Chapter 55: A One-of-a-Kind Deal

"Torch!"

Hearing the guard's words, the Eldest Prince snatched a sword and, by the light of the torch held by the soldier beside him, examined it closely.

His thumb rubbed the familiar pattern on the hilt, and his expression changed abruptly.

It really was the insignia of his personal guards.

"It is indeed a weapon from my Prince's Residence!"

"How did it end up in their hands?!"

He quickly turned his head to explain.

"Zhou Old General, this matter has nothing to do with me."

Zhou Old General nodded, his tone carrying a note of reassurance.

"Imperial Prince, do not be hasty. This old minister naturally believes you."

The Eldest Prince gripped the sword in his hand tightly, his jaw clenched, his expression icy, his teeth grinding hard.

"Who on earth was it?!"

Zhou Old General lowered his eyes in thought and said nothing.

There were too many suspects.

San Wang, foreign nations, and even those in the Imperial Court who did not wish for him to take over the Cheng Family Army — there were far too many.

After thinking it over, he looked toward the Eldest Prince, his expression grave.

"Regardless of who it is, Imperial Prince, on your return to the capital this time, you must be especially careful."

Hearing this, the Eldest Prince nodded.

"Thank you for the reminder, Zhou Old General."

"Speaking of which, with Zhou Old able to take over the Cheng Family Army, this prince can rest far more at ease."

A weapon of the state should be used to protect the realm and defend the country — never as capital for certain people to form factions and pursue private gain!

Saying this, the Eldest Prince spoke with indignation.

"The Pingnan Marquis Residence case is full of suspicious points. I have submitted memorials many times asking Father Emperor to retry the case, but Father Emperor has never responded."

"On this return to the capital, this prince will certainly investigate it thoroughly and never allow loyal ministers to be wronged and humiliated!"

Hearing these words, Zhou Old General's eyelid twitched violently.

"Imperial Prince, you absolutely must not!"

Zhou Old General advised with earnest and repeated persuasion.

"This old minister knows the deep bond between Imperial Prince and the Pingnan Marquis as master and disciple, but Your Majesty is currently in a fit of anger. Imperial Prince should still avoid causing Your Majesty displeasure."

The Pingnan Marquis case — ordinary commoners may not understand it, but in the Imperial Court, how many people truly cannot see it clearly?

It is nothing more than a single saying: 'When the ruler bids the minister die, the minister has no choice but to die.'

The Eldest Prince did not argue with him over these matters, only responding vaguely.

"Zhou Old General, rest assured. This prince knows what he is about."

In truth, whether he had taken these words to heart — only he himself knew.

"I will send men at once to escort Zhou Old General to Nan Jing."

"This old minister thanks Imperial Prince."

……

On the other side of Mi Lin, Cheng Xin slipped quietly through the trees and underbrush, walked up to Cheng Chengxuan, and reported in a low voice.

"Young General, Eldest Miss, it really is the Eldest Prince's party."

"Since it is the Eldest Prince, there is no need to worry about Zhou Old General's safety."

As she spoke, Cheng Qiuyun packed up her belongings.

"We should hurry on our way as well."

She did not know how things were going with Grandmother either; only by returning to Grandmother's side quickly could she feel at ease.

And so, just as the sky was growing light, the four of them once again set out on the road toward Beihuang City.

……

Speaking of Beihuang City, there is one matter that must be mentioned.

That is, the area in Beihuang City where the villains gathered was taken over overnight by Chen Shou Jiang and his troops.

Everyone inside was seized and locked up, starved for two days, then sent to the logging camp, where every day they were put to the dirtiest and most exhausting work.

Although those exiled to Beihuang City already had to labor every day, ordinary people only needed to work four hours a day.

Their lot was different — apart from three hours of sleep, even eating and using the latrine had to be timed to the minute; if they delayed, it was a whipping.

Not convinced?

Starve you for two days and you'll fall in line!

In Chen Shou Jiang's words, anyone who dares to cause trouble is simply idle!

Since you're so idle, you might as well not rest at all!

Some were also curious — these people had been committing evil in the city for far more than a day or two, so why had Chen Shou Jiang suddenly thought to deal with them?

Those in the know said Chen Shou Jiang flew into a rage because the Chen Family's young prince had slipped out of the residence to play and nearly fell victim to those vicious ruffians.

Chen Shou Jiang had only this one precious son — one could well imagine how furious he was.

But no matter how one put it, for everyone else in Beihuang City, this was a good thing.

And the Chen Family being discussed by everyone was at this very moment in a courtyard at the foot of a Mountain outside the city.

"Yu'an!"

"I've come to play with you!"

Chen Delin and his son went to find Cheng Old Madam to discuss important matters, and the moment Yi Jiang was left alone, he instantly let himself loose, bouncing around the yard in high spirits.

Yu'an had been in his room playing with a puzzle, and upon hearing his voice, he immediately jumped down from the stool, the few pieces still clutched in his hand not even having been set down yet.

"I'm over here!"

Yi Jiang ran over to him and curiously circled around him once.

"Huh? Yu'an, why are you wearing boy's clothes?"

Hearing his words, Yu'an puffed out his cheeks unhappily.

"I…"

I was originally a boy!

Fortunately, although the little one was unhappy, he still remembered the Ancestors' instructions and corrected himself in time.

"My great-grandmother said it's more convenient to dress like this."

Yi Jiang nodded his head with an understanding expression.

"So that's how it is."

The next moment, he pointed at the colorful little pieces in Yu'an's hand, his eyes lighting up.

"What is this?"

Yu'an opened his palm, revealing a few wooden puzzle pieces, and invited him.

"It's a puzzle, do you want to put it together with me?"

"Yes, yes!"

"Come on, there's an even prettier one!"

Entering the room and seeing the picture laid out on the table, Yi Jiang was utterly stunned.

A raging sea, a silver-white giant dragon soaring through the waves, and in mid-air, a boy in red clothes gripping a long spear, looking majestic and imposing…

"This… this painting is way too beautiful!"

"Of course, Nezha is the most amazing!"

Yi Jiang blinked in confusion.

"Nezha?"

Yu'an nodded his little head.

"Mm!"

"Nezha is a little hero!"

"It's just…"

Beyond the screen, watching a certain little one draped in a scarf, pretending it was the Red Armillary Sash, humming and hawing in the room as he swung a wooden stick around, An Luo laughed and shook her head.

Looks like Nezha is about to gain another little fan.

……

In another room in the yard, the Chen Family father and son sat across from Cheng Old Madam.

"Thank you for the watermelon you sent over, that brat Yi Jiang was over the moon, he ate nearly half of one in one go and couldn't eat any rice after."

Meanwhile, Chen Ying asked.

"May I ask where you found the watermelon, Old Madam?"

Cheng Old Madam smiled faintly.

"When Qing Man went up the Mountain to gather herbs, she happened to come across a small patch of melon field and brought them all back."

So even if you went to look, you wouldn't find it.

After a pause, Cheng Old Madam began to discuss the main matter.

"That sweater and scarf, did you take a look at them?"

Speaking of this, the expressions of the Chen Family father and son grew solemn.

"May I ask, Old Madam, that… sweater, was it truly woven from Sheep's wool?"

This is simply too incredible!

Old Madam nodded.

"Naturally."

The Chen Family father and son exchanged a glance.

"Then what does Old Madam mean?"

Cheng Old Madam revealed a meaningful smile.

"Winter is about to arrive, this is a one-of-a-kind business."

Just like that, the two families discussed together for a long time.

An hour later, the Chen Family father and son rose and cupped their hands.

"If that's the case, regarding the matter of buying Sheep, we'll have to trouble Old Madam to take more care of it."

Having said that, the father and son prepared to leave.

"Yi Jiang! Time to go home!"

"Yi Jiang!"

Chen Delin called out several times in the yard but heard no response from his grandson, and he laughed and scolded.

"This brat, once he has a friend he forgets his Grandfather and his own father!"

He beckoned and called over a guard.

"Go into the room and call for the little Young Master, tell him it's time to go home."

In a short while, that guard came running back in a fluster.

"Oh no, Old Master! The Young Master isn't in his room!"