Chapter 151: Success is Certain, Actions Bear Fruit

Cen An’s feelings for Princess Xuanyang had gone far beyond simple admiration.

This Princess would either remain secluded for weeks without a sound, or she would go out and stir up trouble—and never over small matters. Everything she did was astounding enough to leave people speechless.

He didn’t want to see the Princess, but Song Junzhan insisted on going and dragged him along to give the Princess a follow-up examination.

That boy Ziyue was also unusually enthusiastic, practically half-carrying Cen An there as he ran.

Xiao Li had said she would see no one, which meant it was useless no matter who came. The three of them were stopped at the entrance.

"The Princess has given orders. She will see no one."

Cen An hadn’t wanted to come in the first place, but now his rebellious streak kicked in. "I’m a doctor, here for the Princess’s follow-up examination."

’You don’t want to see me? Well, now I insist on it.’

The doorkeeper gave him a sidelong glance, his voice haughty and cold. "She will see no one."

’Even if you are the Divine Doctor’s disciple, that grants you no special privileges.’

Cen An ground his teeth in frustration and said to the other two, "Let’s go. The Princess won’t see you."

Ziyue shot him a glare. "Shut up. Don’t be so noisy."

Song Junzhan stepped forward and handed over a letter he had prepared. "Please give this letter to the Princess. Also, please convey a message: I will wait here at the entrance for her summons."

The doorkeeper looked at Cen An, then at Song Junzhan, and nodded. "Please wait a moment."

Xiao Li was playing a game of chess against herself. In truth, she wasn’t looking at the board at all; her moves were a complete mess as she was lost in thought.

The doorkeeper presented the letter, saying it was from Song Junzhan.

Xiao Li slowly returned to her senses. She paused for a long moment before raising her hand. "Bring it here."

She unhurriedly unfolded the letter. When she saw its contents, her casual gaze sharpened. A light slowly returned to her indifferent eyes, and the corners of her lips curved into a playful arc.

"What perfect timing."

Seeing Xiao Li smile, the doorkeeper finally added the message he’d been asked to deliver. "Mr. Song is waiting at the entrance for your summons, Your Highness. Doctor Cen and a young boy are with him."

Xiao Li nodded. "Let them in."

After the doorkeeper left, Xiao Li said to Lan Yue, "Prepare some tea and snacks. Bring out plenty of dried and candied fruits."

"I will go at once."

Xiao Li had them brought to the study, where the floor was heated and a spread of pastries was laid out.

Cen An was shocked at the sight. ’Whoa, this kind of treatment is unheard of!’

"Jun Zhan pays his respects to the Princess."

Song Junzhan was at the front and bowed first. As much as Cen An disliked it, he wouldn’t be rude. "This commoner pays his respects to the Princess."

Ziyue followed Cen An. The moment he saw the familiar face, a grin stretched to his ears, but he managed to stop himself from shouting out impulsively.

Xiao Li: "Have a seat."

"Thank you, Princess."

The three of them sat down. Song Junzhan asked about Xiao Li’s health and injuries, while Cen An lowered his head to sip his tea. ’For the first time, I feel like an honored guest in the Princess Mansion,’ he thought. ’How novel.’

But when he turned his head, he fumed. ’Why are the snacks in front of Ziyue even more plentiful than mine?’

’Especially that nine-sectioned box; it was obviously just for him.’

’Why?’

Ziyue, ever the mischievous spirit, knew from Cen An’s expression that his composure had cracked.

’Serves him right! That’s what he gets for badmouthing the beautiful big sister. Now she must dislike him!’

Xiao Li withdrew her gaze from Ziyue, the letter held between her long, slender fingers.

’Song Junzhan really knows how to seize an opportunity. She’d beaten up Marquis Xuanping’s son only the night before last, and the boy had just returned to his mansion yesterday. Yet today, Song Junzhan delivered information about Marquis Xuanping and the Wang family right to her doorstep.’

’Although I don’t particularly care, it happened to answer a question I had.’

’Wang Wanqing couldn’t understand why her grandfather and father insisted on her marrying He Chengfeng. She couldn’t understand why, after she had been bullied, her grandfather would still offer thirty thousand taels to help Marquis Xuanping.’

Song Junzhan’s letter was the answer.

’People don’t just do good things for others for no reason. Especially not these great aristocratic families. What drives their firm decisions is never sentiment, but profit.’

’Wang Wanqing’s older brother, Wang Shiyao, is the Prefect of Dingchuan. He embezzled public funds for his own lavish spending, creating a deficit of several million taels and causing a significant scandal. The Wang family can cover the silver, but the case has already been submitted to the Ministry of Revenue.’

’The Minister of Revenue, Wang Chengyun, is a meticulous and inflexible man of principle, a tough nut to crack who won’t give the Wang family any face at all.’

’And this Wang Chengyun is Marquis Xuanping’s brother-in-law.’

’If Wang Shiyao can return safely from Dingchuan, he will be another great asset to the Wang family, so of course, they have to protect him.’

’He Chengfeng had already been on the list of potential suitors Madam Wang was considering for her daughter. With this incident, he became the perfect choice, as marriage is the quickest way to bring the two families closer.’

’And although the Marquis Xuanping’s title is hereditary, the family hasn’t produced any notable generals in two generations, and the Marquis Mansion has fallen into some decline.’

’Marquis Xuanping couldn’t have wished for a better opportunity than to connect with the Wang family.’

’The Wang family wants to settle the accounts and get their man out of trouble, while also coveting the Marquis Xuanping’s title.’

’This is why, even after the situation escalated beyond the point of no return, the Wang patriarch and his son still had to help Marquis Xuanping, even offering money themselves.’

’Wang Shiyao’s case isn’t fully resolved yet; they can’t afford to antagonize Marquis Xuanping.’

’In this marriage arrangement, Wang Wanqing was a pawn from beginning to end—an ignorant pawn.’

’Even as their only and most beloved daughter, she is insignificant compared to their son and the family’s future.’

Xiao Li asked Song Junzhan, "If I give you the chance, how confident are you of success?"

Song Junzhan smiled calmly. "Success is certain. The outcome, decisive."

"Good." She smiled. "Then let me see what the Young Master is capable of."

With that, she tossed the letter into the brazier, burning it without another word, as if the matter wasn’t of much concern to her.

As for whether to tell Wang Wanqing, she wasn’t that idle. It was their family’s private affair. How they chose to use this information was their business. It wasn’t her place to play the righteous hero or stir up discord.

She took a sip of tea and beckoned to Ziyue. "Come here."

Ziyue hurried over. "Pretty... Princess..."

He had subconsciously been about to call her ’Pretty Big Sister’ but suddenly remembered her noble status and quickly corrected himself with a bashful smile.

Xiao Li couldn’t help but chuckle. "Pretty Princess? You’re the first one to call me that. You’ve got good taste."

Ziyue scratched his head shyly. "Princess, I was unaware of your noble status before and was very offensive. Please forgive me."

After speaking, he even gave a proper bow to ask for forgiveness.

His clowning made Xiao Li want to tease him. "And what if this princess truly did want to punish you?"

Ziyue replied with a perfectly straight face, "Then please punish me by letting me serve as your vanguard, to work like a horse or an ox for you. I would have no complaints."

"Hahaha..."

Ziyue hadn’t said much, but he had amused Xiao Li to no end.

She looked at Song Junzhan. "Young Master, how about you lend this little clerk of yours to me for a few days?"

Ziyue’s eyes lit up. "Princess, I can quit my job as a shop boy right now! I can start immediately!"

Song Junzhan had a helpless look on his face. "As long as the Princess doesn’t find him too rowdy."

Hearing this, Ziyue immediately walked over to stand beside Xiao Li, striking a haughty pose as if to say, ’I’m part of the Princess Mansion now.’ He didn’t even spare his former master a single glance.

’I’ve already done my research. The guards at the beautiful big sister’s home get ten gold coins just for starting, and they get those majestic warhorses and armor, too. I have to wear that armor at least once, no matter what!’