Chapter 781: Night and Lights

Protect my dad, my mom, and my sister while I'm awake during the day, and come protect me when I'm sleepy at night?

Sounds like no big problem, but since you're so sleepy you fall straight to sleep, who exactly is protecting whom?

After hearing Li Ang's words, the Freckled Prince stood stunned for a full ten seconds before barely sorting out the logic, then couldn't help but shout in anger:

"Damn bastard! I'm going to the Cleanup Bureau to file a complaint against you!"

"Mm-hmm."

Having been tossed about all day alongside the Princess, Li Ang had no energy left to deal with him; he simply closed his eyes in exhaustion and replied perfunctorily:

"Go ahead and complain. But the General Bureau has been quite busy lately, so acceptance might be slower, or they might even reject the complaint outright and have our branch handle it themselves.

Our bureau chief has been busy too, so I'll probably be the one solving your problem anyway. So if you can accept that, go ahead and complain all you want; I'll take every single one."

"..."

I complain about you, and my complaint ends up being handled by you? Then what's the point of complaining at all!

His face turning green from Li Ang's reply, the Freckled Prince instinctively wanted to strike out, but this damn bastard was unlike anyone he'd ever dealt with before; if provoked, he would really dare to slap him hard across the face.

"This is unfair!"

After recalling the several beatings he'd taken in the past, Watching Watching Qiaoshuya barely suppressed his anger and stamped his feet twice, shouting:

"I'm the prince! Why do you protect Veronica while you're awake, but only come protect me when you're too sleepy? What if there's danger at night? What if something happens to me?"

Hmm? He's actually learned to try reasoning?

Opening his eyes in some surprise, Li Ang looked at the "arguing by reason" Freckled Prince before him, pondered for a moment, then said with a strange expression:

"Sure, if you want to switch, that's fine, but this is close-quarters protection."

You and your uncle, the Minister of Finance, have been actively contacting the old nobility these past two days, repeatedly negotiating with the House of Commons to get them to cooperate with you in toppling the Princess, haven't you? If you let me follow you during the day, aren't you afraid I'll leak secrets?"

"..."

Now that he mentions it, that does seem inappropriate... wait!

"How do you know who I'm negotiating with?"

"I saw it on your sister's desk... Besides, you don't really think this still counts as a secret, do you?"

Glancing at the shocked Freckled Prince before him, Li Ang sneered:

"The old nobility aren't united to begin with, and the House of Commons, with its many mouths and ears, leaks like a sieve. It's impossible to keep secret; your efforts to win them over were reported in the papers last Wednesday, you know?"

"..."

To reason with you, you're truly terrible...

Looking at Watching Watching Qiaoshuya, who was left speechless by his own roasting, Li Ang couldn't help but shake his head slightly.

Although allying with the old nobility and currying favor with the House of Commons is an open strategy; as long as the Princess still wants to cut flesh from the old nobility and the great merchants, she can't stop you from coming together, so there's no fear of people knowing.

But for something that should be kept as quiet as possible, you managed to make it the talk of the whole city; truly, no one else could do that. Even when visiting in person, you wouldn't change the carriage you rode in; how could that possibly be hidden from anyone?

With your level, being able to outmaneuver the Princess would be a miracle!

"Any more questions?"

Too lazy to deal with Watching Watching Qiaoshuya, whose face kept shifting between green and red, Li Ang, who had worked all day as a bodyguard and almost been kept by the Princess for "night service," yawned widely again.

"If there are no more questions, go to sleep. Your sister has to get up around five tomorrow to fight with the Minister of Finance over the new Tax Secretary candidate; I plan to go take a look then..." "Wait!"

Seeing Li Ang cover himself with the thin blanket, seemingly ready to end the conversation, the Freckled Prince stamped his feet again and shouted angrily to stop him:

"Get out! I don't need your protection! What right do you have to sleep here? Get up now! Go sleep in the servants' quarters outside! Or else I..."

"Am I being too polite to you?"

Seeing that after all that explanation, Watching Watching Qiaoshuya was still being difficult, Li Ang, whose work stress had been high lately, suddenly threw off the blanket and sat up, rolled up his right sleeve, then squinted and said:

"I'll give you two options. Option one: you go back to sleep right now and sleep straight until tomorrow morning. Option two: I spend some effort beating you up so you stay unconscious until tomorrow morning... You choose which one!"

It's the same old trick again!

Seeing that Li Ang seemed ready to strike, the Freckled Prince quickly stepped back half a pace, then forced himself to argue:

"You... you're brutal! You're barbaric! Using force is the worst choice! A true superior should..."

"A true superior is the one with the bigger fist."

Raising his right hand formed into a palm, which made Watching Watching Qiaoshuya step back another half pace in fright, Li Ang lay back down again,

"Besides, a useful choice is the right choice. Who asked you to care whether I'm barbaric or not? Just go to sleep!"

"..."

Just you wait!

Standing in front of the sofa and panting heavily for a while, the Freckled Prince, considering the huge gap in strength between them, ultimately didn't dare to strike.

And by the time Li Ang had closed his eyes, his breathing rhythm gradually slowing as he seemed about to fall asleep, he could only let out an angry huff, then stamped heavily on the carpet, stepping back to his bed with heavy, deliberate steps.

Let you sleep! I'll shake you to death!

And! You can only be arrogant for these few days!

Once I topple Veronica and succeed my father as the new king, I will definitely put up a sign at the palace gate saying "Li Ang and dogs not allowed inside!" Then I'll issue a decree that anyone who assaults the king without cause will be hanged!

Having failed to drive him out, Watching Watching Qiaoshuya dove onto his bed, his whole body slamming down with a dull thud, then began vigorously shaking the blanket, creating a series of puffy, rustling noises.

After tossing and turning for a while, hearing Li Ang roll over and mutter discontentedly on the other side, and confirming he had successfully taken revenge, Watching Watching Qiaoshuya, under the sway of sleepiness, entered the dreamland with a hint of satisfaction.

"That's about enough."

Not long after the Freckled Prince closed his eyes, atop a clock tower located about three streets west of the palace, an somewhat aged voice rang out.

Looking at the capital city before him, now plunged into silent darkness with even the streetlights extinguished, the old investigator sitting cross-legged on the rooftop said calmly:

"Except for the Blood-Haired Princess and that Li Ang, everyone from the Maiden Branch has already left the capital, and those two have also fallen asleep... Nicole, it's time for you to act."

"Yes..."

Following a slightly hesitant reply, a faint light appeared behind the old investigator, and the female reporter, who had vanished after stealing the wallet, stepped out carrying a small lantern whose glow was warm and gentle.

After casting a somewhat hesitant glance at the old investigator, the female reporter pressed her lips together and gently swayed the delicate glass lantern in her hand.

And with her careful movement, the royal capital—most of which had been hidden in darkness—flickered faintly along with the lantern's flame, and then suddenly blazed with radiance. A blazing sun replaced the original moon, hanging high in the center of the sky.

(End of chapter)