The news that the young Prince of the Ding mansion was seeking a consort gradually spread throughout the world. As a result, not just the nobility of Licheng, but powerful people from other regions and neighboring countries began to get excited. Xiling, Southern Chu, and several small Western Region countries sent envoys expressing interest in marriage alliances, while the nobles already under Prince Ding’s jurisdiction were even more direct, immediately bringing their daughters to Licheng.

These people’s thinking was simple: if selected, their family would instantly rise to prominence, and if not, they could consider it an opportunity to experience the grandeur of Licheng. Licheng was now not just the capital of Prince Ding’s territory but also the primary route for exchange between the Western Regions and Central Plains. Its prominence had already surpassed the former Chang’an, the previous dynasty’s Guangling, and Southern Chu’s current Nanjing, clearly showing the air of the Central Plains’ greatest city.

On the bustling streets of Licheng, several youths of similar age strolled through the crowds. Though their clothes were unremarkable, their handsome features still drew many glances from passersby.

Mo Xiaobao satisfiedly touched his face – Qilin’s disguise technique was indeed excellent, allowing him to walk the streets without being recognized. Looking back at Qin Lie, Xu Zhirui, and Leng Junhan, he nodded approvingly. All four of them had grown up in Licheng, and the city’s common folk were quite familiar with them. Especially Mo Xiaobao – since inheriting the position of Prince Ding, he encountered all sorts of “chance meetings” almost every time he went out. Young Master Mo sadly discovered that although he had become master of the Prince Ding mansion, this vast Licheng was no longer the place where he could play wherever he wanted like when he was young. In less than half a year, Mo Xiaobao had developed the habit of going out in disguise.

“Why do I feel the streets are especially crowded?” Licheng was prosperous, but were there usually this many people? Looking at the silk shops, jewelry stores, and cosmetics shops that were practically overflowing with people, Mo Xiaobao asked bewilderedly. Could it be that his governance was so effective that Licheng’s population had increased this much in such a short time?

Following behind him, Xu Zhirui gave him a cool glance, mercilessly piercing his fantasy, “Stop dreaming – isn’t this all because of you?” These days, the threshold of the Xu mansion was practically worn down by visitors, and Young Master Xu Zhirui, who was questioned wherever he went, was feeling quite irritated.

“Me?” Mo Xiaobao looked innocently at Xu Zhirui, “What did I do?”

Leng Junhan smiled pleasantly while observing the various beauties passing by, saying, “Isn’t His Highness Prince Ding planning to select a consort? These young ladies are all preparing for the selection banquet.” Regardless of whether they could select a qualified princess consort, at least recently all the silk, cosmetics, and jewelry merchants in Licheng had made a fortune. From this perspective, the young Prince Mo had achieved something.

“Selection banquet? What’s that?” Mo Xiaobao asked in confusion.

The other three looked at each other, silently staring at Mo Xiaobao. After a while, Qin Lie finally asked, “You weren’t planning to select a consort at all, were you?” Mo Xiaobao let out a proud snort and said, “What consort? This prince just said something in passing. Did I issue any formal orders? Post any announcements? No, right? These people are just getting ahead of themselves.”

The group of four secretly hid in a teahouse on Licheng’s busiest street, where they could see the situation across the street through the upstairs window.

“That looks like Minister Wei’s third daughter,” Leng Junhan excitedly leaned on the window, saying, “Third Miss Wei is now called Licheng’s greatest beauty. I didn’t expect her to come too.”

Mo Xiaobao cast an uninterested glance outside. Licheng’s greatest beauty? Nothing special. Not as beautiful as his mother or his aunts. The only thing worth mentioning was probably that she was younger than them, “I remember Minister Wei’s family background is quite ordinary. The goods at Jade Function Pavilion aren’t cheap – send someone to investigate later. If there are any problems, confiscate their property!”

Hearing Mo Xiaobao say this, Leng Junhan immediately lost interest in the greatest beauty. Turning back to lean on the table, he excitedly discussed with Mo Xiaobao, “Right, we can have people record what they buy, then check the accounts – we’ll catch quite a few corrupt officials!”

Mo Xiaobao propped his chin, seriously considering the possibility of this plan. Beside him, Xu Zhirui said with a headache, “You should first consider what you’ll do if Xiling and Southern Chu send princesses for marriage alliances.”

“Marriage alliance? Southern Chu wouldn’t send a princess, would they?” Southern Chu and the Prince Ding mansion were originally one family – Aunt Princess lost, and close relatives couldn’t intermarry.

Qin Lie smiled and said, “Actually, the blood relationship between Prince Ding’s mansion and Southern Chu is quite distant now. Who knows, Mo Suiyun might send you a princess.” Mo Suiyun and Mo Xiaobao were similar in age, both young rulers. Although they hadn’t clashed yet, Qin Lie could already envision the scene when they would eventually fight.

Mo Xiaobao stroked his chin and chuckled, “It’s fine if they send one – aren’t you all still unmarried? How about one princess each?”

“I don’t want one!” Leng Junhan was the first to object, righteously declaring, “This young master has already pledged himself to Sister Xin’er. This young master will remain pure for Sister Xin’er.”

“Bullshit!” The crude words came from Mo Xiaobao’s refined and elegant lips, “Who agreed to let you marry Xin’er? Dare to sully my little Xin’er’s reputation again, and this prince will match you with an ugly, fat, ill-tempered shrew!”

Leng Junhan immediately covered his mouth and hid behind Xu Zhirui. Mo Xiaobao’s ideas were too frightening, and what was more frightening was that he would put his ideas into action. Leng Junhan didn’t want to go home one day to find a seven-foot-tall, dark, fat woman with bucked teeth. Scared by his imagination, Young Master Leng’s handsome face alternated between green and white.

“Reporting to Your Highness, an envoy from Southern Chu seeks audience.”

Outside the private room, a guard hurriedly came to report.

Mo Xiaobao looked up, “Southern Chu envoy? What matters?”

The guard presented a gold-embossed invitation card, saying, “The Emperor of Chu is getting married and invites Your Highness to attend the ceremony.”

“Oh?” Mo Xiaobao took the card with interest. The card indeed stated that in two months, Emperor Chu Mo Suiyun would marry Miss Qian, granddaughter of Southern Chu’s Grand Tutor, as his empress. “The little emperor is taking a wife? Should we go see?”

“Little emperor? Mo Suiyun?” Leng Junhan asked without much interest. He had no impression of Mo Suiyun, naturally having forgotten that he had once tricked him. Of course, Young Master Leng might not have considered what he did as trickery at all. More than five years ago, none of them had taken Mo Suiyun seriously, but in recent years Mo Suiyun had been playing the game skillfully in Southern Chu – fighting with court officials, fighting with the Empress Dowager, and now, not yet twenty, he had already grasped most of the power in the Southern Chu court. This finally made Mo Xiaobao start taking interest in this young emperor whom his father had once praised. Mo Suiyun seemed to have gradually developed a taste for “the joy of fighting against heaven, earth, and man” through countless struggles and recently began to distantly provoke Mo Xiaobao, who was of similar age. Although he hadn’t done anything excessive, Young Master Mo still keenly sensed the hostility from this young emperor who had once run away from home to play with him. For this, Young Master Mo had silently “grieved” for a quarter-hour.

“You want to go to Southern Chu?” Xu Zhirui asked with furrowed brows.

Mo Xiaobao sighed and said, “If we don’t go now, there won’t be a chance later.” Currently, Eldest Uncle and Fourth Uncle were still helping with everything, but Mo Xiaobao could see that Eldest Uncle definitely wouldn’t stay long. If they didn’t play while people were still around, after Eldest Uncle left, he’d be left alone crying over memorials. However… it should last until Xu Zhirui and Leng Junhan can help with the work, right?

Mo Xiaobao loved to discuss things with others, but usually what he brought up for discussion were matters he had already decided on. Therefore, regarding his suggestion, the other three only made token objections before unanimously agreeing. Actually… they also wanted to go out and play.

Early the next morning, before dawn, four shadows slipped out of the Prince Ding mansion, heading toward the city gate. They planned to slip out as soon as the gates opened.

“Big brother, Brother Xiaobao…”

A cheerful call came from the still-dark street. Mo Xiaobao first froze, then quickly darted to the street corner to grab and silence the smug-looking child who was waving at him.

“How did you end up here at this time!” Staring at the innocent-looking Mo Yufeng, Mo Xiaobao gritted his teeth. At this hour, shouldn’t this brat be sound asleep?! Without any guilt about abandoning his young brother to go play alone, Mo Xiaobao held Mo Yufeng by the collar and demanded.

Mo Yufeng, completely unbothered by being held mid-air by his brother, excitedly waved his arms and legs, “Lin’er heard Brother Junhan say they were secretly going out to play without Lin’er. Lin’er wants to go too, Lin’er waited here to go with brother!”

The three young men’s gazes shot toward Leng Junhan in unison: Useless at helping but great at causing trouble!

Leng Junhan helplessly rubbed his nose – who knew the kid would happen to overhear? Taking the little dumpling from Mo Xiaobao’s hands, Leng Junhan smiled sweetly and coaxed, “Be good, Lin’er, we’re not going out to play, we’re going out on business.”

“Lin’er will help brothers with business!” Mo Yufeng enthusiastically raised his little hand.

You’re only six, you can barely do anything!

“We’ll be sleeping rough every day, it’s very tiring, and there are tigers that eat people,” Leng Junhan tried to frighten him.

Mo Yufeng’s big eyes sparkled as he looked at him, “Tigers! Fight tigers!”

Xu Zhirui stepped forward, picked up Mo Yufeng, and stared at him, saying sternly, “Not allowed to go!”

“Can’t go?” Mo Yufeng blinked his eyes, looking pitifully at his cousin.

“No.”

“Waaah…” Mo Yufeng’s little mouth turned down, preparing to burst into loud tears. Everyone quickly rushed forward to cover his little mouth – when this little ancestor cried with his powerful lungs, he could wake up half the street. The little one lay in Xu Zhirui’s arms, looking pitiously at his brother, “If not allowed to go, cry!”

Mo Xiaobao rolled his eyes. He took back his previous words – whoever said this kid was stupid, he’d kick them to death!

Thus, the four young men, outmaneuvered by a child not yet seven, headed toward the city gate with a fair and tender little dumpling in tow.

When dawn broke and Master Qingchen came to the prince’s mansion to discuss affairs of state, he discovered that there wasn’t a single master present in the Prince Ding mansion. On his usual desk in the study lay a letter.

“Attending Emperor Chu’s wedding will return within half a year.”

Standing behind Master Qingchen, Xu Qingyan’s mouth twitched when he read it. Going to deliver wedding congratulations for half a year – this young prince had no worries.

“Xiaobao even took Lin’er with him? Should we go bring them back?” It was always concerning when half-grown children took a real child out. Xu Qingchen shook his head, putting down the letter and methodically beginning to handle state affairs, “No need. Since he took him along, he must have his reasons.” Besides, how could Mo Xiaobao leave home with just a few children? There must be many hidden guards and even Qilin’s people following in secret. With Prince Ding’s forces along the way to look after them, there was no need to worry about anything happening.

Xu Qingyan nodded, secretly complaining that Mo Xiaobao was disloyal for not telling him about such fun plans. Just as he was thinking this, he saw Xu Qingchen suddenly turn back to stare at him. Xu Qingyan was startled, thinking his brother had seen through his thoughts, “Big… Big Brother?”

Xu Qingchen said coolly, “There’s one matter that needs to be dealt with quickly.”

“What matter?” Xu Qingyan asked in confusion.

Xu Qingchen said calmly, “The matter of the consort selection banquet.” Those bored old men in Licheng took this matter as seriously as when they were hoping for Mo Xiuyao to ascend the throne – he’d heard they’d even set the place and time. If they found out Mo Xiaobao had tricked them and run away, wouldn’t they be so angry they’d cough blood?

“What… what does that have to do with us?” Xu Qingyan said tremblingly. He didn’t want to argue with those old men.

Master Qingchen pondered for a moment, then nodded, “You’re right, it has nothing to do with us. If anyone asks, just say we’ll wait for the prince’s return to make decisions.”

Xu Qingyan nodded repeatedly, grinning, “Maybe Mo Xiaobao will bring back a princess consort when he returns.” If that happened, he wondered what expressions those old men would have.

Dozens of li outside Licheng on the official road, four young men rode their horses leisurely. One horse carried an exquisitely adorable little child.

“I keep feeling we’ve forgotten something,” Leng Junhan frowned, saying somewhat worriedly.

Mo Xiaobao turned his head to look at him, “What thing?”

Leng Junhan glanced at him and said, “The consort selection banquet!” He seemed to remember hearing someone say the banquet was planned for the beginning of next month, just over ten days away. How could they select anyone when Mo Xiaobao wasn’t there?

Mo Xiaobao waved his hand dismissively, “A small matter.”

“Did you leave instructions before leaving?”

“Why would I need to leave instructions?” Mo Xiaobao asked, puzzled. “This prince didn’t ask them to hold any selection banquet – if they want to hold it, let them.” As for how to select and who would marry the selected person, that naturally wasn’t his concern either. He had just casually expressed to those close to him his beautiful wish for one life, one world, one pair – who knew these people would be so bored as to imagine so many things?

“They might postpone the time and wait for you to return before holding it.” One shouldn’t underestimate those people’s persistence regarding the position of Princess Consort – waiting for Mo Xiaobao to return before holding such an event wouldn’t be difficult at all. Mo Xiaobao had to return eventually.

Mo Xiaobao stroked his brother’s little head and smiled, “That’s even better. This prince remembers many soldiers in the Mo family army are still unmarried. This prince was just planning to hold a matchmaking banquet to help the soldiers resolve their lifelong affairs.”

“…”