Masquerade in Bridal Attire and Marry the Prince

42. Plagiarism

Translator: Antonia

“Please don’t be mad, lord.” Yunluo advised in a low voice. This place was a dozen steps away from the tent of the Crown Princess. She would easily find out if they were too loud.

Shan Zhongli wasn’t a fool and understood it. He took a deep breath and sat on the chair beside him, “How about the thing I asked you to investigate?”

Yunluo immediately got down on his knees. From this morning he had vaguely learned the news. It was most difficult to stop people from talking. When they knew the gossips, nearly the whole barracks did, so it was very hard to figure out who had spread the gossips at the very beginning.

“Please forgive me, lord. Now I only know it began to spread since last night, but I can’t tell who did it.” Yunluo was a little aggrieved because this was an impossible task. Everyone had a different version with a different source, and they all questioned in the end: why do you ask

They were newcomers to the barracks, so if they pissed off everyone here, Shan Zhongli would become a commander of no followers.

In Yunluo’s opinion, lord had made too much fanfare in the first place. The only reason why he was able to be here was the disappearance of the crown prince and his princess. With such a rare opportunity, lord should be low-keyed and make some decent achievement so that no one could find fault against him.

However, he had arrived with great fanfare and demanded all the generals welcome him, not to mention that he had stayed in the crown prince’s tent immediately. Everything he did was irritable. However, Yunluo as his subordinate, couldn’t say these in his face.

Shan Zhongli cracked a smile and glimpsed at Yunluo, “I’m not blaming you. I know without thinking who spread the gossips. I just believed he was an upright man beyond such shabby tricks.”

Shan Zhongli certainly referred to Yuxing Tianrui, or he wouldn’t have visited Du Chuxuan just now. After all, she was a close one to Yuxing Tianrui. If she was set up against Yuxing Tianrui, then the latter wouldn’t have the mood to manage the barracks well.

Shan Zhongli narrowed his eyes which then landed on the march map next to him. In fact, he wasn’t really a master of military affairs, even though he had been crowned with all kinds of reputation. Yet, only he himself knew that his talents didn’t seem to work after five years old, since which he was merely an ordinary person with specious fame.

He had thought it would be troublesome to take over the work, but he was surprised to find that Yuxing Tianrui was so arrogant that he put a sand table with all his plans on it in his tent, which was nothing but a godsend opportunity.

“Pass down the order tomorrow. It’s time to reorganize the troops. Let everyone get prepared.” He ordered gently, fingers stroking on the sand table. Tomorrow he would prove to everyone that Shan Zhongli was a man worthy of his fame as an auspicious talent.

His plan certainly had nothing to do with Yuxing Tianrui. Without so much burden or affairs to handle, Yuxing Tianrui didn’t need to get up early. When he got up, he saw Aer standing at the door with an indignant face. Aer was a sedate person, so it must be a serious thing that gave him this expression.

Immediately, he asked what happened. Aer took a glance at Du Chuxuan and started after seeing Yuxing Tianrui didn’t mind her presence, “Your Highness, you can’t imagine how shameless Shan Zhongli is. He took your plans, claiming to be his, and publicized it to everyone.”

Du Chuxuan was having breakfast. Even though they were of noble identity, the best food in the barracks were merely meat and porridge and buns for breakfast.

He chewed the bun in his mouth and took a glance at Yuxing Tianrui in confusion, “How did he know your plans?” His first reaction was that Shan Zhongli stole it, but Yuxing Tianrui’s reply stunned him a bit and he found Shan Zhongli’s behavior so ridiculously funny.

“My plans are right in the tent. You just ignored them.” Speaking of this, Du Chuxuan remembered there was indeed a sand table in the tent, something he wasn’t interested in so he never paid attention to. There was one in his own tent too.

“Hahahahah,” He couldn’t help laughing out loud, pressing his belly with a hand and trying not to fall on the ground, “This man is soooo funny. But he is a little clever.”

“Why?” Yuxing Tianrui couldn’t tell whether he was angry or something. This was the first time his work was stolen by others. He didn’t feel comfortable with it.

Du Chuxuan patted on his chest to steady his breath, “Isn’t that simple? He just arrived and isn’t familiar with everything. He isn’t you who is well-informed before your arrival. For him, a person landing here halfway through, the most effective way to fit in is authority with good result. He can’t get the authority on his own, so he has to figure out other ways, and you happen to give him a chance.” Du Chuxuan smiled, “Not to mention others, only by using your plans, he will say his plans are genius if they work out; and if something goes wrong—”

Yuxing Tianrui instantly understood. If something went wrong, Shan Zhongli would shift the blame onto him by claiming that they were the plans left by the Crown Prince so that Shan Zhongli was clear of any possible criticism. What a good strategy to take advantage of others!

Reminded by Du Chuxuan, Aer also understood, “What a shameless man!”

Hearing this, Du Chuxuan took a glance at Aer. Luckily, Yuxing Tianrui had such an honest man around him, though this man was stiff-faced and everything but interesting.

As they talked, Dongxiang suddenly rushed in. At the sight of Yuxing Tianrui, he became feeble-legged and almost kneeled down, “Your Highness.”

Yuxing Tianrui wasn’t in a good mood. If he hit the ceiling now, even Du Chuxuan couldn’t help Dongxiang.

Fortunately, Yuxing Tianrui believed since Dongxiang was rewarded to Du Chuxuan, it was up to Du Chuxuan whether to punish a rude servant or not.