Joy of Life: Me, the Second Prince? Summon Yuan Tiangang!

"Squeak—"

The heavy bronze palace doors slowly opened, emitting a teeth-grinding scraping sound. Civil and military officials surged out like a tide, but each person's steps seemed unusually hurried, even deliberately avoiding the two figures at the very back, as if they were contaminated with some terrible plague.

"You've gone mad! Ninth Young Master, you've absolutely gone mad!"

The moment he stepped out of the palace gates, Zhang Kai's long-suppressed anger and fear finally erupted.

The old prime minister, who had served five emperors and was known for his composure, was now so anxious that he was jumping up and down, and even the crown on his head, which symbolized the head of all officials, was tilted to one side.

He grabbed Han Fei's wide purple sleeve, lowered his voice, and his tone trembled uncontrollably: "Ten days! That's ten thousand taels of gold! Five presiding judges lost their lives without even catching a glimpse of him, and you dare to make a pledge in the main hall? Do you know that Ji Wuye is probably already sharpening his knife in his mansion, just waiting to chop off your head in ten days!"

Facing Zhang Kaidi's almost murderous gaze, Han Fei appeared unusually relaxed.

He even had the leisure to stretch lazily, his bones cracking a few times, before smiling at Zhang Kaidi: "Why is Your Excellency so alarmed? Ten days is long enough. Besides, if my fine head can be exchanged for 100,000 taels of military pay, then I'll have died a worthwhile death."

"You—!" Zhang Kai was so enraged by Han Fei's utterly unyielding attitude that he almost fainted. His withered fingers trembled as he pointed at Han Fei's nose. "Do you really think Ji Wuye is joking with you? He controls 70% of Han's army, and 'Nightfall' is omnipresent! What makes you think you can investigate? With your mouth?!"

"Your Excellency, please calm down. Anger is bad for your health." Han Fei subtly pulled his sleeve from his outstretched hand, his nonchalant expression gradually fading, replaced by a chilling depth. "Since I dared to take on this case, I naturally have my own methods. However, within the next ten days, I need Your Excellency to do something for me."

"What is it?" Zhang Kai looked at him warily.

"Help me stabilize the court." Han Fei leaned closer, his voice so low that only the two of them could hear, "No matter what tricks Ji Wuye plays in these ten days, Your Excellency must ensure that the seal of the Minister of Justice remains firmly on my waist. As long as I am not dismissed, I can play this game to the very end."

Looking at the confident Han Fei before him, Zhang Kai felt a glimmer of hope rise in his heart.

Perhaps, this young master, who has always been regarded by everyone as a playboy, can really create a miracle?

"Fine! I'll go crazy with you this once!" Zhang Kai gritted his teeth, flicked his sleeve heavily, and said, "But for these ten days, I can only shield you from the open attacks in the court. As for Ji Wuye's underhanded schemes, Ninth Prince, you'd better watch yourself!"

Watching Zhang Kai's hurried departure, Han Fei's lips curled into a faint smile.

He turned around, his gaze fixed on the rolling mountains outside Xinzheng City, his eyes gradually becoming sharp as knives.

"Ghost soldiers? Ha, I'd like to see what kind of evil spirits could swallow 100,000 taels of gold!"

……

Meanwhile, in a quiet alley in the eastern part of Xinzheng City.

In contrast to the solemnity surrounding the palace and the bustling atmosphere of the Purple Orchid Pavilion, this place seemed exceptionally deserted. The trees lining the streets were somewhat withered and yellow, and fallen leaves covered the bluestone pavement. Occasionally, one or two stray cats would dart by, stirring up a desolate autumn breeze.

Li Chengze, dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, strolled leisurely down the somewhat dilapidated street, toying with a folding fan in his hand.

Behind him, Yuan Tiangang, wearing a cold bronze mask, followed silently without making a sound.

"Your Highness, the place the broker mentioned is that abandoned house over there," Yuan Tiangang's hoarse voice rang in Li Chengze's ears.

Li Chengze stopped and looked up.

Before him stood a vast mansion. A rusty bronze lock hung on the mottled vermilion gate. Withered vines climbed the high walls, exuding an air of gloom and decay.

A gaunt man with a tooth was bowing and scraping, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

He stole a glance at Yuan Tiangang, the masked man behind Li Chengze who exuded an aura of unapproachability, swallowed hard, and stammered, "This...this esteemed gentleman, this is the 'haunted house.' This house originally belonged to a doctor, but later...then the entire family of over seventy people died suddenly overnight, and it has been abandoned ever since. At night, you can often hear a woman crying inside, and the neighbors are afraid to go near it..."

The broker spoke softer and softer, fearing that this seemingly wealthy young master might overturn the stall in a fit of anger.

To everyone's surprise, Li Chengze did not show any fear after hearing this. Instead, his eyes lit up and he snapped the folding fan shut.

"Died suddenly overnight? And there were cries at night? Great! Excellent!" Li Chengze clapped his hands and laughed. "Haunted is good, haunted brings peace and quiet! This young master loves peace and quiet the most. This house, I want it!"

"Huh?" The broker was stunned, thinking he had misheard. "Sir, you...you really want to buy it? This is a haunted house!"

"Stop talking nonsense." Li Chengze casually pulled out a gleaming gold ingot from his sleeve, weighing a full fifty taels, and threw it directly into the broker's arms. "This is the deposit. Go and get the land deed. The rest of the money is yours."

The broker hurriedly caught the gold, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets as he felt its heavy weight. In this chaotic world, gold was hard currency! He didn't care about whether it was a haunted house or not; he kowtowed repeatedly in thanks and dashed off to complete the formalities.

"Your Highness, although this house is secluded, it has been in disrepair for many years and may have an unclean atmosphere. Should I clean it first?" Yuan Tiangang stepped forward and asked in a deep voice.

"No need for that."

Li Chengze walked to the front gate, looked at the rusty copper lock, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

Yuan Tiangang understood, let out a cold snort, and a powerful burst of Tiangang Technique true energy suddenly erupted from him.

"Bang!"

The sturdy copper lock instantly turned to dust, and the two heavy vermilion doors groaned in pain as they swung open with a deafening crash.

A chilly wind, carrying the smell of dust and mildew, swept over us.

Li Chengze strolled into the courtyard. Weeds grew rampant, the artificial hills were dry, and although the pavilions and towers were dilapidated, their former grandeur and luxury were still evident.

It covers an area of ​​several dozen acres and is divided into a front yard, a central courtyard, and a back garden, and even has an underground ice cellar.

"It's big enough and well-hidden, making it perfect as our first base in South Korea."

"Joy of Life: I'm the Second Prince? Summoning Yuan Tiangang!": A phenomenal success, receiving rave reviews!

"Died suddenly overnight? And there were cries at night? Great! Excellent!" Li Chengze clapped his hands and laughed. "Haunted is good, haunted brings peace and quiet! This young master loves peace and quiet the most. This house, I want it!"

"Huh?" The broker was stunned, thinking he had misheard. "Sir, you...you really want to buy it? This is a haunted house!"

"Stop talking nonsense." Li Chengze casually pulled out a gleaming gold ingot from his sleeve, weighing a full fifty taels, and threw it directly into the broker's arms. "This is the deposit. Go and get the land deed. The rest of the money is yours."

The broker hurriedly caught the gold, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets as he felt its heavy weight. In this chaotic world, gold was hard currency! He didn't care about whether it was a haunted house or not; he kowtowed repeatedly in thanks and dashed off to complete the formalities.

"Your Highness, although this house is secluded, it has been in disrepair for many years and may have an unclean atmosphere. Should I clean it first?" Yuan Tiangang stepped forward and asked in a deep voice.

"No need for that."

Li Chengze walked to the front gate, looked at the rusty copper lock, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

Yuan Tiangang understood, let out a cold snort, and a powerful burst of Tiangang Technique true energy suddenly erupted from him.

"Bang!"

The sturdy copper lock instantly turned to dust, and the two heavy vermilion doors groaned in pain as they swung open with a deafening crash.

A chilly wind, carrying the smell of dust and mildew, swept over us.

Li Chengze strolled into the courtyard. Weeds grew rampant, the artificial hills were dry, and although the pavilions and towers were dilapidated, their former grandeur and luxury were still evident.

It covers an area of ​​several dozen acres and is divided into a front yard, a central courtyard, and a back garden, and even has an underground ice cellar.

"It's big enough and well-hidden, making it perfect as our first base in South Korea."