Chapter 19 Meeting the Rivals: Ah Zhao and I are the Best of Friends! ...
Only after they stepped outside the store did Lin Yanshu tell Li Chengyi:
"There's something wrong with this store."
Li Chengyi raised an eyebrow and looked at her:
Why did Yan Shu say that?
Lin Yanshu blinked and used sign language:
"Its accounting records are falsified; the prices of individual items are incorrect and exceed market prices."
Li Chengyi was surprised that Lin Yanshu could read account books.
In fact, Lin Yanshu didn't know how to read account books; she just got used to it from dealing with herbs so much.
They went to several other shops, and although they all had some issues, none of them were as suspicious as the first one.
On the way back, Lin Yanshu encountered Xie Ciyan.
Xie Ciyan naturally saw her as well.
He walked towards Lin Yanshu and bowed to Li Chengyi beside her.
"Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Li Chengyi patted his hand indifferently.
He knew this person; he was the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
However, he did not have much interaction with Xie Ciyan.
He eyed Xie Ciyan warily.
Xie Ciyan, under Li Chengyi's gaze, smiled and asked Lin Yanshu:
"Girl, you still haven't told me your name last time."
Li Chengyi frowned. When did Xie Ciyan reach the point of exchanging names with Lin Yanshu?
Lin Yanshu blankly took out the nameplate and laid out his name:
"Lin, Yan, Shu".
Xie Ciyan smiled, his beautiful peach blossom eyes sparkling, and said approvingly:
"Lin Yanshu, what a beautiful name!"
Li Chengyi clenched his fists, inwardly scoffing:
Ha...playboy, silver-tongued.
When did the atmosphere at the Dali Temple become like this?
Xie Ciyan looked at the spice packets in their hands and asked repeatedly:
"Miss Lin, are you here to buy incense?"
As he spoke, he bent down, leaned closer to Lin Yanshu, and lowered his voice:
"Let me tell you a secret: young lady, you shouldn't buy incense from this shop."
Xie Ciyan was referring to the very shop they had just suspected.
Lin Yanshu frowned; Xie Ciyan knew some inside information.
Li Chengyi saw Xie Ciyan shamelessly approaching Lin Yanshu.
Ha, he looks like a brothel owner; who knows if he's a decent man?
Li Chengyi quietly pulled Xie Ciyan away.
Xie Ciyan looked at Li Chengyi with a smile, like a smiling tiger.
He felt that His Highness the Crown Prince was far too cautious.
Lin Yanshu was unaware of the undercurrents between the two men.
She stared intently at Xie Ciyan, wanting to know more clues:
"Young Master Xie, what happened to their family?"
Xie Ciyan pulled out a folding fan from somewhere and covered his face with a feigned sigh:
"We at the Dali Temple have been watching the smuggling of contraband from the Western Regions for a long time."
Upon hearing this, Lin Yanshu tugged at Li Chengyi's sleeve.
The two locked eyes.
Li Chengyi then regained his composure and asked with his arms crossed:
"Is your Dali Temple here to investigate this case?"
Xie Ciyan smiled gently and replied:
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Then let's conduct the investigation tonight. I'll be there too."
Xie Ciyan was not surprised to hear this.
He knew that Li Chengyi was investigating the teahouse case, and his presence in this area must be related to the case.
After saying that, Li Chengyi coldly pulled Lin Yanshu away.
It was only then that Lin Yanshu realized something was wrong.
She sensed that Li Chengyi was somewhat unhappy.
Wouldn't it be great if someone could help with the investigation?
She glanced sideways and secretly sized up Li Chengyi.
Li Chengyi noticed her gaze and asked in a cold voice:
How did you meet Xie Ciyan?
How long have you known each other?
How's your relationship?
A series of questions, like interrogating a criminal, left Lin Yanshu bewildered.
She used sign language and asked earnestly:
Which question should I answer first?
Li Chengyi was so angry at her clueless and indifferent attitude that his chest ached.
He was on guard against thieves, but Lin Yanshu himself didn't notice anything.
Is it that he's making a big fuss over nothing, or that Lin Yanshu is just too stupid?
He snorted coldly:
"You don't need to reply to a single question."
He said this and walked away quickly.
Lin Yanshu blinked in confusion and followed behind Li Chengyi.
Li Chengyi walked very fast, slowing down from time to time to wait for Lin Yanshu to catch up.
Lin Yanshu jogged after Li Chengyi and they returned to the courtyard.
Li Chengyi turned around and saw Lin Yanshu with her face flushed, hands on her hips, panting heavily.
He walked back helplessly, pulling Lin Yanshu's wrist as they went.
Lin Yanshu's mind raced throughout the journey before she finally understood:
Ah Zhao was afraid that she would be deceived.
Ah Zhao once said that there are few men in this world as upright and virtuous as him, and with his good looks, he is bound to be tempted.
Lin Yanshu couldn't help but feel grateful to Li Chengyi.
Lee Seung-ik is truly a compassionate and kind person!
Thinking of this, Lin Yanshu couldn't help but smile at Li Chengyi.
Li Chengyi thought she had figured it out, and asked her with a stern face:
Which question do you want to answer?
Lin Yanshu answered seriously:
"He found my brocade pouch on the street a few days ago. We're not close friends."
Li Chengyi was very satisfied with this answer.
He inexplicably wanted to know his place in Lin Yanshu's heart.
Li Chengyi feigned composure and asked:
"And what about me?"
His tone carried a hint of anticipation, and his eyes even became fervent.
Lin Yanshu felt a little shy under his gaze.
She wasn't quite sure how to answer that question.
What is Lee Seung-ik asking?
Should we ask about their relationship?
Isn't it obvious? They're good friends.
It seems that Li Chengyi is asking about their relationship.
How should I put it?
Looking at Li Chengyi's expectant eyes, Lin Yanshu instantly felt immense pressure.
Hmm, she needs to think carefully about how to phrase it.
Be cautious, be cautious, and be even more cautious.
As her master taught her, when talking to people, it's always right to praise them!
Lin Yanshu nodded heavily and gestured with his hand:
"Ah Zhao and I are the best of friends in the world!"
She thought about it again, and to make the compliment sound less insincere, she added another sentence:
"Besides Master, Ah Zhao and I are the best in the world!"
As Li Chengyi watched Lin Yanshu's sign language, he felt his cheeks burning.
Lin Yanshu... how come she's so good at sweet talk?
Sure enough, I hold an extraordinary place in her heart.
He hummed with pleasure.
Lin Yanshu looked at him, but she didn't know what Li Chengyi was humming.
Do you have phlegm in your throat?
Even into the night, Li Chengyi kept pondering Lin Yanshu's words.
…………
As night deepened, Xie Ciyan personally visited Li Chengyi.
He was wearing a purplish-brown official robe and had a gentle smile.
"Your Highness, I have come to request that you proceed to the prison for the trial."
Li Chengyi's good mood vanished the moment he saw Xie Ciyan.
He thought it was strange that Xie Ciyan, a junior official of the Court of Judicial Review, was dressed so flamboyantly.
Lin Yanshu ran over excitedly, jumped up and stood in front of Xie Ciyan, her face flushed with excitement, and stared intently at Xie Ciyan.
Seeing this, Li Chengyi stepped between Lin Yanshu and Xie Ciyan, and said coldly:
"Young Master Xie, lead the way."
After saying that, he grabbed Lin Yanshu's wrist and walked away.
By the time they arrived at the prison, the shopkeeper had already been interrogated.
Xie Ciyan looked at the shopkeeper's vague testimony and respectfully handed it to Li Chengyi:
"Your Highness, shall we conduct the interrogation personally?"
Li Chengyi glanced coldly at the testimony, recalling his subordinates' evaluations of his interrogation:
A cold-blooded devil, his blood stains the prison.
He felt it was best not to let Lin Yanshu see this cruel side of him.
She's so timid, what if she stops talking to me in the future?
"Since it is a case of the Dali Temple, it is natural that Xie Shaoqing should handle it."
Xie Ciyan smiled, took the confession, and went inside.
Lin Yanshu stood to one side watching Xie Ciyan interrogate him.
Xie Ciyan was a civil official, and he never liked the military officials' approach of using force and violence; he preferred to win people's hearts.
It suits his image as a refined and gentlemanly man.
He looked at the bound shopkeeper with sympathy and said regretfully:
"Shopkeeper, why are you doing this?"
The shopkeeper looked up at Xie Ciyan and repeatedly protested his innocence:
"My lord, I'm innocent!"
"As a commoner running a small business, I would never dare to smuggle prohibited goods from the Western Regions."
Xie Ciyan frowned, and comforted him tenderly:
“I never said you were involved in smuggling.”
"What I and the staff clearly said is that the shopkeeper has made meritorious contributions by reporting the case and assisting the Dali Temple in handling the case."
No one who sees this scene would think the person on the shelf is an informant.
But Xie Ciyan could spout nonsense without batting an eye.
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper's eyes lit up with hope:
"What you're saying, sir..."
Xie Ciyan looked at him with regret:
"The Dali Temple has been investigating contraband from the Western Regions for many days without any leads, but the shopkeeper has personally stepped into the situation to help the government find clues. This is truly admirable."
"Although this may involve smuggling contraband, we should be lenient in consideration of the fact that they are working for the government."
Lin Yanshu stood aside, looking at Xie Ciyan in surprise.
This person is really good at talking nonsense.
That's amazing!
Lin Yanshu's eyes were overflowing with admiration. Apart from her master, she had never seen anyone who could talk such nonsense.
Xie Ciyan naturally felt Lin Yanshu's gaze, and he unconsciously straightened his back.
Seeing the adoring look in Lin Yanshu's eyes, Li Chengyi almost bit his back teeth off. He subtly moved his feet, trying to block Lin Yanshu's view.
Lin Yanshu thought that Li Chengyi was tired of standing and wanted to move around.
She walked straight away and went to Xie Ciyan's side.
Li Chengyi clenched his fist, suppressing his smile, and pretended to be nonchalant.
Xie Ciyan noticed Lin Yanshu's approach and quickly glanced at Li Chengyi.
His Highness the Crown Prince wouldn't be so petty.
He then turned his attention back to the prisoners.
The shopkeeper frowned, looking hesitant.
Xie Ciyan shook his head and could only bring up the shopkeeper's entire family:
"Shopkeeper, you said there's nothing wrong with cooperating with our Dali Temple. At least you can still go out alive and reunite with your wife and children."
"Otherwise, you'll have no choice but to reunite in this prison."
“Your son is at the age where he is starting his education, but there’s nowhere for him to start his education in this prison.”
The shopkeeper had drifted through life, and had a son late in life, whom he doted on the most.
Upon hearing Xie Ciyan's words, he shifted his body excitedly, and said helplessly:
"My lord, I confess! I'll tell you the source of the spices and the buyers!"
"Please spare my family."
Xie Ciyan smiled knowingly, covering his face, and handed the rest of the work over to his subordinates.
Lin Yanshu followed him out, ignoring Li Chengyi's absence.
A note from the author:
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The female protagonist and the one who asked why the cat was making a noise should sit at the same table!
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