CHAPTER 158: CHAPTER 158: LI XINGYUAN WITH NOTHING BETTER TO DO

After Ye Qingrong finished speaking, no one emerged from the corner of the wall.

She smiled, got up, put on her outer garment, and walked over.

In the shadow of the corner, the young man’s skin was as cold as jade, his eyes as cold as the night, and his unobstructed face was exquisite and flawless.

"So, you didn’t ruin your face," Ye Qingrong said with a smile.

Li Mu did not answer, only coldly looked at her.

"I’m looking for Feng Tong," Ye Qingrong said, putting away her smile.

The Qin Family’s downfall was due to the crime of treason.

In the spring of the second year of Taixing, the Western Turks made a large-scale invasion, capturing seven states in Longyou within a month.

Feng Tong, who was then the lord of Qilian City, fled back to the capital after Qilian City fell, bringing back a letter from the leader of the Western Turks to the Crown Prince’s Tutor Qin Yu.

The letter mentioned that Qin Yu had provided the Turkic people with defense maps of Longyou, taking advantage of the unstable foundation of the new emperor’s accession to facilitate the Turks’ entry into the pass, to depose the new emperor, and to support the young Crown Prince Li Mu to seize power.

Because of this letter, the entire Qin Family was imprisoned, and the Qin Mansion was raided, revealing several letters exchanged with the Turkic leader, confirming the Qin Family’s crime of treason.

At that time, the Turkic army had already breached Liangzhou. To boost morale and public sentiment, the entire Qin Family was sentenced to immediate execution.

There were two pieces of evidence in the case from that year, which are also two breakthroughs now.

One was the letter Feng Tong brought back, and the other was the letters found from the Qin Family.

Feng Tong was the first key figure.

However, when Feng Tong returned to the capital, although he claimed to have returned to report, he actually had the crime of abandoning the city and fleeing, and was later demoted.

But more than ten years later, it is unknown where Feng Tong was demoted to.

On this visit to the capital, her primary task was to secretly seek out the old acquaintances of the Qin Family to see if anyone had taken note of Feng Tong’s whereabouts.

Unfortunately, the Qin Family’s old acquaintances have dwindled, and even those who remain in the capital mostly lack the energy to do these things.

Except for Crown Prince Li Mu.

Ye Qingrong’s gaze burned as she looked at the young man before her.

She had just introduced herself to Lin Xujiji during the day, and by night, this young man came looking for her.

It seems they are all Crown Prince Li Mu’s people!

If the Crown Prince assists—

"Feng Tong is at the Prince Jin Mansion."

Ye Qingrong was taken aback.

Did the answer come a bit too quickly?

"Feng Tong has now changed his name to Feng Pu, and five years ago he entered the Prince Jin Mansion to serve as Vice Palace Commander," Li Mu said lightly.

The Vice Palace Commander is in charge of guarding and accompanying.

Ye Qingrong hesitated a bit: "Are you... the Crown Prince’s person?"

It wasn’t surprising for the Crown Prince to have someone in the Duke Yan Mansion, but... why was he so proactive in giving her information?

Li Mu did not answer, continuing, "The old servant who took your brother away back then is now settled in a farmhouse in the western suburbs of the capital. In a few days, I’ll bring him into the city to arrange a meeting for you."

Ye Qingrong was a bit caught off guard: "This... did His Highness the Crown Prince tell you to inform me of this?"

Feng Tong was the first key figure, and the second was that old servant.

Li Mu glanced at her, coldly saying, "These are all the clues to the old Qin Family case. The Duke Yan Mansion doesn’t have what you want, so don’t let me see you pestering the Second Miss Tang again in the future!"

...

After Ye Qingrong entered Class A as a transfer student, Tang Xiaobai surprisingly found that she had fewer opportunities to see her.

Previously on Vermilion Bird Gate Street, she would still force a greeting from a distance, but now, even when meeting face to face, it was just a normal greeting, not making any effort to get closer.

For instance, now, as Ye Qingrong walked out with a group of top students from Class A, she merely smiled politely and nodded in her direction amidst the crowd, without even saying a word, giving Tang Xiaobai quite the feeling of having been used and discarded.

Yet, Ye Qingrong’s gaze did linger on her side for a moment.

Specifically, on her little ancestor’s side, with a somewhat deep look.

Ah...

As expected, she was just a tool person.

After acknowledging her, the five members of Class A continued to follow Lin Xujiji towards the back of the academy, seemingly on their way to an astronomy lesson.

At this moment, an academy servant ran up quickly, shouting, "Mr. Lin, Prince Jin is here!"

Tang Xiaobai’s movement back to the classroom halted.

What was Prince Jin doing here? Was he looking to get information from her again?

...

"I heard Mr. Lin was measuring the sundial today, so I came to observe," Li Shu barely finished speaking to Lin Xujiji before his gaze settled on Ye Qingrong, his expression still cold, yet his eyes were full of determination.

Turns out he wasn’t looking for her after all.

Tang Xiaobai touched her slightly sore face, yet the corner of her mouth curled into a mischievous smile...

...

"...Saying he came to observe Mr. Lin measure the sundial, it’s obvious his true interest lies elsewhere; anyone with eyes can see he’s there for Ye Qingrong!" As soon as Tang Xiaobai returned home, she eagerly grabbed her sister to relay the details of Li Shu’s pursuit of Ye Qingrong.

Although, in the past two years, after her relentless attempts to create rifts, Tang Jiaojiao didn’t develop a crush on Li Shu as the books described, there was still a slight hint of favor.

This was particularly evident when she spoke ill of Li Shu, and Tang Jiaojiao would show a hint of disdain.

Additionally, Li Shu could barely be considered talented in both literature and martial arts, a man of outstanding appearance, and had long held the top spot among the Ten Young Masters of the Capital, which slightly catered to the young lady’s simple wish of "wanting to marry the best man in the world." Thus, Tang Xiaobai continued her efforts to damage Li Shu’s image.

However, after hearing her exaggerated tale, the young lady just snorted coldly, showing disdain: "Coming from a small family, it’s just that little charming trick!"

Tang Xiaobai was stunned.

No, that’s not the right direction!

Just as Tang Xiaobai was about to refocus her attention on Li Shu, a laugh suddenly came from above her head.

"Miss Ye is both talented and beautiful, with a noble character; it’s no surprise someone would pursue her. Now, with Prince Jin chasing after Miss Ye, Miss Ye might be more troubled than flattered!"

Tang Xiaobai was about to look up when she saw the young lady’s face become stern and she threw a jade bowl from her side into the treetop above.

That was jade!

Tang Xiaobai closed her eyes in distress.

However, she didn’t hear the expected sound of jade shattering. Instead, there seemed to be a gust of wind beside her, followed by a man’s laughter: "The young lady is truly generous, gifting such a fine jade bowl to a subordinate!"

Tang Xiaobai opened her eyes just in time to see Li Xingyuan naturally slipping the jade bowl into his sleeve.

Tang Jiaojiao laughed coldly, saying, "Miss Ye has a noble character, do you know Miss Ye quite well?"

Li Xingyuan laughed, "At least I wouldn’t speak ill behind someone’s back—"

Before he finished, Tang Jiaojiao threw another jade dish, which Li Xingyuan also swiftly caught in his sleeve.

This act of speaking for outsiders while taking advantage of the young lady’s assets was something even Tang Xiaobai couldn’t stand, and she angrily said, "Master Yuan, do you have nothing better to do? If you’re so free, I’ll speak to the young master on your behalf, so you don’t have to keep bothering my sister!"

Li Xingyuan was at a loss for words.

No wonder Miss Tang always thought he was idling around. Imagine him, the Heir of Prince Changshan, often being tasked with some covert tasks at night, making it seem like during the day, aside from eating and sleeping, all he did was tease the young lady.