The Dumb Prince of the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 107 Who Dares to Show Off in Front of Old Zhu?

A horse-drawn carriage slowly drove towards Yongchangfang.

Inside the carriage, Princess Qin was dressed in a black brocade robe and wore light makeup.

The black coat accentuated her snow-white skin, but her stunningly beautiful face carried a hint of sadness.

Sitting across from her, Li Jinglong sighed, "Sigh, Li Siqi died so suddenly, there were so many things he hadn't had time to arrange. You know, that old guy, he was haggling with me this morning, being so stingy, and then this afternoon someone slit his throat. He didn't even have time to settle down those trade routes."

"Even the Embroidered Uniform Guard can't find the murderer?" Princess Qin frowned slightly.

Li Jinglong nodded: "Mao Xiang is currently hunting down the culprit throughout the city. Isn't this strange? The Imperial Guards are squatting in the private room next door, separated by only a wall, yet they haven't heard a single thing. The dagger was stuck in his throat, quick, accurate, and silent."

"Who could have killed Li Siqi right under the noses of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?" Princess Qin frowned.

Li Jinglong couldn't understand it either.

If Zhu Yuanzhang didn't kill him, then who did?

Li Siqi was someone Old Zhu was going to use next, and they had just reached an agreement when he disappeared.

Isn't this a slap in the face to Lao Zhu?

During the Hongwu reign, slapping Zhu Yuanzhang in the face was basically tantamount to sticking one's head under the guillotine.

Who dares to wield a big knife under Old Zhu's nose?

"Jiujiang," Princess Qin sighed softly, "Li Siqi's death won't affect the overall situation. Hai Li should return north; you should see her off then."

Li Jinglong was taken aback: "Huh? Okay."

Before long, the carriage arrived at Yongchangfang.

Li Jinglong jumped out of the car first, and then naturally reached out his hand.

Princess Qin took his hand as she got out of the carriage, and a fragrant breeze wafted over. Li Jinglong helped her walk towards the square.

The mourning hall has been set up in the square.

Li Shou knelt before the coffin, dressed in white mourning clothes.

Li Jinglong and Princess Qin stepped forward and offered incense.

After offering incense, the two walked to Li Shoumian.

"Please accept my condolences," Li Jinglong said.

Li Shou bowed slightly but did not speak.

"Why don't I see your elder brother Li Chang?" Princess Qin asked, looking around.

Li Shou raised his head and smiled bitterly: "Li Chang is Li Siqi's son, and Li Siqi died as early as the eighth year of Hongwu."

Li Jinglong was stunned for a moment, then he understood.

Li Chang followed the official path, being the son of the meritorious official Li Siqi, and is now the Assistant Commander of the Imperial Guard.

Now that Li Siqi is dead, if Li Changruo offers condolences as his son, wouldn't that be tantamount to admitting that his father faked his death back then?

Therefore, Li Chang cannot come.

Li Shou cupped his hands and said, "You should go and rest in my yard for a while. I need to entrust my father's affairs and belongings to you."

""

Li Shou bowed deeply: "Thank you, Beggar Chief."

Li Jinglong led Princess Qin through the alleys of Yongchangfang to the small courtyard at the end of the alley.

Pushing open the door, everything in the courtyard was just as it had been.

On the stone table still sits the purple clay teapot that Li Siqi used to drink tea that day, its lid tilted at an angle, as if the owner had just gone to the outhouse and would come back at any time to pour another cup.

Standing in the courtyard, Li Jinglong sighed, "I was just here yesterday trying to outwit Old Li."

Princess Qin sat down in the chair, her eyes filled with a melancholy: "Back then, how spirited he and my elder brother were."

Li Jinglong sat down next to her and said in a deep voice, "I definitely can't handle the trade routes left by Li Siqi, or the mess left by the scouts and military headquarters, by myself. Will Your Highness help me?"

"Are you sure?" Princess Qin raised an eyebrow.

"Of course I'm at ease," Li Jinglong blurted out. "The princess is beautiful inside and out."

The Queen of Qin suddenly leaned closer: "Boy, do you really want me to help you?"

"You're familiar with the scouts, Chief Scout. With you around, I'll get the hang of it quickly." He leaned back slightly.

Princess Qin moved closer and closer: "Will His Majesty agree?"

"I've already reported to His Majesty, and he agrees." Li Jinglong shrugged. "Anyway, you're right under our noses, so I doubt you'd dare to do anything reckless."

The Queen of Qin drew closer, smiling brightly: "How could that be? We are allies now."

"Your Highness," Li Jinglong said, looking at the stunningly beautiful face before him, "if you come any closer, I might kiss you."

The Queen of Qin glared at him: "You bit me when you were little."

"Don't fool me." Li Jinglong leaned back again. "We're only a dozen years apart."

Princess Qin reached out and pinched his cheek, her smile playful: "Back then, when you were in the harem, all the ladies liked you."

Li Jinglong rubbed his forehead.

If Douyin (TikTok) existed in the Ming Dynasty, I would have recorded all my scandals.

A cold wind blew in from time to time, carrying a chill.

"Your Highness, would you like to come closer?" Li Jinglong pointed to the stove in the inner room.

Princess Qin rose and walked toward the estrangement, leaving behind a fragrant breeze.

The charcoal fire in the stove roared, instantly warming the room.

Li Jinglong reached his hand to the stove and felt completely comfortable.

Princess Qin sat beside him, the firelight reflecting on her face, exuding a regal and sophisticated aura.

"Jiujiang, come here." She turned her head. "When you were little, you always liked to come close to me. Now you've learned to avoid me?"

"I'm not a child anymore." Li Jinglong was speechless.

The two started arguing again.

The warmth of the fire and the delicate fragrance emanating from the Queen of Qin wafted through the air.

"The scent on you," Li Jinglong sniffed, "doesn't smell like the spices from the Central Plains."

"It's brewed from wildflowers on the grassland, I don't know its name," said Princess Qin. "There's not much left of what we brought back back then."

"It smells nice," Li Jinglong blurted out.

Princess Qin smiled, reached for the fire tongs, and lazily poked at the charcoal in the stove.

After a moment of silence, the two sat side by side.

Time passed by unnoticed, and at noon, Li Shou returned.

"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." He clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"There's no rush these next few days," Li Jinglong said. "You can talk about it after you've finished your father's funeral."

Li Shou shook his head: "Since my father chose you, those things can't fall on my shoulders anymore. You know, my father had many people under him, and his departure is bound to cause unrest. The accountants, porters, camel caravans, and acquaintances at the checkpoints are all waiting for an explanation. The sooner you take over, the more at ease they will be."

Li Jinglong nodded slowly: "Indeed, dragging this out will cause you trouble."

"Beggar Chief, you took over everything from my father using the identity of Li Chongliu, didn't you?" Li Shou asked.

Li Jinglong nodded: "Of course. Smuggling in the northern deserts, how can one use the identity of the Duke's son?" "That might not be easy." Li Shou sighed, "The people in the scout headquarters won't just take you on as a newcomer. If my father were here, he could help you keep things under control."

"Your father is gone, I'll help him," said the Princess Consort of Qin.

Li Shou was startled, then nodded deeply: "That's fine then. After all, Your Highness, you were once the Darughachi of the Southern Division of the Scouts. With you here, those people won't dare to disbelieve you."

"The Scout Command was founded by my elder brother, so no one knows it better than me," said Princess Qin.

Without further hesitation, Li Shou turned and went into the inner room. A short while later, he emerged carrying a wooden box, placed it on the table, opened the lid, and inside were several neatly stacked booklets.

"This is the list of scouts, this is the account book for the trade routes, and this is the detailed list of payments made at various checkpoints." Li Shou laid out the items one by one, "The shopkeepers, caravan leaders, and camel caravan leaders are all marked."

Princess Qin nodded slightly: "These familiar faces are still here, which is better than I expected. We can try shipping goods to the northern desert."

Li Jinglong rubbed his hands together, eager to make a fortune: "I'm going to make a lot of money!"