Chapter 76 Childhood sweethearts?

"Stir up trouble?" Xiao Mingzheng repeated, then looked at Zhong Min and said pointedly, "For a scheming person like Ning Zhiyuan, sometimes the only way to find the right breakthrough point is to stir up trouble."

After hearing Xiao Mingzheng's words, Zhong Min suddenly realized that Ning Zhiyuan was indeed not to be underestimated. Rather than alerting the enemy, it was more like testing the waters. After all, Xiao Mingzheng was no ordinary man. It would be difficult to uncover his secrets and make him reveal his true intentions. However, it would be much easier to attack from other angles.

Alas, it seems those who play politics can't afford to be hurt. This life is really exhausting. All day long, I'm either calculating others or guarding against others' calculations. I don't know when it will end. Fortunately, she will be free soon. Otherwise, being entangled in the right and wrong of others all day long would be extremely boring.

For the next few days, Zhong Min was constantly awaiting intelligence and information from the spy. Even though the seven-day deadline was pressing, she couldn't begin planning the outer defenses of the capital. On the afternoon of the third day, the spy finally completed her mission ahead of schedule, compiling all the intelligence and information she needed and delivering it to her.

Carrying the pile of documents, Zhong Min headed straight for her office, figuring she'd spend some time looking through everything before starting to devise a plan. Unexpectedly, halfway through, she saw Ning Zhiyuan approaching with his four followers. Seeing no way to avoid him, she stepped forward and greeted him.

"Where are you going, Miss Min'er?" Ning Zhiyuan said as he looked at the bag in Zhong Min's hand with a look of great concern.

Zhong Min knew that carrying such a large bag in the palace would be a bit of a eyesore, so he replied directly, "Your Excellency, I have been ordered to deliver something to Concubine Liu. If your Excellency has no other instructions, I will take my leave."

She didn't want to stay here for long. Although Ning Zhiyuan would not ask to see the contents of the bag, for such a person, it was always the safest approach to avoid meeting him in person.

However, Ning Zhiyuan didn't seem to think so. Seeing Zhong Min about to leave, he smiled and stepped forward, blocking her right in the middle and saying, "It seems that Miss Min'er doesn't like me very much. She left in such a hurry after just one sentence. Am I really that scary?"

"Sir, please don't joke like that. If the prince knew about it, he would definitely punish Zhong Min." Zhong Min didn't expect Ning Zhiyuan to be so direct, let alone say such things right away. For a moment, she was even more wary of him. "Sir, your status is noble. How dare Zhong Min be so presumptuous?"

Ning Zhiyuan ignored Zhong Min's explanation and smiled again, saying to himself, "From the first moment I saw you, I felt a special sense of familiarity, so I couldn't help but pay special attention to you. Especially the dinner a few days ago, it reminded me of a girl next door whom I knew when I was young. Don't worry, Miss Min'er, I don't have any bad intentions today. I just want to confirm my guess."

A sense of familiarity? A younger sister she knew when she was young? Zhong Min couldn't help but laugh. What on earth was Ning Zhiyuan trying to do? He actually came up with such an unreliable excuse. Did he really think she was a fool?

"Your Excellency values ​​loyalty and righteousness. Even at such a high position, you still remember those you once knew. This is truly commendable." She smiled and said, "But Your Excellency must be mistaken. Zhong Min is of humble status. How could he possibly know someone of Your Excellency's status?"

"My family was ordinary when I was a child, and I was just an ordinary child. Besides, I heard that Miss Min'er fell on her head a few months ago, so she forgot everything in the past. Since she has lost her memory, it is normal for her to not remember people and things in the past." Ning Zhiyuan said seriously: "The girl looks very similar to someone I knew in my childhood. Although it was ten years ago and she was only seven or eight years old at that time, I am not lying. I do have a very strong sense of familiarity."

He could still recognize her after ten years? Zhong Min found it ridiculous. Besides, Ning Zhiyuan must have been at least fifteen or sixteen years old ten years ago, while the so-called little sister he was talking about was only seven or eight. How could a young man have such a vivid memory of a little girl who was almost half his age?

As if he could see what Zhong Min was thinking, Ning Zhiyuan smiled nonchalantly and continued to explain, "Miss Min'er, you think I made it up. It's understandable that you don't believe me. After all, I can't produce any solid evidence right now. But please rest assured, I really don't have any ill will towards you. Regardless of whether you are someone I used to know or not, I would never hurt you. So, you don't need to be wary of me or be afraid of me."

"Your Excellency is too kind. I am truly blessed to have your kindness. How could I possibly have any negative thoughts?" Seeing this, Zhong Min didn't know what to say. She could only say, "I hope Your Excellency can reunite with your long-lost sister soon. I have work to do, so I can't stay for long. I hope Your Excellency will forgive me."

After saying that, she bowed to Ning Zhiyuan again and then walked away.

Ning Zhiyuan did not stop her, but turned around and watched Zhong Min leave until her back completely disappeared. Then he withdrew his gaze and turned away with his people.

When he met Xiao Mingzheng again in the evening, Zhong Min told Xiao Mingzheng about what happened when he met Ning Zhiyuan in the afternoon. Unexpectedly, Xiao Mingzheng said that he already knew about it, and that Ning Zhiyuan had told him on his own initiative when he came to see him before.

Hearing this, Zhong Min couldn't help but be stunned. He didn't expect that Ning Zhiyuan would actually tell Xiao Mingzheng about this. He didn't know what was going on in this man's mind.

"It seems your identity is becoming increasingly complex. Perhaps you knew him ten years ago. I heard that Ning Zhiyuan remains unmarried because of an engagement from ten years ago. I believe the person he was engaged to was the long-lost girl next door he mentioned."

Xiao Mingzheng spoke calmly, then looked at Zhong Min and said, "If you really are the sister he mentioned, you are really lucky."

"What kind of luck is this? It's getting more and more outrageous. What is going on?" Zhong Min naturally understood what Xiao Mingzheng meant. It was okay to have two spies as his accomplices, but now such a thing suddenly popped up, which really gave her a headache.

Besides, even if this is true, she is not the real Li Jiner. Although she has to take some necessary responsibilities for occupying someone else's body, it does not mean that she has to sacrifice her own lifelong affairs.

Zhong Min's tone didn't sound happy at all, but rather extremely depressed and annoyed. Xiao Mingzheng said again, "Don't you wish it? Ning Zhiyuan is young, handsome, rich and powerful. If you could really marry him, what else would you be dissatisfied with?"

"Yes, Your Highness is right. Regardless of appearance or wealth, such a man is indeed the perfect husband in the eyes of women. However, as the saying goes, different people have different tastes. Even if he is the best, I would rather live a free and unrestrained life alone. Once you enter a wealthy family, it is like entering a deep sea. There is no need to cause trouble for yourself."

Zhong Min retorted, "Besides, I know very well that this has absolutely nothing to do with him. He probably has other motives for saying this. Your Highness should think more about coming to the capital when you have time, and stop making fun of me."

Xiao Mingzheng was slightly taken aback by Zhong Min's words. He knew she wasn't vain, but he hadn't expected her to regard wealth and power as so insignificant. She even said something about being in a wealthy family being like entering a deep sea, as if she had personally experienced it. It made him feel very uncomfortable.

After a moment, he nodded and said casually, "You're really arrogant. It sounds like there's no man in the world that can catch your eye."

Zhong Min blurted out subconsciously when he heard this: "I'm not arrogant, I'm just more sober!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhong Min suddenly realized that she had said too much. She quickly glanced at Xiao Mingzheng and saw that he looked thoughtful. She smiled and said, "By the way, Your Highness, we can start designing the external defense plan starting tomorrow. I will try to speed up and get the plan out as soon as possible to allow time for advance preparation."

Seeing that Zhong Min had changed the subject, Xiao Mingzheng didn't say any more about what had happened before. He nodded again, indicating that he understood. Seeing that it was getting late, he asked Zhong Min to go out and rest first.

After leaving the house, Zhong Min couldn't help but frown. There had been so many strange things going on recently. Not only had Ning Zhiyuan been mentioned, but even the usually serious Xiao Mingzheng had become a little strange. Not only was he talking more than before, but he was also constantly discussing topics unrelated to work. It felt strange, and she had no idea what he meant.

Forget it, she was too lazy to think too much. Anyway, after returning from the capital this time, she would be able to leave such a troubled place soon. Shaking her head slightly, Zhong Min stopped hesitating and walked quickly towards the house where she lived.

After taking a few steps, a guard approached her, saying that a maid named Xi'er was outside the courtyard looking for her. Zhong Min thanked the guard and walked straight out. Xi'er must have come to see her so late at night for something important.

"Xier, why do you come to see me so late? Is there something wrong?" When I went out to take a look, I saw Xier waiting near the door, looking anxious.

Seeing Zhong Min coming, Xier quickly pulled her aside for several steps, and only stopped when she was sure no one could hear them. She said to Zhong Min, "Jin'er, this is bad! Something terrible has happened, something terrible has happened!"

Zhong Min was startled at once. Seeing Xier's frightened look, and then she told him the serious matter without saying anything, he knew that she was not joking.

She quickly held Xier's hand and said in a deep voice, "Don't be anxious, talk slowly!"