Chapter 679: Chapter 679: The Petty Person Ye Yiheng’s gaze swept across the room. Song Guo looked troubled as he stared at the two pieces of dried peach in the paper wrapper—one slightly larger, the other relatively smaller. Should he give the Crown Prince the larger piece, or the smaller one? Just then, Jian Lecheng hurried in. Song Guo took a deep breath and decided to give the Crown Prince the smaller piece; after all, wrapped in paper, His Highness wouldn’t see the size of the dried peaches. As Song Guo was slowly handing over the dried peach, Jian Lecheng came up close. He grabbed the dried peach, tossed it into his mouth, chewed a few times, and his eyes lit up, “Delicious, is there more?” Ye Yiheng’s cold gaze turned toward Jian Lecheng, his eyes unabashedly filled with murderous intent. Googlᴇ search 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭⟡𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦⟡𝘯𝘦𝘵 He truly wanted to knife the wretch! Seeing this, Song Guo quickly stuffed the remaining piece into his mouth, almost biting into the paper as well, and after a hasty chew, he swallowed it, his neck stiff. Oblivious, Jian Lecheng just said to Ye Yiheng, “Your Highness looks at me so, I am filled with trepidation. Have I done something wrong recently?” He hadn’t had any tasks recently, what could he have done wrong? Ye Yiheng replied indifferently, “You’ve rested enough lately, it’s time you start working for me.” Jian Lecheng’s spirit tensed as he bowed, “I came exactly to ask for tasks, please assign them, Your Highness!” “Sort out the hidden connections behind Marquis Ningyuan’s Mansion, and you’re responsible for compiling the evidence of the crimes of Marquis Ningyuan and his son; you can get some information from Mo Chen and Ruofeng on these two matters.” “Yes, Your Highness!” “Check if there’s a breach in the alliance between Prime Minister Zheng’s Mansion and Ye Zhenyu; how’s Yu Haoqiong doing with his coal mining, and what’s the stance of Beiliang; also, investigate what the current status of Ye Shi is.” Jian Lecheng was stunned, “Your Highness, are all these tasks for me as well?” Ye Yiheng asked apathetically, “Is it not enough?” “Enough, enough, more than enough!” Jian Lecheng laughed with a pained expression. Was His Highness assigning him such a quantity of tasks because he had rested too long? Throughout the entire event, Song Guo maintained a serious expression, worried that the Crown Prince’s anger might blow over onto him. Ye Yiheng no longer wanted to see Jian Lecheng, he picked up a booklet to read and said coldly, “Why haven’t you left yet?” “Yes, Your Highness! I’m leaving, I’m leaving right away!” Jian Lecheng was at a loss, wondering what he did to displease the Crown Prince, and so he pulled Song Guo along as he left. Outside the pavilion, Jian Lecheng asked, “Was it the wrong time for me to come?” Why was His Highness so angry? Song Guo sighed, “You ate the dried peach made by the Crown Princess Consort, which I was going to give to the Crown Prince.” “Then just ask the Crown Princess Consort for more.” “The Crown Princess Consort has returned to her home, and without her permission, no one is allowed to sneak any. Just now I only had two pieces, and you snatched one, how could His Highness not be angry?” “I’ll go buy some outside; whatever amount His Highness wants is available,” Jian Lecheng said as he turned to leave. Song Guo stopped him, “Are you dumb? His Highness never likes candied or sweet foods; he just wanted to eat something made by the Crown Princess Consort!” Jian Lecheng smacked his hand and mouth forcefully, “It’s my fault!” He would have to do quite a few tasks to repay the debt of one piece of dried peach! Leng Yu Yan returned to the Eastern Palace only after accompanying Leng Yuqing for a meal at Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion. Seeing her return, Chun Liu held a jar to report today’s drying results. Leng Yu Yan tasted a piece after hearing this, “They’re almost dry. Let’s dry them for another day to extend their storage life.” Song Guo came in with a smile, “Crown Princess Consort, you’re finally back!” Leng Yu Yan glanced at him, “Where is His Highness?” Song Guo replied, “He’s still in the study, listening to reports from the Hidden Guards.” “Oh,” Leng Yu Yan responded, indicating to Chun Liu to put the jars in the storeroom. Song Guo hurriedly stopped Chun Liu and said to Leng Yu Yan, “Crown Princess Consort, I’ve come to ask for some dried peaches.” Chun Liu was slightly displeased, “They’re not completely dried yet, why are you so greedy?” Song Guo smiled ingratiatingly, “I’m asking on behalf of His Highness.” Leng Yu Yan huffed, “I don’t think His Highness likes to eat them. If he doesn’t want to, there are plenty of people around me who do.” Song Guo quickly explained, “His Highness has never been fond of such preserves. When he was drinking the bitter medicine for his eyes, he would rather suffer the bitterness than eat the preserves.” Miao Zhu rolled her eyes at Song Guo, asking in an annoyed tone, “Then why are you still asking for it?” “His Highness has always thought preserves are for ladies to eat. Now that the Crown Princess Consort has made dried peaches, he’s too embarrassed to admit he likes them,” Song Guo added. “Actually, it’s the Crown Princess Consort’s cooking he enjoys.” Hearing this, Leng Yu Yan’s mood brightened a bit. “They’ve been drying for two days, which is almost enough. Take some to His Highness first.” As she spoke, she filled a glass bottle with dried peaches, “This is for His Highness. Place it on the desk in the study for easy access.” She also handed a paper-wrapped package to Song Guo, “This is for you.” Song Guo received the glass bottle and paper package joyfully, bowing, “Thank you, Crown Princess Consort!” After saying this, he ran off towards the small building. In the study, Ye Yiheng listened to the reports from the Hidden Guards and dismissed them. Song Guo tucked the paper package into his chest and offered up the glass bottle with both hands. Ye Yiheng personally opened the bottle and savored a piece of dried peach. Knowing it was specially requested by Song Guo, and seeing the beautiful glass bottle she had prepared for him, the corners of his handsome lips curled up. Seeing his mood improve greatly, Song Guo took the opportunity to say, “The Crown Princess Consort had her meal at the Prince Mansion before coming back. It surely is lonely for the Second Young Master to be alone at the mansion. You won’t blame the Crown Princess Consort for having her meal at the Prince Mansion before returning, will you?” Ye Yiheng knew that ever since Jian Lecheng’s visit, His Highness’s expression had been rather cold. It had darkened further during the evening meal when he found that he was dining alone. Now he was rarely seen smiling. Ye Yiheng countered, “Do you think I am that petty?” Song Guo’s lips twitched, “Your Highness is the most generous!” Ye Yiheng placed the glass bottle at the most conspicuous spot on his desk, and it pleased him to look at it. He then tidied up the new intelligence he had received today and then stood to return to his bedroom. Upon arriving in his room, he saw Leng Yu Yan sitting at the vanity, with Chun Liu and Xia Tao attending to her, removing the ornaments from her hair. The two maids saw him enter and bowed in unison. Ye Yiheng waved his hand, signaling them to leave. Chun Liu and Xia Tao quietly departed. The man walked over to Leng Yu Yan and personally helped her remove her hairpin, “Your uncle only said to visit for a while, so how come you returned so late? Leaving me to dine alone in the Eastern Palace…” “Why are you so petty, Your Highness?” Leng Yu Yan glanced at the reflection of a certain person in the mirror, “My second brother manages the elite soldiers daily, and he’s the only one in the Prince Mansion. It’s only proper for me as his sister to share a meal with him. Besides, I had dinner alone in the Eastern Palace last night, and I didn’t complain.” “I came back early to have a bath with you, didn’t I?” What was a voice as clear and cool as jade now uttered words that could make one’s heart race and cheeks flush. Leng Yu Yan turned around and covered his mouth, “Why do you have to say everything?” Chun Xia, Qiu, and Dong were all standing outside the room at the moment. If they overheard, wouldn’t it embarrass her as Pavilion Master? Ye Yiheng grasped her hand, “I am only speaking the truth.”