The tea was still scalding hot, causing Shang Youdao to yelp several times in succession.

He awkwardly accepted a wet towel handed by a serving boy and pressed it against his face, pointing at the Crown Prince: “You… you…”

As the dignified local prefect, not some palace eunuch, even if the Crown Prince was displeased, how could he treat a local official so rudely? Completely disregarding the dignity of the court!

Xiaoying couldn’t be bothered to waste words with this old fox and simply said coldly and concisely: “Kneel!”

The Crown Prince Feng Qiyuan, secluded in the palace and unfamiliar with the world, might not have been able to command such authority.

But the “Little King of Hell,” whose reputation echoed across both banks of the Lianjiang, had forged a killing aura amidst blood and weapons, ice-cold blades.

When that gaze was cast upon him, Shang Youdao’s eyes, carrying a trace of ferocity, narrowed with suppressed anger, but he ultimately knelt.

Subsequently, the string of local officials and gentry behind Shang Youdao also knelt one after another, the entire hall falling silent as winter cicadas.

Among those present, only Feng Yuan and Mu Hanjiang maintained composed expressions, their demeanor unchanged.

Feng Yuan needed no explanation; he knew his fourth brother’s character all too well.

As for Mu Hanjiang, having experienced similar encounters, he had become immune to both favor and humiliation.

After all, compared to being slapped with a shoe sole, being doused with a cup of scalding tea was far more elegant behavior from His Highness the Crown Prince!

Moreover, this Shang Youdao was indeed annoying, having just kept mentioning his embarrassing failure at East Field Village in front of everyone.

Mu Hanjiang also wanted to splash hot tea on Shang.

Thus, only the presumptuous Shang Youdao remained, trembling with anger as he asked the Crown Prince: “Does Your Highness know who my aunt is?”

Yan Xiaoying, having spent these days by Elder Teng’s side, had memorized the backgrounds and careers of all Jiangzhe officials.

She took a fresh cup of tea handed by Jin Zhong and leisurely said: “Shang Youdao, from Qianjiang, was a notorious hooligan in his youth, bullying locals, quite accomplished at it. During the Late Emperor’s reign, he failed the imperial examinations three times in a row, originally having no path to officialdom. Yet now he’s succeeded enough to shout and point at the rivers and mountains in my presence. That aunt you mentioned… is she the one who promoted a useless piece of firewood that won’t light, treating it as a pillar of the state?”

The Crown Prince’s casual, mocking words struck directly at Shang Youdao’s weakness.

The Prefect’s face, already red from being scalded, gradually turned purple.

If anyone else had exposed his shortcomings, he would have arrested them long ago and slowly worn them down in prison.

But the one saying these words was the Crown Prince, and no matter how disrespectful he felt, he had to tolerate it!

He was certainly skilled at reading the situation and knew his previous neglect had displeased this foolish Crown Prince.

Now he could only get through this ordeal and then report the Crown Prince’s misconduct to his aunt, Consort Shang.

Damn Crown Prince! Had he never heard that even a mighty dragon cannot overcome a local snake?

Even Elder Teng, yesterday in Jin Shui County, wasn’t he also angered to the point of twisting his mustache and staring with wide eyes, speechless?

If they didn’t use soft knives to cut down the authority of these imperial envoys, how would they know how to accommodate the local officials?

They say this Crown Prince looks like a woman, and seeing him today proved it true!

If this womanly Crown Prince were sensible, he’d just put on airs and be done with it. But if provoked, Shang could make this incompetent fool sink in the murky waters of Jiangzhe!

Thinking of this, Shang Youdao forced a smile and softened his tone: “Your Highness is precious as gold and jade. It was I who was neglectful. Please calm your anger and don’t lower yourself to contend with such a shallow person as myself.”

Xiaoying had also heard about how he had diminished Elder Teng’s authority in Jin Shui County yesterday, responding to every inquiry from the Elder but taking no action.

With Shang Youdao leading the refusal to comply, the officials below him didn’t dare to comply either.

The Elder was so angered that he had to take two ginseng pills to sustain himself.

The old man was still too refined; one must understand that with reasonable people, one can argue reasonably. But with hooligans, words are useless!

Xiaoying, with nothing better to do, thought of helping Elder Teng.

“I came here for the livelihood of the Jiangzhe people. Elder Teng is currently auditing accounts, and I, too, must fulfill my supervisory duty by reviewing your prefecture and county registers for relief grain distribution. I wonder if Prefect Shang has time to send the relevant documents to the courier station for my review?”

The Crown Prince’s request was the same as Elder Teng’s.

Although Shang Youdao had prepared some presentable documents, he had intended to diminish the imperial envoys’ authority before submitting them to Elder Teng to fulfill his duty.

Having just had hot tea thrown in his face, if he couldn’t control this incompetent fool, how would he explain to Consort Shang in the future?

Thus, he responded with a false smile, initially agreeing but saying he would discuss with his advisors before making plans.

However, Xiaoying gave him no opportunity to stall, instead having Jin Zhong accompany two guards to return to the prefecture office with Prefect Shang, bringing back the documents she wanted to review first.

Shang Youdao’s mouth twitched as he suppressed his anger: “Your Highness, even if you send people with me, I cannot produce so many documents at once. The clerks below are inefficient and haven’t organized them yet!”

Just as Xiaoying was about to rebuke him, the silent Feng Yuan suddenly asked Mu Hanjiang: “When your shadow guards are sent to investigate cases and encounter locals who are lazy and uncooperative, how do they handle it?”

Mu Hanjiang, seeing the situation, knew the Grand Prince was helping the Crown Prince set the tone, so he smiled.

“How could there be such uncooperative localities? But on the rare occasions we encounter those who dare obstruct imperial envoys, we drag them to the interrogation chamber. Fire tongs, burning rods, boards, iron whips—one round of these, with others who covet their positions observing nearby, always helps us find someone educable among the group.”

The Crown Prince was quick to pick up on their cooperation and immediately expressed delight: “Ah, worthy of the Dragon Scale Shadow Guards! Their methods are indeed efficient!”

After speaking, the young man was eager to try, adjusting his small golden crown and looking around at the local officials with bright eyes before picking out the skinniest one: “You are the county deputy of Salt Prefecture. Can you bring the documents today?”

“This…” the county deputy drew out his words while looking at Shang Youdao.

This time, Mu Hanjiang didn’t wait for the Crown Prince to speak. He waved his hand, and two burly shadow guards entered and seized the man, ignoring his chicken-like squawks.

Shang Youdao was stunned, hurriedly asking Master Mu what this meant.

Mu Hanjiang smiled warmly and deflected responsibility, saying it was the Crown Prince’s intention and not to ask him.

Yan Xiaoying, nibbling on a date, muttered: “Prefect Shang, you’re not a bookworm who’s studied himself stupid. Can’t you see I’m deliberately finding fault with you? If you understood, I would show respect for your aunt’s face. But if you’re determined to make me lose face, then all the officials conspiring with you will go through interrogation! See if anyone in Jiangzhe will dare associate with you after that!”

Shang Youdao was furious: “If you act like this, how will His Majesty tolerate it when he finds out?”

Xiaoying, sitting with her legs crossed, casually spat out a date pit: “Heaven is high—and the Emperor is far away! I’m known for being ignorant and rebellious, doesn’t Prefect Shang know? Otherwise, have your family send a ginseng root to sustain your life, and let’s see whether the Emperor’s edict arrives first or whether your life can last until the imperial decree arrives?”

At this moment, the county deputy had already received his beating, his lower body bloodied as he was dragged back in.

He appeared to have fainted from the pain, lying motionless on the ground like a dead dog.

The surrounding officials were stunned, involuntarily muttering about uncivilized behavior and how scholars should not be subjected to corporal punishment.

However, those with perception and brains had already begged the Crown Prince for forgiveness, hastily rising to retrieve the documents.

Shang had powerful backing, but they didn’t! Would they dare to confront the Crown Prince, the heir apparent, unless they had the courage of a lion or tiger?

Could any ordinary person withstand the tortures of the Dragon Scale Shadow Guards? Their families didn’t have ginseng to sustain life.

Seeing this situation, Shang Youdao realized he was dealing with an unreasonable person.

This Crown Prince might not be intimidating, but the legendary Mu Hanjiang, who was at odds with the Empress’s faction… why was he willing to assist the Crown Prince like this?

Could his aunt’s information be wrong? Had the Mu family shifted their allegiance to the Eastern Palace’s Crown Prince?

This was most deadly, and Shang Youdao’s heart sank!

A brave man doesn’t suffer immediate disadvantage. There was no need to contend with these noble sons over documents.

So Shang Youdao quickly changed his expression, sincerely apologized to the two princes and Master Mu, then went to retrieve the documents.

Although Mu Hanjiang was pleased to see Shang Youdao humiliated, he couldn’t grasp the Crown Prince’s intentions in this display of power.

This young heir to the throne had previously sworn with determination that he had no great ambitions, only wanting to be a prince who lived comfortably until death.

Why was he deliberately showing his edge this time?

Xiaoying raised her teacup and sighed deeply: “Throughout this journey, we’ve encountered so many disaster victims along the way. Having rarely left the palace, I’ve seen little. Witnessing their tattered clothes, selling their children and wives, I’ve been unable to sleep at night. It turns out there are so many suffering people in the world. I have little talent, with only some skill in auditing accounts. If I can help Elder Teng with some of his worries, at least I can help the people live somewhat clearer days, without having to crowd the rural roads, selling their children and begging everywhere…”

Saying this, she smiled and explained her earlier impulsiveness: “Seeing this Prefect Shang so slippery, and hearing he had deliberately made things difficult for Elder Teng earlier, I overstepped my bounds. Thankfully, Master Mu helped, letting him know how to behave in the future, sparing the Elder from grinding his teeth with such a rogue.”

Mu Hanjiang, looking at Yan Xiaoying’s bright eyes, felt that he had indeed been… shallow.

Just moments ago, he had been wondering if the Crown Prince intended to find fault with Consort Shang, using her nephew as leverage to try to reverse the Tang family’s decline in the palace.

He had even vaguely regretted his hasty assistance, fearing it might give the wrong signal that the Mu family was changing allegiances.

But Feng Qiyuan had no such narrow-mindedness; his purpose was simply to obtain the documents, helping Elder Teng quickly sort out the regulations so that the people could receive life-saving grain.

Mu Hanjiang had achieved success at a young age and was naturally proud. Apart from his parents and the Emperor, there were very few people in his life whom he respected.

But earlier, when discussing the ban on ships, the Crown Prince’s statement that “in extraordinary times, private ships should not be banned” had made him see the young man in a new light.

Perhaps he had been wrong about this youth all along, misunderstanding not only Feng Qiyuan’s talent but also his character and broad-mindedness…

“It is a blessing for Dafeng that the Crown Prince has such insight. I also have an important case to attend to. Allow me to visit Your Highness again in a few days.”

With that, Mu Hanjiang hurriedly left with his shadow guards.

He had received intelligence that the person impersonating the Little King of Hell had been instructed by a ruffian named Zhao Shengtong. Since there were no clues about the real Little King of Hell, investigating the fake one wasn’t a bad idea.

As Feng Qiyuan had said, the people of Jiangzhe had suffered for a long time. It was important to do righteous things rather than just focusing on solving major cases for merit and rewards.

Xiaoying received the documents submitted by Shang Youdao and personally made a trip to Jin Shui County, also helping Elder Teng circle all the disaster relief money and grain that Shang Youdao had falsely reported as stolen by the Meng family rebels.

As for how the Crown Prince knew these figures, the excuse was easy to fabricate.

When capturing the impostor bandits, Xiaoying had already forged a secret reporting letter based on their confessions, claiming someone had slipped it under the Crown Prince’s door at the courier station, where he had found it.

In this way, the Crown Prince’s interception of these documents also had a legitimate reason. This report letter was submitted along with the documents to Elder Teng for review.

These local rats, once the right burrow was found and deeply excavated, would yield large amounts of grain, sufficient to quench the thirst of the local people.

Elder Teng, seeing the Crown Prince’s accounting skills for the first time, was as dumbfounded as he had been when he first saw Mu Hanjiang’s abilities.

“Your Highness, you… have such talent! How did this old man not know before?”

Xiaoying, without looking up from her abacus, replied: “I have spent so much time in the Ministry of Revenue and learned some trivial skills from the various officials. I’m embarrassing myself in front of Elder Teng!”

Elder Teng stroked his beard with satisfaction, his eyes fixed brightly on the young man before him.

It seemed his initial recommendation wasn’t wrong. This young man was like King Zhuang of Chu; his previous dormancy only prepared him for a moment to astound everyone!

Even the slippery Shang Youdao had been subdued by this Crown Prince.

The young heir appeared lazy, but when he applied himself, he struck at the core with precision and effectiveness.

Very good, very good indeed!

However, Xiaoying’s diligence was exhausted after checking the last account book.

After helping Elder Teng untangle the key issues to facilitate his work, she suddenly turned pale, using the excuse that her cold wasn’t fully recovered, and returned from Jin Shui County to the courier station to recuperate.

Master Mu had suffered no small humiliation at East Field Village. Given his character, he would dig three feet into the ground following Zhao Shengtong’s lead.

Soon, he would trace it back to Shang Youdao, whose troubles were just beginning!

The waters of Jiangzhe were indeed murky. Elder Teng had been away from his hometown for many years, and Xiaoying, as a local snake, was happy to help Elder Teng and Mu Hanjiang find the right direction.

As for the remaining matters, they no longer concerned her, the fake Crown Prince.

Yan Xiaoying knew that Mu Hanjiang was busy and probably wouldn’t bother her for some time.

She also wanted to use this free time to do some things for herself.

However, though she had shaken off one adhesive plaster, the most sticky one remained.

At this moment, heavy rain was pouring outside the courier station, streams of rain connecting with the distant Lianjiang.

Xiaoying scribbled on her notebook for a while, then put down her pen, rubbed her eyes, and helplessly looked at the man who had been sitting across the table reading a book.

She had been pretending to continue checking accounts, repeatedly clicking the abacus, making mercenary sounds clatter noisily, but Feng Yuan held a difficult-to-understand book called “The Art of the Mysterious Gate” and was engrossed in it, unbothered by the noise.

Did he not have a room at the courier station? Why insist on staying with her?

“Grand Prince, it’s late. Shouldn’t you go rest? After all, you have to return to the military camp early tomorrow! As a Guardian General, it’s not very appropriate to hide in the courier station, eating and drinking all the time!”

Feng Yuan pointed at the arm that Mu Hanjiang had stabbed: “I injured my left hand, can’t ride a horse. General Chen has allowed me to rest for a few days.”

This reason was quite plausible; she had almost forgotten.

Since he wouldn’t leave, Xiaoying stood up, planning to change to another room and leave this place to him.

But Feng Yuan’s words stopped her in her tracks: “You once said that you and your father sell salt in this area?”

Xiaoying turned unhurriedly, smiling as she said: “Yes, does the Grand Prince want to buy salt?”

Her business with Uncle Jin was above suspicion, as they had legitimate salt licenses and conducted their business according to the rules.

Even her and her father’s life experiences, few people knew about.

Because those who knew that Foster Father Meng Zhun had taken in an actor and a little girl had all died in that massacre of the Meng family.

However, Feng Yuan didn’t seem to be probing; he merely said: “Nothing, I just wanted to ask if you’re familiar with local shipping? See if you could help Mu Hanjiang a bit.”

Xiaoying indicated that she had been away in the capital for a year to save her brother and wasn’t very familiar with the local boat merchants anymore.

Feng Yuan didn’t ask further, gesturing for her to sit beside him, then looked at the scattered lights of the military camp across the river, seemingly somewhat lost in thought: “Such rain is uncommon in the capital. It’s rare to have a deep night without disturbance. I want to find a guide familiar with the local area to take me out for a few days of enjoyment.”

Xiaoying took off her shoes, sat cross-legged on the chair, very inelegantly waving her hand to indicate that the Grand Prince indeed should relax his mind and body, and that the local officials would surely be eager to flatter and accompany him.

However, Feng Yuan stood up and said: “Didn’t Your Highness say you regretted not being able to soak in the hot springs last time? I’ve found a good place where Your Highness can enjoy a thorough soak.”

Just as Xiaoying was about to refuse, Feng Yuan suddenly grabbed her arm, not even giving her time to put on her shoes. Using only his uninjured hand, he easily lifted her, carrying her like a sack in a few steps to the carriage outside, and tossed the Crown Prince into it.

On such a rainy night, most people had gone to bed.

Even if there were shadow guards on duty to intervene, they couldn’t stop the Grand Prince when he was determined.

The Grand Prince threw out a sentence: “I’m taking His Highness to play outside the city. No one follows us.”

Then, with three to five attendants, he ordered the carriage to drive away.

As the carriage drove out of the courier station, a group of shadow guards hurriedly emerged to follow.

The night was deep and the rain thick; soon those pursuers lost track.

Now, in the pouring rain, even expert trackers couldn’t find the traces of carriage wheels…

The carriage, having shaken off its encumbrances, turned onto a side road and, after winding through many turns, quickly arrived at a secluded and deep mountain courtyard.

The coachman, a short, sturdy man, saluted the Grand Prince and said: “Young Master, we’ve arrived.”

Feng Yuan turned and reached out, preparing to carry the shoeless Xiaoying down from the carriage.

Earlier, when getting into the carriage, this young woman had struggled fiercely, kicking him hard several times, each kick aimed at vital points.

In the struggle, her hair bun had become disheveled, her white cloth socks had been thrown off, and now those translucent, slender feet were completely bare.

This young woman seemed to hate being suppressed and put at a disadvantage. Although Feng Yuan had later wisely remained still, allowing her to land a few punches, her anger was still unresolved.

When getting down from the carriage, Yan Xiaoying forcefully pushed away Feng Yuan’s supporting hand and, barefoot, jumped directly into a puddle of muddy water.

This place was tranquil and pleasant, not looking like somewhere for robbery and murder.

Xiaoying raised her eyebrows and looked around, noticing that the door of the antique and charming courtyard had a plaque hanging—”Listening Heart Garden.”

Feng Yuan waved his hand, and a servant brought a pair of exquisite wooden clogs and placed them at Xiaoying’s feet.

Then the tall man lifted the hem of his robe and crouched down, using his large palm to hold one of Xiaoying’s mud-stained feet, wiping it clean with a wet towel before slipping on the sandalwood clogs.