038

Xu Changyi glanced around her and smiled slightly: "It's amazing that the Lord of Junning County still remembers me."

The last time we met was at the Prince's Qiong Yu Banquet.

Song Jin was unsure of his intention in coming to see him, so he asked tentatively, "Why did the Third Prince come to see me...?"

Xu Changyi's gaze lingered on her eyes for a moment, "Come to think of it, the Princess of Junning County almost became my seventh brother's wife."

This topic is a bit embarrassing.

Song Jin smiled with a forced smile. He didn't really want to continue the conversation, but he couldn't afford to offend him.

Fortunately, Xu Changyi had a good eye and did not continue the topic. "It has been a while since the Lord of Junning came to Sheng'an. Is his business going well?"

The Song family had only a few shops in Sheng'an, but each of them was doing a booming business and making a lot of money, which made many people jealous.

Song Jin learned from Qin Wan that these princes all had some businesses to a greater or lesser extent.

It seemed to be directed at her.

Song Jin said calmly, "According to the Third Prince's good words, everything is going smoothly. If it weren't for the cooperation with Zhaiyue Tower, it would have been busy for a while."

Xu Changyi's eyes lit up. "The business of Zhaiyue Tower is not easy to do. The Lord of Junning County is very capable. He helped Zhaiyue Tower to connect with the imperial merchants. I think he got a lot of benefits, right?"

Song Jin deliberately gave him a clue, and smiled, "Yes, the business of the shops under my name has increased tenfold."

With the reputation of Zhaiyue Tower as a guarantee, more people are willing to purchase.

This is exactly what Xu Changyi wanted.

Seeing that he was hesitant and didn't know how to start, Song Jin simply helped him start.

"I heard that the Third Prince runs some shops. Song Jindou is brave and is willing to help the Third Prince."

Although Xu Changyi was greedy for the benefits that Zhaiyue Tower brought, he was still rational and alert.

"Oh, why is the Lord of Junning willing to help me?"

Song Jin smiled inexplicably: "Who would have a problem with money?"

Xu Changyi understood and became eager to take action.

Someone suddenly tapped my shoulder.

Turning around, he saw it was Cui Huaiji. The man smiled gently, but Xu Changyi still remembered the scene of him beating the prince.

Cui Huaiji seemed oblivious and inserted himself between the two of them, "When did the Third Prince become so familiar with Miss Song?"

Xu Changyi took two steps back and said, "The Crown Prince has something else to do. I will leave first."

Song Jin was a little confused. Why did he feel that these princes were a little afraid of Cui Huaiji?

Obviously he was very polite before.

"Have you finished paying, Lord?"

"Well," Cui Huaiji took a sip of wine, his eyes were subtle, "Do you want to pull the third prince?"

Seeing Song Jin and Xu Changyi talking together, he subconsciously thought that Song Jin wanted to win over someone, but the current situation was delicate and the important officials in the court were all standing still. It would not be a wise move to contact Xu Changyi at this time.

Song Jin is still unclear about what is happening in the court.

If someone wanted to cooperate with Zhaiyue Tower, she would naturally be happy to see it happen.

Zhaiyue Tower makes a lot of money, which does her no harm.

She hummed and shook her head. "I don't intend to get involved in the fight between the princes. The Third Prince intends to use the matter of Zhaiyue Tower to win me over. After all, in their eyes, the wealth of the Song family in Qingzhou is a piece of fat meat."

There will only be more people like the Third Prince who will approach her under other pretexts.

Instead of this, she might as well take the opportunity to make some money for Zhaiyue Tower.

[Are you worried about me, Lord Hou? Don't underestimate me! ]

That arrogant little tone.

Cui Huaiji smiled silently in his heart, showing unwarranted doting: "Okay, be careful what you do."

[It would be better to send some people to protect him secretly.]

Song Jin laughed when he heard the sound.

She knew that although Cui Huaiji said he didn't care about her, he secretly sent people to follow her.

The wedding banquet had already begun, and Wang Anlin was dragged by his colleagues to get drunk. Listening to the nonsense they said, he frowned and scolded them, defending his wife in front of everyone.

Even if she was an unfavored princess, they could not despise her.

Xu Zhaoran glanced over there distractedly, and found his words defending Xu Lier ridiculous.

If Xu Li'er didn't have the status of a princess, would Wang Anlin be willing to marry her?

Why are you pretending to be a good person here?

In a corner where no one was paying attention, Yang Chaoxue drank with the princesses and princes one by one under the pretext of toasting. When she came to Xu Nanheng, she saw the bruise on his chin and suddenly felt distressed.

She lowered her voice and said, "Brother Nanheng, who hit you?!"

There was no way Xu Nanheng would say such an embarrassing thing.

After making a perfunctory response, he mentioned the news he received this morning.

He looked at her belly and asked uncertainly, "Are you really pregnant?"

Yang Chaoxue nodded shyly, looking at him with hesitation, "Half a month."

Xu Nanheng was slightly stunned.

Half a month pregnant...that's not it!

His face suddenly became serious.

"Does the prince know?"

Yang Chaoxue toasted him, took a sip, and shook her head slightly: "He doesn't know, Brother Nanheng, don't worry, I know what's going on."

She has made all the preparations and is just waiting for the right time to announce it.

Xu Nanheng felt relieved: "Well, remember not to let anyone find out."

*

Here, Song Jin was observing the two's every move calmly when he was suddenly pinched on the cheek.

"What are you looking at so intently? You don't even respond to me when I talk to you."

Song Jin came back to his senses and looked at him, signaling him to look over there with his eyes.

"Master Hou, Yang Chaoxue is pregnant."

Cui Huaiji raised his eyebrows, took a look and then stared at her again, "Yeah."

He reacted calmly, as if it was expected.

Song Jin was slightly surprised, "Mr. Hou knew about this a long time ago?"

[The Crown Prince's spy was the first to report the news, so the little fox slave was a little behind.]

The night gradually deepened.

The wedding banquet quietly came to an end.

Cui Huaiji looked lazy and said, "That's about it. Don't worry about it. Someone will take action."

The dispute in the Eastern Palace has been going on for more than a day or two. Once the news of Yang Chaoxue's pregnancy is released, regardless of whether Chang Yue will take action, other people will also take action.

How is it possible to expect the royal grandson to be born safely?

Song Jin believed what he said.

Since Cui Huaiji asked her to hold back, she should just take care of her own shop first.

However...

"How did Xu Nanheng get the bruises on his face?"

[Who dares to beat the prince? You are awesome! ]

Cui Huaiji raised his eyelids slightly, feeling a little happy.

[Oh, I beat him up. Who told him to poison the little fox slave?]

But he said calmly, "Maybe someone is not used to being beaten."

Song Jin raised his eyes to look at his nonchalant face, and couldn't help but frown at his inconsistent words.

She said, "Well, it is a bit annoying."

Speaking of poisoning, Song Jin suddenly remembered what happened before he fainted.

When Cui Huaiji walked towards her, she vaguely smelled a fragrance, and then her chest began to ache. Before that, she didn't notice anything unusual.

Could it be related to that fragrance?

"My Lord!"

Song Jin suddenly grabbed his sleeve, eyes sparkling, "I suspect Xu Nanheng wasn't the only one who poisoned you! I remember I smelled a fragrance around you before I passed out, and it was when I smelled this fragrance that the poison took effect!"

Cui Huaiji became serious and began to recall who he had come into contact with that day.

It was a normal duty day. He sat in the prince's study for a while before ending his shift. After discussing things, he heard from his spy that Song Jin was taken away by Xu Nanheng, so he went to go find her.

Among the people in the East Palace, Yang Chaoxue was the most suspicious, followed by the Crown Prince.

"I went to the prince's study that day."

Song Jin thought for a moment and said, "It seems to be related to the Eastern Palace."

She couldn't say directly that it was Yang Chaoxue who did it, because without evidence Cui Huaiji wouldn't believe her.

[The only person in the East Palace who has a grudge against me is Yang Chaoxue. Although the Crown Prince has no evidence, it probably isn't him.]

Cui Huaiji remained silent. Given the prince's temper, there was no guarantee that he would be unaware of what Yang Chaoxue had done to his study.

Xu Guanlin, who was talking to Xu Changyi, felt an inexplicable gaze. He turned his head and met Cui Huaiji's deep eyes.

He raised his glass and toasted from a distance.

*

Zhao Wuan sat alone at the table, neither drinking with his colleagues nor joining in the conversation.

He looked at the people chatting and laughing, and felt a sense of distress in his chest.

He stared down at his wine glass in a daze.

Why was Madam Qin angry? He didn't seem to say anything inappropriate, did he?

It seems like I said "lip balm doesn't look good", and then I was kicked out...

Zhao Wuan sighed: "Why..."

"Lord Zhao."

"Um?"

Zhao Wuan looked up and saw a young man looking at him with a smile. He didn't know this man, but his voice sounded familiar.

I always feel like I've heard this somewhere...

Shen Changqi walked over and sat down, holding his head to look at him, "Master Zhao, don't you remember me? That night, the moon was dark and the wind was strong, Master Zhao and I were in a deep alley, fighting to the death..."

Zhao Wuan's eyes widened and he stood up suddenly.

"It's you—"

"Pfft!"

Shen Changqi raised his lips and put his index finger between his lips. "Lord Zhao should be more quiet. I don't think Lord Zhao would like others to know that he is being trampled underfoot, right?"

Zhao Wuan's face turned blue and purple, "Who are you?!"

"Yes." He raised his index finger and pointed at Xu Guanlin, who was in a relationship with Chang Yue not far away. "The prince's aide, Shen Changqi."

Zhao Wuan now understood what he meant.

"Lord Shen almost took my life."

Shen Changqi spread his hands, looking helpless, "I am also working for the prince, I have no choice."

After a pause, he suddenly leaned closer.

"Lord Zhao, do you think you should stand on the side of the Crown Prince?"

Zhao Wuan was not afraid of his words, staring at him straight in the eyes, "I don't care what others think, but I, Zhao Wuan, will not help anyone! You didn't kill me last time, I won't give you a second chance."

Shen Changqi shrugged, "Well, it looks like we can't talk anymore."

He raised his glass in toast to him.

"Then I wish Master Zhao all his wishes come true."

*

The moon is bright and the stars are sparse, and the shadows of the trees are faint.

The wedding banquet was over and people left in groups of three or four. Song Jin felt a little more sober as he enjoyed the autumn night breeze.

She was waiting for Cui Huaiji to go back together.

"The Lord of Junning County."

Shen Changqi walked over, the smell of alcohol on his face not yet completely dissipated.

Song Jin didn't recognize him, "Who are you?"

"My name is Shen Changqi, and I am the prince's staff. His Highness would like to invite you to go boating on the lake tomorrow. If you come alone, it is best not to ask Qu Linghou to come along."

Song Jin immediately became alert, "What does the prince want to say to me?"

Shen Changqi just smiled and said, "You'll know when the Lord of Junning County comes."

"Remember, you can only come here alone."