Sir, You've Got The Wrong Person - Chapter 6

Yan Yiyi paused in surprise. Chu Mufeng was willing to give up 30% of the ranch business just to find out where she was? That much business could support the entire Mu family for two years. Was he really offering such a huge deal just to learn about her whereabouts? There had to be something strange behind this. Of course, this strange reason probably had nothing to do with Chu Mufeng being in love with her or willing to spend so much money for her.

“This 30% is not a small deal,” Yan Yiyi said directly as she looked at Chu Mufeng. “Why would Young Master Chu offer that much just to find out a girl’s location? Doesn’t that seem like a loss for you?”

Chu Mufeng smiled slightly, his handsome lips curving gently. As he casually poured wine, he said slowly, “Since Young Master Mu knows this is a business with guaranteed profit, why not cooperate?”

He didn’t answer her question directly but simply followed her words to lead the topic elsewhere.

Yan Yiyi bit her teeth in frustration, but she knew he was deliberately changing the subject and didn’t want to answer her, so she didn’t push further. Instead, she frowned, pretending to struggle with the decision. “Young Master Chu, this proposal is a great opportunity for the Mu family. I would, of course, be happy to agree. But…”

“Young Master Mu, if you have something to say, just say it,” Chu Mufeng replied lightly, glancing at her calmly.

“Well, I do have a bit of a relationship with Miss Yiyi,” she said hesitantly, pretending to be cautious. “But since you aren’t willing to reveal your relationship with her, and yet you’re so eager to find her, I’m not sure if your intentions toward her are good. Wouldn’t that make things difficult for me?”

Chu Mufeng looked at her silently, his gaze staying on her for a moment. Then he gave a small smile, gently pushed the wine cup in front of him, and stood up.

“If Young Master Mu is worried that I might harm Miss Yiyi, then let’s forget the deal,” he said calmly, turning to leave. From his back, it looked like he had no regrets at all.

“Please wait, Young Master Chu!” Yan Yiyi quickly called out. She could see that he wasn’t joking and had almost walked out the door. Just giving away her location could earn her 30% of a business? That was like free money falling from the sky—where else could she find such a good deal? And it wasn’t like she was offering herself to him—just her whereabouts. Even if he knew where she was, he would still have to find her and win her over himself.

“Have you made up your mind, Young Master Mu?” Chu Mufeng turned back with a faint smile. His dark eyes seemed to carry a touch of sarcasm.

“I can’t give you her exact location,” Yan Yiyi said with a calm face, ignoring his sarcasm. “I can only give a small hint. Whether you can get in or find her will be up to you. If you’re lucky enough to meet Miss Yiyi, please don’t tell her you met me. Can you accept that condition?”

The sarcasm in Chu Mufeng’s eyes deepened, but his smile remained polite and graceful. “Of course. Since you want to protect your business and your image as a gentleman in Miss Yiyi’s eyes, how could I ruin that?”

Yan Yiyi smiled back and finally said a few words: “West Capital, Duke Yu’s Palace. The Duke’s birthday.”

Chu Mufeng’s eyes narrowed slightly, then slowly curved into a smile. “I thank you now, Young Master Mu. I can’t say yet if your words are true, but I’ll find out in three days. If I confirm you didn’t lie, I’ll have Su Mu deliver the agreed share of the business as promised.”

After finishing his words, he bowed and took his leave.

Yan Yiyi simply smiled and watched him leave. Just thinking about the business deal—thirty percent of the northern pasture’s profits—made her feel like life suddenly became much better. That contract in three days would be very profitable.

Time seemed to fly as Prince Yu’s twenty-fifth birthday in Xijing drew near. Prince Yu, whose name was Jun Tianyu, was the second son of the current Emperor of Xize. He was known across the land for being gentle, kind, and refined. He was talented in poetry, painting, and military strategy. He had great wisdom and leadership skills. In both character and talent, he was said to surpass the Crown Prince. However, because he was born after the Crown Prince, he had no chance of becoming the heir to the throne.

The Emperor of Xize, Emperor Tianqi, had eleven sons and five daughters. One of them—his third son, Jun Tianche—had been sent to Dongze as a political hostage twenty-two years ago. Sadly, Jun Tianche was killed by assassins on the way. The remaining ten sons and five daughters were all alive. Among them, Jun Tianyu, who was given a royal title at a young age, stood out the most. Because he was too outstanding, he became the target of jealousy from the Crown Prince’s supporters.

Twenty-two years ago, relations between Xize and Dongze were not as peaceful as they appear now. Xize had ambitions to conquer Dongze and repeatedly launched attacks. Dongze resisted strongly. The two countries were at war for years. Xize’s royal family became corrupt, and their constant wars, even with smaller nearby nations, drained their treasury. Eventually, they lost to the rising power of Dongze. To protect themselves, the royal family of Xize offered land and payments in exchange for peace. The Emperor even sent his beloved young son, Jun Tianche, to Dongze as a sign of submission.

Jun Tianche was the son of Consort Lian, a favored concubine of the Emperor. Even as a child, he was very clever and had a strong presence, showing signs of a future ruler. The Emperor once thought of changing the law to make him the Crown Prince instead of following the traditional rule of passing the throne only to the eldest legitimate son. But when Jun Tianche was just five years old, Xize suffered a major defeat. The Emperor had to send him away to Dongze.

Consort Lian begged the Emperor to change his mind, but instead, she angered him. In his rage, the Emperor gave her a white silk sash and a cup of poison—symbols of an imperial order to die. She died that day, and her son, Jun Tianche, was sent away without even getting to say goodbye to his beloved mother. During the journey, he tried to escape, but he was caught and fatally wounded by an arrow.

Dongze, though greatly weakened by the war, saw the sincerity in Xize’s surrender. So, they didn’t demand more regarding the hostage but required a large tribute every year. They also kept a close eye on Xize. For over twenty years, the two nations remained peaceful on the surface, though tensions still simmered underneath. 

The Day of Prince Yu’s Birthday:

Yan Yiyi had entered Prince Yu’s mansion disguised as a dancer to protect the Prince secretly. She did this because Aunt Mei, the woman who had raised her, asked her to. Aunt Mei had a deep connection with Yan Yiyi’s mother, though Yan Yiyi didn’t know exactly what kind. When her mother married into the Mu family; Aunt Mei followed as a servant. She helped raise Yan Yiyi and was one of the few people who knew about Yan Yiyi’s true identity.

When Yan Yiyi was five years old and sent to her grandfather’s house, Aunt Mei went with her. The love and care she gave Yan Yiyi were more than her own mother had ever shown. When Yan Yiyi was thirteen, she nearly died after accidentally entering the infamous Guiyan Sect. Aunt Mei even risked her life to save her. Because of this deep bond—stronger than most mother-daughter relationships—Yan Yiyi had always respected and loved her. So, as long as the request didn’t go against her morals, Yan Yiyi was willing to help.

This mission—to protect Prince Yu—was the only thing Aunt Mei had ever asked her to do. Yan Yiyi didn’t know what kind of relationship Aunt Mei had with Prince Yu, and she couldn’t find out. But when Aunt Mei cried and begged her, she couldn’t refuse.

If it was something so important that Aunt Mei had to beg for it, then it was likely Prince Yu’s birthday banquet would not be peaceful. Even without Aunt Mei’s request, just based on Prince Yu’s good reputation among the people, it was worth protecting him a little.

Because the Crown Prince’s supporters often caused trouble in secret, Prince Yu’s mansion was always heavily guarded. Even someone skilled in martial arts would have trouble sneaking in. Fortunately, when Yan Yiyi learned that dancers from Yimeng Pavilion were invited to perform at the banquet, she disguised herself as one of them and entered with the group. Luckily, Aunt Mei had taught her many skills besides fighting, like singing and dancing.

Her beautiful mother may not have left her with much, but she did give her a lovely appearance and graceful movements. That made it easier for her to blend in and get inside the mansion.

Prince Yu’s birthday arrived quickly. The Emperor of Xize seemed to care a lot about it. Two days before the banquet, he had the entire road outside the mansion decorated with red lanterns and colorful banners. It looked very festive. Still, it was strange that the banquet wasn’t held in the palace, where it would be safer. Holding it in the mansion made it easier for someone with bad intentions to cause trouble.

That morning, Yan Yiyi entered the mansion with the other dancers. Around noon, all the guests had arrived, and the music and dance performances began.

When Yan Yiyi appeared on stage wearing a light moon-white gown and a thin veil over her face, the crowd instantly cheered. Her outfit was eye-catching. Even though her face was covered, her long, flowing dress revealed just enough of her pale skin to stir people’s imagination.

“The girl from Yi Mengfang, Rumeng, wishes Prince Yu a happy birthday,” she said sweetly after finishing a short, elegant dance. She gathered the silk ribbons draped over her arms and spoke with a shy smile. But while her voice was gentle, her eyes were alert as she scanned the stage above.

When her gaze fell on the man sitting beside Prince Yu—smiling faintly but with cold eyes—her heart gave a small jolt. It was Chu Mufeng. She quickly looked away, acting as if nothing happened. She was curious how he had managed to appear here so openly, but then she remembered that during the days she had followed him in secret, she had once seen him meeting with the Emperor of Dongze in a friendly manner. So perhaps it wasn’t surprising after all.