Jiang Ancheng smiled as he put down his teacup: “I haven’t inquired about which specific family he’s from, that’s why I asked Brother Zhen for help. I only know that Little Yu’s family is considered a large clan, but with many descendants, so Little Yu isn’t particularly favored and has to make his way…”
As he listened, Zhen Shicheng’s expression grew increasingly strange.
After all this, his old friend had his eye on someone as a son-in-law but was still completely in the dark.
“Brother Zhen, is there something amiss?” Jiang Ancheng noticed the oddity and felt his heart tighten.
People say you can’t see the flaws of those far away. He thought Little Yu was good in every aspect, but his understanding was only superficial, while Brother Zhen faced Little Yu daily.
Could there be some problem with Little Yu that he hadn’t seen but Brother Zhen knew about?
Jiang Ancheng gripped Zhen Shicheng’s hand tightly: “Brother Zhen, given our relationship, if there’s any issue with Little Yu, you mustn’t hide it from me. My eldest daughter married a beast in human skin, and now we’ve reached the point of severing ties. If my second daughter also encounters an unworthy man, I really couldn’t go on living…”
Zhen Shicheng silently rolled his eyes.
A grown man talking about not being able to go on living, yet here he was, still doing fine despite tricking his son.
“Brother Zhen, please say something.” Seeing Zhen Shicheng’s prolonged silence, Jiang Ancheng grew increasingly uneasy.
Zhen Shicheng stroked his beard: “Well, Little Yu is good in every aspect, it’s just that his identity might be a bit different from what you think.”
“What difference?” Jiang Ancheng rubbed his teacup. “Could it be that Little Yu’s family isn’t a large clan after all… Oh, could Little Yu be an orphan with no parents?”
Hmm, if that were the case, wouldn’t it be perfect? There would be even less worry about Little Yu mistreating Si’er.
Although people believed that those without parents or family protection rarely amounted to much, he didn’t care about that.
“Pfft!” Zhen Shicheng spat out a mouthful of tea, splattering tea leaves all over his beard.
Jiang Ancheng quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe his beard: “Why is Brother Zhen so agitated? Even if I guessed correctly, it’s not a big deal. What’s there to fear about a humble background? Character is the most important thing…”
Zhen Shicheng waved his hand with difficulty, gesturing for him to stop talking.
Jiang Ancheng paused in wiping Zhen Shicheng’s beard, slightly frowning.
Judging by Brother Zhen’s reaction, it seemed the matter wasn’t so simple.
“Brother Zhen, just tell me straight what Little Yu’s identity is. I can handle it.”
Zhen Shicheng looked at Jiang Ancheng and let out a long sigh: “Little Yu, he is the current Emperor’s seventh son, Prince Yan—Ah!”
The last word turned into a scream.
Jiang Ancheng held the plucked beard hair, dumbfounded.
Zhen Shicheng was in tears from the pain.
He had anticipated that his old friend would be shocked to learn the truth, but he hadn’t expected his precious beard to be the first casualty!
Zhen Shicheng tenderly touched his beard, feeling irritated.
This old friend of his had repeatedly refused his attempts to propose a marriage between his son and Miss Jiang, and it turned out he had his eye on Prince Yan.
Hmph, apart from being more handsome and having a higher status, how was Prince Yan better than his son?
Did he think he would keep Prince Yan’s secret? Don’t be ridiculous, he wasn’t that kind of person.
Seeing Jiang Ancheng’s dumbstruck expression, Zhen Shicheng felt like humming a little tune.
Give up already, his son was the most suitable match.
He passed a cup of tea over.
Jiang Ancheng raised his hand: “Let me collect myself for a moment.”
After a while, Jiang Ancheng rubbed his face hard: “Brother Zhen, you’re not joking with me, are you?”
Zhen Shicheng’s face turned stern: “Old friend, is this the kind of joke one can make?”
Jiang Ancheng raised his hand and patted his forehead.
Right, this kind of joke couldn’t be made lightly. Who wouldn’t fear losing their head for impersonating a prince?
Still not entirely convinced, he asked: “Then why is he working under you?”
“Haven’t you heard? The Emperor ordered several princes to gain experience in various departments. Prince Yan was sent to the Ministry of Justice, and then he came to help me at the Shuntian Prefecture.”
“Then why do you call him Little Yu—”
Zhen Shicheng smiled slightly: “That was Prince Yan’s idea, to make it convenient for handling cases.”
Jiang Ancheng was stunned again.
His initial shock was from the surprising news, but now he was frozen by the confirmation of Little Yu’s identity.
Heavens, that humble and polite young man who let him call him Little Yu was Prince Yan?
And he had even talked to him about how keeping concubines and bedchamber attendants was expensive.
Little Yu, that deceiver!
Jiang Ancheng suddenly stood up.
Zhen Shicheng calmly held his teacup: “What’s wrong, old friend?”
“Nothing,” Jiang Ancheng mumbled, then abruptly turned and left.
“Old friend—” Zhen Shicheng called out, but Jiang Ancheng’s figure quickly disappeared.