Xiaoying didn’t deny it either, propping her cheeks on her hands with a smile.

“I’ve heard that Duke Ding has been bedridden with illness for quite some time, and Young Master Mu only took over the Dragon Scale Shadow Guards a few years ago. So, before that, who assisted Duke Ding in managing the shadow guard affairs? It must have been Princess Anqing, right? From what I can see, she hasn’t relinquished her power even now, which is why she already knew about everything we did before Mu Hanjiang even returned to the capital. It seems she has planted many spies around the young master.”

Such effort could either mean the Princess didn’t trust her son’s actions or that she had become accustomed to wielding power.

Feng Yuan glanced at her, approvingly stroked her long hair, and smiled: “Fortunately, your surname isn’t Feng…”

Xiaoying raised an eyebrow, finding his words strange.

“If you truly had such a capable brother like me, what would you do?”

Could it be that, like the Second Prince, he was desperately pursuing the throne, determined to overthrow any capable brothers?

Feng Yuan lowered his eyes to conceal his emotions, not wanting to continue this conversation, and appropriately changed the subject: “We’ve been on the boat for so long. How about I take you out to explore the streets?”

Xiaoying had been discussing Princess Anqing, but didn’t expect Feng Yuan to divert the topic again.

Xiaoying was tactful enough not to press further, but in her heart, she grew increasingly curious about Feng Yuan’s previous incident of wounding Duke Ding Mu Shen.

Mu Shen was now a sickly person, but what had he done before to anger the young Feng Yuan so much that he committed such an irrational act?

Feng Yuan seemed unwilling to stay in the same inn as Princess Anqing, and since the inn was now full of people who knew the Crown Prince, Xiaoying also felt constrained and reluctant to leave the room.

After finishing breakfast, Feng Yuan took Xiaoying out to explore the streets of Yao City.

The tall, handsome gentleman leading the charming, veiled young lady through the bustling market drew many second glances from passersby.

When they entered a clothing shop, Xiaoying asked him: “Why did you bring me here?”

“Didn’t I promise you that when buying robes and dresses in the future, I would bring you along to choose them yourself?” The tall gentleman answered matter-of-factly while browsing through clothes.

He had always been quite good at remembering these trivial matters, paying close attention to the pastries and clothing she mentioned in passing.

Reading so many books daily, practicing so much martial arts, and calculating so many people’s moves—where did he find the leisure to remember such things?

Perhaps the term “exceptionally gifted” was made for someone like Feng Yuan with such abundant energy?

But looking at the colors he was selecting, Xiaoying was glad she had come along.

Those scarlet, orange, and green colors would be far too conspicuous to wear. Surely only men would choose such garish colors?

Xiaoying had rarely bought clothes throughout her life.

As a child, it was due to financial constraints; when she grew up, she was busy with her father making a living and had no opportunity to wear fine clothes.

Now that Feng Yuan was responsible for the money, Xiaoying could try on clothes to her heart’s content. Sometimes, unable to decide, she would ask Feng Yuan which was better, and he would look at his little concubine indulgently: “We can buy them all.”

Xiaoying could see that the fabric of the dresses in this shop was exquisite and quite expensive. Buying them all would cost a considerable sum.

Having once been in the palace as the Crown Prince, she knew the monthly allowances of those outwardly splendid princes.

Feng Yuan wasn’t like the Second Prince, who had the backing of a favored imperial consort, so where did he get so much money?

When Xiaoying asked, Feng Yuan calmly replied: “The Ye family has many businesses. Feel free to choose whatever you like; I can afford it.”

Fearing he might be putting up a front, Xiaoying secretly inquired further.

It turned out that when Ye’s maternal grandfather was on his deathbed, Ye Zhanxue was pregnant with Feng Yuan. Concerned about his daughter’s future, the grandfather had secretly set aside a considerable portion of assets for Ye Zhanxue. Before her death, the Princess Consort Ye had entrusted these to reliable people to manage, rather than letting them be absorbed into the Feng family’s bottomless pit for throne contention. Over the past ten years, these assets had expanded significantly…

Now, both the properties secretly supplemented by his maternal grandfather and the Tingxin Garden in Jiangzhe had all fallen into Feng Yuan’s hands.

Therefore, his daily expenses were much more lavish than those of other princes.

After all, not having to wait for the monthly allowance from the palace naturally made for a more comfortable and affluent lifestyle.

Xiaoying thought to herself: So that’s how it is! She had stumbled upon a wealthy man! He was trying to win women over with money! Did he think she was the kind of shallow woman who would be immobilized at the sight of money?

Thinking this, she had the shop assistants wrap up all the dresses she liked, then tugged at Feng Yuan’s arm, saying: “Then… I also want hairpins to match the dresses, and rouge and face powder!”

A small amount of money certainly wouldn’t buy her off, Yan Xiaoying, but a large sum would be different!

Since he was being so generous, how could she not spend it?

Feng Yuan, having been made a patsy, still smiled indulgently, taking Xiaoying’s hand as they turned into a jewelry shop.

After spending over a dozen silver notes on headpieces and accessories adorned with precious gems, as well as various fragrances and powders, Feng Yuan took her to buy sweet snacks and delicacies, large and small, until the guards following behind had their hands full.

Xiaoying’s legs grew sore from all the walking. Finally giving up on her money-spending spree, she was led by Feng Yuan to a teahouse to rest and drink tea.

While listening to music and drinking tea in a private room on the second floor of the teahouse, Xiaoying asked Feng Yuan if he knew who had killed Chen Nuo.

Hearing this, Feng Yuan glanced at her: “Why do you ask such a question?”

Xiaoying stretched lazily: “I’ve been thinking, Chen Nuo wasn’t killed by you. Who would be in such a hurry to kill him to silence him!”

Feng Yuan raised his thick eyebrows: “How do you know I didn’t send someone to do it?”

Xiaoying leaned on her hands, eating pastries while speaking: “Because you’re someone who believes in direct retribution. After enduring for so many years, if you wanted to kill him, how could you bear to let someone else do it? You would do it yourself. Chen Nuo was intercepted and killed on his way home to recuperate, his valuables untouched, killed with one stroke, and the killer fled. It doesn’t look like revenge or robbery, but more like silencing someone!”

Feng Yuan looked at Xiaoying and said, “With your intelligence, if you were to become an official in the Court of Judicial Review, there would certainly be fewer wrongful cases in this world.”

Xiaoying waved her fingers: “Come on, those few days working at the Imperial Treasury nearly killed me with exhaustion. I might be able to endure for a short while, but if I had to be immersed in government offices every day, it would truly be like never seeing daylight!”

Was Chen Nuo’s death related to having too many old enemies, or was it connected to what Feng Yuan had mentioned that day about him framing Ye Zhanxue?

Thinking of the well-informed Princess Anqing who had suddenly appeared, Xiaoying had a thought: “Do you think… Chen Nuo’s death might be related to that princess at the inn?”

Feng Yuan still didn’t answer, instead changing the subject: “By the way, I’ve already bought a residence in the capital. When it’s inconvenient for you to enter the palace with me, you can stay in that house. When I have time, I can come out to accompany you more often.”

Hearing this, Xiaoying narrowed her eyes slightly.

Feng Yuan had already set up an outer residence, truly treating her as a pampered mistress in a golden house? Since Feng Yuan wasn’t discussing the main topic, Xiaoying began to probe again: “Hey, I’ve noticed you have many capable followers. Are these all people from Master Xiao?”

According to Mu Hanjiang, Ye Zhanxue had concealed several Dragon Scale Shadow Guards years ago. If this were true, it would have been for her defenseless young son.

But if it was only to protect her young son, Feng Yuan had no such assistance growing up until the age of twelve, instead growing like wild grass, enduring bullying.

It was only after ten years of imprisonment, after Feng Yuan had endured countless hardships and schemed his way out of the Barren Palace, that figures like Xiao Tianyang and Master Ge had gathered around him like bamboo shoots after spring rain.

It was from that time that these skilled helpers appeared around Feng Yuan…

These people hadn’t offered help in times of hardship, but rather added锦上添花 embellishment, helping Feng Yuan establish his power more quickly…

It was as if, had Feng Yuan been of a weak character or had he faltered halfway in the Barren Palace, he wouldn’t have deserved such assistance.

This kind of coldness made Xiaoying somewhat uncomfortable.

Because she felt that Ye Zhanxue shouldn’t have been the type of person to treat her son so harshly.

But before Feng Yuan could answer, someone downstairs suddenly spoke loudly. Shen Jing raised his voice: “The Grand Prince is having tea. Let me go upstairs to announce you.”

Then came the Third Prince’s loud voice: “What’s there to announce? We’ll just go up ourselves.”

Following that was the sound of multiple people climbing the stairs. Hmph, several people came rushing up the stairs all at once.

Apart from the guards, the leaders were Mu Hanjiang and the Third Prince.

Xiaoying had just put on her veil when they entered the private room uninvited.

“Elder Royal Brother, you certainly know how to hide, enjoying yourself here with a woman while not helping Young Master Mu at all.”

It turned out that earlier at the inn, Princess Anqing had closed the door and unleashed a torrent of anger on Mu Hanjiang, seemingly venting the frustration she had experienced with Feng Yuan onto her son.

The Third Prince, pushed into the room by Mu Yanyan to help resolve the situation, had stammered words in Mu Hanjiang’s defense, only to be coldly rebuked by Princess Anqing, who hinted that he should stop following her daughter around in the future, as her Mu family’s daughter would never marry into the imperial family.

This single statement had managed to simultaneously depress both the Third Prince and Mu Yanyan.

Although the reasons for their depression weren’t entirely the same, their downturned lips were identical.

Princess Anqing’s journey from the capital to discipline her son had been under the pretext of returning home to sweep ancestral graves. Having met her son and advised the Grand Prince,

She had said all she needed to say and was preparing to continue her journey home with her daughter Yanyan.

As for Mu Hanjiang, since he needed to hurry back to the capital to report for duty, he was spared the ordeal of accompanying his mother and enduring her nagging.

The Third Prince couldn’t continue being a shadow either, and could only glumly watch as Princess Anqing and Mu Yanyan boarded their carriage and departed.

Then he and Mu Hanjiang went out for a walk.

Earlier, when passing by the teahouse, they had spotted the Grand Prince’s guards. The impulsive Third Prince had barged in, not allowing the guards to announce them.

Upon entering the private room, the Third Prince showed no courtesy, sitting down casually and inviting Mu Hanjiang to sit as well, completely ignoring Feng Yuan’s deteriorating expression at having his private meeting interrupted.

Disguised as a woman, Yan Xiaoying had never sat so close to Mu Hanjiang at a tea table before.

Although she had applied powder and decorated her eyebrows and eyes, she didn’t know if the perceptive Young Master Mu would notice any flaws.

Unexpectedly, Young Master Mu upheld the principle of not looking improperly at women and didn’t raise his eyes to scrutinize the Grand Prince’s concubine.

But the Third Prince’s eyes wandered everywhere, and as he looked at the woman before him, he found her increasingly familiar.

“Elder Royal Brother, why does your concubine always cover her face? Are you afraid someone might steal her if they see her? But her eyebrows and eyes… why do they look so familiar?”

Hearing this, Mu Hanjiang finally cast his gaze over, meeting the veiled woman’s eyes.

Yan Xiaoying knew that if she avoided his gaze now, it would only increase suspicion. So she smiled demurely, lowering her eyebrows as if shy, allowing them to look at her.

Whether Mu Hanjiang noticed anything or not, he looked for only a few moments before averting his gaze, turning to discuss official matters with Feng Yuan.

Xiaoying knew her duty as a concubine in public. Seeing her lord discussing serious matters, she immediately rose tactfully, picked up the teapot from the table, and, to avoid eavesdropping on their conversation, went out to find the attendant for hot water.

After getting the hot water, however, she didn’t return immediately but waited outside the private room, listening to the music.

The Third Prince strolled out, circled behind her, then stood to the side, tilting his head to look at her. Finally, his eyes brightened with realization: “I was wondering who you resembled—you look like my Fourth Brother!”

After saying this loudly, the thought of a woman resembling his effeminate fourth brother made him burst into laughter.

When he turned back, he found that the two gentlemen in the private room weren’t laughing with him; their faces were equally tense.

Mu Hanjiang shook his empty teacup and asked: “May I trouble the lady for some more water?”

Xiaoying knew that hiding wasn’t an option, so she picked up the refilled teapot and entered the private room.

The room suddenly grew very quiet, with only the gentle sound of the lady pouring tea.

Xiaoying’s hand was steady. After filling the teacups, Feng Yuan said to her, “I have official business with these two gentlemen. You don’t need to attend to us anymore. Have the guards escort you back to the inn.”

Xiaoying felt relieved and was about to rise and leave when Mu Hanjiang interrupted: “There’s no urgent official business anymore. Ultimately, the Third Prince and I have disturbed the Grand Prince’s leisure. I shall take my leave first.”

As he spoke, he rose and casually picked up a folding fan from the table.

Whether by accident or design, as he waved the fan, it suddenly reversed direction and swept toward Xiaoying’s face.

The Grand Prince reached out to block it, but the fan’s breeze had already lifted and removed Xiaoying’s veil.

The room fell into silence.

The Third Prince stared in disbelief at this person who resembled the Crown Prince but was dressed as a woman.

Fourth Brother! Are you trying to get yourself killed?”

Although Xiaoying had anticipated that her identity might be exposed one day, she hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly.

She remained calm, curtsying shyly: “Third Prince, I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

When playing the role of Crown Prince, Xiaoying had deliberately lowered her voice, padded her shoulders, bound her chest, worn shoe lifts, and waist padding—all of which created a different silhouette from her female form.

Now she had resumed the clear voice of a seventeen-year-old girl, and with her gentle tone, the difference was audible.

The Third Prince was momentarily confused, doubting whether this woman was indeed the Crown Prince in disguise.

But regardless, the fact that she resembled Feng Qiyuan was undeniable.

The Third Prince suddenly realized something and looked at his elder royal brother in horror.

If this were truly a woman, Feng Yuan… had taken a concubine who resembled his fourth brother!

How deranged must his mind be? How could he even sleep with someone like this?

Feng Yuan had no intention of explaining anything and put his arm around Xiaoying’s shoulders, preparing to leave.

But Mu Hanjiang reached out to stop them, his usually refined expression now quite unpleasant.

He had previously twice encountered Feng Yuan and this woman embracing intimately, and last night the two had shared a bed.

Now, seeing the woman’s face and recalling the unrestrained intimacy between them when alone, Mu Hanjiang’s face stiffened, and his eyelids twitched uncontrollably.

His gaze remained fixed on the woman in Feng Yuan’s arms.

Although her voice differed from the Crown Prince’s, and her figure had a woman’s graceful curves, through the rouge and powder, her features were too similar to the Crown Prince’s.

Could it be that the Crown Prince truly was disguised as a woman, returning to the capital with the Grand Prince?

Thinking of the young man’s craftiness, such a bold act wouldn’t be entirely surprising.

Mu Hanjiang had no time to consider other possibilities; he only wanted to confirm the woman’s identity, to see if she was indeed the Crown Prince in disguise.

So when he saw the Grand Prince trying to leave with the woman, he reached out to stop them, simultaneously asking the Third Prince to leave first and wait downstairs.

The Third Prince always obeyed Mu Hanjiang, and besides, the atmosphere in the room had grown strange and tense, quite unpleasant, as if some great imperial scandal was about to erupt.

He understood enough about self-preservation to quickly leave.

With only three people left in the room, Feng Yuan said in a deep voice: “Young Master Mu, what is the meaning of this?”

Mu Hanjiang didn’t look at him but addressed Yan Xiaoying directly: “Your Highness, if you have difficulties, you can tell me. Whatever your reasons, I… will consider what’s best for the Crown Prince!”

The last few words were spoken through gritted teeth, and it was unclear what filth he believed he could cover up.

On another occasion, Xiaoying would have mischievously created a huge scandal, telling him that the Crown Prince and Grand Prince had fallen in love, but were constrained by worldly prejudice and blood ties, unable to fulfill their wishes, only regretting they couldn’t be intertwined branches or paired birds in their next life.

But now was not the time for teasing—one wrong move could cost lives!

So she only curtseyed and said, “Young Master Mu, you’ve truly misunderstood. I was originally found by the Grand Prince to serve as a… body double for the Crown Prince! Jiangzhe was dangerous, and the Grand Prince was concerned for the Crown Prince’s safety, so he sought a body double. But as a girl, I couldn’t convincingly impersonate the Crown Prince and was of little use. Fortunately, the Grand Prince didn’t abandon me and allowed me to serve by his side, warming his bed, preparing his clothes, unbuttoning his garments, pillowing his jade arms, comforting him through the long nights…”

“Enough!” Mu Hanjiang couldn’t bear to hear more.

How could she speak such shameless words with the Crown Prince’s pure face?

Yan Xiaoying blinked innocently, tears in her eyes, and asked Feng Yuan with a slight sob: “Grand Prince, do I… do I need to undress for Young Master Mu to prove my gender?”

“Enough!” This time, it was Feng Yuan who glared at her, rebuking her sternly.

“Young Master Mu, even if you’re being unreasonable, there should be limits. Can’t you tell whether she’s male or female? What kind of person do you take me for? You’re desecrating the brotherly bond between me and the Crown Prince. You should know when to stop!”

Feng Yuan spoke truthfully—male and female physiques differ. The woman before them had shoulders more delicate than the Crown Prince’s, a slimmer waist, and her fitted, low-necked dress revealed a slender neck without male characteristics, while her chest showed slight hills…

She couldn’t possibly be a man in disguise, and the Crown Prince’s male form had been verified by him personally.

It was just that this man and woman looked too similar.

The Grand Prince’s reason for bringing this woman along was legitimate—Jiangzhe was indeed dangerous, and as a body double for the Crown Prince, this woman was certainly suitable.

The Grand Prince’s unrestrained decision to make her his concubine only concerned his bedroom preferences, not something a subject like Mu Hanjiang should comment on.

So Mu Hanjiang no longer blocked their way, watching helplessly as Feng Yuan replaced the woman’s veil, then took the graceful woman’s hand as they went downstairs.