Sheng Li noticed that Jian Guozhi's behavior had changed around him. He was a little curious and also skeptical about this. 'Why does it seem that the First Brother turned civilized? Unlike in the earlier times, he does not look at Lili in the wrong way. Xue Yu-Yan is giving him a headache. Is that the reason for his sudden change?!'

He came out of his thoughts as he felt the hand of Ying Lili in his hand. "Why are you not eating, Senior?" Ying Lili queried. 

"I did not like the food. I am done," Sheng Li replied and put the chopsticks on the plate. 

"You are wasting food," Ying Lili stated. 

"It is only one dumpling. It will not matter much," Sheng Li opined. Ying Lili picked the dumpling from the chopstick and ate that. "Why did you eat that?" He asked. 

"Because I was hungry" She leaned a little closer to Sheng Li and whispered in his ear, "I heard eating from the same plate as your lover increases the love manifold." Sheng Li tilted his head to peer at Ying Lili. He wanted to kiss her at that moment but he could not. 

Jian Guozhi heard the words of the Crown Princess and felt a little dejected but then he felt happy too. "Finally, Sheng Li got someone who loves him. I envy him for this," he thought. 

"We shall go to the residence of the landlord. Soon, the evening will fall and we need to return before that," Jian Guozhi suddenly said, grabbing the attention of Sheng Li and Ying Lili. They nodded and stood up from their respective seats. After paying for the meals, they went outside; hopped on their horses. 

Riding their horses for twenty minutes, they reached outside the residence of the Landlord Qian. The gatekeepers bowed seeing the senior police officers there and asked about their visit. 

Jian Guozhi stepped forward and showed the Royal Seal to them. The gatekeepers were astonished. "Your highness, please follow me," one of them stated and walked in, followed by them. 

Landlord Qian was informed about the visit of the Governor, so he ran to meet him in the private chamber. He took a deep breath upon reaching outside the chamber and wore a smile on his lips. He walked in and saw not only the Governor but also the Crown Prince and the Crown Princess there. 

He bowed and greeted them. "Y-your highness, why did you not c-call me in the Palace?" Landlord Qian stuttered while speaking, showing he was scared. 

"If we have called you to the Palace, then we might have not been aware of wrong-doings," Jian Guozhi asserted. 

"Still standing when you should be on your knees," Sheng Li voiced and immediately Landlord Qian knelt on his knees.

"Wrong-doings?" Landlord Qian could not get the Governor's words. "What did I do, your highness?" He asked. 

Jian Guozhi looked at the Crown Prince. "Today you picked two slave children from the village. Send them home," Sheng Li straightforwardly stated. 

Landlord Qian looked at Sheng Li. "B-but your highness, their father could not pay the debts so…"

"Did I ask for any explanation from you? Just do what I said!" Sheng Li pronounced menacingly. Landlord Qian did not want to anger the Crown Prince, so he agreed with that. He called a servant in and ordered him to send the children back to their village. The servant nodded, leaving the chamber. 

"In an hour, the investigation will start and if something suspicious is found then, be ready to get punished," Sheng Li affirmed. Landlord Qian was scared to hear that. But then he had an hour to clear everything from his way. 

"Yes, your highness. Let me prepare horse carts for you all," Landlord Qian almost stood up when he heard Sheng Li. 

"Try standing up, and your legs won't be with you," Sheng Li threatened Landlord Qian who was now glued to the ground. 

Soon Qiao Zhan came there with a few military soldiers and the entire residence was surrounded by them. Sheng Li told Qiao Zhan to raid the house and then looked at the Landlord. "Tell everyone's names who are involved with you if you do not want to lose your family," Sheng Li stated. Landlord Qian was asking for apologies, but Sheng Li did not listen to him and walked out from there, followed by Ying Lili and Jian Guozhi. 

The evening had fallen, and the sky had turned red. "Crown Prince, we will summon the department heads tomorrow in the Palace, and accordingly, a decision will be taken," Jian Guozhi suggested. Sheng Li agreed with him and they left the residence soon. 

While riding back, Ying Lili had worn the fake mustache again so that she would not grab any unwanted attention. Soon, they reached the Palace.

"First Brother, I will see you in the morning to make the report on this entire matter," Sheng Li stated. Ying Lili had removed her mustache and came forward. 

"Brother, there is something I would like to suggest. Please consider my suggestion in this," Ying Lili said. 

Jian Guozhi nodded, and the three started walking towards the Eastern Palace. "What is the suggestion, Crown Princess?" Jian Guozhi inquired from her. 

"Change the administration of the Provinces. People are unable to reach us, which makes them suffer. Brother Jian, we need to bring the changes as soon as possible especially in food supplies and water distribution systems. There is a need for faithful and sincere administrators," Ying Lili pronounced. 

Sheng Li agreed with Ying Lili. "Crown Princess, I will implement your suggestion. As Governor, I did not look into these matters and corruption has reached this level," Jian Guozhi asserted. 

Xue Yu-Yan who was coming from the Empress's manor saw them. She saw how Jian Guozhi was smiling while conversing with Ying Lili. She then shifted her gaze to Sheng Li and saw the love in his eyes for Ying Lili. "Why is everyone good to her? Even the Empress is unable to do anything. I have to do something before things slip from my hand," Xue Yu-Yan murmured. 

"Princess Consort Xue, who are you looking at with so much anger?!" Lei Wanxi asked her. 

Xue Yu-Yan turned and wondered if the Sixth Prince heard her. "Nothing, Brother Wanxi. Why would I be angry?" Xue Yu-Yan told a white lie.

"Isn't the Princess Consort jealous of the Crown Princess?" Lei Wanxi asked and smirked. 

"Brother Wanxi has so much interest in the other's lives when he should focus on his and his mother's life." Lei Wanxi confusedly looked at her. "Even your mother is jealous of the Empress and the other Consorts because the Emperor does not look at her the way he looks at the others," Xue Yu-Yan commented. 

Lei Wanxi laughed slightly and opened his fan. "Princess Consort Xue, unlike others in the Palace, I am not affected by the words of people who have no place in my life," Lei Wanxi proclaimed and smiled. "I want to give you a warning before leaving. Do not try to do anything which will bring doom to you just like your father," Lei Wanxi closed the fan in his hand and walked ahead. 

Xue Yu-Yan gritted her teeth. "This Prince annoys me the most, more than Ying Lili." She stomped her foot on the wooden floor. 

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