Tantai Qingyue arrived.

She came in and gave Xiao Yanxi a small nod.

Then she looked at Ning Chen.

Seeing his stern face, she paused for a moment. But the corners of her lips, hidden beneath her veil, soon curved up.

Ning Chen did not look very happy!

For some reason, whenever Ning Chen was unhappy, she was very happy.

"What did you want me for?"

Ning Chen looked at her. "The grain should be reaching Beilin Pass soon, right?"

Tantai Qingyue nodded. "Within the next few days, I would say."

Ning Chen asked, "Where did the grain you lent me come from?"

"Xiliang pulled it together from the whole country, of course... Hm?" Tantai Qingyue stopped. Something felt off. She studied Ning Chen for a moment, then smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. "You know, then?"

Ning Chen asked on purpose, "Know what?"

"That the grain was taken from Xiguan City."

The corner of Ning Chen's mouth twitched. "You sure owned up fast... Little Tanzi, you really know how to play the game. You've got it all worked out. You actually stole grain from Xiguan City and lent it to me, and pocketed the difference off this emperor."

There was laughter in Tantai Qingyue's voice, and she sounded a little smug. "I learned it all from you."

Ning Chen stared. "Bullshit. I'm an honest, trustworthy young gentleman, a beautiful youth without a speck of dust on him... When have I ever done anything like that? Don't you smear this emperor's good name."

Tantai Qingyue smiled faintly. "You needed grain, and I lent it to you... Where the grain came from is none of your concern... But of course, remember to pay it back double when the time comes!"

Ning Chen ground his teeth. "That's my Great Xuan's grain. Which means it's this emperor's grain... You took this emperor's grain and lent it to this emperor, to be paid back double? Little Tanzi... you're really something, aren't you?"

Tantai Qingyue said, "The grain in Chongzhou and Yangzhou belongs to the Great Xuan too. If you are so capable, go and…