Hearing the name, Dean Shen was stunned. "Who? The Prince of Huainan?"
That was a well - known figure throughout Lingzhou.
Seeing Dean Shen's terrified look, Wen Qianyue sighed.
Xie Yunxiao was quite obedient at home. Why did he sound like a heinous villain in others' mouths?
"Dean Shen, don't worry. The Prince of Huainan will never cause trouble in the academy," Wen Qianyue promised.
Dean Shen was skeptical. He was extremely reluctant to have anything to do with the so - called devil in the legend, but he didn't dare to disobey Prime Minister Lu's order.
"How about giving the prince a trial period of three months, and then deciding whether to keep him or not?" Dean Shen proposed.
Wen Qianyue didn't make things difficult. "It's a deal."
Dean Shen visibly relaxed.
Maybe it would be Xie Yunxiao who couldn't stand the constraints and wouldn't want to study there.
Wen Qianyue didn't know what was on Dean Shen's mind. After this matter was settled, she had other arrangements.
At noon, after lunch, Wen Qianyue took Yue Heng to the Yamen of Lingzhou. She claimed that there had been a theft in the Prince's Mansion and presented all the account books of the mansion over the years as evidence.
"A theft? Can there be a theft in the Prince's Mansion?" The assistant magistrate didn't take it seriously. But after checking the account books, his expression became solemn.
"So much money is missing. Why did the prince wait until now to deal with it?"
Wen Qianyue sighed deeply. "It's not something that can be explained in a few words. This couldn't have been done just by the people inside the mansion. There must be someone outside to cooperate so that everything could be done seamlessly." She paused, and behind her, Yue Heng silently moved the sword at his waist back.
The assistant magistrate was startled and quickly said, "Please tell His Highness the prince that this official will surely get to the bottom of this matter."
Wen Qianyue smiled sweetly. "Then I can rest assured."
Before leaving, she paused. "By the way, many other items in the mansion are also missing. Please help to investigate them as well, sir."
On the way back to the mansion, Wen Qianyue saw the things that Xie Yunxiao had pawned. She couldn't help scolding in her heart.
This prodigal child. No wonder they were so poor now.
Suddenly, her hand stopped flipping. She took out a deed of a mansion from it and felt that the name was familiar.
Wasn't this... the place where the Ji family was living now?
It turned out that it was also under Xie Yunxiao's name. Xie Yunxiao must not know about it, or he would never have sold the deed.
Wen Qianyue raised her eyebrows slightly and had an idea in mind.
In the evening, she went to the main courtyard and gave him the letter written by Dean Shen.
"Dean Shen wrote the admission letter for me personally?" Xie Yunxiao couldn't believe it. He held the envelope and looked at it from all angles, even suspecting that it was a fake letter forged by his mother.
Wen Qianyue wanted to laugh. "What's so surprising about that?"
"... You know very well that with my reputation, anyone who hears about me would stay away. The Yufeng Academy has been personally praised by my grandfather, so it must have some real strength."
Xie Yunxiao felt a bit nervous. He wondered if he would be kicked out in the end after going there to study, disappointing his princess mother.
"Don't scare yourself before things even start. Aren't you going to the Ji family the day after tomorrow? Have you prepared the birthday gift?" Wen Qianyue changed the topic.
Xie Yunxiao averted his gaze. "Yes, it's almost done."
"That's good."
...
On the day of the birthday banquet, Wen Qianyue went out early on purpose.
She asked Yue Heng to prepare the carriage and went to the Ji family.
The Ji family was not a noble family, nor were they wealthy merchants. They could only be considered to have a little property.
But the grand mansion in front of her, with many servants hired, was even more imposing than some of the prominent families in Lingzhou.
Needless to say, Wen Qianyue knew where the money came from.
Ji Wenzhen was studying in the Yufeng Academy. He had passed the imperial examination and became a scholar at a young age. Many students in the academy were willing to give him face, and most of them came. The place was bustling with activity.
Wen Qianyue took the invitation prepared by Yue Heng early in the morning and entered the Ji family without any hindrance.
There were many people inside. Mr. Ji, the protagonist of the day, was sitting in the middle, looking very imposing.
Ji Wenzhen was chatting with his friends from the academy.
Wen Qianyue looked at this family. They didn't look like they were living under someone else's roof at all. It was obvious that they had regarded this place as their own home.
"Miss, this way, please," a maid invited Wen Qianyue to take her seat.
Today she didn't want to attract attention, so she had disguised herself.
Soon, Xie Yunxiao also arrived.
Mr. and Mrs. Ji, who had been kind to others before, suddenly changed their expressions.
The smile on Mr. Ji's face gradually faded. "I didn't know that the young prince was coming. I'm being impolite."
Although he said so, there was no trace of respect in his words.
Although Xie Yunxiao was only a nominal prince, most people were still willing to give him face. It was the first time that someone like Mr. Ji openly showed his disrespect.
But the so - called ill - tempered Young Prince Xie Yunxiao didn't show any sign of anger. Instead, he was very respectful.
This really opened everyone's eyes.
Mr. Ji enjoyed the admiring looks from others.
The young prince, whom others treated with the utmost respect, didn't even dare to breathe loudly in front of him.
Xie Yunxiao bowed slightly, giving enough face to the Ji family. "No, it's I who should come to wish Mr. Ji a happy birthday."
Mr. Ji just nodded and then ignored him. He directly turned to talk to another person.
Wen Qianyue asked Yue Heng to bring Xie Yunxiao over.
She didn't want to watch Xie Yunxiao rush to curry favor with them.
Xie Yunxiao looked puzzled and followed Yue Heng.
"Why are you here? When did you come back?"
Yue Heng didn't say a word.
The next second.
Xie Yunxiao stood still and blurted out, "Why are you here?"
At the banquet, Wen Qianyue took a sip of tea without even raising her head. "Who else did you think it would be?"
Xie Yunxiao thought about it. That was right.
Only his princess mother could order Yue Heng around.
He scratched his head, extremely surprised. "But how did you get in?"
"I should be asking you. What are you up to? I heard that you've sold a lot of things from the mansion recently?"
Yue Heng stood beside Wen Qianyue, then wisely stepped back, leaving some private space for the mother and son.
Xie Yunxiao felt a bit embarrassed. "You know about this too?"
Wen Qianyue: "Of course."
"Ruxue grew up in the Ji family. She has been living under their roof since childhood. She regards the Ji family as her parents. Naturally, I can't let her lose face."
Wen Qianyue asked, "Meng Ruxue just saved you when you were a child. Over the years, she has taken a lot of money from the Prince's Mansion. Don't tell me you don't know about it?"
Xie Yunxiao remained silent.
"Before, you had the ability to take care of her and her family. I didn't say much. But now that you're in such a situation, do you still want to sell all your possessions to take care of her face?"
"... I feel guilty towards her," Xie Yunxiao finally said after a long while.
How could Wen Qianyue not know?
Xie Yunxiao always felt that it was because Meng Ruxue saved him when they were young that her health became so weak.
Xie Yunxiao added, "Moreover, Ruxue isn't being vain. She's doing this for my own good."
Wen Qianyue: "??? For your own good?"
Was Xie Yunxiao so stupid that he was being taken advantage of?
"The Ji family has always looked down on titles and wealth. They only value one's character and knowledge," Xie Yunxiao continued. "I... have a bad reputation outside. Ruxue just wants the Ji family to think highly of me."
Wen Qianyue rubbed her forehead and didn't want to say any more.