The Marquis of Lin’an’s residence in Dingjing City was magnificent. The late Marchioness was Princess Yuqing, the late Emperor’s most beloved daughter. Normally, after becoming a prince consort, the Marquis of Lin’an’s military authority should have been reclaimed. But Princess Yuqing’s coquettish charm had swayed the late Emperor to let things be. This was enough to show Princess Yuqing’s position in the late Emperor’s heart.

Princess Yuqing was born with exceptional beauty and had the gentlest temperament. After marrying into the Marquis of Lin’an’s household, she was naturally cherished deeply by the Marquis. Unfortunately, the Marquis still took a concubine, the current Lady Fang.

If Princess Yuqing was a born noblewoman, graceful and accomplished, then Lady Fang was a complete commoner beauty. Originally, Lady Fang’s father had done the Marquis of Lin’an a favor. Later, when the Fang family fell from grace, Father Fang leveraged this favor, ultimately compelling the Marquis to take Lady Fang as a primary concubine.

A primary concubine differed from ordinary concubines in that she could not be casually beaten or killed. Moreover, Lady Fang indeed kept a low profile and did not engage in jealous behavior, so the Marquis didn’t take it to heart. Perhaps noble sons were accustomed to having multiple wives and concubines; the Marquis of Lin’an, having taken only one primary concubine, was already considered rare. The Marquis didn’t feel there was anything wrong with it.

Unfortunately, men and women view things differently, especially regarding concubines—they are completely at odds. The Marquis felt that taking a primary concubine was no big deal, that concubines were merely playthings, and that Princess Yuqing was still the one he cherished most. Princess Yuqing, however, felt differently.

Princess Yuqing had grown up under the late Emperor’s doting care. After marrying into the Marquis’s household, she lived a privileged life. Her husband had only one legitimate wife—her—and she was accustomed to such a life. Who would have thought that a concubine would suddenly appear? Princess Yuqing had just given birth to Xie Jingxing and hadn’t even completed her postpartum confinement when she was struck by this news.

Lady Fang came to pay respects to Princess Yuqing every day, dressing and behaving with perfect propriety. It would have been better if she hadn’t come at all; each visit made Princess Yuqing feel extremely vexed. If Yuqing had been an ordinary princess, she could have found some way to privately trip up Lady Fang and get rid of her. But Princess Yuqing had always been well-protected and maintained a childlike innocence—how could she employ such underhanded methods?

It was one of the princess’s dowry nannies who thought of a plan. Without telling the princess, she secretly sought a reason to drive Lady Fang away. Somehow, she not only failed but was discovered by the Marquis of Lin’an.

Although the Marquis usually acted carelessly, he had an upright nature and despised women’s petty tricks. He immediately severely reprimanded Princess Yuqing.

Since marrying the Marquis of Lin’an, this was the first time Princess Yuqing had quarreled with him. She couldn’t bear being wronged and didn’t reveal the nanny’s actions. Instead, she confronted the Marquis directly, eventually angering him enough that he stormed off.

She originally thought the Marquis would come to see her after a few days, but unexpectedly, a month passed, and the Marquis only stayed with Lady Fang. Women in postpartum confinement should especially avoid distress. Princess Yuqing, having swallowed this grievance, fell seriously ill.

The Marquis, who still deeply loved his wife, was about to visit Princess Yuqing when he received an imperial edict to go to war overnight. He left without even saying goodbye to Princess Yuqing.

Not long after the Marquis left, Lady Fang discovered she was pregnant.

As the legitimate wife, while the Marquis was away, Princess Yuqing absolutely could not trip up Lady Fang; she even had to protect Lady Fang’s unborn child. Otherwise, if something happened, rumors would spread throughout Dingjing City that she had taken advantage of her husband’s absence to harm his concubine.

Over time, exhausted mentally and physically, Princess Yuqing’s health gradually deteriorated until she was at death’s door. The nanny, seeing this, was anxious, but Princess Yuqing forbade her from reporting to the royal family. She struggled to sit up and wrote a letter to the Marquis of Lin’an, asking him to come back to see her one last time.

She waited and waited, but the Marquis never came.

Princess Yuqing passed away. Three days after her burial, the Marquis returned triumphantly, unable even to see his beloved wife’s body. He was devastated, but the beauty was gone, leaving only a handful of yellow earth.

At that time, the late Emperor was furious and stripped the Marquis of his position. It was not until the new Emperor ascended the throne, taking pity on his talent, that the Marquis of Lin’an was reinstated. But there would never again be a tale of a talented man and a beautiful woman.

The Marquis of Lin’an never took another main wife; the Marquis’s residence had only Lady Fang. Lady Fang continued to keep a low profile for decades. The Marquis showed some concern for the children she bore, but still invested all his energy in his legitimate son, Xie Jingxing.

But Xie Jingxing was not grateful. From the time he began to understand things, he had always distanced himself from the Marquis. The love and resentment between Princess Yuqing and the Marquis of Lin’an were almost common knowledge in Dingjing—if one wanted to know, one could certainly find out.

The Marquis felt guilty toward his son and always tried to satisfy him. But Xie Jingxing seemed to take great pleasure in opposing his father, always causing him headaches. Regardless, he had inherited Princess Yuqing’s beauty and talent. Apart from his mischievous nature, he was a brilliant young man, naturally the dream lover of noble daughters in the Ming Qi.

Today was no different.

Xie Jingxing strode into his study.

His courtyard was the one where Princess Yuqing had once stayed during her illness, far from the main courtyard, prized for its tranquility. Xie Ding had wanted him to move closer to the main courtyard, but Xie Jingxing refused. His reason: “I don’t want to see certain people.”

His attitude toward the Marquis’s residence had always been this indifferent.

A servant pushed open the door and entered, carrying a snow-white ceramic bowl with floral patterns. “Concubine Fang has prepared crystal lotus seed porridge for you. She said it’s been simmered for several hours to warm you up.”

He disliked his subordinates calling him “Young Master” or “Heir,” preferring only “Master,” as if this could separate him from the Marquis’s household.

Xie Jingxing glanced at the bowl. The porridge was crystal clear, the broth bright and thick, indicating it had indeed been simmered for many hours. It emitted a fragrant aroma that made one’s mouth water.

He said coldly, “Throw it away.”

The servant, accustomed to this, acknowledged with a “Yes” and withdrew.

As soon as he left, a figure appeared behind the door, slightly bowing his head and saying softly, “Master, we’ve found out: the third young lady of the General’s household’s main branch, Shen Xin’s legitimate daughter, Shen Miao.”

“Shen Xin?” Xie Jingxing frowned.

Shen Xin and Xie Ding had been at odds politically for many years. The Shen household and the Marquis of Lin’an’s household each regarded the other with distaste. Additionally, their military powers counterbalanced each other, involving numerous interests.

The Marquis of Lin’an’s household and the Su family were also friends. The Shen family warning the Su family might be a warning to the Xie family as well. But why would opposing parties suddenly offer a warning? What did it mean? Moreover, how would a young girl like Shen Miao understand such matters? It must be the Shen family deliberately sending her to warn them. Shen Xin was now in the northwest—could it be the second or third branches? Shen Gui and Shen Wan were also very ambitious men. With the court situation changing again, they were probably trying to fish in troubled waters.

“The Shen and Xie families are divided. The Shen girl’s sudden goodwill harbors ill intentions.” He raised an eyebrow, his tone cold as iron: “Continue investigating!”