Staring at E Jintang, who was barely being restrained by over a dozen n, Zhou Cangyan sized him up.
"He really is imnsely strong."
"There’s more to it than that. He’s also incredibly loyal. He’ll only ever choose one master in his entire life!"
He turned his head, his gaze sweeping over the young woman who had leaned in to whisper in his ear.
Her small face was still filthy, but her beautiful eyes were full of life—as clear as a lake, as dazzling as gemstones.
Noticing his gaze on her, she blinked. "But you’ll have to clear his father’s na."
Zhou Cangyan’s eyes hardened. A frigid aura radiated from him, like venomous tentacles lashing out.
It was an instinct, a reaction to sensing danger.
But it lasted only a mont. Once he rembered who he was dealing with, all those tentacles silently withdrew.
He pressed his lips into a thin line, then smiled. "How did you know E Xianwang was frad?"
Song Lianhe gave a mysterious smile. Without a word, she walked over to E Jintang.
The mont he saw her, E Jintang began to fly into a rage again. Just as it looked like he would snap the ropes binding him, Zhou Cangyan slightly narrowed his light-colored eyes, and a Shadow Guard imdiately moved to shield her.
Song Lianhe stared at E Jintang and said, word by word, "I believe your father is innocent. Mr. E was a good official."
E Jintang, who had still been in a towering rage, froze as if struck by an Immobilization Spell. He stopped struggling, stopped roaring. He just stared at her blankly as the focus slowly returned to his eyes, until the young woman before him ca into sharp relief—a single, brilliant splash of color in his world.
The giant of a man stamred, like a wronged child, "You... You believe my father?"
"I do."
Song Lianhe was filled with emotion. ’Even though I’m doing this to help Zhou Cangyan recruit him, my admiration for E Xianwang is genuine.’
She turned to the side, looking at the man seated behind her. "It’s not just who believes Governor E. My master believes him, and so does every brother here!"
Zhou Cangyan watched her in silence. eting her expectant gaze, he slowly rose and walked over to E Jintang. "Governor E did not elope with his sister-in-law, nor did he ever accept a single bribe. He was a father to the people of Li Zong Pass."
As soon as he finished speaking, E Jintang burst into tears, wailing loudly.
Like a child of so three hundred pounds.
"Oh dear, why is he crying?" Song Lianhe was suddenly at a loss, flustered and unsure what to do.
’I didn’t an to make him cry!’
’Especially soone this huge. It feels impossible to even know where to begin comforting him.’
In her panic, she had no choice but to turn to the man behind her for help.
Zhou Cangyan shot her a look. "You’re the one who brought him here."
She put her hands on her hips. "And wasn’t it for you!"
"For ?"
"That’s right! For you! Prince Qing!" Her eyes widened and her voice rose. "Or what, you think I’ve got nothing better to do? Inviting people for tea and snacks in broad daylight just to hear so local gossip? Or maybe I have a death wish, getting chased through the streets by a hulking brute?!"
The more she spoke, the angrier she got. She reached out, wanting to jab him hard in the chest, but she didn’t dare. Instead, she gave him a quick, timid poke before snatching her hand back.
’This move, at least, showed my fearless stance against the forces of evil!’
"Zhou Cangyan, have a heart, will you? Don’t make look... look like a complete idiot."
’And wasn’t I just that, an idiot.’
’Doing all this out of my own wishful thinking, and he might not even appreciate it.’
’He probably really does think I’m crazy.’
Everyone else in the room was busy consoling E Jintang, so no one noticed the pair. The corner they occupied seed to have split off from the rest of the world, a pocket of space that was serene, silent, and completely isolated.
The young woman stood in the moonlight, her delicate face bathed in its glow, as if dusted with a fine layer of gold. Her eyes shimred like jade-green water, her nose was small and perfectly shaped, and her red lips looked impossibly soft...
’Sigh. He was actually starting to miss the taste of those lips.’
’Sweet, but not cloying. A taste one could delight in forever.’
"Zhou Cangyan!"
Seeing his silence, she stamped her foot in frustration. "Are you even listening to ? You don’t believe , do you? Fine! I’ll stop being a busybody. I’m leaving..."
A hand suddenly caught her wrist.
Song Lianhe looked up, her reddened eyes eting the man’s innately cool gaze. In stark contrast to his eyes was his tone—resigned, almost as if he were coaxing her.
"You’re afraid of seeing others cry, yet you have no problem scowling at ," the man chuckled. "I wonder who spoiled you into being like this."
Song Lianhe avoided his gaze. "When did I ever scowl at you?"
’Anyway, the best policy is just to deny everything.’
Zhou Cangyan didn’t argue with her. The outco would be the sa regardless.
He turned back to E Jintang, his hand still clasped around Song Lianhe’s wrist.
Song Lianhe glanced down at their hands and couldn’t help but mutter, "It’s like you’re afraid I’ll run away. I’m not going anywhere."
The man’s ears twitched. He let out another calm chuckle. "One can never be too sure."
’What’s with this cloying, feigned innocence?’
Zhou Cangyan looked at the tall, sobbing man and spoke slowly. "I am Zhou Cangyan. If you trust , then serve from this day forward. As for your father, Governor E, I swear I will win justice for him and restore his good na."
E Jintang looked up at him and abruptly rose to his feet.
The iron chains binding him snapped at the movent!
The Shadow Guards audibly gasped at his incredible strength.
Without a word, E Jintang dropped to his knees with a THUD and kowtowed three tis, his head striking the floor heavily. When he looked up again, his forehead was red and swollen. He clasped his hands and declared, his voice booming like a great bell, "My Prince, if you can bring justice for my father, then this life of Jintang’s is yours!" With that, he kowtowed three more tis.
Zhou Cangyan nodded. "Return to your ho for now. You must not tell anyone that you t today. This will allow to investigate in secret without alerting our quarry."
E Jintang was overjoyed. "Yes! Jintang understands!"
Zhou Cangyan then ordered a Shadow Guard, "Escort him back to the E Mansion."
"Yes!"
Song Lianhe felt a profound sense of relief.
’At least I didn’t get chased all over town for nothing.’
’My legs are still trembling!’
Once they had left, the raucous room fell silent.
Song Lianhe turned her head, her gaze fixed on the man beside her.
His profile was truly stunning. He had sharp brows over brilliant eyes, which were slightly deep-set. His nose was straight and his lips were perfectly proportioned...
Just then, the man turned to et her gaze. "Sothing on your mind?"
Song Lianhe chuckled and nodded. "I’ve rarely heard you say so many words at once, my Prince."
’He had taken E Jintang’s single-minded personality into account. That’s why he explained the need for secrecy—not out of fear, but to facilitate a covert investigation. It was to put the big man’s mind at ease.’
’He’d paid attention to such a small detail. He really was a thoughtful person.’
’It also made her, the talent scout in this situation, feel valued.’
"Actually, you’re not as bad as they say you are, my Prince," she said, speaking from the heart.
He raised an eyebrow. "Is that a complint?"
"What else would it be?"
Zhou Cangyan turned to face her fully, his gaze growing sharp. "So, tell . The entire city is cursing E Xianwang, saying he was a corrupt official who got what he deserved. Yet you’re so certain he was a good man... Why is that?"
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