CHAPTER 49: CHAPTER 49: THIS KID CAN’T TELL A SINGLE TRUTH!

Ha, this troublesome child!

Li Qingmu’s lips twitched slightly as he stood there waiting for the group to question him, then noticed the little rascal feeling guilty and pulling the lead guard to leave.

"I miss my parents, quickly take me home!"

The guards found their young master, their moods lifted, and they couldn’t be bothered to consider whether Li Qingmu was a trafficker, crowding around the youth to head back together.

Li Qingmu looked at the attire of the contingent of guards, his gaze becoming profound: "They’re from the Prince Mansion... Prince Mansion... that little rascal is the Princely Heir?"

...

"Young Prince, finally you’re back, during your absence the Princess Consort’s hair turned white, and the Prince even more..."

Lingjiang Imperial Mansion.

The lead guard watched the youth walk proudly ahead, his voice choked, then turned to relief.

With this outing, the Princely Heir seemed more mature than before, which is a blessing amidst the misfortune.

"Young Prince, earlier you should have had someone seize that thief and brought him back for the Prince to personally deal with!"

"Ahem..." The youth was slightly embarrassed and quickly said, "This person had a change of heart in the end and returned me, let’s just leave it at that!"

"Hmph, leave it at that? Clearly a fabrication, malicious slander! Ahem ahem ahem..."

A cold snort came from behind, startling the youth who shivered, then turned weakly: "Father... Father Prince..."

"Prince?"

The guards all turned, then looked at each other.

The Prince seemed furious!

Shouldn’t he be happy when the Young Prince returns?

Prince Lingjiang was a man in his thirties, but he looked somewhat pale, his complexion slightly poor. Beside him stood an elegant and grand woman, supporting him as they walked slowly.

"Such nonsense! Running out secretly and someone returns you kindly, yet you slander them like this. Where did all the reading of sage’s books go? Ahem..."

Prince Lingjiang’s words were slightly breathless, and seeing his son do such a foolish thing made him even angrier. After speaking briefly, he coughed again.

"Prince, don’t get angry, anger harms the body. The doctor said you need to rest... Besides, Yu’er is just playful, with no harm intended..."

"Women’s opinions!" Qi Junlian angrily flicked his sleeve, "Not learning well in youth, how will he govern in the future? Relying on little wit? It can only chill the ministers’ hearts!"

"Father, I know my mistake!"

Qi Jingyu quickly bowed his head, displaying a face of compliance, but this obedience did not diminish Qi Junlian’s anger, instead, it worsened.

"Every time you do this, act compliant after making mistakes, but in the end? Each time you deceive us, without saying a single truthful word!"

"Prince..."

The Princess Consort of Lingjiang wanted to say something, but looking at her own Prince’s angry face, she dared not speak in the end.

"Father, I did this not without aim."

Qi Jingyu suddenly raised his head, a look of seriousness on his young face.

"Oh? Then say it."

"Father, I followed him all the way, calling him uncle, but I am of the imperial family, how can an ordinary person be worthy of my calling him uncle? This disrupts the rules and dignity of the Imperial Family. After coming back and confronting him once, it’s even. No one can say anything against him in the future."

"Hmm... balancing merits and demerits?"

"Indeed!"

The little one still kept his head down, his face full of sincerity and compliance.

Qi Junlian watched him, gradually, his face’s anger disappeared, turning gentle.

A clever child.

"Father wrongly accused you."

"Father’s teachings are justified; it’s my lack of wisdom that angered Father. I am at fault."

As a father, seeing his son so obedient and insightful, Qi Junlian was much pleased, he nodded and said, "Alright, you’ve had a tiring journey home, quickly go and wash up and rest."

"Yes!"

Qi Jingyu stood respectfully, watching Qi Junlian leave, but then a mischievous light flickered in his eyes. The guy who forced him to call "uncle" all the way, the punishment is far from over!

...

Li Qingmu found an inn to rest at, estimating the time, there were only three days until the exams. During these three days, he didn’t read or solve problems but quietly recuperated, keeping his body in the best condition.

The inn he chose was relatively ordinary, simple in furnishings, but very clean.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to find a better one, rather that Ling’an City was now overcrowded, the good inns were all full, and even the lesser inns were hard to get a room in.

The candidates from Jiangling County were all gathering here; it’s no wonder it’s crowded.

As the sky darkened, Li Qingmu ordered a portion of steamed buns and a bowl of assorted soup to eat, then washed up and rested.

The light in the room extinguished, silence ensued.

Meanwhile, next door, a light was lit.

Qian Yi leaned back in a cane chair, with a newly made warm cushion making him feel so comfortable he almost made a sound, he squinted his eyes, looking at the darkened room next door, revealing a sinister smile.

This Li Qingmu, last time he put him through such misery!

Not only falling into that pit, but also being taken back by the government. If it weren’t for meeting Miss Zhou, he might have died in prison from illness; how would he have today’s comfort?

Moreover, since that time, he developed a cleanliness obsession. He would vomit at seeing things used by others and demand new replacements, like this room.

The cushion on the chair was new, the bedding was new, even the tea cup was new, and all this was money!

Ha, fortunately working for that esteemed person, the least worry is about silver. Such a comfortable life!

"Li Qingmu, oh Li Qingmu, your good days are numbered, wait till this exam is over, hehe..."

Qian Yi didn’t know why he had to wait until the exam was over to act, couldn’t he just finish him off en route?

But since it was the esteemed one’s order, he must comply, or else he’d be the one finished off.

Which esteemed person from the Capital City had such influence?

"The esteemed person from the Capital City, rumored that even their fart smells of incense, hehe, when to smell it? Ugh..."

Qian Yi finished speaking and disgusted himself.

Three days later, the provincial city’s exams officially began!

The gate of the examination hall slowly opened, a crowd of candidates rushed in, Li Qingmu remained calm, unfazed, following the crowd inside, but as he turned a corner, he saw a familiar figure.

"Qian Yi? Is it him? This person actually came to the provincial city for the exam! This matter might not be simple."

He muttered to himself, though feeling somewhat uneasy inside, he didn’t dwell on it, focusing rather on doing well in the exam and then returning home in honor.

He kind of missed his little wife.

He reached out and touched the cape he was wearing, embroidered with a lily flower, remembering his little wife’s tender, watery eyes, Li Qingmu’s lips curved into a slight smile...