Cui Zichen was only twenty-three years old, yet he was able to rise from humble beginnings to become the Deputy Salt and Iron Commissioner, which speaks volumes about his abilities.

Shen Youying had heard of this person from Xie Qinglan before. She heard that Vice Prime Minister Xie originally admired him very much, but Cui Zichen's methods were too radical and he valued fame, fortune and power. Later, he drifted further and further away from Vice Prime Minister Xie and instead joined the tutelage of Prime Minister Wang Yuanguang.

Vice Minister Xie sighed and grieved for a while. Xie Qinglan was young at the time and also disliked his father's former student very much.

What is Cui Zichen doing here at this time?

Shen Youying lifted the carriage curtain and got out with some worry. Only then did Cui Zichen seem to notice the person in the carriage, and he hastily cupped his hands and said, "Greetings, Princess Qin."

Shen Youying looked at Xie Qinglan, who was puffing up with anger. She knew that Xie Qinglan had disliked Cui Zichen in the past and must be unhappy to be mocked by him now. So she took Xie Qinglan's hand and said, "I will go in with you and pay my respects to Vice Minister Xie and his wife."

Xie Qinglan nodded, glared at Cui Zichen with annoyance, muttered "Mind your own business," and then pulled Shen Youying inside.

Upon seeing this, Cui Zichen spun around and dismounted, blocking her path. His tall figure almost completely enveloped Xie Qinglan: "I came to see you out of kindness, how come you still can't tell right from wrong, just like when we were kids?"

Xie Qinglan's eyes widened: "I don't even know you, who wants you to look?!"

She pulled Shen Youying around Cui Zichen, then took the opportunity to stomp hard on his foot before storming into the house.

Cui Zichen looked at the small shoe print on the boot and scoffed, saying in a barely audible voice, "After all these years, he still has the same personality. No wonder he got fooled."

He paused for a moment, recalling Xie Qinglan's imposing manner like a little tiger, and his previous worries dissipated somewhat. He then spun around and mounted his horse.

He glanced back at the Xie family's tightly closed gate, chuckled and muttered "heartless," before riding away.