Meanwhile, Helian Duo was leisurely looking through official documents, while Xue Lianyu was sitting by the window, doing accounts.
"Hey, the newspaper's sales this month have increased by several hundred taels compared to last month. Our Xiran is really capable. When she comes back this time, I must give her a good reward!"
Helian Duo gave him a disdainful look: "You only have money in your eyes... I'm asking you, have you really handled the matter of Young Master Zhang properly? He came to the prince's mansion yesterday."
Just mentioning this, Helian Duo couldn't help but frown and support his forehead.
Xue Lianyu covered his mouth and snickered a few times before getting serious: "Who knows about him? Now he's not only spreading the news that he has a penchant for men everywhere, but also dragging you into it. You know, the mouth is on his face. I can't just sew it shut, can I?"
"If it weren't for the fact that his father is a high - ranking official in the court and an old acquaintance of mine, I would have taught him a lesson long ago..." Helian Duo angrily put down the official document in his hand, stared fixedly at Xue Lianyu, and then said, "Anyway, I want you to solve this matter properly. If he comes to the mansion again in the future, I'll have to go to Feiyu Villa to have a chat with Uncle Xue."
Uncle Xue was Xue Lianyu's weak point. The reason why Xue Lianyu worked so hard to make money was to make his father happy. Once his father was happy, he could slip out to have fun.
Hearing what Helian Duo said, he naturally begged for mercy again and again: "Okay, okay. Let me think of a proper way. Please don't go to my father. Last time you had a chat with him, I was punished to be confined for a whole half - month..."
Helian Duo gave him a meaningful look and said, "Since you know, deal with it quickly. Otherwise, I can't guarantee what I'll do."
After saying this, Helian Duo continued to look at the official documents. It wasn't until about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea that Zuo Yan came back.
"Something has indeed happened to Miss Cheng."
As soon as Zuo Yan finished speaking, Helian Duo almost instinctively dropped the official document in his hand and asked, "What's going on?"
Xue Lianyu watched him leisurely, as if he had seen through something but didn't point it out.
"Xiao Qi had a writing competition with Miss Cheng. But after they finished writing, Xiao Qi suddenly said that the article Miss Cheng wrote was a plagiarism of one she had written before. Now the Xiao Mansion is in an uproar, and no winner has been determined yet."
Xue Lianyu scoffed: "I've hardly heard of any famous articles written by Xiao Qi."
Zuo Yan just asked: "Your Highness, do you want me to do something?"
"As long as her life is not in danger, there's no need..." Helian Duo said with a cold face. After a short pause, he added, "She's a smart person. We don't need to worry about her."
But Xue Lianyu disagreed: "I don't think so. The Xiao Mansion is full of Xiao family members now. Xiran is all alone. Aren't you afraid they'll play dirty tricks?"
Helian Duo said firmly and word by word: "The Xiao Mansion doesn't dare."
Zuo Yan stepped aside, and Xue Lianyu also put down the account book in his hand. He started to tease Helian Duo: "Recently, I've noticed that all your irrational and uncool behavior is related to Xiran. A Duo, tell me honestly, do you like Xiran?"
Helian Duo pondered for a moment before slowly answering: "She's not beautiful, her knowledge is just so - so, and her family has a whole bunch of troubles. Do you think I'd like a woman who only causes me trouble?"
"I only cause you trouble? When have I ever caused you trouble?"
The three men were shocked on the spot. They never expected Cheng Xiran to suddenly appear.
"Miss, shouldn't you still be in the Xiao Mansion?"
Zuo Yan looked completely bewildered.
Helian Duo was also stunned. It was Xue Lianyu who quickly got up and approached her. Seeing her furious, he patiently comforted her: "Okay, okay. This blockhead always talks like this. You know that, don't you?"
But Cheng Xiran stared at Helian Duo fiercely. She was already angry because of the inexplicable accusation in the Xiao Mansion. Now, hearing what Helian Duo said, she couldn't hold back her anger and just wanted to vent it all out.
"Miss, what do you want the long sword for?"
The shopkeeper brought up the sword and then fell silent.
"I'm going to the Xiao Mansion to ask Xiao Qi exactly which article of hers I copied. If she can't answer, I'll run her through with my sword and let her know my might!"