Wang Guang's eyes were vacant, his heart a jumble of emotions.
Ru Yan was his most beloved concubine, and he never imagined she would be defiled by Ying Tianci.
He knew Ru Yan well enough to believe she would never betray him.
She must have been coerced by Ying Tianci, forced to compromise her integrity.
The thought was like a knife twisting in his heart, and he inwardly cursed Ying Tianci as a scoundrel.
"What is it, Marquis Changsheng? Do you seem displeased?"
Seeing Wang Guang's grim expression, Ying Tianci's face suddenly hardened, his voice laced with a chilling coldness.
Just moments ago, he had been treating Wang Guang as an equal, but now he had changed his demeanor, revealing the authority of a superior. His change of mood was faster than turning a page.
"It is my utmost honor that Ru Yan has gained the favor of His Highness the Crown Prince."
Wang Guang knew Ying Tianci's volatile temper well. He immediately forced a smile, daring not to show any hint of resentment.
He had no choice but to swallow his pride and endure this insult. If he dared to voice any complaint, Ying Tianci would surely not let him off the hook.
Seeing Wang Guang's compliance, Ying Tianci's face broke into a satisfied smile, his expression returning to one of geniality. "A mere woman, a plaything, what is she? Once I ascend the throne, you will not be shortchanged."
"Indeed, women are nothing. Your Highness the Crown Prince, I will be direct with you. I just saw Miss Li go to Tianxiang Pavilion with someone surnamed Ji."
Wang Guang no longer held back and revealed what he knew.
There was a deliberate intent behind his words. Since you claim women are like clothes, then let me make you experience the pain of having your own clothes worn by someone else.
Come on, we are both cuckolds, let's hurt each other!
"What did you say?"
Ying Tianci's face changed drastically.
"Li Qiufeng went to Tianxiang Pavilion with Ji Mo. They were acting intimately."
Wang Guang recounted what he had witnessed earlier.
Then, seeing Ying Tianci's increasingly displeased expression, he felt a surge of secret satisfaction.
You cuckolded me, now you're getting your comeuppance.
Of course, he hid his emotions well, ensuring the other party couldn't see his inner thoughts.
Ying Tianci's face ran through a spectrum of colors. He never imagined that the green hat, after going in a full circle, would eventually land on his own head.
It turned out that the real clown was himself!
"No, it can't be. Qiufeng is not that kind of person. She would never do anything to betray me."
Ying Tianci refused to believe it, unwilling to accept it.
His face contorted with a terrifying killing intent. He stared at Wang Guang, his eyes filled with murderous rage, wondering if this fellow, upon learning he had been cuckolded, had deliberately uttered these words to get revenge.
A woman like Li Qiufeng had extremely high standards, even looking down on him. There was no man in this world who could attract her and make her act so unchaste.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, please see reason. Everything I say is the truth, not a single word is false."
Wang Guang's heart trembled. He hadn't expected Ying Tianci to harbor murderous intent towards him. He quickly said, "Miss Li is currently with that Ji fellow. Your Highness can send someone to the Li residence to inquire if Miss Li is at home."
Without a word, Ying Tianci immediately ordered someone to go to the Li residence to find out the situation.
If Li Qiufeng was indeed at the Li residence, then Wang Guang had played a trick on him, and he would flay him alive.
Wang Guang could feel the killing intent emanating from Ying Tianci, and his heart grew colder.
The servant sent to gather information quickly returned, reporting that neither Li Qiufeng nor her maidservant Hongxing were seen in the Li residence. In fact, no one in the Li household knew when their young lady had secretly slipped out of the house.
Upon hearing this news, Ying Tianci was filled with rage, his face ashen.
He felt as if his head was covered in a lush green expanse.
An unmarried young lady of a prominent family secretly climbed over the wall to sneak out of her home and meet a man in a pleasure house.
If anyone were to believe that there was nothing improper between them, who would believe it!
"Vile slut, I will kill you, I will definitely kill you..."
Ying Tianci's face was ferocious as he roared madly, beginning to smash everything around him.
After a torrent of curses, he gritted his teeth and ordered Wang Guang, "Immediately gather the Iron Cavalry Guard and accompany me to kill someone."
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, please reconsider. This is absolutely not advisable. Li Xiu will not allow us to harm Li Qiufeng."
Wang Guang had no choice but to brace himself and try to dissuade him.
Li Xiu was the current Grand Chancellor, the head of the civil officials, and deeply favored by His Majesty. He didn't have the guts to cause trouble at his residence.
If the situation escalated, Ying Tianci might be fine, but he could very well become a scapegoat.
Furthermore, merely seeing Li Qiufeng walking with Ji Mo was not enough to prove her unchastity. With Li Xiu's capabilities, he might even be accused of defamation.
"Useless! I want to kill the one surnamed Ji."
Ying Tianci was not incompetent. He knew that offending Li Xiu lightly was not an option, so he naturally decided to target Ji Mo.
How dare he touch his woman? This Ji fellow must die.
He dared not touch Li Qiufeng, but could he not dare to kill a mere Ji Mo?
"Your subordinate will go and gather the men immediately. I will surely chop that dog Ji into meat paste."
A sharp glint appeared at the corner of Wang Guang's mouth, and he immediately went to mobilize the troops.
...
Wangjing City, Yue Residence.
Yue Longgang looked at the several large wooden chests placed on the ground, his rugged face etched with confusion. He asked, "Yin'er, what is the meaning of this? You came to visit your godfather, and singing a few songs for me would be the best gift. Why bring these things? You know godfather never accepts gifts."
As the Grand Marshal of the Great Qin Dynasty, Yue Longgang was second only to the emperor, and sometimes his words carried more weight than the emperor's.
Naturally, there were countless people who tried to curry favor with him and offer gifts to build relationships. Therefore, Yue Longgang had established a rule: he never accepted gifts.
Even if the gift was from his goddaughter, it was still not allowed.
"Godfather, you misunderstand. These are not for you. This is my small token of appreciation for the tens of thousands of soldiers guarding the frontier."
Man Yin said.
Then she gestured for the servants to open these large wooden chests.
Instantly, the entire living room was filled with the brilliance of gold and jewels.
Inside the chests were stacks of gold notes and various precious jewelry.
Man Yin said, "Inside, there are ten million taels of gold notes, and jewelry valued at forty million taels of gold, totaling fifty million taels of gold."
Yue Longgang frowned, his eyes darkening. "These treasures, are they not from some official who wants to bribe me through your hands?"
He detested corruption and bribery above all else.
Now that Man Yin had inexplicably brought out such a huge sum of money, he couldn't help but suspect.
"Godfather, how could Yin'er do such a thing? This is my savings accumulated over the years, and its origin is clean. I am willing to donate it for military supplies. I heard that border skirmishes have been frequent recently, and several neighboring countries have colluded, dispatching heavy troops to the border with ill intentions."
Man Yin paused, then continued, "I want to let a certain person know that although I, Man Yin, am a woman, I am not a shallow person. I am also someone who, despite my humble position, has not forgotten the worries of the nation. In times of national crisis, I am willing to contribute my strength to the country."
When mentioning that certain person, Man Yin gritted her teeth, and the face of Ji Mo appeared in her mind.
She did this, naturally, to prove to Ji Mo that she was not someone who coveted wealth, and that she also cared about the country and its people.