The latter casually flipped through the book, confirmed its authenticity, and then swaggered away.
Seeing his confident demeanor, Zhu Chang felt a pang of worry and immediately summoned his confidant.
"Go and investigate if any grain merchants in the city have been in contact with the Regent's people, especially in the last few days."
"Yes!"
The subordinate received the order and turned to leave.
"Wait!"
Zhu Chang suddenly frowned and called him back, giving further instructions:
"Find someone to warn the city's grain merchants that they are absolutely not allowed to sell grain at low prices, nor are they to leak any information!"
The subordinate nodded in agreement and slowly departed.
However, no matter how capable Zhu Chang was, he couldn't stop the Hainá Merchants Association from transporting grain into the city. They were the premier merchant guild with powerful connections, so their entry required no inspection.
Thus, shiploads of grain were transported into Ning City, falling into the hands of Ye Qingcheng and Xiao Wangye.
With this batch of grain, their previously strained granaries were replenished, and the citizens who were resisting the Japanese merchant convoy regained their fervor.
After receiving the documents, Xiao Wangye, as promised, signed the contract for Zhang Dieyi's grain store, authorizing them to supply the grain in Ning City.
This led to the dismantling of the small stall he had set up in front of the medical clinic. The business was directly transferred to Zhang Dieyi's grain store.
With the announcement of fair grain prices, the city's residents flocked to the Hainá Merchants Association's grain stores, while the Japanese merchant convoy's stores remained deserted, with only a few bewildered shop assistants.
Many people had begun to waver due to the dwindling grain supply, but with the timely replenishment and seemingly inexhaustible availability, their resolve to suppress the Japanese merchant convoy grew even stronger!
This time, not a single person purchased grain from the Japanese stores. In fact, they failed to sell even half a catty of grain over three or four days!
News of this reached Zhu Chang, enraging him to the point of smashing his table and flying into a furious rage.
However, no matter how angry he was, he couldn't alter the situation. He could only hastily dispatch people to investigate the identity of this grain store that openly defied the Japanese merchant convoy.
Zhu Chang knew the grain stores in Ning City like the back of his hand. He couldn't comprehend where anyone else dared to deliberately defy his orders.
With Xiao Wangye presenting the evidence, Zhu Chang could no longer continue his struggle. Xiao Wangye ordered the soldiers to arrest him and throw him into prison.
The matter here was considered concluded.
Xiao Wangye and Ye Qingcheng could now return to the capital.
One morning, Ye Qingcheng suddenly exclaimed.
"Ah, it hurts!"
Ye Qingcheng cried out, opened her eyes, and sat up.
Strange, hadn't she just hit her head on a pillar? Why was she still in this room? And there seemed to be another person beside her.
What was going on? Was this a dream?
"What's wrong? Where does it hurt?" a familiar voice sounded from beside the bed.
"You..." Ye Qingcheng looked at the handsome, almost impossibly beautiful face sitting by her bed and was stunned, unable to speak for a moment.
Then, she belatedly realized that everything about the wedding and such that had happened earlier was just a dream.
But the dream had felt so real, it was truly terrifying.
Ye Qingcheng touched her cheek, her palm surprisingly wet with tears.
"How am I?" he leaned closer, his gaze falling on her tear-streaked face, and he too was taken aback. "You're crying? Why?"
"It's nothing, it's nothing," Ye Qingcheng waved her hand.
"Then you said it hurt just now..." Xiao Wangye frowned slightly.
She smiled, "I just had a nightmare, it's nothing."
He nodded gently and asked no further questions, remaining seated by the bed, seemingly wanting to say something but hesitating.
Ye Qingcheng smiled, "Your Highness, do you have something you wish to say?"
He did indeed have something to say to her, but he was hesitant, moving his lips, yet ultimately saying nothing.
"Your Highness, you definitely have something to say!" she stated with certainty.
Xiao Wangye paused for a moment and then changed the subject, "By the way, I must ask, you went out a while ago and didn't return for a long time. What exactly were you doing?"
She froze for a moment and, feeling guilty, averted her gaze.
Noticing her subtle movement, Xiao Wangye's expression shifted slightly. He placed his hands on her shoulders, forcing her gaze back to his face.
"Tell me, what exactly were you doing?" he asked.
Ye Qingcheng sighed, unwilling to hide anything from him any longer, and began, "I left the manor, and originally I planned to stroll around the streets, but I encountered a group of people surrounding me, saying I was the female ghost from that place called Wolf Eater Ridge..."
She recounted everything, from being accosted, meeting Shangguan Hong, the Crown Prince's strategist, who resolved her trouble, to treating them to tea and watching a play, and then the incident with the corpse.
After finishing, Ye Qingcheng sighed, "That's how it happened."
"It really ended just like that?" His expression clearly showed his disbelief.
"It was that simple, otherwise, what more do you expect to happen?" she shot him a slightly reproachful glance.
Hearing that she had encountered such a situation, not only did he not comfort her, but he also said it was that simple? This was far from a simple matter, not at all.
He shook his head, "It's nothing."
After a moment of silence, Xiao Wangye stood up and said, "It's getting late. I heard you slept for quite a while and didn't want anyone to disturb you. Even if you're in a bad mood, you still need to eat."
She remained silent.
He continued, "Let's go, we'll have dinner together. I've prepared your favorite dishes."
Ye Qingcheng smiled and quickly climbed out of bed.
Ye Qingcheng had been feeling uneasy all along. Finally, during dinner, she put down her chopsticks with a clatter, striking a pose as if she had something to say.
However, Xiao Wangye merely glanced at her indifferently, his words almost enough to make her furious.
He actually said, "Choked again?"
"You, you, you, Your Highness, you dislike me again!" she glared at him hatefully.
Xiao Wangye chuckled, "Then tell me, with that look, what good news are you about to announce to me?"
Without waiting for her reply, he teased, "Could it be that you're pregnant?"
Glancing down at her still flat abdomen, Ye Qingcheng pouted and said, "Neither. I have something to discuss with you, Your Highness."
"Hmm, speak."
Her attitude was quite good; she was willing to discuss anything.
But she hesitated for a moment and said, "Your Highness, I haven't been feeling very well lately and wish to find a place to rest and recuperate for a while. What do you think, Your Highness?"
Upon hearing this, his expression abruptly darkened.
All his smiles vanished, his handsome face lengthened, clearly indicating extreme displeasure.
Ye Qingcheng quickly added, "I will only be away for a short period. Once my health is restored, I will naturally return. You can rest assured about this, Your Highness."
"Qingcheng, do you think I am incapable of protecting you?" he said coldly.