Yan Ruchu furrowed his brows; hearing that answer, he roughly understood.

When he looked at Chen Changsheng again, he appeared ashamed and couldn’t bring himself to mention the favor he’d sought. So, he cupped his hands together and said, “After Ruchu resolves this matter, he will pay you another visit.”

“Mr. Chen, I bid you farewell.”

Yan Ruchu left with that old servant.

Chen Changsheng watched him leave. After the two walked past the corner, he returned to the house.

Ruyi was still practicing her writing. After Chen Changsheng sat down, he lifted his hand and made several calculations.

After a moment, he suddenly froze.

“It’s really like this…”

Chen Changsheng murmured before lowering his hand.

Xian Yue’s current situation was not good.

But such troubles were calamities; he had no reason to interfere. After all, they brought it upon themselves. Moreover, last time at the Flowing Cloud Temple, Xian Yue had explained everything clearly—she would bear all the consequences herself.

Chen Changsheng shook his head with a sigh and stopped thinking about it.

Ruyi blinked and asked, “Uncle Chen, were those your friends just now?”

Chen Changsheng smiled and nodded. “Not really friends, just acquaintances.”

Ping’an nearby spoke up. “Acquaintances… aren’t they friends too?”

“Yeah, Uncle Chen, isn’t it the same?” Ruyi asked. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Chen Changsheng smiled. “Some may say it’s the same, but actually, it’s different.”

Ruyi said, “Uncle Chen always says things like this. Ruyi doesn’t understand.”

Ping’an also nodded. “Ping’an doesn’t get it either.”

Chen Changsheng chuckled. “These are grown-up matters. You’re still little ones—you don’t need to understand yet.”

But Ruyi replied, “But Uncle Chen, being a grown-up doesn’t seem so great either. Before, Brother Xiaoliu used to play with me all the time.”

“Then his father died. After that, he never came to play with me again. I only saw him rushing around. He used to smile a lot, but now he always hangs his head, like he lost his spirit.”

“I asked him why he changed. Brother Xiaoliu said it was because he’s a grown-up now and that I wouldn’t understand. You say the same thing, Uncle Chen, and Ruyi still doesn’t understand.”

Chen Changsheng paused. He patted Ruyi’s head and said, “Maybe your Brother Xiaoliu didn’t actually want to become a grown-up either.”

Ruyi blinked again. “I don’t get it.”

Chen Changsheng said, “When you’re a bit older and taller, you’ll understand.”

It was better not to explain such things too clearly to a five-year-old girl.

After all, her name was Ruyi—As-You-Wish.

Listening to them talk, Ping’an put down his branch and said, “But Ping’an thinks being a grown-up is good.”

Chen Changsheng asked, “Why do you think that, Ping’an?”

Ping’an answered, “Because Mother is always so tired. Ping’an wants to help, but she says I’m still too little and that only grown-ups can really help her. So Ping’an wants to become a grown-up soon.”

Chen Changsheng looked at Ping’an, then at Ruyi.

He thought to himself that sometimes these little ones understood the truth better than grown-ups ever did.

“Ping’an will be a grown-up eventually,” Chen Changsheng smiled. “Remember to take good care of your mother then.”

Ping’an nodded firmly. “Hmm!”

Then he lowered his head and went back to writing, as if nothing outside concerned him.

Chen Changsheng chuckled. “Ping’an (Peaceful Safety) must stay safe, and Ruyi (As-You-Wish), may everything go your way.”

He quite liked these two little ones.

But sometimes, watching them, Chen Changsheng felt a pang of envy.

Life was happiest back when you understood nothing.

…

Yan Huanglou and Wang Sanniang came back early.

They dared not keep their stalls open because something had happened in the city.

“What happened? Why so panicked?” Chen Changsheng asked.

Yan Huanglou exhaled heavily. “Not really sure, to be honest. I was selling tea, business good, then an army suddenly appeared outside the city—a huge commotion! Scared everyone off the streets. I still had two coins for unsold tea! Grabbed San-niang and ran back in a hurry.”

Wang Sanniang sighed. “Don’t know what chaos this will bring now.”

Chen Changsheng thought it over. “It might be a good thing.”

Yan Huanglou waved dismissively. “What good would come of it?”

Ever since he settled in Qingshan City, he hadn’t heard of one single good thing happening.

…

Inside the Prince’s Mansion.

Yan Ruchu sat in the Main Hall. Before him knelt several generals.

His gaze swept over each officer like that of a man ready to devour them whole.

“Perhaps you’ve forgotten the few bleaching bones beneath the city wall?”

Hearing this, every general’s heart lurched. They remembered perfectly well.

When they first seized Qingshan City, looting wealth and running wild, the Young Master had executed many. They saw with their own eyes those corpses eaten by flies and maggots over ten days. That scene—not one dared forget it. So when Yan Ruchu brought it up again, they couldn’t help shivering.

“Young Master, we dare not forget,” one answered.

The rest quickly echoed the sentiment.

“Dare not?” Yan Ruchu gave a cold laugh. “Yet I see that you dare quite a lot! You dare treat innocent lives like nothing! Is there ANYTHING you wouldn’t dare to do!?”

“Young Master, we absolutely never would!”

“Your Highness, please judge fairly!”

The generals pleaded desperately. Since that time, they’d never dared such things again. Even eating in Qingshan City, they paid every coin promptly and fully.

Yan Ruchu snorted coldly. “Need I be any more explicit?”

Silence instantly fell in the hall.

The generals actually understood perfectly well what this was about.

Soldiers under their command had stirred up trouble, and as officers, they were responsible.

The hall remained quiet.

Yan Ruchu scanned them once more, speaking calmly. “Arrest those who must be arrested. Execute those who must be executed. If I hear even one more report of anyone in Qingshan City abusing power or treating life cheaply… those who did it AND those who lead them will lose their heads.”

The generals sank into gloom at his words. They all knew the Young Master was genuinely furious this time.

Knowing him, a true fit of rage wouldn’t involve shouting and accusations, but this icy calm… it sent chills down their spines.

Probably, this wouldn’t be settled without bloodshed.

The leading general clasped his hands. “This General understands the order!”

With that, he turned and left the Main Hall. Mounting his horse immediately, he rode straight for the military camp, his aura thick with murderous intent.

The other generals also rose and left. Not one of them didn’t wear a dark, vicious expression, radiating killing aura.

After the hall fell quiet.

Yan Ruchu’s gaze shifted to the old man standing by his side.

The old man lowered his head. “Young Master…”

Yan Ruchu looked at him impassively. “This time I can spare your life. You know what to do.”

Cold sweat beaded on the old man’s forehead. Now he understood—his Young Master hadn’t been ignorant, just unwilling to bother before.

He responded hastily, “Yes… yes…”

Only after Yan Ruchu left did the old man breathe easier. A flicker of venom passed through his eyes.

“Worthless trash! Daring to ruin my plans!!”

He left the Prince’s Mansion immediately and gathered his men without delay.

The sky darkened.

This night would surely be troubled.