Chapter 63: I Saw Another Version of Myself

These words left Jin Shu bewildered. She was somewhat puzzled and glanced at Li Jin's back before blurting out, "Sect Leader, you wouldn't happen to have homosexual tendencies, would you?"

Li Jin paused, then turned around blankly.

Homosexuality?

Zhou Zheng's breath caught in his throat.

Li Jin's mouth opened and closed as she stared in shock at Jin Shu's innocent appearance, her eyes twitching incessantly.

His original intention was to have Jin Shu follow him, so that they could avoid the experts from the Six Doors and avoid exposing their identities.

How come it sounded so distorted in this woman's ears?

Li Jin raised her hand, lowered her eyes, rubbed the bridge of her nose, and said earnestly, "Mr. Jin, do you have no friends?"

Seeing Jin Shu standing there stunned, Li Jin sighed, shook his head, and left with his fan in hand.

Still half asleep, Jin Shu watched his retreating figure and then glanced up at Zhou Zheng's surprised expression.

"Lord Zhou?" she called out.

Suddenly pulled back to the present moment, Zhou Zheng frowned and cleared his throat: "It's nothing, it's nothing."

"You also think the sect leader is strange, right?" Jin Shu pouted and complained.

"Hmm." Zhou Zheng nodded. "This is the first time I've seen someone say that a prince got away scot-free after having a homosexual relationship with another man."

Jin Shu was taken aback: "There are even those cut into eight pieces?"

Zhou Zheng seemed to be deep in thought, his face solemn: "I suppose the grass on the grave is already two meters tall."

As he spoke, he gestured with his hand to indicate the height of the grass.

The Xia residence in Jia Hui Fang, the capital city.

Jin Shu recounted the whole story to Xia Kaicheng, while Li Jin, who sat beside him and occasionally added a few words, never revealed his identity as a prince.

He just watched as Jin Shu, who wasn't good at dealing with people, stammered out the case.

Having known Jin Shu for two months, Li Jin knew exactly what she was good at and what she wasn't.

And among these weaknesses, he is particularly bad at being watched and at interacting with strangers.

Looking at the Maojian tea in the cup and listening to her painstaking explanation, Li Jin felt a special sense of satisfaction for some reason.

A sense of revenge, like "Who told you to call me gay?"

As we left the Xia residence, the sun was already setting, and the capital city was bathed in the pale red glow of the setting sun beneath a vast expanse of fiery clouds.

The bustling West Market of the capital city is just a block away from here.

After bidding farewell to Xia Kaicheng, Jin Shu felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from her chest, and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Sir, you're not good at talking, you'll never win your wife's heart," Li Jin teased, walking happily towards the car.

Jin Shu rolled her eyes at him.

Saying that you can't win a wife's heart is utterly unconvincing coming from someone who doesn't have a wife.

Zhou Zheng's carriage stopped in front of the door. Before Li Jin could get in, he heard the clattering of hooves.

The clear, tinkling sound of bells caught Li Jin's attention.

He turned around and looked at the other end of the street corner, where an extravagantly luxurious carriage was slowly driving by.

He frowned and looked over with some curiosity.

But then the car gradually slowed down and slowly stopped next to Li Jin's car.

The car body was bright red, with hanging curtains embroidered with cloud patterns and silk tassels hanging all around, practically screaming "rich" on it.

He looked on in surprise, and then saw the person inside the carriage lift the curtain and look at him in surprise as well: "Your Highness Prince Jing?"

"Song Zhen?"

The young master of the Song family, dressed in a crimson robe, paused for a moment, peeked at the plaque of the Xia residence, and then glanced at Zhou Zheng and Jin Shu before lowering his eyes slightly: "Is Your Highness concerned about the extra mother that suddenly appeared in the Xia family?"

Li Jin frowned slightly but did not answer him.

How come this Song Zhen knows so much about the cases that the Six Doors are handling?

He paused for a moment, then asked, "Does Young Master Song have a prior agreement?"

At this moment, Song Zhen had already alighted from the carriage and bowed respectfully to Li Jin: "I have an appointment, Your Highness, would you mind giving me a ride?"

After saying that, he waved his hand, and the extravagant carriage slowly drove away from behind him and disappeared into the streets ahead.

This action suggests that he has something to say to Li Jin.

Looking at Song Zhen's face, who was about the same age as her, Li Jin had a feeling that she couldn't quite put her finger on.

It's like looking in a mirror and seeing your own reflection.

He glanced at the departing carriage and chuckled, "Young Master Song certainly has unique taste."

Watching the carriage disappear around the corner, Li Jin lifted the curtain and turned to get inside: "In that case, young master, please come in."

“We can go to the East Market,” Song Zhen said respectfully with a smile. “Going any further in would be too crowded and inconvenient for Your Highness.”

Li Jin chuckled lightly. With so many people around, it's clear why.

It seems Song Zhen is going to meet someone special and discuss something special. Moreover, that person has some connection or entanglement with Li Jin.

"I underestimated the Song family; they actually have connections with various officials in the Great Wei."

Inside the carriage, Song Zhen sat elegantly by the curtain, smiling broadly: "I have quite a few businesses, and I'm involved in about half of the industries in the capital. Many of them are tribute items, so I'm quite familiar with some officials."

"Where is the Crown Prince?" Li Jin asked, waving his fan, his eyes crinkling into crescent moons with laughter.

“Yes, I am familiar with it.” Song Zhen nodded and answered truthfully.

Looking at his refined scholarly appearance, Li Jin felt a strange sense of unease that she couldn't quite put her finger on.

He was just like himself.

That unreal feeling, like wearing a mask, seemingly close yet distant, keeping people at arm's length—that's the fakeness of the fake.

Song Zhen lowered her eyes slightly and saw what Li Jin was thinking.

He pondered for a moment, then cupped his hands and solemnly said, "My family has been in business for generations, and I have met quite a few members of the royal family."

For someone like Li Jin who doesn't easily give his trust, talking about interests directly is the best approach.

Song Zhen chuckled: "But I have limited resources, so I must be cautious with my bets."

The sound of horses' hooves was crisp and clear, and the cart wheels rolled slowly forward.

Li Jin closed his fan, crossed his arms, and said cryptically, "Young Master Song, you have met me twice, and each time you have avoided the important issues and not uttered a single truthful word."

After saying that, he glanced at Song Zhen, smiled faintly, and said nothing more.

To everyone's surprise, Song Zhen, instead of being hasty, burst into laughter. He looked at Li Jin with great approval: "I have high hopes for His Highness Prince Jing. If necessary, I will lend His Highness a helping hand."

If necessary, that is to say, not necessary at the moment.

Li Jin was not polite at all, raising her eyebrows to look at him: "Is the preferential treatment His Highness the Crown Prince not enough? Or does Young Master Song want to swallow up half of the assets in the capital?"

"I have both." Song Zhen didn't shy away from the question, looking at him with a glint in her eyes.

Unlike her feigned attitude just now, Song Zhen's appreciation and expectations were genuine at this moment.

So much so that when Li Jin tested him to see if he was a member of the Crown Prince's faction, he didn't hesitate at all and admitted it directly.

Seeing his sincere expression, Li Jin was stunned for a moment, not knowing how to say the next thing.