Chapter 67 General Qi Returns to the Court

"Let's go to the Yongning Marquis' Mansion." He was about to set off but suddenly pulled the reins, his eyes dark and gloomy.

"Sir."

"Let's go to the Fourth Prince's Mansion first." Shen Changhe turned his horse's head and headed towards the Fourth Prince's Mansion. Several fast horses were running at high speed on the deserted streets.

"Master Shen." The servant at the gate of the prince's mansion saw Shen Changhe's face full of surprise.

"It's already this hour, why are you here?"

"Where is the Fourth Prince?" Shen Changhe did not answer and strode up the stairs. When the servant saw Shen Changhe's posture, his brows furrowed tightly.

"My prince is in the study. I will lead you there right away."

Shen Changhe nodded and asked casually, "Whose carriage is that at the door?"

"Oh, it's Prince Ling, drinking tea with the Fourth Prince in the study."

Shen Changhe narrowed his eyes slightly when he heard the words, and pursed his lips lightly, with a hint of coldness floating on his face.

In the study, Ling Chenyi was leaning calmly in an armchair, with the tea on the small table beside him emitting steam.

"Aren't you going to meet him?"

Xiao Yuan was writing official documents at his desk and did not even raise his head when he heard the words.

Ling Chenyi raised his eyebrows and leaned forward, "Xiao Yuan, aren't you curious about what's so special about that scholar that he deserves the love of Miss Shen?"

Xiao Yuan finally raised his eyes, but his tone was very cold, "She has always been stubborn and blind, it's not surprising that she fell in love with the butcher."

“…”

After all, she is my sweetheart. How could you be so mean to her?

"Well, I also think that the girl's vision is a bit problematic. There are many talented but powerless children from aristocratic families. Why did she choose him?"

If his family background was clean and his character was good, that would be fine, but Zhang Yeyang...

It’s just that I have not experienced the cruelty of reality and have never had the opportunity.

Xiao Yuan sneered.

It is not easy to be a good person from beginning to end, especially it is even harder to be a good person who can keep his original intention in the prosperity and power. The kindness of the scholar is just superficial, as he has never been exposed to prosperity.

"Master." There was a knock on the study door, "Master Shen is here, saying he has something important to tell you."

Xiao Yuan put down the wolf hair brush and glanced at Ling Chenyi who was sitting in the armchair.

"You found me so quickly. You're worthy of being the commander of the Imperial Guards. Your work over the past few years has not been in vain." Ling Chenyi smiled, but his eyes were slightly heavy.

In the dead of night, Shen Changhe was running around for the scholar, which shows how much the Shen family values ​​him.

He was not worried about his crime being exposed, but...

Ling Chenyi cast a worried look at Xiao Yuan. He finally felt aroused, but it seemed that there would be many obstacles in his way to marry Miss Shen.

Xiao Yuan pursed his lips into a straight line, grim and cold, "Let him in."

The door of the study was pushed open, and Shen Changhe was led into the study by Qing'an.

"The fourth prince, Prince Ling."

Ling Chenyi stood up and returned the greeting, "Mr. Shen."

After the ceremony, he smiled again, easing the atmosphere in the room. "Why are you here in the middle of the night? Did something happen in the palace, or did you get some news?"

Shen Changhe said nothing. He glanced at Ling Chenyi with meaningful eyes, then looked at Xiao Yuan.

Ling Chenyi is the Fourth Prince's man, and everything he does, to a certain extent, is instructed by the Fourth Prince.

Xiao Yuan's eyebrows were cold and he told Qing'an to serve tea to Shen Changhe in a low voice, and then asked him to leave.

Ling Chenyi glanced at Shen Changhe who was standing still, his eyelids twitched, "Brother Changhe, sit down, tell me what you want to say slowly."

Shen Changhe pursed his lips and then sat down opposite Xiao Yuan. The endless oppression made his heart cold, and that guess was confirmed.

Xiao Yuan did not speak, but looked at Shen Changhe indifferently. After a long silence in the study, Shen Changhe spoke in a low voice.

"I have asked my sister several times about her feelings towards Master Zhang..."

Xiao Yuan's five fingers suddenly tightened, and his heart seemed to be gripped by something. When Shen Changhe said that Shen Anan liked the scholar and couldn't do without him, the storm in his eyes seemed to be unable to be suppressed.

"Fourth Prince, the only thing in this world that cannot be forced or compromised is love between men and women."

Shen Changhe looked at Xiao Yuan bluntly, and the air gradually became stagnant and terrifying.

Ling Chenyi's heart was in his throat. Seeing Xiao Yuan's eyes slightly red and on the verge of getting angry, he quickly opened his mouth to calm down.

"Brother Chang He, Miss Shen is still young. It is normal for her to be corrupted by the stories about scholars and young ladies while reading some storybooks. If her family can guide her a little, there will surely be a way. Which girl has not been impulsive when she was young? We can't just let her do whatever she wants."

Shen Changhe frowned slightly. He also thought for a while that his sister was just being curious and acting on impulse, but he had tried to persuade her several times, but to no avail.

"Prince Ling, whether it's because of love or just a momentary impulse, only An An knows. You and I are just guessing. You should have had some contact with her, so you should know what kind of personality my sister has."

…

Of course he knew that the girl had a very stubborn temper. If she made up her mind and Xiao Yuan, the stubborn donkey, wanted to pull her back, there would inevitably be a tug-of-war between the two.

He looked at Xiao Yuan. Whether to let the person go or not depended on his words.

Xiao Yuan raised his thin lips coldly, "You came here in the middle of the night just to tell me how much she loves that scholar?"

He rested half of his arm on the desk, his eyes full of danger, as if as long as Shen Changhe said yes, he would attack him without hesitation.

"I just don't want An An to be sad, and I don't want you to get entangled in unnecessary matters and hurt others and yourself."

Xiao Yuan seemed to have heard something funny when he heard this, his eyes were full of sneer, "If I don't get entangled, how do you know it's pointless?"

If you don't get entangled, you will hurt yourself.

Shen Changhe stood up from the chair. Ling Chenyi's face turned slightly pale and he quickly stepped forward to hug his shoulders.

Are you kidding? Shen Changhe has been following Xiao Yuan for a year or two, so he should know. The only thing he can stand here safely and confront Xiao Yuan tonight is his identity as Shen Anan's brother.

"Don't worry, the Fourth Prince is not a man without sense of propriety. Just go back and wait." Ling Chenyi reminded him meaningfully.

But Shen Changhe did not move.

Since Xiao Yuan took action, he must have a purpose. Even if Zhang Yeyang is fine, when he comes out safely, I'm afraid that his marriage with An An will change.

"I promised An An that I would take him back."

Xiao Yuan's eyes gradually grew colder until they were completely devoid of any warmth.

Ling Chenyi's heart began to tremble, and he quickly stepped back a few steps while hugging Shen Changhe, and whispered, "Li Huaiyan was detained by Duke Li and the Zhang family."

Shen Changhe was startled, and his reaction was somewhat slow to change the subject as Ling Chenyi changed it, so he just listened to what Ling Chenyi continued to say.

"This matter is closely related to the Second Prince. In order to get Huai Yan back, I can only take the person the Second Prince cares about the most. The scholar shouldn't see him. He can't see anyone in the short term, so as to avoid any changes in the plan."

Shen Changhe tilted his head and looked at Ling Chenyi, with a hint of suspicion in his eyes.

Ling Chenyi patted his chest, "But don't worry, the person is with me, he will never be lost. After rescuing Huaiyan, I will personally hand him over to you. Brother Changhe, you and Huaiyan have some friendship. His life and the freedom of the scholar for a few days, which is more important, you should have considered it in your mind, right?"

Shen Changhe frowned, then looked up at the calm Xiao Yuan, and pursed his thin lips into a straight line.

Although Ling Chenyi was devoted to the Fourth Prince, he never spoke without thinking. Moreover, Shen Changhe did not doubt what he said when he ran into the Second Prince in the government office.

"How is Brother Huaiyan now?"

"I don't know." Ling Chenyi was a little melancholy when he mentioned this. "I sent many people to inquire, but there is no news. His stepmother is a cruel and ruthless person. This matter must be resolved as soon as possible."

Shen Changhe nodded, and after hesitating for a moment, he instructed, "You...don't let him get hurt, I won't be able to explain to my sister at home."

"Don't worry about this. Just tell Miss Shen when you go back. I will definitely return the person to her within ten days."

Ling Chenyi looked towards Xiao Yuan, praying silently in his heart that he would remain calm and composed, and that they would see the outcome in ten days.

Shen Changhe was thinking about the auspicious day his mother had asked for An An, which seemed to be within ten days. If he hurried, he should not be late.

Before this, the Fourth Prince was not aware of the auspicious date set by his family, so it was impossible that he was trying to delay the date of the engagement.

"Okay, Brother Huaiyan, if there's anything I can help with, just let me know."

"Of course." Ling Chenyi patted Shen Changhe on the shoulder, said hello to Xiao Yuan, and sent him out.

When he came back, he saw broken teacups all over the floor in front of the desk.

Ling Chenyi called Qing'an in to clean up before sitting down opposite him.

He knew that what bothered him was not Shen Changhe's behavior tonight, but his description of Shen Anan's insistence on Zhang Yeyang.

"If we had known this would happen, we should have used threats and bribes to get him to marry into the Yongning Marquisate on the Mid-Autumn Festival that night." He said half-jokingly.

Xiao Yuan pursed his lips tightly, and his eyes gradually became gloomy.

He didn't say anything, but the atmosphere in the room dropped to freezing point.

What came to his mind was her different attitude towards him and Zhang Yeyang.

Does she really like him that much?

Ling Chenyi's chest felt stuffy from the pressure he felt, and he spoke boldly, "Xiao Yuan, have you ever thought of tying the Fourth Prince's Mansion and the Shen Mansion together?"

The Shen family has no choice but to rely on Xiao Yuan, and the daughter of the Shen family can only marry into the Fourth Prince's mansion.

Xiao Yuan's eyelashes drooped slightly, and he didn't say anything for a long while.

He had certainly thought about it, but as long as interests were involved, some things would not be so pure, and before he was absolutely sure, he did not want to drag the Shen family into it.

Moreover, given the woman's proud nature, how could she accept marrying him like a tool and serving as a link between the two families?

He didn't say it, but as a good friend who grew up together, how could Ling Chenyi not guess what he was thinking? He felt heavy in his heart and couldn't help but sigh heavily.

In a relationship, the one who is most involved is destined to be at a disadvantage.

From then on, that girl became Xiao Yuan's fatal weakness.

He sighed and stood up from his chair. "The Second Prince must have made some moves. I'll go back first. You...don't dwell on this. If it doesn't work, just take it away."

"Yeah." Xiao Yuan responded indifferently, his dark eyes were blocked by his long eyelashes, and his expression at the moment could not be seen.

When Shen Changhe returned to the Shen Mansion, the candles in the Begonia Garden had not yet been extinguished. He hesitated for a moment, but turned around and went to the Begonia Garden first.

Shen Anan was lying on the couch, her mind was slowly becoming cloudy and she felt a little sleepy, then she heard Mo Xiang walk in quietly, "Girl."

Shen Anan opened his eyes, "What's wrong?"

"The young master is back and is in the yard."

Hearing this, Shen Anan immediately sat up and said, “Give me the cloak.”

Mo Xiang immediately took the cloak and put it on her and went to the outer room, "It's cold outside, please invite big brother in."

The first thing Shen Changhe did when he entered the room was to take a look at her expression. It was almost midnight, but seeing the fatigue on her face and the faint blue under her eyes, she did not look like she was asleep.

She must have been waiting for news from him. Thinking of this, Shen Changhe felt a little heavy in his heart. An An really cared so much about the scholar, but the Fourth Prince kept pestering her. How should this end?

Shen Anan first asked Mo Xiang to pour a cup of tea for Shen Changhe to warm up his body, and then asked, "Brother, is there any news?"

Shen Changhe hesitated for a moment, fearing that she would worry too much, so he didn't tell her the details of the matter and only picked out some of them.

"He's fine. Things are complicated in the court recently. He got off work late today and saw something he shouldn't have seen. He was detained temporarily and will be released in a few days."

Shen Anan was startled and wanted to ask him what he saw and who detained him, but seeing the gloomy expression on his eldest brother's face, he stopped talking.

Since she shouldn't have seen it, it means that it involves the secrets of the court and she shouldn't know about it.

"Is he all right?"

Shen Changhe nodded slightly, "Don't worry, he will be released in about ten days."

"That's good." Shen Anan finally let go of the worry in her heart. As long as the person is okay, it's fine.

Shen Anan didn't ask any more, and Shen Changhe naturally wouldn't say anything. He told her to have a good rest and left.

"Miss, Master Zhang lives in that alley, how could he see something he shouldn't have seen?"

It's quite a distance away from the dignitaries.

"I don't know." Shen Anan shook her head and told her, "This matter cannot be made public. Since the eldest brother said it's okay, it must be okay."

"Yes." At the end of the Chou hour, Mo Xiang finally helped Shen Anan to sleep.

The next morning, when Shen Changhe paid his respects, he said the same thing to Mrs. Shen.

Mrs. Shen wanted to ask more questions, but Shen Changhe was in a hurry to go to court, so she had to let him go for the time being.

"As long as they are not involved in things they shouldn't be involved in, the Shen family will be able to protect them."

Mrs. Shen sighed, and when she learned that the person was fine, she began to prepare for the important event of marrying her daughter-in-law before the end of the year.

At the palace gate, a long and melodious bell rang, and civil and military officials entered the Fengtian Hall one after another.

According to past procedures, after each department had reported, the eunuch in charge would shout, "If you have a report, you can proceed; if you don't, you can leave the court."

Suddenly, someone among the military officers stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, the border is peaceful now, and there is no war. General Qi has been guarding the border for many years. Isn't it time to transfer him back?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the hall became unusually quiet.

General Qi, Qi Jinping, the younger brother of the late Concubine Shu and the uncle of the Fourth Prince!

Once he returns to Beijing, what it means is self-evident.

The second prince Xiao Ze's eyes darkened, and he gave a look to a middle-aged man behind him on the right without leaving any trace.

The man immediately came out and said, "Your Majesty, I think this is inappropriate."