In Zhangsun’s presence, Li Chengqian didn’t mention Chengxin at all, and Zhangsun didn’t bring it up either. The three of them drank grape wine and finished off the last bit of food before Zhangsun returned to the Taiji Palace with the food box.

Li Chengqian was very happy. He and Yun Ye each bit into a hot steamed bun stuffed with lard, chatting while eating—one sitting on the ground, one lying in a crooked-neck tree. From today’s money house affairs to the distant frontier, they casually speculated about how much profit Li Anlan could bring, then gnashed their teeth cursing the insatiably greedy nobles—needing so much wealth to be buried with them!

Young people together always had endless fresh topics. Li Chengqian’s conversation was full of inquiries about Hou Lian’er, saying he had never seen her. What if when they got married, he discovered she had a face full of pockmarks?

“Stop asking around. I haven’t seen her either. When I went to Luoyang, the Hou family wouldn’t let her see anyone—even close family friends like us couldn’t meet her. I only saw her throwing a washing club at Cheng Chumo. Very strong! From her voice, she’s a first-rate beauty. Cheng Chumo also said that when Hou Lian’er was young, she was very pretty. Just look at her mother—it would be strange if she weren’t a beauty.”

These words made Li Chengqian even more worried. Speculation was the most unreliable thing. “A tiny difference leads to a huge mistake” referred to speculation. In the world of fantasy, even sows could become Diao Chan. He had always disagreed with Cheng Chumo’s aesthetic views.

“Even if she’s a bit lacking, just consider it sacrificing yourself for your Li family’s realm. Old Hou has expanded Great Tang’s territory these years—he’s more than earned it from your family. You’re worth sacrificing once. Isn’t there also a young Miss Su? I’ve heard she’s a rare example of flourishing clan and distinguished family, proper ceremonial training, naturally chaste and obedient, with appropriate speech and deportment. You haven’t seen her?” Seeing Li Chengqian’s bitter smile, Yun Ye confirmed he hadn’t seen either of his two wives.

“If I go visit Su Tan tomorrow, do you think I’ll see his daughter?”

“It’s not possible. The Su family absolutely won’t let her see any man right now. Besides, I’m very uneasy about you going.” Li Chengqian lay on the tree trunk speaking leisurely.

“Do I look that much like a lecher?” Yun Ye asked from his chair.

“Whether you’re a lecher or not, I don’t know. But my sister’s belly has grown large, and you can’t escape responsibility. You stood by the Yellow River waving at the fleet, shouting and jumping. My sister even cut her hair and threw it into the wind. The mutual satisfaction was enviable. Even if you two can’t marry, having had this episode, you haven’t lost out.”

“Heaven-damned! You actually followed me!” Yun Ye was angry with shame—ashamed, not angry. If it were following, he wouldn’t have been told.

“I assigned six guards to Sister. Who knew one of them hadn’t even reached Luoyang when he was hit by your subordinate with a stone, knocking out all his teeth. He had no choice but to return. Without teeth, going to Lingnan meant death. He came back crying to me, saying you hit him.”

“Where is that bastard? I’m going to cut out his tongue too!” Yun Ye jumped up, ready to find trouble with that fellow.

“Forget it. That fellow lost his teeth, which is unsightly. I sent him to the army to build up seniority. You knocked out all his teeth—from now on he can only drink thin porridge. What more do you want? Help me think of a way to properly see my wife.”

“An heir to the empire and a distinguished marquis discussing in the night how to view the faces of respectable women—isn’t that inappropriate?”

“At this time, in this environment, we should be discussing how to make others fall for our tricks without knowing it—that would suit our status.”

“Are you going or not? Where does all this nonsense come from?” Li Chengqian grew impatient. This fellow just had no patience.

“Doing this kind of thing requires an inside agent! Neither of us brothers can enter the Su residence, or our purpose would be exposed. We can only send an insider to lure out Miss Su, then we brothers can make our move.” Yun Ye stroked his chin.

“Who would be suitable as the insider?” Li Chengqian was also racking his brains thinking about this candidate.

After thinking for a long time without finding a suitable person, they saw Princess Changle approaching the Eastern Palace in the distance, accompanied by palace maids. Yun Ye nudged Li Chengqian: “Look, the insider has arrived. Changle is the most suitable candidate. Have Changle invite Miss Su to go burn incense at Ci’an Temple together. Won’t you have a chance to see her then?” After giving this advice, Yun Ye felt very much like Matchmaker Wang.

“Don’t you know Changle’s temperament? Would she participate in such nonsense? With her character, she can’t even lie. How could this work?” Li Chengqian knew his sister’s temperament and didn’t believe she could do such a thing.

“Chengqian, your understanding of women is too shallow. Women are born knowing how to lie. When honest people deceive others, that’s truly deadly. Besides, I also know Changle has been drooling over your openwork incense ball for ages. If you’re willing to part with it, seeing what your wife looks like probably isn’t a big problem.”

While the two were scheming, Changle had already arrived. She properly curtsied to Li Chengqian, greeted Yun Ye, and then said: “Elder Brother, Mother said you must continue watching over the money house tomorrow—there can be no mistakes. So she sent younger sister to urge you to retire early.”

Her voice was gentle. This pretty, refined, quiet girl was cheaply gotten by that scum Zhangsun Chong. No matter how Yun Ye looked at it, he felt it wasn’t worth it for Changle. Zhangsun Chong was a super lecher. Romantic behavior was this fellow’s nature, and wretchedness was practically innate. He was the only one who could drool over Buddhist apsara paintings.

At times like this, the dog-headed strategist always spoke first: “Changle, I was just discussing your brother’s marriage with him. Poor thing—he hasn’t even seen what his wife looks like. When they marry, if someone swaps her with a maid, he won’t even know.”

Zhangsun opened her red lips wide, very shocked. Who would dare swap out the Crown Princess? They didn’t want to live! Could something from stories actually appear in reality? Yun Ye had previously told a story about swapping the real person with a maid, which deeply amazed the unworldly Changle and gave her a tiny bit of excitement.

Looking again at her brother’s dejected appearance as he gazed forlornly at the moon, she couldn’t help but worry for him.

“What should we do? If Sister Su runs away, disaster will strike. Her whole family will be executed!” Changle worried for both her brother and the Su family, very afraid that blood would flow like rivers if she wasn’t careful.

“If in a couple of days you could invite Sister Su to burn incense at Ci’an Temple together, and your brother and I just happened to pass by, wouldn’t we be able to see your future sister-in-law? That way the Su family couldn’t swap her with a maid. Everyone happy—how wonderful! Your brother just said you’re his most beloved sister. If you don’t help him, who will? Look, the Crown Prince is giving you his beloved openwork ball. How much he loves you!”

Li Chengqian very cooperatively fastened the openwork incense ball to his sister’s belt, patting Changle’s shoulder affectionately.

“Alright then. I’ll leave the palace the day after tomorrow and invite Sister Su to burn incense together. Remember to come! If you miss it, you won’t get another chance.” Having said this, she hugged Li Chengqian to comfort her brother, then returned with the palace maids.

Li Chengqian was in great spirits, casually humming the “Sweet Honey” song he’d learned from Yun Ye.

“Don’t forget you still have a rumor about liking catamites to get rid of.” Yun Ye couldn’t stand seeing him happy, so he poured cold water on him to cool him down.

“That trouble isn’t mine anymore. It has nothing to do with me.” Li Chengqian spoke very indifferently, as if it truly had nothing to do with him.

“What? Not yours? Are you saying it’s mine?”

“You’re absolutely right! From now on, he’s your trouble, not mine. When Wei Zheng was teaching me, he gave a very strange lesson. He said troubles can actually be transferred. If you can’t solve them yourself, you might as well transfer your troubles to some powerful person. That way things often get resolved, and you yourself can relax. He said human power has limits. What you can’t do yourself or can’t do well might be effortless for a powerful person. I deeply agree, so I’ve decided to transfer Chengxin to you. I’ll tell outsiders that Chengxin was someone I specially requested from Uncle Wang for you. That way I’m free and clear. What do you think?”

“Li Chengqian, I’ll kill you!” Feeling tricked, Yun Ye pounced, ready to beat him. But Li Chengqian was already prepared and took off running, calling out as he ran: “Anyway, you like sleeping with melons. One more catamite doesn’t matter…”

Things often go this way. When you’re most pleased with yourself, something goes wrong—like being tricked by Li Chengqian. When you’re unlucky, you don’t finish being unlucky all at once, but suffer misfortune after misfortune.

Changle was an honest child. Yun Ye forgot that honest children had another trait—they liked telling adults the truth. For example, right now Changle was telling Li Er and Zhangsun everything that had just happened, her face full of worry.

Zhangsun’s face was full of anger: “Can’t this Yun Ye teach anything good? What skill is it to peek at your own fiancée? Is there any propriety left? The wedding is right around the corner. If this gets out, it will be a huge joke!”

Li Er laughed heartily: “Yun Ye’s method is correct. Guiding the Crown Prince to look at his own fiancée is somewhat absurd, but compared to catamites, it’s nothing. A young man admiring a young woman—this is the proper principle of heaven and earth, the correct path of human relations. I see nothing inappropriate. When husband and wife speak of it in the future, it will also be a happy matter. Even if it spreads outside, all the civil and military officials will just laugh it off. Who hasn’t had a young and reckless time? Let them make their fuss. You don’t need to get angry. Just let Changle help her brother this once.”

“How improper! How can this be? Meeting privately before marriage! Yun Ye, I won’t forgive you!” Zhangsun actually valued propriety most highly. The famous *Admonitions for Women* came from her hand, so naturally she wouldn’t tolerate the Crown Prince and Yun Ye making mischief.

“Guanyin Maid, do you think I didn’t secretly watch you before we were married?” Li Er grinned strangely at Zhangsun.

Zhangsun’s mouth fell open as she looked at Li Er: “You watched me?”

“Of course—when you were changing clothes too.” Li Er threw back his head and roared with laughter.