Wanwan had watched the person enter – that flash of peach pink at the door, gone in the blink of an eye.

She turned to ask Yu Qixia, “What’s this about?”

Yu Qixia cupped his hands. “Huaining County Magistrate Sha Wansheng has been arrested.”

“So Magistrate Sha’s wife has come to plead for him?” She frowned. “Such a great crime is enough for the court to prosecute. No matter who she is, I don’t think it will be of any use.”

Yu Qixia smiled slightly. “Desperate to save her husband, she must try any method, whether useful or not is another matter.”

Wanwan felt uncomfortable. “Late at night, a woman diving into a man’s room – doesn’t she know shame! Did you see what Magistrate Sha’s wife looks like? Is she attractive?”

Yu Qixia said, “It was just a glimpse – this minister truly didn’t see clearly.” He then looked down at her. “If Your Highness is concerned, this minister could go investigate. After all, it’s a place full of men – can’t let those unsavory people take advantage.”

She was stunned. Really go investigate? That seemed inappropriate! Moreover, he had been discussing affairs with people continuously and hadn’t lacked attendants. Though Magistrate Sha’s wife was a woman, she came openly – nothing to be suspicious about.

She shook her head, feigning magnanimity. “Presumably she has something to report. When a man is convicted, someone must intercede for him. Can’t just watch him lose his head. This Magistrate Sha’s wife is quite pitiful too – probably panicking and grasping at straws now. Pleading with anyone else won’t work, better to plead with the Prince himself.” She smiled. “Master Yu, since coming to Nanyuan, we haven’t had a proper conversation. Where is your hometown?”

He said Fengxiang Prefecture. “Not far from Xi’an.”

“When did you enter the palace?”

He thought for a moment. “At thirteen, the same year as Director Xiao entered the palace. He went to the Wine, Vinegar and Flour Bureau then, while I was at the Restraint and Prudence Treasury…” Just as he was about to continue, he paused and turned to look. The people discussing affairs in Prince Nanyuan’s room had all withdrawn – unclear what the situation was.

The Grand Princess was probably getting angry. He instinctively looked at her and indeed saw her expression was poor. Due to her princess status she couldn’t lose her temper, so after standing in the dim night for a while, she turned and returned to her own bedchamber.

In that room, Magistrate Sha’s wife knelt on the ground like a pear blossom in rain. The dim lamplight shone on her face – she had cat-like eyes that showed cunning when wiping tears, crying endlessly.

Liangshi was very impatient and said coldly, “Now there are no outsiders. Madam, please rise and speak freely.”

Magistrate Sha’s wife stood up pitifully, taking small steps closer. Under her pleated skirt, tiny pointed feet peeked out, her figure graceful as an actress on stage. She glanced at him sideways – this brocade-clad young master had stern features under the lamplight. Though possessing jade-like good looks, he was clearly difficult to deal with. She was somewhat afraid but had to steel herself. Men – most were hypocrites. For now he maintained dignity, but once drawn in, who knew what shameless behavior he’d display.

She gradually drew closer, just pleading injustice for her husband. “My master also had no choice. During the long plum rain season, the city was flooded. Those grain piles accumulated without being able to dry in the sun. After over ten days they molded and grew worms – people couldn’t eat them, would fall sick if they did. My master originally planned to report to Nanyuan early, thinking to wait for clear weather to weigh again before reporting actual numbers. But before he could, Your Highness arrived.”

He smiled after hearing this. “I know you’re just making excuses. My men opened the granary and felt the walls with their hands – they were all dry. According to your story, it’s only been seven or eight days since the rains ended, so inside should still be damp. Now there’s barely any grain left and no mold stains on the wall bases. You’ve come to deceive me – quite bold.”

Magistrate Sha’s wife blinked. “With the bright sun shining overhead, if I speak falsely, let me die this instant.” She then switched to a pleading tone, speaking coquettishly. “Your Highness, you are sagely illuminating – please understand our difficulties. The soup kitchens serve the old, weak, women and children. Some shortages can’t be helped – everything must be prioritized. The two soup kitchens in the city serve disaster victims exclusively. The five large stoves outside the city dare not be stopped. You see… we only have you in our hearts. If there were any way, who would want to trouble the people? This is also being forced into desperation. The grain…”

She paused, her beautiful eyes glancing around, raising her hand to pat her mouth lightly. “Oh my, how awful! I misspoke and violated Your Highness’s taboo.”

Liangshi, grain… truly a fine name for abundance and plenty! Magistrate Sha’s wife raised her sleeve to cover her mouth, smiling very meaningfully.

Sometimes these officials’ wives were truly stupid, probably thinking they held leverage, combining complaint with negotiation. After listening for a long time, he roughly understood – they dared not shortchange the troops outside the city, so they targeted inside the city. If discovered, they’d use this to silence him, making him swallow his grievances. So the matter was clear – what remained was considering how to handle aftermath and take complete control of Huaining.

He remained silent, his pale slender fingers tapping the table rhythmically, unhurried, each rise and fall like a painting scroll. Magistrate Sha’s wife thought of her husband’s hands – thick fingers, not knowing gentleness, crude and rash. Indeed people couldn’t be compared. What would it feel like to have such qin-playing hands flow over one’s body? Just imagining it was already intoxicating.

“My lord…” she called tenderly, stepping closer. “Sha Wansheng is an honest man who truly doesn’t understand those complexities. He serves you wholeheartedly, my master…” Speaking, she had already approached, fingering her clothing corner with watery eyes. “Take the matter of Prince Chu trying to win him over…”

He looked at her sideways. Her cosmetic fragrance swept over, quite overwhelming. She spoke in half-sentences, but he was interested in Prince Chu’s movements, so he suppressed the urge to brush her away and waited for more. As expected, she nestled closer, her rouge-painted hands climbing onto his chest. Her previous grief had vanished, leaving only a face full of spring colors as she said softly, “You are a feudal prince and also a prince consort… even the Grand Princess, though fine delicacies, will become tiresome someday… As for me, I don’t seek anything, just yearn for you… Sha Wansheng is loyal to you, and I’m loyal to you too. You’re used to sea cucumber and fish maw – even simple porridge and side dishes could refresh your palate…”

With a bang, before she understood what happened, she was flung away, her waist hitting the cabinet corner so painfully she nearly fainted.

He stood up and brushed the places she had touched, calling sternly for Dachun. The person outside immediately entered and stood with hands at his sides awaiting orders.

He raised his chin. “Remove her – don’t dirty my place.”

Dachun acknowledged, glanced at his expression, and he nodded slightly. Understanding, Dachun kept one hand on his sword while dragging the person out of the bedchamber with the other.

Beauty trap – throwing herself at him to save her man, truly shameless. He stepped out with hands behind his back and told Shucun, “Interrogate severely and extract the grain’s whereabouts. But prepare for the worst – recovering it is probably hopeless. Think of other ways to requisition grain. Also, have Second Master write a memorial and send someone to the capital, reporting that Huaining County Magistrate Sha Wansheng embezzled disaster relief grain through corruption. Investigation confirmed, already executed. This subject temporarily orders Maritime Trade Supervisor Yuwen Shuquan to assist in governing Huaining, requesting His Majesty’s approval.”

After delegating everything, feeling he could rest, he headed east with hands behind his back.

Outside the Grand Princess’s door, Yu Qixia stood like a nail. The guards he’d assigned had been dismissed, reportedly on Her Highness’s orders to let them rest.

He nodded. “Master Yu has also worked hard on the journey – no need to guard at night. This post station is well-guarded inside and out, very safe. You rest too.”

Yu Qixia acknowledged and withdrew with a bow. He turned and knocked lightly on the door. The person inside didn’t come to open it, just asking, “Has Your Highness finished your business?”

He said yes. “Everything that needed handling is properly arranged.”

She hummed acknowledgment. “You must be exhausted – rest early.”

He heard displeasure in her tone and his heart skipped. “Open the door first – I have something to tell you.”

Wanwan lay in bed, full of irritation. “It’s already late tonight, inconvenient to receive visitors. Your Highness, please return.”

He stood before the door facing those crisscrossing lattices, knowing she was angry. Returning now would only make the misunderstanding worse. He had to knock again, lowering his voice. “I’ve come to attend your bedchamber – quickly open the door. Don’t make it known to everyone.”

She was both angry and annoyed, saying loudly, “Attend what ghost! Who wants you attending! Stop making noise and go back quickly – I don’t want to see you today.”

Wanwan was angry with him and with herself. What secret required dismissing everyone to be alone with that Magistrate Sha’s wife? Regardless of gender, lacking self-awareness was truly bad. She was still here, yet he carried on under her very nose – if she looked away, heaven knows what would happen!

He knew the situation was serious and firmly refused to leave, clinging to the door frame. “If you don’t open the door, I’ll come in myself. When I break the door latch, you can just move to my room.”

She heard the sound of a dagger being unsheathed and knew she couldn’t fool around anymore. Hating his roguish behavior but having no choice, she angrily went to open the door.

“What do you want?” She blocked the doorway, but seeing his smiling eyes, her anger mysteriously subsided by half.

“Nothing much – finished my business and came to check on you. Was dinner to your liking? Any clothes needing washing? I said originally not to bring you – this place isn’t like Nanjing…” He forced his way in, but before finishing his words, she gathered up a pile of clothes and threw them into his arms.

“I’m covered in dust and changed everything. Trouble Your Highness.” She was haughty, not even glancing at him properly.

He smiled apologetically. “What’s wrong? You were fine just before…” He remembered – probably Magistrate Sha’s wife’s visit had caused misunderstanding. Once the vinegar jar overturned, sourness spread for miles.

But he was so happy. If she were indifferent, that would be most despairing. He’d rather she make a scene with him – making scenes meant caring, truly taking it to heart. If she didn’t consider you important at all, why would she care so much about your actions!

He set down the clothes and came to coax her. “I came to explain what just happened. Sha Wansheng’s wife came to the post station – did you know?”

She sat under the lamp, turning her face away. “I saw in the courtyard. She must have had urgent business to visit you. How was it? Pleasant conversation?”

From that feigned indifference he detected hidden anger and smiled, bending slightly. “She came to plead for County Magistrate Sha, saying the plum rain season was to blame – ten thousand shi of grain all molded, fit only for livestock feed that even animals wouldn’t eat.”

After hearing this, she smiled. “Do you believe her words?”

He said no. “Even if it all molded, there should be remains. We’ll know the truth after one inspection.” He paused, choosing words carefully. “Magistrate Sha’s wife, seeing pleading ineffective, wanted to offer herself to my bed… Fearing you’d misunderstand, I had her thrown out and came to see you myself.”

She had guessed what this woman’s midnight visit was for – exactly as she thought! Wanwan pressed her lips together without speaking. Thinking of seduction made her feel disgusted and base. As a feudal prince, he probably experienced such things often. Even if nothing ultimately happened, she was thoroughly displeased.

Seeing her poor expression, he grew anxious and quickly supported her shoulders to explain. “Having you, how could I look at those vulgar powder-faces! If you think I’m so undiscriminating, you truly underestimate me.”

She remained silent for a long while before speaking. “Why did you dismiss everyone around you? What private words couldn’t be heard by others? If you understood propriety, you wouldn’t do such things. As they say, flies don’t land on seamless eggs – very reasonable.”

He was stunned. How had he become the cracked egg? When someone requests you dismiss attendants, most people want to hear what inside information there might be. But she was dissatisfied, thinking he was courting trouble and showing unfaithful tendencies… He dared not tell her the truth and could only explain circuitously. “Prince Chu once tried to win over County Magistrate Sha – she came to pledge allegiance.”

“Aren’t your attendants all trusted subordinates? Why avoid them?” She turned away, muttering, “A young woman making such requests late at night – you should have realized her intentions. Fortunately you’re a man – if you were a girl, would you do the same?”

He looked at her with a worried expression. “I… was wrong.”

She still kept her mouth corners down. “Did she touch you?”

He immediately denied everything. “No – how could I let her near me!”

“Then she verbally molested you – otherwise why throw her out? Speaking properly, was violence necessary?”

Her reactions were too quick and logic too strong, leaving him no room for deception. He stared at her wide-eyed, and for the first time in his life felt terror – more nervous than facing his father’s scolding in childhood. This small person, clearly fragile and helpless, had seized his vital point. He felt no way to turn around and would definitely become a henpecked husband in the future. But he felt no sadness, only joy – this was probably what they called asking for trouble.

Seeing him speechless, she looked disdainful, sweeping her sleeve and pointing straight at the door. “Your Highness, please leave. In future, please value yourself and don’t cause any unseemly rumors that would embarrass me.”

He opened his mouth wanting to plead but feared adding fuel to fire. Holding the clothes and shuffling his steps, he glanced at her before leaving, but she remained unmoved. Helpless, he could only sigh and leave.

Next morning at dawn, Shuquan came to report the night interrogation results. Entering the courtyard and asking where the person was, Dachun gestured toward the well platform. Shuquan originally thought he was washing up, never expecting to find him bent over a basin washing clothes. He immediately became agitated. “Where are the attending servants? Those dog bastards – each one lazy and crafty, making the master wash clothes himself! Is there no law!”

“Second Brother!” Hearing the shouting, Liangshi was extremely embarrassed. “Just washing clothes once – what’s the big deal!”

Shuquan’s gaze fixed on the bright red silk in the water, then at the garment’s pattern. After staring speechless, he held his stomach and laughed. “This scene… Fifth Brother lacks the good fortune to see…”

Liangshi’s face reddened. “Shut your mouth! Coming back early morning just to watch my joke?”

Shuquan laughed until he got hiccups, repeatedly sighing. “Domestic authority undermined! Domestic authority undermined…”

He lacked even courage to throw the clothes, scooping water to splash at him. “Get to business if you have business!”

Shuquan nimbly dodged, catching his breath for a long time before sitting on the well rim. “That Sha confessed. He colluded with a grain merchant from Liuzhou, selling all the rice to him. Not just provisions but also salt – private dealings for five or six years, completing at least ten or twenty transactions worth hundreds of thousands of taels in total.”

He pondered while scrubbing clothes. “Liuzhou Prefecture belongs to Guizhou Circuit – Prince Zhen’an’s territory… Excellent! My Nanyuan’s rice feeding Wang Ding’s troops. That traitorous Sha Wansheng deserves death by dismemberment! For now, transfer stored grain from Fengyang granary. So many people depend on eating – can’t delay. Any longer and we’ll need carts for corpses again. Second Brother, you work harder and first transfer some from surrounding counties to get through these few days. Sixth Brother probably received the carrier pigeon message. Seeing my written order, he’ll naturally know what to do.”

Shuquan said good. “How to handle that grain merchant? Can’t let him off easy.”

He lifted the washed clothes and wrung them dry, placing them in a basin beside him. Seeing Shuquan staring at the clothes, he said with a dark face, “Turn around – is this something you as elder brother should see?”

Shuquan suppressed laughter and looked away. “Third Brother, you’re our Yuwen family’s model. Everyone says father knew how to cherish people, but none like you. Seems you won’t need that hand warmer anymore – a washboard takes care of everything.”

He clicked his tongue. “Are you deliberately trying to annoy me? I’m willing – what business is it of yours!” He’d deliberately gotten up early to wash clothes, not expecting Second Brother to catch him red-handed. Truly unlucky!

Shuquan finished laughing, fearing he’d become angry from embarrassment, and quickly waved his hands. “Enough, let’s stop here and continue discussing the grain merchant.”

“Catch him and recover the grain at all costs. Investigate if he has connections with Wang Ding. If so…” He bit his lip considering. “Burn it all halfway there.”

Shuquan was surprised. “Why?”

He calmly drew a bucket of water and poured it all into the basin, continuing on his own. “So I can submit a memorial. Prince Zhen’an will be implicated then.”

Shuquan made a long “oh” sound. So it was a self-sacrifice strategy – diverting the court’s attention from Nanyuan to share some burden with Guizhou Circuit, giving Nanyuan breathing room.

Second Brother left to handle affairs, and his clothes were finished washing. The outer robe was fine to hang out, but the inner garments couldn’t be.

Speaking of undergarments… his heart still raced thinking about it. This Princess was clever in some ways but confused in others. She always had the habit of piling changed clothes together for servants to handle. Last night, probably too angry, she forgot to pick out the small clothes. When he brought them to his room and looked – his legs trembled and he nearly couldn’t stand. Though she wasn’t physically present, her intimate garments were there. All night he tossed sleeplessly in torment.

Getting up at dawn to wash them joyfully – if not for Second Brother’s untimely interruption, he’d have truly enjoyed the process. Looking down at the basin – the delicate colors, inviting yet rejecting. Surveying the area, this post station was crude with rough men coming and going – couldn’t let them see. After thinking, he could only hang them in his own room. So he strung a rope between both ends of the room and carefully hung each small garment, repeatedly adjusting to ensure outside wind could enter before leaving reassured.

He went to find Wanwan, telling her the clothes were washed and there was nothing urgent today – everything was delegated. If she was willing, she could go out with him for a look around.

Wanwan was sitting in her room in a daze. Sleeping until the fourth watch, she suddenly remembered the changed undergarments and underpants. After searching around without finding them and feeling too embarrassed to ask him, when he came she hesitantly asked, “Did you see… my belly band?”

He pointed outside happily. “Washed and finished.”

Her face was first red, then green. “Washed and finished…”

“Don’t worry – not hung outside, all in my room.”

She glanced at him with drooping mouth corners, slowly raised her hands, and covered her face.

She felt she’d never have the face to look at him again.