CHAPTER 540: CHAPTER 540 FLAWS

Prince NanAn stayed with Master Liu for almost half an hour.

The little eunuch was getting impatient waiting outside when Prince NanAn finally climbed over the wall to come out.

The little eunuch went to meet him and said, "Prince NanAn, the Second Prince invites you to Chengde Hall."

The Second Prince is looking for him?

Prince NanAn frowned tightly.

He and the Second Prince hardly have any connection.

Why would the Second Prince think of looking for him?

He was in a hurry to go to Prince Zhenbei Mansion.

But since the Second Prince specially sent a little eunuch to invite him, it would be rude to refuse.

"Lead the way," Prince NanAn said.

It took a quarter of an hour to reach Chengde Hall.

Prince NanAn and the Heir of Duke Chong’s faction used to mind their own business, but now they loathe each other.

They had beaten the Heir of Duke Chong’s group so badly, the Second Prince looking for him, Prince NanAn really couldn’t understand.

Seeing Prince NanAn, the Second Prince also had a headache.

He really didn’t know what sense of taste his sister, Princess Shouning, had.

How did she set her eyes on Prince NanAn?

Though his family background was alright, and his looks were passable, his temperament was terrible and so bothersome.

Princess Shouning had used his name to find Prince NanAn, and the Second Prince didn’t want to embarrass Princess Shouning.

After Prince NanAn paid respects to the Second Prince, he said, "I don’t know why the Second Prince called me here for?"

The Second Prince could only awkwardly chit-chat, "I heard from the Heir of Duke Chong that there’s some conflict with you, I hope someday when I’m well, I can host a banquet and you and the Heir of Marquis Jingguo could honor me with your presence, so that everyone can reconcile."

Prince NanAn didn’t expect this was the reason for calling him.

Looking at the Second Prince’s pale face, Prince NanAn felt his face had words carved on it—

Meddlesome.

He truly didn’t want to reconcile with the Heir of Duke Chong.

Prince NanAn laughed and said, "The Heir of Duke Chong is Brother Su’s cousin, we are all one family."

"It was just a martial arts sparring, it can’t be considered a conflict."

Mere pleasantries, the Second Prince could only listen and smile.

Prince NanAn took his leave.

The Second Prince hurriedly said, "Stay and chat with me a bit longer."

Prince NanAn frowned.

What was there to talk about with the Second Prince?

They chatted intermittently for another quarter of an hour, and Prince NanAn really couldn’t stay any longer.

At this moment, the little eunuch came in to report, "Second Prince, Princess Shouning has come to see you."

The Second Prince let out a sigh of relief.

If she hadn’t come, he wouldn’t have been able to hold on any longer.

The expression on the Second Prince’s face was completely clear to Prince NanAn.

It turned out keeping him here was for Princess Shouning?

Daring to scheme so badly against him and still have the audacity to covet him?!

There was a faint sound of footsteps accompanied by a pleasant tinkling sound.

Princess Shouning came in with a mix of shyness and anger, and Prince NanAn let out an "ouch."

Princess Shouning was confused.

Only to see Prince NanAn clutching his stomach, "Stomach ache, I must take my leave first."

After saying this, without waiting for the Second Prince’s approval, Prince NanAn turned and left.

When passing by Princess Shouning, he moved so fast it was like a gust of wind.

Princess Shouning hadn’t even reacted yet, and he was already gone.

She quickly chased after him, only catching the silhouette of Prince NanAn galloping away.

Princess Shouning’s face flushed red, and in her anger, she tugged at the embroidered handkerchief in her hand, stamping her foot hard.

This clearly means he doesn’t want to see her!

Princess Shouning cried so much that her tears were almost bursting out.

The palace maid could only lie with her eyes open, "If his stomach wasn’t really hurting, Prince NanAn definitely wouldn’t run that fast."

"Call Master Liu to see this princess!" Princess Shouning gritted her teeth.

...

Ran far away in one go.

It was only then Prince NanAn stopped.

It seemed better to visit the Imperial Palace less in the future.

The feeling of someone coveting him was really unbearable.

Thinking about how Princess Shouning caused him to hastily get engaged, and to this day he still didn’t know who his fiancée was, Prince NanAn was really unhappy.

Mounting his horse, Prince NanAn rode out of the palace.

...

Fengyang Palace.

After returning, Princess Shouning was in a sullen mood.

In order to meet Prince NanAn, she specifically chose her best dress and groomed herself meticulously.

In the end, he didn’t even give her a proper look and just ran off.

Princess Shouning felt she had suffered unprecedented humiliation.

After drinking half a cup of tea, the more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

The little eunuch came in and said, "Princess, Master Liu has arrived."

"Let him in."

Very soon, Master Liu came in.

He respectfully greeted Princess Shouning.

Princess Shouning asked him, "What did Prince NanAn want from you?"

Master Liu glanced at Princess Shouning and said, "The Prince asked me to create a jade pendant."

"What kind of jade pendant?" Princess Shouning pressed for details.

"It’s the prince’s engagement jade pendant. His jade pendant was stolen, and he asked me to create an identical one," replied Master Liu.

So it was for breaking the engagement.

Princess Shouning felt much better.

"And then?" Princess Shouning pursued the matter further.

"The Prince couldn’t remember what the jade pendant looked like; his description was vague. Even with my exceptional crafting skills, I can’t help," Master Liu explained.

"I don’t care what method you use, you must help Prince NanAn create an identical jade pendant!" Princess Shouning commanded.

Master Liu, "...."

Such irrational demands.

Without knowing what the jade pendant looks like, he couldn’t just dream it up.

Master Liu, unwilling to argue with Princess Shouning, took his leave.

Princess Shouning sat on a small couch, holding a cushion as if it were Prince NanAn, and gave it a beating.

The jade pendant had been stolen for so long, and still not found!

...

After climbing over the palace wall, Prince NanAn intended to climb over into the backyard of Prince Zhenbei Mansion.

Just as he was about to dismount, he sneezed, nearly bursting into tears.

After contemplating, Prince NanAn dismissed the idea of climbing the wall.

The cactus at that corner was too terrifying.

If he slipped, and no one caught him, he didn’t want to throw himself onto that bunch of cacti and then have to pay for them.

He walked honestly to the main gate of Prince Zhenbei Mansion, entering properly.

In the study.

Xie Jingchen was flipping through account books.

A maid knocked on the door and said, "Young Master, Prince NanAn has arrived."

"Let him in," Xie Jingchen said.

As he spoke, Prince NanAn was walking to the door.

The maid was just about to help push the door open when Prince NanAn already pushed it open.

Xie Jingchen looked at him and said, "Can’t customize the jade pendant?"

"With me in charge, what can’t be done?" Prince NanAn said, shaking a jade fan.

Xie Jingchen looked at him.

Prince NanAn folded up the jade fan and said, "That jade pendant has a secret. I dug it out with ten jars of daughter red."

"What secret?" Xie Jingchen asked with a furrowed brow.

Prince NanAn glanced at him and said, "That jade pendant is counterfeit."

"Counterfeit?" Xie Jingchen’s voice carried surprise.

Prince NanAn nodded and said, "The Prince took Brother Zhao’s jade pendant to find Master Liu a few days ago. That jade pendant was crafted with Master Liu’s help."

"Brother Zhao’s jade pendant is extremely exquisite. Master Liu couldn’t find a piece of jade to match it. The most suitable piece of jade had a slight flaw."

"Coincidentally, the flawed part was lost," Prince NanAn shrugged.

Aside from that flaw, even Master Liu couldn’t tell the difference between real and fake.

But with the loss of that flawed part, Master Liu recognized it at a glance.

The Prince smashed the jade pendant, avoiding that one flaw, allowing the fake to pass as genuine.

Prince NanAn truly couldn’t understand why Prince Zhenbei would do such a thing.

And that painting...

Seeing Xie Jingchen furrowing his brow, Prince NanAn swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue.

Prince Zhenbei’s actions were clearly to stop Brother Jingchen from further investigation.

He wasn’t even sure if telling him about the jade pendant was the right thing to do.

He should have consulted with Chu Shun and the others before coming; Prince NanAn felt a bit regretful.

As for the matter of the painting, he should listen to Chu Shun and the others before speaking further.

Prince NanAn finished speaking, opened his folded fan, and said, "I’m heading back first, the daughter red is on your tab."

Princess NanAn left, Xie Jingchen still sat there, deep in thought with a furrowed brow.

The more the Prince concealed, the more curious he became.

The broken piece was a fake jade pendant, the real one must still be in his father’s possession.

Father cared so much about the jade pendant, he certainly wouldn’t wear it.

With this in mind, Xie Jingchen got up and stepped out of the study.