Chapter 214: Fan Mingyuan’s Realization

In the living room, the man who called himself the Chicken King was wearing a mask and sitting on an armchair with his legs crossed. When he saw Fan Mingyuan enter, he stood up casually and cupped his hands at him. “County Magistrate.”

Fan Mingyuan hated such unruly people the most. He frowned slightly. His trust in this person’s words was greatly reduced.

However, because he was a gentleman, he did not chase the person away immediately. He nodded and asked, “Chicken King?”

He should have known. Someone with such a name could not possibly be a well-behaved person.

“That’s me.” The Chicken King sat back in his chair and took a sip from his teacup.

Fan Mingyuan frowned and walked to the main seat. “I heard that you have something to tell me. What is it?”

“Well…” The Chicken King glanced at Teacher Ma, who had followed Fan Mingyuan in, and hesitated.

Fan Mingyuan was already a little impatient. “Teacher Ma is one of us. If you have something to say, just say it.”

The Chicken King didn’t seem to want to anger him. He put down his teacup and took out a bulging envelope. “This is what you wanted.”

Fan Mingyuan glanced at Teacher Ma, who immediately walked over and took the envelope.

He thought that the Chicken King would at least say something, but to his surprise, he took his robe and stood up. “The items have been delivered. I’ll take my leave first.”

Before Fan Mingyuan could agree, he had already turned around and left.

“Should we send someone to follow them, sir?” asked Teacher Ma.

Fan Mingyuan shook his head. “No need.”

He took the envelope from Teacher Ma and opened it. There was a thick stack of paper inside.

Fan Mingyuan started from the first page. The more he read, the tighter his frown became. Towards the end, he skimmed through the text, his face filled with shock.

At the end, he broke out in a cold sweat as if he had been scooped out of the water. He collapsed back into his chair.

“Master, this…” Mentor Ma was also shocked. He couldn’t believe the contents. A dignified prince of a country actually…

“How much of this do you think is true?” Fan Mingyuan finally found his voice after a long time.

Mentor Ma glanced at Fan Mingyuan carefully. “80%.”

“Prepare the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. This matter must be reported to His Majesty.” Fan Mingyuan stood up and gritted his teeth.

“Master, you can’t.” Teacher Ma stopped him. When he met Fan Mingyuan’s puzzled gaze, he made up his mind. He lifted his robe and knelt down. “Master, this matter has a lot of implications. If you report it like this, not only will it be useless, but you’ll also be killed.”

He continued. “I know that you’re a righteous person, but have you ever thought about whether the person you’re loyal to is really worth your loyalty?”

Teacher Ma looked straight into Fang Mingyuan’s eyes before finishing what he wanted to say. “Nothing can be achieved without sacrifices.”

As Teacher Ma’s words entered his ears, Fan Mingyuan felt his head buzz.

He covered his eyes and chuckled. “I suddenly understand why Teacher insisted that I shouldn’t be an official back then…”

Everyone thought that he had spent more than two hours in the teacher’s study before leaving the capital because he was persuading the teacher to let him become an official.

However, they did not know the truth. He wanted to do something good for the people, but he had no power, and could do nothing on his own. However, his teacher told him that he was too stubborn and was not suitable for the complicated power structures in the capital.

Back then, Teacher Ma told him, “Those who are as sharp as nails cultivate on their own.”

His teacher had always been considerate of him. However, Fan Mingyuan did not return to visit him for many years after that. He did not even send a letter back.

He thought that as long as he achieved political success and was promoted, his teacher would naturally know that he was wrong.

It turned out that Fan Mingyuan was the one who was wrong about this matter. He had always been too full of himself.

Teacher Ma could not help but worry. “Master…”

Fan Mingyuan waved his hand. “I’m fine. You can leave.”

There was a moment of silence.

Shen Yijia waited at home for two days, but Xiao Ruoshui did not visit. She could not help but feel strange.

“Could she have returned to the capital?” Shen Yijia muttered. She pushed open the study door and realized that Song Jingchen, who was usually in the study all day, was not there.

The last time Song Jingchen picked out a few books for her, she threw them aside after reading them once. Since she had nothing to do, she might as well read them.

Shen Yijia walked in and flipped through the desk, but she did not see anything.

“Where is it?” She looked around the study, setting her sights on a row of shelves at the back.

Actually, she had long forgotten what those books were called. She just looked around casually, prepared to ask Song Jingchen to find them when he returned.

Shen Yijia glanced around and was about to go out to look for Song Jingchen when her gaze landed on a small piece of blue cloth in the corner of the bookshelf. It was stuck inside and Song Jingchen had accidentally brought it out when he took the book.

She walked over and wanted to stuff it back. When she saw the familiar fabric, Shen Yijia exclaimed, “Hey, isn’t this wrapping paper I used on the books that I bought for him?”

She had personally chosen this blue cloth. There was no mistake.

Shen Yijia frowned and pulled it out, causing dust to fly. She quickly covered her nose.

She was completely certain now, because the books inside were still there. Looking at the thickness of the dust on them, Shen Yijia suspected that Song Jingchen had never opened them.

“Hmph, you even said that you would take a good look.” Shen Yijia curled her lips and casually patted off the dust on it before opening the package.

Sure enough, the three books were lying there, exactly the same as when she bought them.

Shen Yijia took out the book. Previously, she only knew a few words, so she did not know the title of the book. Now, she at least knew it.

The titles of the three books were “Eighteen Styles of Yin Yang Union of Joy”, “Jade Maiden Heart Sutra”, and “National Beauty Treasure Book”.

Shen Yijia blinked. Why did the first two books look like legendary martial arts manuals? There was also a third book that taught people how to taste incense. If her husband didn’t like it, she could give it to Lin Shao.

With this thought in mind, she placed the first two books she was interested in aside and prepared to give the third book to Lin Shao.

As soon as Shen Yijia left, Song Jingchen returned. As soon as he entered the study, he realized that something was wrong. When he approached and saw the two extra books on the desk, he felt terrible.

The blue cloth was still on the ground, but one of the books was missing. Shen Yijia was the only one who would casually enter the study.

Song Jingchen felt his forehead throbbing and quickly drove his wheelchair out to look for her.

On the other hand, Shen Yijia searched around before finding Lin Shao. He was feeding the horses grass. He was usually the one doing this. Occasionally, Shen Yijia would feed the horse a few times when she remembered.

“Sister-in-law,” Lin Shao called out when he saw Shen Yijia. He threw the last handful of grass into the trough and dusted off the grass in his hands.

Seeing that his hands were clean, Shen Yijia handed the book to him. “This is for you. Open it and see if you like it.”

“For me?” Lin Shao’s eyes flashed with joy. Although he didn’t lack food and clothes now, he was always happy to receive a gift.

He wiped his hand on his clothes again before reaching out to take it solemnly.

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