To outsiders, the entourage was already quite impressive, but the Prince of Huai'an, inside the luxurious carriage, felt that his trip was far too humiliating.
Even though he was over thirty, the Prince of Huai'an still had a handsome appearance with red lips and white teeth. His physical appearance was rare in the world. The interior of his huge carriage was no different from a small bedroom.
"Oh dear, how much longer until we get there? I don't want to stay in this remote place for even a second longer."
Inside the carriage were two other people who were able to sit in the same carriage as the Prince of Huai'an. One of them was dressed in a black outfit, with a white cloth covering his eyes. He had a full head of white hair, and it was impossible to tell how old he was. He was holding a sandalwood stick in his arms.
The other person was dressed in a light blue floral dress, embroidered with countless kinds of flowers, looking exceptionally alluring, yet their face was as cold as ice.
However, if this face were lightly made up, it would be difficult to tell whether it was male or female. Her long, smooth hair was draped behind her, and she said softly, "Your Highness, since the Emperor sent you here, it is naturally because he trusts you. Your nagging is a bit inappropriate."
Prince Chu Tianxing of Huai'an said with a wronged expression, "Don't you know whether I'm wronged or not? I'd rather not have this trust and stay in the palace, never stepping out."
Hua Ruocheng said calmly, "Your Highness, please let me off the hook. We've already been delayed for quite some time, more than half a month longer than originally planned. It's just a small matter, and it will be fine once it's resolved."
Chu Tianxing scoffed, "Old Mu, look at this guy. Why did I put him by my side in the first place? He's so utterly useless."
Mu Qingfeng chuckled and said, "This old man only knows how to fight. If it weren't for Mr. Hua, who would help the Prince handle things?"
"Alright, alright, you're right. Have we arrived at this so-called Qingyuan County? I remember Mingyuan should be here too, right? Oh, and Changhe."
Hua Ruocheng said coldly, "If Your Highness does not want to cause trouble for your friends, I advise you to restrain yourself and try not to have any contact with them. Otherwise, those old fogies may have some ideas."
Chu Tianxing casually picked up a grape. "I think those old guys are no different from this grape, except that the skin is a little more supple, but the inside is probably weak."
Hua Ruocheng pulled back the carriage curtain, and Qingyuan County was already in sight. Wang Mingyuan was ready to welcome everyone. Many people had already knelt at the city gate, forming a long queue, and all the proper etiquette had been prepared.
"Your Highness, please make a brief appearance to receive the cheers of the people, but please be careful not to say anything wrong."
Chu Tianxing ate a grape in one bite, casually straightened his clothes, and leaned against the window. "Alright, alright, stop nagging. I know that much; we can't embarrass the royal family when we're out in public."
In an instant, Chu Tianxing's aura changed, becoming somewhat elegant and noble, with a touch of majesty, allowing no one to underestimate him in the slightest.
Wang Mingyuan and Lin Changhe were standing at the city gate, respectfully welcoming Chu Tianxing's carriage. After the soldiers took over the defense, the luxurious convoy finally slowly entered the city. Wang Mingyuan only exchanged glances with Chu Tianxing and Lin Changhe, without saying a word.
The person who dealt with Wang Mingyuan was a retainer named Su Pingyun.
Su Pingyun has been under the tutelage of the Prince of Huai'an for five or six years. She is unremarkable in her daily work, but she is good at being tactful. Whether it is a big or small matter, she can always make at least no mistakes.
Therefore, he was considered a member of the Prince of Huai'an's faction, appearing in public frequently and being one of the first choices for handling matters.
"Lord Wang, the Prince said that we do not plan to stay in the county town for the entire time. We will rest for at most one day. If you wish to meet with us, I can convey your wishes."
Wang Mingyuan said calmly, "Your Highness has had a long journey, so it's best if I don't disturb you. If Your Highness needs anything, please let me know immediately."
Su Pingyun said, "Lord Wang, you are being too polite. You and my prince are old friends, so it is only natural that you would like to meet and chat. Perhaps my prince is even looking forward to meeting you."
Lin Changhe said, "Mr. Su, my master has said he doesn't want to see you, so it's best if we don't meet. Why don't you hurry up and attend to the Prince?"
Su Pingyun smiled and said, "Since you don't want to see me, I won't say anything more. However, there is something I would like to ask Lord Wang for help with."
"If Mr. Su has any requests, please feel free to ask. If I can help, I certainly will."
"I remember that the daughter of the Minister of Revenue was exiled to Qingyuan County. I had a relationship with that young lady. I wonder if Lord Wang knows where she is now?"
Lin Changhe and Wang Mingyuan's expressions did not change, but their hearts sank slightly.
Among Chu Tianxing's disciples, there were only two people who could be trusted: Su Pingyun and Hua Ruocheng. One was smooth-talking, and the other was indifferent yet extremely domineering.
However, Su Pingyun had something unknown to others: as long as he set his sights on someone, he would do anything to get his hands on them. Even when he was in the capital, he did not let go of the families of some court officials.
The two of them knew exactly where Lin Qinshu was, but the problem was that she was already married to Ning Ye. If the person they had their eye on were to clash with Su Pingyun, it would be a very bad situation.
Given Ning Ye's bloody methods, if he were to use them on Su Pingyun, the situation would become completely unmanageable.
“Mr. Su, after all, she is the daughter of a disgraced official. I think it would be better not to see her again. Besides, she is now married. If you go there, it will not only fail to restore your relationship, but will also make things worse.”
A well-hidden ruthlessness flashed in Su Pingyun's eyes. "Oh, really? I didn't expect it to be so fast. It seems I'm a little late. But we're friends, so it's always good to offer my blessings."
Wang Mingyuan nodded and said, "Mr. Su is right. We are currently in that mansion in the east of the city, but it has been renamed Qingmei Village. It is inhabited by a group of refugees. Mr. Su, you should be careful."
"Thank you for your concern, Lord Wang. Could it be that you have some connection to this matter? Why bother with all this?"
Su Pingyun's eyes held a scrutinizing gaze, as if she wouldn't let Wang Mingyuan off easily if he were truly involved in the matter.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com