This made Li Shimin anxious, and he wanted to trade one for one with me.

Cheng Jun smiled upon hearing this, "We'll only know if it works or not after we go. It'll never work if we don't go, but we'll still have a chance if we go."

At this moment, he saw Xiao Yi walking over with a middle-aged clerk.

"This humble official, Feng Lingyao, meets with Imperial Censor Cheng."

As an official under the Censorate, the middle-aged clerk treated Cheng Jun, his superior, with utmost respect.

Cheng Jun nodded and said, "Feng Lingshi, come with me for a bit."

Feng Lingshi quickly bowed with his hands clasped and said, "Please instruct me, Imperial Censor Cheng, on what I will be doing outside, so that I may make the necessary preparations."

"We're going to find Princess Luling. I don't know where she lives. Could you show us the way?"

Upon hearing this, Feng Lingshi's expression changed.

No wonder Cheng Jun chose him out of more than a hundred people in the Censorate; he was the only one in the entire Censorate who had ever been there.

Thinking of his own experience, Feng Lingshi's expression turned serious as he said, "Imperial Censor Cheng, Princess Luling said that no one from the Censorate is allowed to go to her residence, or she will treat us rudely."

Cheng Jun waved his hand and said, "Don't worry, I'll take responsibility for anything. You just need to lead the way."

"promise!"

Feng Lingshi had said everything he needed to say, and seeing that he insisted on going, he agreed.

"Brother Xiao Yi, Brother Binwang, I'll be going now!"

Cheng Jun turned around, looked at the two of them, cupped his hands in greeting, and then left with Feng Lingshi.

Xiao Yi watched his retreating figure, then turned to Ma Zhou beside him and asked, "Brother Chuxia, what are you going to see Princess Luling for?"

Ma Zhou said, "He said he wanted to restore face for our Censorate."

Xiao Yi was taken aback. "How can we regain our dignity?"

"I don't know, but judging from Brother Chuxia's expression, he should have a way."

"Hopefully he can succeed."

Ma Zhou sighed. This time, he really couldn't figure out what Cheng Jun would do.

…………

The clatter of horses' hooves echoed along Zhuque Street.

Cheng Jun held the reins, stood in the stirrups, and looked ahead, controlling the direction of the horse while listening attentively to Feng Lingshi's account of the guerrilla general Qiao Shiwang.

In short, Qiao Shiwang was a prince consort of the Tang Dynasty, and his wife was Princess Luling. Since the princess was marrying down, Qiao Shiwang's residence was actually the princess's residence.

"Imperial Censor Cheng, this is the place."

Soon, the two rode their horses to Kaihua Ward and stopped outside the residence of Princess Luling.

"I will go and knock on the door."

Feng Lingshi dismounted and said.

Cheng Jun stopped him, "No need, just follow behind me."

After saying that, Cheng Jun dismounted, handed the whip and reins to Feng Lingshi, looked at the tightly closed gate, walked up to it, and knocked on it.

Bang bang bang!

With a creak, the heavy red-lacquered mansion gate was opened from the inside, revealing the face of a middle-aged or elderly man with a square face.

Upon seeing Cheng Jun dressed in a xiezhi crown and a blue robe, the other party's eyes narrowed, and he said sternly:

"From the Censorate?"

"Didn't my princess already say that no one from the Censorate is allowed to come here, or else they won't be polite? Didn't your people take that message back?"

Cheng Jun pretended not to hear and asked, "Is Brother Qiao here?"

The words "Brother Qiao..." stunned the steward of the princess's residence. He looked Cheng Jun up and down, and asked in surprise, "Who are you?"

Cheng Jun smiled gently and kindly, saying, "My name is Cheng Jun."

"Are you Cheng Sanlang?"

The steward of the princess's residence instantly changed his expression, as if ice in winter had met fire. He said in a gentle and friendly manner, "After my second son returned, he kept praising you. After meeting you today, I can see that Cheng Sanlang is indeed a handsome and talented man."

He spoke eloquently, but did not move his body or open the gate. He asked, "What brings you to the Princess's residence today, Cheng Sanlang?"

Cheng Jun laughed and said, "Don't worry, I'm not here to ask Brother Qiao to go to the Censorate."

The steward of the princess's residence finally showed a genuine smile. Looking at Cheng Jun's imperial censor robe, he said regretfully, "Cheng Sanlang is clearly more suited to the Mingguang armor. He would definitely look majestic in it."

Cheng Jun smiled and said, "Whether you are a civil official or a military official, as long as you contribute to the country, you are a good official."

The steward of the princess's residence praised, "Cheng Sanlang's literary talent is outstanding and extraordinary! Please wait a moment in the main hall, I will send someone to find my second son!"

As he spoke, he stepped aside to let Cheng Jun in, then glanced at Feng Lingshi who had come with him, and remembering what Cheng Jun had just said, he let him in as well.

Upon entering the main room, Cheng Jun sat upright on the cushions, took the teacup handed to him by the steward of the princess's residence, and asked:

"Where did Brother Qiao go?"

“My princess said the manor is not peaceful today, so she asked him to stay in another courtyard.”

Cheng Jun nodded slightly. This was the princess's residence, the princess's home. Qiao Shiwang also had his own residence, and the fact that he arranged for Qiao Bei to stay there showed that Princess Luling was prepared to be ruthless if the people from the Censorate dared to come again.

"Where is Prince Consort Qiao?"

Cheng Jun asked again.

The steward of the princess's residence smiled and said, "His Majesty sent him as an envoy to Xueyantuo, but he hasn't returned yet."

Is Her Highness the Princess at the residence?

"exist!"

Cheng Jun put down his teacup and said solemnly, "Brother Qiao, there's no need for you to come back to me yet. I'd like to pay my respects to Her Highness the Princess first."

"After all, it is my first time visiting. It would be impolite not to pay my respects to the princess."

The steward of the princess's residence understood and gave Cheng Jun an approving look. He was surprised that the son of a military officer was so well-mannered. He said, "That's true. Please wait a moment, Cheng Sanlang. I will go and invite my princess right away."

"Good work."

Cheng Jun nodded in acknowledgment and watched him leave the main room.

Feng Lingshi sat next to him, feeling great admiration for Cheng Jun. "Imperial Censor Cheng is truly remarkable. He does things without leaving a trace. If he doesn't reveal his purpose, you wouldn't be able to tell from his tone of voice that he came here to find Princess Luling."

Soon, a woman in her thirties, with both beauty and elegance, walked in, dressed in a gorgeous ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress).

She calmly glanced at the two people in the main room, and finally fixed her gaze on Cheng Jun, who was wearing a Xie Zhi crown and imperial robe.

Cheng Jun withdrew his gaze, stood up, and bowed, saying, "Nephew Cheng Jun greets Aunt."

Feng Lingshi also quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness."

A smile appeared on Princess Luling's calm and composed face. Without even glancing at Feng Lingshi, she kept her eyes fixed on Cheng Jun and slowly said:

"I just heard from the steward that the people from the Censorate have arrived. I was thinking that even if the Censor-in-Chief Wen Yanbo came today, I would still throw him out of the mansion."

"Your way of calling me 'Auntie' is quite pleasant; it's helped to vent my anger."

"sit down."

She pointed to a cushion on the side, sat down in the main seat, and after Cheng Jun sat down, asked, "How has the Duke of Su been lately?"

Cheng Jun smiled and said, "My father is doing well."

Princess Luling nodded. "Then let's be direct. The steward said you want to see me. What is the purpose of your visit?"