Actually, Yang Zijin wasn't surprised that Shuo Ling didn't know about that. He could get what he wanted easily, and people were all afraid of him, so how could he know the festive lantern?

Shuo Ling said in disbelief, "Really?"

"Of course, otherwise, you can ask the hawker who sells festive lanterns, and he will say the same." Yang Zijin looked at Shuo Ling and said.

Shuo Ling asked again, "What did you write just now?"

"I can't tell you. It won't work if I say it." Yang Zijin shook her head and said.

Shuo Ling nodded, turned, and walked to the stall selling festive lanterns, "Give me the same festive lantern as the former one."

"Okay, here is the Chinese brush." The hawker gave the lotus lantern to Shuo Ling and said to him.

Shuo Ling also wrote something on the lotus lantern and then put it in the water following Yang Zijin.

They smiled at each other and sat on the steps beside the river. Yang Zijin leaned on Shuo Ling's shoulder, quietly admiring the beautiful night.

Gradually, there were fewer pedestrians. Shuo Ling took out the hairpin he bought at the jewelry stall and handed it to Yang Zijin, "Do you like it?"

Yang Zijin asked in surprise, "You bought this?"

"Don't you like it?" Upon seeing this, Shuo Ling took the hairpin back and asked her.

Yang Zijin took the hairpin from his hand, looked at it carefully, and then said with a smile, "I like it. Although it is made of wood and looks simple, I like it very much. Because it's my favorite style, especially there is the peach blossom on it."

Yang Zijin said with a smile. She didn't expect that Shuo Ling would be so attentive.

Yang Zijin then handed the hairpin to Shuo Ling and said, "Help me wear the hairpin."

Yang Zijin lowered her head.

Shuo Ling took it and helped her wear it on her head.

"How do I look?" Yang Zijin raised her head and asked.

Shuo Ling nodded, "Very beautiful."

He held her face and kissed her.

Then he said, "After returning to Jing City and everything is done, I will marry you."

Yang Zijin's face turned reddish after hearing it, then she smiled and nodded.

Seeing that Yang Zijin did not refuse, Shuo Ling was very excited. He held Yang Zijin and whirled.

"Ah... Shuo Ling, put me down, ah..." Yang Zijin was taken aback and shouted.

After Shuo Ling stopped, they looked at each other and smiled, and then Yang Zijin was hugged tightly by Shuo Ling.

Until the late-night, Yang Zijin looked at Shuo Ling and said, "Let's go back, and we will return to Jing City tomorrow. There are still many things waiting for you to deal with."

"Okay." Shuo Ling nodded.

Shuo Ling pulled Yang Zijin up. But Yang Zijin stood there and looked at Shuo Ling with a smile and said, "I'm tired."

"Come on." Shuo Ling squatted down in front of Yang Zijin quickly.

Yang Zijin jumped up on his back, hugged his neck tightly, and leaned her head on his back.

As soon as he arrived at the inn, Yang Zijin saw Mo Li was standing at the door of the inn, so she whispered to Shuo Ling, "Um... um, put me down."

Shuo Ling knew that she was shy, so he put her down, then sorted out his clothes, and walked to the door.

"My Lord, Your Highness, your rooms are upstairs." Mo Li greeted them as nothing had happened.

He would be curious in the past, but since Yang Zijin appeared, he got used to it.

Shuo Ling nodded and followed Mo Li to the second floor.

A wall separated Shuo Ling's and Yang Zijin's room. Yang Zijin chose one. She opened the door and walked in.

Shuo Ling said with a smile, "Good night."

Then he closed the door for her.

He walked into another room and said to Mo Li, "Go and call Xu Qing. I will go back to Jing City tomorrow. I have something to tell him."

"Okay." Mo Li responded and walked out of the room.

Then he walked to Xu Qing's room and knocked on the door gently.

"Who is it?" Xu Qing just lay on the bed when he heard the knock, then he sat up and asked.

Mo Li replied, "It's me."

"Master Mo, wait for a while." Xu Qing said, putting on his shoes and opening the door.

He then opened the door and asked, "What's the matter?"

"His Lordship is waiting for you." Mo Li said.

Xu Qing nodded and went to Shuo Ling's room with Mo Li.

"Your Lordship." Xu Qing saluted Shuo Ling.

Shuo Ling pointed to the chair next to him and said, "Be seated."

"Um... Thank My Lord." Xu Qing said and sat down.

Shuo Ling said, "I will go back tomorrow. I think you know who was the man behind the curtain. How do you plan to report it to His Majesty?"

"Don't worry. I already have an idea." Xu Qing nodded.

Shuo Ling said, "For the sake of your safety, you need to stay in the secret room in my mansion. If you have any need, you can order the people in the secret room."

"Okay." Xu Qing nodded.

Shuo Ling gave the account book provided by Yang Zijin to Xu Qing, "Keep the account book. I will explain to His Majesty after entering the palace tomorrow. When His Majesty summons you, you can go to the hall and make clear the matter with the account book."

"Okay." Xu Qing responded and took the account book.

Shuo Ling said, "It's too late. You can go back and have a rest. Tomorrow morning, I will go back to Jing City."

Xu Qing nodded, then walked out.

After Xu Qing left, Shuo Ling said to Mo Li, "After Xu Qing enters the mansion, you need to send some people to the secret room to protect him. Prime Minister Lan may take some actions."

Shuo Ling said with his cold eyes, recalling his father's incident. At that time, Prime Minister Lan used to advise Chushi Youtian.

"Tomorrow, you take them back to Jing City. I will go first and tell His Majesty before the morning meeting is over. It will be better to take action as soon as possible." Shuo Ling said.

Mo Li nodded after listening and walked out.

Early the next morning, after Yang Zijin got up, she knocked on Shuo Ling's door.

Mo Li came up from downstairs, "Your Highness, His Lordship has already returned to Jing City."

"He has gone?" Yang Zijin frowned.

Mo Li nodded, "Please have breakfast downstairs, and then we will set off."

"Okay." Yang Zijin said and walked downstairs with him.

Then they got into the carriage and walked towards Jing City.

Shuo Ling left at dawn and ran towards Jing City with a strong horse.

When he arrived at the gate of the palace, he looked at the sun in the sky and knew that the morning meeting was not over yet and it was not too late.

Then he rode into the palace.

Throne Hall.

"Are there other things you want to discuss? If not, you can go now." Chushi Youtian said.

"Your Majesty, I have something to say."

Chushi Youtian frowned slightly.

The officials who heard the sound looked out of the hall.

Shuo Ling walked in from outside in uniforms.

"Your Majesty!" Shuo Ling knelt.

Chushi Youtian said, "Get up. You just returned from Jiandu. Don't need to rush here."

"I came back from Jiandu, and I need to report to Your Majesty as soon as possible." Shuo Ling knew that Chushi Youtian was testing him.

Chushi Youtian continued to ask, "I heard that you had built houses and dams for the people in Jiandu, which is highly appreciated by the people in Jiandu."

"Although they said this, the people they most appreciate is Your Majesty. Thanks for sending the doctors there in time. Otherwise, they would be infected with the plague. As for building and repairing houses and dams, my banks are quite profitable, so I used the money to build the dam." Shuo Ling said.

Chushi Youtian then asked, "Your banks are spreading everywhere."

"Under Your Majesty's governance, every place in Dongling develops very well, so the banks are getting richer and richer." Shuo Ling frowned slightly and said calmly. Hearing Chushi Youtian's words, he guessed that Chushi Youtian seemed to know something.

Chushi Youtian smiled and then said to the officials, "Look, he not only shares the worries for me but also think about many things for me. Look at you! You say a lot, but do nothing."

All officials bowed their heads and did not say anything.

"Your Majesty, I have one more thing to report." Shuo Ling continued.

Chushi Youtian said, "What's the matter?"

"The officials in Jiandu were killed!" Shuo Ling said while looking at Chushi Youtian.

After hearing this, Prime Minister Lan was surprised.

Chushi Youtian frowned slightly, "Didn't they commit suicide in fear of sin?"

"Everything is so coincident. Although it looks like suicide, there are many loopholes." Shuo Ling said.

Chushi Youtian looked at Shuo Ling and asked, "What do you mean?"

"Shortly after the death of the prefect, his study was on fire, and his body was burned beyond recognition." Shuo Ling continued.

Chushi Youtian asked again, "What does this mean?"

"And there is an account book in the prefect's study, which records the money used to repair the dam." Shuo Ling said and looked at Prime Minister Lan, only to see that Prime Minister Lan's expression was not good.

Chushi Youtian asked again, "Was the account book burned?"

"Later, Xu Qing, a Community Head in Jiandu, found me and told me the whole thing, hoping that I would explain to the people who died in Jiandu." Shuo Ling said.