The Demon Lords-Chapter 787 - 172 Into My Trap_4

"But I don’t know what happened. As the old saying goes, eating too much lard is likely to make one do foolish things."

"Oh, indeed. It must be because he married a butcher’s daughter; he’s clearly eaten no small amount of lard."

Ji Chengjue heard this, shook his head, and chuckled. "It’s not because of a woman."

"Save the rest of that sentence; it makes me want to gag."

"Uh..."

Ji Chengjue paused, rubbed his nose, and nodded. "Actually, it is because of a man."

"It seems the winds from Jin land, which Yan conquered, have indeed blown in here."

"The person is someone Sister also knows: Zheng Fan."

Upon hearing the name "Zheng Fan," the Prefecture Princess forcefully threw the stone in her hand, sending it skipping several times across the water’s surface.

"I despise that name. Every time I hear it, my face burns with shame."

She was the first to recognize Zheng Fan. Before that, Zheng Fan wasn’t even an official, just a conscripted laborer. She’d once asked him if he wanted to be a household servant for the Li family. She initially thought the boy didn’t understand what being a servant for the Li family—a servant in the household of the Earl of North Border—truly meant, so he’d foolishly chosen the temporary post of Commerce Protection Captain. But judging from his later actions, he was clearly no fool; in other words, he’d done it deliberately. Actually, it was no big deal. Why would the dignified Prefecture Princess of the Earl of North Border’s residence waste so much patience on someone of peasant origin? However, as he rose step by step and gained the favor of Lord Jingnan, his ascent became unstoppable. In just a few years, he’d gone from a conscripted laborer to Garrison Commander of Snow Sea Pass, and the Emperor had even enfeoffed him as Lord Pingye. So, it wasn’t that he didn’t understand what being a servant in the Earl of North Border’s residence meant. His aspirations were simply too high; he disdained using such a somewhat servile status as a stepping stone for his career. The more outstanding Zheng Fan became, the higher the office he attained, the more military achievements he accrued, the more often the Prefecture Princess’s ’failure to recognize talent’ would be brought up. Especially since Zheng Fan, a man from Beifeng Prefecture, had actually become a Garrison Commander in Lord Jingnan’s army, everyone would inevitably ask: Why? Then, the Prefecture Princess knew she would be dragged out and ’flogged’ again. She’d be called ’a woman with long hair but short insight,’ ’blind to talent’—in short, any blame could be pinned on her. What vexed her most was that she couldn’t argue back, nor did she know how. Back then, her own father had wanted this man, had tried to poach him from Lord Jingnan, but still failed. Yet, at that time, for her, it would have only taken a word.

"That scoundrel is indeed a formidable character. I really did misjudge him back then."

Saying this, the Princess looked at Ji Chengjue again and smiled. "Everyone knows Zheng Fan is your man, Prince Chengjue, someone you brought to prominence. So... Oh, I get it now. Seeing that little gofer you once backed now a Garrison Commander, you got anxious, didn’t you? Worried that if you kept up your act, that leash would finally snap, eh?"

"What leash are you talking about? I never treated him like a dog; we’re friends. Besides, with his temperament, if he were truly willing to be a dog, why would he have refused you back then? That just goes to show, talented people naturally have their pride. As for this time, you know better than anyone, don’t you? The national treasury was on the verge of collapse. That’s why Father Emperor finally remembered me, his son who was always tucked away in some forgotten corner, and brought me out to raise funds and replenish the coffers."

"Enough of that. Let’s be frank, I don’t buy it."

"Sigh, I never imagined you held me in such high regard, Sister."

Hearing this, the Princess laughed. "An elder sister-in-law in a common family is often like a mother. But in the imperial family, sisters-in-law would rather see all their husband’s younger brothers die young."

This remark was quite taboo, but this was the West Garden. Furthermore, given her status, even if these words reached the Yan Emperor’s ears, he would likely just laugh them off.

"You’re mistaken about that, Sister. There are many stories of elder sisters-in-law being like mothers. But in reality, among common folk, scheming and even life-or-death struggles between sisters-in-law are far more common. That’s the norm."

"Alright, alright. What did you come here for?"

"To borrow something from you."

"What is it?" 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"A sword."

The Prefecture Princess looked at Seventh Uncle, who attended by her side.

Ji Chengjue immediately said, "Not that one."

At this moment, the Prefecture Princess had two ’swords’ by her side. One was Seventh Uncle, who had protected her since childhood. The other was in the great encampment outside the capital city—Li Liangshen, one of the four greatest swordsmen of the era.

"That sword, let alone it not being mine, even if it were, I couldn’t lend it out."

Ji Chengjue stood up and brushed off his trousers. "So, I just came to give you a heads-up."

The Princess’s eyes narrowed. "Such arrogance."

Ji Chengjue nodded, admitting it frankly. Then he said, "Sister, you still haven’t married my Second Brother, have you? So, for now at least, we’re still friends, right?"

"The war is over. I’ll be marrying soon."

Ji Chengjue smacked his lips, nodding thoughtfully.

"Then, I, Little Sixth, shall take my leave?"

"See yourself out."

Ji Chengjue left the West Garden. At the entrance, he glanced back at the plaque one last time.

"Hehe..."

The carriage prepared by Master Zhang was waiting outside. Ji Chengjue boarded it.