The Dumb Prince of the Ming Dynasty

Ma Sandao retorted, "His Majesty has many fathers-in-law, but he only has me as his savior."

Li Jinglong: "..."

Reasoning with Ma Sandao is harder than teaching a cow to play the lute.

Xiao Cui couldn't stand it any longer and said, "Oh dear, just listen to the Young Duke."

Ma Sandao instantly transformed from a proud rooster into a docile hen, nodding vigorously: "Okay, I'll do as you say. Whatever you say, I'll do."

Li Jinglong: "..."

I talked and talked until my spittle was almost dry, but it didn't even get a word in edgewise.

"The first step is to return the three thousand taels of silver. The second step is to proactively apologize to His Majesty," he said earnestly.

Upon hearing this, Ma Sandao frowned: "Even if I return the silver and plead guilty, won't His Majesty still punish me?"

"Whether you confess voluntarily or His Majesty finds out about you is a different matter," Li Jinglong patiently analyzed. "If you confess voluntarily, His Majesty will consider the contributions your Ma family made back then, and at most he'll fine you a few months' salary and scold you for being senile. That'll be the end of it."

"His Majesty still remembers your family's kindness. If you confess voluntarily, he won't kill you. But if you wait until the Embroidered Uniform Guard traces you back to him, then no one can save you."

Ma Sandao lowered his head and fell into deep thought.

Li Jinglong finally breathed a sigh of relief, having finally managed to persuade this stubborn mule to stop.

"No way." Ma Sandao raised his head. "If I confess voluntarily, wouldn't that expose the Marquis of Linchuan and his son?"

Li Jinglong's eyes widened: "!!!"

"I'm a man of honor," Ma Sandao patted his chest. "I wouldn't betray my brothers."

Li Jinglong almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

Xiao Cui, standing nearby, panicked and said anxiously, "Master Ma! If you don't protect yourself, you'll lose your life. What kind of loyalty are you talking about? What will I do if something happens to you?"

"You treat them like brothers, and they're using you as a scapegoat." Li Jinglong said with exasperation, "Why do you think the Marquis of Linchuan specifically chose you for this job? There are so many civil and military officials in the court, so many officials in the Ministry of Works, why you, Ma Sandao? It's because you are His Majesty's benefactor. If something goes wrong, they'll put you in the spotlight."

"No way?" Ma Sandao was skeptical.

Xiao Cui glared at him anxiously: "Master Ma, do you even want to live a peaceful life with me anymore?"

"want!"

"If I'm going to do it, then listen to the Young Duke."

Ma Sandao nodded emphatically: "Alright! I'll return the money, and I'll voluntarily go to His Majesty to apologize."

Li Jinglong's lips twitched, and he rolled his eyes: "Without Xiao Cui, you're finished. Old Ma, have you ever saved a fox in the snowy mountains?"

Ma Sandao: "???"

Xiao Cui covered her mouth and chuckled, "I'm that fox spirit, I've cultivated myself into a spirit, and I've come to repay your kindness."

"I'm that braised duck," Li Jinglong said speechlessly. "Right now, I want to strangle you."

Ma Sandao looked worried: "Nephew, don't be so anxious. Why are you talking nonsense?"

Li Jinglong rolled his eyes.

"It's all because of you," Xiao Cui said. "The Duke of Shao is investigating the case of the Marquis of Linchuan by imperial decree. How important is that? He's sitting here arguing with you for so long because he's trying to save you, my Lord Ma."

Li Jinglong shrugged: "Look, Xiao Cui understood it all."

Xiao Cui lowered her head shyly, her face slightly flushed.

Ma Sandao's gaze swept over the two of them, and he became impatient: "Have you two dated before?"

"Old Ma!" Li Jinglong said, speechless. "What are you jealous of now?"

Xiao Cui also panicked, her almond-shaped eyes widening: "Master Ma! What nonsense are you talking about!"

"I'm talking nonsense?" Ma Sandao retorted, "You can tell what he means with just one look. You can say one thing to him, and he'll know exactly what to say. If I'm not jealous, who is?"

Li Jinglong felt his head buzzing.

Xiao Cui said irritably, "I used to only play the zither for the Young Duke, and he only went to the Jiaofangsi to listen to music."

"Oh, oh, oh, I believe you." Ma Sandao chuckled.

Xiao Cui glared at him again: "I also heard that when the Young Duke goes to brothels, he never stays overnight, nor does he ever hire girls to accompany him. He's just pretending."

Li Jinglong waved his hand: "Hey, hey, don't ruin my image. I, Li Jiujiang, am a well-known playboy in the capital, only good for eating, drinking, and having fun, and utterly useless."

"Young Duke," Xiao Cui pleaded, "please save my husband. He's slow-witted and can't think straight. Please teach him what to do."

Li Jinglong pondered for a moment, then said, "Old Ma, tomorrow morning, take those three thousand taels of silver and go to His Majesty to apologize. Do whatever His Majesty asks of you."

Ma Sandao nodded: "I've got it."

Li Jinglong continued, "Don't alert the Marquis of Linchuan and the others, and don't say I taught you. Just pretend you figured it out yourself and went to confess. Do you understand?"

Ma Sandao waved confidently: "I understand! Don't worry, nephew."

Li Jinglong pursed his lips.

Why do I have such a bad feeling?

"After I meet His Majesty tomorrow, I will come to discuss the next steps with you," he said in a deep voice.

"There's a next step?" Ma Sandao exclaimed in surprise. "Didn't I just return the silver and apologize to His Majesty? Why is there a next step?"

Li Jinglong nodded affirmatively.

Of course, there needs to be a next step.

I saved you, so you have to take the fall for me.

The next steps will depend on how His Majesty deals with him.

"Thank you, Young Duke." Xiao Cui bowed.

Li Jinglong smiled and waved his hand, "Of course, what's this between you and me?"

"You two are still related!" Ma Sandao stood up abruptly.

Li Jinglong slapped his own face: "Old Ma, aren't you being too sensitive? Xiao Cui is my friend, understand? When we're together, we talk about music, play instruments, and chat. We're kindred spirits, you know?"

"Have you heard of Bo Ya and Zi Qi? Xiao Cui and I are like Bo Ya and Zi Qi, the one who plays the zither and the one who listens to it. We are pure and innocent, as white as tofu."

Ma Sandao was dumbfounded.

"Master Ma," Xiao Cui glared, "Don't overthink it. I know perfectly well who the Young Duke is and who I am."

Ma Sandao snorted: "I feel we need to be wary of this kid."

"Then I'll leave, okay?" Li Jinglong stood up. "Remember, after you've met His Majesty tomorrow, come find me."

Ma Sandao quickly waved his hand: "Alright! Take care, nephew, don't bother seeing me off!"

Li Jinglong: "..."

He walked out without looking back, and then heard a sound behind him.

"Master Ma, the Young Duke is a good man."

"A good person? I think he's incredibly cunning."

Ma Tian almost stumbled and fell.

This old man, how come he's sometimes stupid and sometimes smart?

When the case of Marquis of Linchuan comes to light, I would be best to persuade Ma Sandao to step forward and hand over the iron certificate of immunity from death.

In this way, the emperor could take the opportunity to collect everyone's iron certificates of immunity from death.

The wrath of the dukes and marquises will be directed at Ma Sandao, and will have nothing to do with me.