Spring flowers had a short season. A gust of wind, a rain shower, and the flowers that were still flourishing just days ago disappeared, scattered on the ground and in the pond water, quickly swept away and washed off. The clamor on the branches was replaced by thick green leaves.

Deng Yi stood in the corridor, drinking tea while watching the courtyard grow shady with green trees.

“Second Master, your official hat.” A young servant ran out from behind, holding the hat.

Deng Yi made sounds of acknowledgment.

The young servant saw the official robes still laid out in the room and asked: “Strange—why isn’t Second Master going to court today?”

An attendant from outside hurried in, saying quietly: “My lord, the latest news from the border commandery says the one coming to the capital is Xie Yanlai.”

Deng Yi finished his tea: “I knew it would be like this.”

The young servant was about to reach out, but the newly arrived servant had already taken the tea bowl: “Fortunately the Grand Tutor has other preparations.” He paused here. “About Liang Qiang coming to the capital—should we mention it to the Empress? After all, the Liang family and the Empress previously—”

Deng Yi also knew about the matter between the Liang family and the Empress back then.

“Actually, the Empress had nothing with the Liang family—it was just children’s verbal disagreements. As for the Liang family later being convicted and exiled, it was Xie Yanfang purging people for the Crown Prince, borrowing the name of children’s affairs, which ended up making the Empress bear the enmity with the Liang family.” He said.

The attendant nodded: “Although this is the truth, people always remember these children’s affairs better. When rumors spread and persist, even non-enmity becomes true enmity.”

Becoming true enmity had no benefit for the Empress—it would only benefit certain people.

Deng Yi said indifferently: “What I want to ask about is details of the border army—matters of military and state importance, unrelated to personal feelings. Just as the Empress’s arrangements for the border army were also matters of military and state importance unrelated to personal feelings, I didn’t inquire either.”

The attendant understood his meaning. Previously, Xie Yanfang’s younger brother Xie Yanlai went with the Empress to the border army and began leading troops there. It was said he now even led the Luocheng Guard that once belonged to Chu Ling.

Neither the Empress nor the border army had consulted the Grand Tutor about this matter. The Grand Tutor didn’t inquire and didn’t object—this was the Grand Tutor’s trust in the Empress.

“The Grand Tutor’s trust in the Empress is naturally sincere,” the attendant said softly. “But we fear the Xie family will sow discord.” He lowered his voice further. “Xie Yanfang returning at this time—it’s truly opportune timing.”

Deng Yi smiled slightly, taking the official hat from the young servant’s hand: “I’m actually afraid he won’t be opportune. I’ve been waiting for exactly this opportune timing.”

The young servant was completely confused listening to this. Coming to his senses, he was about to go inside to get the official robes, but that attendant had already gone first. He brought out the robes and personally helped Deng Yi put them on, continuing the previous conversation with a smile: “It’s good that my lord is prepared.”

As they were speaking, another servant came in from outside the gate.

“My lord.” He bowed and said, “Prince Zhenguo has sent a birthday gift for the Old Madam. Should we accept it or not?”

Prince Zhenguo—that is, Prince Zhongshan. This past year, the court watched him strictly, surrounding Prince Zhongshan’s troops deployed outside the commandery like an iron barrel. But Prince Zhongshan wasn’t affected at all. Inside the commandery was also like an iron barrel—the court couldn’t investigate anything.

After all, everyone knew the circumstances of Prince Zhongshan’s confession back then. The court hadn’t truly subdued Prince Zhongshan—they’d only forced him to retreat one step.

To avoid provoking Prince Zhongshan to raise troops again, the court also retreated one step.

So Prince Zhongshan wasn’t trapped in Zhongshan Commandery. He could still travel freely and openly come to send gifts to Deng Yi.

But this wasn’t flattering the Grand Tutor—it was deliberately disgusting him.

The Grand Tutor still bore the infamy of colluding with Prince Zhongshan, but the actual situation was that Prince Zhongshan wished him dead.

Deng Yi’s expression remained unchanged upon hearing this. He calculated with his fingers: “Although it’s a month early, since it’s been sent, accept it.”

He turned to call the young servant.

“You go meet them.”

The young servant who’d been idle to the side acknowledged this. Discussing court conspiracies and schemes, being sharp-eyed and quick-handed in serving people—he couldn’t compare to these newly arrived people. But in accepting gifts, he was very experienced.

He quickly ran to meet the gift-bearers.

The gift-bearer was also an acquaintance. The young servant recognized him—that Gentleman Ning.

“Gentleman Ning, it’s been quite a while since you came.” The young servant greeted him warmly.

Ning Kun looked at this young servant. The servant hadn’t changed, but the original small residence had been replaced with a grand mansion, and Deng Yi was no longer easy to see.

He was too lazy to see him anyway, saying indifferently: “That’s thanks to the Grand Tutor’s lack of integrity.”

It sounded like he was cursing Second Master. The young servant didn’t understand and was too lazy to care. After all, Second Master had never been praised by anyone.

He also didn’t care whether the gifts were flattery or disgust. Gifts were things that were sent back and forth—if sent, accept them. After all, they’d have to be sent out again in the future.

“Thank you, thank you.” The young servant only said, then added, “Come again next time.”

Ning Kun sneered: “Rest assured, as long as the Grand Tutor remains in position, my prince will treat him as an honored guest.” With that, he flicked his sleeves and boarded the carriage.

Deng Yi left the gate and mounted his horse, seeing one carriage enter the Grand Tutor’s residence while another slowly drove away.

“It was sent to the heir Xiao Xun,” the attendant said quietly.

Deng Yi smiled slightly: “The prince still thinks of the heir very much.”

“More than thinks of—my lord, you haven’t been to the post station.” The attendant became animated discussing this, his eyebrows dancing. “Prince Zhongshan has almost turned the post station into a small Prince Zhongshan’s mansion—decorations resplendent with gold and jade, furnishings worth fortunes. The heir of Prince Zhongshan can eat local products from Zhongshan Commandery anytime, and even spring water is delivered.”

Deng Yi looked toward where the post station was located, saying indifferently: “How pitiful is a parent’s heart.”

……

……

The post station was now called the Heir’s Residence by people in the capital.

Outside the Heir’s Residence, guards stood strict. However, when a carriage arrived and they saw the markings on the carriage and the driver presented his waist token, the soldiers made way and the tightly closed main gate immediately opened wide. The carriage slowly drove in.

The post station’s layout hadn’t changed, but the buildings and courtyards had all transformed.

Two pomegranate trees were planted in the courtyard, lush and verdant with flower buds faintly visible. One could imagine their brilliant fiery red appearance when they bloomed before long.

“Not bad, not bad.” Ning Kun examined them carefully. “The prince was worried the trees wouldn’t survive. It seems digging up an entire courtyard’s worth of soil was effective. This year the heir can see the pomegranate flowers from home.”

“And eat the big pomegranates from home,” a follower added from the side.

With a splash, water was thrown over. It splattered on the ground. Ning Kun and the follower instinctively dodged. Looking up, they saw Tie Ying standing on the steps, looking at them coldly.

“You’ve arrived. Do you need to wash up? Want tea?” Tie Ying asked. Without waiting for their answer, she pointed behind them. “Help yourselves.”

The follower didn’t dare say more and retreated with head bowed.

Ning Kun wasn’t dissatisfied with Tie Ying’s attitude either, nodding: “We understand. Tie Ying, go about your business.” He asked again, “Is the heir busy?”

Tie Ying sneered: “The heir isn’t busy. What is there to be busy with here?” With that, ignoring them, she picked up the copper basin and walked away.

Only then did the follower come forward, saying quietly: “Tie Ying’s temper is getting worse and worse. Can she take good care of the heir? Should we send more people?”

After Xiao Xun entered the capital and was detained, he refused attendants given by the court and didn’t have Prince Zhongshan send followers. Even Ning Kun, who had originally followed the heir, was sent back. Only Tie Ying remained by his side.

Ning Kun glanced at him, saying: “In this kind of confined place, having too many people would be noisy instead. The heir is someone who loves quietness. As for Tie Ying’s temper, hasn’t it always been like this? After you go back, do you know what to say?”

The follower saw his warning gaze and grasped his meaning. If he went back saying Tie Ying vented her temper on them, wouldn’t that make people misunderstand that the heir had resentment?

If the prince knew the heir had resentment, he would surely feel—sad, worried, and blame himself.

“What the heir hopes for most is that the prince won’t worry,” Ning Kun said coldly.

The follower quickly acknowledged: “The prince doesn’t need to worry at all. When Tie Ying saw us, she received us skillfully—one person worth ten. The heir is also being cared for very well by her.”

Ning Kun nodded with a smile: “I’ll go see the heir now. When I left, the heir said he wanted to learn painting. I’ll see if the heir has made progress.”

Ning Kun came alone to the study—the study was also converted from an ordinary post station room. Bookshelves displayed a dazzling array, famous paintings hung on the walls. These furnishings, including tables and chairs, were all transported from Zhongshan Commandery.

The windows had also been changed to round moon gates. Before the window stood a beauty vase with willow branches inserted in it, swaying gracefully in the wind.

Beside the swaying willow branches stood a young man wearing water-blue wide-sleeved robes, standing with his back turned.

Looking at this figure, Ning Kun’s eyes grew slightly warm. He bowed in salute: “Ning Kun pays respects to the heir.”

Xiao Xun seemed to be startled awake. He turned around, his face breaking into a smile with deep dimples: “Gentleman Ning has arrived.”

……

……

“The weather is getting hotter. The prince has sent summer clothes for the heir, and also the heir’s favorite foods from home.”

Ning Kun took out several lists, reading them verbosely.

“Also, the heir loves swimming. The prince is thinking of digging a lake at the post station, tearing down the entire back row of houses. The space would barely be enough.”

Xiao Xun reached out to take the several lists, only glanced at them once, then tossed them on the table.

“Gentleman Ning,” he said. “After returning, everything went smoothly, right?”

Ning Kun nodded: “Zhongshan Commandery is even better than before. With faces torn, the prince has no more scruples. This spring he reformed the military farms. By winter, new soldiers can be conscripted. Also, next spring money will be minted—”

Fields, soldiers, money—independence and autonomy. This meant Zhongshan Commandery would no longer be controlled by the court.

Xiao Xun wore a faint smile, asking: “And you, sir? Things went smoothly for you too?”

Ning Kun understood his meaning and nodded with some gratitude: “The heir sent me back. The prince favors me and trusts me even more. I’m now in charge of new policies within the commandery.”

Xiao Xun nodded: “I told you before—Gentleman Ning is greatly talented. Following Father Prince is where you can display your abilities.”

Ning Kun bowed: “Thank you, heir. I was originally given by the prince to the heir.”

He should have stayed here, accompanying and serving the heir like Tie Ying.

“No need to thank me,” Xiao Xun said, looking at Ning Kun. “So then, the matter I asked you to investigate—you’ve found out, haven’t you?”

Ning Kun’s bowing form paused slightly.

That matter—the heir still hadn’t forgotten it.