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Глава 40

Ning Jin raised his eyes and said casually, "Zhan Zhao, are you trying to fool me?"

Zhan Zhao stood quietly, his gaze as calm as still water.

The two stared at each other for a long time before Ning Jin finally sighed, gave in, and forced a smile, saying, "Alright, I know you, Zhan Zhao, wouldn't joke about something like this."

"Your Highness is wise," Zhan Zhao said calmly.

Ning Jin was at a loss for what to do and didn't know what to say. She was furious but had nowhere to vent her anger, so she grabbed the account book on the table, flipped through it, and then threw it out the door.

The account books were quite heavy, and with a loud "bang," the door was slammed shut.

Wu Zichu cautiously crept over, picked up the account book, glanced at Ning Jin's expression, and dared not put it back on the table, so he had to hold it in his hand.

"You're still picking it up? You're still picking it up... Why are you still picking up this piece of junk!" Ning Jin said angrily.

Wu Zichu stood aside with a forced smile; he couldn't very well throw the account books he had just picked up back.

Zhan Zhao pursed his lips and remained silent. He knew that Ning Jin was angry but had nowhere to vent his anger, which suited him perfectly. He was only afraid that Ning Jin wouldn't get angry, but he wasn't afraid of Ning Jin getting angry, even if that anger was vented on him.

"Zichu, tell me!" Ning Jin blurted out, "What do you suggest we do?"

“Your Highness…” Wu Zichu naturally couldn’t make the decision for him, so he could only continue to smile obsequiously.

“I know you’ve long disliked this lousy job.” Ning Jin glared at him, wanting to get off the couch and kick him a few times to vent his anger, but then, remembering that it was unseemly to be barefoot, he sighed on the couch instead: “I told my brother long ago that there was no need to protect him like this, but he just wouldn’t listen. He’s just inexperienced and confused for a moment, it’s not a big mistake. … Just the textile manufacturing bureau alone costs nearly five million taels of silver, plus all the other miscellaneous things, with that much silver, we could conquer ten Liao kingdoms.”

Wu Zichu nodded repeatedly: "Your Highness is right."

“I told you long ago I didn’t want to take this lousy job,” Ning Jin continued to complain. “I initially thought I’d just take a little extra and try to win people over, as long as I didn’t go too far. But I never expected him to be so audacious. If I had known, I should have refused outright when my brother suggested it…”

“It’s not too late for Your Highness to stop now,” Zhan Zhao, who had been standing silently by his side, suddenly interrupted him.

Ning Jin was stunned, and glanced at him sideways: "You've been holding this in for so long, aren't you upset?"

"Your Highness will naturally prioritize the well-being of the nation; it is I, Zhan Zhao, who has spoken too much." Zhan Zhao's expression was gentle.

"Hmph! You've been waiting for me here." Ning Jin sneered. "Zichu, look at him. Last time I said he didn't talk much. It seems that when this man of few words starts talking, each sentence can be deadly."

Wu Zichu continued to agree, "Your Highness is right."

Hearing this, Ning Jin's expression turned as if he had swallowed a fly, and he said angrily, "Zichu, are you deliberately trying to disgust me?"

"This humble servant dares not."

Wu Zichu smiled apologetically, his tolerant expression somewhat like that of someone treating a spoiled child. He knew Ning Jin always had this temper; he needed to vent his anger on someone, and once he'd vented, he'd be fine.

Ning Jin was at a loss with him, then looked at Zhan Zhao and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Are you asking me to defy the imperial decree?"

"Zhan Zhao dares not. Zhan Zhao only hopes that Your Highness can think more about the people." Zhan Zhao lowered his eyes and said respectfully, "I believe His Majesty will understand Your Highness's difficulties."

Whether he was considerate or not is another matter.

Ning Jin waved his hand casually, turned his head and thought for a long time before sighing, "Never mind... I know what I'm doing. You can go now. This account book is right here. It's not real anyway, so it's useless for you to have it. Let me take a closer look."

Having achieved his goal, Zhan Zhao nodded, gave a slight bow, and prepared to leave.

“By the way,” Ning Jin called out to him, a half-smile on his face, “why didn’t that girl come with you tonight? Did she go swimming in the water to look at the moon again?”

Mentioning Mo Yan, Zhan Zhao couldn't help but smile: "She has other matters to attend to and cannot come. Does Your Highness have something to instruct her on?"

"It's nothing, it's nothing!" Ning Jin hurriedly said, "What would I need her for! I'm just glad she didn't come. ...I'm just curious, how can you put up with such a dim-witted girl?"

Zhan Zhao smiled gently, offering no further explanation.

"Your Highness, please rest early. Zhan Zhao takes his leave."

"Go ahead, go ahead."

Watching Zhan Zhao leave, Ning Jin muttered helplessly, "Only now do you remember to tell me to rest earlier? What were you doing earlier!"

Chapter Thirty

It was already midday, and it was still the same roadside noodle stall. Mo Yan and Zhan Zhao sat facing each other. The former had obvious dark circles under his eyes and was eating noodles in big mouthfuls, seemingly preparing to make up for his lost sleep by having a big meal.

Zhan Zhao waited for her patiently.

After finishing half a bowl of noodles, Mo Yan finally felt warmer and said, "It seems Miss Bai was scared silly by you. She hasn't left the small building all day. She's either sitting in front of the embroidery frame in a daze or leaning against the veranda feeding the fish... Boss, another bowl of wonton noodles! -- You really don't want to eat?"

Zhan Zhao shook his head; he truly envied Mo Yan's good appetite.

"Those koi in the Bai family's pond are really fat. The fish in this corrupt official's house are different from those elsewhere..." she couldn't help but sigh.

Zhan Zhao didn't reply.

"How about you have a bowl of noodle soup?" Mo Yan swallowed the wonton in her mouth, looking a little troubled. "I can't eat if you keep staring at me like that."

Can't eat?

He glanced at the nearly empty bowl of noodles in front of her, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Boss, another bowl of noodle soup."

He still ordered a bowl, just to keep it company.

"You went to Hanshan Temple again last night?" Mo Yan buried most of her face in the bowl, only her eyes showing as she looked at him.

Zhan Zhao nodded, not asking how she knew, assuming there must be some flaw in him that she noticed.

"That damn prince, I haven't had enough of his temper yet, why bother going to him..." She shook her head, puzzled.