My System Is Three Thousand Years Early

It was clear that Cheng Guang hadn't expected to hear such a phrase.

After a moment of stunned silence,

a dismal smile crossed his face.

"Escape bondservant status?"

"And what if I do?"

"Whether I live or die alone no longer matters, no longer matters."

Seeing Zhang Shunlong's ashen expression, Cheng Guang's brow furrowed slightly.

At that moment, Zhang Shunlong seemed to have resigned himself to death, hanging on to his last breath which prevented him from dying too easily.

Was it his father?

Cheng Guang continued, "I can help you get your father out."

For Cheng Guang, it was a simple matter to get Zhang Shunlong's father out.

Let alone that Zhang Heling had not stolen from the treasury, even if he actually had, clearing Zhang Heling's name would be but a word from Cheng Guang.

Hearing Cheng Guang's words, Zhang Shunlong looked up sharply, disbelieving, sizing up Cheng Guang a few times as if he were in a dream.

Seeing that Cheng Guang didn't seem to be joking, Zhang Shunlong's heart trembled again.

But he didn't immediately plead for Cheng Guang to help rescue his father.

In Zhang Shunlong's eyes, there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world. Someone of Cheng Guang's standing wouldn't want to help him without reason; there must be something they sought in return.

Yet after a moment's thought, Zhang Shunlong realized he had nothing to offer but his worthless life.

He couldn't understand why Cheng Guang would help him.

Therefore, he fell into deep confusion.

Moments later, Zhang Shunlong's gaze firmly fixed on Cheng Guang. His thin face showed a flicker of emotion, and his eyes trembled.

"You... you... are you serious?"

"If you can truly save my father, no matter... no matter what the Nobleman asks of me, I agree!"

Having said this, Zhang Shunlong struggled to rise from the wooden plank bed and knelt in front of Cheng Guang, his voice somewhat hoarse and eyes painfully red, full of sorrow.

"My father, he... he's been framed!"

"He has never stolen from the treasury, he wouldn't do that, he wouldn't."

Cheng Guang wasn't surprised by this; he also knew that the case of Zhang Heling stealing from the treasury was fishy.

He watched Zhang Shunlong silently.

After a while, his gaze fell on Li Mingtang, the County Magistrate.

"Prefect Li, you've heard it as well. I think there's something peculiar about Zhang Heling's case of stealing from the treasury. Go and investigate it further."

Li Mingtang wiped the sweat from his forehead and hurriedly agreed upon hearing Cheng Guang's words.

Although he knew the case was settled and Zhang Heling was meant to be executed, if the Princely Heir wanted to overturn the case, Li Mingtang would have to recolor black to white.

The path of an official is never simple.

Li Mingtang was aware that following the Princely Heir's order may not bring him much benefit, but defying the Princely Heir's order would certainly end badly for him.

"Princely Heir, I will go back immediately and have people look into Zhang Heling's case again."

Cheng Guang nodded, then turned to Zhang Shunlong, saying, "Do you have any other wishes?"

Cheng Guang had promised to resolve the matter for Zhang Shunlong, who clearly no longer harbored the initial resentment against Cheng Guang, but he still didn't understand why Cheng Guang was willing to help him.

Therefore, Zhang Shunlong dared not ask for more. However, it seemed as though he recalled something, his lips trembling slightly as if he wanted to speak. Yet, when the words reached the tip of his tongue, he swallowed them down with a sense of resignation.

"I... I have no other requests."

Upon hearing this, Liu Hao, who stood to the side, exhaled a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, Zhang Shunlong was sensible. If he had ruined the Liu Family's plans and angered the Nobleman again, there might be no Princely Heir to help him next time.

At this moment, Liu Hao was still unaware why Cheng Guang, the esteemed Princely Heir, would take such an interest in Zhang Shunlong. To avoid any accidents, he quickly added:

"Princely Heir, the sky is getting dark. Why don't you dine with us in the residence?"

Cheng Guang shook his head, looking at Zhang Shunlong, who still seemed troubled but was unwilling to speak.

He glanced at his own task.

It was still incomplete.

There wasn't the slightest progress.

Clearly,

by helping Zhang Shunlong save his father, he may have earned some gratitude, but he had not yet reached a friendship with Zhang Shunlong, becoming friends.

He needed to delve deeper.

Either help Zhang Shunlong solve all of his troubles, allowing him to develop gratitude towards Cheng Guang, so that further interaction will naturally lead to the completion of his task,

or directly use the Charm Eyes to forcefully complete the task.

Although the second method is simple and straightforward, once Zhang Shunlong eventually has a realization and his cultivation rapidly advances, Charm Eyes would lose much of their effect, and it might even plant hidden troubles for the future due to this matter.

This person is destined to be one of the mightiest Sky-Men in the world; such matters cannot be dealt with so hastily.

After pondering for a moment, Cheng Guang decided to resolve all the troubles surrounding Zhang Shunlong.

Even if his relationship with Zhang Shunlong was not very close, at the very least, with this act of kindness, he not only won the favor of a powerful future Sky-Man but also likely ensured the completion of his task.

Furthermore,

Cheng Guang knew there were more to the situation than met the eye.

Zhang Shunlong's enmity towards the nobility, and Cheng Guang was still unaware of what had sparked Zhang Shunlong's hatred.

It seemed to be related to the Liu Family Head, or possibly to someone else unknown.

Asking Zhang Shunlong directly might not yield an answer.

Considering the recent connections formed by the Liu Family with a certain nobleman, Cheng Guang became thoughtful.

Right now, it was essential to find a breakthrough from Liu Hao, the Liu Family Head.

With these thoughts in mind, Cheng Guang turned and walked out the door, heading outside.

Upon seeing Cheng Guang leave from Zhang Shunlong's place, a wave of relief washed over Liu Hao, the Liu Family Head.

Following Cheng Guang's footsteps for a while,

Cheng Guang paused slightly.

He stopped.

His gaze fell upon Liu Hao.

"Lord Liu,"

Under Cheng Guang's gaze and feeling an inexplicable pressure, Liu Hao awkwardly swallowed his saliva and quickly forced a chuckle, "Princely Heir, what's the matter?"

"Did Zhang Shunlong ever offend your Liu Family?" Cheng Guang asked.

Taken aback, Liu Hao hurriedly waved his hands, "No... No such thing..."
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"There's no such incident."

In front of Cheng Guang, Liu Hao was extremely nervous, and even his lying was stuttered.

Cheng Guang glanced at Liu Hao, feeling that his acting skills were truly poor, even worse than his own.

"Speak clearly," Cheng Guang repeated.

Seeing Cheng Guang's indifferent expression, Liu Hao's face stiffened, and he looked around helplessly, glancing at the women nearby as well as the elders of the Liu Family, but no one dared to speak out.

Ultimately, Liu Hao sighed. The pressure from Cheng Guang was too much; he couldn't keep hiding the truth.

"There... There is such an incident..."

"It's just, it wasn't quite an offense, not towards us..."

Liu Hao began to speak with difficulty.

"Oh?" Cheng Guang's gaze stayed on Liu Hao.

Li Mingtang, who was standing nearby, clearly was also unaware of this matter.

If Zhang Shunlong had offended the Liu Family, why would they still take in Zhang Shunlong after he was demoted to a slave? This situation seemed quite peculiar.

Could it be that Zhang Heling was really wronged?

Li Mingtang's eyebrows twitched slightly; he just felt a toothache coming on.

Damn it, truly damnable, who knows which bastard messed with things? Minor tampering was already enough trouble, but now they had brought the Princely Heir into this and even had him inquiring about the matter!

Li Mingtang, able to serve as the County Magistrate, was naturally no fool. He immediately surmised that the Liu Family had recently connected with a nobleman, and their third daughter was to marry that nobleman.

And as far as he knew,

the Liu Family's third daughter once seemed to have had quite a bit of interaction with Zhang Shunlong...

Thinking of this...

Li Mingtang instantly grasped the gist of the situation.

He found the whole affair absurd.

Although he understood everything, at this moment, he did not dare to speak further.

After all, there was the shadow of a nobleman behind this affair, and the nobleman's identity seemed to be no small matter.

Being only a minor County Magistrate, he dared not get involved in such matters.

......