The Demonic Crown Prince

However, Li Yuan's respect for him was a stark contrast to the fact that he had always faced setbacks and humiliations in the officialdom. When had a prince ever asked him for a favor and been so gentle and humble?

He was flattered and overwhelmed, and for a moment he even felt that he would die for someone who understands him!

"I already told you, don't take it to heart. Saying more would just seem insincere. Come on, let's drink!"

Li Yuan smiled and helped him up.

"Old Pan, I'm entrusting this matter to you. You see, this is the Prince's own money being used to support the government's army, all for the purpose of quelling the rebellion in Yanbei Road. So, you must put your heart into helping recruit craftsmen and soldiers!"

Yan Poshan laughed.

"I will do my utmost!"

Pan Ming nodded heavily.

However, at this point, he remembered something, hesitated for a moment, and said softly, "But, Your Highness, privately raising troops, this, this..."

It should be understood that privately raising troops and maintaining a private army is tantamount to rebellion.

"Magistrate Pan, there is no need to worry. The prince is going to take up his fief. In the fief, it is permissible to have the prince's army. This is clearly stipulated in the laws of Da Ye."

However, this time, due to the urgency of the situation, and in order to quell the rebellion in Beiyan, recruitment was not carried out from the fiefdoms, but rather from the places they passed through.

Yan Poshan smiled slightly.

Pan Ming nodded, but then asked somewhat cautiously, "However, the military situation in Yanbei is urgent, and recruiting soldiers will take time. Your Highness, is there enough time?"

"Of course we have time! Our advance team can leave first, while we leave some people here to recruit soldiers."

Once everyone has gathered, we'll catch up with the vanguard.

It won't have any impact.

Yan Poshan laughed.

"Alright, leave these two matters to me. I will handle them perfectly."

Pan Ming's worries vanished, and he patted his chest to assure them!

"Very well, I'll toast Magistrate Pan!"

Li Yuan raised his glass—he knew very well what it felt like for such unsuccessful officials to feel, and the higher your status and the more you respected him, the more devoted he would be to doing things for you.

That's why he treated Pan Ming with such respect and humility!

But when had Pan Ming ever received such treatment in officialdom?

Even a prince who has lost power, based on past experience, still looks down on people!

"No, no..." He was flattered and quickly raised his glass, drinking it all in one gulp.

Then, they had a big drinking session, and Pan Ming got so drunk that Wang Wanquan and a few others had to carry him back to his bedroom.

"Next, we'll see how capable Pan Ming is. If possible, we should pay more attention to him."

"Once they are enfeoffed, they will need far too many talented people."

Li Yuan said.

"Understood!" Yan Poshan nodded emphatically.

……

Next, taking advantage of the night breeze, and under the protection of Scarface and a few others, Li Yuan returned to his lodgings.

That was the best inn in the entire Guangyuan County, which Yan Poshan had booked entirely.

The entire Yuanzi Battalion surrounded the area, making it completely impenetrable, and heavily guarded it.

However, they were all gathered on the first floor, and apart from Scarface and a few of his special guards, there was no one else on the second floor and above.

As for the third floor, only Xiao Guizi was left to serve Xu Shuying.

Still slightly tipsy, Li Yuan went up to the third floor, dismissed Xiao Guizi, and then walked to the innermost room.

When he arrived at the door, he was taken aback. To his surprise, there was a bright red wedding ribbon hanging on the door, along with a double happiness character and two red lanterns hanging beside it.

"They're quite good at setting up scenes," Li Yuan couldn't help but laugh.

He pushed open the door and looked inside, where he saw several large red wedding candles illuminating the room.

Xu Shuying, however, was sitting on the bed with a red veil over her head and dressed in a wedding gown.

"Is this another wedding night?" Li Yuan laughed, sat down at the table, and poured himself a glass of water.

"Life needs a sense of ritual, and besides, this is my first time!" Xu Shuying said softly, her voice trembling slightly.

"Life needs a sense of ritual? You actually know that saying?" Li Yuan looked at her with some curiosity. She was quite fashionable.

"You said that before, so I remembered it," Xu Shuying said softly.

"Heh... I just said it casually, and you remembered it. So, you do care about me?"

Li Yuan raised his eyebrows, looking at Xu Shuying with interest.

"Li Yuan, do you... do you have to be so aggressive?" Xu Shuying said, her face flushed with shame and anger, through her red veil.

"No, but I just want to know, are you just keeping your promise now?"

"Or do you genuinely want to entrust everything to me?"

Li Yuan took a sip of water and asked slowly.

Women are creatures whose nature is set in stone, so if you want to tame them, you have to tame them completely, otherwise they might start causing trouble one day.

"Are you coming or not?" Xu Shuying gritted her teeth in anger.

Whether you come or not is not important; what's important is that I need to know what you're thinking.

So, answer me!

Li Yuan asked with a smile.

"I'm not answering, Li Yuan. Take it or leave it. If you don't want it, get out of my room."

Xu Shuying said angrily, her hands tightly clasped together, but along with her anger, she was also completely confused. How did she end up arguing with him again? This shouldn't be happening, it should be...

"Yes, sir!" Li Yuan laughed heartily, stood up, and walked out with an air of nonchalance.

However, when he reached the door, Li Yuan stopped, turned to look at Xu Shuying, and said slowly, "Actually, you don't have to do this. If you want to leave anytime, I will let you go. I won't stop you even a step!"

"Li Yuan!!!!!" Xu Shuying suddenly ripped off the red veil on her head and screamed.

However, Li Yuan had already left, and with a "bang," only the echo of the door remained.

"You bastard, you big bastard, why are you humiliating me like this? Why? What did I do wrong?"

How could you be so indifferent and nonchalant towards me? Do you think you can just ignore me now that I'm gone?

Fine, fine, I'm leaving now, and I'll never bother you again, never.

Li Yuan, I never want to see you again in my next life!

After saying that, she got out of bed, ripped off her wedding dress, changed into a new outfit, packed all her belongings into a small bundle, and went downstairs with a "thump thump thump".

However, when I passed by the first floor, I saw Li Yuan sitting in the lobby, leisurely drinking tea.

"Li Yuan, I never want to see you again, never!"

Xu Shuying wiped away her tears, lifted her skirt, and walked out.

"Goodbye!" Li Yuan laughed and waved to her.

Two lines of tears streamed down Xu Shuying's pink cheeks as she turned and walked out of the inn, disappearing into the vast night!