“My Lady has such keen eyes!” Saying this, Li Yuanji cupped his hands toward Li Yuan, who had also noticed the stone’s peculiarity: “Father Emperor, Heaven has sent down this miraculous stone, showing that our Great Tang’s founding follows the Mandate of Heaven and enjoys Heaven’s protection. With this miraculous stone here, I believe our Great Tang will soon pacify all under Heaven and unite the four seas.”

Yin Shi’s beautiful eyes turned as she smiled and said: “The Fourth Prince speaks incorrectly. Pacifying all under Heaven relies not on this miraculous stone, nor on anyone else, but on His Majesty!”

Li Yuanji was momentarily stunned, then smiled: “My Lady speaks truly – Yuanji misspoke.” With that, he cupped his hands toward Li Yuan: “Please forgive your son’s transgression, Father Emperor.”

“You merely misspoke momentarily. Let it be.” Li Yuan walked to the miraculous stone and stroked its naturally formed patterns: “Take it to the Thousand Treasures Pavilion and give orders for it to be well preserved.” The Thousand Treasures Pavilion was where the palace stored various rare treasures.

A eunuch who had been following Li Yuan bowed his head and whispered: “This slave obeys.”

Yin Shi helped Li Yuan return to sit on his couch and said with a smile: “The Fourth Prince is truly filial – whenever he has something good, he immediately brings it to the palace to present to Your Majesty.”

Li Yuan snorted lightly and stared at Li Yuanji: “He has some filial piety, but unfortunately acts rashly without proper measure, always requiring me to clean up after him.”

Li Yuanji knew he was referring to the defeat at Qianshui Plain. After quickly glancing at Yin Shi, he knelt down: “Your son is ashamed. Not only can I not share Your Father Emperor’s worries and labors like Second Brother, but I also require Father Emperor to worry and fret over me. Your son truly… deserves ten thousand deaths!”

Li Yuan’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. Somehow, hearing Li Shimin’s name now made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.

“Enough. You’re younger than Shimin, so naturally your deliberations aren’t as thorough as his. In the future, control your temper better, think more when encountering situations, and don’t just charge out on brute force alone. Last time you were lucky to escape with your life from Xue Ju’s hands, but you won’t be so fortunate every time. Do you understand?”

Li Yuanji quickly replied: “Your son understands. Thank you for Father Emperor’s instruction.”

Li Yuan nodded: “Very well. If there’s nothing else, you may withdraw.”

“Your son takes leave.” After Li Yuanji bowed and withdrew, Li Yuan said to Yin Shi beside him: “I’m somewhat tired. You may also withdraw.”

“Then Your Majesty, please rest well.” Yin Shi curtsied slightly and withdrew from Ganlu Hall. On the path toward the Lateral Courts, a small pebble rolled under her feet and bumped her. Yin Shi calmly said to the maid following behind: “I remember the plum blossoms in the room have been there for several days. Go pick some fresh ones, and remember – take those from the highest branches of the plum tree, as those bloom best.”

The maid acknowledged while laughing: “Then this slave will need to call several more people to form a human ladder, otherwise we can’t reach them.”

“Go then.” After only she remained, Yin Shi said: “Come out.”

Following these words, Li Yuanji, who should have been heading toward the palace gates, emerged from behind a wall corner and cupped his hands with a smile: “Greetings to Talented Lady Yin. Thank you for speaking on my behalf before Father Emperor just now.”

Yin Shi smiled slightly: “It was merely a small favor – Your Highness need not be concerned. Your Highness waited here – do you have something to ask me?”

Li Yuanji looked at her delicate features, as exquisite as a fine painting, and said with a smile: “Talented Lady Yin is so understanding – no wonder you can win Father Emperor’s such favor.”

Yin Shi raised her beautiful brows slightly: “Does the Fourth Prince intend to discuss serious matters, or continue exchanging pleasantries here until the palace servants return?”

Li Yuanji was startled, then cupped his hands: “I was confused. Please forgive me, Talented Lady Yin.” With that, he looked around and said in a low voice: “Today Liu Wenjing memorialized requesting rewards for the King of Qin. The Crown Prince sent me to ask if Talented Lady Yin said everything that should be said?”

“The Crown Prince has shown me kindness, so naturally I won’t betray his trust. Rest assured, I’ve already spoken exactly as the Crown Prince had Noble Consort Ji relay to me. Though His Majesty didn’t speak explicitly, judging by his expression, he has already developed some suspicion toward the King of Qin.”

Li Yuanji was delighted: “So Father Emperor won’t reward Second Brother anymore?”

Yin Shi shook her head: “The King of Qin has achieved great merit after all. If no rewards were granted, it would be difficult to explain. It’s just a matter of how to reward and how much – that’s another story entirely.”

Li Yuanji frowned: “So Second Brother will continue to be triumphant?”

“I’ve only accompanied His Sacred Majesty for a few months after all, so some words cannot be spoken too extremely. However, tell the Crown Prince to rest assured – as long as we find opportunities, my sister and I will speak to His Majesty. Over time, His Majesty will naturally become increasingly wary of the King of Qin.”

Her words put Li Yuanji at ease, and he bowed deeply: “Then many thanks to Talented Lady Yin.”

Yin Shi stared at him for a moment: “Tell the Crown Prince not to forget his promise to my sister and me from days past.”

Li Yuanji understood: “Talented Lady Yin, rest assured. With you and Precious Consort Zhang helping thus, the Crown Prince will absolutely not forget.”

Yin Shi nodded, glanced at palace servants approaching from afar, and said in a low voice: “Someone’s coming. You should leave quickly. If nothing unexpected happens, the King of Qin’s rewards should come down in the next few days. As for the Crown Prince’s side, I can’t help much for now, but I’ll do my best to assist the Fourth Prince in recovering his princely rank.”

This last sentence greatly delighted Li Yuanji. Since being demoted to Duke of Qi, he had been holding back his frustration and feeling quite dissatisfied. If he could recover his princely rank, that would be wonderful.

“Yuanji thanks Talented Lady Yin in advance.” After saying this, he cupped his hands and withdrew, walking quickly around the corner and barely avoiding the passing palace servants.

After waiting for the palace servants to return with the plum blossoms, Yin Shi also returned to the Lateral Courts. Being only a Talented Lady, the qualification to live alone in a hall was reserved for consorts of the second rank and above, so all her daily activities remained in the Lateral Courts.

The next day, Yunyi alighted from her carriage at the palace gates and made her way to Zhaoqing Hall. Lin Shi had just finished her morning meal and, seeing her arrive, said warmly: “Why have you come so early today?”

Yunyi smiled: “My Lady, are these words a veiled criticism that I came too late for morning greetings in the past?”

Lin Shi was made to laugh by her words: “Even I myself didn’t detect this meaning, yet you somehow did. Should I praise your keen ears or your overthinking?”

Yunyi pretended to consider this with difficulty for a while, then said with a smile: “Naturally, it would be best to praise both.”

“You always have such a glib tongue!” Lin Shi lightly scolded her, took the hand warmer from Yunyi’s palm that had already cooled somewhat, and had Liuxia go refill it with charcoal. She then pulled Yunyi to sit down and said with concern: “Look at all this cold air around you – why don’t you put a charcoal brazier in your carriage?”

“Though placing a charcoal brazier would make the carriage warm, it’s the same once you get out, and you can’t carry it with you constantly – why bother with the trouble?”

“You always refuse to listen to such advice.” Lin Shi shook her head: “Coming so early in the morning – is there some matter?”