Chapter 166 Two more
Ju Nanyi left the teahouse and made straight for the Crown Prince’s Mansion without delay.
Luh Xingze was right, the Crown Prince had sent word for him to leave his position and make a trip to the Crown Prince’s Mansion. He hadn’t specified the matter, so Ju Nanyi sorted through his recent affairs in his mind, realizing that all the major events had been appropriately arranged and already reported in writing. Moreover, the Crown Prince had been reviewing memorials in the Crown Prince’s Mansion for several days and must have seen them by now.
Furthermore, Ju Nanyi believed that these issues wouldn’t have major oversights, so the Crown Prince’s summons must be for some other matter. That left only one possibility.
That day, Zheng Congyuan had tasked him with assessing the character of Luh Xingze and his three comrades. Ju Nanyi had not acted immediately because the profiles of these four men were already in the Crown Prince’s hands, and had been thoroughly investigated. As for anything else that might be uncovered, that was work for the Hidden Guard, not within his capability.
Ju Nanyi waited in the front courtyard of the Crown Prince’s Mansion. Outside the window, the surface of Siyan Lake was covered with blooming lotus flowers, bringing waves of their refreshing fragrance and the rustling of lotus leaves.
"Scholar Ju, please——" The one who came out was Qi Zhu, one of the Four Great Protectors by the Crown Prince’s side. Qi Ling was low-key and composed, Qi Zhu meticulous, Qi Yu possessed strong martial arts skills, and Qi Jin was remarkably fast. Of course, all four were top-notch experts, yet Ju Nanyi had never seen Qi Ling or Qi Zhu fight.
Distracted by these thoughts, Ju Nanyi then recalled Mu Qingfeng’s expression at that moment—evidently, he hadn’t expected Luh Xingze to speak out, and the slight panic he caught in his eyes was but a fleeting moment.
He was someone who could keep his composure. It seemed he wanted to settle the matter quietly without fuss.
"I pay my respects to the Crown Prince——" Ju Nanyi greeted with a respectful and composed bow, his demeanor flawless. Among those of high status who were accustomed to seeing all kinds of people, one could easily discern levels of superiority, and Ju Nanyi’s behavior was notably commendable.
"No need for formalities, Nanyi, have a seat——" Zheng Congyuan, sitting at his desk, didn’t look up. Qi Ling, who stood by, also did not move and continued putting away the inkstone, indicating the pile of memorials in front of him had been completed. Those few books stacked beside Zheng Congyuan were probably the most important, and perhaps he was going through them for the second or third time.
Time ticked away gradually, and though Ju Nanyi remained silent, Zheng Congyuan continued to peruse the memorial in his hands.