Shang Changze: ...

What can Shang Changze think? Shang Changze just sits and watches.

Extricating himself from the exasperation of his sister's perfunctory explanation, he took a sip of tea and pondered for a moment.

In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a conclusion was reached regarding the matter of Changsun Yanheng.

"Sister handled this matter very well. If you want our help, you have to show sincerity first. There's no such thing as getting something for nothing here."

...

And that was it.

Shang Changge: "?"

Looking at the handsome younger brother, who seemed to have already expressed his opinion, Shang Changge was speechless.

She turned her head to look at Xiao Ji, intending to tease and coax her, and began her interview by making a gesture of holding a microphone.

Shang Changge: "What is General Xiao's opinion on this matter?"

Xiao Ji didn't understand what Shang Changge was doing, but that didn't stop him from taking the opportunity to pull Shang Changge's hand and interlock their fingers, calmly replying:

"My opinion is the same as the Crown Prince's."

Shang Changge liked Xiao Ji's style of behavior—he wouldn't act unreasonably or become jealous. She tapped the man's fingers back.

His other hand, which had been idle, made a microphone gesture again and moved closer to Xiao Ji, beginning an interview about his personal relationships.

Shang Changge: "Is General Xiao still jealous?"

Xiao Ji cooperated readily and honestly: "I want to kill him."

Shang Changze, standing nearby, echoed, "I have the same thought."

Shang Changge neither agreed nor disagreed, her fingers playfully tapping and hooking together with Xiao Ji's, as if to remind him:

"His medical skills are superb and his poison skills are excellent; he can be quite useful when needed."

Seeing that the little rascal wouldn't behave, Xiao Ji simply let go of his hand, no longer holding it tightly, and opened his broad palm.

He let Shang Changge's fingers play with his palm, indulging and spoiling her while not forgetting to chime in:

"Then let's keep it for now."

Shang Changze observed their interaction and grew increasingly optimistic about Xiao Ji, his brother-in-law, with whom he was cooperating for mutual benefit.

No longer paying attention to the two of them, he picked up the crimson token that Shang Changge had given him and once again echoed in a gentle voice:

"Listen to your elder sister, spare his life for now."

As for the matter of Changsun Yanheng,

Before Changsun Yanheng shows sufficient sincerity, he will first order a thorough investigation into the background of all pawnshops in Qingyan named 'Changsheng'.

The capital remained shrouded in dark clouds, and the rain that had begun at dawn showed no signs of stopping.

Looking at the overcast sky before him, Shang Changze unconsciously rubbed the token in his wide sleeves embroidered with four-clawed dragon patterns, his expression slightly cold.

At the same time, at the envoy's post station.

In the quiet, deserted backyard, Princess Nanliang and Wei Lianyi appeared together under the corridor.

Wei Lianyi opened the plum blossom oil-paper umbrella she was holding, and it seemed that the two of them were going somewhere together.

However,

The two had just taken a step, before their feet even left the corridor and stepped down the stairs, when Changsun Yanheng's voice rang out from behind them.

Changsun Yanheng: "Where is Your Majesty going?"

The seemingly casual remark startled the two of them, causing them to stop and turn around simultaneously.

Wei Lianyi lowered her head and remained silent, while the Southern Liang princess stammered and said in a flustered manner:

"Yan Heng..."

Changsun Yanheng: "The roads are slippery from the rain. If Your Highness wants to go out for a stroll, you can wait until the rain stops. If you want to keep your appointment..."

Princess Nanliang looked up abruptly, and Changsun Yanheng spoke calmly and directly without dodging or flinching.

"In my opinion, a man who is engaged and spends his days with his confidante is not worth the Empress's visit in the rain."

The Third Prince of Qingyan is a womanizer and not a worthy man for a woman to entrust her life to.

Although no one was around, the younger brother's words were so blunt that Princess Nanliang felt extremely embarrassed.

But knowing that her younger brother said these things for her own good, she explained:

"No, Yan Heng, my elder sister has no feelings for him. She decided to go to the appointment simply to clarify things in person..."

Changsun Yanheng interrupted, seemingly offering a sincere suggestion: "If Your Majesty is unwilling, I believe it would be best if Your Majesty did not go."

The best answer is not to go. If you go and people see you, it will easily give them something to talk about and make things complicated.

Princess Nanliang was taken aback, then realized it was true. After a long pause, she slowly said:

"You're right, it's my fault, my sister. Then, my sister won't go..."

Changsun Yanheng's gaze shifted to Wei Lianyi, who remained with her head bowed like a quail, and he spoke:

"In that case, Miss Wei, please accompany the Imperial Sister back to her room. The weather is cool, rainy, and damp; we will be setting off for our country in three days."

If you catch a cold, you'll likely suffer a lot on the way home.

Wei Lianyi still didn't dare to raise her head, and hurriedly bowed in response:

"promise."

Wei Lianyi feared Changsun Yanheng, for no other reason than this.

It was only because Changsun Yanheng discovered that Wei Lianyi had secretly met with Xiao Ji on the night of the welcoming banquet that...

Moreover, in order to get Wei Chu back, Southern Liang not only had to give up a city but also pay countless gold and silver treasures.

Although Wei Chu's infiltration of Qingyan Prince was authorized by the Emperor, the mission failed because Wei Chu's whereabouts were exposed.

They stayed in Qingyan Prison for quite some time. Regardless of whether the Emperor blames them or not, the Wei family will never be the same Wei family again.

"Tick-tock, tick-tock..."

Rain dripped down the eaves of the corridor as Princess Nanliang, accompanied by Wei Lianyi, returned to her room.

From the moment he appeared until now, Changsun Yanheng maintained his usual indifferent and detached demeanor, standing there alone.

The fact that he came out to stop her and said these things seemed to stem from the younger brother's concern for his older sister, and he had no other intentions.

A brief stop,

Changsun Yanheng left in the opposite direction and eventually entered a room.

Three ministers were already seated in the room. When they saw Changsun Yanheng, they stood up and bowed.

After the formalities, we took our seats.

One of the three, a minister with a full beard, asked the question, his tone still respectful:

"I wonder what the Second Prince's purpose is in summoning us here?"

Changsun Yanheng: "What the Emperor told us in private, how do you plan to tell our father when you return?"

The three men looked at each other, and it was the bearded man who spoke first: "Of course, we will report the truth."

Changsun Yanheng: "Regarding the matter of Wei Chu, the Emperor certainly doesn't believe all of our claims."

In order to temporarily stabilize relations between the two countries, Father Emperor will surely agree to lend the Great Emperor a hand.

"Alliance with the Emperor is certainly advantageous, but have you all heard this saying?"

The three men exchanged glances again, and it was the bearded man who spoke first:

"Please enlighten me, Second Prince."

The rain continued incessantly, the sound of rain, neither loud nor soft, pattering from the eaves overhead.

Under the watchful eyes of the three ministers, Changsun Yanheng calmly and slowly said:

"Sitting on the mountain watching the tigers fight."

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and soon it was time for the Southern Liang envoys to set off for home.

The sky is clear, and the sun shines brightly.

The reception was handled by Shang Rui and the people from the Ministry of Rites, and the farewell was also naturally handled by Shang Rui and the people from the Ministry of Rites.

Changsun Yanheng: "Many thanks to the Third Prince and everyone else for this trip..."

Shang Rui: "Where..."

After exchanging pleasantries, the Southern Liang envoys' entourage prepared to depart.

Before getting into the carriage, Changsun Yanheng felt a gaze upon him.

Look up,

He happened to meet Shang Changge's gaze in a private room of the restaurant. Seeing the woman exchange a meaningful smile and raise her glass with him, she turned and disappeared.

Changsun Yanheng lowered his eyes, silently withdrew his gaze, stepped onto the footstool, and bent down to enter the carriage.