The Return of the King: A Generation of Prodigies

Zheng Chuang groaned in his heart, who was this blind person? It would have been fine if they dared to do such a despicable thing in his Songhe Tower, but the person they touched was Shen Tingzhi.

Can Shen Tingzhi be touched casually? His family background is unmatched in Yunli. He is the second son of the Zhenbei Marquisate, the second brother of the current Empress, and the uncle of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Putting aside his prominent family background, Shen Tingzhi's personal abilities alone are among the best in Yunli.

He is capable of both civil and military skills. His civil skills can govern the country and his military skills can pacify the world.

If you mess with someone like this, what hope is there for survival?

Even he, the eldest grandson of the Prince of Huai's Mansion and the son of Princess Qinghe, had to be polite and courteous when meeting Shen Tingzhi and dared not offend him. Yet, there were people who were so narrow-minded as to rush to get close to him.

Songhelou has its own rules. For any guests who come to Songhelou and encounter any problems in the building, Songhelou will be responsible to the end.

"Tingzhi, don't worry. Whether it's Songhe Tower, Prince Huai's Mansion, or me, Zheng Chuang, we will all give you a satisfactory answer."

We can’t afford to offend the Marquis of Zhenbei, the Empress, the Crown Prince, or Shen Tingzhi.

Putting aside these external conditions, just because Shen Tingzhi is his brother, Zheng Chuang must get to the bottom of this matter.

"You'd better give us a satisfactory answer, otherwise I will not tolerate any setbacks."

Gong Yifan rolled up his sleeves and waved his fist at Zheng Chuang.

Originally, Shen Tingzhi invited him to meet at Songhe Tower today, and he was very happy. They hadn't seen each other for many years, and today's reunion should have been a celebration, a drunken one, and a talk about their farewell.

Who would have thought that they would encounter such a heart-wrenching thing? Who wouldn’t be angry if this happened to them?

Zheng Chuang glared at Gong Yifan sideways. He was a coward and was afraid of Shen Tingzhi, but he was afraid of Shen Tingzhi, which did not mean that he was afraid of Gong Yifan.

They are both people of the same level, who doesn't know each other's background?

If a fight really breaks out, Gong Yifan may not be his opponent.

Seeing Zheng Chuang glaring at him, Gong Yifan naturally glared back without any hesitation. They were all friends who grew up together, so who was afraid of who?

The two of them were like cross-eyed roosters, arguing endlessly with each other, which was really unbearable to watch.

Shen Tingzhi said, "Zheng Chuang, please give me a deadline. When can you give me an answer?"

As soon as Shen Tingzhi said this, the atmosphere immediately changed from the previous fight between childish ghosts to Zheng Chuang's one-sided suffering.

"Tingzhi, you know how many guards there are in Songhe Tower and how strict the defense is. Since these people were able to evade the guards and get in here, they must be very capable."

"Whether there's a traitor inside Songhe Tower or someone did it deliberately, it'll take time to investigate."

"How about this, you give me a month. If I still can't find the truth after a month, I will offer my head to you."

Zheng Chuang's words seemed to indicate that he was determined to make a desperate move. If he couldn't find out who did this incident today within a month, then he would have no business staying in the capital.

"Okay, then let's give it a month. If you don't give me a satisfactory answer after a month, don't blame me for not showing any mercy to the Huai Palace."

Shen Tingzhi's words were already giving a lot of face to the Huai Palace. If this incident happened to someone else today, Shen Tingzhi would never give them a chance to thoroughly investigate the truth. He would have sealed off the building and imprisoned everyone.

"Of course, of course." Zheng Chuang looked at the mess in the yard and said, "Since it's been such a mess here today, I won't let you drink with me, brother."

"Someday, when this is over, I'll invite you to stay here and we can get drunk together."

"Okay." Shen Tingzhi didn't bother to be polite with Zheng Chuang. He tidied up his appearance and walked out of the small courtyard in a swagger.

Seeing Shen Tingzhi leave, Gong Yifan was no longer in the mood to argue with Zheng Chuang, so he quickly followed him.

Only when only his own people were left in the yard did Zheng Chuang put away his gentle and smiling face. With a cold face, he looked at everyone in the yard and said, "Go and investigate, starting with our own people."

"I'll find out who the bastards are who dared to cause trouble on my territory. I'll cut them into pieces and beat them so hard that even their mothers won't be able to recognize them!"

Those people dared to take action in Songhe Tower. It was obvious that they were going to make things difficult for the Huai Palace and drag it into the muddy water.

Even if Shen Tingzhi didn't care today, Zheng Chuang would not let it go. The reason why their Huai Wang Mansion could be looked up to by all the major families in Shangjing City was not only because of their power and status, but also because of their means and strength.

No matter who did it today, as long as he finds out, Zheng Chuang will kill them all and let those people know what the consequences will be for going against the Prince Huai's Mansion.

When Shen Tingzhi came out of Songhe Tower, his good mood was completely ruined. He originally wanted to say goodbye to Gong Yifan and go home, and make an appointment another day.

But Gong Yifan refused to let him go. "Tingzhi, you finally came back. How can we go back without even a few words or a drink?"

"When you're in a bad mood, you should drink to your heart's content. Let's go, let's go. There's more than just one Songhe Tower in Shangjing City."

"I'll take you to Yipinlou, which was opened by Zuo Beichen. It's become very popular in recent years and has the potential to replace Songhelou."

"The environment there is quiet and peaceful, and the food is fantastic. You definitely won't get cheated if you go there."

Unable to resist Gong Yifan's constant nagging, Shen Tingzhi was finally dragged to Yipintang by him.

The environment of this building is indeed as quiet and elegant as Gong Yifan said, and is not inferior to that of Songhe Tower at all.

As soon as the two of them sat down, they were served hot tea and snacks.

These eight-colored snacks are extremely exquisitely made, including lotus cakes, peach blossom yogurt, salted water dumplings, peanut candies, pea yellow, hawthorn cakes, almond cookies, and hazelnut balls.

These snacks that we usually eat look so exquisite at this time that not only can we eat them, but even just looking at them can make us feel pleasing to the eye and in a good mood.

"Tingzhi, try these dim sum. You usually have to queue up to eat at Yipinlou. No matter how powerful you are, if the restaurant is full, you will have to wait."

"We are both lucky today. We don't have to queue up and can eat these delicious foods."

When he originally came, Gong Yifan was still thinking in his mind, if Yipinlou was full today, how could he save face and have this meal with Shen Tingzhi.

But they didn't expect that after they arrived today, although the hotel was full, they were actually arranged to stay in the pavilion alone. They had never been so lucky before.

But what Gong Yifan didn't know was that the reason he was able to be arranged to have dinner alone at the waterside pavilion in Yipintang today was not because he was lucky, but because he benefited from Shen Tingzhi's help.

Although this building is still nominally Zuo Beichen's property, it actually belongs to Shen Tianjiao.

The people in charge here are from the Zhenbei Marquis Mansion. If the second young master wants to come for dinner, even if there is really no place, they will try their best to make room.

Shen Tingzhi was lost in thought as he stared at the exquisite snacks in front of him. If he brought such beautiful and exquisite snacks back to Mu'er, he would definitely like them very much.

Children already like to eat sweets like cakes, and with the beautiful shape, they will definitely like it more.

Although Shen Tingzhi knew that it was inappropriate and not allowed to bring food back for Li Muyang, he still couldn't help but want to bring some back for Li Muyang.

"Put aside a separate batch of these refreshments; I want to take them with me."

The servant who came to serve immediately retreated and prepared after hearing Shen Tingzhi's order.

In the past, Shen Tingzhi not only did not do things like taking out food, he had never even thought about it. But now that he has become an uncle, things are different.

Even things that I never took to heart before are now in my mind.

"Tingzhi, you don't like sweets, so why do you want to take some home today?"

Gong Yifan looked at Shen Tingzhi in confusion and asked, Shen Tingzhi didn't like sweets, he remembered it very clearly, Shen Tingzhi never liked sweets.

In the past, when they got together for a few drinks, Shen Tingzhi never touched sweets or pastries.

"Oh, it's for Xinghao. He loves it." Shen Tingzhi, who couldn't tell the truth, could only use his younger brother as a shield.

"I brought it for Xinghao. Yes, he loves sweet things. He likes anything sweet."

Although Gong Yifan is much older than Shen Xinghao, the two of them have rare compatible personalities.

A few days ago, when he heard that Shen Xinghao had returned to Beijing and rescued the Crown Prince, who was then the eldest prince, on the street, he wanted to meet Shen Xinghao.

But when he went to the Marquis of Zhenbei's mansion, the people there told him that the Marquis of Zhenbei had sent Shen Xinghao out on an errand.

Today I heard Shen Tingzhi say that he would bring some snacks back for Shen Xinghao, so that person must have come back.

"Xinghao is back. Why don't you bring him with you today? It would be nice if we could get together for a meal and chat after not seeing each other for so many years."

"It's getting late today, forget it. Another day, you must bring Xinghao with you, and we'll have a few drinks together."

Shen Tingzhi frowned. He spoke too hastily just now and forgot that Gong Yifan and his younger brother had always had a good relationship.

Shen Xinghao is in Yanzhou now, so how can he come back? He needs to make up for what he said as soon as possible.

"He's been unable to come out lately. My father thinks he's uneducated, so he's locked him up at home and told him to study hard. He won't let him out until he's accomplished something."

"Oh, so that's it." Gong Yifan's face was full of disappointment. Who would dare to disobey the Marquis of Zhenbei? It seemed that he would not be able to see his little brother again in the short term.

However, thinking that Shen Xinghao had already returned to Beijing, there would always be a chance to meet again, Gong Yifan's mood instantly improved.

Shen Tingzhi used a bamboo stick to pick up a piece of almond cake, and found it unexpectedly delicious. This almond cake was not as sweet as those made outside.

There is only a slight sweetness, and what remains in the mouth is more of the fragrance of the almond itself.

"Tingzhi, you haven't been in the capital for many years. You won't leave now that you're back, right?"

Gong Yifan has been living in Beijing for many years and has had a hard time. Not only does he have nothing to do, but he also has a tense relationship with his family.

Sometimes I feel unhappy and want to find someone to talk to, but there is nowhere to go.

Now that Shen Tingzhi is back, at least he still has a friend to accompany him, and someone he can talk to when he is in a bad mood.

"I'm not leaving. I want to stay in Shangjing. There are many things I need to take care of."

Shen Tingzhi looked up at Gong Yifan and asked, "How have you been these years? Has your relationship with your father improved?"

The reason why Shen Tingzhi wanted to find Gong Yifan first and find a breakthrough from him was because there was a big conflict between Gong Yifan and his father, Gong Chenghai, Duke of Tang.

Since they are not on good terms, there is no way for them to form a united front. This situation is very favorable. As long as Shen Tingzhi persuades him a little, Gong Yifan will turn against him and be used by him.

"Ah!" Gong Yifan sighed and said helplessly, "My relationship with him will never improve until I die."

"He's becoming increasingly disdainful of me. Whenever he sees me, he either calls me useless or acts as if he doesn't want to talk to me."

Gong Yifan ate a piece of lotus cake with a wry smile. Given his current mood, the lotus cake tasted bitter.

"My father and I must have been enemies in our past lives. Since our past grudges have not yet been resolved, we are still fighting to the death in this life."

Gong Yifan's words made Shen Tingzhi realize that this pair of resentful father and son would never be able to stand on the same front.

Although this is a misfortune for Duke Tang's family, it is beneficial to what he wants to do. This is exactly the result he wants.

"Then have you ever thought about picking yourself up and making some achievements, so that your father, the people in the Duke of Tang's Mansion, and everyone else will look at you with new eyes?"

Gong Yifan raised his head and looked at Shen Tingzhi. For a moment, there was a flash of light in his eyes, but it only lasted for a moment and then disappeared.

"In my current situation, it's not easy to achieve something and make people look at me with new eyes."

Shen Tingzhi understood what Gong Yifan meant. It was not that he didn't want to achieve something, but that no one helped him and he had no support.

"Why is it impossible?" Shen Tingzhi looked at Gong Yifan and said, "As long as you want, you can do it."

Gong Yifan stared at Shen Tingzhi for a long time before asking, "Tingzhi, what do you mean?"

"Isn't the meaning obvious here?" Shen Tingzhi lowered his head and took another piece of hawthorn cake and put it into his mouth. The hawthorn cake was sour and sweet and very appetizing.

"I'm back in the capital now. My nephew is now the crown prince. I need to protect him until he takes that throne."

"I need someone to help me now, do you want this opportunity?"