“Please send in the Chief Secretary,” Yu Jin’s lazy voice came from the study.
The Chief Secretary belatedly realized: that the previous comment was said by the Prince.
How could the Prince tease him like that? It’s too much!
The servant opened the door, and the Chief Secretary walked in with a stern face.
Seeing the Chief Secretary enter, Yu Jin put down the book scroll and said with a smile, “What brings the Chief Secretary to see me?”
The Chief Secretary first glanced at the book scroll Yu Jin had placed beside him, coughed, and asked, “Is Your Highness reading?”
As Chief Secretary, his three most important tasks were: first, to advise and guide, to correct the Prince’s mistakes; second, to handle matters of etiquette and music; and third, to serve as the Prince’s educator.
Although Prince Yan was no longer young, because he had grown up outside the palace, the Chief Secretary always felt his cultural cultivation was not high enough and needed to read more.
Seeing the Prince nestled in the study reading instead of nestled in the Princess Consort’s chambers in soft jade and warm fragrance, the old man felt very gratified.
“Mm, I quite enjoy reading,” Yu Jin pushed the book with its cover wrapped a little to the side.
The Chief Secretary smiled and said, “It’s good that Your Highness thinks this way—”
Before he could finish speaking, the book fell to the ground with a thud, revealing the title inside: “Thirty-Six Strategies for Coaxing One’s Wife.”
The Chief Secretary’s eyes were about to pop out of their sockets.
“What is this?” The old man asked, pointing at the book on the ground, his beard quivering.
Yu Jin calmly picked up the book, closed the cover, and said with an innocent face, “A book on military strategy.”
The Chief Secretary’s voice went up an octave: “Military strategy?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Your Highness, my eyes may be old but they’re not blind yet. That is—”
It’s an erotic book!
Shame prevented the Chief Secretary from continuing.
Yu Jin dusted off the book cover and said with a worried expression, “I grew up outside the palace and am unclear about many things. Is it inappropriate to read books on military strategy?”
“Of course, it’s appropriate to read books on military strategy—”
Yu Jin immediately cut off the Chief Secretary’s words and said with a smile, “In that case, the Chief Secretary need not worry. Tell me, what brings you here?”
“I came to see Your Highness—” The Chief Secretary paused, realizing he had almost been misled.
“Your Highness, I now believe your reading material is a more pressing issue!”
Yu Jin’s sharp brows raised slightly: “What’s the problem with my reading?”
“Would Your Highness please explain what kind of book ‘Thirty-Six Strategies for Coaxing One’s Wife’ is?”
He couldn’t even bring himself to say such a title!
The Chief Secretary, who had been proper for most of his life, was now filled with indignation.
Yu Jin had no sense of embarrassment and explained seriously, “If I were to have any conflicts with the Princess Consort, reading this book would help me improve our relationship. Does the Chief Secretary not wish to see harmony between myself and the Princess Consort?”
“Of course not!”
Yu Jin said calmly, “In that case, the Chief Secretary need not get so worked up. Please tell me what brings you here.”
The Chief Secretary’s beard quivered, momentarily at a loss for words.
What the Prince said seemed to make some sense…
Yu Jin smiled with satisfaction.
His Chief Secretary was still quite good.
“I came to inquire about Your Highness’s plans regarding the funeral at the Yining Marquis’s mansion…”
“We’re not going.”
The Chief Secretary was stunned for a moment.
How strange. The Prince and Princess Consort seemed so affectionate usually, yet they wouldn’t go pay respects when Princess Consort’s aunt passed away.
But given the Prince’s status, it was understandable if he didn’t go.
“Then I’ll prepare the ceremonial arrangements for the Princess Consort alone.” The Chief Secretary bowed, preparing to take his leave.
“Uh, the Princess Consort isn’t going either.”
Yu Jin said it casually, but the Chief Secretary nearly jumped up: “The Princess Consort isn’t going?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“Your Highness, it would be too disrespectful if the Princess Consort doesn’t go. People will think our Prince’s mansion has no sense of propriety!”
The Prince had six brothers who had established their households, which meant there were six other Chief Secretaries besides him.
He was under competitive pressure too!
Faced with his master’s calm expression, the Chief Secretary felt utterly desperate and asked strugglingly, “Why isn’t the Princess Consort going?”
Yu Jin originally wanted to say it was because the Princess Consort didn’t want to go, but considering the Chief Secretary’s advanced age and fearing he might not be able to handle the shock—and a replacement might be even worse—he changed his answer: “The Princess Consort is feeling unwell.”
The Chief Secretary struggled to control his urge to storm out: “I haven’t heard anything about—”
Yu Jin glanced coldly at the Chief Secretary: “Does the Princess Consort’s discomfort need to be reported to the Chief Secretary?”
“Of course not, but—”
“The Chief Secretary need not say more. If you continue, I’ll get angry.” Yu Jin waved his sleeve.
The Chief Secretary gritted his teeth and said, “I’ll take my leave.”
Yu Jin nodded slightly.
The Chief Secretary left the study, walking in the chilly autumn wind, his heart feeling even more desolate than the autumn scene of yellow leaves all around.
He could already foresee that the Prince’s willfulness would lead to impeachment by the censors.
Forget it, let this rotten wood of a Prince do as he pleases!
The Chief Secretary thought angrily, returning to his room and downing two cups of tea before feeling somewhat better.
Having regained his senses, the old man began to consider how to appropriately word a reply to the Yining Marquis’s mansion.
Yu Jin was beginning to regret his words.
Although the Chief Secretary was old, his voice was still quite loud, indicating he was in robust health and probably not afraid of shocks.
He shouldn’t have said A Si was unwell.
The more Yu Jin thought about it, the more he muttered to himself, hurriedly rushing back to Yuhe Courtyard.
A Qiao was guarding the door.
“Where’s the Princess Consort?” Yu Jin asked as he walked.
A Qiao hesitated for a moment.
Yu Jin stopped in his tracks, his face serious: “What’s wrong with the Princess Consort?”
A Qiao lowered her head and said softly, “The Princess Consort is feeling a bit unwell and is resting…”
Yu Jin’s face changed drastically. Without further questioning A Qiao, he directly entered the inner chamber.
Jiang Si was lying on her side on the bed, resting with her eyes closed. Her jet-black hair was casually spread on the autumn-colored mandarin duck pillowcase. Her face, resting on her arm, indeed looked somewhat pale against the backdrop of her dark hair.
Yu Jin’s heart tightened. He strode over, grasped her fair wrist, and called out, “A Si—”
Jiang Si slowly opened her eyes. Seeing his worried expression instantly brought her back to full alertness. “What’s wrong?”
Her voice was a bit hoarse from having just slept.
Hearing this, Yu Jin became even more worried and placed his hand on Jiang Si’s forehead.
Jiang Si was stunned by his actions: “A Jin, what are you doing?”
The skin he touched was slightly cool, which somewhat reassured Yu Jin. He sighed in relief and said, “It’s good you don’t have a fever. A Qiao said you were unwell, and it scared me.”
Jiang Si was immediately torn between laughter and exasperation. She chided, “You’re overreacting. I thought something major had happened outside.”
Once in the royal family, many things were no longer small matters.
“But A Qiao said you were unwell.” Yu Jin’s expression was still troubled.
Jiang Si pressed her lips together, her expression somewhat strange.
Yu Jin remorsefully patted his face: “It’s all my fault for speaking carelessly.”
“What did you say?” Jiang Si asked.
“The Chief Secretary asked about the funeral at the Yining Marquis’s mansion, and I said you were unwell and wouldn’t be going…” Yu Jin said, growing more regretful. “I didn’t expect you to become unwell. It’s all my fault—”
Jiang Si raised a finger and placed it against the man’s thin lips.
Yu Jin fell silent.
Jiang Si hesitated for a moment, unsure whether to tell him.
Yu Jin panicked and grasped Jiang Si’s hand tightly: “A Si if you’re ill, you must not hide it from me!”
Seeing the man’s anxious expression, Jiang Si said, “My monthly cycle is a few days late…”