"You..." Shameless, Zhao Yanluo wanted to say this, but considering Qi Yuze's current identity, he felt extremely distressed.
"Young Marquis Zhao, are you still sticking to what you just said?"
"If I agree, will you stop that person?" Zhao Yanluo suddenly looked up and asked.
Qi Yuze heard this and replied, "That depends on how cooperative Young Marquis Zhao is."
Zhao Yanluo gritted his teeth upon hearing this. "Your Highness, your wicked schemes haven't changed at all, have they?"
Qi Yuze said coldly, "Since you know this, you should have realized that this Prince is determined to have you."
"I am truly the unluckiest person." Zhao Yanluo was so angry he almost sat on the ground and cried.
But he knew it was useless. It might have worked on Ji Wuran of the past, but now, as the young prince of the Nanping Manor, he felt it was completely useless.
"So, Young Marquis Zhao, are you helping or not?" Qi Yuze asked coldly.
"Can I say no?"
"No," Qi Yuze answered crisply.
Zhao Yanluo, upon hearing this, said angrily, "Bad company leads to ruin, bad company leads to ruin!"
"Young Marquis, if you wait any longer, the Empress might learn of your meeting with this Prince tonight," Qi Yuze said indifferently.
"I agree, I agree, alright?" Zhao Yanluo said in exasperation.
"Good, then my plan is..."
Xue Xingyue returned to the Imperial Study after the court session and saw Meng Jiangming, looking somewhat surprised. "Duke Meng, you haven't returned to your manor?"
Meng Jiangming stepped forward and bowed. "Your Majesty, the person I sent yesterday to gather information has not returned. This morning, he was found dead on his way to my manor."
Xue Xingyue was slightly stunned upon hearing this and looked at Meng Jiangming, asking, "This is..."
Meng Jiangming said, "Your Majesty, I fear my subordinate must have uncovered crucial information and was discovered, leading to their assassination."
"It might not necessarily be news from the post station," Xue Xingyue said slowly.
Meng Jiangming was taken aback and looked at Xue Xingyue, asking, "Your Highness means..."
"I have people at the post station as well. If it were news from the post station, my people would have sent me a message. It's likely even more important information."
"Your Majesty, what should we do now?" Meng Jiangming asked.
"Wait. My people should be on their way by now," Xue Xingyue said.
A moment later, Wu Hen hurried in, whispered a few words in her ear, and then left.
Xue Xingyue said slowly, "The young prince of Nanping has arrived."
Meng Jiangming trembled all over. When did the young prince of Nanping arrive? How did he not know?
He bowed and asked for forgiveness. "It is my negligence that I do not even know when the young prince of Nanping arrived in the capital. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!"
"This is not your fault. It is clear that the young prince of Nanping did this intentionally. He probably had a premeditated plan."
Meng Jiangming said, "Please tell Your Majesty where the young prince of Nanping is staying, and I will go to receive him."
"Wanjun Restaurant," Xue Xingyue said, word by word.
Meng Jiangming's expression froze. What a coincidence, it was his territory.
After leaving the palace, Meng Jiangming rushed to Wanjun Restaurant without delay. Before arriving, he had already sent someone to inform Zhao Yanluo. Less than a hundred meters from Wanjun Restaurant, he saw his carriage being stopped.
"It's Young Marquis Zhao, Duke!" the servant said.
"Please invite the Young Marquis up," Meng Jiangming said from inside the carriage.
A moment later, Zhao Yanluo got into the carriage. After sitting down, he asked, "You said the young prince of Nanping is staying at my Wanjun Restaurant?"
Meng Jiangming nodded, "Yes."
"Really?" Zhao Yanluo seemed somewhat disbelieving.
"Absolutely true!" Meng Jiangming said.
Zhao Yanluo frowned. "What is this young prince of Nanping thinking? Why would he choose to stay at Wanjun Restaurant?"
"If I knew, would I still be looking for you?" Meng Jiangming said.
Zhao Yanluo nodded. "You're right. Then what should I do?"
"What else can you do? Treat him well with food and drink. If it's not enough, ask me for money." Meng Jiangming said.
Zhao Yanluo was overjoyed upon hearing this. "Jiangming, you've never been this generous. Did the Empress grant you some favors?"
"What favors? I'm just looking out for myself!"
As they spoke, the carriage stopped. Meng Jiangming and Zhao Yanluo alighted from the carriage. Zhao Yanluo walked in first, not noticing anything unusual, and asked, "Jiangming, is your information wrong? This doesn't look like a place a young prince of Nanping would stay."
Meng Jiangming was also somewhat surprised. Suddenly, he was locked by a gaze. He instinctively looked up and saw a stern face with unusually deep eyes.
He instinctively spoke, "Young Prince of Nanping."
The man nodded slightly and slowly walked down. "Duke Ning."
Meng Jiangming looked at the stern man before him and said, "Why didn't the young prince of Nanping stay at the post station when he arrived, so that I, this Duke, could properly host him?"
"This Wanjun Restaurant is very satisfying to this Prince. Staying here won't cause trouble for Duke Ning, will it?"
"There won't be trouble. The young prince of Nanping worries too much."
"That's good. This Prince likes it here, and staying here is fine."
Although the words were ordinary, they made Meng Jiangming feel a sense of pressure.
"Tell me whatever the young prince of Nanping likes or wants to eat, and I'll have them prepare it for you," Zhao Yanluo said quickly.
"Thank you, Young Marquis," Qi Yuze said slowly.
Zhao Yanluo's eyes lit up. "The young prince actually knows who I am?"
Qi Yuze said, "Besides the Young Marquis, there's no one else who would be on good terms with Duke Ning."
Zhao Yanluo chuckled a few times, then said, "Since that's the case, I'll take it upon myself today to have a drink. What does Your Highness think?"
"Naturally, it is good. I just don't know if Duke Ning will grant us this honor?" Qi Yuze looked at Meng Jiangming.
Meng Jiangming chuckled lowly. "Since it is an invitation from the Young Prince, I will naturally accompany you to the end."