Guard Liu told Hong Xiaoduo that her mistress was in the study, so she went straight there.

Quan Jinghuai only glanced at her departing figure before calling his disciples to begin their training.

However, today's activity wasn't sword practice or horse stance, but rather a grappling and fighting manual that Hong Xiaoduo had given him half a year ago. At first, he didn't take it seriously.

The movements looked very simple, and it was unclear where she had learned them; there wasn't even a note on which sect they came from.

But the more I watched, the more I realized how wonderful this fighting technique was.

The movements may seem simple, but they are highly practical in close combat.

He was immediately drawn to it. After teaching his disciples the moves of his own school every day, he devoted himself to studying this fighting art on his own. Sometimes he would call on his eldest disciple, Tian Shu, to spar with him.

He has now fully grasped every move and style of this fighting technique. He originally planned to practice more himself before teaching his disciples, but now he has to change his mind.

If this is delayed any longer, I'm afraid very few disciples will be able to learn this grappling and fighting technique.

So far, two disciples have already missed their chance to learn from him. If he doesn't hurry up and teach them, Tianquan probably won't learn many moves.

He no longer cared about being saddened by the fact that his second disciple could not practice martial arts by his side. Even if they never met again, as long as the other party did not do anything despicable, he was still Quan Jinghuai's disciple.

At this moment, Hong Xiaoduo looked at the contents of the note in her hand. There were not many words, just a few lines, but they made her feel relieved.

The matter of the moldy relief grain sent from Jiaozhou to the disaster area has finally been investigated.

It really wasn't the disaster relief grain from Jiaozhou; just as she had suspected, it had been switched. And she wasn't wrong about where it was switched—it was in the grain warehouses that had been received by the disaster area.

The person who switched the items, from the mastermind to the participants, has been identified.

"Xiao Duo, the subordinates who went to investigate were worried that we would be waiting too long, so they sent a message back by carrier pigeon. The detailed record is already on its way back. I estimate that it will arrive by noon the day after tomorrow at the latest."

"Now you can breathe a sigh of relief. As for Lord Ye and Prince Mu, perhaps we should wait until my men arrive before speaking to them?" Lan Zechen said after waiting for Hong Xiaoduo to finish looking around.

He investigated this matter at Duobao Pavilion out of consideration for Xiaoduo, not to gain favor with Prince Ye or to make Prefect Ye owe him a favor.

He, Duobaoge, doesn't even look at the people others try to curry favor with.

It's always others who fawn over Duobaoge, never him. Cough cough, of course, his recent actions are also to please someone, but the meaning is different.

He admired this girl, and, well, he also wanted to get some rare and good stuff, especially delicious food.

"Pavilion Master Lan, then I'll thank you on behalf of Tianxuan. I'll look for a suitable gift later. It's not on behalf of Lord Ye, but a token of my gratitude from Hong Xiaoduo and Tianxuan."

"Once this matter is settled, we should also bid farewell to the Pavilion Master. Please have your men inquire which restaurant in this area has good food. I'll treat you to dinner; we'll eat out." Hong Xiaoduo put away the note and said to Lan Zechen.

Since we're expressing our gratitude, we can't eat the awful food Tianji makes. That's not gratitude, that's revenge!

Tianji's failed practice project should be handled by our own people!

Just as Lan Zechen was about to say that there was no need to be so polite and that he could treat everyone himself, Jin Gui reported from outside that Prince Mu had arrived.

"No, isn't he investigating the case of disaster relief grain? Why is he so free? Or did he turn his attention to me?" Lan Zechen frowned.

He wasn't home when Prince Mu brought people to his residence looking for Hong Xiaoduo, but he had seen the prince outside.

“If Pavilion Master Lan doesn’t want to see them, there’s no need for her to show up. I’ll go see what’s going on,” Hong Xiaoduo said with a smile as she stood up.

Lan Zechen stood up: "It's no big deal to meet him. After all, I am the owner of this mansion. How can I not see a guest? If I don't show myself, he might think I'm afraid of him. Come on, let's go together."

Hong Xiaoduo didn't say anything when she heard him say that. The two of them walked to the front hall together and saw Mu Rongjing standing aside, watching Fan Wu and his two subordinates practice the grappling and fighting techniques with Quan Jinghuai along with Tian Shu and the others.

Upon seeing Hong Xiaoduo approach, Murong Jing walked over.

Mu Rongjing looked at the person standing next to Hong Xiaoduo and guessed that this was the owner of the mansion that Hong Xiaoduo had told him about before, and also the one who had come here with them.

Because he was afraid of displeasing her, Mu Rongjing did not order his men to investigate this person after learning about him.

Another reason is that he trusts Hong Xiaoduo's judgment of people. She will only deal with those who have ulterior motives and evil intentions, but will not tolerate those who are colleagues, let alone those who live in their mansions.

Anyone who catches her eye must be of good character.

Therefore, before Hong Xiaoduo could introduce him, he first clasped his hands in greeting and introduced himself.

Lan Zechen was quite surprised. Although he had never met this Prince Mu, he knew a thing or two about him. Moreover, if he wanted to know more details, it would be the simplest thing for him.

I never expected that the current emperor's right-hand man would be so humble.

Therefore, Lan Zechen smiled and responded, "I am Lan Zechen, the owner of Duobao Pavilion. Your presence at my humble abode, Young Master Mu, is an honor to grace my humble dwelling. Young Master Mu, please come inside."

"So you're the owner of Duobao Pavilion, my apologies for not recognizing you." Mu Rongjing responded politely while glancing at Hong Xiaoduo, thinking, "Such a special person, you're quite tight-lipped."

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!