Chapter 134: The Thief's Heart Dies Hard

Mo Junheng smiled: "Good, I understand your intentions."

Meng Nanyi revealed a smile she believed could topple cities and enchant nations: "Brother Heng, then you…"

"I still have matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave first. After you finish distributing the porridge, have the servants of the manor escort you back."

"Alright, Brother Heng, rest assured, I will certainly be careful."

Standing not far away, Gaofeng heard their conversation clearly.

This Miss Meng was truly rather interesting. His Highness had not said anything about telling her to be careful; she certainly knew how to claim credit for herself.

Meng Qinghe watched Mo Junheng's departing figure, a smile of certain victory in her eyes.

Just wait and see! Mo Junheng would surely be captivated by her.

She would, as in her previous life, climb step by step to the pinnacle of power.

What she had failed to accomplish in her previous life, this life, she would not miss again.

Atop the city wall, Mo Junyan took in the scene below the wall in its entirety.

"Prince, Miss Chi has already entered the city. Shall we head back?"

Mo Junyan's gaze fell upon those refugees, and he said in a low voice: "Do all these people come from the same place?"

"Yes, Prince."

"Investigate them thoroughly. Among these people, someone may well have slipped in to fish in troubled waters."

Hearing him say this, Yun Shui was startled in his heart and hurriedly said: "Yes, this subordinate will certainly investigate to the bottom of it."

A trace of amusement showed in Mo Junyan's eyes. That girl was indeed clever; she had only taken one look around and noticed what the city-guarding soldiers had failed to discover all this time.

"The city-guarding soldiers have limited ability. Select some skilled hands from the military camp and keep a close watch here. Do not let a single spy enter the city."

"Yes."

After Mo Junheng entered the city gate, he arrived at a teahouse. Inside a private room, a very ordinary-looking man sat there. Both his attire and his appearance were the kind that would be lost in a crowd and impossible to find. But if one watched his outstanding tea-brewing skill, one could guess his status was far from ordinary.

Before long, Mo Junheng entered the private room, and a clear, crisp tea fragrance wafted to his nose.

Seeing him walk in, the man did not rise, but simply handed the brewed tea to him: "Have a taste, Your Highness."

Mo Junheng frowned deeply: "You still have the mood to drink tea here."

"Why would I not have the mood?"

"Right now, not a single one of those refugees has managed to enter the city. How did we agree upon this? If those people cannot enter the city, how is the epidemic in the city supposed to spread?"

"Your Highness need not be anxious. There will always be opportunities, no?"

"Also, the marriage alliance you spoke of earlier — exactly how far has your Yuqin Guo's diplomatic mission gotten? At this critical juncture they still have not entered the city. Are they crawling here?"

Hearing him say this, the man's expression showed some displeasure, but he did not reveal anything, only quietly brewing tea.

"Speak! How much longer are you going to make me wait?"

"Crown Prince, you are already the heir apparent. Why must you still be so impatient?"

Mo Junheng thought of his unspeakable hidden affliction, and his heart grew even more irritable.

"Unless the Duke Who Guards the Nation is eliminated, my imperial father's and Prince Li's power cannot be weakened. The death of one Bai family member counts as severing one of my imperial father's hands. Only by eliminating the Duke Who Guards the Nation as well can I be completely at ease." Mo Junheng said coldly: "My second brother may have crippled legs, but he can still sire children. Given the degree to which that old thing, my imperial father, favors him, if he lives long, he might cultivate my second brother's child. What chance would I still have then?"

Hearing this, the man looked at him with some surprise: "Crown Prince, Prince Li can still have children, and so can you. Furthermore, I hear Prince Li's manor does not even have a single concubine, while your manor already has many side consorts, secondary consorts, and bedchamber maids. Whichever side consort gives birth to a prince first, you can establish her as the Crown Princess, and that child would be the rightful eldest legitimate son. Once the Crown Prince has an heir, how could the Emperor still go and cultivate Prince Li's child?" The man noticed that as he said this, the Crown Prince's expression grew increasingly ugly. Could it be that he had some hidden affliction?

Just then, Mo Junheng's gaze fell upon a woman wearing a veiled hat.

Following behind her, apart from the two guards from outside the city earlier, there were also a woman and a child.

Those were servants she had just taken on while outside the city.

The woman and child had already changed into a fresh set of clothes, and by the looks of it, had also washed and groomed themselves.

What exactly was this woman's background?

Not only could she make Meng Qinghe lose face, but even he himself had failed to out-argue her.

Meng Qinghe was a bit foolish, but not entirely brainless. Today she had been completely led by the nose by this woman.

Not to mention losing silver, she had gained nothing at all.

She had lost the lady and sacrificed the troops.

If her birth were a bit higher and her looks a bit more beautiful, she would be worthy of him.

He waved his hand and whispered a few words to Gaofeng. Gaofeng nodded, accepted the order, and departed.

Chi Nan Yi led her group to an inn. The waiter was about to lead them upstairs when Gaofeng stepped in front of Chi Nan Yi.

"This young lady."

Seeing Gaofeng, Chi Nan Yi knew he had been sent by Mo Junheng.

But she could not reveal her identity now, so she looked at Gaofeng with feigned puzzlement: "What business do you have?"

"Young lady, my master requests your presence."

Heh, the thief's heart dies hard.

"May I ask who your master is…"

"You will know once you go, young lady."

"Going is out of the question." Chi Nan Yi shook her head: "Who knows what kind of cat-headed dog ears your master has. Inviting me, a woman, to your master's place in broad daylight — what exactly are his intentions? Who will take responsibility for a ruined reputation?"

Hearing this, Gaofeng felt it was somewhat reasonable, but the task his master had assigned was one he must complete. Otherwise, given his master's recent mood, who knew what would be done to him.

"Young lady, our master is not a bad person."

"How novel. Have you ever seen a bad man call himself bad?" Yun Tian sneered: "Our young lady said she is not going, so she is not going."

Hearing this, Gaofeng's eyes turned slightly cold: "Our master said that today he must see the young lady, no matter what."

He must see her?

Chi Nan Yi could confirm that Mo Junheng probably did not know her identity. For him to send Gaofeng to find her now was nothing but his lust addling his brain.

"Our master is not someone just anyone can meet. This is the young lady's good fortune."

"Luck? If that's the case, then let your master keep this luck for themselves! I'm busy, no time to meet." Chi Nan Yi waved her hand and walked straight past Gao Feng.

Gao Feng's face turned dark as iron as he returned to the tea house, and he recounted everything that had happened today in detail.

The man making tea laughed and said, "Really didn't expect, this little girl still has some temper."

"Hmph, unappreciative." Mo Junheng said angrily, "That I could take a liking to her is her fortune."

Gao Feng didn't dare to repeat Chi Nan Yi's words, mainly because he was afraid of making Mo Junheng angry.