official. No matter who owes the debt, once it reaches Governor Yang, you can immediately think of solutions. Since Governor Yang doesn’t want to hand over the seal and wants to continue being governor, isn’t it natural for Governor Yang to do some duties and share His Majesty’s worries?”

Governor Yang said through gritted teeth, “Natural.”

“Good! How straightforward!” Pang Xiao clapped and laughed, “Since that’s the case, please be careful, Governor Yang, and quickly repay that large sum of silver. I’ll wait at the mansion for your good news.”

Good news?

Governor Yang pursed his lips. Pang Xiao simply said goodbye and strode away without looking back.

At this moment, Pang Xiao didn’t forget to comment: “Governor Yang truly cares for the people. Taking on such a difficult burden himself now, and being so eager to go back and find solutions—truly a rare good official.”

Governor Yang, who had almost reached the door, stumbled. He used all his willpower to avoid starting another argument with Pang Xiao.

Qin Yining emerged from behind the screen, still wearing a smile of lingering satisfaction as she took Pang Xiao’s hand: “I never expected Your Highness could be so thick-skinned.”