Chapter 146: Being a Guest

Zhao Helin explained with a smile, "So the Prince Jing's Heir is here. I shall go and offer my greetings as well."

Cheng Maoming's eyebrows twitched, but he remained silent.

No matter how unpleasant their working relationship was, they hadn't reached the point of a complete fallout; he couldn't exactly tell Zhao Helin he wasn't allowed to go say hello.

Seeing Cheng Maoming quicken his pace with a dark expression, Zhao Helin simply smiled indifferently.

Hearing footsteps, Cheng Shu immediately stood up. "Has Lord Cheng finished his business?"

Cheng Maoming nodded slightly. "I have kept you two waiting."

Qi Shuo set down his teacup and stood up. "It is getting late; Brother Cheng and I shall not disturb you any longer."

Zhao Helin spoke up to offer his greetings.

Qi Shuo cast a glance toward him, his attitude polite yet distant. "Lord Zhao."

"Had I known the Heir was here, I would have come sooner. Please do not take offense at my lack of hospitality."

"Lord Zhao is too kind."

Maintaining his polite facade, Zhao Helin asked unobtrusively, "May I ask what brings the Heir here?"

Hearing this question, Cheng Maoming instinctively shot Qi Shuo a meaningful look.

Qi Shuo, however, acted as if he hadn't noticed, saying casually, "I came along to accompany a friend."

Only then did Zhao Helin shift his attention to Cheng Shu. "And this is—"

Cheng Maoming said flatly, "Young Master Cheng Shu of the General's Manor, currently serving in the Imperial City. Has Vice Commandant Zhao not met him?"

Zhao Helin smiled. "I truly haven't. Young Master Cheng, you aren't on duty today? How do you have the time to come to the Jinlin Guard for tea?"

Cheng Shu glanced at Cheng Maoming, his eyes full of helplessness.

*It's because your lordship called me here for tea.*

Cheng Maoming did not want Zhao Helin to know his intention for inviting Cheng Shu, so he said vaguely, "Young Master Cheng is concerned about the progress regarding the kidnapping of the eldest Miss Lin and has come to inquire about the situation."

"So that is how it is." Zhao Helin maintained an expression of complete disbelief.

As they spoke, the group had already walked outside.

Qi Shuo and Cheng Shu paused, asking Cheng Maoming and Zhao Helin to stay.

"Please take care, Heir and Young Master Cheng. Once matters are resolved, I shall invite you both for drinks," Cheng Maoming expressed his thanks tactfully.

Qi Shuo offered words of comfort. "Do not be anxious, Grand Commander. Perhaps Cheng Shu will suddenly remember where he saw that high-value prisoner before; when that happens, the prisoner's origins will naturally come to light."

Cheng Maoming froze for a moment, instinctively glancing at Zhao Helin.

There was a traitor within the Jinlin Guard, and he suspected the man surnamed Zhao. He had wanted to prevent the other from learning of the connection between Cheng Shu and the prisoner, but he hadn't expected the Prince Jing's Heir to expose it so bluntly.

"Young Master Cheng... has seen the prisoner who kidnapped Miss Lin?" Zhao Helin stared at Cheng Shu in shock.

Cheng Shu gave an awkward smile, unwilling to say more. "He just looked familiar."

"Oh." Zhao Helin's expression returned to normal. "Then Young Master Cheng must think on it carefully."

"Farewell." Qi Shuo cupped his hands.

Cheng Shu also cupped his hands and turned to leave alongside Qi Shuo.

Zhao Helin's gaze grew heavy as it fell upon the two departing figures walking side by side.

Cheng Shu took an unintentional glance back and whispered, "Heir, did you notice? Those two don't seem to get along."

"That is normal. Friction is inevitable among colleagues."

Hearing Qi Shuo say this, Cheng Shu stopped dwelling on it, though he said with some distress, "Both high-value prisoners are dead, and now everyone is waiting for me to remember something. The pressure is too much."

"Just let nature take its course, Brother Cheng."

Before they had walked far, several people approached them from the opposite direction, led by a steward from the General's Manor.

Upon seeing Cheng Shu, the steward's face lit up with joy. "Young Master, are you alright?"

Cheng Shu said with a chuckle, "I am fine."

"It is good that you are fine, truly. It is nearly dark; the Old Madam and the Madam were worried, so they sent a servant to fetch you."

Cheng Shu reached out and patted Qi Shuo. "It is all thanks to the Heir coming to find me; otherwise, I might not have returned so early."

The steward gave a deep bow. "This servant thanks the Heir on behalf of the Old Madam and the Madam."

"Brother Cheng and I are friends; constant thanking would be too formal."

Cheng Shu was moved. "Right, there is no need for friends to keep 'thanks' on their lips. If the Heir has nothing else to do, come to the General's Manor tonight to drink together."

"Very well," Qi Shuo agreed with a smile.

Cheng Shu felt even more that Qi Shuo was a man of character.

The Prince Jing's Heir was truly a straightforward person!

It wasn't long before they arrived at the General's Manor. The members of the Prince Jing's Manor watched with wide eyes as their Heir entered the gates of the General's Manor, thinking they were seeing things.

Cheng Shu led Qi Shuo back to his quarters, while the steward went to the main courtyard to report the news.

"Oh? Shu'er is drinking with the Prince Jing's Heir?"

Lady Lin sighed. "I didn't expect the Prince Jing's Heir to be so warm-hearted. Mother, should I go over and offer my thanks?"

In terms of seniority, she was the elder, but in terms of status, she was inferior to him. Especially since he was involved with something as troublesome as the Jinlin Guard, it was only proper to thank him personally.

"The Prince Jing's Heir and Shu'er are both young; they will be more comfortable drinking together. You'd better not go. On the contrary, Chan'er and Ah-Hao went through so much yesterday that they aren't in high spirits today. Go check on the two girls."

"Then I shall go see them."

The golden crow was setting in the west, and the bright, thin light of the sky had turned into a heavy azure, signaling that night was about to fall.

The Moonlit Pavilion where Lin Chan resided and the Falling Petal Pavilion where Lin Hao resided were built adjacent to one another. Lady Lin hesitated for a moment before heading to her eldest daughter's room first.

The two daughters had been seen by a physician as soon as they returned to the manor yesterday. Ah-Hao was doing alright, but Chan'er's pulse was somewhat unstable due to the fright she had received.

When Lady Lin arrived, she discovered that Lin Hao was also in the Moonlit Pavilion.

"Mother, why have you come at this hour?" Lin Chan was leaning against the headboard; seeing Lady Lin enter, she sat up straight.

Lady Lin pressed her back down. "Just lean back comfortably. How are you feeling now?"

"Just a bit tired. Don't worry, Mother."

"That is not what the physician said." Observing Lin Chan's pale complexion, Lady Lin asked worriedly, "Did you not sleep well?"

"It was fine." Although Lin Chan said this, she had actually suffered through nightmares all night. Fearing her mother and sister would worry, she did not dare speak of it.

"How is Ah-Hao?"

Lin Hao's complexion looked much better. "Don't worry, Mother, I am fine. I am just thinking about the progress of the interrogation of those two prisoners by the government."

These words instantly ignited Lady Lin's curiosity.

"Indeed, I wonder how the progress is. Your eldest brother went there early this morning, and who knew, the Jinlin Guard came to the door in the afternoon and called him away again."

"Again? Has Big Brother returned?"

Lin Chan and Lin Hao immediately grew tense.

Lady Lin smiled. "He's back. He is currently drinking at our house with the Prince Jing's Heir."

Lin Hao was stunned. "Drinking... at our house?"

"It was the Prince Jing's Heir who brought your brother back from the Jinlin Guard. I wonder when those two became such good friends." Lady Lin smiled.

"So the Prince Jing's Heir and Big Brother are on good terms." Lin Chan looked at Lin Hao with a beaming, meaningful gaze.

She had been in a bad state since returning, and she hadn't even had the chance to "interrogate" her sister yet.

Lin Hao suddenly stood up. "I'm going to see Big Brother."

There must be news from the Jinlin Guard.

Lady Lin was startled. "They are drinking; what are you going there for?"

"Aren't you curious about the situation with those two prisoners, Mother? I'll go ask Big Brother and the Prince Jing's Heir, lest Big Brother's report be incomplete."

Hearing this, Lady Lin nodded.