The Demon Prince

Xiao Xingyue's gaze was deep. He had just discovered something was wrong when the person arrived. He was very alert.

When Gu Chenjun entered, he made quite a grand entrance: four attendants carried the gifts, two accountants held the books, and a minor official carried a red lacquered box.

He first entered the mourning hall to offer incense, his manners were proper, but his attitude was perfunctory.

After offering incense, Gu Chenjun turned to look at Xiao Xingyue:

"Your Highness, please accept my condolences."

"Young Master Gu is very kind," Xiao Xingyue said calmly.

Gu Chenjun smiled gently and tapped his palm with his fan:

"The young master is powerful now, but a decent funeral and continued investigation both cost money."

He swept his gaze across the crowd in the courtyard of the Prince's mansion, his tone tinged with pity:

"The Zhenguo King's Palace can't sustain itself for long by punishing a few petty officials and corrupt officials."

If the Ministry of Revenue were willing to lend a hand, the Crown Prince's funeral would be much easier.

The red lacquered box was opened, revealing a stack of silver notes totaling fifty thousand taels.

Another document was laid out, showing a vacancy for a position as a chief clerk in the Ministry of Revenue.

Gu Chenjun's smile deepened.

Before he came, he inquired about Xiao Xingyue. This man was very pragmatic and would definitely embezzle any money that was handed to him. As long as he embezzled it, it would be a good thing, and the rest would be up to him to do.

Xiao Xingyue indeed raised his hand:

"Take this ingot."

Gu Chenjun's inward sneer intensified.

What kind of disaster relief investigation is this? They pretend to be noble, but they're still just embezzling.

The smile had barely formed on his lips when Xiao Xingyue gave the order:

"Note: Gu Chenjun, son of the Minister of Revenue, has sent 50,000 taels of silver suspected to be stolen. The source of the silver is unknown. It shall be temporarily stored in the treasury and detained."

Zhao Yuanbao wrote with flowing, powerful strokes: "Alright!"

Gu Chenjun's smile froze on his face:

"Xiao Xingyue, what do you mean? I came here out of kindness to deliver gifts and help the Prince's mansion, and this is how you behave?"

Xiao Xingyue glanced at the 50,000 taels of silver notes:

"Is this money clean?"

Gu Chenjun's heart skipped a beat, and he finally put away his slight disdain.

This person found out? Impossible. The accounts of the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works are extremely complex. How could those small fry from the Ministry of War possibly find their way here?

Gu Chenjun said in a deep voice:

"Your Highness, some accounts are not for you to investigate. Just guard your own little corner of the world."

Xiao Xingyue raised his eyes:

Are you referring to a person, or the relevant department?

Gu Chenjun was stunned for a moment, while Xiao Xingyue smiled:

"I heard that Young Master Gu once said that my eight elder brothers died a good death."

Gu Chenjun's expression changed slightly:

"I don't know where the Crown Prince heard the rumors from, but he seems to have a lot of prejudice against me."

The two faced off, Xiao Xingyue remaining expressionless, his eyes still deep and sharp.

Gu Chenjun finally shook his head and smiled, snapping his fan shut. He dropped the pretense and said:

"You keep saying you want to marry nine princesses, but you don't really think all princesses are as easy to fool as the seven, eight, or nine princesses you mentioned, do you?"

Xiao Xingyue nodded in confusion:

"Who do you think is easier to fool?"

Gu Chenjun thought that Xiao Xingyue felt guilty because he had seen through her thoughts.

His sarcasm deepened:

"The Seventh Princess is a healer and has a very soft heart; the Eighth Princess is a reckless and not very bright; and the Ninth Princess is young and inexperienced in the ways of the world..."

The Fifth Princess was different; she was surrounded by capable ministers, aristocratic families, and powerful figures from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works.

She's not that easy to fool, and you can't fool her either!

If you dare reach out, don't blame me for chopping your hand off!

Xiao Xingyue suddenly looked towards the door: "Did you hear that?"

Gu Chenjun froze and looked sharply towards the door.

Three figures walked in from outside the door. Li Wangshu walked in first, her plain dress sweeping across the threshold, her face already red with anger.

Li Miaoqing stood on the left, holding a medicine box in her arms, her cold smile sending chills down one's spine.

Li Shunhua was on the right, her hand already on the hilt of the knife.

All three princesses were present.

Gu Chenjun's face finally turned pale:

"What are you doing here?"

It was certainly no coincidence. There were many things to do today, and apart from the sixth princess, the seventh, eighth, and ninth princesses were all in the palace.

When Gu Chenjun made his move, Xiao Xingyue gave him a subtle look, and Zhao Yuanbao immediately understood and went to invite the three aunts.

And so, they bumped into each other. Gu Chenjun's words were overheard by them.

Li Wangshu blew it first:

Who are you calling young and inexperienced?

"Gu Chenjun, who do you think you are, daring to speak ill of this princess?"

Li Miaoqing placed the medicine box on the table:

"Soft-hearted? I can be ruthless towards the Gu family."

A cold glint flashed in Li Shunhua's eyes:

"Who are you calling a brute?"

She took a step forward, and Gu Chenjun's calves tightened.

He wasn't afraid of Xiao Xingyue, but he was afraid of offending the three princesses and the forces behind them at the same time.

The Seventh Princess is backed by the Beitang, the Eighth Princess by the Qin family and the military, and the Ninth Princess by Consort Shu and Lady Jiang!

If he offends them all to death today, he will be dead in the Fifth Princess's eyes, and will never have another chance!

Xiao Xingyue looked completely innocent:

"I'm not a troublemaker, but you all heard it, he looks down on you."

I think you guys are brainless, that's why you got fooled by me.

Li Wangshu was even angrier. She glared at Xiao Xingyue, full of reproach. She had asked Xiao Xingyue privately if he had lied to her, but Xiao Xingyue always said that she had fallen for it willingly.

I don't agree with the idea that she willingly took advantage of me, but it's true that she was sitting on Xiao Xingyue's lap at the time and willingly took his place.

Li Miaoqing understood Xiao Xingyue's meaning.

Her mother, Consort Beitang Yun Jing, had once enlightened her about the current situation of the nine princesses.

With no princes in the court, the princess effectively became a prince, while her five older sisters had already taken their places.

These princesses, born later, were seen as people who shouldn't have to reach out to anyone in the eyes of their five older sisters' established faction.

Naturally, the people in these five sisters' group don't really think much of them in private.

Gu Chenjun's words today were not merely a mockery of them; weren't they also a true reflection of their true intentions?

Li Shunhua's knife was drawn half an inch more from its sheath:

"Gu Chenjun, apologize to my seventh and ninth sisters."

Gu Chenjun fixed his anger on Xiao Xingyue, gritting his teeth:

"I am the eldest son of the Gu family, and my aunt has a very close relationship with the Fifth Princess's maternal clan."

"Xiao Xingyue, you dare touch me?"

Xiao Xingyue remained silent, but Li Wangshu spoke directly:

"This princess dares."

Li Miaoqing said calmly, "I dare too."

Li Shunhua drew her sword:

"Take it down."

The guards of the Prince's Palace immediately stepped forward.

Gu Chenjun was completely dumbfounded. He had only come to warn Xiao Xingyue to stop him from continuing to investigate the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works.

As a result, Xiao Xingyue turned around and pulled the forces of the seventh, eighth and ninth princesses to the opposite side, and then made his move without warning!

When Gu Chenjun was pinned down, his face was ashen. He quickly gave his attendant a wink.

The attendant understood and, taking advantage of the chaos, retreated to a corner of the courtyard and released a specially made carrier pigeon.

Gu Chenjun breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the pigeons take flight. His father would come to rescue him, and the Fifth Princess's Mansion would not stand idly by. He was only temporarily wronged. Once he was rescued, he would settle all his old and new scores and make Xiao Xingyue kneel down and apologize to him!

After a short while, Chen Manfu came in carrying two pigeons.

The old butler's face was full of doubt:

"Your Highness, that's strange. Why did your pen pal write two letters today?"

Zhao Yuanbao was so busy he was scratching his head, so he handed over the task of collecting letters to Chen Manfu.

Chen Manfu couldn't distinguish pigeons, but he recognized those that flew to the Prince's mansion as the prince's pen pals.

Xiao Xingyue was also puzzled. He opened the first letter, which was in Li Lingxi's handwriting.

There were no fancy phrases like "Greetings, I hope you find this letter well," and it started with "Ahhhhhhh" again:

Oh my god, my soulmate, I'm so conflicted.

He won again in court. That bastard doesn't seem so weak or so bad after all.

He actually gave the money to veterans and disaster victims. Do you think I misunderstood him before?

He still disliked me, really disliked me, but he still praised me, which made me a little happy.

Do you think I should continue to hate him?

Xiao Xingyue could barely suppress the urge to smile; he picked up his pen and replied:

Ahhhhh, my confidant, don't worry about it.

I hate him, I must hate him, but I can help him while hating him, after all, there aren't many people in the world who understand your inner workings.

If that bastard is still somewhat useful, keep him around for now.

He only opened the second letter after he finished writing it.

With just one glance, Xiao Xingyue's eyebrows shot up.

The letter stated that Xiao Xingyue had apparently uncovered money laundering activities by the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works, and that I had failed in my investigation, requesting assistance.

Whose letter is this? Could it be from Gu Chenjun?

Meanwhile, Gu Chenjun was imprisoned in the dungeon of the Prince's Mansion. He was not agitated, after all, he would be released soon.

I imagine his father has already received his plea for help and will be coming to pick him up soon.

But an hour passed, then two hours passed.

As the daylight faded, the sky grew increasingly dark.

He started to panic. Why hadn't anyone come yet? Where was his father? Where were the people from the Ministry of Revenue? Where were the people from the Fifth Princess's residence?

Was he abandoned?

No, impossible. Gu Chenjun is no nobody. He is the eldest son of the Gu family and has a very deep relationship with the Fifth Princess's residence. How could they not save him?

At night, people finally arrived outside the Prince's Mansion.

Hearing the commotion, Gu Chenjun finally felt a glimmer of hope: reinforcements, though late, had arrived!

But it wasn't a member of the Gu family who came; it was a female official.

The lady-in-waiting appeared calm and composed, followed only by two maids who carried an invitation card.

"The Crown Prince of Zhenwang and Her Highness the Fifth Princess request your presence."

Xiao Xingyue accepted the invitation, chuckled, and teased the three women for a few moments. The three women laughed heartily and left together.

Before leaving, he didn't even ask Gu Chenjun a single question.

Gu Chenjun could see everything clearly through the dungeon window, and he shouted loudly:

"Hey, I'm still in the dungeon!"

But you can't hear it from outside.

Even if they could hear it, they wouldn't care.

It was completely dark.

"No!"

He watched as the female official from the Fifth Princess's residence left, and felt utterly hopeless.