Just as the two were indulging in this ambiguous atmosphere, Xue Lianyu showed up inappropriately.
"Aiya, aiya, what are you two doing?"
Since his tone sounded too much like he was catching someone in the act, Cheng Xiran immediately got up and walked aside to avoid suspicion. Then she forced a smile at Xue Lianyu and said, "I was discussing the manuscript with the prince. It's not what you think."
Helian Duo didn't seem to want to explain at all. He leaned back lazily and casually asked, "Where have you been these two days? I've been looking for you on business but couldn't find you. I went to the Shanzhuang this morning, and Uncle Xue also said he didn't know where you were."
"What else could I be doing? Of course, it's also for important matters. And I know what you're looking for me for..." Xue Lianyu sat down on one side, brewed himself a pot of tea, and then continued, "The envoys from the State of Yulin will arrive in a few days to pay an audience to the emperor. So the emperor is going to hold a banquet in the palace to entertain them. But every time there's such a grand palace feast, our Feiyu Shanzhuang will surely be involved in the arrangements, right?"
Helian Duo had already taken out a list from his sleeve: "These are the rare items needed. You look for them. The emperor said that the State of Yulin has always been on good terms with our country. This time, we must show enough courtesy. You can go to the palace to get reimbursed with this bill whenever you've found them. You won't miss out on any benefits."
"Of course I'll do it if I can make money."
Xue Lianyu took it with shining eyes, then teased, "I heard that the little princess of the State of Yulin will also come along. Rumor has it that her purpose for coming this time is you."
After saying this, Xue Lianyu deliberately looked at Cheng Xiran, but found that her back was turned to him, so he couldn't see her expression clearly.
Helian Duo looked completely indifferent, and his tone was cold: "I'm not interested. How about giving her to you? You're so handsome. Maybe she'll take a fancy to you."
"Forget it. I've been chasing that wild girl Li Yin recently. I haven't been to the pleasure quarters for half a month..."
Seeing Xue Lianyu looking bitter, Cheng Xiran couldn't help laughing: "I did hear Li Yin mention this. She also said that the person treating her well. If she marries him, she won't have to worry about not having all kinds of candies in the future."
She deliberately said this to provoke Xue Lianyu, and sure enough, this guy fell for it. After hearing this, he frowned angrily: "What's so great about having candies? Your mouth might be sweet, but life will still be bitter! This girl, how could she be so easily taken in..."
The more Xue Lianyu thought about it, the more wrong it seemed. While walking downstairs, he kept muttering, "I have to find her quickly. Even if I knock her out today, I'll carry her home!"
Thinking about his attitude a few days ago, Cheng Xiran didn't feel the least bit sorry for him. Instead, she thought he deserved it.
"The newspaper office is in a bustling downtown area. Why don't you move to my villa? It's quieter there."
Helian Duo's words pulled her back from her thoughts.
Cheng Xiran looked at him in surprise: "Are you stupid? Father might have driven me out just to test you. You'd better not stick your neck out at this time. I'm living quite well here."
He always boasted that he was both intelligent and handsome, and in fact, he was. But why did Cheng Xiran always feel that his IQ was off the mark recently?
Helian Duo thought it made sense after hearing this, so he fell silent for a moment... Did he expose something?
Not long after, Cheng Xiran asked Zhuque to return the bag of silver to her grandmother, and then she busied herself with writing the manuscript. Helian Duo didn't have the time to continue flirting either. Instead, he went to one side and started to deal with his official business.
About the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Zhuque came back exactly as she had left.
"Grandma didn't accept it?"
Seeing Zhuque blush and smile, she said, "It's not that the old lady didn't accept it. It's that I couldn't even enter the mansion gate."
With Cheng Xiran showing no surprise on her face, Zhuque continued, "The butler personally said that Prime Minister Cheng has been in a bad mood these two days and doesn't want to see us. So he wouldn't let us in and told us to leave quickly."
Cheng Xiran let out a chuckle and said helplessly, "It's as if I want to go back. Put it away first. We'll talk about it later."
Zhuque retreated.
Then Helian Duo looked as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.
"You also think he's very boring, right?"
Seeing him nod, Cheng Xiran became even more enthusiastic: "Sometimes I'm really curious about how he managed to climb to this position. He always does some meaningless things. I bet he'll come to me himself in a few days and ask me to go back."
Indeed, he came in person, but not two days later. It was in the afternoon of that day.
When Cheng Xiran was having lunch with the shopkeeper, he came under the strongest but warmest sunlight.
As soon as he came in, he had a cold face and got straight to the point: "Pack up. Go to the Cheng Mansion in half an hour. You're going to the palace to pay an audience to the empress dowager."
Cheng Xiran didn't ask any more questions. She just said "oh" and didn't get up to salute him.
Prime Minister Cheng was about to scold her when he saw Helian Duo lazily coming out of the alley. "Isn't this Prime Minister Cheng? Are you here at the newspaper office to look for this king?"
Prime Minister Cheng quickly saluted, then shook his head and said, "Reporting to the prince, I'm here to look for... Xiran."
Without waiting for Helian Duo to reply, he took the initiative to continue the conversation, "But why is the prince here?"
Helian Duo was calm and even a bit reluctant to talk to him: "Since when does this king's business need Prime Minister Cheng to point fingers?"
Seeing that he looked unhappy, Prime Minister Cheng quickly smiled apologetically, "Your Highness, please calm down. I spoke out of turn."
Her father was really good at playing tricks. He bullied the weak and feared the strong and was also a tyrant at home... Cheng Xiran knew clearly that usually, such men were mostly useless and just good-for-nothings.
She didn't say much and didn't invite him to sit down. Prime Minister Cheng sat in the hall for a while. After feeling embarrassed, he left without looking back, as if he was still a bit angry.
Cheng Xiran watched his departing back and only found it funny, but Helian Duo's face gradually darkened: "What does the empress dowager want with you at this time?"
"She didn't say in detail. Anyway, it mustn't be anything good..." Seeing his worried look, Cheng Xiran quickly comforted him, "Don't worry. I'll handle it according to the situation."
Helian Duo let out a soft sigh: "Do you want me to go with you?"
As soon as he said this, even the shopkeeper was immediately stunned. It was really the first time in his life to hear such words from the regent.
Cheng Xiran was also a bit surprised, but she quickly came to her senses and politely declined, "No, thank you. I really can handle it. I'm not a child anymore. What are you worried about?"
Since that was the case, Helian Duo didn't say anything more. He just carefully instructed Mu Li. The palace was different from the outside world. Anything could happen. Helian Duo not only instructed Mu Li but also made arrangements for others. This inexplicably made Cheng Xiran feel warm, and the fear in her heart gradually faded away.