Tie Yan felt that every time he met Murong Yi, his first reaction was always “How can there be such a shameless person in this world!”

Using the words of Tie Ci’s master, this phrase kept scrolling through his mind repeatedly, to the point where seeing him would trigger PTSD.

He swiftly lifted the carriage curtain and said to the palace guards disguised as ordinary escorts outside: “Are you all stupid? You let just anyone climb up to drive the carriage?”

The palace guards hadn’t reacted at first. Seeing that Murong Yi had come with Tie Ci and acted so casually and naturally, they assumed the Crown Princess had given permission. But hearing this reprimand, they all became nervous and quickly responded, drawing their swords and rushing forward.

Someone even shouted to the Crown Princess’s Nine Guards who had been slow to react: “Quickly step forward to protect Her Highness!”

Not far away, a soft and flexible fat man stroking a cat chuckled through his teeth. He also reached out to hold back Tian Wu, who had been excitedly stepping forward earlier.

Fat Tiger struggled: “Commander, why are you holding me back? I want to greet the Crown Princess!”

“What greeting.” Xia Houchun stroked the cat with one hand while pinching Fat Tiger’s scruff with the other. “Going over to watch the father-in-law beat up the son-in-law? Are you afraid of not getting splattered with blood?”

“What son-in-law?”

Xia Houchun gestured toward Murong Yi with his chin, with a mix of jealousy and envy.

Fat Tiger suddenly understood. “Ah, has Young Master Murong finally achieved his goal? The Crown Princess is bringing him directly before His Majesty?”

Xia Houchun snorted coldly. Just as he was about to say “so what if he’s brought before His Majesty,” he heard Fat Tiger, that fool, poking right at his sore spot: “Commander, you don’t look very happy. Are you jealous? That’s understandable. Here Young Master Murong is already meeting his father-in-law, when will you receive even a reply letter from Commander Di?”

Xia Houchun: “…”

Fat Tiger continued twisting the knife: “Why don’t you do like Young Master Murong and deliver yourself to the door? Would Commander Di chase you away with a big broom? Would she? She wouldn’t, right?”

“Would she my ass!” Commander Xia Hou finally cursed.

…

Over there, as the Baize Guards were about to rush forward, the carriage curtain was lifted again, revealing Tie Ci’s face as she smiled: “No need, I asked him to drive the carriage.”

The guards stopped, looking confusedly toward His Majesty behind the curtain.

Tie Yan said with obvious displeasure: “A Ci, our family of three has never toured the capital together. Today your parents came specially to pick you up because we wanted to take this rare opportunity to see the capital under our rule. Having an outsider here is inconvenient.”

“It’s convenient, very convenient.” Murong Yi immediately replied from outside. “Please tour as you wish, I’ll drive the carriage.”

“You’re a barbarian from Liaodong, how do you know the roads in the capital? Do you know where the Four Great Gardens are? Which alley is most prosperous? Which restaurant has famous products from various regions, which mountaintop has the most beautiful maple leaves…”

“Among the Four Great Gardens, Run Garden has the most beautiful spring scenery; the cranes in He Garden are getting fatter, and the plum blossoms haven’t bloomed yet—visiting in winter to see the red plums and white cranes would be best; Yu Garden’s Western tulips are worth seeing, but it’s not the season now. However, the golden silk maples in Feng Garden should be at their peak right now, worth a look. As for alleys, Curved Alley’s night market has many interesting things, but the palace gates close at night so we might not make it; otherwise Frost Leaf Alley is also good, with many famous foods from the capital that A Ci should like, but Frost Leaf Alley is too narrow—we’d need to change to a smaller carriage if we really went there. Among restaurants, Tan Xiang Restaurant has the most diverse cuisine, famous for Central Province shad, Bian Province saury, Yong Liang beef and Jiu Sui lamb, Hua Province old goose—I heard they even have Western Rong camel meat and Da Yan drought turtle meat. Would Uncle and Aunt like to try something new? As for maple leaves, naturally Feng Garden is best for viewing from ground level, while Dong Mountain is best for viewing from heights, though with the recent cold weather in the capital, the maple leaves on Dong Mountain probably can’t withstand much more damage. If Uncle wants to take a look, we could go now—taking the shortcut, it’s an hour’s journey.”

Tie Yan: “…”

Just as I thought, a hedonistic wastrel!

Tie Ci suddenly said: “Since you know so much about this, I’d like to know—what famous sights, scenery, and foods does Ru Province have?”

Murong Yi, who had been speaking eloquently, paused for a long moment before saying: “Ru Province… I don’t know.”

Tie Yan was stunned.

What? He knows the capital like the back of his hand after living here only a month or two from thousands of li away, but doesn’t know Ru Province where he was born and raised?

“In my youth I wasn’t favored, and my studies were heavy. I only traveled between the royal palace and my maternal grandfather’s residence—I never went anywhere else and had no opportunity to. After coming of age, I was busy killing people, busy deceiving people, busy dealing with my father and brothers, and accumulating my own power. I know nothing about Ru Province’s scenery, where the restaurants are, what’s fun, what’s boring.”

Tie Yan fell silent.

For no reason, he thought of A Ci, who from childhood had also carried heavy coursework—studying literature, practicing martial arts, learning statecraft, without even a chance to breathe.

This one, reportedly not favored by Prince Da’an, must have had an even harder life than A Ci.

Tie Ci glanced at her father who had suddenly gone quiet, then at Murong Yi’s heavy expression, and chuckled inwardly.

Psychological warfare, successful.

Her inherently honest father was no match for this Liaodong fox.

No wonder she had given him a stepping stone.

Murong Yi glanced at the expression on Tie Yan’s face and added: “Oh, I am familiar with a few places—the Endless Snow Plain, Ten Thousand Blade Ice Cave, Never-Melting Lake, Ten Thousand Snake Valley… but they either freeze people to death or disgust them to death. I imagine Uncle and Aunt wouldn’t be interested.”

Tie Yan was about to ask how he became familiar with such deadly-sounding places, then realized the answer and moved his lips, but ultimately said nothing, leaning back.

Tie Ci glanced at Murong Yi’s dejected expression and shot him a glare while suppressing laughter.

Just as she was about to lower the curtain, Consort Jing, who had been silent, looked timidly at Tie Yan and suddenly said softly: “I’ve heard that Ning Fang Pavilion is a good place. They say the rouge and powder there are the finest in Da Qian…”

Murong Yi smiled and said: “Aunt, who told you that? You absolutely must not go to Ning Fang Pavilion. Rouge is just their public cover—secretly they deal in high-level…”

He suddenly realized what he was saying and abruptly stopped.

Tie Yan hadn’t caught on yet, but Tie Ci already understood. Her gaze turned ominously toward Murong Yi’s suddenly stiffened back.

“High-level… high-level what?” she asked with a smile.

“High-level… high-level pastries.”

Tie Ci snorted.

Pastries my foot.

High-level courtesans, right!

Look at you knowing all about Da Qian’s entertainment and pleasures—you really know everything!

Tie Yan finally caught on. His face, which had just improved slightly, immediately turned stormy again as he snorted heavily: “Is that so? Then let Young Master Murong lead the way. Let’s first try the high-level pastries at Ning Fang Pavilion?”

Murong Yi: “…”

Tie Ci suppressed her laughter, glancing at Consort Jing, who still wore a confused expression as if completely unaware she had lit a bomb.

Logically, with Consort Jing’s intelligence, she really couldn’t pull off such a scheme to trap Murong Yi, but Tie Ci found it strange how a deep palace woman who lived without any opinions of her own came to know about Ning Fang Pavilion.

She smiled: “How does Mother Consort know of this Ning Fang Pavilion?”

Consort Jing twisted her handkerchief: “Their rouge really is very good. Nanny Qin had someone buy it for me, so I came to know of it…”

Tie Ci said: “This rouge is indeed excellent. No wonder Mother Consort has become much fairer recently.”

Consort Jing’s eyes lit up with joy at her daughter’s praise, and she shyly glanced at Tie Yan.

But Tie Yan’s attention was still on those two words “high-level,” his face dark as he said: “Come on, Young Master Murong. Don’t tell me you know all the alley roads but don’t know how to get to Ning Fang Pavilion?”

Murong Yi quickly put down the horse whip, turned around, and said earnestly: “You’re absolutely right. I’ve only heard of Ning Fang Pavilion occasionally—I’ve never actually been there. If you really want their high-level pastries, I’ll have someone buy them for you right now.” He shouted loudly: “Mu Si! Mu Si!”

Mu Si’s voice came from far away: “Don’t call me, I don’t know anything!”

What a joke—Dan Shuang was right there by the carriage listening. How could he admit to knowing?

Murong Yi had to shout again: “Zhao San! Zhao San! Go to Ning Fang Pavilion and buy pastries!”

Zhao San had been managing his shops in the capital recently and naturally came to welcome them today, though he was currently standing in front of Chi Xue, stammering nervously while Chi Xue waited patiently for him to speak.

Zhao San, being familiar with the capital, naturally knew about Ning Fang Pavilion, the recently famous high-end underground pleasure establishment. With half his attention on Chi Xue, he was only half-listening. Hearing Murong Yi’s shout, he reflexively said: “What pastries does Ning Fang Pavilion have…”

The words “pastries” were cut off by Chi Xue suddenly taking his hand. Zhao San stared at the snow-white, delicate hand before him and forgot everything else.

Chi Xue leaned slightly forward with a smile: “Answer first, give the Young Master face, which means giving the Crown Princess face. Alright?”

Before Zhao San’s eyes was a flower-like smiling face, in his nose a faint fragrance, in his brain an entire undulating sea. Dizzy and confused, he said: “Alright…”

Then he answered Murong Yi: “I’ll go right away!”

Murong Yi breathed a sigh of relief.

A narrow escape from death.

Tie Ci stared at his back with an ambiguous smile.

Of course she could expose him, but now wasn’t the time.

The urgent matter was getting her father to accept him first. As for settling accounts between herself and him, that could be done slowly—like not letting him into her bed for a month.

Tie Yan, deprived of his opportunity to find fault, glanced at his daughter who was clearly siding with outsiders, sighed, and leaned back.

Whatever.

He was mentally exhausted.

He suddenly remembered that room full of handsome men’s portraits, how they had selected a bunch only to call off all the engagements, and finally A Ci had thrown a dart and hit the ugliest portrait.

Which belonged to this bastard right in front of them.

What was this called?

Evil fate, probably.

Tie Yan rubbed his temples with a headache. When Tie Ci asked where he wanted to go, he was too lazy to respond, just raised his hand and waved weakly.

Wherever.

The old father wanted to grieve alone.

The good days hadn’t lasted long.

His daughter was already thinking of others before family.

She was about to be stolen away by some blockhead.

Hearing Tie Ci stick her head out to whisper with Murong Yi about where to go, Tie Yan opened his eyes and watched his daughter’s increasingly extended silhouette.

Consort Jing hesitated for a while, constantly checking Tie Yan’s expression, before finally saying softly: “Your Majesty, are you really…”

She still felt somewhat dissatisfied.

Didn’t His Majesty know what it meant to let Murong Yi drive the carriage right now?

This was equivalent to publicly acknowledging Murong Yi before all of the capital.

Wasn’t this too hasty?

Consort Jing didn’t understand politics and didn’t want to. She had read bootleg copies of “Ci Xin Biography” and heard various rumors. She only had a mother’s intuition that a son-in-law like Murong Yi was too dangerous.

Someone who had killed almost all his brothers and nearly slaughtered his own father.

Someone who had disguised himself as a woman from childhood, could play a woman flawlessly, and as a man killed without blinking.

Such a person standing beside her bright and benevolent A Ci was completely mismatched.

One could imagine that most civil and military officials would oppose this.

How disadvantageous this would be for Tie Ci’s position as Crown Princess.

What was His Majesty thinking…

Tie Yan pointed at Tie Ci’s silhouette, indicating she shouldn’t speak lest A Ci be hurt.

Consort Jing immediately fell silent.

Tie Yan said quietly: “I know, I know everything. I actually don’t want to acknowledge him just like this either.”

Consort Jing looked at him with glistening eyes.

“But when I see A Ci, I think of her hardships, her childhood suffering, I think of her… whip scars.” Tie Yan’s eyes glimmered slightly. “After I learned of that incident, I swore in my heart that from then on, whatever A Ci liked, whatever A Ci wanted, I would let her have. I would never obstruct her.”

“She has already lost so much that she should have had. That small bit of happiness she has finally obtained—should we as parents take even that away?”

The carriage curtain was lifted wide. Tie Ci and Murong Yi were discussing enthusiastically, her entire body almost sprawled on top of Murong Yi. Tie Yan vaguely heard her chattering: “…my father likes… my mother likes… this is interesting… my father won’t like this…”

From Tie Yan’s angle, he could see the corners of Tie Ci’s eyes curved in joy.

He was somewhat dazed.

In his memory, he had never seen A Ci smile like this.

She had become Crown Princess at six years old, and from then on even the angle of her smile had to be regulated by her tutoring nannies.

She would never laugh so freely and sweetly. Her smiles were limited to a slight upturn of the lips—dignified, noble, gentle and bright like spring breeze, but never reaching her eyes or the corners of her eyes.

He had never seen her as she was now, like a real girl who could laugh and act spoiled and lose her temper, who would unconsciously be intimate with her beloved.

Just like the thousands of daughters in this world who were treasured and raised without experiencing wind and rain.

Tie Yan suddenly felt his eyes growing moist. He turned away to hide it.

Only then did Tie Ci turn back, smiling: “He says he wants to take us somewhere special. Let’s follow him for now. If Father Emperor and Mother Consort are unsatisfied, we can punish him later.”

Tie Yan’s words sounded good, but hearing this constant “he, he, he” made him feel sick. He hummed lazily.

Consort Jing glanced at Murong Yi’s back and said softly: “Are we going to his shop?”

“Mother Consort knows he has shops?”

Consort Jing smiled with pursed lips: “I even know that Manager Zhao San from just now. During the time you were away, that Zhao San often sent things to my palace on Young Master Murong’s orders. They were all extremely interesting jewelry and trinkets, many said to be foreign imports. They’re priceless in the capital.”

Tie Ci: “…”

Wait, you were outside but still able to remotely control your subordinates to bombard my mother with sugar-coated cannonballs?