Chapter 1197: He came to demand paymen (1/2)

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Jin Zi wasn’t staring intently at Mu Linger like the past, but treated her as air after a cursory glance. Han Yunxi noted all this privately and felt even more surprised. “What does Ning Cheng owe you?” she asked coldly.

“When Ning Cheng left Northern Li, he promised to return my private bank to me if I joined him in Yunning Palace. Now I’m here, but he’s fled. Tell me princess, who else can I find to pay me back, if not you?” Jin Zi said calmly.

Mu Linger assumed that Jin Zi was only here for money, but Long Feiye and Han Yunxi turned. Jin Zi’s words and actions were full of deeper meanings! From what Han Yunxi understood, Ning Cheng had constantly tried to coax Jin Zi into staying behind and playing the pair of Black Clan heir to the end. But Jin Zi never agreed.

When Ning Cheng left Northern Li for Yunning, he was obeying orders and coming to get his rewards. After the Ning Clan troops took down Northern Li, Long Feiye was certain to reward them after he claimed the throne! If Jin Zi had agreed to come along, that meant the man had accepted Ning Cheng’s persuasions to accept the rewards with him. In other words, the fact that Jin Zi had returned to Yunning meant he was certain to stay with the Northern Li army!

Now that Ning Cheng had left, Jin Zi didn’t follow and even found them to talk face-to-face. His attitude was obvious. At last, Long Feiye and Han Yunxi understood the meaning of Ning Cheng’s garrison posts in the north!

If Jin Zi had intentions to stay, then they didn’t need to worry for now. Moreover, with the Black Clan and tiger army overseeing Northern Li, the Ning Clan troops could retreat to the rear lines and silence the various military factions. They would have no chance to censure Han Yunxi, either.

Ning Cheng’s departure was to advance by retreating! He had truly given Long Feiye and Han Yunxi a huge gift!

Jin Zi took out his tiger tally and offered it up with both hands. “Princess, this is a token of my sincerity. Don’t be a cent short with the private bank’s money!”

Han Yunxi smiled helplessly, but Long Feiye grew unhappy. “You really didn’t see Ning Cheng?”

Jin Zi told the truth. “This tally was originally in his hands. A few days ago, a youth delivered it to me at an inn. Since Ning Cheng’s gone, why bother hunting him down?”

In the past, Jin Zi had a general understanding of the Di Clan and West Qin, but after fighting wars with Ning Cheng in Northern Li for the past six months, he got a better idea of them all. Long Feiye said nothing. Although Ning Cheng had cleaned up Northern Li splendidly and left him no issues, those were only public matters. He had yet to settle his private debts with the man!

Long Feiye might have been preoccupied over the past few months, but he also sent men to find all sorts of potent alcohol. Was this Ning Cheng admitting defeat? Long Feiye wouldn’t accept opponents who gave up!

He said coldly, “If you see Ning Cheng in the future, do me a favor and tell him this crown prince invites him to drink wine!”

“Alright! I’ll remember!” Jin Zi always ended up dead drunk when drinking with Ning Cheng. He was very curious to know who would get drunk first in a contest between Ning Cheng and Long Feiye.

The clueless Han Yunxi was left surprised. Long Feiye would actually ask Ning Cheng out drinking? What kind of plot is hidden in that? Does he want to lure him out? But I don’t think Ning Cheng would show himself.

“Regarding the private bank, you can go to Three-Way Black Market’s East Origin Hall. Someone will make arrangements,” Long Feiye said.

Since Jin Zi had found himself all the way to Han Yunxi to settle his debts, he would naturally help her pay him back.

“Jin Zi, I’ll keep an eye on investigating your origins. I heard Ning Cheng say you miss Wintercrow Country very much…” Han Yunxi trailed off before chuckling. “If you’re interested, His Highness and I will fully support your efforts in the future. Someone needs to look after the slave trade there sooner or later.”

Naturally, Jin Zi understood the implied hint in her words. She wanted Jin Zi to give up on the slave trade while hinting to him her intentions to take down Wintercrow Country. That way, even if Jin Zi changed his mind one day, he’d have no place to retreat!

“Alright, this one will remember,” Jin Zi said coldly. As he prepared to leave, Han Yunxi stopped him.

“That’s right, I wanted to clarify something so you don’t come asking me for payment later,” she added.

“What is it?” Jin Zi asked.

“You’re not marrying my little sister, are you?” Han Yunxi asked seriously.

Mu Linger never thought Han Yunxi would be so direct. She wanted to bury her head in the table, while Jin Zi was surprised. He assumed their agreement could drag out for a bit longer. If he didn’t give Mu Linger a chance to explain herself, the knot between them would never be untangled. But now…

He finally looked at Mu Linger before asking coldly, “Is she still willing to wed?”

Han Yunxi waited for Mu Linger’s response. The girl lowered her head and didn’t answer.

“Are you still marrying him?” Han Yunxi couldn’t help asking.

“I...I’m not marrying,” Mu Linger muttered. She who always stuck to her promises had finally said no.

In that moment, Jin Zi’s gaze shifted away from her. This was the result of their one-year agreement: she’d gone gone back her word.

He shrugged and said, “Then I won’t marry her! Farewell!”