After the interstellar female general died in battle, she transmigrated into the body of a dashing p

Oh ho, he's even threatening people now. Zheng Zhian suddenly found it a bit funny. It seems he really didn't know about the assassination attempt this morning. If he had known, he wouldn't have said such a thing. He's not even as good a father as his third son.

"Will what you're saying affect his decision to be chopped off?" Zheng Zhian looked at Lai Hongyun with an innocent and naive expression.

In ancient times, nights were inconvenient. Even with a few lanterns, it was still pitch black. To this day, all I know is that Lai Hongyun is of medium build, but I have no idea what he actually looks like.

Lai Hongyun clenched his fist in his sleeve. "Does Young Master Yun insist on this?"

“Not necessarily.” Zheng Zhian beckoned to Yuan Ming, who immediately bent down and leaned closer to listen.

He then walked up to Lai Zhiwei, pinched his chin, and put something in his mouth.

Lai Zhiwei felt something slide down his throat. He bent over sharply, trying to cough it up, but it didn't work. He then raised his hand and started trying to dislodge it...

"You!" Lai Hongyun immediately stepped forward to support him, his anger barely contained as he looked at the leisurely young man opposite him.

Yuan Ming crossed his arms and looked at the person opposite him with a sinister expression. "Don't worry, it's not poison."

Upon hearing that it wasn't poison, the father and son breathed a sigh of relief, only to hear him add, "It's just a Gu worm."

“...Yun, I never expected you to be so vicious.” Lai Zhiwei pretended to lift up the sleeves on both sides of his robe and was about to step forward when he was pulled back by the person standing next to him.

"Wicked? It's not quite as vicious as you should be." Zheng Zhian said with a relaxed expression. "Don't worry, Lord Lai, it will be untied naturally when we leave."

"Lord Lai, please come and sit down for some tea. I have something I'd like to ask you."

Lai Hongyun narrowed his eyes slightly. "You can go out now."

“Father…” Lai Zhiwei turned to look at him, intending to retort, but upon meeting those eyes reflecting the faint candlelight, he suddenly shut his mouth, snorted angrily in the opposite direction, and walked out.

Seeing his son open the courtyard gate and lean against the threshold, gazing in their direction, Lai Hongyun withdrew his gaze. "What does Young Master Yun want to ask?"

"Come sit down and have some tea. It's uncomfortable for me to look up and talk to you while you're standing like this."

Danqin stepped forward, poured a cup of tea, and placed it on the side.

Lai Hongyun paused for a moment, then calmly walked to the stone table and sat down, but did not pick up a teacup.

Zheng Zhian didn't care. He picked up his teacup, examined the rim of the cup by the flickering candlelight, and casually said, "Lord Lai, you already know my identity, don't you?"

Judging from his various reactions when he entered the hospital, it was clear that he knew, and it's not hard to guess that he only found out after leaving the mansion in the afternoon.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have said those things to Lai Zhiwei at noon.

Lai Hongyun paused slightly, lowered his eyes, and did not answer.

"What exactly happened in the city where spies were being apprehended?" Zheng Zhian asked, not paying any attention to the matter, and continued to voice his doubts.

Lai Hongyun paused for a moment, then said, "This humble official does not know."

"Don't know?" Zheng Zhian stopped turning the cup and looked directly at him.

Now that we're closer, we can see him more clearly by the candlelight. He has a sallow complexion, a square face, and looks calm and experienced. Lai Zhiwei doesn't look like him; he probably looks more like his mother.

Zheng Zhian read out each word carefully, "Prefect Lai."

"Under the guise of catching spies, the city has arrested quite a few martial arts figures. You say you didn't know?"

"Matters such as maintaining order and patrolling are not under my jurisdiction," Lai Hongyun stated solemnly, without changing his expression despite her pressuring questioning.

Zheng Zhian glanced at him indifferently, "Then what's it to you?"

"Governing the people, adjudicating lawsuits, investigating traitors, evaluating subordinate officials, and collecting taxes... these are all within my duties."

"You're in charge of the government offices."

Isn't this obvious? The person in front of him grew up in the imperial court; how could he not know these things? Lai Hongyun felt bewildered, but still answered, "Yes."

Zheng Zhian placed the teacup on the stone table, the porcelain making a crisp sound as it touched the stone. "What a coincidence, I just arrived in the city and heard about this case. As for the final verdict, I am ignorant and don't understand it at all. I would like to ask Lord Lai for clarification."

"Sir, young master, please speak." Lai Hongyun couldn't understand what this ancestor was trying to do at all. He had just been asking about the spy, and now he was asking about the case. The jumps were so abrupt that he couldn't keep up.

"I heard that someone wanted to buy land, but the seller disagreed. Not only did the seller force the seller to sell, but they also took the seller's son away."

An elderly man in his fifties went to the government office to file a complaint, only to be told that it was a normal business transaction and would not be accepted. The complaint even extended to the man's son, who was told that a betrothal gift had been given and the marriage was a normal affair. Zheng Zhian's pure eyes were now icy cold as he looked at the person opposite him.

"I would like to ask Lord Lai, how much dowry does your son require?"

Lai Hongyun's forehead was covered in sweat. Upon being asked this question, he immediately knelt down and said, "This humble official is usually quite busy with other matters and is not clear about this. Please allow this humble official to investigate in detail."

Now he understood why so many officials said that among the current imperial heirs, Princess Le'an most resembled the emperor.

"The tasks are too heavy?" Zheng Zhian looked at the head on the ground, where only the back of the head was visible, his voice devoid of joy. "Since you're too busy, I'll talk to Father Emperor on your behalf and ask him to give you a less demanding position?"

"It was my negligence. I will definitely investigate my subordinates thoroughly tomorrow. I beg Your Highness to punish me." Lai Hongyun's heart sank. If it were any other prince or princess who said this, given the Lai family's resources, he might not have to worry too much.

But if it were the person in front of him, it would really be a matter of a single word. He might ruin the Lai family's decades of business in his hands, and he couldn't afford to take that risk.

Zheng Zhian stood up and helped the man up with a smile. "I know you're busy on weekdays, Lord Lai. Perhaps your subordinates are taking advantage of that to dare to deceive their superiors and act lawlessly."

He helped the man back to his seat and pushed the untouched tea in front of him. "I will tell Father the truth and send a useful helper for you, so that you can have some peace of mind."

She smiled warmly, as if the person who had just been there wasn't her at all.

Lai Hongyun paused in his cup-holding hand, forcing a smile that looked more like a grimace. "Thank you for your sympathy, Princess."

"It's a small matter. By the way, can I see Xiang Ke in three days?" Without waiting for an answer, Zheng Zhian continued, as if talking to himself, "I really want to see her and see just how beautiful she is."

Lai Hongyun finished his cold tea in one gulp, stood up and said, "This humble official will do his best. If the princess has nothing else, this humble official will take his leave."

"Just treat me like an ordinary young master, don't call me princess."

"Yes."

Zheng Zhian waved his hand. "Go."

Lai Hongyun took a few steps back before turning around and leaving.

Only after leaving the courtyard and feeling a cool breeze did I slowly calm down. Is this the child the Emperor personally raised? At only nine years old, his royal majesty is probably unmatched by many in the palace.

Not to mention her style of giving a slap on the wrist and then offering a treat, which might not even be a sweet treat.

Three days is really giving him face.

Was what happened today intentional or just a coincidence? If it was a coincidence, that's easier to explain, but if it was intentional...

Thinking of this, Lai Hongyun couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine, as if his blood was frozen by a cold block of ice.

"Father, Father, what's wrong?"