Volume One, Chapter 18: The Great Trouble at Prince Pingyang’s Mansion!

"As if I’d ever want to go back." Song Chenfei made no effort to hide his disgust.

Li Mo gave him a thumbs-up. "Lord Song, you’re truly something else, daring to speak to the Prince of Pingyang like that."

"It’s not me, it’s my token that’s something else. My Eldest Sister Changsun is absolutely legendary—so cool and domineering. I’ll have to butter her up properly in the future." Song Chenfei looked at the token in his hand and let out a strange, mischievous chuckle.

Outside the Ministry of Works, Song Qianshan saw the Prince of Pingyang emerge, but there was no sign of Song Chenfei.

"Father, where is Song Chenfei?" Song Qianshan asked, growing increasingly anxious.

"Forget it. We can't take him," the Prince of Pingyang said, his heart filled with dread as he thought of that token.

"How can we not take him? You are the Prince of Pingyang! One word from you—who would dare to stop us?" Song Qianshan was desperate now. "Let me take some men to tie him up. Today, we must bring Song Chenfei back."

"You fool! Do you want to get our whole family killed? Get back here!" The Prince of Pingyang scolded, grabbing Song Qianshan by the collar and dragging him away.

...

After the Prince and his party departed, the workday ended, and Song Chenfei left the ministry as well. However, one question lingered in his mind: Why was the Prince of Pingyang’s estate so insistent on his return?

The only certainty was that the estate was in deep trouble and needed him back to resolve it. And if even the Prince found it troublesome, it was certainly no minor matter. His curiosity only grew.

Two days later, while walking down the street, Song Chenfei spotted a familiar figure.

"Isn't that...? Heh, perfect timing. As one of Song Qianshan’s lackeys, he’s bound to know what kind of mess the estate has gotten itself into." A smile spread across Song Chenfei’s face as he strode forward.

The street was bustling with activity. A few burly men were performing "breaking a boulder on the chest," and the surrounding crowd of men and women cheered and applauded.

"Ladies and gentlemen, those with money, give a little for the show; those without, just give us your support! If the applause and the coin are enough, there’s even better to come..."

Just then, while everyone’s attention was fixed on the acrobatics, a limping man shuffled over. He pretended to stumble near a woman holding an infant, his hand darting in to snatch her coin purse before he quickly made off.

"Tsk tsk, another haul today," the man muttered, weighing the purse with a grin.

As he walked with his head down, he accidentally bumped into someone. He recoiled and barked, "Watch where you’re going! You dare bump into me? Careful, or I’ll beat you to death!"

"You're right, I wasn't watching where I was going," Song Chenfei replied.

Hearing the familiar voice, the man looked up and turned pale. The person before him was wearing an official uniform—it was none other than Song Chenfei!

"It’s you! Song Chenfei!" the man exclaimed, his face contorting in terror. He was Li Jiapu, one of Song Qianshan’s lackeys. He had been the one the Prince’s estate used as a scapegoat, and Song Chenfei had broken his leg in the process, leaving him to survive as a petty thief.

"Don't run off now. Didn't you say I wasn't watching where I was going and wanted to beat me to death?" Song Chenfei lunged forward, cutting off his escape.

"Song Chenfei—no, Lord Song, spare me! You already broke my leg; I’m just trying to scrape by on the streets. Please, show mercy, don't hold a grudge against a small man like me," Li Jiapu begged.

Song Chenfei said coldly, "Stealing money from others—if I turn you over to the authorities, according to the laws of the Great Qian, you won't escape a few years in prison."

*Thump.* Li Jiapu dropped to his knees and began kowtowing. "Lord Song, I know I offended you in the past, but it was only because of Young Master Song Qianshan. I was just a subordinate; it was the Young Master who truly wanted to harm you and see you suffer, not me!"

"I know you're just a lackey." Seeing the terror on his face, Song Chenfei knew he had achieved his effect. "So, if you’re sensible, I can let you off the hook. After all, you were merely an accomplice."

"I’ll be sensible, I promise! Whatever you want me to do, I'll do it," Li Jiapu cried, clutching at the lifeline.

"Tell me, why are Song Qianshan and the Prince so desperate for me to go back? Are they in some kind of trouble?"

Li Jiapu hesitated, but under Song Chenfei’s piercing gaze, he shuddered and answered honestly: "They are indeed in big trouble."

"What kind of trouble?"

If it were before, Li Jiapu would never have dared to speak, but having been discarded by the Prince’s estate and reduced to this, resentment had festered. He spilled everything.

"It all started at a banquet where the Young Master got drunk. He broke into the room of Sun Meimei, the daughter of the Minister of War, and forced himself upon her."

Song Chenfei wasn't surprised. Ever since that guy transformed from a pork seller at the market into a Prince’s heir, he’d become insufferably arrogant—he’d even dared to harass a Princess once. Back then, it was Song Chenfei who had taken the fall for him. Now he was at it again, and this time, he’d violated the daughter of the Minister of War. It seemed he hadn't learned his lesson; he was even more depraved than before.

"The Minister of War was furious and demanded the estate provide an explanation. The Prince’s estate tried to settle it with money, but the Minister isn't some commoner you can just pay off. He demanded the Young Master marry