Shangguan Wanning's cheeks turned red instantly.
The housekeeper told her that the son of Beilin Marquis had come to propose marriage.
"Don't let your imagination run wild. I didn't promise him anything. Besides...marriage is a big deal, and it has to be decided by the parents and the matchmaker."
Mu Jingrui certainly believed Shangguan Wanning's words. Seeing that there was no one around, he couldn't help but hold her hand.
"Ning'er, have you taken out the things in the suitcase?"
"Well," Shangguan Wan Ning also felt that she should give Mu Jingrui an explanation, "but my father has gone out and hasn't come back yet. If... this matter is urgent and needs to be resolved, how about I return the things to you and you give them to the emperor."
Mu Jingrui shook his head after hearing this.
"If I hand it over, it might have an impact on your father. It's just a matter of waiting a day or two. It doesn't matter."
Mu Jingrui came to the Prime Minister's Mansion this time just to confirm whether there was any accident.
"Besides, someone cares so much about her parents' orders. What if I offend my father-in-law and he changes his mind and refuses to marry me?"
Shangguan Wanning lowered her head and smiled, then pinched Mu Jingrui's waist affectionately.
"It's good that you know. I don't care. No matter what happens in the future, you are not allowed to hurt my family. Otherwise, I will never talk to you and never forgive you."
Mu Jingrui looked at the woman who was almost snuggling in his arms. He tried his best to suppress the impulse in his heart and touched her nose lovingly.
"I dare not. However, Beilin Hou and your grandfather are of the same generation. If you really refuse the marriage, I'm afraid they will lose face and bear a grudge against you."
Mu Jingrui didn't want Shangguan Wanning to fall into such an embarrassing situation.
"How about this, I'll go find Beilin Hou..."
"No need." Shangguan Wanning shook her head. "You just came back from your military exploits, and so many eyes in the court are on you. I don't want others to say that you are arrogant because of your favor. The most taboo for a military general is to be too high-profile when you have made great achievements."
Shangguan Wanning gave Mu Jingrui a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, I can handle this matter myself. As you said, my grandfather is of the same generation as Beilin Hou. It would be much better if I asked my grandfather to come forward. It can be regarded as giving them face. It just so happens that I also want to go back and stay with my mother for a few days."
Mu Jingrui hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
He believed that Shangguan Wanning had the ability to handle things independently.
"Send me a message if you have anything to say."
Shangguan Wanning smiled sweetly, and waves of sweetness surged in her heart.
It feels so good to have someone to lean on!
In the afternoon, Shangguan Wanning ordered the housekeeper to prepare the carriage and took her mother back to the Yiyong Marquis' Mansion. She didn't want to face Aunt Zhao's smug face before her father came back.
After lighting the lamps, Shangguan Wanning served her mother dinner and then returned to her room. When she was about to read, her third uncle Zheng Bingrong came in holding a plate of lychees.
"Ning'er, come on, come on, have a taste. This is something that Third Uncle specially had someone bring over from the south at full speed. It's a good thing."
Shangguan Wanning immediately put the book down, picked up a peeled lychee and put it into her mouth.
"Slow down, silly child, there's more after you finish eating."
Zheng Bingrong placed the lychees on the table and looked at Shangguan Wanning with a smile on his face.
"My third uncle loves me the most."
"That is..." Zheng Bingrong sat down opposite Shangguan Wanning and peeled lychees for her personally, observing his niece out of the corner of his eye from time to time.
This sight was caught by Shangguan Wanning.
"Uncle, do you have something to tell me?"
Zheng Bingrong was stunned for a moment, and avoided Shangguan Wanning's gaze with some shame, pretending to be nonchalant and said: "Nothing. Ning'er, I heard...you and Mu Jingrui are very close. Do you know that he brought something back to Beijing this time?"
Shangguan Wanning paused, her heart sank.
"What... is Third Uncle referring to?"
Zheng Bingrong was silent for a long time while peeling lychees. Shangguan Wanning looked at him and clenched her fists nervously.
"Ning'er, you have grown up, and your third uncle will tell you the truth about some things. Mu Jingrui returned to Beijing this time and brought back evidence that the Minister of War Li Dahai was taking empty salaries and conspiring with the Eagle Kingdom. There is also a detailed list of his accomplices."
Shangguan Wanning's expression changed slightly, but she still tried her best to remain calm.
"So... what?"
"Third Uncle, I won't hide it from you...my name is on the list."
A series of names flashed through Shangguan Wanning's mind quickly.
She had looked at the list more than once, but did not see her third uncle's name.
"Ning'er, I used a pseudonym on the list. My name is Zheng Datong. I'm the boss of the escort agency that helped them secretly transport materials from the Central Plains to the Eagle Country."
Shangguan Wanning was horrified.
There is indeed a person named Zheng Datong on the list.
It is clearly stated above that Zheng Datong used the escort agency to transport food and herbs to the border and handed them over to the Goshawk Kingdom in exchange for the Goshawk Kingdom's constant border harassment.
In this way, Li Dahai could continue to ask the court for military pay and supplies for war in the name of suppression, but in fact all of them were divided up and pocketed by himself.
"Third uncle, why...why are you doing this?" Shangguan Wanning was completely flustered. This was completely beyond his expectations.
Zheng Bingrong let out a long sigh.
"Ning'er, there are some things you don't understand. You've lived here often since you were a child, so you should be able to see that among the three of us brothers, your grandfather dislikes me the most. I once followed him to fight on the battlefield, but when it came to rewarding merits, I was always the one who was ignored. I'm not willing to accept this. Even if I can't get the fame, I should at least earn some money."
Shangguan Wanning just felt extremely confused.
She had never thought that her respected third uncle would do such a thing.
"Uncle, do you know how serious the consequences of doing this are?"
"I know, of course I know. That's why I use aliases when doing business with them. Few people know my real identity. If it was just a small-scale investigation, I wouldn't be afraid at all, but this time it's different. So many people are implicated. When the nest is overturned, how can the eggs remain intact?"
Shangguan Wanning absolutely believed this.
Once this evidence and the list are handed over, there will be a bloody storm in the court, and Zheng Bingrong's identity will definitely be discovered, or someone inside will give him up in order to gain merit.
"Ning'er, you have to save your third uncle this time. If the list is handed in, not only will I die... I'm afraid it will also implicate other people in the family. Dad is old and can't stand the stimulation; Zhixing is still young, and you can't bear to see his future ruined, right?"
"Uncle, this matter is very serious. Even if my father comes forward, he may not be able to settle it. How can I help you?"
"This is very simple. All you have to do is find out from Mu Jingrui where the evidence is placed, and then steal it and destroy it."
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