Chapter 125: Who invited me to eat?

Tuan Tuan was startled by his appearance: two obvious dark circles hung under his eyes, and he had become much thinner.

Yet his whole body clearly exhibited a state of both exhaustion and excitement.

"Great!" Tuan Tuan reached out to Xiao Er, who skillfully lifted his young miss and followed Feng Zhou straight to the Private Workshop.

The carriage drove into a heavily guarded compound.

Upon getting off, a neatly planned, picturesque cluster of houses came into view.

Feng Zhou could not hide his pride: "League Lord, look, the row of buildings ahead is the Drawing Hall; the open area enclosed by high walls to the east is the Trial Ground."

"The row of houses to the west is the artisans' dwellings, and the most important Core Blueprint Storage is guarded by dedicated personnel around the clock."

He pointed to an independent cottage at the edge of the Test Field, eyebrows dancing: "I now live there, guarding this place, and only then do I feel at ease."

"If the League Lord has any orders in the future, just send someone to find me here."

Tuan Tuan clasped her small hands behind her back, looking this way and that, her big eyes full of praise, she nodded vigorously: "Feng Zhou, you've done a great job!"

Feng Zhou's cheeks flushed slightly from her praise.

The two arrived at Feng Zhou's office, when a subordinate came forward to report: "Sir, the Ministry of Works has sent a batch of related documents."

"Let him in." Feng Zhou casually ordered.

A middle-aged man in Ministry of Works official robes lowered his head, hands clasping a stack of documents, and entered bowing.

In a respectful tone he said: "I am a Seventh Rank Officer of the Ministry of Works, acting on the Minister's orders to deliver these documents to the Private Workshop; please review them, Sir Feng."

That voice!

The smile on Feng Zhou's face froze, his eyes locked on the visitor: "Is it you?"

Feng Bojia heard the voice, lifted his head, and made out the face of this "Sir Feng" before him.

The color drained from his face in an instant, and the hand holding the documents trembled uncontrollably.

"How can it be you?" he exclaimed in shock, "The head of the Private Workshop is actually you?!"

"What's wrong?" Tuan Tuan sat steadily in the large chair, her short legs dangling, swinging back and forth.

"Why can't it be him?"

"You stole his fortune; aren't you afraid to see him?"

Feng Bojia looked at his vigorous nephew before him, recalling what he had once done to him, and was already startled and fearful.

Moreover, Tuan Tuan bluntly pointed it out, and the most hidden, filthy corners of his heart were laid bare.

His complexion turned from white to bluish, his lips quivered slightly, and he could not utter a word,

Feng Zhou also looked at him, observing his uncle's Seventh Rank Official robes, then glancing down at his own Fifth Rank Official attire; the pent-up frustration of many years instantly dissipated by half.

He now focuses entirely on the Private Workshop, wanting only to do his job well and turn the ideas he has harbored for years into tangible objects.

He stepped forward, took the stack of documents steadily, and said calmly: "The documents have been received; Officer Feng may return to make his report."

He directly issued an order to expel the guest.

Feng Bojia's heart was filled with humiliation and resentment.

"I've done so much, yet I am still merely a Seventh Rank Officer!"

"What has he done? He actually holds a Fifth Rank position!"

"The Private Workshop is directly under imperial authority, enjoys the emperor's favor, the Ministry of Works merely assists—its future is limitless!"

"On what basis does he sit here?"

"All of this should be mine!"

"Steal? So what if I stole? Who doesn't want to rise in office and grow rich?"

"Since I could steal from you once, how could I not steal a second time?"

"Yes, Sir Feng!" he said, bowing his body, and silently withdrew.

Tuan Tuan glanced at Feng Zhou: "There's a thief in the house!"

Feng Zhou blinked: "What does the League Lord mean?"

Tuan Tuan jumped down from the chair: "He hates you! And he will keep stealing your things."

Feng Zhou gritted his teeth: "Back then he stole my blueprints, even tried to take my eight characters, ruining me for years, nearly driving me to suicide; now I don't want to pursue it further, yet he still won't let me be!"

Tuan Tuan's gaze fell on the few blueprints on the desk, her eyes lighting up: "Let him steal if he wants to!"

Feng Zhou looked doubtful: "What does the League Lord mean?"

"Let him steal... and then?" he suddenly understood.

Tuan Tuan shook her head and bobbed it, nodding: "The young can be taught!"

Feng Zhou laughed through tears: "Fine! Then let him steal!"

Feng Bojia paid special attention to matters of the Private Workshop; any correspondence or goods transport between the Ministry of Works and the Private Workshop, he tried every means to bring under his control.

However, just a few days later he respectfully presented an improved blueprint for the saber to Minister of Works Sheng Zhan's desk.

He spoke with fervor: "Sir, this is my recent painstaking work, sacrificing sleep and food, pouring heart and blood; if used in the army, it will surely greatly increase our combat strength!"

Sheng Zhan picked up the blueprint; after just a glance, his gaze turned sharply keen.

He stared at Feng Bojia and asked slowly: "You say this is your creation?"

"Absolutely certain, this is my own original creation!"

Sheng Zhan looked at him, shook his head disappointedly, and barked coldly: "Come here!"

Several attendants responded and entered.

"Seize him!"

The attendants swarmed forward, pressing Feng Bojia down hard onto his knees.

Feng Bojia looked astonished: "Sir! Why is this? I have rendered meritorious service!"

"Meritorious service?" Sheng Zhan slowly drew a blueprint from his sleeve and threw it before him.

The drawing was exactly the same as the one Feng Bojia presented, except for a tiny cat paw mark added at the crucial joint of the blade, looking adorable.

Sheng Zhan looked down at him: "You used your position to steal the confidential drawings from the private workshop; you've been caught red-handed, yet you still dare to quibble?"

Feng Bojia stared at the mark that seemed to mock his own paw print, as if struck by lightning; his face instantly drained of color and his whole body went limp.

Sheng Zhan said in a sorrowful tone: "The Little Princess and Official Feng have long been on guard against you; they specially used this drawing as bait, just waiting for you to walk into the net!"

"You... evil deeds will bring your own downfall!" He waved his hand: "Take him to the Dali Temple to be punished according to law!"

Feng Bojia's pleas for mercy were quickly dragged away.

Feng Zhou heard the news from the Ministry of Works, nodded silently: "Thanks to the Alliance Leader!"

It was nearly noon at the Ning Prince's Mansion.

A servant came in holding a notice: "Princess Consort, Miss, the Suijin Pavilion has sent an invitation."

"Miss Murong Yuyiao is hosting a banquet in the pavilion; she invites the Princess to come over for a meal, saying she has a matter to discuss."

"Who's inviting me to eat?" Tuan Tuan lifted her little face, thinking she had misheard: "Murong Yuyiao? What does she want from me?"

Cheng Ru'an thought: "If my mother isn't mistaken, what she wants is probably related to the Imperial Examination Cheating Case that your father is investigating."

"Yesterday I heard your father mention this case; he said they had traced it to the Murong family, and several people from their household have already been detained by the Dali Temple."

"This case is being handled by your father; she came to see you this time likely hoping you would say a few good words for her family in front of your father."

Upon hearing this, Tuan Tuan pouted and blurted out without thinking: "I don't want to! After doing wrong, you still want to run away? I'm not going! I'm not going!"

Cheng Ru'an instructed: "Go back and say that the Princess is feeling unwell today and cannot attend the banquet. Thank Miss Murong Yuyiao for her kind intention."

"Yes."

Suijin Pavilion, inside the elegant room.

Murong Yuyiao sat at the table, the table full of delicate refreshments, yet she hadn't taken a bite, staring blankly, her mind in turmoil.

His Majesty values the imperial examinations, hates corruption and nepotism the most—even his older brother is too careless!

How could they have gotten hold of the evidence!

For some reason this time, His Majesty shows no mercy whatsoever toward the Murong family!

Now Prince Ning is handling this case; the only way is to put some effort into him.

Prince Ning is not easy to talk to, but that girl is young, soft‑hearted, and deeply favored by him; if we coax her well and promise some benefits, perhaps we can persuade her.

I have lowered my stance, only hoping she can speak a few good words for the Murong family in front of the Prince.

"Miss," the messenger who had been sent to deliver the letter returned.

"Princess Consort Ning says that Princess Jiayou is feeling unwell and cannot come."

"Clang——!"

Murong Yuyiao sprang to her feet, flicked her sleeve, sending all the cups and plates on the table crashing to the floor, her chest heaving: "Good! Very good!"

"Now I actually can't compare to a wild girl brought back from the countryside!"

"I was giving you face, and you actually refuse!"

"Back to the Palace!" she left Suijin Pavilion in a fury.

The next day, at Xie Yunshu's invitation, Tuan Tuan came to her house.