Meng Shiqi returned after asking around and immediately reported: “There was indeed a cart that entered the Eastern Palace.”

Mu Shen coldly laughed: “Who was the eunuch from the cleaning quarters responsible for transporting the waste buckets yesterday? Find him for me!”

He had suddenly realized that the size of the waste transport cart would be sufficient to hide a person.

If a waste cart had entered, it might explain why Feng Qiyuan had mysteriously appeared in the Eastern Palace.

Old Hai was eating his meal in his small courtyard.

Although yesterday the Grand Prince had repeatedly instructed him to wait at the West Gate, where someone would help him leave the palace.

But Old Hai had no intention of leaving at all.

Having lived within these red walls for most of his life, the thought of leaving to live outside gave him the same terror as a non-swimmer being pushed into water.

Old Hai was taciturn and stubborn, and didn’t believe he would reveal any flaws. After all, he had done this sort of thing frequently before. A withered, shriveled old eunuch would never attract anyone’s attention.

So he hadn’t gone to the West Gate, but instead continued with his daily routine of working and eating as usual.

Just as he was bringing a spoonful of thin porridge with pickled vegetables to his mouth, Old Hai’s bowl was suddenly knocked over, and he was pushed to the ground.

Meng Shiqi entered the courtyard and looked at the broken stump of a tongue in Old Hai’s withered mouth. He didn’t rush to question him, but instead asked the other eunuchs from the cleaning quarters which waste cart this old man usually used.

A young eunuch pointed it out, and people went to examine it, finding nothing unusual.

But the young eunuch thought for a moment and suddenly said: “I remember now! The cart Old Hai used yesterday wasn’t his usual one, but a spare from the storehouse!”

The cart was newly made, but after Old Hai used it once, the wheel axle broke, and it was now in the storehouse waiting to be repaired.

Meng Shiqi smiled slightly and went to the new cart in the storehouse, tapping it with a stick. He gestured for the Dragon Scale Shadow Guards to come forward. When they chopped open the bottom of the cart, sure enough, there was a thin compartment underneath—just the right size to hide a slender person!

The other people from the cleaning quarters were stunned, saying that none of their carts had such a compartment.

Meng Shiqi, wielding the stick in his hand, walked over to Old Hai, who was still pinned to the ground. His expression suddenly turned ferocious as he raised the stick and struck Old Hai’s hand with brutal force.

With that single blow, Old Hai’s fingers were immediately crushed and deformed. The pain made him tremble, his mutilated tongue making muffled sounds of agony.

“Speak! What did you transport to the Eastern Palace in this cart yesterday?”

Old Hai was shaking all over with pain, but could only writhe his mutilated tongue, making whimpering sounds.

The cleaning quarters supervisor could only explain quietly: “Sir, this old eunuch is disabled. After his tongue was cut, he never spoke again. You won’t get anything out of him!”

Meng Shiqi let out a cold laugh and asked the others who this eunuch regularly associated with, but he couldn’t get any useful information. He waved his hand, ordering his men to take the eunuch away to be thoroughly interrogated in the Shadow Guards’ prison.

As they were dragging him out of the compound through a quiet palace alleyway, someone suddenly called out: “The Dragon Scale Shadow Guards are quite bold, seizing people in the imperial palace as they please?”

Meng Shiqi looked up and saw the Grand Prince blocking the alley entrance with his men.

The people waiting for Old Hai at the West Gate had waited until dawn without seeing him, and had no choice but to report to the Grand Prince.

Xiaoying became anxious as soon as she heard this—she should have anticipated Old Hai’s stubbornness.

But this time was different from before. They were no longer dealing with the poisonous and foolish Empress, but with a calculating, ambitious person.

This turn of events would certainly arouse his suspicion. With careful investigation, it wouldn’t be difficult to uncover the details of smuggling someone in a waste cart. That’s why the Grand Prince personally entered the palace to assess the situation.

Meng Shiqi smiled and saluted, then displayed his official tablet: “The Dragon Scale is investigating a case. May I request the Grand Prince to accommodate us?”

Feng Yuan looked at Old Hai with his mangled hand, not even glancing at Meng Shiqi as he coldly said: “Who do you think you are to ask for my accommodation?”

Meng Shiqi’s expression shifted slightly. He was nominally a “Jin” Commander of the Dragon Scale Shadow Guards, and with his official tablet, no one would dare obstruct him anywhere.

If it had been anyone else, he would have already turned hostile and ordered his guards to draw their swords and seize them.

But the person before him was the eldest son of the Dafeng Empire—that erratic madman of a prince.

Meng Shiqi knew better than anyone how Fan Shiqi’s limbs had been crippled.

Now, within the palace walls, though he had the authority to arrest people, he lacked legitimate grounds.

After the Crown Prince incident, even Consort Shang had been secretly executed. Without ironclad evidence, pursuing the authenticity of the Crown Prince would be suicidal.

Meng Shiqi could only try to negotiate softly: “This man is connected to an old case and needs to be taken away for questioning. May I ask what relationship the Grand Prince has with him? Why would you personally intervene for an old eunuch who cleans waste buckets?”

Feng Yuan walked over, looking Meng Shiqi up and down, and said coldly: “You truly don’t know your place. Why should I explain anything to you?”

As he spoke, Feng Yuan suddenly struck out, attacking Meng Shiqi’s chest with a perfectly angled blow of tremendous force. He didn’t hold back at all. Meng Shiqi couldn’t dodge in time and stumbled back two steps before falling to the ground, coughing up a mouthful of fresh blood.

How could an ordinary person stand against someone who had killed the master swordsman Chen Xifan?

It was already lucky that Meng Shiqi’s internal organs weren’t shattered on the spot. The pain in his ribs suggested they were fractured from the impact.

Feng Yuan bent down to pick up the stick that had been used to break Old Hai’s fingers earlier. He placed his foot on Meng Shiqi’s hand, and with an expressionless face, raised the stick and brought it down with full force…

In the end, they couldn’t take the man away. After Shen Jing helped Old Hai up, Feng Yuan led him out through the West Gate.

Taking someone from the palace violated palace rules, but since it was the Grand Prince removing a half-dead old eunuch, no one questioned it.

Xiaoying had been waiting in the carriage the whole time. When she saw Feng Yuan bringing Old Hai out, she finally let out a sigh of relief. But upon seeing Old Hai’s deformed hand, her eyes widened with anger as she asked Feng Yuan, “Who did this?”

Feng Yuan said, “The person who injured Old Hai has had his arm shattered by me. Just take Old Hai back to the mansion for treatment…”

“Grand Prince, please wait!”

Feng Yuan turned to see Li Quan calling out to him. It seemed someone had gone to complain to His Majesty again.

Xiaoying spoke softly from behind the carriage curtain: “Speak nicely in a moment. Our father, the Emperor, has bad teeth—he responds to gentle words, not forceful ones!”

Feng Yuan laughed at her words and said quietly: “I understand. Go home and wait for me obediently, don’t wander around.”

When Feng Yuan turned back, the smile had not yet faded from his face, and he saw Li Quan with his head half-raised, looking at his face with slight surprise.

No wonder the head steward was shocked. As someone who had served since the prince’s childhood residence, he had witnessed the Grand Prince’s demeanor since he was young.

This eldest imperial son had always been solitary and expressionless since childhood—even a blank face was considered a good attitude from him. When had he ever been seen treating anyone with warmth?

But just now, the way he smiled at the carriage momentarily evoked the grace of the late Lady Ye.

So this prince was capable of treating someone with tenderness after all. Li Quan wondered who in the carriage could elicit such a smile from him.

The head steward dared not think too much and hurriedly invited the Grand Prince to see His Majesty.

The Emperor eventually learned about the Grand Prince leading people in a physical confrontation within the palace.

In the study, Emperor Chunde questioned Feng Yuan in front of Duke Ding: “I hear you beat a Dragon Scale Shadow Guard commander over an old eunuch? Absurd!”

Feng Yuan lowered his eyes, bowing as he replied: “This eunuch is someone who saved my life. During my time in the Desolate Palace, he was an old acquaintance who secretly brought me food, preventing me from starving to death when the palace guards were negligent. If anyone bullies him, I would fight with my life!”

Feng Yuan’s explanation was reasonable. After all, no one knew whom the Grand Prince had interacted with during those neglected years.

If that eunuch had been bold enough to violate prohibitions and secretly care for the Grand Prince, then the Grand Prince’s gratitude showed his sense of honor and loyalty—there was nothing to fault.

The Desolate Palace was a painful knot between father and son. When Emperor Chunde heard Feng Yuan mention this period, he naturally wanted to avoid the subject.

“Old Mu, why did you want to arrest this person?”

Mu Shen bowed and said: “I was merely following Your Majesty’s orders to investigate the old case of the Grand Prince’s poisoning. I wanted to question this eunuch, but unexpectedly provoked a misunderstanding with the Grand Prince, leading to this needless conflict.”

It was now certain that the old eunuch was Feng Yuan’s man.

Mu Shen knew the person had been taken away by Feng Yuan and probably couldn’t be recovered. There was no need to make a big issue of such matters.

However, in front of Mu Shen, Feng Yuan presented a memorial. On it were the crimes he had uncovered after investigating the Xiaoyin Mountain Manor for some time.

The evidence regarding private iron mining and smuggling of special steel was conclusive, with witness testimony.

Mu Shen listened from the side, lowering his head at the appropriate moment to hide his twitching eyelid.

He had already ordered his subordinates to stop the mining, extinguish the furnaces, and destroy all evidence.

But he never expected Feng Yuan would take a different approach by starting his investigation in Wei Country.

The number of escort carts and merchant ships transporting iron was all documented. Feng Yuan had investigated each one. Through these smuggled shipments, he calculated the quantities and used this to deduce the exact locations of the iron mines, gathering clues through civilian interviews.

Mu Shen didn’t know that these accounting investigation methods came from Yan Xiaoying.

Those smugglers all had complex connections with the notorious “Little King of Hell” of the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions. Even the official authorities couldn’t match the Little King of Hell’s influence.

Therefore, the evidence Feng Yuan possessed exceeded Mu Shen’s expectations.

Emperor Chunde listened with widening eyes. The quantities were enormous—if used to forge weapons, they would be sufficient to overthrow the imperial court.

Furthermore, Feng Yuan had also uncovered evidence of how the Xiaoyin Mountain Manor had infiltrated the court and bribed officials over many years.

Emperor Chunde grew too restless to remain seated. He stood up and paced, questioning Mu Shen: “What exactly is this Xiaoyin Mountain Manor? How could they conceal themselves for so many years, causing such great trouble? Has your Dragon Scale Shadow Guard never discovered anything?”

Mu Shen quickly bowed, but before he could apologize to His Majesty, Feng Yuan calmly interjected: “Father, you forget that Duke Ding has been gravely ill these past years. The Shadow Guard affairs have been handled by Princess Anqing and Young Master Mu. If someone must be held accountable, it should be the mother and son.”

Emperor Chunde’s expression changed slightly upon hearing this, seemingly reluctant to hold that mother and son responsible. He finally sat down and, after some thought, said: “Since the Grand Prince has uncovered these clues, I will entrust you with eliminating the remaining elements of Xiaoyin.”

The Emperor’s evasion of the main issue didn’t escape Mu Shen’s notice, who concealed contempt beneath his lowered eyes.

Feng Yuan accepted the order. His Majesty, appearing fatigued from listening, waved his hand for both men to withdraw.

As they left the imperial study, Mu Shen smiled and thanked the Grand Prince: “Thank you for helping me out of that difficult situation.”

Feng Yuan smiled faintly: “Please don’t stand on ceremony, Duke. In truth, I wasn’t helping you, but that fool Mu Hanjiang. Half his life has been spent busy with affairs, yet he doesn’t know for whom or what he toils. In that regard… we are quite similar!”

Mu Shen’s expression remained unchanged, only sighing softly: “Grand Prince, regarding the investigation of the Western Palace, Western Palace Consort Shang deceived me. Thinking about it now, increasing manpower was indeed an oversight on my part. However, concerning matters of state succession, as the Dragon Scale Shadow Guard, clarifying the truth is my inescapable duty…”

Feng Yuan remained silent, but he already understood perfectly.

In this world, few people had directly spoken with that mysterious master of Xiaoyin.

However, Zong Bao from the northern theater troupe was one of them.

That day, Mu Shen was confident he had a deadly hold over both the Grand Prince and Crown Prince, personally coming to the Eastern Palace to interrogate them.

But he didn’t know that hidden beneath the bed in the Eastern Palace was Zong Bao, who had spoken with the master.

Though Feng Qiyuan had never seen the master’s face, he clearly remembered his voice.

When he heard Mu Shen conversing with Yan Xiaoying from beneath the bed, he immediately recognized that this dignified Duke Ding was the mysterious hooded figure from Xiaoyin Mountain Manor.

With this, the puzzle that had perplexed Feng Yuan and Xiaoying for so long was finally solved.

The master who had controlled Feng Yuan’s entire adolescence had finally surfaced!

Mu Shen had more or less guessed that Feng Yuan had discovered his secret.

Surrounding the Eastern Palace had been one of his few careless moments in life.

He somewhat regretted that one move, which now couldn’t be taken back.

However, at this point, it didn’t matter much. While the crimes of Xiaoyin Mountain Manor could no longer be concealed, if Feng Yuan investigated further, it would point to Princess Anqing.

He understood Anqing’s character all too well—she had lived her entire life for appearances.

Back then, to compete with Ye Zhanxue, she had schemed to create a misunderstanding, forcing him to marry her against his will.

Since that day, there hadn’t been a single day when he didn’t hate the woman who shared his bed.

After her disgraceful affair with Feng Qishu, she had always felt guilty toward him as her husband, grateful that he had preserved her reputation by not exposing the matter.

Now the time had come for her to repay that debt…

So he said nothing more, walking a while with Feng Yuan before smiling and saying: “I hear the Grand Prince’s happy occasion is approaching. If Lady Ye could see her son taking a wife and having children, she would certainly be overjoyed. I will visit the prince’s mansion to offer congratulations and present the Grand Prince with a magnificent gift!”

With that, Mu Shen smiled, bade farewell, and turned to leave.

Now he was certain that the Grand Prince was planning to marry that woman who had impersonated the Crown Prince.

He was even more certain that it was this fake Crown Prince who had disrupted his plan to manipulate Feng Yuan!

What nonsense about an old eunuch bringing food to him in the Desolate Palace?

The one who had secretly aided the Grand Prince in the Desolate Palace must have been that fake woman!

That cold-hearted prince was besotted with lust—Mu Shen was increasingly curious about what charms this woman possessed to bewitch such a calculating and deep Grand Prince.

But the gift he intended to give the Grand Prince was no mere pleasantry.

That woman had disrupted his plans and now aspired to climb the phoenix branch in one leap—how could it be so easy!

Thinking of this, he turned and asked someone: “Has everything been arranged?”

The person whispered: “The Second Prince’s fiancée personally went to Elder Teng’s residence and revealed that the Grand Prince’s intended princess bride resembles the Crown Prince…”

Mu Shen smiled slightly. Since Feng Yuan refused to follow his arrangements and had upset his entire plan, he couldn’t blame anyone if his reputation was tarnished.

Preserving the Crown Prince meant that his beloved bride could never be seen in public. The Emperor might not have seen her yet, but once he did, how could he possibly allow it?

Thinking this, he strode out of the palace, preparing to take a carriage to the suburban villa to meet Princess Anqing and her son.

Meanwhile, Xiaoying brought Old Hai back to the prince’s mansion and quickly found a physician to treat his injured hand.

Yan Shan, who had just arrived in the capital, also came to the mansion and met his old friend. Seeing Old Hai, he was overcome with emotion, holding his injured hand with tears in his eyes.

After settling Old Hai, Yan Shan found his daughter in a pavilion in the garden to talk.

He still couldn’t believe what the person who had come to escort him had said.

What did they mean by his daughter Yan Xiaoying was preparing to become the Grand Prince’s princess consort?

What nonsense was this? Upon arriving at the mansion, Meng Zhun gave him another explanation.

The gist was that the Grand Prince had taken advantage of Xiaoying’s youth, pursuing her relentlessly and tricking her into agreeing to marriage.

Yan Shan anxiously pulled his daughter aside to understand what was happening.

When he saw Xiaoying blinking her large eyes, her face slightly flushed as she said she had already agreed to the engagement, Yan Shan stomped his foot in distress.

“Whoever heard of a daughter agreeing to her marriage? Do you know what kind of man-eating place the imperial palace is? Aren’t you… Afraid at all?”

For Yan Shan, those red walls and gleaming tiles were always associated with the piercing pain in his chest and the terrifying memory of cold river water engulfing his body.

Now his daughter was being tricked back into that place that devoured people without spitting out bones by that cold and cruel Grand Prince.

He truly couldn’t understand how his intelligent daughter could have succumbed to the Grand Prince’s coercion.

But Xiaoying was composed, looking at her father and saying: “I know this isn’t an ideal match for a daughter… but I don’t want to leave him alone in that cold place. If I leave, he’ll be all alone! I feel for him, Father.”

Yan Shan hadn’t expected Xiaoying to say this. He wanted to say more, but seeing the light shining in Xiaoying’s eyes, he was momentarily choked with emotion.

Back then, his wife had refused to follow her parents’ arrangements, determined to marry him, a poor young man—she had that same light in her eyes…

Not only did Xiaoying look exactly like her mother, but her temperament and disposition were the same. Once she made up her mind, no one could change it.

Unable to persuade his daughter, when Yan Shan saw Feng Yuan, his anger boiled over.

Even now, he remembered the tall, cold Grand Prince threatening them that night of the pursuit, gripping Xiaoying’s throat and making threats.

What sweet words had this fellow used to trick his daughter into agreeing to marriage?

So when Feng Yuan returned to the mansion and Xiaoying bounced toward him with her braid flying like a colorful butterfly, the two prospective fathers-in-law—Meng Zhun and Yan Shan—stood side by side with expressions like debt collectors owed thousands of gold, fixing the couple with their chilly gazes.

On his way back, Feng Yuan had passed a pastry shop and bought Xiaoying her favorite soup dumplings from an old Beijing establishment.

Seeing Xiaoying bouncing toward him, he smiled and handed her the bag.

Xiaoying was greedy for the treats and couldn’t wait to take a big bite as soon as she received the paper bag. But she bit too eagerly, causing the soup to burst out, spraying the Grand Prince’s face and soaking his collar!

The Grand Prince immediately darkened his handsome face, his murderous expression looking as if he might kill someone.

Yan Shan’s heart tightened. He was truly somewhat afraid of this Feng Yuan, and, seeing the situation, he felt nervous for Xiaoying.

How could a girl raised in a mountain stronghold have the grace of a proper lady? Even though Xiaoying was quite pretty, this Grand Prince would surely despise her coarseness.

Sure enough, the Grand Prince began to scold her: “How many times have I told you! When eating soup dumplings, you must first bite a small hole to release the hot steam. Have you forgotten how you scalded your mouth last time? Had I known you’d be so hasty, I should have let them cool before giving them to you!”

“Mmm… no, if the dumplings cool down, the soup congeals,” Xiaoying protested.

As she spoke, Xiaoying was eager to eat a second one, but Feng Yuan held her wrist, watching her take a small bite first and even blowing on it to cool it down before releasing her hand to let her eat.