There is a happy inn in the capital.

Chapter 472 Two People Competing

The table was laden with the signature dishes of Happiness Inn, along with several refreshing seasonal vegetables and a pot of chilled grape wine.

Li Shuchen and Cheng Zhian sat facing each other, the atmosphere relaxed and pleasant.

Li Shuchen chattered on about the interesting things that happened at Qianhua Manor, while Cheng Zhian listened with a smile, occasionally serving her food and pouring her wine.

"You wouldn't believe how hard Eighth Brother tilled the land, it was like a war! Ninth Brother even said he wanted to design a 'defense formation' for the future rose bushes to keep out flower thieves..."

"Grandpa Lin was almost angered by me, saying I was playing matchmaker and stuffing a shade-loving gardenia into the sun..."

Cheng Zhian chuckled softly at her vivid description, his handsome and gentle features appearing even more striking under the lamplight.

Just as the two raised their glasses to lightly clink them together in celebration of the legal reforms and Li Shuchen's grand plan for a flower garden, there was a soft knock on the door of the private room.

"Go!" Li Shuchen shouted.

The door opened, and Liang Yuying, dressed in a dark, close-fitting outfit and with a long sword at her waist, walked in. Her steps were steady, and she exuded a kind of dashing and capable air that was different from Cheng Zhi'an's scholarly demeanor.

Her gaze swept over the table laden with delicious food and Li Shuchen's blushing face, finally settling on Cheng Zhian. She paused for a moment before turning back to Li Shuchen.

"Looks like I've come at the wrong time?" Liang Yuying raised an eyebrow, her tone unreadable.

"Yuying! Come quick, come quick, it's just to get you a pair of chopsticks!"

Li Shuchen warmly invited, "Haven't you eaten yet? Come join us! Cheng Zhian brought some good news, let's celebrate!"

"Oh? What good news can make Shu Chen so happy?"

Liang Yuying walked naturally to the table, and Grape immediately and cleverly added bowls, chopsticks, and wine glasses.

Liang Yuying sat on the other side of Li Shuchen, directly opposite Cheng Zhian.

Cheng Zhi'an nodded slightly to Liang Yuying: "General Liang"

Liang Yuying nodded in return, but her gaze was fixed on Li Shuchen.

Li Shuchen excitedly recounted the changes to the law once more.

After hearing this, Liang Yuying nodded: "It is indeed a good thing, worthy of celebration."

She raised her glass, gestured to Li Shuchen, and downed it in one gulp, her movements swift and decisive.

Setting down her wine glass, she changed the subject, her expression becoming calm: "I came here because I also have something to say."

The atmosphere froze for a moment.

"The magistrate of Yifeng County has confirmed it," Liang Yuying said calmly, yet with a chilling tone. "The stolen silver amounted to hundreds of thousands of taels and has been escorted to the capital. He admitted to most of it, but only to his direct superior—the prefect of Yunzhou."

Li Shuchen and Cheng Zhian both put down their chopsticks.

"A prefect?" Cheng Zhi'an frowned slightly. "A prefect alone cannot cover up the whole situation in Yifeng, let alone be involved in the secret affairs of the Boyu Kingdom."

That's right.

Liang Yuying tapped the table lightly with her fingertip. "The secret letter seized from the Boyu Kingdom points to a person codenamed 'The King,' who wields immense power and has connections everywhere. This prefect of Yunzhou is probably just a major pawn in this game."

Li Shuchen agreed, "'Your Majesty,' who could be so arrogant?"

“I don’t know,” Liang Yuying shook her head, her gaze sharp, “but she must be in the capital, and hold a high position with considerable power, otherwise she wouldn’t be able to remotely control Yifeng, thousands of miles away, or even extend her reach to Boyu Kingdom.”

Cheng Zhian pondered for a moment.

"This matter involves a wide range of people and requires caution. I am in the Hanlin Academy, and I may be able to carefully examine the connections of the Prefect of Yunzhou and any obscure records that may be related to the word 'Your Majesty' from the memorials and official evaluation files over the years."

“Files are static, people are dynamic,” Liang Yuying immediately retorted, her tone carrying a subtle hint of defiance.

"I have already requested that some of my trusted confidants from the Eastern Camp of the Capital Region be mobilized to investigate the whereabouts of the Prefect of Yunzhou in recent years, his accounts, and the people around him. Sometimes, military methods are more direct than written documents."

As she spoke, her gaze shifted to Li Shuchen, her tone softening unconsciously, carrying a hint of admonition.

"Shu Chen, your business is growing bigger and bigger, and Qianhua Manor is just starting out. A tall tree catches the wind, and this matter is fraught with danger. It's good that you're aware of this, but don't go in as rashly as before. Leave everything to me... and Lord Cheng can investigate secretly."

These words sounded like expressions of concern, but Cheng Zhian raised his eyes and looked at Liang Yuying.

Liang Yuying didn't shy away, looked back at him, and continued speaking to Li Shuchen.

"Just focus on being your flower fairy and innkeeper, and make money. Leave the mentally taxing and dangerous stuff to us."

She deliberately emphasized the word "we," but cleverly placed herself first.

Li Shuchen was holding a piece of duck meat when she heard this. She blinked, looked at Cheng Zhian on her left, who was calm and meticulous and showed concern, and then looked at Liang Yuying on her right, who was spirited and had a hint of "I can do this better". Suddenly, she felt that the taste of the roast duck was a little complicated.

She chuckled, stuffed the duck meat into her mouth, and mumbled...

"I know, I know. You two great men, skilled in both literature and martial arts, go investigate the case, while I, a mere woman, will just grow flowers, count money, and at most... provide you with some financial support and delicious food as a reward! Come on, eat meat, eat meat, it won't taste good if it gets cold!"

Cheng Zhian smiled slightly, picked up her chopsticks again, and scooped a spoonful of smooth egg custard for Li Shuchen.

Liang Yuying then picked up the largest fried chicken wing and placed it on the plate in front of Li Shuchen.

"This will give you energy. You've been working hard lately, so eat more of it."

Li Shuchen looked at the small mountain of dirt that had instantly formed on his body and didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"cough"

Li Shuchen looked at the sweet burden in the bowl—egg custard on the left and a large chicken wing on the right—cleared his throat, and his eyes lit up with an idea.

She first turned to Cheng Zhi'an, smiling, and said, "Cheng Xiuzhuan, this steamed egg custard is so smooth and tender; it's clearly the result of slow simmering over a low flame. It's perfect for a scholar like you—refreshing and nourishing."

As he spoke, he used a clean spoon to put most of the food into her bowl, saying, "You should eat more too, investigating cases takes a lot of brainpower!"

Before Cheng Zhi'an could react, she turned to Liang Yuying and said...

"General Liang, these chicken wings are fried to a golden brown and crispy perfection, cooked to perfection. They match your style of leading troops in battle perfectly! They're a great way to replenish your strength, especially with your constant drills and patrols!"

Then, with lightning speed, he snatched the large chicken wing back into Liang Yuying's dish.

Finally, she picked up a large slice of roast duck, stuffed it into her mouth with satisfaction, and mumbled...

"I'll eat this; it's juicy, fatty, and delicious! We each get what we need, it's fair!"

Cheng Zhian stared at the extra steamed egg custard in the bowl, paused for a moment, then chuckled, shook his head, and obediently picked up the spoon.

Liang Yuying stared at the chicken wing back on her plate, then glanced at Cheng Zhian. A barely perceptible upward twitch appeared at the corner of her mouth, but she didn't say anything more. She simply picked up a chicken wing and took a hearty bite.

The atmosphere seemed to have relaxed a bit, but undercurrents remained.

"By the way..."

Liang Yuying put down the bone, wiped her hands with a cloth, and resumed her serious expression.

"Besides investigating the case, there's something else, Shu Chen. You recruited so many people to Qianhua Manor, and the people are a mixed bunch. Although there are the Eighth and Ninth Elders, it's still a manor, not a fortress. I'll transfer two retired veterans from the Mulan Army to you. They're meticulous and agile. Let them go to the manor to help look after things and teach them some basic defense and security measures, just in case."