The Demon Prince

Li Wangshu was taken aback: "Mother?"

Jiang Shuying glanced at her:

"This time, he took too big a step."

What kind of places are the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Rites? They're places where a bunch of old foxes hang out and scheme.

He's just a prince who's recently gained some power, and he thinks he can do whatever he wants with this investigation order? If he doesn't learn his lesson, he'll only fall harder in the future.

Li Wangshu disagreed:

"But he wasn't just doing it recklessly; he clearly had his own purpose in accepting this money."

Jiang Shuying said calmly:

"I know, but knowing is one thing, people don't see it that way."

Let him suffer a bit first. When he really can't hold back anymore, he will naturally come to the Jiang family for help.

When that time comes, I will offer him timely help and resolve his urgent crisis. He will then remember this kindness even more.

The Jiang family's position is now more secure.

Jiang Shuying glanced at Li Wangshu, her tone becoming more lecturing:

"He'll like you even more."

Li Wangshu blushed and immediately puffed out her full chest:

"I'm already very popular."

Jiang Shuying chuckled:

"You? You're still a long way off."

Wang Shu, for a wife, especially a principal wife, the worst thing is to lack a sense of crisis.

Li Wangshu frowned:

"But don't the other older sisters all find him annoying?"

Jiang Shuying shook her head:

"What you say is what you say, but what you think is what you feel."

Don't you also complain about him?

Lately, Shunhua and he have been getting very close, and Miaoqing is acting strangely too.

Even your fourth and fifth sisters are now secretly inquiring about what Xiao Xingyue has been up to lately.

If you still think you're safe and sound, you'll have your day later.

Li Wangshu felt a pang of panic at Jiang Shuying's words. She wanted to argue further, but Jiang Shuying waved her hand dismissively.

"Don't rush to stand up for him."

A man only realizes who truly helps him after he's suffered a loss.

Li Wangshu pursed her lips and didn't say anything more, but her fingers were still twisted together.

Nine flowers bloom, each representing a different branch.

Li Shunhua was the least likely person to believe that Xiao Xingyue would embezzle the money, but she wasn't entirely without doubts.

Last night, she saw with her own eyes that the batch of money to make up for the debts was delivered to the old troops and wounded veterans in the Northern Border, but that was only a part of what Xiao Xingyue had recovered. What about the rest?

Where have you been?

She wanted to ask him in person, so she came to the Prince's Mansion.

As soon as he stepped outside the study, Zhao Yuanbao stopped him:

"Eighth Princess, the Crown Prince is busy."

Li Shunhua frowned: "What are you busy with?"

Before Zhao Yuanbao could speak, a pleasant burst of laughter came from inside the room. It was from women, very young, and there was more than one of them.

Li Shunhua's expression immediately changed:

"He's very busy."

Zhao Yuanbao chuckled dryly: "This..."

Li Shunhua turned and walked away with a cold face, her steps quick and heavy.

She had barely left when the study door opened, and three figures emerged. Reaching the doorway, they all turned and bowed respectfully to Xiao Xingyue.

"Your Highness, rest assured, leave everything to us."

After they finished speaking, they left one after the other.

There was nothing romantic or frivolous inside; there was only an open ledger and several written lists on a table.

Next is Li Miaoqing.

From the very beginning, she felt that Xiao Xingyue was a very bad person.

He's being criticized so harshly outside, yet he remains silent. This doesn't seem like he's admitting defeat; it seems more like he's holding back something big.

She came to the Prince's mansion under the pretext of delivering medicine, and was stunned when she entered the medicine storehouse in the backyard.

Half the warehouse was piled up to the brim with all sorts of things: typhoid medicine, hemostatic medicine, calming powder, antisperm pills... as well as a large quantity of pre-packaged loose medicine and fodder.

The air was filled with a pungent, mixed smell of medicine.

Xiao Xingyue was squatting in front of a pile of medicine boxes, flipping through prescriptions. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and his forehead was covered with sticky sweat.

He only glanced at her when he saw her arrive:

"You've come at the right time, help me test the medicine."

Li Miaoqing stood at the door, holding a medicine box, looking suspicious.

Today, she wore a moon-blue long dress that accentuated her exquisite figure. Her ample bosom was more than just four ounces; it seemed to have increased slightly in the few days since I last saw her.

His face was cold and clean, his eyes filled with scrutiny.

"These medicines aren't for the Prince's residence, are they?"

Xiao Xingyue lowered his head and continued flipping through the prescription:

"The Prince's residence doesn't need that many."

Li Miaoqing walked in, squatted down, grabbed a packet of hemostatic powder, and smelled it:

"Then why did you buy so much?"

Xiao Xingyue didn't answer, but simply handed her a prescription:

"Let's see how effective the medicine is first."

Li Miaoqing stared at him: "Why should I help you? Beg me!"

She had assumed that, given Xiao Xingyue's attitude, he would at least banter with her, but to her surprise, he was unusually serious.

"Please."

Li Miaoqing was stunned. For a moment, she even doubted that there was something wrong with her ears.

Xiao Xingyue repeated it again:

"Please help me, these medicines can't be messed up."

Li Miaoqing felt as if something had gently bumped into her heart. She had prepared some sarcastic remarks to rival Xiao Xingyue, but now, they were all stuck in her throat.

After a long pause, she turned her face away:

"understood."

For the next hour or so, she remained focused.

She examined each packet meticulously, smelling, rubbing, testing, and recording everything. She could clearly identify which batch of medicine was undercooked, which batch had powdered too coarsely, and which batch had herbs that were not aged long enough.

Xiao Xingyue stood by and listened. He took notes of everything she said. Towards the end, the two of them surprisingly didn't bicker. All that remained was the scent of medicine and the sound of pages turning.

By the time the last truckload of medicine was sealed and packed, it was almost dark.

The back gate of the Prince's Mansion was quietly opened, and box after box of medicinal herbs were loaded onto a cart.

Standing under the corridor, watching the cars drive away, Li Miaoqing finally pieced together the answer in her heart.

A while ago, my mother went out of the city to provide free medical care.

On the way back, he mentioned that the two southern counties had suffered from floods, and a severe epidemic had broken out after the disaster. There were many disaster victims gathered outside the city, and medicinal materials were in short supply.

She looked at the medicines in front of her again: typhoid fever medicine, hemostatic medicine, sedative medicine, antipyretic medicine—all for disaster relief.

Li Miaoqing felt a heavy weight in her heart.

It turns out that the silver that was cursed as dirty money by outsiders didn't go into the Prince's private treasury; instead, it was transformed into these medicines, which became cartloads of food being sent out of the city.

She turned her head to look at Xiao Xingyue, who had already sat down to one side, leaning against a wooden pillar, with his eyes downcast.

After a busy day, I didn't even have time to eat much lunch. Now that I can finally relax, I just fall asleep.

Looking at him, Li Miaoqing's suspicions and awkwardness suddenly vanished.

That bastard actually didn't cheat anyone; he even did something big.

She stood there for a while, then walked over slowly, her steps very light.

As the moonlight rose, it fell on Xiao Xingyue's profile, making his usually mischievous eyes appear calmer, and rather handsome.

Li Miaoqing's heart was pounding a little. She looked down, glanced at it, and then looked at it again.

Finally, as if by some inexplicable force, she leaned down quickly and kissed the corner of his lips, as lightly as a dragonfly skimming the water.

After kissing her, she tried to back away, but her wrist tightened. Xiao Xingyue wasn't asleep at all; he opened his eyes and pulled her into his arms.

Li Miaoqing's pretty face flushed instantly:

"Are you pretending to be asleep?"