The Li Prince's Mansion was located within the imperial city, very close to the palace. There were often guards patrolling nearby, so ordinary people couldn't get close at all.
However, today, there was a carriage parked outside the Li Prince's Mansion. A portly man with a fleshy face and bushy beards was standing beside the carriage, smilingly staring at the main gate of the mansion.
He held the reins in one hand and was twirling two walnuts in the other. The fabric of his clothes was quite expensive. Although his appearance was ugly, he couldn't be called vulgar.
Outside the gate, the guards held their sword hilts and stared at him warily, not allowing him to take a single step forward.
This man was Chen Kejin, the Colonel Cavalry Commander from Xuanzhou who had come to the capital to look for his runaway "little wife". He sized up the lintel of the Li Prince's Mansion, his narrow eyes full of calculation and greed.
Sure enough, the Ye family hadn't lied to him. His little wife had quite a background. Just look at this mansion. How imposing it was!
If he could get the Li Prince's Mansion to recognize this marriage, he wouldn't have to stay in that godforsaken place like Xuanzhou anymore. Maybe one day, he would inherit this mansion.
Before he came, he had inquired. He had heard that the Li Prince had been sick and hadn't shown up for the past two months. He supposed the prince must be seriously ill. And there was only a princess from the countryside managing the affairs in the mansion.
He and that young woman had a marriage certificate stamped by the Xuanzhou government. Now, he had spread the news that he was the Li Prince's son-in-law.
Women cared most about their reputation. For the sake of her daughter's reputation, the princess might have to accept this marriage. The Li Prince and the princess only had one daughter. Besides relying on their son-in-law, who else could they rely on?
Just thinking that this huge estate would eventually fall into his hands made Commander Chen excited.
Therefore, although he had been left outside the gate for so long, there was no sign of impatience on his face. He even looked quite composed.
Finally, the side gate of the Li Prince's Mansion was opened, and someone walked out.
The guards at the gate were startled and quickly turned around to greet the person. "Greetings, Your Highness."
What? It was actually the Li Prince.
Wasn't the Li Prince seriously ill and unable to leave his house?
Commander Chen stopped twirling the walnuts and straightened his body slightly. His narrow and shrewd eyes sized up the newcomer.
There were three people emerging from behind the gate. One of them was fair-skinned and beardless, slightly hunched over. His posture and appearance showed humility towards the person behind him. He was presumably a eunuch in the mansion.
The other person was tall and straight. Although he was getting on in years, he was still elegant and charming. But his aura was intimidating. His eyes were deep and cold, making people afraid to look directly at him.
The third person had a long beard. His appearance wasn't as outstanding, but his overall temperament made him look quite refined.
No matter who they were, they all looked ruddy and walked steadily. There was no sign of serious illness at all.
While Commander Chen was sizing up the three people secretly, Eunuch Wen looked at Commander Chen from head to toe with a scrutinizing gaze and said calmly,
"Who are you? Why have you come to the Li Prince's Mansion?"
Commander Chen put away his thoughts, took a step forward, and bowed with his hands clasped. "I'm Chen, the Colonel Cavalry Commander from Xuanzhou. I pay my respects to the Li Prince."
Saying that, he bowed deeply towards Li Zhao.
"Three years ago, the Ye family married their eldest daughter, Ye Wanmian, to me as my second wife. I welcomed her with a grand sedan chair, and we had already worshipped heaven and earth and our parents before entering the bridal chamber. But unexpectedly, our mansion was attacked by enemies the next day, and my wife went missing during the chaos. She has been missing ever since."
Not far away, on a big tree, there were two figures hiding.
Xiao Jingcheng tightly held Jiang Mian's waist. One could even say that he was holding her in his arms. The two of them were lying on the tree trunk, looking at the situation at the main gate of the Li Prince's Mansion.
Commander Chen's voice came from there. Although it was a bit soft, it was clear enough for them to hear what he was saying.
Hearing this, Jiang Mian gritted her teeth. "Nonsense. I never had a bridal chamber with him. This despicable man is distorting the facts like this!"
After saying that, she suddenly realized that Xiao Jingcheng was beside her.
She quickly glanced at him, and the tips of her ears turned red again.
Xiao Jingcheng didn't notice her abnormality. He looked coldly at Commander Chen, with a hint of fierce killing intent hidden in his eyes.
"He's just relying on the fact that no one knows what happened in the bridal chamber. As a woman, you won't come out to clarify that you didn't have a bridal chamber for the sake of your reputation. That's why he's saying this."
"If you say you didn't have a bridal chamber, the ceremony of worshipping heaven and earth was already completed, which will also confirm the fact that the two of you had a wedding."
Jiang Mian also thought of this and was so angry that her teeth were itching.
Neither Commander Chen nor Li Zhao knew that Jiang Mian was nearby. Li Zhao's expression also turned cold after hearing what Commander Chen said, but he didn't say anything to stop him.
So Commander Chen took the courage to continue. "Later, I heard rumors that the girl the Ye family had taken by mistake back then was actually a descendant of the Li family. She had reunited with her family and returned to the capital. After hearing the news, I immediately rushed here from Xuanzhou without stopping, just to see my beloved wife and confirm her safety."
On the tree, Xiao Jingcheng said meaningfully, "There must be someone behind him giving him advice. He straightforwardly told the entanglement between the Ye family and the Li family. If your father doesn't want to recognize him as his son-in-law for your sake, he will deny the fact that you were taken by mistake by Mrs. Ye back then. In this way, the Ye family can restore their reputation."
Jiang Mian snorted. "They're dreaming. My father must have seen through it and will never let their schemes succeed!"
Over there, Li Zhao, who had been silent since he appeared, finally spoke.
"You said the Ye family married their daughter to you?"
Commander Chen quickly said, "Yes! I have the marriage certificate here. I can show it to you, Father-in-law."
Jiang Mian on the tree whispered angrily, "He still dares to call my father Father-in-law. How shameless!"
The killing intent in Xiao Jingcheng's heart grew stronger.
He hadn't even been able to call Li Zhao "Father-in-law" yet.
Eunuch Wen stepped forward, took the marriage certificate from Commander Chen, and presented it to Li Zhao.
Li Zhao took it and had a look. The marriage certificate did say that Commander Chen and Ye Wanmian had gotten married, and it was stamped with the official seal of the Xuanzhou government.
He asked Eunuch Wen to return the marriage certificate and said,
"Come with me. Eunuch Wen, prepare the carriage."
Commander Chen had been on guard against Li Zhao destroying the marriage certificate. He didn't expect the prince to just look at it for a while and then return it, and even prepare the carriage.
Did the Li Prince recognize this marriage? Was he going to take him to the palace to see the emperor?
He didn't expect this trip to be so smooth.
Commander Chen couldn't help but feel a bit smug.
The carriage from the Li Prince's Mansion soon arrived. Li Zhao, Wang Hengyong, and Eunuch Wen got into the carriage one by one. Without even saying hello to Commander Chen, the carriage drove forward on its own.
Commander Chen quickly told his coachman, "Hurry up and follow. Don't lose them!"
Jiang Mian and Xiao Jingcheng on the tree looked at each other.
What did Father mean by this?
Never mind. Let's follow and find out!