066 Trouble Erupts

“No matter how you paint it, it will always be a forgery.”
“Huh?”
I clearly didn’t understand what Li Yexuan meant by that.
“You don’t need to. Yun Heng has already left. It just so happens that I need to visit the money house—let’s go together.”
“Thank you, Young Lord.”
He walked ahead, and I followed behind.
His steps were swift; I had to trot a few paces just to keep up.
Li Yexuan halted and asked, “Why don’t you say you’re struggling to keep up and ask me to slow down?”
I shook my head. “Only when one becomes strong can one keep pace. It’s not right to always ask others to wait. Wouldn’t you agree, Young Lord?”
He actually nodded. “When we’re out, just call me ‘Young Lord.’ I don’t much care for the title ‘Prince.’”
“Alright, Young Lord.”
Li Yexuan, noble as he was, surely had many who flattered him, but not many loyal friends. Perhaps it was the word ‘Prince’ that erected a barrier between him and others.
Those who stand high above others are often like this—fond of disguising themselves as common folk, yearning for the so-called friendship or love that exists only in books. After all, I too once stood above others—I understand.
Perhaps because I could stand in his shoes and consider his position, Li Yexuan helped me time and again, never once reproaching me for my recent blunder.
Just one more corner and we would reach Jin Yu Workshop. My eyes brimmed with anticipation.
After the fall of my country, there was no place I could truly call home, but Jin Yu Workshop was the closest thing to it.
Yet reality was a far cry from what I imagined. The entrance was crowded; I had no idea what was happening. I pulled aside a passerby to inquire.
“Brother, what’s going on at Jin Yu Workshop up ahead?”
“You don’t know, Young Lord? It’s said that Miss Yun came to Jin Yu Workshop claiming the headpieces she sold were flawed, so no one’s allowed in or out right now.”
“Which Miss Yun?” Though I had already guessed, I wanted confirmation.
“Which other Miss Yun could it be? She’s General Yun Heng’s younger sister.”
“Thank you.”
Anger surged within me, but I restrained it. Instead, I turned to Li Yexuan and said, “Perhaps you’d best go on ahead, Young Lord. Jin Yu Workshop is just before us.”
I didn’t want Li Yexuan to become entangled in this, so I tried to send him away.
“Jin Yu Workshop still owes me a share of the profits. It’s been a while since I’ve checked in—I’ll have a look.” With that, Li Yexuan strode past me and headed toward Jin Yu Workshop.
He’d never visited before; now he was making it clear he intended to get involved. I wondered how I would repay him for this favor yet again. Oh, Li Yexuan, why must you meddle?
I sighed and followed, reassuring myself: He is a prince, after all, with a playful heart. This is merely a corner of Yuehua Kingdom; if he wants to take charge, let him. It’s all to my benefit and does me no harm—why worry? He surely wouldn’t even notice such trivialities.
As expected, the entrance to Jin Yu Workshop was packed tight; we couldn’t squeeze through. Li Yexuan, being a prince, would hardly be willing to jostle in a crowd, and resorting to force wouldn’t be wise either. So I led him around to the back, entering through the rear courtyard door…