Feng Yuan had never handled such a soft little thing before, and his handsome face was somewhat tense.

When the infant cried loudly, the gentleman instinctively held his arm even further away…

Xiaoying couldn’t bear to watch anymore and quickly took the baby from Feng Yuan’s hands, returning the child to Tang Mingjiang.

“Hold him well. The wind is strong outside. Your wife is still in her postpartum period, right? Take your wife and child back inside. The Grand Prince is here!”

Tang Mingjiang was startled, quickly came to his senses, thanked the Grand Prince and the veiled woman for their help, then grabbed his wife’s hand and hurried into the lane.

Though he didn’t know why the Grand Prince had appeared and intervened in the Tang family’s affairs,

If he wasn’t present, even if the Grand Prince had smashed the Second Madam’s head, Tang Mingjiang hadn’t seen it, so he couldn’t have stopped it, which wouldn’t count as being unfilial!

On the other side, after recognizing Feng Yuan, the Second Madam’s tone weakened, though she still trembled as she loudly questioned: “Grand Prince, why did you kick and damage our family’s carriage, and snatch my family’s grandson? Does being a prince mean you can bully officials’ family members like this?”

Feng Yuan remained coldly silent, but as the woman’s shouts grew more confident, a crowd of onlookers gathered around.

Some who didn’t understand the situation heard the Grand Prince’s title and couldn’t help whispering: “Oh my, is this the legendary mad prince? He looks so handsome, doesn’t seem crazy at all. How could he snatch someone’s child in the street?”

“Yes, isn’t this lawless?”

“No wonder they say he’s a madman. He acts without any rules. This is simply bullying women and children!”

“I heard he slaughtered eighty thousand Wei people at Feng Tail Slope!”

“Really? Didn’t you say yesterday it was eight thousand?”

“Anyway, this madman is addicted to killing. Let’s step back, lest we be caught by this madman and have our heads twisted off!”

Xiaoying had long known that before Feng Yuan returned to the capital, someone had been spreading rumors about his killing everywhere. Unexpectedly, not only court officials but even commoners spoke of it with such vivid details.

Hearing the discussions around her, the Second Madam felt even more wronged and, supported by two old women, wept and wailed, declaring she would complain to Consort Yi in the palace.

Feng Yuan, whether driven mad by anger or not, showed no irritation upon hearing these slanderous words.

Looking carefully, a calm smile seemed to flash at the corners of his mouth.

As if thinking the criticism wasn’t enough, he suddenly extended his foot and kicked off another wheel of the carriage, causing the surrounding crowd to gasp in shock.

Xiaoying listened as the discussions around them grew louder, feeling a tightness in her chest.

Some things can only be truly understood when experienced firsthand. Xiaoying finally comprehended how A’Yuan had been humiliated and slandered from childhood to adulthood.

The young A’Yuan must have heard words a hundred times harsher than these.

Could he still smile? Perhaps he had been driven mad by such slanders?

If the Tang family’s Second Madam continued to speak nonsense, tomorrow the capital would be filled with rumors of the Grand Prince forcibly taking an official’s family infant.

So Xiaoying cleared her throat, walked to Feng Yuan’s side, and said loudly: “Does this madam’s virtue qualify her to be a grandmother? She knows her son, Tang Mingquan, broke the law, was imprisoned, and died in jail! Yet she wants to take an innocent child from a concubine-born son to continue the family line! Your grandson should thank you, this impartial grandmother, for finding him a father with a tarnished reputation! Poor Tang family concubine-born son, born into such an honorable family, yet stuck with a sharp-tongued legitimate mother who can’t even protect her child!”

“You… who are you to slander me like this!”

Xiaoying deliberately widened her eyes and asked the Grand Prince: “What? Did I get it wrong? Wasn’t her son Tang Mingquan the one who died in the Court of Justice prison? I heard he embezzled disaster relief funds from Jiangzhe, causing countless people to starve to death, with even more forced to sell their children. If this Second Madam wants to continue the family line, why doesn’t she pick someone from the disaster victims? That would at least accumulate some karmic merit for her son!”

With these words, the surrounding crowd erupted in shock—so this madam’s son was a corrupt official!

Even if a legitimate son was precious, he was still a criminal.

No one had ever heard of a family continuing the bloodline of a criminal son by snatching a concubine-born son’s child!

Many in the crowd were mothers who couldn’t bear to hear of such child-snatching behavior, so they began speaking out: “That’s right, who takes a baby right after birth? And to continue a dead man’s bloodline—that’s shortening the child’s life!”

“Yes, that young couple wasn’t willing. I just saw that woman faint from crying, yet they still insisted on taking the child. I think the Grand Prince is standing up for justice!”

Several neighbors of Tang Mingjiang and his wife, knowing their situation, also spoke sarcastically: “So this family has a mother! The young couple just moved in with countless difficulties. That Madam Shao was pregnant, had no money for eggs after paying rent, and had to buy ten on credit from me, only repaying after receiving her husband’s salary. So it turns out the mother-in-law lives in such splendor, is such a high-ranking madam—how can she be so cruel? Indeed not her birth child!”

The surrounding discussions grew louder. The Second Madam, accustomed to socializing with noble ladies, had never been judged by commoners like this.

She also feared the mad prince’s reputation. Seeing that she couldn’t take the child, and even the carriage had lost its wheels, she was simply supported by the two old women, guarded by servants, and pushed through the crowd to leave in disgrace.

After the crowd dispersed, Xiaoying held Feng Yuan’s hand, turned around, and returned to Horse-Tethering Lane, knocking on Tang Mingjiang’s door.

The small infant, frightened earlier, had nursed at his mother’s breast and finally settled down.

Tang Mingjiang’s home had no maids, and his wife with the child was not suitable to meet guests.

So he invited the Grand Prince into his humble dwelling and hurriedly boiled water to make tea.

However, his life was impoverished, and the tea he served floated with tea stalks, with little fragrance.

Although the Grand Prince had helped drive away his stepmother, Tang Mingjiang’s face showed little joy.

The feuds of great families couldn’t be easily intervened in by outsiders.

Today, he and his wife had thoroughly offended his stepmother, and given how badly the Second Madam had lost face, she would certainly stir up trouble when she returned.

Tang Mingjiang knew his days ahead would be even more difficult.

Xiaoying saw Tang Mingjiang’s heavily burdened heart and spoke: “So the young master is a Tang family member. Why do you live in such a poor lane?”

Horse-Tethering Lane, as the name suggested, was a place where cart runners lived. Anyone with a bit of means wouldn’t reside there.

Tang Mingjiang smiled awkwardly: “When I moved out, the family disagreed, and it wasn’t appropriate to borrow money from the family treasury. I’m merely a scribe in the Ministry of Revenue, short on funds, so I could only rent an affordable house here.”

Feng Yuan then asked about his name and official position, then said: “Tang Mingjiang? Weren’t you the one who handled the Yizhou matter? His Majesty commended the Ministry of Revenue, and your superiors all received promotions. How are you still a scribe?”

Hearing this, Tang Mingjiang smiled helplessly: “This humble official did receive a promotion—my annual salary increased by five dou of rice…”

He didn’t want to complain about his superiors to the Grand Prince. It was precisely because he was too capable that his superiors were unwilling to promote and transfer him, keeping him by their side as a scribe, doing menial tasks.

There was no choice—there were too many Tang family members in the Ministry of Revenue. Someone like him without backing couldn’t stand out.

Xiaoying listened and smiled slightly: “Even with the talent of a great swan, confined in a limited space, unable to display one’s abilities—what a pity…”

Tang Mingjiang smiled apologetically: “I’m just a small official, hardly with lofty ambitions, just a little sparrow under the eaves. The lady overpraises me.”

Xiaoying calmly pointed out his current predicament: “The character of the Tang family’s Second Madam is known throughout the city. She is arrogant and never knows virtue or forbearance. Being humiliated by the crowd at the lane entrance today, she will ultimately blame you and your wife. For the sake of your children, even a sparrow must grow the sharp talons of an eagle to protect his wife and child!”

The smile on Tang Mingjiang’s face gradually disappeared, and he spoke mildly: “Today the Grand Prince was passing by this place, likely on important matters. I wonder what virtue or ability this humble Jiang possesses to attract the noble one’s attention and assistance?”

He truly was a clever person, immediately spotting the key issue.

Xiaoying spoke directly: “The Grand Prince has long admired your talent, sir. Today he came specially to visit you, unexpectedly encountering this situation. But even if it wasn’t you, had it been someone else, the Grand Prince would have helped out of righteousness.”

That legitimate mother had coveted his family’s child for over a month. Before Madam Shao had given birth, she frequently brought up the topic of adoption, saying directly that the young couple was young and could have more children later, so it wouldn’t matter to spare one for her deceased second brother.

Yesterday he had gone to the Tang family and, while the Second Madam was absent, politely declined this matter with the clan leader Tang Hongsheng. But he was reprimanded for being short-sighted. The clan leader said if he agreed to this, he would be willing to support the second branch’s sons, promoting family harmony.

But how could Tang Mingjiang be someone who would sell his child for glory?

The Second Madam must have heard about this and was angry that he had complained to the clan leader, so she came to scold the couple and intended to take the child.

So when this young woman said they had just happened to encounter the situation, it was likely true.

Tang Mingjiang wondered what talent he possessed that would make the Grand Prince personally visit him?

Thinking again, as a scribe in the Ministry of Revenue, managing money, if someone wanted to bribe him to do something unsavory, it wouldn’t be surprising!

Tang Mingjiang thought of this and became cautious: if the Grand Prince used this incident to coerce him into doing something improper, he would definitely refuse.

However, the Grand Prince didn’t seem inclined to speak much. Instead, the woman beside him talked freely: “The Grand Prince can only protect you temporarily but can’t guard you at all times. If the gentleman wants to establish his own household, he must rely on himself. There is now a difficult but promising position before you—I wonder if you’d be interested?”

So it came after all! Tang Mingjiang laughed coldly inside but maintained a calm exterior: “This official is dull-witted and limited in talent, likely unable to handle important tasks.”

How could Xiaoying not see his caution? Yet she continued unconcerned: “Now is the time when the Ministry of Personnel assigns local officials. Yizhou needs a county magistrate. If the Grand Prince recommends you, I wonder if that would suit the gentleman?”

Tang Mingjiang had thought the Grand Prince wanted him to be his ears and hands in the Ministry of Revenue, and was about to politely decline, when he was stunned.

“The Grand Prince wants to recommend me… to become an official?”

A scribe was merely a salaried clerk. Even in the Ministry of Revenue, he was still just a clerk.

But a county magistrate was a real official. It was rare for a scribe to become an official without taking the civil service examination!

Was this woman speaking carelessly?

Xiaoying smiled slightly: “Although Yizhou is far away, you’ve been there before and are familiar with the local customs. If you go, you should adapt quickly. Besides, once you become an official, you’ll have grounds to reject your stepmother’s unreasonable demands.”

Asking the son of an official to continue the bloodline of a criminal—such absurdity would likely not be approved even by the Tang family clan leader.

But Tang Mingjiang couldn’t understand what benefit this would bring to the Grand Prince.

If he left the Ministry of Revenue, what value would he have?

Yes, the Grand Prince must be using this as bait to coerce him into doing something.

Thinking of this, Tang Mingjiang simply asked directly: “May I know what conditions there are for recommending me as a county magistrate?”

The Grand Prince idly blew on tea stalks, still not speaking. Xiaoying spoke eloquently: “There’s only one condition—that the gentleman will likely have to distance himself from the Tang family and can no longer consider himself a Tang family son!”

“What does this mean?”

“The Tang family is an aristocratic family—without bureaucratic toil, they can enjoy wealth and glory, but they must put family honor first in everything. But if you want to establish your own career, you must separate from the family. Righteousness must come before family interests. This needs no further explanation—the gentleman understands, doesn’t he?”

Tang Mingjiang felt these words were too vague and still didn’t reveal the price he needed to pay.

Xiaoying smiled slightly: “Why won’t the gentleman believe that the Grand Prince admires your talent, regardless of whether you’re in the Ministry of Revenue or a Tang family member?”

Tang Mingjiang’s thoughts were exposed by the young woman, making him truly embarrassed: “What talent does this humble official possess…”

“When you were in Yizhou during the corvée labor unrest, you went alone to the home of the protest leaders, appealing to their elderly mothers with emotion and reason. Even when beaten and cursed, you smiled without retaliation. You understood the hardships of corvée labor and established practical procedures to solve the problems, personally pulling boats with them and talking heart-to-heart, dissolving mutual resentment. The Grand Prince read your file and sighed in admiration, saying directly that if such a worthy talent couldn’t become an official, it would be a loss for the people of Dafeng.”

Seeing the young woman describe his hardships in Yizhou in such detail, Tang Mingjiang felt a warmth in his heart.

In Yizhou, he had nearly been severely beaten while trying to persuade the protesters. He had personally implemented corvée labor procedures, resolving the unrest in Yizhou.

But in the end, all the credit was taken by his superiors, and all he received were a few inconsequential words of praise and five dou of rice.

He had thought his hard work had gone unnoticed, but now hearing it from another’s lips, how could he not be moved?

At this point, Feng Yuan finally spoke coldly: “A man should be resolute—don’t live like a buzzing fly or a fawning dog! Follow me, and I promise you a splendid future!”

As he spoke, Feng Yuan’s expression was cold, yet showed a certainty of command, without any trace of the rumored madness.

Would a madman notice someone as insignificant as himself? At that moment, Tang Mingjiang seemed to realize something.

The words had been spoken; no more needed to be said. Tang Mingjiang lifted the hem of his robe and solemnly knelt on the ground: “Mingjiang is grateful for your favor. I am willing… to follow the Grand Prince!”

…

Upon leaving Horse-Tethering Lane, Feng Yuan held Xiaoying’s hand and asked: “How much did it cost to bribe the Tang family’s second branch servants?”

Xiaoying knew she couldn’t hide her little trick from him and said with a smile: “There was no need to spend money! I had my foster father’s subordinate Little Five ‘accidentally’ meet that coachman in a tavern. Just one meal and three pots of wine, and we learned everything we wanted to know.”

Feng Yuan lowered his eyes and looked at Xiaoying lovingly: “So today’s visit wasn’t a coincidence?”

Xiaoying nodded frankly: “Given that Second Madam’s temperament, she would definitely come to make trouble. I was just seizing the opportunity! But I’ve made a big promise. How to fulfill it and make Tang Gongzi the county magistrate of Yizhou—that depends on your skill with your father the Emperor!”

Feng Yuan asked: “Why arrange for him to go to Yizhou? Wouldn’t he be more useful in the Ministry of Revenue?”

Xiaoying sighed: “I thought about this for a long time, too. If it were because of the adoption issue, Tang Mingjiang might eventually lean toward you and do a few things for you. But Master Ge said ‘can be used’ and ‘usable’ are two different levels. Since Tang Gongzi is talented, why coerce him? Besides, Lichuan County in Yizhou is a good place.”

Lichuan County was a strategic location for transporting grain and troops, perfectly positioned at the throat of Jiangzhe.

Currently, Luo Town seemed to be on the Master’s side. Whether Feng Yuan could persuade him to submit in the future was still uncertain.

In such a situation, it was necessary to place a trustworthy blade at Luo Town’s throat.

So the position of Lichuan County magistrate, though seemingly insignificant, was crucial.

But how to operate specifically was still a question.

That Master had too many eyes and ears. If the Master discovered that Tang Mingjiang was Feng Yuan’s man, given his ruthless methods, any accident could happen.

So, promoting Tang Mingjiang required some skillful maneuvering.

Xiaoying thought about this all the way, allowing Feng Yuan to hold her hand as they mounted the carriage, sitting in the compartment as it bumped and swayed.

Feng Yuan liked to watch Xiaoying when she was thinking—so obedient, not moving at all, letting him hold her in his arms, her long eyelashes lightly blinking.

Today, Feng Yuan had hardly spoken, just quietly watching the young woman’s careful planning and winning people’s hearts. Previously, he had disliked seeing her strategize for others, wasting energy protecting the weak.

But now he was surprised to discover that what he had always resented was her caring for others, not for him!

This feeling of being cared for, protected… was something he had never experienced from childhood to adulthood. Others cursed him, but the young woman would feel heartache, would comfort him gently, would stand unwaveringly before him, arguing with others…

If it were someone else, they would be a useless coward, actually needing a woman’s protection? But when Feng Yuan received it himself, he accepted it matter-of-factly, and even… became somewhat addicted!

At this moment, the young woman’s restless fingers, while still deep in thought, curled around a lock of his long hair, rapidly twisting it into a knot before quickly releasing it.

This inevitably reminded him of other times when those long fingers were playful and lively…

Thinking of this, he felt a slight heat and couldn’t help but grasp her jade-like finger, lightly biting it in his mouth.

Xiaoying exclaimed, “Oh!” and finally came back to her senses, only to discover that the carriage had already arrived at its destination. However, it wasn’t at the foot of the mountain where Xiao Tianyang’s villa was, but rather… Prince Ruixiang’s Mansion?

The newly built mansion’s front gate still smelled of fresh paint. The attendants at the door, seeing Prince Ruixiang’s carriage approach, quickly brought over horse steps, respectfully inviting the Prince to dismount.

“It’s getting late today, and we probably can’t go back. Let’s stay here for the night.”

Xiaoying looked at the sky, and indeed it was getting late, so she said: “Why don’t I go stay at the residence in Yonghe Lane for a night?”

Feng Yuan stared at her steadily: “Why are you unwilling to stay at the Prince’s Mansion?”

“There are many people and eyes. I’m afraid…”

Feng Yuan reached out to encircle her slender waist, lifting her down: “I’ve specially cleared a courtyard for you. Feel free to stay.”

Seeing that Xiaoying was still looking for excuses, he opportunely lowered his eyes: “The Prince’s Mansion is too empty. I’m not accustomed to it. I’d like you to keep me company…”

Thinking of what those people in the marketplace had said earlier, Xiaoying’s heart softened slightly. After dismounting, she took the initiative to hold Feng Yuan’s large hand: “Those people don’t know you. Don’t take their words to heart.”

In the past, such petty words would never have bothered Feng Yuan.

But A’Yuan, having now tasted sweetness, had become quite vulnerable and sensitive.

He suddenly discovered that rather than awkwardly probing and pleading, simply looking at the young woman with moist eyes would earn her gentler consolation: “Alright, this is my first visit to your Prince’s Mansion, so naturally you should show me around.”

This Prince’s Mansion had been built for the young woman, so the courtyard specially reserved for her was naturally in the best location and the most secluded inner courtyard of the entire mansion.

Though there were maids in this inner courtyard, Xiaoying couldn’t understand their accent at all.

Feng Yuan gestured for her to remove her veil, then said: “These are all maids I found at great expense from the Dian region. They don’t understand Dafeng’s official language, only simple commands. You needn’t worry that they’ve seen the Crown Prince before and might recognize your face, nor worry that they’ll understand what you say.”

Xiaoying gladly removed her veil and enthusiastically admired the bedroom.

The furnishings here were naturally more luxurious and exquisite than those in the small courtyard.

Most unique was the beauty couch placed by the window, carved from huanghuali wood. The couch surface was actually curved like undulating lines—lying on it, her body fit perfectly, extremely comfortable.

However, as she tested it by lying down, Feng Yuan sat at her left side, his deep eyes unfathomable, as if admiring a docile fish lying on a plate, waiting for seasonings to be sprinkled.