Zhang Yunyun couldn't describe her current feelings. Seeing Li Yun stammering, she felt a rare sense of disappointment in her heart. Forget it, forget it. Maybe she had gone too far.
Just as she was about to speak, she heard Li Yun looking straight at her and softly calling her name, "Yunyun."
The two looked into each other's eyes and both understood the meaning behind that single word.
Zhang Yunyun was stunned for a moment and then responded.
Seeing her answer, a hint of joy welled up in Li Yun's heart. "Yun... Yunyun, just call me by my name from now on."
Seeing his face flush again, Zhang Yunyun finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.
...
Meng Ruyi had no idea that Zhang Yunyun's progress was so rapid. At this moment, she was in a state of entanglement.
The Third Prince's actions were even faster than she had expected. Less than an hour had passed when someone came to the door saying they wanted to meet Song Huaizhi, the young master of the Meng family.
Meng Ruyi didn't know if she should get involved in this matter. The capital was far away, but the Third Prince had suddenly brought it closer.
Meng Ruyi had made countless mental preparations for this day, but when it finally came, she couldn't help but feel a little timid.
This was a major matter related to the throne!
"Bang, bang, bang..."
Meng Ruyi could feel her heart pounding rapidly. She didn't hesitate for long. She nodded slightly at Song Huaizhi, who was waiting beside her, and then walked out shoulder to shoulder with him.
"Don't worry," Song Huaizhi said softly. "He needs our help now, so he naturally wouldn't dare to do anything to us."
Meng Ruyi nodded and followed Song Huaizhi to the front hall.
The Third Prince was pacing back and forth there, unable to hide his inner anxiety.
Seeing that there were two people coming, he showed a look of surprise but didn't say anything.
"Go out and guard the door well," Song Huaizhi ordered the servants.
After the door was tightly closed, the Third Prince waved at Song Huaizhi and said, "I was wrong about the previous matter. I failed to discipline my subordinates well and had other thoughts."
"I've sent that person to the yamen with my identity jade token. I've concealed the names of the two young ladies and added a few more charges against him."
"Anyway, I won't let him live through tonight," the Third Prince said, finally showing a hint of satisfaction in his eyes. "Naturally, I won't let the two young ladies appear in front of those people."
Hearing this, Song Huaizhi smiled and pointed to the wooden table. "Please sit down. Let's discuss this matter slowly."
"Thank you, Young Master Song, for your magnanimity."
The Third Prince heaved a sigh of relief and sat down, looking at the two of them.
"Master Song is resourceful. I'm sure you already know my purpose," the Third Prince said bluntly. "I wonder if you'd be willing to give me a hand. If this matter can be accomplished, then I..."
Before the Third Prince could finish, Song Huaizhi chuckled and interrupted him. "Wait. I'm just a small merchant. Naturally, I do things for profit. Your Highness only talks about the outcome but doesn't offer anything now. Do you want me to take a blind gamble?"
The Third Prince took a deep breath, accustomed to Song Huaizhi's somewhat harsh words. He took a sip of tea and finally couldn't help but sigh. He waved his hand and said, "It's not that I don't want to."
"Master Song has a wide network of information. You can't not know my situation."
Meng Ruyi quietly listened to their conversation and felt Song Huaizhi's superiority.
He had always been in the upper hand, showing no sign of fear. He firmly grasped his own advantages and forced the Third Prince to make concessions step by step.
But was the Third Prince really as penniless as he claimed? How could that be? A starved camel is still bigger than a horse, let alone a prince.
Meng Ruyi realized his cunning and was completely unmoved by his persuasion. Her expression remained unchanged, and her hand unconsciously rubbed the brocade pouch on her waist.
"Really?" Song Huaizhi looked at him and suddenly smiled. "Your Highness is being too polite. I'm just a merchant. How dare I interfere in court affairs?"
The Third Prince gritted his teeth, wishing he could tear the smile off Song Huaizhi's face. This man was so difficult to deal with, so flawless! He was even more difficult to handle than the old foxes in the court.
Seeing Song Huaizhi's response, a hint of amusement flashed in Meng Ruyi's eyes.
[Laughing so hard hahahahahahahahahaha. Little Song really lives up to his name. His ability to evade is so amazing.]
[The Third Prince's face is almost turning black. Does Little Song feel like he's bullying a child?]
[Yuyu is about to burst out laughing. I advise the Third Prince to tell the truth earlier, or you'll never hear the truth from Song Huaizhi.]
"… Yes," the Third Prince gritted his teeth and finally said, "I hope Master Song can give me a hand. I wonder what you want?"
"I want your secret agents in the capital," Song Huaizhi said and then looked straight at him, adding, "Give me all the information in a package and the permission to transfer people."
The Third Prince was really out of breath.
How did Song Huaizhi know so much! All his secrets had been exposed!
But as he listened to Song Huaizhi expose his cards, he felt a long - lost sense of weariness. Forget it. There was nothing he didn't know. Anyway, the things he knew weren't just about himself.
Mr. Lin had a really good eye.
"Okay," the Third Prince said and continued, "But you can't casually order them around for your own affairs. Don't let anyone sacrifice in vain."
Song Huaizhi looked at him with a half - smile. "In your eyes, what kind of person am I?"
The Third Prince rubbed his nose and said, "Master Song is resourceful. I admire you."
"Ruyi," Song Huaizhi changed the subject and looked at Meng Ruyi gently. "The Third Prince wants to borrow our strength to stabilize the old subordinates left by General Gu."
"Okay," Meng Ruyi nodded. After a moment of thought, she looked up and asked, "Does General Gu know about this?"
Seeing that she understood him, Song Huaizhi smiled and said, "Naturally, he does."
After the previous incident, General Gu had a grudge against the person in the capital. Before leaving, he had a long conversation with Song Huaizhi and finally showed his attitude.
They could stir up the water, but it couldn't be too chaotic, and they couldn't take sides too early. The two hit it off and had already calculated the Third Prince before he even arrived.
The Third Prince: "…"
"Miss Meng," the Third Prince said with difficulty. "I look forward to working with you."
At first, he thought Song Huaizhi had just brought an innocent little girl with him. He didn't expect that this young lady knew more than he did.
And the "we" that Song Huaizhi had just mentioned meant that she also had many cards in her hand.
The Third Prince was too lazy to think about the fact that they had dug a pit for him before he even came.
"Your Highness is too polite," Meng Ruyi also smiled and then subconsciously glanced at Song Huaizhi.
Their eyes met, and they couldn't help but smile slightly, seeing the amusement in each other's eyes.
Looking at this scene, the Third Prince didn't know why, but he felt a severe toothache.